Titanocene(III) complexes with 2-phosphinoaryloxide ligands for the catalytic dehydrogenation of dimethylamine borane.

A study of the dehydrogenation of dimethylamine borane using different titanocene(III) complexes with 2-phosphinoaryloxide ligands is presented. Complexes Cp2Ti(κ(2)-O, P-O-C6H4-PR2) (3a: R = i-Pr, 3b: R = Ph) (Cp = η(5)-cyclopentadienyl) and Cp*2Ti(κ(1)-O-O-C6H4-PR2) (5a: R = i-Pr, 5b: R = Ph) (Cp* = η(5)-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) were prepared by reactions of the 2-phosphinophenol ligand with different titanocene sources and fully characterised. Their catalytic activity depends on the steric influence of the cyclopentadienyl ligand, the coordination mode of the 2-phosphinoaryloxide ligand and on the used solvent. Complex 3a showed a turnover number of 43.2 in the neat substrate after 24 hours. EPR investigations were used to elucidate the fate of the Ti(III) catalyst.