Oxidative ortho-C-N Fusion of Aniline by OsO4. Isolation, Characterization of Oxo-Amido Osmium(VI) Complexes, and their Catalytic Activities for Oxidative C−C Bond Cleavage of Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

In an unusual reaction of osmium(VIII) oxide with p-substituted aromatic amines (X-C6H4-NH2, where X = Me, H, Cl) in heptane afforded the brown osmium(VI)-oxo complexes [OsO(L)2] (1a-c, L = N-aryl-1,2-arylenediamide) in moderate yields. The ligand L is formed in situ via oxidative ortho-C-N fusion of arylamines. The reaction occurs in an inert atmosphere, and a part of Os(VIII) is used up for the oxidation of aromatic amine. Single crystal X-ray structure of a representative complex 1a is solved. The structural analysis has authenticated the ortho-C-N fusion of ArNH2 resulting in formation of the diamide ligand, L. The complex as a whole is penta-coordinated, and the coordination sphere has…