Normal and abnormal carbene complexes derived from thiazole: Preparation and a preliminary investigation of their relative catalytic performance

Readily prepared 2-, 4- and 5-bromo-3-methyl thiazolium triflates react by oxidative substitution with M(PPh₃)₄ (M = Ni or Pd) to furnish five of the expected normal and abnormal cationic thiazolylidene complexes (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, and 3b). Carbene complex formation is accompanied by a ca. 40 ppm downfield shift of the α-N carbene carbons in Pd complexes 1 and 2 in their ¹³C NMR spectra but the chemical shift of C(carbene) in the abnormal3b (δ 135.7) is particularly low. Crystal and molecular structures of complexes 1a, 2b, and 3b all indicate a square planar arrangement of the ligands around the central metal atoms. The new complexes catalyse Suzuki-Miyaura aryl coupling.     

New N-heterocyclic carbene mercury(II) complexes: Close mercury-arene interaction

Mononuclear mercury complexes (1, 2, and 3) bearing bis-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands of the form [(NHC)₂-μ-Hg]⁺² have been prepared and structurally characterised. The complexes were derived from three bis-imidazolium salts as precursors to NHC; either 1,3-bis(N-methylimidazolium-1-ylmethyl)benzene bis(hexafluorophosphate) (I·2PF₆), 1,3-bis(N-butylimidazolium-1-ylmethyl)benzene bis(hexafluorophosphate) (II·2PF₆) or 3,5-bis(N-butylimidazolium-1-ylmethyl)toluene bis(hexafluorophosphate) (III·2PF₆) treated with mercury(II) acetate. Interestingly X-ray crystal structure analysis revealed a close interaction between the Hg metal centre with one carbon atom of the aryl linker in addition to coordination with two NHCs.     

Pd(II) complexes of a sterically bulky, benzannulated N-heterocyclic carbene and their catalytic activities in the Mizoroki-Heck reaction

The bis(N,N′-diisopropylbenzimidazolin-2-ylidene)Pd(II) complexes trans-[PdBr₂(ⁱPr₂-bimy)₂] (trans-1) and trans-[PdI₂(ⁱPr₂-bimy)₂] (trans-2) have been prepared in good yields by in situ deprotonation of the corresponding N,N′-diisopropylbenzimidazolium salt (ⁱPr₂-bimyH⁺X⁻) (A: X = Br, B: X = I) with Pd(OAc)₂ in DMSO at elevated temperature. Salt metathesis of trans-1 or trans-2 with AgO₂CCF₃ in refluxing CH₃CN afforded the novel mixed carbene-carboxylato complex cis-[Pd(O₂CCF₃)₂(ⁱPr₂-bimy)₂] (cis-3). This halo/trifluorocarboxylato ligand substitution can be regarded as a selective method for the synthesis of cis-configured bis(carbene) complexes. All compounds have been fully characterized by multinuclei NMR spectroscopies and ESI mass spectrometry. X-ray diffraction studies on single crystals of trans-1, trans-2 and cis-3 revealed a square planar geometry and a fixed orientation of the N-isopropyl substituents with the C-H protons pointing to the metal center to maximize rare C-H?Pd preagostic interactions. These interactions are also retained in solution as indicated by the large downfield shift of the isopropyl C-H protons in the ¹H NMR spectrum compared to those in precursor salts A or B. A preliminary catalytic study revealed that all complexes are highly active in the Mizoroki-Heck coupling of aryl bromides and chlorides. However, these complexes gave slower conversions as compared to catalysts with less bulky benzimidazolin-2-ylidenes. This is most likely due to the steric bulk of the ligands, which hamper a fast reductive formation of catalytically active Pd(0) species.     

Coordination compounds of N,N′-olefin functionalized imidazolin-2-ylidenes

N-Heterocyclic carbene ligands (NHC) were metalated with Pd(OAc)₂ or [Ni(CH₃CN)₆](BF₄)₂ by in situ deprotonation of imidazolium salts to give the N-olefin functionalized biscarbene complexes [MX₂(NHC)₂] 3-7 (3: M = Pd, X = Br, NHC = 1,3-di(3-butenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene; 4: M = Pd, X = Br, NHC = 1,3-di(4-pentenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene; 5: M = Pd, X = I, NHC = 1,3-diallylimidazolin-2-ylidene; 6: M = Ni, X = I, NHC = 1,3-diallylimidazolin-2-ylidene; 7: M = Ni, X = I, NHC = 1-methyl-3-allylimidazolin-2-ylidene). Molecular structure determinations for 4-7 revealed that square-planar complexes with cis (5) or trans (4, 6, 7) coordination geometry at the metal center had been obtained. Reaction of nickelocene with imidazolium bromides afforded the η⁵-cyclopentadienyl (η⁵-Cp) monocarbene nickel complexes [NiBr(η⁵-Cp)(NHC)] 8 and 9 (8: NHC = 1-methyl-3-allylimidazolin-2-ylidene; 9: NHC = 1,3-diallylimidazolin-2-ylidene). The bromine abstraction in complexes 8 and 9 with silver tetrafluoroborate gave complexes [NiBr(η⁵-Cp)(η³-NHC)] 10 and 11. The X-ray structure analysis of 10 and 11 showed a trigonal-pyramidal coordination geometry at the nickel(II) center and coordination of one N-allyl substituent.     

Oxovanadium(IV) complexes as molecular catalysts in epoxidation: Simple access to pyridylalkoxide derivatives

Reaction of bis(aryl)-2-pyridylmethanol ligands (1a-7a) with VO(SO₄) · 5H₂O results in the formation of metal-oxo complexes [VO(N-O)₂] (1-7), with N-O = bis(aryl)-2-pyridylmethanol. A molecular structure of (4) has been determined by single crystals X-ray diffraction study, which showed the expected square planar pyramidal geometry with the pyridine ring nitrogens in trans-position to each other. The metal-oxo complexes (1-4,6,7) demonstrated the ability to catalyse epoxidation reactions of alkenes with molecular oxygen.     

1,3-Diarylimidazolidin-2-ylidene (NHC) complexes of Pd(II): Electronic effects on cross-coupling reactions and thermal decompositions

The synthesis of 1,3-diarylimidazolidin-2-ylidene (NHC) precursor, 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolinium chloride, (3b) has been extended to the electronically and sterically modified NHC precursors 3a (X = H), 3c (X = Br) and 3e (X = Cl) in order to investigate the electronic effect of a p-substituent (X) on cross-coupling catalysts. Complexes of the type PdCl₂(NHC)₂ (5), PdCl₂(NHC)(PPh₃) (6) and [RhCl(NHC)(cod)] (7) were prepared from 3 or 4d (1,3-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-2-trichloromethylimidazolidin). Initial decomposition temperatures of the complexes 5 and 6 were determined by TGA. In situ formed complexes from Pd(OAc)₂ and 3 as well as the preformed complexes 5 and 6 have been tested as catalysts in coupling of phenylboronic acid with 4-haloacetophenones. The electron donating ability of NHCs derived from 3 was assessed by measuring C-O frequencies in the respective [RhCl(NHC)(CO)₂] complex 8 which was prepared by replacement of cod ligand of 7 with CO. An interesting correlation between the electron-donating nature of the aryl substituent and catalytic activity and also initial decomposition temperature of the complexes 5 and 6 was observed.     

Solvent-controlled selective synthesis of a trans-configured benzimidazoline-2-ylidene palladium(II) complex and investigations of its Heck-type catalytic activity

Reaction of N,N′-dimethylbenzimidazolyl iodide (A) with Pd(OAc)₂ in DMSO gives selectively trans-bis(N,N′-dimethylbenzimidazoline-2-ylidene) palladium(II) diiodide (trans-2) in 77% yield. The selective formation of the trans-coordination isomer and thus the cis-trans rearrangement is driven by the insolubility of trans-2 in DMSO. X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy confirm the trans-geometry of the square planar Pd(II) complex. Catalytic studies show that cis-1 and trans-2 are highly efficient in the Mizoroki-Heck coupling reaction of aryl bromides and activated aryl chlorides both in DMF and [N(n-C₄H₉)₄]Br as ionic liquid. The catalytic activities of Pd(II) complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands derived from benzimidazole are comparable to their imidazole-derived analogues.     

Axial and equatorial carbene ligands of dimanganese and dirhenium monocarbene complexes: Synthesis, characterisation and structural studies

The binuclear alkoxycarbene complexes [M₂(CO)₉{C(OEt)C₄H₃Y}] (M = Mn, Y = S(1), O(2); Re, Y = S(3), O(4)) were synthesised and characterised, giving axial carbene ligands for the dimanganese complexes, and equatorial carbene ligands for the dirhenium complexes. Aminolysis of these complexes with ammonia and n-propylamine yielded complexes [M₂(CO)₉{C(NHR)C₄H₃Y}] (R = H, M = Mn, Y = S(5), O(6); Re, Y = S(7), O(8); R = propyl, M = Mn, Y = S(9), O(10); Re, Y = S(11), O(12)). For the smaller NH₂-substituted carbene ligands, the X-ray structures determined showed equatorial carbene ligands for both dimanganese and dirhenium complexes, while the NHPr-substituted carbene complexes retained the original configurations of the precursor alkoxy carbene complex, indicating that the steric effects of both the M(CO)₅-fragment and the carbene ligand substituent can affect the coordination site of the carbene ligands of Group VII transition metal complexes in the solid state.     

Palladium(II) complexes containing a bulky pyridinyl N-heterocyclic carbene ligand: Preparation and reactivity

Coordination chemistry of a pyridine imidazole-2-ylidene ligand (pyN ˆC) with sterically hindered substituents toward palladium(II) metal ions has been investigated. The palladium carbene complex [(C-pyN ˆC)Pd(η³-allyl)Cl] (3) is prepared via the transmetallation from the corresponding silver carbene complexes with [ClPd(η³-allyl)]₂. Upon the abstraction of chloride, coordination of pyridinyl-nitrogen becomes feasible to form [C,N-(pyN ˆC)Pd(η³-allyl)](BF₄) (4). Ligand substitution reaction of 4 with triphenylphosphine results in the formation of [(C-pyN ˆC)Pd(PPh₃)(η³-allyl)](BF₄)], which the pyridinyl-nitrogen donor is substituted by the phosphine. This palladium complex appears to be base sensitive. Treatment of 4 with t-butoxide causes the decomposition to yield the metal nano-particles. Furthermore, de-complexation of 4 takes place under hydrogen atmosphere to generate the carbene precursor, 1-(6-mesityl-2-picolyl)-3-mesitylimidazolium salt. Nevertheless, the palladium complex 4 shows good catalytic activity on the Suzuki-Miyaura and Mizoroki-Heck reactions.     

Enolic Schiff-base aluminum complexes and their application in lactide polymerization

A series of NNOO-tetradentate enolic Schiff-base ligands were prepared where ligand L₁ = bis(benzoylacetone)propane-1,2-diimine, L₂ = bis(acetylacetone)-propane-1,2-diimine, L₃ = bis-(acetylacetone)cyclohexane-1,2-diimine. Their further reaction with aluminum tris(ethyl) formed complexes LAlEt (1a, 2a and 3a). The solid structure of complexes 1a, 2a and 3a confirmed by X-ray single crystal analysis manifested that these complexes were all monomeric and five-coordinated with an aluminum atom in the center. The configurations of these complexes varied from trigonal bipyramidal geometry (tbp) to square pyramidal geometry (sqp) due to their different auxiliary ligand architectures. ¹H NMR spectra indicated that all these complexes retained their configuration in solution states. Their catalytic properties to polymerize racemic-lactide (rac-LA) in the presence of 2-propanol were also studied. The diimine bridging parts as well as the diketone segment substituents had very close relationship with their performance upon the polymerization process. All these complexes gave moderately isotactic polylactides with controlled molecular weight and very narrow molecular weight distributions.     

Imidazolium salicylaldimine frameworks for the preparation of tridentate N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

Sterically hindered salicylaldimine functionalized imidazolium salts 2 have been prepared. The structures of the synthesized compounds were determined by spectroscopic techniques. The reaction of these salts containing arylmethyl-N chain (aryl: phenyl (2a), 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl (2b), 2,3,4,5,6-pentamethylphenyl (2c)) with Pd(OAc)₂ in boiling toluene afforded Pd(II) complexes 3 in high yields. The X-ray structure of 1-[3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-oxophenyl)propyliminato]-3-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzyl)imidazol-2-ylidenebromopalladium(II) (3b) has been determined. The Suzuki-Miyaura reaction was used to investigate their activity as catalysts either prepared in situ or from well-defined complexes. They are efficient when activated arylbromides are used as substrates.     

The (phosphino)tetraphenylborate ligand in ruthenium-arene chemistry

The synthesis of a series of anionic half-sandwich ruthenium-arene complexes [E][RuCl₂(η⁶-p-cymene){PR₂(p-Ph₃BC₆H₄)}] (E = Bu₄N⁺: R = Ph, 1a, ⁱPr, 1b or Cy, 1c; E = bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium or PNP⁺: R = Ph, 1a′, ⁱPr, 1b′ or Cy, 1c′) are reported. X-ray crystallographic studies of 1a′ and 1b′ confirmed the three-legged piano-stool coordination geometry. In solution, complexes 1a-c and 1a′-c′ are proposed to form monomer-dimer equilibria as a result of chloride ligand dissociation. Complexes 1a-c and 1a′-c′ also form the formally neutral zwitterionic complexes [RuCl(L)(η⁶-p-cymene){PR₂(p-Ph₃BC₆H₄)}] (L = pyridine: R = Ph, 2a, ⁱPr, 2b or Cy, 2c; L = MeCN: R = Ph, 3a, ⁱPr, 3b or Cy, 3c) via chloride ligand abstraction using AgNO₃ or MeOTf.     

Five-membered ring chelate complexes of Ni(II), Pd(II) and Pt(II) derived of di-(2-pyridyl)-N-ethylimine

Cis-diaquobis{di-(2-pyridyl)-N-ethylimine}nickel(II) chloride (2) was obtained from the reaction of di-(2-pyridyl)-N-ethylimine (1) and [NiCl₂dppe] [dppe = cis-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene] in a 2:1 ratio in hot acetonitrile. Cis-dichloro{di-(2-pyridyl)-N-ethylimine}palladium(II) (3) and cis-dichloro{di-(2-pyridyl)-N-ethylimine}platinum(II) (4) complexes were obtained from the reaction of MCl₂ (M = Pd, Pt) and (1) in equimolar ratio in hot acetonitrile. Compounds 1–4 were characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry; the complexes 3 and 4 were characterized in solution by NMR. In addition, solid state structures of compounds 1–4 were determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. X-ray diffraction data of the complexes 3 and 4 showed a distorted square planar local geometry at palladium and platinum atoms with the chlorine atoms in a cis-coordination; in 2 a local octahedral geometry at nickel atom was observed. Complexes 3 and 4 are arranged as dimers with a M?M distance of 3.4567(4) Å (M = Pd) and 3.4221(4) Å (M = Pt), respectively; 2 consists of units linked by intermolecular hydrogen bonding.     

The synthesis of oligoether-substituted benzimidazolium bromides and their use as ligand precursors for the Pd-catalyzed Heck coupling in water

The oligoether-substituted (CH₃(OCH₂CH₂)_n-; n = 1, 2 or 3) benzimidazolium bromides (3-7) and oligoether-linked (-CH₂(CH₂OCH₂)_nCH₂-, n = 1, 2 or 3) bisbenzimidazolium dibromides (8-13) were prepared by quarternization of N-substituted benzimidazoles (1 and 2) with the bulky benzyl bromides (ArCH₂Br: Ar = C₆H₂(CH₃)₃-2,4,6 and C₆(CH₃)₅). trans-Bis(carbene) palladium(II) complexes 14 and 15 derived from 4 and 6 were synthesized by using Ag complexes as carbene-transfer agents in dichloromethane at ambient temperature. In addition, the reactions of 4 and 6 with Pd(OAc)₂ and NaBr gave the Pd(II) dimers 16 and 17 which can readily be cleaved by triphenylphosphine to afford the benzannulated monocarbene (NHC) monophosphine Pd(II) complexes [PdBr₂(NHC)(PPh₃)] (18 and 19). All compounds have been fully characterized by using elemental analysis, ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR spectroscopies. X-ray diffraction studies on single crystals of 19a and 19b confirm the cis square planar geometry. In situ formed complexes from Pd(OAc)₂ and benzimidazolium salts (3-13) and preformed Pd(II) complexes 14, 15, 18 and 19 were tested as catalyst for the Heck coupling reaction in water. The influence of the oligoether and benzyl substituents on N atoms and CH₃-substituents on the 5,6-positions of benzimidazole frame were investigated under the same conditions in the Heck coupling reaction. In situ formed catalysts showed better conversions than the isolated Pd(II) complexes. The length of the oligoether spacer significantly increases the activity. The salts with two benzimidazole moieties connected by an oligoether as the spacer 8-13 showed similar catalytic activities in the Heck coupling reaction with the mono salts 3-7 bearing corresponding oligoethers on the N atom.     

Syntheses and catalytic activities of Pd(II) dicarbene and hetero-dicarbene complexes

A series of palladium(II) complexes (1-6) bearing cis-chelating homo-dicarbene ligands with varying alkyl bridges (C1-C3) and N-heterocyclic backbones (imidazole and benzimidazole) have been synthesized by reaction of Pd(OAc)₂ with the respective diazolium bromides (A·2HBr - F·2HBr) in DMSO. A comparative catalytic study employing aryl chlorides in the Mizoroki-Heck reaction revealed the superiority of methylene- and propylene-bridged dibenzimidazolin-2-ylidenes over their imidazole-derived analogues. Based on these results, two new propylene-bridged hetero-dicarbene complexes (7 and 8) were designed containing a mixed benzimidazole/imidazole-derived NHC-donor set. Notably, both complexes outperformed their homo-dicarbene analogues, which may be due to the electronic asymmetry induced by hetero-dicarbene ligands. The molecular structures of complex 6 and 8 are also presented.     

First structurally characterized triazinyl palladium complexes via oxidative addition of cyanuric chloride derivatives

The reaction of cyanuric chloride and two disubstituted derivatives with [Pd(PPh₃)₄] is described, leading to the trans-triazinyl complexes [(PPh₃)₂Pd(C₃N₃R₂)Cl] 2a-c (R = Ph (a), t-Bu (b), Cl (c)) in good to excellent yield via oxidative addition. The complexes were fully characterized including X-ray structure determination.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of enantiopure exo and endo six-membered oxazoline-derived palladacycles

Direct palladation of (S)-4-benzyl-2-methyl-2-oxazoline (1) and (S)-2-benzyl-4-tert-butyl-2-oxazoline (2) using Pd(OAc)₂ in MeCN afforded the corresponding μ-acetato-dimeric complexes with six-membered exo and endo palladacycles, respectively. The same complexes were obtained by reacting coordination complexes Pd(1)₂(OAc)₂ and Pd(2)₂(OAc)₂ with Pd(OAc)₂ in MeCN. Metalation of (S)-2,4-dibenzyl-2-oxazoline (3) with Pd(OAc)₂ in AcOH, MeCN or CH₂Cl₂ resulted in the regiospecific formation of the six-membered endo palladacycle. The obtained μ-acetato-dimeric complexes were converted to the corresponding μ-chloro-dimeric derivatives 7, 11 and 13 by treatment with LiCl in acetone. The mononuclear PPh₃ adducts 8, 12 and 14 were obtained by reacting dimers 7, 11 and 13 with PPh₃ in benzene. NMR spectroscopy data supported the proposed structures of all complexes and suggested that exo and endo palladacycles in 8 and 12 have rigid boat conformations in CHCl₃. The X-ray crystal structures of the μ-acetato dimer 6 with the exo palladacycle and the PPh₃ adduct 14 with the endo metalacycle revealed boat conformation of both palladacycles and chiral twisted conformations δ(S) and λ(S), respectively, of the oxazoline rings in the solid state.     

Au(I) and Au(III) complexes of a sterically bulky benzimidazole-derived N-heterocyclic carbene

The reaction of [AuCl(SMe₂)] with in situ generated [AgCl(ⁱPr₂-bimy)] (ⁱPr₂-bimy = 1,3-diisopropylbenzimidazolin-2-ylidene), which in turn was obtained by the reaction of Ag₂O with 1,3-diisopropylbenzimidazolium bromide (ⁱPr₂-bimyH⁺Br⁻, A), afforded the monocarbene Au(I) complex [AuCl(ⁱPr₂-bimy)] (1). Subsequent reaction of 1 and the ligand precursor ⁱPr₂-bimyH⁺BF₄⁻, (B) in acetone in the presence of K₂CO₃ yielded the bis(carbene) complex [Au(ⁱPr₂-bimy)₂]BF₄ (2) as a white powder in 80% yield. The oxidative addition of elemental iodine to complex 2 gave the bis(carbene) Au(III) complex trans-[AuI₂(ⁱPr₂-bimy)₂]BF₄ (3) as an orange-red powder in 92% yield. All complexes 1-3 have been fully characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopies, ESI mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and X-ray single crystal diffraction. Complexes 1 and 2 adopt a linear geometry around metal centers as expected for d¹⁰ metals. The geometry around the Au(III) metal center in 3 is essentially square-planar with two carbene ligands in trans-position to each other. Complex 3 shows absorption and photoluminescence properties owing to a ligand to metal charge transfer.     

Synthesis, structural, spectroscopic and reactivity properties of a new N-2,3,4-trifluorophenyl-3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylaldimine ligand and its Cu(II) and Pd(II) complexes

A new N-2,3,4-trifluorophenyl-3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylaldimine (1) complexes with Cu(II) (2) and Pd(II) (3) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography, UV-Vis, IR, ¹H NMR and EPR spectroscopic techniques. The X-ray crystal structure of complex 2 reveals tetrahedrally distorted square-planar coordination geometry around Cu(II). The UV/Vis and EPR results indicate that the solid state geometry of 2 remains unchanged in solutions. Chemical oxidation of 3 with Ce(IV) in CHCl₃ generates relatively stable Pd(II)-phenoxyl radical complex (g = 2.0073). The results related with the chemical oxidation of 2 and 3 as well as the catalytic activity of 3 in the hydrogenation of PhNO₂ are presented.     

Synthesis of aluminium complexes bearing a piperazine-based ligand system

Aluminium complexes bearing the N,N-chelating ligand 1,4-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butyl)piperazine (1) have been synthesised. Both monometallic and bimetallic aluminium methyl complexes (2 and 3, respectively) were prepared by treatment of 1 with the appropriate amount of AlMe₃. Complex 2 can be converted to 3 by addition of excess AlMe₃. Bimetallic aluminium-ethyl complex 4 was also prepared. Treatment of 1 with AlEt₂Cl afforded the monometallic chloride complex 5. Treatment of this latter complex with potassium alkoxides (KOR, R = Me, Et, ⁱPr, ^tBu) or AgOTf afforded the corresponding aluminium alkoxide complexes (6, R = Et; 7, R = Me; 8, R = ⁱPr; 9, R = ^tBu; 10, R = OTf) in good yields. Aluminium ethoxide complex 6 was also synthesised by treatment of 1 with AlEt₂OEt. All of these complexes were tested as potential catalysts in the ring-opening polymerisation of rac-lactide and caprolactone with limited success.