Calix[4]arenes with one and two N-linked imidazolium units as precursors of N-heterocyclic carbene complexes. Coordination chemistry and use in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling

The calix[4]arene-imidazolium salts 5-(3-butyl-1-imidazolylium)-25,26,27,28-tetrabenzyloxy-calix[4]arene bromide (cone) (2), and 5,11-bis(3-alkyl-1-imidazolylium)-25,26,27,28-tetrabenzyloxycalix[4]arene diiodide (cone) (R = methyl, 3a; R = n-butyl, 3b) have been synthesised. Reaction of 2 in dioxane with PdCl(2) in the presence of CsCO(3) and KBr (80 °C, 24 h) gives the carbene complex trans-[PdBr(2)(calix-monocarbene)(2)] (14), containing two N-heterocyclic carbene ligands derived from 2 (yield: 63%). Repeating the reaction in pyridine instead of dioxane gives the mixed pyridine-carbene complex trans-[PdBr(2)(calix-carbene)(pyridine)] (15) in 75% yield. Treatment of the bis-imidazolium salt 3a with [Pd(OAc)(2)] affords a chelate complex, trans-[PdI(2){calix-bis(carbene)}] (16), in which a metallo-(bis-carbene) fragment caps the upper rim of the calixarene basket. Complex 16, as well as its analogue 17, obtained from 3b, display apparent C(s)-symmetry in solution. This is not the case in the solid state, a single X-ray diffraction study carried out for 16 revealing a pinced cone structure for the calixarene skeleton, which reduces the symmetry to C(1). The chelate complex 17 shows poor activity in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of phenyl boronic acid and p-tolyl halides, an observation that suggests the presence of a strained metallocyclic unit preventing easy stereochemical rearrangement to an active species. Unlike 17, complexes 14 and 15 show good activities in cross-coupling. A comparative study using the carbene precursor 1-butyl-3-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolium bromide (18), which is devoid of the receptor fragment, strongly suggests that the carbene ligands of 14 and 15 operate typically as bulky NHC-ligands.     

Operationally unsaturated pincer/rhenium complexes form metal carbenes from cycloalkenes and metal carbynes from alkanes

Operationally unsaturated (i.e., 16/18-electron) (PNPR)Re(H)4, where PNPR is N(SiMe2CH2PR2)2, is reactive at 22 degrees C with cyclic olefins. The first observed products are generally (PNPR)Re(H)2(cycloalkylidene), with hydrogenated olefin as the product of hydrogen abstraction from the tetrahydride. The tetrahydride complex with R = tBu generally fails to react (too bulky), that with R = cyclohexyl suffers a (controllable) tendency to abstraction of 3H from one ring, forming an eta3-cyclohexenyl compound, and that with R = iPr generally gives the richest bimolecular reactivity. The cyclic monoolefins studied show distinct reactivity, C6 giving first the carbene and then coordinated cyclohexadiene, C5 giving carbene, then diene, and then eta5-C5H5, C8 giving carbene and then eta2-cyclooctyne, and C12 giving an eta3-allyl. Norbornene gives a pi-complex of the norbornene in thermal equilibrium with its carbene isomer; at 90 degrees C, hydrocarbon ligand Calpha-Cbeta bond cleavage occurs to give, for the first time, a carbyne complex from an internal olefin. Two compounds synthesized here have the formal composition "(PNPR)Re + olefin", and each of these is capable of dehydrogenating the methyl group of a variety of alkanes at 110 degrees C to form (PNP)ReH triple bond (CR).     

Oxygen-atom transfer from carbon dioxide to a Fischer carbene at (PNP)Ir

Dehydrogenation of the dihydride (PNP)IrH2 with norbornylene in the presence of t-butyl methyl ether leads to formation of an iridium(I) Fischer carbene complex, (PNP)Ir C(H)OtBu, by double C-H activation and loss of H2. The square planar pincer-type carbene effects quantitative oxygen-atom transfer from CO2 (1 atm) at ambient temperature to generate t-butyl formate and (PNP)Ir-CO. The iridium carbene reacts similarly with carbonyl sulfide and phenyl isocyanate, causing sulfur-atom and nitrene-group transfer, respectively. In the absence of a hydrogen acceptor, thermolysis of (PNP)IrH2 in t-butyl methyl ether under an atmosphere of CO2 also results in the formation of (PNP)Ir-CO and oxidation of t-butyl methyl ether to t-butyl formate via an iridium carbene. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that these reactions proceed through an intermediate four-membered metallalactone.     

Easy synthesis of heterocyclic carbene complexes by activation of chalcogenopyrones and benzopyrones to pyrylium salts and subsequent addition of carbanion of methoxy(methyl)pentacarbonyltungsten carbene complex

Methylenechalcogenopyran and benzopyran Fischer carbene complexes are easily obtained from commercially available chalcogenopyrones or benzopyrones and carbanion of methoxy(methyl)carbene tungsten complex. The key of the heterocyclic carbene formation is the activation of the carbonyl group by alkylation with alkyl trifluoromethanesulfonate reagent.     

CH3--MoF], [CH2=MoHF], and [CH[triple bond]MoH2F] formed by reaction of laser-ablated molybdenum atoms with methyl fluoride: persistent photoreversible interconversion through alpha-hydrogen migration and agostic interaction

Simple molybdenum methyl, carbene, and carbyne complexes, [CH3--MoF], [CH2=MoHF], and [CH[triple chemical bond]MoH(2)F], were formed by the reaction of laser-ablated molybdenum atoms with methyl fluoride and isolated in an argon matrix. These molecules provide a persistent photoreversible system through alpha-hydrogen migration between the carbon and metal atoms: The methyl and carbene complexes are produced by applying UV irradiation (240-380 nm) while the carbyne complex is depleted, and the process reverses on irradiation with visible light (lambda>420 nm). An absorption at 589.3 cm(-1) is attributed to the Mo--F stretching mode of [CH3--MoF], which is in fact the most stable of the plausible products. Density functional theory calculations show that one of the alpha-hydrogen atoms of the carbene complex is considerably bent toward the metal atom (angle-spherical HCMo=84.5 degrees ), which provides evidence of a strong agostic interaction in the triplet ground state. The calculated C[triple chemical bond]Mo bond length in the carbyne is in the range of triple-bond values in methylidyne complexes.     

Convergent synthesis of fully functionalized ring C allocolchicinoids. Benzannulation approach

[reaction: see text]. A novel convergent approach to fully functionalized ring C allocolchicinoids is developed which is based on the benzannulation reaction of Fischer carbene complexes with alkynes. The efficacy of this strategy was established with the conversion of bromide 1a (R1 = Me, R2 = H) to the biaryl phenol 3a (R = Me, R(L) = Pr, R(S) = H) via the carbene complex 2a. Bromide 1b (R1 = t-Bu, R2 = OMe) was then used for the analogous preparation of the diastereomeric allocolchicinoids 3b (R = Me, R(L) = Pr, R(S) = H).     

含烯烃配体的过渡金属卡宾配合物的研究 XVI. 丁二烯-和异戊二烯二羰基[乙氧基(芳基)卡宾]铁配合物的异构化产物与三苯膦和亚磷酸三苯酯的反应研究

丁二烯二羰基[乙氧基(芳基)卡宾]铁配合物的异构化产物,C4H6(CO)2FeC(OC2H5)Ar(1,Ar=苯基, 2, Ar=对甲苯基),在己烷溶液中于-60到-40℃与三苯膦或亚磷酸三苯酯反应生产产物3-6。当1与三苯膦在己烷中于60-70℃反应时, 除了生成3外, 还获得双膦配位的产物7。而异戊二烯二羰基[乙氧基(芳基)卡宾]铁配合物的异构化产物与亚磷酸三苯酯反应则生成橙黄色结晶产物9,9的X射线衍射研究表明, 二烯配体的键型发生了有趣的变化, 即原铁配合物的π-烯丙基部分变为更有趣的含芳环的三烯体系和生成一个η^4配体以满足18电子规则。     

Rearrangement of the tris(2-pyridylthio)methanido ligand in an iron(II) complex containing an Fe-C bond

Iron(II) tris(2-pyridylthio)methanido (1) containing an Fe-C bond, obtained from the reaction of tris(2-pyridylthio)methane (HL(1)) and iron(II) triflate, reacts with protic acid to generate iron(II) bis(2-pyridylthio)carbene (1a). The carbene complex is converted to an iron(II) complex (2) of the 1-[bis(2-pyridylthio)methyl]pyridine-2-thione ligand (L(3)) upon treatment with a base. Complex 2 reversibly transforms to 1a in the presence of an acid. During the transformation of 1 to 2, a novel rearrangement of L(1) to L(3) takes place. The iron(II) complexes are reactive toward dioxygen to form the corresponding iron(III) complexes.     

Biscarbene-ruthenium complexes in catalysis: novel stereoselective synthesis of (1E,3E)-1,4-disubstituted-1,3-dienes via head-to-head coupling of terminal alkynes and addition of carboxylic acids

The reaction of a variety of alkynes RCtbd1;CH with a variety of carboxylic acids R(1)CO(2)H, in the presence of 5% of RuCl(COD)C(5)Me(5), selectively leads to the dienylesters (1E,3E)-RCH(1)=CH(2)-CH(3)=C(R)(O(2)CR(1)). The reaction also applies to amino acid and dicarboxylic acid derivatives. It is shown that the first step of the reaction consists of the head-to-head alkyne coupling and of the formation of the metallacyclic biscarbene-ruthenium complex isolated for R = Ph and catalyzing the formation of dienylester. D-labeled reactions show that the alkyne protons remain at the alkyne terminal carbon atoms and carboxylic acid protonates the C(1) carbon atom. QM/MM (ONIOM) calculations, supporting a mixed Fischer-Schrock-type biscarbene complex, show that protonation occurs preferentially at the carbene carbon C(1) adjacent to Ru, in the relative cis position with respect to the Ru-Cl bond, to give a mixed C(1)alkyl-C(4)carbene complex in which the C(4) carbene is conjugated with the noncoordinated C(2)=C(3) double bond. This 16-electron intermediate has a weak stabilizing alpha agostic C-H bond. This most stable isomer appears to have a C(4) center more accessible to the nucleophilic addition which accounts for the experimentally observed product.     

A new entry to N-heterocyclic carbene chemistry: synthesis and characterisation of a triscarbene complex of thallium(I)

The synthesis and characterisation of a thallium(I) triscarbene complex of the chelating, tripodal carbene ligand 1,3,5-[tris(3-tert-butylimidazol-2-ylideno)methyl]-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene is reported, in which the thallium ion is coordinated by three N-heterocyclic carbene donors in a distorted trigonal planar environment.     

Intramolecular hydrogen transfer of aminocarbene complexes leading to imines

Displacement of the amino carbene ligand from complexes of the type [(CO)₅CrC(R)NHR′] [R = Ph; R′ = Ph, NHPh; R = Me, R′ = 2-(3-indolyl)ethyl] with a coordinating base such as pyridine, affords the corresponding imine, RCH = NR′, as a result of intramolecular hydrogen transfer. The intermediacy ofa hydrazinocarbene complex in the reaction of an alkoxy carbene complex with hydrazines to give a coordinated nitrile is established.     

Gold carbene complexes as intermediates in the α-addition of amines to isocyanides

The reaction of amines and isocyanides with tetrachloroaurate(III) yields carbene complexes of the type Au {C(NHR)NR′R″}₂⁺. Under thermal decomposition or treatment with added ligands (cyanide ion or methyl isocyanide) the carbene ligands are liberated to yield formamidines.     

Synthesis of Platinum(II) N-Heterocyclic Carbenes Based on Adenosine

Organometallic derivatization of nucleosides is a highly promising strategy for the improvement of the therapeutic profile of nucleosides. Herein, a methodology for the synthesis of metalated adenosine with a deprotected ribose moiety is described. Platinum(II) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes based on adenosine were synthesized, namely N-heterocyclic carbenes bearing a protected and unprotected ribose ring. Reaction of the 8-bromo-2′,3′,5′-tri-O-acetyladenosine with Pt(PPh₃)₄ by C8−Br oxidative addition yielded complex 1, with a Pt^II centre bonded to C-8 and an unprotonated N7. Complex 1 reacted at N7 with HBF₄ or methyl iodide, yielding protic carbene 2 or methyl carbene 3, respectively. Deprotection of 1 to yield 4 was achieved with NH₄OH. Deprotected compound 4 reacted at N7 with HCl solutions to yield protic NHC 5 or with methyl iodide yielding methyl carbene 6. Protic N-heterocyclic carbene 5 is not stable in DMSO solutions leading to the formation of compound 7, in which a bromide was replaced by chloride. The cis-influence of complexes 1–7 was examined by ³¹P{¹H} and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR. Complexes 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 induce a decrease of ¹J_Pt,P of more than 300 Hz, as result of the higher cis-influence of the N-heterocyclic carbene when compared to the azolato ligand in 1 and 4.     

Tracking "invisible" alkylchlorocarbenes by their sigma --> p absorptions: dynamics and solvent interactions

Contrary to implications in the literature, the sigma --> p absorptions of alkylchlorocarbenes (RCCl) are readily acquired by laser flash photolysis with UV-vis detection in solution at ambient temperature. Examples include RCCl with R = methyl, benzyl, t-butyl, 1-adamantyl, and cyclopropyl. These absorptions permit direct monitoring of carbene reactions and the formation of carbene-solvent complexes. The kinetics of the reactions of "free" and complexed MeCCl and PhCH2CCl were directly followed with tetramethylethylene and 1-hexene. Particularly effective complexation was provided by anisole and 1,3-dimethoxybenzene, which modulated the rates of intermolecular carbene additions. Computational studies are presented, which aid in understanding the carbene absorption spectra and the nature of the solvent complexes.     

Solvent-controlled diastereoselective synthesis of cyclopentane derivatives by a [3 + 2] cyclization reaction of alpha,beta-disubstituted (alkenyl)(methoxy)carbene complexes with methyl ketone lithium enolates

Reaction of alpha,beta-unsaturated methoxycarbene complexes 1 and 11 with methyl ketone lithium enolates 2 leads to the corresponding five-membered carbocyclic compounds 4 or diast-4 and 12. The influence of the solvent and/or cosolvent (PMDTA), which turned out to be crucial to direct the reaction to 4 or diast-4, is studied, and a tentative mechanism according to these facts is proposed. In addition, the reaction of carbene complex 1a with alkynyl methyl ketone lithium enolates can be directed to the formal [3 + 2] or [4 + 1] cyclization products by a slight variation of the reaction conditions. Finally, consecutive three-component coupling reactions with carbene complex 1a, lithium enolates 2, and aldehydes 18 to give, in a diastereoselective way, hydroxy carbonyl compounds 19 and tricyclic polyethers 20 are presented.     

C-C alpha insertion: insertion of an alkyne into the C-C single bond between the carbene-carbon atom and the alpha-carbon atom of a Fischer carbene complex by an unprecedented metalla(di-pi-methane) skeletal rearrangement

The first examples of insertion of a C(triple bond)C bond of an alkyne into a C(carbene)-Calpha single bond of a carbene complex (C-Calpha insertion) are reported. (prim-Alkyl)carbene complexes [(OC)(5)M=C(OEt)CH(2)R] (1 a-f; M=Cr, W; R=nPr, C(7)H(7), Ph) undergo C-Calpha insertion of electron-deficient alkynes [PhC(triple bond)CC(XEt)NMe(2)]BF(4) (5 a,b; X=O, S) to give zwitterionic carbiminium carbonylmetalates 3 a-g, which are thermally transformed into (CO)(4)M chelate carbene complexes 4 a-g by elimination of CO. The overall reaction is highly regio- and stereoselective. It involves an unprecedented metalla(di-pi-methane) rearrangement as the key step.     

Computational and experimental studies on the mechanism of the photochemical carbonylation of group 6 Fischer carbene complexes

The photocarbonylation reaction of Group 6 Fischer carbene complexes has been studied by DFT and experimental procedures. The process occurs by intersystem crossing (ISC) from the lowest excited singlet state (S1) to the lowest triplet state (T1), the latter structure being decisive for the outcome of the reaction. Methylenepentacarbonylchromium(0) complexes, alkoxypentacarbonylchromium(0)carbene complexes, and alkoxyphosphinetetracarbonylchromium(0) carbene complexes have coordinatively unsaturated chromacyclopropanone T1 structures with a biradical character. The evolution of the metallacyclopropanone species occurs by a jump (spin inversion) to the S(0) hypersurface by coordination of a molecule of the solvent, leading to ketene-derived products in the presence of ketenophiles or reverting to the starting carbene complex in their absence. The T1 excited states obtained from methylenephosphinetetracarbonylchromium(0) complexes and pentacarbonyltungsten(0)carbene complexes are unable to produce the carbonylation. The reaction with ketenophiles is favored in coordinating solvents, which has been tested experimentally in the reaction of alkoxypentacarbonylchromium(0) complexes and imines.     

Cu(I)-catalyzed regioselective synthesis of polysubstituted furans from propargylic esters via postulated (2-furyl)carbene complexes

Polysubstituted furan derivatives are regioselective obtained from (bis-alkynyl)methyl carboxylates in the presence of catalytic amounts of copper(I) salts. This multistep process is consistent with the intermediacy of a copper(I) (2-furyl)carbene complex which is intercepted by suitable trapping reagents.     

Stable optically pure phosphino(silyl)carbenes: reagents for highly enantioselective cyclopropanation reactions

The stability of phosphino(trimethylsilyl)carbenes bearing cyclic diamino substituents on phosphorus is strongly dependent on the steric hindrance of the nitrogen substituents. Phosphinocarbenes 3 and 7, derived from the trans-N,N'-diisopropylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine and N,N'-diisopropyl-1,2-ethanediamine, are not observed; instead the 1,3-diphosphete 4 and a novel six-membered heterocycle 8, which results from the dimerization of 3 and the reaction of 7 with its diazo precursor 6, respectively, have been isolated. In contrast, the phosphino(silyl)carbene 14 derived from N,N'-di-tert-butyl-1,2-ethanediamine has been isolated in high yield. By using the enantiomerically pure (S,S)-, and (R,R)-N,N'-di-tert-butyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediamines, the first optically pure phosphino(sily)carbenes (S,S)-17 and (R,R)-17 have been prepared. They react with methyl acrylate to give the corresponding cyclopropanes (S,S,R,R)-19 and (R,R,S,S)-19 with a total syn diastereoselectivity and an excellent enantioselectivity (de>98 %).     

Ruthenium alkylidenes: modulation of a new class of catalysts for controlled radical polymerization of vinyl monomers

Air-stable and readily available ruthenium benzylidene complexes of the general type [RuCl2(=CHPh)(L)(L')] (L, L' = PCy3 and/or N-heterocyclic carbene) constitute a new class of catalyst precursors for atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate and styrene, and provide an unprecedented example for the involvement of ruthenium alkylidenes in radical reactions. They promote the polymerization of various monomers with good to excellent yields, and in a controlled way with methyl methacrylate and styrene. Variations of their basic structural motif provide insights into the essential parameters responsible for catalytic activity. The ligands L (PCy3 and/or N-heterocyclic carbene) turned out to play a particularly important role in determining the rate of the polymerizations. A similarly pronounced influence is exerted by the substituents on the N-heterocyclic carbene. Our results indicate that the catalysts decompose quickly under ATRP conditions, and polymerizations are mediated by both [RuCl2(=CHPh)(L)(L')] complexes and ruthenium species bereft of the benzylidene moiety, through a pathway in which both tricyclohexylphosphane and/or N-heterocyclic carbene ligands remain bound to the metal center. Polymerization of n-butyl acrylate and vinyl acetate is not controlled and most probably takes place through a redox-initiated free-radical process.