Asymmetric hydrogenation of tert-alkyl ketones

A combined system of RuCl2(tolbinap)(pica) and an alkaline or organic phosphazene base catalyzes asymmetric hydrogenation of sterically congested tert-alkyl ketones (TolBINAP = 2,2'-bis(di-4-tolylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl, PICA = alpha-picolylamine). Hydrogenation with RuH(eta1-BH4)(tolbinap)(pica) does not require any strong base. Alcoholic solvents strongly affect the catalytic efficiency. The reaction proceeds smoothly in ethanol under 1-20 atm of H2 and at room temperature with a substrate to catalyst molar ratio of up to 100 000. Various aliphatic, aromatic, heteroaromatic, and olefinic tert-alkyl ketones are convertible to the corresponding chiral carbinols in high enantiomeric purity. Olefinic and heteroaromatic functions are left intact. Certain cyclic ketones are also usable. The mode of enantioface selection is consistent and predictable.     

Thermal decomposition mechanisms of tert-alkyl peroxypivalates studied by the nitroxide radical trapping technique

The thermolysis of a series of tert-alkyl peroxypivalates 1 in cumene has been investigated by using the nitroxide radical-trapping technique. tert-Alkoxyl radicals generated from the thermolysis underwent the unimolecular reactions, beta-scission, and 1,5-H shift, competing with hydrogen abstraction from cumene. The absolute rate constants for beta-scission of tert-alkoxyl radicals, which vary over 4 orders of magnitude, indicate the vastly different behavior of alkoxyl radicals. However, the radical generation efficiencies of 1 varied only slightly, from 53 (R = Me) to 63% (R = Bu(t)()), supporting a mechanism involving concerted two-bond scission within the solvent cage to generate the tert-butyl radical, CO(2), and an alkoxyl radical. The thermolysis rate constants of tert-alkyl peroxypivalates 1 were influenced by both inductive and steric effects [Taft-Ingold equation, log(rel k(d)) = (0.97 +/- 0. 14)Sigmasigma - (0.31 +/- 0.04)SigmaE(s)(c), was obtained].     

Exceptionally long-lived luminescence from [Cu(I)(isocyanide)2(phen)]+ complexes in nanoporous crystals enables remarkable oxygen gas sensing

We report crystalline mixed-ligand copper complexes with phenanthroline and isocyanides with almost millesecond emission lifetimes that are efficient dioxygen sensors. The oxygen sensitivity of the prototype ([Cu(CN-xylyl)(2)(dmp)]tfpb, dmp = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline; CN-xylyl = 2,6-dimethylphenylisocyanide; tfpb = tetrakis(bis-3,5-trifluoromethylphenylborate) is 38 times better than that of [Ru(phen)(3)]tfpb(2) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline).     

Cyclometallated Pd(II) azido complexes containing 6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridyl or 2-phenylpyridyl derivatives: synthesis and reactivity toward organic isocyanides and isothiocyanates

Cyclometallated palladium(II) azido complexes containing C,N,N- or C,N-donor ligands, [Pd(N(3))L](HL = 6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine or 2-phenylpyridyl derivatives), showed different reactivities toward organic isocyanides and isothiocyanates. In particular, aryl isocyanides (CN-Ar) underwent insertion into the orthometallated Pd-C bond on the phenyl moiety of the supporting ligand (L) in [Pd(N(3))L] or [Pd(N(3))(PR(3))L] to selectively give carbodiimido [[Pd(N=C=N-Ar)L]], imidoyl [[Pd(N(3))(-C=N-Ar)(PR(3))L]], or imidoyl carbodiimido complexes [[Pd(N=C=N-Ar)(-C=N-Ar)L] or [Pd(N=C=N-Ar)(-C=N-Ar)(PR(3))L]], depending on reaction conditions. Interestingly, reactions of [Pd(N(3))(PR(3))L] with organic isothiocyanates gave unusual dinuclear complexes [(micro-SCN(4)-R)PdL](2), exhibiting the concurrent S- and N-coordinating thio-tetrazole bridge.     

Syntheses of stable N-tert-alkoxyarylaminyl mono- and diradicals by the reaction of the lithium salts of 2,4,6-trisubstituted anilines with tert-alkyl mono- and diperoxybenzoates

[reaction: see text] The reaction of the lithium salts of 2,4,6-triaryl- and 2-tert-butyl-4,6-diarylanilines with tert-alkyl mono- and diperoxybenzoates gave isolable N-tert-alkoxyarylaminyl mono- and diradicals. The substituent effects of tert-alkyl peroxybenzoates on the yields of N-tert-alkylarylaminyls were studied.     

Enantioselective hydrocyanation of aldehydes catalyzed by [Li{Ru(phgly)2(binap)}]X (X = Cl, Br)

Novel bimetallic complexes [Li{Ru[(S)-phgly](2)[(S)-binap]}]X (X = Cl, Br) are readily synthesized by mixing Ru[(S)-phgly](2)[(S)-binap] and LiX. A single-crystal X-ray analysis reveals the structure. These bimetallic complexes efficiently catalyze asymmetric hydrocyanation of aldehydes with a substrate-to-catalyst molar ratio of 500-2000 at -78 to -60 °C. A range of aromatic, heteroaromatic, and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes as well as a tert-alkyl aldehyde is converted to the cyanohydrins in high enantiomeric excess (up to 99%).     

Gold metal-catalyzed reactions of isocyanides with primary amines and oxygen: analogies with reactions of isocyanides in transition metal complexes

Despite its generally poor catalytic properties, bulk gold metal is observed to catalyze reactions of isocyanides (CN-R) with primary amines (H2N-R') and O2 to give carbodiimides (R-N=C=N-R') at room temperature and above. Detailed infrared reflection absorption spectroscopic (IRRAS) and kinetic studies show that the reaction occurs by initial eta1-adsorption of the isocyanide on the Au surface, which activates the isocyanide to attack by the amine. This attack is the rate-determining step in the catalytic cycle and has characteristics very similar to those of amine reactions with coordinated isocyanides in transition metal complexes. However, the metallic Au surface provides a pathway involving O2 to give the carbodiimide product whereas homogeneous metal ion catalysts give formamidines [HC(=NR)(NHR')].     

Molecular structures,bond energies,and bonding analysis of group 11 cyanides TM(CN) and isocyanides TM(NC) (TM = Cu,Ag, Au)

We report on quantum chemical calculations at the DFT (BP86/TZP) and ab initio (CCSD(T)/III+) levels of the title compounds. The geometries, vibrational spectra, heats of formation, and homolytic and heterolytic bond dissociation energies are given. The calculated bond length of Cu-CN is in reasonable agreement with experiment. The theoretical geometries for CuNC and the other group 11 cyanides and isocyanides which have not been measured as isolated species provide a good estimate for the exact values. The theoretical bond dissociation energies and heats of formation should be accurate with an error limit of +/-5 kcal/mol. The calculation of the vibrational spectra shows that the C-N stretching mode of the cyanides, which lies between 2170 and 2180 cm(-)(1), is IR inactive. The omega(1)(C-N) vibrations of the isocyanides are shifted by approximately 100 cm(-)(1) to lower wavenumbers. They are predicted to have a very large IR intensity. The nature of the metal-ligand interactions was investigated with the help of an energy partitioning analysis in two different ways using the charged fragments TM(+) + CN(-) (TM = transition metal) and the neutral fragments TM(*) + CN(*) as bonding partners. The calculations suggest that covalent interactions are the driving force for the formation of the TM-CN and TM-NC bonds, but the finally formed bonds are better described in terms of interactions between TM(+) and CN(-), which have between 73% and 80% electrostatic character. The contribution of the pi bonding is rather small. The lower energy of the metal cyanides than that of the isocyanides comes from the stronger electrostatic interaction between the more diffuse electron density at the carbon atom of the cyano ligand and the positively charged nucleus of the metal.     

Synthesis of allyl cyanamides and N-cyanoindoles via the palladium-catalyzed three-component coupling reaction

The palladium-catalyzed three-component coupling reaction (TCCR) of aryl isocyanides, allyl methyl carbonate, and trimethylsilyl azide was conducted in the presence of Pd(2)(dba)(3).CHCl(3) (2.5 mol %) and dppe (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) (10 mol %). Allyl aryl cyanamides with a wide variety of functional groups were obtained in excellent yields. This palladium-catalyzed TCCR was further utilized for the synthesis of N-cyanoindoles. The reaction of 2-alkynylisocyanobenzenes, allyl methyl carbonate, and trimethylsilyl azide in the presence of Pd(2)(dba)(3).CHCl(3) (2.5 mol %) and tri(2-furyl)phosphine (10 mol %) at higher temperatures afforded N-cyanoindoles in good to allowable yields. (eta(3)-Allyl)(eta(3)-cyanamido)palladium complex, an analogue of the bis-pi-allylpalladium complex, is a key intermediate in the TCCR, and a pi-allylpalladium mimic of the Curtius rearrangement is involved to generate the (eta(3)-allyl)(eta(3)-cyanamido)palladium intermediate.     

Evidence for Carbene Intermediates in Isocyanide Homologation by Aluminium(I)

The C−C bond formation between C1 molecules plays an important role in chemistry as manifested by the Fischer–Tropsch (FT) process. Serving as models for the FT process, we report here the reactions between a neutral Al^I complex (^MeNacNac)Al ( 1 , ^MeNacNac=HC[(CMe)(NDipp)]₂, Dipp=2,6-diisopropylphenyl) and various isocyanides. The step-by-step coupling mechanism was studied in detail by low-temperature NMR monitoring, isotopic labeling, as well as quantum chemical calculations. Three different products were isolated in reaction of 1 with the sterically encumbered 2,6-bis(benzhydryl)-4-Me-phenyl isocyanide (BhpNC). These products substantiate carbene intermediates. The reaction between 1 and adamantyl isocyanide (AdNC) generated a trimerization product, and a corresponding carbene intermediate could be trapped in the form of a molybdenum(0) complex. Tri-, tetra-, and even pentamerization products were isolated with the sterically less congested phenyl and p-methoxyphenyl isocyanides (PhNC and PMPNC) with concurrent construction of quinoline or indole heterocycles. Overall, this study provides evidence for carbene intermediates in FT-type chemistry of aluminium(I) and isocyanides.     

Fine-tuning the weak-link approach: effect of ligand electron density on the formation of rhodium(I) and iridium(I) metallomacrocycles

A novel bis(phosphinoalkyl-thioether)arene ligand with a fluorinated aryl group (1,4-(Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)S)(2)C(6)F(4)) has been synthesized. This ligand has been used to prepare symmetric bimetallic structures with Rh(I) and Ir(I) metal centers in high yield. Unlike their nonfluorinated counterparts, these complexes can be opened into large macrocyclic structures through straightforward ligand (i.e., carbon monoxide, nitriles, and isocyanides) substitution reactions at the metal-thioether linkage. In addition, the symmetric bimetallic structures have been shown to react with appropriately sized bifunctional aromatic molecules to form three-tiered host-guest structures.     

Isocyanide insertion into platinumoxygen bonds

The reaction of isocyanides, CNR, with hydroxy- and methoxy-alkyl complexes of platinum(II), PtOH(R)(Ph₂ PCHCHPPh₂)_and PtOCH₃(R)(Ph₂PCHCHPPh₂) (R  CF₃, CH₂ CN) affords insertion products Pt(CONHR)(R)(Ph₂PCHCHPPh₂) and Pt[C(OCH₃)NR] (R)(Ph₂PCHCHPPh₂) containing the carboxamido and imidoyl moiety, respectively.     

Ligand topology effect on the reactivity of a mononuclear nonheme iron(IV)-oxo complex in oxygenation reactions

Mononuclear nonheme iron(IV)-oxo complexes with two different topologies, cis-α-[Fe(IV)(O)(BQCN)](2+) and cis-β-[Fe(IV)(O)(BQCN)](2+), were synthesized and characterized with various spectroscopic methods. The effect of ligand topology on the reactivities of nonheme iron(IV)-oxo complexes was investigated in C-H bond activation and oxygen atom-transfer reactions; cis-α-[Fe(IV)(O)(BQCN)](2+) was more reactive than cis-β-[Fe(IV)(O)(BQCN)](2+) in the oxidation reactions. The reactivity difference between the cis-α and cis-β isomers of [Fe(IV)(O)(BQCN)](2+) was rationalized with the Fe(IV/III) redox potentials of the iron(IV)-oxo complexes: the Fe(IV/III) redox potential of the cis-α isomer was 0.11 V higher than that of the cis-β isomer.     

Dynamics of Zn(II) binding as a key feature in the formation of amyloid fibrils by Aβ11-28

Supramolecular assembly of peptides and proteins into amyloid fibrils is of multifold interest, going from materials science to physiopathology. The binding of metal ions to amyloidogenic peptides is associated with several amyloid diseases, and amyloids with incorporated metal ions are of interest in nanotechnology. Understanding the mechanisms of amyloid formation and the role of metal ions can improve strategies toward the prevention of this process and enable potential applications in nanotechnology. Here, studies on Zn(II) binding to the amyloidogenic peptide Aβ11-28 are reported. Zn(II) modulates the Aβ11-28 aggregation, in terms of kinetics and fibril structures. Structural studies suggest that Aβ11-28 binds Zn(II) by amino acid residues Glu11 and His14 and that Zn(II) is rapidly exchanged between peptides. Structural and aggregation data indicate that Zn(II) binding induces the formation of the dimeric Zn(II)(1)(Aβ11-28)(2) species, which is the building block of fibrillar aggregates and explains why Zn(II) binding accelerates Aβ11-28 aggregation. Moreover, transient Zn(II) binding, even briefly, was enough to promote fibril formation, but the final structure resembled that of apo-Aβ11-28 amyloids. Also, seeding experiments, i.e., the addition of fibrillar Zn(II)(1)(Aβ11-28)(2) to the apo-Aβ11-28 peptide, induced aggregation but not propagation of the Zn(II)(1)(Aβ11-28)(2)-type fibrils. This can be explained by the dynamic Zn(II) binding between soluble and aggregated Aβ11-28. As a consequence, dynamic Zn(II) binding has a strong impact on the aggregation behavior of the Aβ11-28 peptide and might be a relevant and so far little regarded parameter in other systems of metal ions and amyloidogenic peptides.     

Cationic diiron and diruthenium μ-allenyl complexes: synthesis, X-ray structures and cyclization reactions with ethyldiazoacetate/amine affording unprecedented butenolide- and furaniminium-substituted bridging carbene ligands

The novel cationic diiron μ-allenyl complexes [Fe(2)Cp(2)(CO)(2)(μ-CO){μ-η(1):η(2)(α,β)-C(α)(H)=C(β)=C(γ)(R)(2)}](+) (R = Me, 4a; R = Ph, 4b) have been obtained in good yields by a two-step reaction starting from [Fe(2)Cp(2)(CO)(4)]. The solid state structures of [4a][CF(3)SO(3)] and of the diruthenium analogues [Ru(2)Cp(2)(CO)(2)(μ-CO){μ-η(1):η(2)(α,β)-C(α)(H)=C(β)=C(γ)(R)(2)}][BPh(4)] (R = Me, [2a][BPh(4)]; R = Ph, [2c][BPh(4)]) have been ascertained by X-ray diffraction studies. The reactions of 2c and 4a with Br?nsted bases result in formation of the μ-allenylidene compound [Ru(2)Cp(2)(CO)(2)(μ-CO){μ-η(1):η(1)-C(α)=C(β)=C(γ)(Ph)(2)}] (5) and of the dimetallacyclopentenone [Fe(2)Cp(2)(CO)(μ-CO){μ-η(1):η(3)-C(α)(H)=C(β)(C(γ)(Me)CH(2))C(=O)}] (6), respectively. The nitrile adducts [Ru(2)Cp(2)(CO)(NCMe)(μ-CO){μ-η(1):η(2)-C(α)(H)=C(β)=C(γ)(R)(2)}](+) (R = Me, 7a; R = Ph, 7b), prepared by treatment of 2a,c with MeCN/Me(3)NO, react with N(2)CHCO(2)Et/NEt(3) at room temperature, affording the butenolide-substituted carbene complexes [Ru(2)Cp(2)(CO)(μ-CO){μ-η(1):η(3)-C(α)(H)[upper bond 1 start]C(β)C(γ)(R)(2)OC(=O)C[upper bond 1 end](H)] (R = Me, 10a; R = Ph, 10b). The intermediate cationic compound [Ru(2)Cp(2)(CO)(μ-CO){μ-η(1):η(3)-C(α)(H)[upper bond 1 start]C(β)C(γ)(Me)(2)OC(OEt)C[upper bond 1 end](H)](+) (9) has been detected in the course of the reaction leading to 10a. The addition of N(2)CHCO(2)Et/NHEt(2) to 7a gives the 2-furaniminium-carbene [Ru(2)Cp(2)(CO)(μ-CO){μ-η(1):η(3)-C(α)(H)[upper bond 1 start]C(β)C(γ)(Me)(2)OC(OEt)C[upper bond 1 end](H)](+) (11). The X-ray structures of 10a, 10b and [11][BF(4)] have been determined. The reactions of 4a,b with MeCN/Me(3)NO result in prevalent decomposition to mononuclear iron species.     

Radical reduction of Passerini 3CR adducts by SmI2/HMPA

The Passerini 3-CR adducts of substituted cinnamaldehydes,isocyanides and acetic acid were treated with SmI₂/HMPA in dry tetrahydrofuran（THF） at room temperature,andβ,γ-unsaturated amides were obtained in moderate yields.The reaction was supposed involving a radical reduction procedure.     

Oxidative verdoheme formation and stabilization by axial isocyanide ligation

The effect of isocyanides as axial ligands on the formation and stability of verdoheme by oxidation has been examined. The reaction of [Fe(III)(OEPO)]2 with t-butyl isocyanide under dioxygen-free conditions results in the formation of (t-BuNC)2Fe(II)(OEPO*) with an electron paramagnetic resonance at g=2.009 with a peak-to-peak separation of 23.5 G at 4 K. (OEPO is the trianion of octaethyloxophlorin and OEPO* is the radical dianion obtained from OEPO by one-electron oxidation.) Exposure of chloroform solutions of either (2,6-xylylNC)2Fe(II)(OEPO*) or (t-BuNC)2Fe(II)(OEPO*) to dioxygen followed by the addition of ammonium hexafluorophosphate results in their transformation into the diamagnetic verdohemes, [(2,6-xylylNC)2Fe(II)(OEOP)](PF6) and [(t-BuNC)2Fe(II)(OEOP)](PF6), yields 68 and 70%, respectively. (OEOP is the anion of octaethyl-5-oxaporphyrin.) The oxidation reactions of (2,6-xylylNC)2Fe(II)(OEPO*) and (t-BuNC)2Fe(II)(OEPO*) have also been monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy. No resonances due to paramagnetic products could be detected, the reactions appear to result only in the formation of the diamagnetic verdohemes, and the products are not susceptible to further oxidation.     

Tandem reaction strategy of the Passerini/Wittig reaction based on the in situ capture of isocyanides: One-pot synthesis of heterocycles

This paper reports the tandem reaction strategy of the Passerini/Wittig reaction based on the in situ capture of isocyanides. According to this strategy, plenty of isocyanides have been synthesized, which is immediately used for the tandem reaction of Passerini/Wittig reaction in one pot. Compared to the previous work, this strategy avoids the separation, purification, and storage of isocyanides, which prominently solves the problems of isocyanide-based multicomponent reaction such as: (a) The environmentally unfriendly (strong foul odor), (a) the labile of Isocyanides, (c) high toxicity of isocyanides. In the meantime, in order to expand the application scope of our strategy, 1H-isochromenes and 3H-2-benzoxepin-1-ones have also been synthesized, which undergoes four-step transformations in one-pot. In addition, a relatively credible reaction mechanism has also been proposed, based on a series of control experiments. Furthermore, preliminary testing was performed on biological activity of some obtained compounds; These results showed that the synthesized compounds exhibited certain activity over P. digitatum and P. italicum. ^© 2019 Elsevier Science. All rights reserved.     

A convenient method for the preparation of inverted tert-alkyl carboxylates from chiral tert-alcohols by a new type of oxidation-reduction condensation using 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone

Oxidation-reduction condensation using in situ-formed alkoxydiphenylphosphines, 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone, and carboxylic acids provided a new and efficient method for the preparation of inverted tert-alkyl carboxylates from various chiral tertiary alcohols.     

Isocyanides in the synthesis of nitrogen heterocycles

Isocyanides have long proved themselves to be irreplaceable building blocks in modern organic chemistry. The unique features of the isocyano group make isocyanides particularly useful for the synthesis of a number of important classes of nitrogen heterocycles, such as pyrroles, indoles, and quinolines. Several cocyclizations of isocyanides via zwitterions and radical intermediates as well as transition-metal-catalyzed syntheses of different types of heterocycles have recently been developed. Methods starting from isocyanides often have distinct advantages over alternative approaches to the same heterocycles because of their enhanced convergence, the great simplicity of most of the operations with them, and the great variety of isocyanides readily available for use. Isocyanides have also been used in some enantioselective syntheses of chiral heterocyclic compounds, including natural products as well as precursors thereof.