Preparation of organometallic uracil-analogue Fischer carbene complexes: Comparative study of conventional heating vs microwave irradiation

Mono and disubstituted ureas react with alkynyl Fischer carbene complexes to give mono and di N,N-substituted organometallic uracil analogues. An optimization of the process using different starting metal carbene complexes and variously substituted ureas under conventional heating (with and without solvent) and microwave irradiation techniques is reported. The synthesis of the metal-carbene analog of the commercially available dimethyl uracil is reported.     

Oxidative demetalation of Fischer alkoxy carbene complexes with stoichiometric pyridine N-oxide and NaBH4-promoted demetalation of Fischer iminocarbene complexes with sulfur and selenium

Oxidation of Fischer alkoxy carbene complexes were systematically investigated with stoichiometric pyridine N-oxide (PNO) under mild conditions, forming ester products in good to excellent yields from the corresponding monocarbene complexes. Fischer alkoxy biscarbene complexes efficiently underwent stepwise oxidative demetalation under controlled conditions, resulting in ester-monocarbene and diester products, respectively. This oxidation protocol has demonstrated a generally efficient method to oxidize Fischer alkoxy carbene complexes under mild conditions, providing a new route to novel monocarbene complexes from Fischer biscarbene complexes. In the presence of NaBH₄, reactions of Fischer iminocarbene complexes with elemental sulfur or selenium in ethanol at ambient temperature regioselectively afforded thione or selone complexes by insertion of a sulfur or selenium atom into the MC bonds in Fischer carbene complexes, and metal-free selone was also obtained. The molecular structures of the iminocarbene complexes and selone derivatives were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic study. The NaBH₄-promoted demetalation protocol suggests a potential new route to demetalate Fischer aminocarbene complexes.     

Intramolecular C-H insertion in ring-expanded N-heterocyclic carbenes

Mild heating of the ring-expanded N-heterocyclic carbenes 7-Mes and 6-Mes results in intramolecular insertion of the carbene into an ortho-methyl C-H bond. In the presence of traces of acid, the resulting products ring-open to afford N-alkyl indoles.     

Comparison of carbene and imidazole bonding to a copper(I) center

The bonding of (1,4,7-trithiacyclononane)copper(I) to N-methylimidazole and to N,N′-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene (IMe) as its pseudo-tautomer has been compared by crystallography, spectroscopy, and electrochemical analyses. In the solid state, a shorter Cu-L bond is observed for L = carbene than for L = imidazole, which indicates that electronic effects override potential steric hindrance in this pair of complexes. The oxidation potential difference reveals that the imidazole is a substantially stronger donor than the carbene ligand, and it allowed for estimating the Lever electronic parameter for the carbene ligand, E_IMe = +0.30 V.     

A Convergent,Modular Approach to Trifluoromethyl-Bearing 5-Membered Rings via Catalytic C(sp3)−H Activation

Trifluoromethyl-bearing 5-membered rings are prevalent in bioactive molecules, but modular approaches to these compounds by functionalization of robust C(sp³)−H bonds in a direct and selective manner are extremely challenging. Herein we report the rhodium-catalyzed α-CF₃-α-alkyl carbene insertion into C(sp³)−H bonds of a broad range of substrates to access 7 types of CF₃-bearing saturated 5-membered carbo- and heterocycles. The reaction is particularly effective for benzylic C−H insertion exerting good site-, diastereo- and enantiocontrol, and applicable to the synthesis of chiral CF₃ analogues of bioactive molecules. Ruthenium α-CF₃-α-alkyl carbene complexes underwent stoichiometric reactions to give C−H insertion products, lending evidence for the involvement of metal α-CF₃-α-alkyl carbene species in the catalytic cycle. DFT calculations revealed that the π⋅⋅⋅π attraction and intra-carbene C−H⋅⋅⋅F hydrogen bond elucidate the origin of selectivity of the benzylic C−H insertion reactions.     

Synthesis of 1-(5,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-2-yl)uracil by a Pummerer-type thioglycosylation reaction: the regioselectivity of allylic substitution

1-(5,6-Dihydro-2H-thiopyran-2-yl)uracil derivatives, a new 4′-thio-D4-nucleoside analogue, were synthesized by reacting 5,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran sulfoxide and persilylated uracil in a Pummerer-type thioglycosylation reaction. The reaction of 5-alkyl substituted dihydrothiopyran sulfoxide 7 only gave 1-(dihydrothiopyran-2-yl)uracil 9. On the other hand, the reaction with a 5-siloxy substituted derivative of 7 resulted in a mixture of products with the uracil moiety at either the α- or the γ-position. The use of a prolonged reaction time resulted in the exclusive formation of the 4-substituted dihydrothiopyran derivative 10. The result suggests that an equilibrium is operative in the formation of the α- and γ-adducts and that the latter should be more thermodynamically stable than the former. This conclusion was also supported by theoretical calculations.     

Interaction of divalent metal ions with uracil III. Complexes of MnII,FeII, CoII,NiII and CuII with uracil acting as bidentate ligand

Summary Some novel nonelectrolytic complexes of uracil in its anionic form with divalent metal ions were synthesised by heating to reflux a methanolic solution of uracil and a metal salt at pHca. 7.5. The isolated complexes are formulated as [ML₂(H₂O)₂] where M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, or Cu; L = C₄H₃N₂O₂ Electronic spectra indicate the hexacoordination of the metal ion in all the complexes and also the presence of a weak metal-oxygen interaction. The disappearance of the (NH) band and also the appreciable change both in intensity and position the characteristic bands of the 2-keto group of the uracil in the infrared spectra of all the complexes indicate the chelation of the uracil through C(2)=O and N(3).     

Biscarbene complexes from the reactions of O-ethyl lactim and 1-alkynyl Fischer carbene complexes of chromium and tungsten

Reactions of O-ethyl lactim ∼(CH₂)₃-NC(OEt)∼ with 1-alkynyl Fischer carbene complexes (OC)₅MC(OEt)CCPh (M = Cr, W) afforded biscarbene complexes with an azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptene core. Under a nitrogen atmosphere, the resultant chromium biscarbene complex gave a SiO₂-promoted rearrangement complex in 86% yield. Thermal annelation of the rearrangement product followed by hydrolysis over SiO₂ formed a cyclopentenone derivative. A cyclopentadiene derivative was obtained as a rare example of intermediate Fischer carbene species, suggesting a possible reaction pathway for the thermal annelation of the rearrangement complex. Stepwise oxidation of the chromium biscarbene complexes with an azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptene core with pyridine-N-oxide (PNO) under mild controlled conditions generated partially and completely demetalated carbonyl products, respectively. The key carbene complexes and demetalated compounds were structurally characterized by X-ray crystallographic studies.     

Efficient transfer hydrogenation of ketones in the presence of ruthenium N-heterocyclic carbene catalysts

Novel ruthenium carbene complexes have been in situ generated and tested for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones. Applying Ru(cod)(methylallyl)₂ in the presence of imidazolium salts in 2-propanol and sodium-2-propanolate as base, turnover frequencies up to 346 h⁻¹ have been obtained for reduction of acetophenone. A comparative study involving ruthenium carbene and ruthenium phosphine complexes demonstrated the higher activity of ruthenium carbene complexes.     

Electrochemical reduction of uracil in dimethyl sulfoxide: Autoprotonation of the anion radical

The electrochemical reduction of uracil in dimethyl sulfoxide was investigated, using d.c.and a.c. polarography, cyclic voltammetry, and controlled potential electrolysis. Uracil is reduced in a one-electron step (E_1/2=?2.3 V); the apparent number of electrons transferred (n) decreases from one at infinite dilution to one-half at concentrations above 1mM. The concentration dependent n-value is due to proton transfer by the parent compound to the radical anion formed on reduction. Such a proton transfer, which has been observed for 2-hydroxypyrimidine, deactivates part of the uracil, which would otherwise be available for reduction, by formation of the more difficultly reducible conjugate base. The uracil anion forms insoluble mercury salts, producing two oxidation waves (E_1/2 of ?0.1 and ?0.3 V); the latter wave is due to formation of a passivating film on the electrode. Digital simulations indicate that the protonation rate exceeds 10⁵M^?1 s^?1 and that, at low uracil concentration, some of the free radical formed on protonation is further reduced. At concentrations exceeding 1 mM, all of the free radical dimerizes. The effect of added acids and base on the electrochemical behavior is described.     

Antioxidant activity of uracil derivatives

The antiradical properties of a number of uracil derivatives are studied in initiated 1,4-dioxane oxidation as a model reaction. The antioxidant activity of the uracil derivatives as inhibitors is estimated. The antiradical activity of the compounds is quantitatively characterized in terms of the effective rate constant of inhibition, fk _In.     

Association of Cu2+ with uracil and its thio derivatives: a theoretical study.

The structures and relative stabilities of the complexes between Cu2+ and uracil, 2-thiouracil, 4-thiouracil, and 2,4-dithiouracil were investigated by B3LYP/6-311+G(2df,2p)//B3LYP/6-31G* DFT calculations. In those systems in which both types of basic centers, that is, a carbonyl and a thiocarbonyl group, are present, association of Cu2+ with the oxygen atom is systematically favored, in contrast to what was found for the corresponding Cu+ complexes. This can be understood by considering that association of Cu2+ is immediately followed by oxidation of the base, which accumulates the negative charge at the oxygen atoms. Similarly, for 2,4-dithiouracil the most basic site for Cu+ attachment is the sulfur atom at the 4-position, while for association of Cu2+ it is sulfur at the 2-position. In contrast, differences between uracil-Cu+ and uracil-Cu2+ complexes are very small, and in both cases the oxygen atom at the 4-position is the most basic. Cu2+ binding energies are about 4 and 1.2 times larger than Cu+ binding energies and proton affinities, respectively. Uracil- and thiouracil-Cu2+ complexes are thermodynamically unstable but kinetically stable with respect to their dissociation into uracil*+ + Cu+ or thiouracil*+ + Cu+. The Cu2+ binding energies vary with the difference between the second ionization potential of the metal and the first ionization potential of the base. regardless of the reference acid (H+, Cu+, Cu2+) the basicity trend is 2,4-dithiouracil > 4-thiouracil > 2-thiouracil > uracil.     

Rotamers of palladium complexes bearing IR active N-heterocyclic carbene ligands: Synthesis, structural characterization and catalytic activities

The preparation and properties of mono- versus bis(carbene) Pd(II) complexes bearing unsymmetrical cyano- and ester-functionalized NHC ligands as potential IR probes were studied in detail. Direct reaction of Pd(OAc)₂ with functionalized imidazolium salts afforded either bis(carbene) (3a, c) or monocarbene complexes (5, 6) with a N-coordinated imidazole co-ligand. The latter were exclusively obtained with N-ethylene substituted salts, which were found to undergo N-C cleavage reaction. The milder Ag-carbene transfer reaction on the other hand was tolerable to the length of the substituents and the nature of the functional groups. All bis(carbene) complexes (3a-c, 4a-c) were obtained as a inseparable mixture of square-planar trans-anti and trans-syn rotamers. The identity, ratio and dynamic equilibrium of these rotamers have been investigated and the relatively high rotational barrier for rotamers of 3a was estimated to be about 74 kJ mol⁻¹ at 380 K. All eight complexes were fully characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopies, ESI mass spectrometry and X-ray single crystal and powder diffraction. A preliminary catalytic study showed that ester-functionalized complexes 4a and 4b gave rise to highly active catalyst in the double Mizoroki-Heck coupling of aryl dibromides, while the in situ ester-hydrolyzed complexes were also active in the coupling of activated aryl chlorides.     

Electron affinities of uracil: microsolvation effects and polarizable continuum model

We present adiabatic electron affinities (AEAs) and the vertical detachment energies (VDEs) of the uracil molecule interacting with one to five water molecules. Credibility of MP2 and DFT/B3LYP calculations is supported by comparison with available benchmark CCSD(T) data. AEAs and VDEs obtained by MP2 and DFT/B3LYP methods copy trends of benchmark CCSD(T) results for the free uracil and uracil-water complexes in the gas phase being by 0.20 - 0.28 eV higher than CCSD(T) values depending on the particular structure of the complex. AEAs and VDEs from MP2 are underestimated by 0.09-0.15 eV. For the free uracil and uracil-(H(2)O)(n) (n = 1,2,3,5) complexes, we also consider the polarizable continuum model (PCM) and discuss the importance of the microsolvation when combined with PCM. AEAs and VDEs of uracil and uracil-water complexes enhance rapidly with increasing relative dielectric constant (ε) of the solvent. Highest AEAs and VDEs of the U(H(2)O)(5) complexes from B3LYP with ε = 78.4 are 2.03 and 2.81 eV, respectively, utilizing the correction from CCSD(T). Specific structural features of the microsolvated uracil-(H(2)O)(n) complexes and their anions are preserved also upon considering PCM in calculations of AEAs and VDEs.     

Quantum-chemical study on uracil and thymine nitrosonium complexes

Quantum-chemical calculations at the RI-MP2/L1 level of theory showed that the most energetically favorable complexes of uracil and thymine with nitrosonium cation are those of n-type with NO⁺ coordination at the nitrogen or oxygen atom. A correlation was found between the experimental and calculated affinities of the dioxo tautomer of thymine for nitrosonium ion ( $ A_{NO^ + } $ ). A linear relation was revealed between $ A_{NO^ + } $ values for structurally similar tautomers of uracil and thymine.     

Barrier-free intermolecular proton transfer induced by excess electron attachment to the complex of alanine with uracil

The photoelectron spectrum of the uracil-alanine anionic complex (UA)(-) has been recorded with 2.540 eV photons. This spectrum reveals a broad feature with a maximum between 1.6 and 2.1 eV. The vertical electron detachment energy is too large to be attributed to an (UA)(-) anionic complex in which an intact uracil anion is solvated by alanine, or vice versa. The neutral and anionic complexes of uracil and alanine were studied at the B3LYP and second-order M?ller-Plesset level of theory with 6-31++G(*) (*) basis sets. The neutral complexes form cyclic hydrogen bonds and the three most stable neutral complexes are bound by 0.72, 0.61, and 0.57 eV. The electron hole in complexes of uracil with alanine is localized on uracil, but the formation of a complex with alanine strongly modulates the vertical ionization energy of uracil. The theoretical results indicate that the excess electron in (UA)(-) occupies a pi(*) orbital localized on uracil. The excess electron attachment to the complex can induce a barrier-free proton transfer (BFPT) from the carboxylic group of alanine to the O8 atom of uracil. As a result, the four most stable structures of the uracil-alanine anionic complex can be characterized as a neutral radical of hydrogenated uracil solvated by a deprotonated alanine. Our current results for the anionic complex of uracil with alanine are similar to our previous results for the anion of uracil with glycine, and together they indicate that the BFPT process is not very sensitive to the nature of the amino acid's hydrophobic residual group. The BFPT to the O8 atom of uracil may be relevant to the damage suffered by nucleic acid bases due to exposure to low energy electrons.     

New olefin metathesis catalysts bearing polyether clamp in N-heterocyclic carbenes ligands

Synthesis of new type of the Hoveyda–Grubbs catalysts containing modified N-heterocyclic carbene ligands is described herein. New catalysts bear different in size polyether clamp embracing N,N′-2,4-dimethylphenyl substituents in N-heterocyclic carbene. New complexes were tested in model RCM, enyne and CM reactions. They showed comparable activity to that of commercially available Grubbs second generation and Hoveyda–Grubbs second generation complexes. Complex with larger polyether clamp proved Z-stereoselective in a macrocycle formation and yielded more Z isomers than commercial complexes in CM reactions. The catalysts are stable and easy to purify.     

Formation and structures of Pd(II) N,S-heterocyclic carbene-pyridyl mixed-ligand complexes

Mononuclear mixed-ligand complexes of Pd(II) containing a N,S-heterocyclic carbene (NSHC) with a secondary alkyl N-substituent and pyridyl ligand, with the general formula [PdI₂(C₁₀H₁₁NS)L] (C₁₀H₁₁NS = 3-isopropylbenzothiazolin-2-ylidene; L = pyridine, 2-aminopyridine, 3-iodopyridine and 4-tert-butyl-pyridine) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray single-crystal crystallography. Both solution and solid-state structures, as evident from their ¹H NMR spectra and X-ray structures, show anagostic γ-hydrogen interactions of metal with methine of the substituent on the carbene or pyridyl ligand giving 5-membered-chelate-like structures.     

The influence of N-heterocyclic carbene steric and electronic properties in Ru-catalysed cross metathesis reactions

The present study examines the influence of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand electronic and steric parameters on the activity of ruthenium indenylidene complexes in cross metathesis. The NHC ligands tested lead to varied E/Z selectivities with the pre-catalyst bearing an IMes ligand exhibiting high activity.