Homologues of N-heterocyclic carbenes: Detection and electronic structure of N-bridgehead pyrido[a]-anellated 1,3,2-diazagermol-2-ylidenes

Novel N-bridgehead pyrido[a]-anellated 1,3,2-diazagermol-2-ylidenes 1a,b were obtained from GeCl₂ · dioxane and dilithium reagents formed from N-tert-butyl pyridine-2-aldimines and excess lithium in THF whereas attempts to generate the analogous silylene by reduction of the dichloro-pyrido[a]-1,3,2-diazasilole 4a, synthesized from SiCl₄ and the new dilithium reagent, failed. Characteristic chemical shifts of the pyrido ¹H and ¹³C nuclei between those of pyridine compounds and the not fully cyclodelocalized electron-rich 4a with dihydropyridine substructure hint to a cyclodelocalized 10π electron system in 1a,b. Quantum chemical investigations of a series of pyrido[a]- and benzo-anellated imidazol-2-ylidenes and their silylene and germylene homologues show for all compounds cyclodelocalized 10π-systems but for pyrido[a]-anellation an increase of the energy of the π-MO’s relative to those of element(II) lone electron pairs which leads to destabilization compared to the benzo-anellated isomers.     

N-phosphorylated imidazolium salts as precursors to 2- and 5-phosphorylated imidazoles and new imidazol-2-ylidenes featuring the PNCN unit

It has been experimentally proven that the reaction of 1- or 1,2-disubstituted imidazoles with diorganylphosphorus(III) halides proceeds via initial formation of N-phosporylated imidazolium salts. Treatment of these salts with strong bases results in phosphorylation of the parent imidazoles at the 2- or 5-positions, correspondingly. In a previous case, imidazol-2-ylidenes are formed as intermediates. With both N1 and N3 atoms bearing sterically demanding or/and π-donating groups, deprotonation of 1,3-disubstituted imidazolium salts with NaN(SiMe(3))(2) afforded new stable N-phosphorus-substituted Arduengo-type carbenes.     

Reactions of (imidazol-2-ylidene)silver(I) chlorides with group 4 metal containing Lewis acids

The reactivity of the monomeric N-heterocyclic carbene silver(I) complexes, 1,3-bis-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene-silver(I) chloride ([Ag(IMes)Cl], 1) and 1,3-bis-(4-bromo-2,6-dimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene-silver(I) chloride ([Ag(IMes^Br)Cl], 2), toward the group 4 metal containing Lewis acids, TiCl₄ and (η⁵-C₅H₅)ZrCl₃, in dichloromethane was investigated. Instead of the expected transfer of the N-heterocyclic carbene to the Lewis acidic metal centers with accompanying precipitation of AgCl, chloride transfer occurred leading to the formation of the salts, [Ag(IMes)₂]⁺[(TiCl₃)₂(μ₂-Cl)₃]⁻ (3) and [Ag(IMes^Br)₂]⁺[{(η⁵-C₅H₅)ZrCl}₂(μ₂-Cl)₃]⁻ (4). The structure of the [Ag(IMes^Br)₂]⁺ cation in 4 is significantly distorted in the solid state by interactions between the para-Br atoms of the IMes^Br ligands and chloride ligands of the anions.     

Palladium-catalyzed C–S bond formation by using N-amido imidazolium salts as ligands

N-Amido imidazolium salt was employed as a ligand in the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides and thiols, and showed good activity in the formation of thioether. The best combination for the coupling with aryl bromides was N-amido imidazolium salt 2 and NaHMDS, and that for the coupling with aryl iodides was N-amido imidazolium salt 1 and KO^tBu. The coupling reactions were conducted in the presence of Pd(OAc)₂ (1 mol %) in DMSO at 80 °C for 12 h.     

Synthesis, X-ray structures, and catalytic activities of (κ-C,N)-palladacycles bearing imidazol-2-ylidenes

Quaternisation of methylimidazole (1) by methyl substituted benzyl bromides afforded imidazolium salts (2) which were converted to (κ²-C,N)-palladacycles bearing imidazol-2-ylidenes 6 or 7, by either in situ deprotonation or via Ag-NHC intermediate (3), using the bridged palladacycles 4 or 5, respectively. The palladacycles 6 and 7 were characterized by elemental analysis; NMR spectroscopy and the molecular structure of 6c and 7c were determined by X-ray crystallography. The complexes 6 and 7 display high activity in Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of a range of aryl bromides.     

Conformational analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>′-dinaphthyl heterocyclic carbenes: imidazol-2-ylidenes and imidazolin-2-ylidenes

Abstract  

The paths connecting the stationary points of tesseract (four-dimensional hypercube) have been explored. The minimum energy conformations and the different transition states of N,N′-dinaphthyl imidazol-2-ylidenes and imidazolin-2-ylidenes have been calculated. The available experimental results were conveniently reproduced. The dimerization of carbenes to enetetramines has also been calculated.     

Borane-substituted imidazol-2-ylidenes: syntheses in vacuo

The serendipitous discovery of an efficient reactive distillation is reported. Two borane-substituted imidazol-2-ylidenes have been prepared in high yield from precursor tetrafluoroborate derived room temperature ionic liquids by reactive distillation at T > 500 K and p < 1 × 10(-4) mbar.     

Silver N-heterocyclic carbene complexes as initiators for bulk ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of l-lactides

Synthetic, structural and catalysis studies of two silver complexes namely, {[1-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3-(N-phenylacetamido)imidazol-2-ylidene]₂Ag}⁺Cl⁻1b, supported over an amido-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene ligand, and [1-(i-propyl)-3-(benzyl)imidazol-2-ylidene]AgCl 2b, supported over a non-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene ligand, are reported. Specifically, 1b, a cationic complex bearing 2:1 NHC ligand to metal ratio, was obtained from the reaction of 1-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3-(N-phenylacetamido)imidazolium chloride 1a with Ag₂O in 52% yield. The corresponding 1a was synthesized by the alkylation reaction of 1-(2,4,6-trimethylphenylimidazole) with N-phenyl chloroacetamide in 73% yield. The other silver complex 2b, a neutral complex bearing 1:1 NHC ligand to metal ratio, was obtained from the reaction of 1-(i-propyl)-3-(benzyl)imidazolium chloride 2a with Ag₂O in 42% yield. The 2a was synthesized by the alkylation reaction of 1-(i-propylimidazole) with benzyl chloride in 45% yield. The molecular structures of the imidazolium chloride, 1a, and the silver complexes, 1b and 2b, have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The silver complexes, 1b and 2b, successfully catalyze bulk ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of l-lactides at elevated temperatures under solvent-free melt conditions producing moderate to low molecular weight polylactide polymers having narrow molecular weight distributions.     

Ruthenium piano-stool complexes bearing imidazole-based PN ligands

A variety of piano-stool complexes of cyclopentadienyl ruthenium(II) with imidazole-based PN ligands have been synthesized starting from the precursor complexes [CpRu(C₁₀H₈)]PF₆, [CpRu(NCMe)₃]PF₆ and [CpRu(PPh₃)₂Cl]. PN ligands used are imidazol-2-yl, -4-yl and -5-yl phosphines.Depending on the ligand and precursor different types of coordination modes were observed; in the case of polyimidazolyl PN ligands these were κ¹P-monodentate, κ²P,N-, κ²N,N- and κ³N,N,N- chelating and μ-κP:κ²N,N-brigding. The solid-state structures of [CpRu(1a)₂Cl ]·H₂O (5^.H₂O) and [{CpRu(μ-κ²-N,N-κ’¹-P-2b)}₂](C₆H₅PO₃H)₂(C₆H₅PO₃H₂)_2, a hydrolysis product of the as well determined [{CpRu(2b)}₂](PF₆)₂^.2CH₃CN (7b^.2CH₃CN) were determined (1a = imidazol-2-yldiphenyl phosphine, 2b = bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)phenyl phosphine, 3a = tris(imidazol-2-yl)phosphine). Furthermore, the complexes [CpRu(L)₂]PF₆ (L = imidazol-2-yl or imidazol-4-yl phosphine) have been screened for their catalytic activity in the hydration of 1-octyne.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of imidazolo[1,5]hexopiperidinoses and imidazol-4(5)-yl-C-glycosides

The syntheses of imidazolo[1,5]hexopiperidinoses 2-6 and imidazol-4(5)-yl C-glycosides 7-9 are reported. The crucial step of this approach relies upon the S_N2-type cyclisation of selectively protected C(1), C(2), C(3) and C(5)-substituted 1-[imidazol-4(5)-yl]pentitols in which the imidazole nitrogen or the C(1)-connected oxygen are involved as the competitive nucleophilic centers, respectively. Six selected imidazolosugars were evaluated as potential inhibitors of glycosidases.     

Ligand properties of N-heterocyclic and Bertrand carbenes: A density functional study

In order to probe the ligand properties we have examined a series of Cr(CO)₅L and Ni(CO)₃L complexes using density functional theory (DFT). The ligands included in our study are N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) and Bertrand-type carbenes. Our study shows that the carbene–metal bonds of imidazol-2-ylidenes (1), imidazolin-2-ylidenes (2), thiazo-2-ylidenes (3), and triazo-5-ylidenes (4) are significantly stronger than those of Bertrand-type carbenes (5–7). The force constants of C–O in complexes are related to the property of isolated carbenes such as proton affinity (PA), electronegativity (χ), and charge transfer (ΔN). NHCs and Bertrand-type carbenes are identified as nucleophilic, soft ligands. Carbene stabilization energy (CSE) computations indicate that carbenes 1 and 4 are the most stable species, while 2 and 3 are less stable. In contrast to NHCs, CSE of carbenes 5–7 are much smaller, and their relative stabilities are in the order (amino)(aryl) carbenes 7e–7g > (amino)(alkyl) carbenes 7a–7d > (phosphino)(aryl) 6d–6e, and (phosphino)(silyl) carbenes 5a–5c > (phosphino)(alkyl) carbenes 6a–6c.     

Ring lithiation and functionalization of imidazol-2-ylidene-boranes

N,N'-dialkyl and N,N'-diaryl imidazol-2-ylidene-boranes and trifluoroboranes are rapidly lithiated at C4 of the imidazole ring, and the resulting intermediates have been quenched with an assortment of electrophiles to provide ring-functionalized imidazol-2-ylidene-boranes. Further deprotonation and functionalization of C5 have been demonstrated. Deboronation of the products by treatment with triflic acid or iodine and then methanol opens a route to C4/C5 functionalized imidazolium salts and imidazol-2-ylidenes.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, and luminescence properties of multinuclear silver complexes of pyrazole-functionalized NHC ligands containing Ag-Ag and Ag-π interactions

A few pyrazole-functionalized imidazolium salts have been prepared via the reactions of N-alkylimidazole and 3,5-bis(chloromethyl)pyrazole or 2-(1-(2-chloroethyl)-5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-6-(5-methyl-1-vinyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl) pyridine. Reactions of these imidazolium salts with Ag₂O led to the successful isolation of tetranuclear [Ag₄(L)₂](X)₂ (X = PF₆⁻ or BF₄⁻; H₃L1 = 3,5-bis(N-benzylimidazoliumyl)pyrazole, H₃L2 = 3,5-bis(N-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazoliumyl)pyrazole, H₃L3 = imidazolium cyclophane from the condensation of 3,5-bis(chloromethyl)pyrazole and 1,4-bis(imidazolyl)butane) and trinuclear silver clusters supported by N-heterocyclic carbene ligands in high yields. The molecular structures of these silver complexes have been confirmed by ¹H, ¹³C NMR, ESI-MS spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses. The tetranuclear complexes [Ag₄(L1)₂](PF₆)₂ (1) and [Ag₄(L2)₂](BF₄)₂ (2) consist of a pair of Ag-Ag contacts (ca. 3.11 Å) showing weak silver-silver interaction. [Ag₄(L3)₂](PF₆)₂ (3) has a square planar Ag₄ core sandwiched by two NHC cyclophanes with Ag-Ag distances of 3.22 Å. All the silver atoms in 1-3 are located in the same linear C-Ag-N coordination environment. [Ag₃(L4)₂] (PF₆)₃ (HL4 = 2-(1-(2-methylimidazoliumylethyl)-5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-6-(5-methyl-1-vinyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl) pyridine) (4) is a trinuclear complex in which the three silver are bridged by two L4 molecules, and the Ag₃ units form one-dimensional chain via Ag-π interaction. The luminescence properties of the imidazolium salts and their silver complexes were also studied.     

Formation of chiral ionic liquids and imidazol-2-ylidene metal complexes from the proteinogenic aminoacid l-histidine

Treatment of the amino acid derivative Bz-His-OMe with excess n-propyl bromide gave the corresponding histidinium salt [Bz-His(n-propyl)₂-OMe⁺Br⁻]. It features a melting point of 39 °C and may serve as a useful readily available optically active ionic liquid. Its subsequent treatment with silver oxide gave the corresponding l-histidine derived chiral N-heterocyclic carbene complex [“(carbene)₂Ag · AgBr₂”]. Transmetallation by treatment with Pd(CH₃CN)₂Cl₂ or [Rh(cod)Cl]₂ led to the formation of the respective chiral late metal imidazol-2-ylidene complexes [“(carbene)₂PdCl₂”] and [“(carbene)RhCl(cod)”], respectively. Four diastereomers of the square planar palladium system were observed. Due to the additional chirality center in the l-histidine-derived “Arduengo-carbene ligand” two diastereomers of the rhodium carbene complex were formed.     

Synthesis, characterization and electrochemical behavior of some N-heterocyclic carbene-containing active site models of [FeFe]-hydrogenases

Treatment of parent compounds [(μ-SCH₂)₂X]Fe₂(CO)₆ (A, X = O; B, X = NBu-t; C, X = NC₆H₄OMe-p) with N-heterocyclic carbene I_Mes (I_Mes = 1,3-bis(mesityl)imidazol-2-ylidene) generated in situ through reaction of imidazolium salt I_Mes ·HCl with n-BuLi or t-BuOK afforded the monocarbene-substituted complexes [(μ-SCH₂)₂X]Fe₂(CO)₅(I_Mes) (1, X = O; 2, X = NBu-t; 3, X = NC₆H₄OMe-p). Similarly, the monocarbene and dicarbene-substituted complexes [(μ-SCH₂)₂NBu-t]Fe₂(CO)₅[I^∗_Mes(CH₂)₃I^∗_Mes]·HBr (4) and [(μ-SCH₂)₂CH₂Fe₂(CO)₅]₂[μ-I^∗_Mes(CH₂)₃I^∗_Mes] (5, I^∗_Mes = 1-(mesityl)imidazol-2-ylidene) could be prepared by reactions of parent compound B with the mono-NHC ligand-containing imidazolium salt [I^∗_Mes(CH₂)₃I^∗_Mes] · HBr and parent compound [(μ-SCH₂)₂CH₂]Fe₂(CO)₆ (D) with di-NHC ligand I^∗_Mes(CH₂)₃I^∗_Mes (both NHC ligands were generated in situ from reaction of n-BuLi with imidazolium salt [I^∗_MesI^∗_Mes(CH₂)₃I^∗_Mes] · 2HBr), respectively. The imidazolium salt [I^∗_Mes(CH₂)₃I^∗_Mes] · 2HBr was prepared by reaction of 1-(mesityl)imidazole with Br(CH₂)₃Br. All the new model compounds 1-5 and imidazolium salt [I^∗_Mes(CH₂)₃I^∗_Mes] · 2HBr were fully characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. On the basis of electrochemical studies of 1 and 2, compound 2 was found to be a catalyst for proton reduction to hydrogen. In addition, an EECC mechanism for this electrocatalytic reaction is preliminarily suggested.     

Protonation of N-heterocyclic carbene ligand coordinated to copper(I): Coordination mode of imidazolium cation as a function of counterion as determined by solid-state structures

Reactions of (IPr)Cu(X) (X = Cl or trifluoromethanesulfonate, IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) complexes with the strong acids HOTf or HCl result in protonation of the C2 carbon of the IPr ligand to form imidazolium cations. Coordination of the imidazolium to the resulting Cu^I system depends upon the identity of the two counterions (chloride or triflate). The copper complexes [(IPrH)Cu(OTf)(μ-OTf)]₂ and [IPrH][CuCl₂] as well as the imidazolium salt [IPrH][OTf] have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Synthesis, structure and fluorescence of novel cadmium(II) and silver(I) complexes with in situ ligand formation of 1-(5-tetrazolyl)-4-(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene

Hydrothermal reactions of cadmium(II) or silver(I) salt, NaN₃, 4-(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzonitrile (IBN) yield three coordination complexes, [Cd(L)₂(H₂O)₂]·3H₂O (1), [Cd₃(L)₅(OH)] (2) and [Ag₂(L)₂] (3) where HL=1-(5-tetrazolyl)-4-(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene. The crystal structure analysis revealed that 1 has 1D hinged-chain structure containing 24-membered ring with a Cd···Cd intra-chain distance of 13.18 Å, while 2 is 1D ladder-like chain with Cd₃O core. However, the complex 3 is a 3D 4-connected framework with Schläfli symbol of (4²·6³·8)(4³·6²·8). The L⁻ ligand was found to show four different coordination modes in 1-3, as 2-, 3- and 4-connector, respectively. The results indicate that the coordination modes of the ligand and metal centers with different coordination geometry have great influence on the structures of the complexes. In addition, the photoluminescence of the complexes were studied in the solid state at room temperature.     

Oxidative addition of an imidazolium cation to an anionic gallium(I) N-heterocyclic carbene analogue: Synthesis and characterisation of novel gallium hydride complexes

The reactions of N-heterocyclic carbenes and imidazolium salts towards an anionic gallium(I) heterocycle, [:Ga{[N(Ar)C(H)]₂}]⁻, , have been studied. No reactions with N-heterocyclic carbenes were observed, though the reaction of the gallium heterocycle with the imidazolium salt, [HC{N(Mes)C(H)}₂]Cl, IMesHCl, Mes = C₆H₂Me₃-2,4,6, led to oxidative insertion of the Ga(I) centre into the imidazolium C-H bond and formation of the gallium hydride complex, [HGa{[N(Ar)C(H)]₂}(IMes)]. When this reaction was carried out in the presence of traces of water, partial hydrolysis of [HGa{[N(Ar)C(H)]₂}(IMes)] resulted in the formation of the hydroxy-bridged, anionic gallium hydride complex, [{HGa[N(Ar)C(H)]₂}₂OH][(IMes)₂H]. Both compounds have been spectroscopically and structurally characterised.     

C(sp3)H Activation without a Directing Group: Regioselective Synthesis of N‐Ylide or N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes Controlled by the Choice of Metal and Ligand

N‐Ylide complexes of Ir have been generated by C(sp³)?H activation of α‐pyridinium or α‐imidazolium esters in reactions with [Cp*IrCl₂]₂ and NaOAc. These reactions are rare examples of C(sp³)?H activation without a covalent directing group, which—even more unusually—occur α to a carbonyl group. For the reaction of the α‐imidazolium ester [ 3 H]Cl, the site selectivity of C?H activation could be controlled by the choice of metal and ligand: with [Cp*IrCl₂]₂ and NaOAc, C(sp³)?H activation gave the N‐ylide complex 4 ; in contrast, with Ag₂O followed by [Cp*IrCl₂]₂, C(sp²)?H activation gave the N‐heterocyclic carbene complex 5 . DFT calculations revealed that the N‐ylide complex 4 was the kinetic product of an ambiphilic C?H activation. Examination of the computed transition state for the reaction to give 4 indicated that unlike in related reactions, the acetate ligand appears to play the dominant role in C?H bond cleavage.     

Parallel Solid-Phase Synthesis of disubstituted 3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)imidazolidine-2,4-diones and 3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-ones

A multistep approach to construct novel 3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)imidazolidine-2,4-diones and 3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-ones from commercially available amino acids, amines, and carboxylic acids is described. Coupling of Fmoc-amino acid to resin-bound aminobenzimidazole provided following Fmoc elimination free amine. Treatment of the free amine with 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole or 1,1′-thiocarbonyldiimidazole furnished the corresponding hydantoins and thiohydantoins via intramolecular cyclization. The desired aminobenzimidazole tethered hydantoins or thiohydantoins were isolated in good yields.