Trifluoroborane catalyzed chemoselective synthesis of highly functionalized 1,3-thiazin-2-ylidenes

An efficient chemoselective synthesis of 1,3-thiazine-2-ylidenes was achieved via annulations of β-aroyl-thioacetamide with propargyl alcohols using BF₃ OEt₂ as Lewis acid catalyst. A broad spectrum of substrates was well tolerated under the mild reaction conditions producing desired thiazine heterocyclics in good yields.     

Phosphine-catalyzed synthesis of 1,3-dioxan-4-ylidenes

[reaction: see text] A phosphine-catalyzed reaction of an allenoate with aldehydes furnished (2,6-diaryl-[1,3]dioxan-4-ylidene)-acetates 4 in excellent to moderate yields with complete diastereoselectivity and high E/Z-selectivities. Upon removal of the acetal functionality in this domino reaction product 4, delta-hydroxy-beta-ketoester 11 was obtained. The reported vinylphosphonium-based approach provides a new way to achieve a synthesis of delta-hydroxy-beta-ketoesters that differs from the classical dianion-based approach.     

A new facile synthetic method for the construction of 1,3-oxathiolan-2-ylidenes

A new, convenient and efficient synthetic method for the construction of 1,3-oxathiolan-2-ylidenes via sodium borohydride reduction of the addition product of dithiocarbamic acid esters with α-bromoketones under basic conditions is reported. This method is general and applicable to a range of systems.     

Substituent effects on singlet-triplet gaps and mechanisms of 1,2-rearrangements of 1,3-oxazol-2-ylidenes to 1,3-oxazoles

Electronic structures, partial atomic charges, singlet-triplet gaps (Delta E ST), substituent effects, and mechanisms of 1,2-rearrangements of 1,3-oxazol-2-ylidene ( 5) and 4,5-dimethyl- ( 6), 4,5-difluoro- ( 7), 4,5-dichloro- ( 8), 4,5-dibromo- ( 9), and 3-methyl-1,3-oxazol-2-ylidene ( 10) to the corresponding 1,3-oxazoles have been studied using complete-basis-set methods (CBS-QB3, CBS-Q, CBS-4M), second-order M?ller-Plesset perturbation method (MP2), hybrid density functionals (B3LYP, B3PW91), coupled-cluster theory with single and double excitations (CCSD) and CCSD plus perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)], and the quadratic configuration interaction method including single and double excitations (QCISD) and QCISD plus perturbative triple excitations [QCISD(T)]. The 6-311G(d,p), 6-31+G(d,p), 6-311+G(d,p), and correlation-consistent polarized valence double-xi (cc-pVDZ) basis sets were employed. The carbenes have singlet ground states, and the CBS-QB3 and CBS-Q methods predict Delta E ST values for 5- 8 and 10 of 79.9, 79.8, 74.7, 77.0, and 82.0 kcal/mol, respectively. CCSD(T), QCISD(T), B3LYP, and B3PW91 predict smaller Delta E ST values than CBS-QB3 and CBS-Q, with the hybrid density functionals predicting the smallest values. The concerted unimolecular exothermic out-of-plane 1,2-rearrangements of singlet 1,3-oxazol-2-ylidenes to their respective 1,3-oxazoles proceed via cyclic three-center transition states. The CBS-predicted barriers to the 1,2-rearrangements of singlet carbenes 5- 9 to their respective 1,3-oxazoles are 41.4, 40.4, 37.8, 40.4, and 40.5 kcal/mol, respectively. During the 1,2-rearrangements of singlet 1,3-oxazol-2-ylidenes 5- 9, there is a decrease in electron density at oxygen, N3 (the migration origin), and C5 and an increase in electron density at C2 (the migration terminus), C4, and the partially positive migrating hydrogen.     

Hydrolysis of imidazole-2-ylidenes

The direct reaction of an imidazole-2-ylidene in a predominantly aqueous environment [about 0.1 M solution in a H(2)O (>60%)/THF solvent system] was investigated for the first time. The reaction yielded a stable solution of the corresponding imidazolium-hydroxide of pH 13, which is in agreement with results from an ab initio molecular dynamics simulation. In contrast, hydrolysis of the carbene in a mainly aprotic environment (>80% THF) gives a hydrogen-bridged carbene-water complex which could be detected by NMR and IR spectroscopies for the first time. This complex converts slowly to two isomeric ring opened products and is at higher water concentration in dynamic equilibrium with the imidazolium hydroxide. A computational mechanistic study of the carbene hydrolysis with a gradually increasing number of water molecules revealed that the imidazolium-hydroxide structure can only be optimized with three or more water molecules as reactants, and with the increasing number of water molecules its stability is increasing with respect to the carbene-water complex. In agreement with the experimental results, these findings point out that solvent stabilization and basicity of the hydroxide ion plays a crucial role in the reaction. With increasing number of water molecules the barriers connecting the reaction intermediates are getting smaller, and the ring opened hydrolysis products can be derived from imidazolium-hydroxide type intermediates. Computational studies on the hydrolysis of a nonaromatic imidazolidine-2-ylidene analogue clearly indicated the analogous ring-opened product to be by 10-12 kcal/mol more stable than the appropriate ion pair and the carbene-water complex, in agreement with the known aromatic stabilization of imidazol-2-ylidenes. Accordingly, these molecules hydrolyze with exclusive formation of the ring-opened product.     

Novel Immobilized Hydrosilylation Catalysts Based on Rhodium 1,3-Bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidenes

The reactivity of a well defined Rh (I) complex, i.e. Rh(CF₃COO)(NHC)(COD) (1, NHC=1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene, COD=⁴-cycloocta-1,5-diene) in the hydrosilylation of 1-alkenes, alkynes, and ,-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, respectively, is described. With this complex, excellent reactivity was observed and turn-over numbers (TONs) up to 1000 were reached. A supported version of 1 was realized by reaction of RhCl(NHC)(COD) with PS-DVB–CH₂–O–CO–CF₂–CF₂–CF₂–COOAg (PS-DVB=poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) to yield PS-DVB–CH₂–O–CO–CF₂–CF₂–CF₂–COORh(NHC)(COD). This supported version of 1 exhibited at least comparable, in some cases increased reactivity compared to 1 and allowed the rapid removal of the catalyst from the reaction mixture. Due to reduced catalyst bleeding, the synthesis of target compounds with a Rh-content of less than 130ppm was accomplished.     

Novel Immobilized Hydrosilylation Catalysts Based on Rhodium 1,3-Bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidenes

Summary. The reactivity of a well defined Rh (I) complex, i.e. Rh(CF₃COO)(NHC)(COD) (1, NHC=1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene, COD=⁴-cycloocta-1,5-diene) in the hydrosilylation of 1-alkenes, alkynes, and ,-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, respectively, is described. With this complex, excellent reactivity was observed and turn-over numbers (TONs) up to 1000 were reached. A supported version of 1 was realized by reaction of RhCl(NHC)(COD) with PS-DVB–CH₂–O–CO–CF₂–CF₂–CF₂–COOAg (PS-DVB=poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) to yield PS-DVB–CH₂–O–CO–CF₂–CF₂–CF₂–COORh(NHC)(COD). This supported version of 1 exhibited at least comparable, in some cases increased reactivity compared to 1 and allowed the rapid removal of the catalyst from the reaction mixture. Due to reduced catalyst bleeding, the synthesis of target compounds with a Rh-content of less than 130ppm was accomplished.This revised version was published online in February 2005. In the previous version the issue was not marked as a special issue, and the issue title and the editor was missing     

First silver complexes of tetrahydropyrimid-2-ylidenes

The syntheses and characterizations of homoleptic silver(I) carbene complexes of the type LAgCl (3) and [L₂Ag]⁺₂[Pd₂Cl₆]²⁻ (4) (L=dimesityltetrahydropyrimid-2-ylidene) are described. 3 was obtained by reaction of the corresponding tetrahydropyrimidinium salt with silver(I) oxide. Subsequent reaction of 3 with Pd(CH₃CN)₂Cl₂ afforded complex 4. The crystal structure of 3 has been determined to be a monomer in the solid state. The ¹³C NMR spectra of both 3 and 4 exhibit ¹³C-^107,109Ag coupling in solution. Furthermore, both compounds show a downfield shift of the carbene carbon of about 20 ppm to about 205 ppm in the ¹³C NMR compared to five-membered ring silver(I) carbene complexes. Unlike other silver-carbene complexes, 3 does not undergo ligand exchange and can thus not be used for carbene transfer to other metals.     

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.     

Synthesis of spiroisoxazolidinyl-benzoisothiazolines by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of benzoisothiazole-2,2-dioxide-3-ylidenes with nitrones

The spiroisoxazolidinyl-benzoisothiazoline derivatives were synthesized through a highly diastereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of benzoisothiazole-2,2-dioxide-3-ylidenes with nitrones. The regiochemistry of cycloaddition was assigned on the ¹H NMR chemical shift of methane-H in 3 and 5. The relative stereochemistry of cycloadducts was determined from the single-crystal X-ray crystallography.     

Novel metathesis catalysts based on ruthenium 1,3-dimesityl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidenes: synthesis, structure, immobilization, and catalytic activity

The synthesis of novel ruthenium-based metathesis catalysts containing the saturated 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene ligand, that is, [RuCl2(NHC)[=CH-2-(2-PrO)-5-NO(2)-C6H3]] (1) and [Ru(CF3COO)2(NHC)[=CH-2-(2-PrO)-5-NO2-C6H3]] (2) (NHC=1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene) is described. Both catalysts are highly active in ring-closing metathesis (RCM) and ring-opening cross-metathesis (ROCM). Compound 1 shows moderate activity in enyne metathesis. Compound 2 is not applicable to enyne metathesis since it shows high activity in the cyclopolymerization of diethyl dipropargylmalonate (DEDPM). Poly(DEDPM) prepared by the action of 2 consists of 95% five-membered rings, that is, poly(cyclopent-1-enevinylene)s, and 5 % of six-membered rings, that is, poly(cyclohex-1-ene-3-methylidene)s. The polymerization proceeds in a nonliving manner and results in polyenes with broad polydispersities (1.9< or =PDI< or =2.3). Supported analogues of 2 were prepared by immobilization on hydroxymethyl-Merrifield resin and a monolithic support derived from ring-opening-metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Catalyst loadings of 1 and 2.5%, respectively, were obtained. Both supported versions of 2 showed excellent reactivity. With 0.24-2% of the supported catalysts, yields in RCM and ROCM were in the range of 76-100%. Leaching of ruthenium was low and resulted in Ru contaminations of the products of less than 0.000014% (0.14 ppm).     

1,3-Bis(N,N-dialkylamino)imidazolin-2-ylidenes: synthesis and reactivity of a new family of stable N-heterocyclic carbenes

The synthesis of stable 1,3-bis(N,N-dialkylamino)imidazolin-2-ylidenes was accomplished from readily available chiral bis-hydrazones after reduction or addition of PhMgCl, cyclization to imidazolinium salts, and treatment with KN(SiMe3)2. This strategy allows the obtention of free imidazolin-2-ylidenes and their Rh(COD)Cl complexes in enantiomerically pure form. The sigma-donor ability of dialkylamino-substituted diaminocarbenes was found to be slightly higher than that of alkyl(aryl) analogues.     

Synthesis of spiropyrrolidinyl-benzoisothiazoline derivatives by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of benzoisothiazole-2,2-dioxide-3-ylidenes and azomethine ylide

The new spirocyclic compounds, spiropyrrolidinyl-benzoisothiazoline derivatives were synthesized by the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of benzoisothiazole-2,2-dioxide-3-ylidenes and azomethine ylide. The stereochemistry of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition as well as the stereochemistry of Knoevenagel condensation of benzoisothiazole-2,2-dioxide with aldehydes were studied.     

Triazene formation via reaction of imidazol-2-ylidenes with azides

Treatment of N-heterocyclic carbenes (as their free carbenes or generated in situ) with alkyl, aryl, acyl or tosyl azides afforded the respective substituted triazenes in excellent yields.     

Stable carbenes. Synthesis and properties of benzimidazol-2-ylidenes

A new stable crystalline carbene, 1,3-bis(1-adamantyl)benzimidazol-2-ylidene, was synthesized by decomposition of 1,3-bis(1-adamantyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzimidazol-2-ylacetonitrile on heating under reduced pressure. Heteroaromatic 1,3-R₂-disubstituted benzimidazol-2-ylidenes, both stable (R = 1-Ad) and generated in situ (R = Me, Bzl), as well as 1,3,4,5-tetraphenylimidazol-2-ylidene (generated in situ), reacted with acetonitrile to give the corresponding insertion products, 1,3-disubstituted 2-cyanomethyl-2,3-dihidro-1H-(benz)-imidazoles. The geometric parameters of 1,3-bis(1-adamantyl)benzimidazol-2-ylidene, determined by X-ray analysis, suggest its lower aromaticity as compared to imidazol-2-ylidenes and 1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidenes. The structures of 2-cyanomethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzimidazoles, 2-cyanomethyl-1,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazole, and 1-(1-adamantyl)-5-cyanomethyl-3,4-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazole are characterized by partial conjugation in the heteroring; some compounds exhibit luminescence under UV irradiation. 1,3-Bis(1-adamantyl)benzimidazol-2-ylidene reacted with molecular sulfur in benzene to give 1,3-bis-(1-adamantyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzimidazole-2-thione, but it failed to react with selenium under analogous conditions.     

Hydration of Polycationic [5]Radialene with Quintuple 1,3-Dithiol-2-ylidenes Leads to a New Class of π-Extended Tetrathiafulvalene Scaffold

[5]Radialene with quintuple 4,5-benzo-1,3-dithiol-2-ylidenes (DTs) easily forms a stable polycationic salt ( 1 )⁴⁺(BF₄⁻)₄ owing to its aromatic character in the central cyclopentadienide ring. In this work, it was found that the polycationic salt ( 1 )⁴⁺ underwent a hydration reaction in moist polar solvent to give several unexpected products, namely, an oxygen adduct dicationic salt ( 2 )²⁺, a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) vinylogue ( 3 ) with 1,4-dithiine-2(3H)-one moieties, and an oxygen adduct of π-extended TTF with a cyclopentenone core ( 4 ). Their molecular structures were fully determined by X-ray crystal-structure analysis. In this reaction, irreversible hydration to the polycationic salt might either initiate the ring expansion and lead to the successive hydration at the specific cationic DT ring (for 3 ), or promote the transannular reactions to the next DT ring followed by elimination of the DT ring (for 4 ). Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry measurements for compound 3 indicated the occurrence of multi redox process resulting from electronic delocalization on the vinylogous TTF moiety. The electronic structures of the cationic species of 3 were also investigated by electronic spectra.     

Synthesis and structure of silyl-substituted imidazol-2-ylidenes and their precursors

Previously unknown heterocyclic carbenes and their precursors containing a silicon atom in the side chain were prepared. Their structures were studied by multinuclear ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N, and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy.     

Imidazole-2-ylidenes as Ligands for Palladium Catalyzed Heck Cross Coupling Reaction

N-Heterocyclic carbenes have become universal ligands in coordination chemistry. [1] The design, synthesis, and application of imidazolium salts as precursors of imidazole-2-ylidenes are therefore of substantial interest. [2] The free carbenes with imidazole-2-ylidene structure of A (Scheme 1 ), so called "phosphine mimics", can form metal complexes with high thermal and hydrolytic durability, while N-substituted by different functional groups could produce, in principle, water-soluble; unsymmetrical; and immobilized catalysts. [3]     

Copper (I) 1,3-R2-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidenes (R=mesityl, 2-propyl): synthesis, X-ray structures, immobilization and catalytic activity

The synthesis of novel copper (I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes is described. Thus, reaction of CuX with 1,3-di(2-propyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene yields CuX(1,3-di(2-propyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene) (X=Cl, (1a), Br (1b)); however, reaction of CuCl with 1,3-dimesityl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene yields the bis-N-heterocylcic carbene complex Cu(1,3-dimesityl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene)₂⁺CuBr₂⁻ (2). A supported version of 1, i.e. PS-DVB-CH₂-OCO-CF₂-CF₂-CF₂-COOCu(1,3-di(2-propyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene) (3) was prepared from 1 and PS-DVB-CH₂-OCO-CF₂-CF₂-CF₂-COOAg. A copper loading of 4.15 μmol/g was realized. The new compounds were used as catalysts in carbonyl hydrosilylation and cyanosilylation reactions. Excellent reactivity was observed, giving raise to turn-over numbers (TONs) of up to 100,000. Compounds 1a, 1b, and 2 have also been used as catalysts for the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA). A linear conversion of monomer with time was observed, however, no control over molecular weight of PMMA was observed.