Thermochemistry of N‐heterocyclic carbenes with 5‐, 4‐, 3‐, and 2‐membered rings

N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) based on imidazole‐2‐ylidene ( 1 ) or the saturated imidazolidine‐2‐ylidene ( 2 ) scaffolds are long‐lived singlet carbenes. Both benefit from inductive stabilization of the sigma lone pair on carbon by neighboring N atoms and delocalization of the N pi lone pairs into the nominally vacant p‐pi atomic orbital at the carbene carbon. With thermochemical schemes G4 and CBS‐QB3, we estimate the relative thermodynamic stabilization of smaller ring carbenes and acyclic species which may share the keys to NHC stability. These include four‐membered ring systems incorporating the carbene center, two trivalent N centers, and either a boron or a phosphorus atom to complete the ring. Amino‐substituted cyclopropenylidenes have been reported but three‐membered rings containing the carbene center and two N atoms are not known. Our calculations suggest that amino‐substituted cyclopropenylidenes are comparable in stability to the four‐membered NHCs but that diazacyclopropanylidenes would be substantially less effectively stabilized. Concluding the series are acyclic carbenes with and without neighboring N atoms and a series of “two‐membered ring” azapropadienenylidene cations of form :C?N?W with W = an electron‐withdrawing agent. We have studied W = NO₂, CH₂(+), CF₂(+), and (CN)₂C(+). Although these systems display a degree of stabilization and carbene‐like electronic structure, the stability of the NHCs is unsurpassed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Reaching for two new stable ambiphilic quinoline‐derived N‐heterocyclic carbenes at DFT level

A detailed investigation on the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of four carbenic tautomers of quinoline 1 , including quinoline‐2‐ylidene 2 , quinoline‐3‐ylidene 3 , quinoline‐4‐ylidene 4 , and 3,4‐dihydroquinoline‐4‐ylidene 5 , reveals that singlet planar six‐membered ring N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) 2 and 4 have less stability than Arduengo type NHC but seems to have enough conceivably for reaching at B3LYP/aug‐cc‐pVTZ//B3LYP/6–31+G* and B3LYP/6–311++G**//B3LYP/6–31+G* levels. All these six‐membered NHCs are extremely ambiphilic with the more nucleophilic and electrophilic characters compared to the Arduengo type one. The aromaticity of singlet 2 and 4 is a significant contributor to their stability which is confirmed through their Nucleus‐independent chemical shift(1)_zz values. Finally, among 2–5 , the normal NHC 2 is thermodynamically preferred but the remote NHC 4 is kinetically proffered over the other isomeric carbenes. The effects of different N‐ or C‐substituted NHCs of 2 are studied using appropriate isodesmic reactions. The trimethylsilyl substituent exhibits slightly larger carbene stabilization in quinoline‐derived NHCs than the pyridine analogue. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Theoretical investigation on the IR spectra of four‐membered silicon oxide ring

To test the mass effect on the ring vibrational frequencies (SiO₂) shift of the four‐membered silicon oxide ring, the deuterium and the tritium substituted cyclodisiloxanes on the hydrogen positions are examined at the CCSD(T)/cc‐pVTZ level of theory. The SiO₂ ring vibrations for a silicon oxide surface model compound, substituted cyclodisiloxane (Si₃O₅? O₂? Si₃O₅) with two six‐membered ring, are also calculated at the B3LYP/cc‐pVTZ level of theory. Our results of 909 and 920 cm^?1 are in good agreement with the experimental result. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

A computational study on the ring stretching modes of halogen‐substituted pyridine involved in H‐bonding

Density functional method B3LYP plus the AUG‐cc‐pVDZ and AUG‐cc‐pVTZ basis sets is used to investigate ring normal modes of halogen‐substituted pyridines involved in the N ··· H? X H‐bonds with HX (X = F, Cl). The results demonstrated that the formation of hydrogen bond leads to an increase in the frequencies of the ring breathing mode v₁, the N‐para‐C stretching mode v_6a and the meta‐CC stretching mode v_8a, whereas there is no change in the triangle mode v₁₂ for free pyridine and a smaller blue shift for substituted pyridines. There is a strong coupling between the C? Y stretching vibration and the triangle mode (ortho‐ and para‐substituted) or the breathing mode (meta‐substituted) in substituted pyridines, which leads to the frequency decrease in the triangle or breathing modes. The natural bond orbital analysis suggests that electrostatic interaction and charge transfer caused by the intermolecular and intramolecular hyperconjugations are the origin of the frequency blue shift in the ring stretching modes. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

1,2‐migration in N‐phosphano functionalized N‐heterocyclic carbenes

1,2‐Migration of the phosphano‐group to the carbene center in N‐phosphano functionalized N‐heterocyclic carbenes has been studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. An intramolecular mechanism with a three‐center transition state structure seems to be most plausible for the isolated carbenes, while an intermolecular pathway catalyzed by azolium salts may be preferable for a migration proceeding in the course of generating the carbenes in situ. Our calculations show that amino‐substitution at the phosphorus atom and an enhanced nucleophilicity of the heterocycle scaffold facilitate the phosphorus shift. Calculated singlet‐triplet energy gaps do not correlate with thermodynamic stability of the studied carbenes and their disposition toward the 1,2‐rearrangement. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Electronic Structure Trends in N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes (NHCs) with Varying Number of Nitrogen Atoms and NHC?Transition‐Metal Bond Properties

Carbenes derived from five‐membered heterocycles with different numbers of nitrogen atoms ranging from two to four lead formally either to normal N‐heterocyclic or mesoionic carbenes with, in some cases, the same skeletal structure. The electronic structures of fourteen of these compounds were examined by means of DFT calculations at the B3LYP/aug‐cc‐pVTZ level. The examined parameters include the energies of the σ‐lone pair at C_carbene and the π‐HOMO of the protonated form, which are correlated to the first and second proton affinities. The singlet–triplet energy gap was used as a measure of the stability of the N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) towards dimerisation. Natural population analysis provided insight into the variation of the p_π population and the natural charge at C_carbene with NHC structure. Additionally, the transition metal? NHC bond in L‐AuCl and L‐TiCl₄ and the nature of the orbital interactions between the NHC and the transition‐metal fragment were analysed in detail by the extended transition state–natural orbitals for chemical valence (ETS–NOCV) approach at the BP86/TZ2P level. Similarities and differences between the NHC? gold and the NHC? titanium bond are discussed, and trends in key bonding properties can be traced back to the variation of the electronic parameters of the NHC.     

Effects of heteroatoms on 1,2-rearrangements of 3-membered ring carbenes

1,2-rearrangements of carbenes: CCH₂X(X = CH₂, NH and O) are studied by using ab initio gradient method. Heteroatoms N and O stabilize the carbene and decrease its reactivity, mainly by changing frontier molecular orbitals, but retain the way of the reaction. The reaction starts from the attack of the migrating hydrogen on the carbene p AO and ends with the entrance of the hydrogen into the carbene σ orbital. Reactivities are in the order of X = CH8>NH>0. The reaction is exothermic or endothermic according to whether the product is a 4n+2 or 4n π electron molecule.     

Polycyclic Indoline‐Benzodiazepines through Electrophilic Additions of α‐Imino Carbenes to Tröger Bases

Polycyclic indoline‐benzodiazepines can be accessed through the intermolecular reaction of Tröger bases with N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles. Under Rh^II catalysis, α‐imino carbenes are generated and a subsequent cascade of [1,2]‐Stevens, Friedel–Crafts, Grob, and aminal formation reactions yield the polycyclic heterocycles as single isomers (d.r.>49:1, four stereocenters including two bridgehead N atoms). Further ring expansion by insertion of a second α‐imino carbene leads to elaborated polycyclic 9‐membered‐ring triazonanes.     

An Alternative Approach to PEPPSI Catalysts: From Palladium Isonitriles to Highly Active Unsymmetrically Substituted PEPPSI Catalysts

A series of new pyridine‐enhanced precatalyst preparation, stabilization, and initiation (PEPPSI)‐type complexes bearing different types of carbene ligands was prepared by the modular and convergent template synthesis strategy. Nitrogen acyclic carbenes, saturated and unsaturated five‐membered NHC, saturated six‐membered NHCs, and five‐membered N‐heterocyclic oxo‐carbene (NHOC) ligands on palladium were prepared this way. These new organometallic compounds then were tested in Suzuki and Negishi cross‐coupling reactions by using substrates with one or two substituents in ortho‐position of the new C?C bond being formed. Both aryl chlorides and bromides were tested as coupling partners. In some cases, the new ligands gave results similar to Organ’s successful IPr‐based and IPent‐based PEPPSI derivatives, with aryl bromides 0.05 mol % catalyst load still gave satisfactory results, with aryl chlorides 0.5 mol % were needed.     

Intramolecular cyclization reactions of unsaturated amino Fischer chromium carbenes forming indoles and quinolines

A thermally induced intramolecular annulation reaction of N-(2-alkenylphenyl)amino substituted Fischer chromium carbenes has been extensively examined. The carbene complexes were prepared in moderate to good yields by reaction of 2-aminostyrenes with intermediately formed acyloxy substituted carbenes. Upon heating, the thermally labile carbenes decomposed producing indoles and quinolines as the major products. The product distribution was found to be highly dependent on the substitution pattern and electronic properties of the starting material, and on the solvent used.     

Substituted 2-norbornyl carbenes

A series of endo-6-substituted bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl carbenes have been generated by pyrolysis of the sodium salt of the tosylhydrazone precursors. The endo-6-trimethylsilyl and endo-6-thiomethoxy substituted carbenes give 1,3-migration of these substituents to the carbene center. However groups such as methyl, CH₂SiMe₃, phenyl, and methoxy are ineffective 1,3-migrating groups. The facile 1,3-migration of trimethylsilyl and thiomethoxy has been rationalized in terms of stabilized transition states where the migrating group interacts effectively with the carbene vacant orbital. In the cases of endo-6-thiomethoxy and methoxy derivatives, the carbene also inserts effectively into the methyl group of the substituent. Heteroatom stabilization of the transition state for C-H insertion facilitates these processes. Certain exo-6-substituted bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl carbenes have also been generated. While the exo-6-thiomethoxy and carbomethoxy systems give exclusive 1,3-hydrogen migration, the exo-6-sulfonyl derivative gives, in addition to 1,3-hydrogen migration, an alkene product derived from 1,2-hydrogen migration. The lowered propensity for 1,3-hydrogen migration is attributed to the strong electron-withdrawing sulfonyl group, which decreases the hydridic 1,3-interaction with the carbene vacant orbital.     

Heterocyclic carbenes of diverse flexibility: A theoretical insight

A systematic density functional investigation has been carried out on the structure, stability and reactivity of heterocyclic carbenes of diverse flexibility, i.e., carbenes with different modes of binding specially normal and remote mode of binding. Ligating properties of these carbenes have been assessed by virtue of their HOMO energies and verified further by inspection of the symmetric CO frequencies of their respective palladium carbonyl complexes. All the remote carbenes were found to have higher σ-donating abilities compared to their normal analogs. N-heterocyclic carbenes 1 and 5 are found to be electrophilic in nature while the remote carbene 3 and P-heterocyclic carbene 6 are found to be nucleophilic. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) reveals significant covalent character in the C_carbene-Pd bonds.     

Kinetic isotope effects for the H2 + C2H ↔ C2H2 + H reaction based on the ab initio calculations and a global potential energy surface

In the present paper, kinetic isotope effects of the title reaction are studied with canonical variational transition state theory on the modified Wang Bowman (MWB) potential energy surface (PES) (Chem Phys Lett 2005, 409, 249) and the ab initio calculations at the quadratic configuration interaction (QCISD (T, full))/aug‐cc‐pVTZ//QCISD (full)/cc‐pVTZ level. The calculated rate constants for the isotopic variants of this title reaction on the MWB PES have good agreement with those of the present ab initio calculations over the temperature range of 20–5000 K for the forward reactions and 800–5000 K for the reverse reactions, respectively. In particular, the forward rate constants for the title reaction and its isotopically substituted reactions have negative temperature dependences at about 40 K. Rate expressions are presented for all the studied reactions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 289–298, 2010     

Improving on equilibrium isotropic nuclear shielding constants

Isotropic nuclear shielding constants at the equilibrium molecular structure σ_eq and zero‐point vibrational corrections (ZPVCs) to σ_eq are evaluated using the B3LYP/aug‐cc‐pVTZ level of theory, as well as the KT2/aug‐cc‐pVTZ level of theory. Various scaling factors and systematic corrections are obtained by linear regression to experimental shielding constants. Comparisons of the scaled and systematically corrected equilibrium and vibrationally averaged shielding constants reveal that, at the 99% confidence level, the ZPVCs via second‐order perturbation theory do not improve the agreement of B3LYP/aug‐cc‐pVTZ and KT2/aug‐cc‐pVTZ calculated shielding constants with experiment. This holds true when the same analysis is applied to CCSD(T)/aug‐cc‐pCV[TQ]Z calculated σ_eq of Teale et al. [Journal of Chemical Physics 2013, 138, 024111]. In addition, at the 99% confidence level, B3LYP/aug‐cc‐pVTZ and KT2/aug‐cc‐pVTZ scaled and systematically corrected shielding constants are found to be statistically no different from CCSD(T)/aug‐cc‐pCV[TQ]Z calculated σ_eq. The use of scaling factors and systematic corrections could thus provide a cheaper but yet reasonably accurate alternative for the study of nuclear shielding constants of larger systems.     

Synthesis,characterization and catalytic activity in Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of palladacycle complexes with n‐butyl‐substituted N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands

A series of monomeric palladacycle complexes bearing n‐butyl‐substituted N‐heterocyclic carbenes, namely [Pd(NHC)X(dmba)] (dmba: dimethylbenzylamine and [Pd(NHC)X(ppy)]; NHC: 1‐n‐butyl‐3‐substituted benzylimidazol‐2‐ylidene; ppy: 2‐phenylpyridine), were prepared either by transmetallation from the corresponding silver carbene complexes or by the reaction of the corresponding acetate‐bridged palladacycle dimer with N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands in high yields. The palladium(II) complexes were characterized using elemental analyses, APCI‐MS, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. These complexes are efficient in the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction between phenylboronic acid and aryl bromides.     

From Eight‐Membered 10π Electron Sulfur–Nitrogen Cycles to Bicycles and Cages: A Theoretical Approach

A simple way of rationalizing the structures of cyclic, bicyclic, and tricyclic sulfur–nitrogen species and their congeners is presented. Starting from a planar tetrasulfur tetranitride with 12π electrons, we formally derived on paper a number of heterocyclic eight‐membered 10π electron species by reacting the 3p orbitals of two opposite sulfur centers with one radical each, or by replacing these centers by other atoms with five (P) or four (Si, C) valence electrons. This led to planar aromatic 10π electron systems, nonplanar bicyclic structures with a transannular S?S bond, and tricyclic structures by bridging the planar rings with an acceptor or donor unit. The final structures depend on the number of π electrons in the bridges. Intermediate biradicals are stabilized by Jahn–Teller distortion, giving transannular S?S bonds between the NSN units. This procedure may be summarized by two rules, which provide a rationale for the structures of a large number of sulfur–nitrogen‐based molecules. The long bonds between the NSN units show a p character of >95 %. The qualitative results have been compared with known molecular structures and the results of B3LYP/cc‐pVTZ calculations as well as CASSCF and CASVB calculations. B3LYP/cc‐pVTZ calculations have also provided the UV/Vis spectra and the NICS values of the planar 10π systems.     

A Theoretical Study of the Kinetics of the Hydrogen Atom Abstraction Reactions from Cyclopropane by H,O (3P), and Cl (2P3/2) Atoms and OH Radicals

The rate constants of the H‐abstraction reactions from cyclopropane by H, O (³P), Cl (²P_3/2), and OH radicals have been calculated over the temperature range of 250?2500 K using two different levels of theory. Calculations of optimized geometrical parameters and vibrational frequencies are performed using the MP2 method combined with the cc‐pVTZ basis set and the 6–311++G(d,p) basis set. Single‐point energy calculations have been carried out with the highly correlated ab initio coupled cluster method in the space of single, double, and triple (perturbatively) electron excitations CCSD(T) using either the cc‐pVTZ, aug‐cc‐pVTZ, and aug‐cc‐pVQZ basis sets or the 6–311++G(3df,3pd) basis set. The CCSD(T) calculated potential energies have been extrapolated to the complete basis limit (CBS) limit. The Full Configuration Interaction (FCI) energies have been also estimated using the continued‐fraction approximation as proposed by Goodson (J. Chem. Phys., 2002, 116, 6948–6956). Canonical transition‐state theory combined with an Eckart tunneling correction has been used to predict the rate constants as a function of temperature using two kinetic models (direct abstraction or complex mechanism) at two levels of theory (CCSD(T)‐cf/CBS//MP2/cc‐pVTZ and CCSD(T)‐cf/6–311++G(3df,3pd)//MP2/6–311++G(d,p)). The calculated kinetic parameters are in reasonable agreement with their literature counterparts for all reactions. In the light of these trends, the use of the Pople‐style basis sets for studying the reactivity of other systems such as larger cycloalkanes or halogenated cycloalkanes is recommended because the 6–311++G(3df,3pd) basis set is less time consuming than the aug‐cc‐pVQZ basis set. Based on our calculations performed at the CCSD(T)‐cf/CBS//MP2/cc‐pVTZ level of theory, the standard enthalpy of formation at 298 K for the cyclopropyl radical has been reassessed and its value is (290.5 ± 1.6) kJ mol^?1.     

Electronic stabilization of ground state triplet carbenes

Based on systematic ab initio (CCSD(T)/cc-pVDZ) studies of substituent effects, we present a concept for the construction of electronically stabilized triplet ground state carbenes with singlet-triplet energy separations (DeltaEST) exceeding that of methylene. Sterically demanding and conjugating substituents were excluded from the selection of model compounds under investigation, as these either destabilize both the singlet and the triplet states or delocalize unpaired spins away from the carbene carbon. Negative partial charges on the carbene center allow for the prediction of the electronic stabilization of substituted carbenes. To decrease carbene reactivity, we chose beta-substituents with strong polar bonds. Among them, highly electronegative elements such as fluorine and oxygen enlarge the DeltaEST value with respect to hydrogen, while chlorine does not due to p-orbital participation.     

Catalytic Dibenzocyclooctene Synthesis via Cobalt(III)–Carbene Radical and ortho‐Quinodimethane Intermediates

The metalloradical activation of ortho‐benzallylaryl N‐tosyl hydrazones with [Co(TPP)] (TPP=tetraphenylporphyrin) as the catalyst enabled the controlled exploitation of the single‐electron reactivity of the redox non‐innocent carbene intermediate. This method offers a novel route to prepare eight‐membered rings, using base metal catalysis to construct a series of unique dibenzocyclooctenes through selective C_carbene?C_aryl cyclization. The desired eight‐membered‐ring products were obtained in good to excellent yields. A large variety of aromatic substituents are tolerated. The proposed reaction mechanism involves intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) to Co^III–carbene radical intermediates followed by dissociation of an ortho‐quinodimethane that undergoes 8π cyclization. The mechanism is supported by DFT calculations, and the presence of radical‐type intermediates was confirmed by trapping experiments.