The [2 + 1] and [4 + 3] cyclization reactions of fulvenes with Fischer carbene complexes: new access to annulated cyclopentanones

Pentafulvenes are regioselectively cyclopropanated with group 6 Fischer carbene complexes leading to the homofulvene ring with complete endo selectivity. The homofulvene adducts undergo in turn a further cyclopropanation with ethyl diazoacetate or cyclopentannulation with a Fischer alkenyl carbene complex to provide substituted cyclopentanones after ozonolysis of the exocyclic carbon=carbon double bond. Fischer alkynyl carbene complexes also produce the corresponding alkynyl homofulvenes, albeit the exo stereoisomer is in this case exclusively or preferentially formed. Under moderate CO pressure, tungsten alkynyl carbene complexes cycloadd to pentafulvenes in a [4 + 3] fashion, giving rise to bicyclo[3.2.1]octadien-2-ones.     

Role of singlet diradicals in reactions of 2-carbenabicyclo[3.2.1]octa-3,6-diene

The generation of 2-carbenabicyclo[3.2.1]octa-3,6-diene (1) results in the formation of C(8)H(8) hydrocarbons endo-6-ethynylbicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-ene (4), semibullvalene (5), and 5-ethynyl-1,3-cyclohexadiene (6), and C(8)H(10) hydrocarbons bicyclo[3.2.1]octa-2,6-diene (7), tricyclo[3.2.1.0(4,6)]oct-2-ene (8), and tetracyclo[3.3.0.0(2,8)0(4,6)]octane (9). Focus is placed on three mechanistic pathways for the formation of the C(8)H(10) hydrocarbon fraction: (a) abstraction of hydrogen by triplet carbene 1T to produce an equilibrating set of monoradicals, (b) interconversion of triplet carbene 1T into tricyclic triplet diradical 19T and tetracyclic triplet diradical 20T, and (c) interconversion of singlet 1S with analogous singlet diradical 19S and 20S. Ab initio calculations at the (U)B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)//(U)B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) and broken spin symmetry UBS B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) levels rule out choices (a) and (b) and are consistent with the singlet diradical process.     

Supramolecular recognition and structural elucidation of inclusion complexes of an achiral carbene precursor in beta- and permethylated beta-cyclodextrin

[structure: see text] Inclusion of achiral carbene precursor endo-8-azibicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ol (1) in chiral beta-cyclodextrin (7-Cy) and tri-O-methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (TRIMEB) leads to 1:1 complexes 1@7-Cy and 1@TRIMEB, respectively. The combined methods of induced circular dichroism, NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray structure determination were employed for the first time for structural elucidation of the complexes in solution and the solid state. Significantly different orientations of 1 were observed. Compared with 1@7-Cy, 1@TRIMEB exhibits a different guest orientation and an association constant one-twentieth lower.     

Reactions of endo-3-diazotricyclo[3.2.1.0 2,4]oct-6-ene, a potential precursor for the generation of a neutral C8H8 molecule with a pyramidally coordinated carbon

endo-3-Diazotricyclo[3.2.1.0(2,4)]oct-6-ene (endo-6) has already been prepared in solution. According to B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) computations, the corresponding carbene endo-7 easily produces the highly strained neutral C8H8 compound 4 comprising a pyramidally tetracoordinated carbon which then rearranges to bridgehead alkene 15 through a cascade of rearrangements. Nonplanar diazocyclopropane structures are predicted for endo- and exo-6. Furthermore, their ring-opened isomers 27 are the first representatives of a new class of non-Kekulé compounds, the diazoallyls.     

Racematspaltung und Bestimmung der absoluten Konfiguration von 2, 6-disubstituierten Bicyclo [3.3.1]nonanen

Resolution and Determination of the Absolute Configuration of 2,6-Disubstituted Bicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes (±)-endo, endo-Bicyclo [3.3.1]nonane-2,6-diol was resolved via diastereomeric camphanic acid esters. Conversion of the (+)-enantiomer 2 via (+)- 5 and (+)- 6 as key intermediates gave (+) methyl 3-(3-oxocyclohexyl)-propionate ( 7 ) which independently could be prepared also from the known (+)-(R)-3-oxo-cyclohexane-carboxylic acid ( 8 ). These chemical correlations establish the absolute configuration of (+) -2 , (+) -5 and (+) -6 as well as that of (+)-bicyclo [3.3.1]nonane-2,6-dione ( 1 ) obtained by oxidation of (+) -2 . The chiroptical properties of 1 and 6 are discussed.     

Alpha,gamma-diamino acids: asymmetric synthesis of new constrained 6-amino-3-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-6-carboxylic acids

The synthesis of two new diastereomeric 6-amino-3-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-6-carboxylic acids exo- and endo-8,9 is reported using exo- and endo-norbornene amino acids as chiral building blocks. This method provides a fast access to optically pure amino acids 8 and 9 which can be considered both alpha,gamma- and alpha,delta-diamino acids containing sterical constraints and characterized by alpha,alpha-disubstitution.     

Selective cyclopalladation of R3P=NCH2Aryl iminophosphoranes. Experimental and computational study

The orientation of the orthopalladation of iminophosphoranes R3P=NCH2Aryl (R=Ph, Aryl=Ph (1a), C6H(4)-2-Br (1b), C6H4-Me-2 (1e), C6H3-(Me)(2)-2,5 (1f); R=p-tolyl, Aryl=Ph (1c); R=m-tolyl, Aryl=Ph (1d); R3P=MePh2P, and Aryl=Ph (1g)) has been studied. 1a reacts with Pd(OAc)2 (OAc=acetate) giving endo-[Pd(micro-Cl){C,N-C6H4(PPh2=NCH2Ph)-2}]2 (3a), while exo-[Pd(micro-Br){C,N-C6H4(CH2N=PPh3)-2}]2 (3b) could only be obtained by the oxidative addition of 1b to Pd2(dba)3. The endo form of the metalated ligand is favored kinetically and thermodynamically, as shown by the conversion of exo-[Pd(micro-OAc){C,N-C6H4(CH2N=PPh3)-2}]2 (2b) into endo-[Pd(micro-OAc){C,N-C6H4(PPh2=NCH2Ph)-2}]2 (2a) in refluxing toluene. The orientation of the reaction is not affected by the introduction of electron-releasing substituents at the Ph rings of the PR3 (1c and 1d) or the benzyl units (1e and 1f), and endo complexes (3c-3f) were obtained in all cases. The palladation of MePh2P=NCH2Ph (1g) can be regioselectively oriented as a function of the solvent. The exo isomer [Pd(micro-Cl){C6H4(CH2N=PPh2Me)-2}]2 (exo-3g) is obtained in refluxing CH2Cl2, while endo-[Pd(micro-Cl){C,N-C6H4(PPh(Me)=NCH2Ph)-2}]2 (endo-3g) can be isolated as a single isomer in refluxing toluene. In this case, the exo metalation is kinetically favored while an endo process occurs under thermodynamic control, as shown through the rearrangement of [Pd(micro-OAc){C6H4(CH2N=PPh2Me)-2}]2 (exo-2g) into [Pd(micro-OAc){C,N-C6H4(P(Ph)Me=NCH2Ph)-2}]2 (endo-2g) in refluxing toluene. The preference for the endo palladation of 1a and the kinetic versus thermodynamic control in 1g has been explained through DFT studies of the reaction mechanism.     

DFT study on the Diels-Alder cycloaddition between alkenyl-M(0) (M = Cr, W) carbene complexes and neutral 1,3-dienes

The thermal Diels-Alder reaction between alkenylmetal(0) Fischer carbenes and 1,3-dienes (isoprene and cyclopentadiene) has been studied computationally within the density functional theory framework. The selectivity of the [4 + 2] cycloadditions between alkenyl-group 6 (Fischer) carbene complexes and isoprene is similar to the selectivity computed for the reactions involving Lewis acid complexed acrylates. The experimentally observed complete endo selectivity in the [4 + 2] cycloadditions of alkenyl-group 6 (Fischer) carbene complexes with cyclopentadiene, which takes place under kinetic control, may be due in part to the presence of stabilizing secondary orbital interactions. These interactions are stronger than the analogues in the metal-free processes. The [4 + 2] cycloadditions between alkenyl-group 6 (Fischer) carbene complexes and neutral dienes occur concertedly via transition structures which are more asynchronous and less aromatic than their non-organometallic analogues, a behavior which is extensible to the reactions between Lewis acid complexed acrylates.     

Stereoselective synthesis of pentacarbonyl(3-oxa-2-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexylidene)- and pentacarbonyl(cyclopropylmethoxymethylene)tungsten compounds on the route to cyclopropane-gamma-lactones and -carboxylates

The diastereoselective synthesis of pentacarbonyl-3-oxa-2-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexylidene- and pentacarbonyl(cyclopropylmethoxymethylene)tungsten compounds 4 and 9 by the reaction of lithiated oxazolinyloxiranes 2 and 8 and Fischer carbene tungsten complexes 3 is described. A mechanism for the formation of 4 and 9 is reported as well as their oxidation to cyclopropane-gamma-lactone 13 and -carboxylate 14.     

Syntheses and structural characterizations of endo-eta(1)-, exo-eta(1)-, eta(4)-, eta(5)-, and eta(6)-metallaphosphamonocarbaborane complexes derived from a versatile new polyborane ligand: exo-6-R-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(12)

Deprotonation of the phosphamonocarbaborane, exo-6-R-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(12) (R = Ph 1a or Me 1b), yields exo-6-R-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(11)(-), which when reacted with appropriate transition-metal reagents affords new metallaphosphamonocarbaborane complexes in which the metals adopt endo-eta(1), exo-eta(1), eta(4), eta(5), or eta(6) coordination geometries bonded to the formal R-arachno-PCB(8)H(11)(-), R-arachno-PCB(8)H(10)(2-), R-arachno-PCB(8)H(9)(3-), or R-nido-PCB(8)H(9)(-) ligands. The reaction of exo-6-(C(6)H(5))-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(11)(-) (1a-) with Mn(CO)(5)Br generated the eta(1)-sigma product exo-6-[Mn(CO)(5)]-endo-6-(C(6)H(5))-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(11) (2) having the [Mn(CO)(5)] fragment in the thermodynamically favored exo position at the P6 cage atom. On the other hand, reaction of 1a- with (eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Fe(CO)(2)I resulted in the formation of two products, an eta(1)-sigma complex endo-6-[(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Fe(CO)(2)]-exo-6-(C(6)H(5))-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(11) (3) having the (eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Fe(CO)(2) fragment attached at the endo-P6 position and an eta(6)-closo complex, 1-(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))-2-(C(6)H(5))-closo-1,2,3-FePCB(8)H(9) (4a). Rearrangement of the endo-compound 3 to its exo-isomer 5 was observed upon photolysis of 3. Synthesis of the methyl analogue of 4a, 1-(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))-2-CH(3)-closo-1,2,3-FePCB(8)H(9) (4b), along with a double-insertion product, 1-CH(3)-2,3-(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(2)-2,3,1,7-Fe(2)PCB(8)H(9) (6), containing two iron atoms eta(5)-coordinated to a formal R-arachno-PCB(8)H(9)(3-), was achieved by reaction of exo-6-CH(3)-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(11)(-) (1b-) with FeCl(2) and Na(+)C(5)H(5)(-). Complexes 4a and 4b can be considered ferrocene analogues, in which an Fe(II) is sandwiched between C(5)H(5)(-) and 6-R-nido-6,9-PCB(8)H(9)(-) anions. Reaction of exo-6-(C(6)H(5))-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(11)(-) (1a-) with cis-dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)platinum (II) afforded two compounds, an eta(1)-sigma complex with the metal fragment again in the endo-P6 position, endo-6-[cis-(Ph(3)P)(2)PtCl]-exo-6-(C(6)H(5))-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(11) (7) and an eta(4)-complex, 7-(C(6)H(5))-11-(Ph(3)P)(2)-nido-11,7,8-PtPCB(8)H(10) (8) containing the formal R-arachno-PCB(8)H(10)(2)(-) anion. The structures of compounds 2, 3, 4a, 4b, 6, 7, and 8 were crystallographically confirmed.     

Syntheses,crystallographic/computational characterizations,and reactions of the first 10-vertex arachno- and nido-phosphamonocarbaboranes

A synthetic sequence involving the initial reaction of a substituted phosphorus dihalide (RPCl(2), R = CH(3), C(6)H(5)) with the arachno-CB(8)H(13)(-) (1-) monoanion followed by an in situ dehydrohalogenation reaction initiated by Proton Sponge, resulted in phosphorus cage insertion to yield the first 10-vertex arachno- and nido-phosphamonocarbaboranes, exo-6-R-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(12) (2a, 2b) and PSH(+)6-R-nido-6,9-PCB(8)H(9)(-) (PSH+3a-, PSH+3b-) (R = C(6)H(5) (a), CH(3) (b)). Alternatively, 2a and 2b were synthesized in high yield as the sole product of the reaction of the arachno-4-CB(8)H(12)(2-) (1(2-)) dianion with RPCl(2). Crystallographic determinations of PSH+3a- and PSH+3b- in conjunction with DFT/GIAO computational studies of the anions have confirmed the expected nido cage framework based on an octadecahedron missing the six-coordinate vertex. DFT/GIAO computational studies have also shown that while the gross cage geometries of the exo-6-R-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(12) compounds 2a and 2b resemble the known isoelectronic arachno-6,9-SCB(8)H(12), the phosphorus and carbon atoms are in thermodynamically unfavorable adjacent positions on the six-membered puckered face. They also each have an endo-hydrogen at the P6-position arising from proton transfer to the basic phosphorus during the cage-insertion reaction. Possible stepwise reaction pathways that can account for the formation of both the arachno and nido products are discussed. Deprotonation of 2a and 2b resulted in the formation of their corresponding conjugate monoanions, 6-R-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(11)(-) (2a-, 2b-), in which the proton that had been attached to the P6 atom was removed. Reactions of 2a- with O(2), S(8), BH(3).THF, or Br(2) further demonstrated the basicity of the P6-phosphorus yielding the new arachno-substituted compounds, endo-6-O-exo-6-(C(6)H(5))-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(11)(-) (4a-), endo-6-S-exo-6-(C(6)H(5))-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(11)(-) (5a-), endo-6-BH(3)-exo-6-(C(6)H(5))-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(11)(-) (6a-), and endo-6-Br-exo-6-(C(6)H(5))-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(11) (7a), respectively, in which the O, S, BH(3), and Br substituents are bound to the phosphorus at the endo position.     

Regioselective functionalization of iminophosphoranes through Pd-mediated C-H bond activation: C-C and C-X bond formation

The orthopalladation of iminophosphoranes [R(3)P=N-C(10)H(7)-1] (R(3) = Ph(3) 1, p-Tol(3) 2, PhMe(2) 3, Ph(2)Me 4, N-C(10)H(7)-1 = 1-naphthyl) has been studied. It occurs regioselectively at the aryl ring bonded to the P atom in 1 and 2, giving endo-[Pd(μ-Cl)(C(6)H(4)-(PPh(2=N-1-C(10)H(7))-2)-κ-C,N](2) (5) or endo-[Pd(μ-Cl)(C(6)H(3)-(P(p-Tol)(2)=N-C(10)H(7)-1)-2-Me-5)-κ-C,N](2) (6), while in 3 the 1-naphthyl group is metallated instead, giving exo-[Pd(μ-Cl)(C(10)H(6)-(N=PPhMe(2))-8)-κ-C,N](2) (7). In the case of 4, orthopalladation at room temperature affords the kinetic exo isomer [Pd(μ-Cl)(C(10)H(6)-(N=PPh(2)Me)-8)-κ-C,N](2) (11exo), while a mixture of 11exo and the thermodynamic endo isomer [Pd(μ-Cl)(C(6)H(4)-(PPhMe=N-C(10)H(7)-1)-2)-κ-C,N](2) (11endo) is obtained in refluxing toluene. The heating in toluene of the acetate bridge dimer [Pd(μ-OAc)(C(10)H(6)-(N=PPh(2)Me)-8)-κ-C,N](2) (13exo) promotes the facile transformation of the exo isomer into the endo isomer [Pd(μ-OAc)(C(6)H(4)-(PPhMe=N-C(10)H(7)-1)-2)-κ-C,N](2) (13endo), confirming that the exo isomers are formed under kinetic control. Reactions of the orthometallated complexes have led to functionalized molecules. The stoichiometric reactions of the orthometallated complexes [Pd(μ-Cl)(C(10)H(6)-(N=PPhMe(2))-8)-κ-C,N](2) (7), [Pd(μ-Cl)(C(6)H(4)-(PPh(2)[=NPh)-2)](2) (17) and [Pd(μ-Cl)(C(6)H(3)-(C(O)N=PPh(3))-2-OMe-4)](2) (18) with I(2) or with CO results in the synthesis of the ortho-halogenated compounds [PhMe(2)P=N-C(10)H(6)-I-8] (19), [I-C(6)H(4)-(PPh(2)=NPh)-2] (21) and [Ph(3)P=NC(O)C(6)H(3)-I-2-OMe-5] (23) or the heterocycles [C(10)H(6)-(N=PPhMe(2))-1-(C(O))-8]Cl (20), [C(6)H(5)-(N=PPh(2)-C(6)H(4)-C(O)-2]ClO(4) (22) and [C(6)H(3)-(C(O)-1,2-N-PPh(3))-OMe-4]Cl (24).     

Regioselective and Stepwise [8 + 2] Cycloaddition Reaction between Alkynyl-Fischer Carbene Complexes and Tropothione

The formal [8 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between alkynyl Fischer carbene complexes and tropothione leads to the regioselective formation of novel 3aH-cyclohepta[b]thiophene carbene complexes. Computational DFT calculations indicate that the process proceeds stepwise via antiaromatic zwitterionic intermediates.     

Circular Dichroism of Tricarbonyl(diene)iron Complexes. The Octant Rule Applied to Ketones Perturbed by Remote Fe(CO)3 Groups. Crystal Structure of (±)-Tricarbonyl[(1RS,4RS,5RS,6SR)-C5,6,C-η-(5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone)]iron

The preparation and the CD spectra of optically pure (+)-trans-μ-[(1R,4S,5S,6R,7R,8S)-C,5,6,C -η : C,7,8,C-η-(5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene-2-bicyclo [2.2.2]octanone)]bis(tricarbonyliron) ((+)- 7 ) and (+)-tricarbonyl[(1S,4S,5S,6R)-C-5,6,C-η-(5,6,7,8,-tetramethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone)]iron ((+)- 8 ), and of its 3-deuterated derivatives (+)-trans-μ-[(1R,3R,4S,5S,6R,7R,8S)-C,5,6,C-η : C,7,8,C-η-5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene(3-D)-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]-(octanone)]bis(tricarbonyliron) ((+)- 11 ) and (+)-tricarbonyl[(1S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-C-5,6,C- η-(5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene(3-D)-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone)]iron ((+)- 12 ) are reported. The chirality in (+)- 7 and (+)- 8 is due to the Fe(CO)₃ moieties uniquely. The signs of the Cotton effects observed for (+)- 7 and (+)- 8 obey the octant rule (ketone n→π*_CO transition). Optically pure (?)-3R-5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene(3-D)-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone ((?)- 10 ) was prepared. Its CD spectrum showed an ‘anti-octant’ behaviour for the ketone n→π*_CO transition of the deuterium substituent. The CD spectra of the alcoholic derivatives (?)-trans-μ-[(1R,2R,4S, 5S,6R,7R,8S)-C,5,6,C-η : C,7,8,C- η-(5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanol)]bis(tricarbonyliron) ((?)- 2 ) and (?)-tricarbonyl- [(1S,2R,4S,5S,6R)- C,5,6,C- η-(5,6,7,8-tetramethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanol)]iron ((?)- 3 ) and of the 3-denterated derivatives (?)- 5 and (?)- 6 are also reported. The CD spectra of the complexes (?)- 2 , (?)- 3 , (+)- 7 , and (+)- 8 were solvent and temperature dependent. The ‘endo’-configuration of the Fe(CO)₃ moiety in (±)- 8 was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

The 2-norbornyl cation via the fragmentations of exo- and endo-2-norbornyloxychlorocarbenes: distinction without much difference

exo- and endo-2-norbornyloxychlorocarbenes (7) were generated photochemically from the corresponding diazirines (6). Both carbenes fragmented to [2-norbornyl cation (carbon monoxide) chloride] ion pairs in MeCN or 1,2-dichloroethane solutions. Products included exo-norbornyl chloride (8), endo-norbornyl chloride (9), norbornene (10), and nortricyclene (11). Fragmentation activation energies were very low (< approximately 4 kcal/mol) and, as a result, the (laser flash photolytic) rate constants for fragmentation were essentially identical for exo-7 and endo-7 ( approximately 5 x 10(5) s(-1) in MeCN). Due to chloride return within the ion pairs, product distributions from exo- and endo-7 differed, with more endo-chloride formed from the endo-carbene: the 8/9 product ratio in MeCN was approximately 41 from exo-7, but only 4.6 from endo-7. Norbornene, formed by proton transfer to Cl(-) within the ion pairs, was a major product in both cases (44% from exo-7 and 62% from endo-7). In MeOH/MeCN, up to 28% of exo-2-norbornyl methyl ether formed at the expense of some of the norbornene, but even in 100% MeOH, the norbornyl chloride products of ion pair return still accounted for 46% and 31% of the exo-7 and endo-7 product mixtures (accompanied by 26-32% of norbornene). Electronic structure calculations on the ground states and fragmentation transition states of exo-7 and endo-7 are presented.     

Transition states for the dimerization of 1,3-cyclohexadiene: a DFT, CASPT2, and CBS-QB3 quantum mechanical investigation

Quantum mechanical calculations using restricted and unrestricted B3LYP density functional theory, CASPT2, and CBS-QB3 methods for the dimerization of 1,3-cyclohexadiene (1) reveal several highly competitive concerted and stepwise reaction pathways leading to [4 + 2] and [2 + 2] cycloadducts, as well as a novel [6 + 4] ene product. The transition state for endo-[4 + 2] cycloaddition (endo-2TS, DeltaH(double dagger)(B3LYP(0K)) = 28.7 kcal/mol and DeltaH(double dagger)(CBS-QB3(0K)) = 19.0 kcal/mol) is not bis-pericyclic, leading to nondegenerate primary and secondary orbital interactions. However, the C(s) symmetric second-order saddle point on the B3LYP energy surface is only 0.3 kcal/mol above endo-2TS. The activation enthalpy for the concerted exo-[4 + 2] cycloaddition (exo-2TS, DeltaH(double dagger)(B3LYP(0K)) = 30.1 kcal/mol and DeltaH(double dagger)(CBS-QB3(0K)) = 21.1 kcal/mol) is 1.4 kcal/mol higher than that of the endo transition state. Stepwise pathways involving diallyl radicals are formed via two different C-C forming transition states (rac-5TS and meso-5TS) and are predicted to be competitive with the concerted cycloaddition. Transition states were located for cyclization from intermediate rac-5 leading to the endo-[4 + 2] (endo-2) and exo-[2 + 2] (anti-3) cycloadducts. Only the endo-[2 + 2] (syn-3) transition state was located for cyclization of intermediate meso-5. The novel [6 + 4] "concerted" ene transition state (threo-4TS, DeltaH(double dagger)(UB3LYP(0K)) = 28.3 kcal/mol) is found to be unstable with respect to an unrestricted calculation. This diradicaloid transition state closely resembles the cyclohexadiallyl radical rather than the linked cyclohexadienyl radical. Several [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement transition states were also located and have activation enthalpies between 27 and 31 kcal/mol.     

Cycloaddition reactions of alkoxy alkynyl Fischer carbene complexes with o-quinodimethanes (oQDMs)

[reaction: see text] The reaction of o-quinodimethanes (oQDMs) with alkoxy alkynyl Fischer carbene complexes is highly dependent on the carbene complex. Thus, for arylalkynyl carbene complexes, the initial [4 + 2]-cycloadduct evolves opening a new entry to the benzo[b]fluorene skeleton, which is present in many natural products. However, for alkenylalkynyl carbene complexes, the reaction takes place through the double bond, instead of the triple bond, in an unprecedented fashion, leading to new functionalized alkynyl carbene complexes.     

Synthesis, characterization, and structural studies of multimetallic ferrocenyl carbene complexes of group VII transition metals

Fischer carbene complexes of the group VII transition metals (Mn and Re) containing at least two or three different transition metal substituents, all in electronic contact with the carbene carbon atom, were synthesized. The structural features and their relevance to bonding in the carbene multimetal compounds were investigated, as they represent indicators of possible reactivity sites in polymetallic carbene assemblies. For complexes of the type [ML(x){C(OR)R'}] (ML(x) = MnCp(CO)(2) or Re(2)(CO)(9)), ferrocenyl (Fc) was chosen as the R' substituent, while the OR substituent was systematically varied between an ethoxy or a titanoxy group, to yield the complexes 1a (ML(x) = MnCp(CO)(2), R = Et, R' = Fc), 2a (ML(x) = MnCp(CO)(2), R = TiCp(2)Cl, R' = Fc), 3a (ML(x) = Re(2)(CO)(9), R = Et, R' = Fc), and 4a (ML(x) = Re(2)(CO)(9), R = TiCp(2)Cl, R' = Fc). Direct lithiation of the ferrocene with n-BuLi/TMEDA at elevated temperatures, followed by the Fischer method of carbene preparation, resulted in formation of the novel biscarbene complexes with bridging ferrocen-1,1'-diyl (Fc') substituents [{π-Fe(C(5)H(4))(2)-C,C'}{C(OEt)ML(x)}(2)] (1b, ML(x) = MnCp(CO)(2); 3b, ML(x) = Re(2)(CO)(9)) or the unusual bimetallacyclic bridged biscarbene complexes [{π-TiCp(2)O(2)-O,O'}{π-Fe(C(5)H(4))(2)-C,C'}{CML(x)}(2)] (2b, ML(x) = MnCp(CO)(2); 4b, ML(x) = Re(2)(CO)(9)). The target compounds that were isolated displayed a variety of different geometric isomers and conformations. The greater reactivity of the binary dirhenium acylates in solution, compared to that of the cyclopentadienyl manganese acylate, resulted in a complex reaction mixture. Although the stabilization of hydroxycarbene or hydrido-acyl intermediates of dirhenium carbonyls could not be achieved, their existence in solution was confirmed by the isolation of [(π-H)(2)-(Re(CO)(4){C(O)Fc})(2)] (8), the unique dichloro-bridged biscarbene complex fac-[(π-Cl)(2)-(Re(CO)(3){C(OEt)Fc})(2)] (6), the known hydrido complex [Re(3)(CO)(14)H] (5), the acyl complex [Re(CO)(5){C(O)Fc}] (7), and the aldehyde-functionalized eq-[Re(2)(CO)(9){C(OTiCp(2)Cl)(Fc'CHO)}] (9).     

Multimetal Fischer carbene complexes of Group VI transition metals: synthesis, structure and substituent effect investigation

Fischer carbene complexes of tungsten with substituents containing up to two additional different transition metals, with all the metals in electronic contact with the carbene carbon atom, were synthesised and studied both in solution and in the solid state. For the complexes of the type [W(CO)(5){C(OR')R}], the substituents chosen were heteroaromatic 2-benzo[b]thienyl (2-BT), or 2-BT π-bonded to a chromium tricarbonyl fragment ([Cr(CO)(3)(2-η(6)-BT)]) or ferrocenyl (Fc) as the R-substituent, while the OR'-substituent was systematically varied between an ethoxy or a titanoxy group, to yield the complexes 1b (R' = Et, R = 2-BT), 2b (R' = Et, R = [Cr(CO)(3)(2-η(6)-BT)]), 3b (R' = TiCp(2)Cl, R = 21-BT), 4b (R' = TiCp(2)Cl, R = [Cr(CO)(3)(2-η(6)-BT)]), 5b (R' = Et, R = Fc) and 6b (R' = TiCp(2)Cl, R = Fc). The structural features and their relevance to bonding in the multimetal carbene compounds of both these tungsten and the analogous chromium complexes were investigated as they represent indicators of possible reactivity sites in multimetal carbene assemblies. The possibility of using DFT calculations to quantify the effect of metal-containing substituents on the carbene ligands was tested and correlated with experimental parameters by employing methods such as vibrational spectroscopy, molecular orbital analysis, and cyclic voltammetry.     

Organocatalytic entry to chiral bicyclo[3.n.1]alkanones via direct asymmetric intramolecular aldolization

[reaction: see text] The facile stereoselective syntheses of endo-8-hydroxybicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-2-one and endo-7-hydroxybicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-one, featuring an alpha-amino acid catalyzed intramolecular aldolization of sigma-symmetric substrates, are described. A high enantioselectivity and a high catalytic efficiency have been exhibited by (4R,2S)-tetrabutylammonium 4-TBDPSoxy-prolinate in the aldolization of 3-(4-oxocyclohexyl)propionaldehyde to give highly enantiomerically enriched (1S,5R,8R)-8-hydroxybicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-2-one.