Radical trans‐Hydroboration of Alkynes with N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Boranes

Hydroboration of internal alkynes with N‐heterocyclic carbene boranes (NHC‐boranes) occurs to provide stable NHC (E)‐alkenylboranes upon thermolysis in the presence of di‐tert‐butyl peroxide. The E isomer results from an unusual trans‐hydroboration, and the E/Z selectivity is typically high (90:10 or greater). Evidence suggests that this hydroboration occurs by a radical‐chain reaction involving addition of an NHC‐boryl radical to an alkyne to give a β‐NHC‐borylalkenyl radical. Ensuing hydrogen abstraction from the starting NHC‐borane provides the product and returns the starting NHC‐boryl radical. Experiments suggest that the observed trans‐selectivity results from kinetic control in the hydrogen‐transfer reaction.     

Reactivity of B‐Xanthyl N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Boranes

The synthesis and reactivity of mono‐ and bis‐S‐xanthyl NHC‐boranes is reported. The new NHC‐boranes are prepared through nucleophilic exchange at boron from either mono‐ or bis‐triflyl NHC‐boranes, themselves obtained by protolysis of the NHC‐BH₃ starting compounds. The B?H bond of the S‐xanthyl NHC‐boranes can be cleaved both homolytically and heterolytically, albeit the latter is more synthetically useful. The S‐xanthyl NHC‐boranes can reduce both aldehydes and imines. The B?S bond can also be cleaved homolytically. Under UV irradiation, the S‐xanthyl NHC‐boranes generate NHC‐boryl radicals that can initiate radical polymerizations of acrylates.     

Hydroboration as an Efficient Tool for the Preparation of Electronically and Structurally Diverse N→B‐Heterocycles

Ladder‐type organoboranes featuring intramolecular N→B coordination have been prepared through hydroboration of a 2‐(ortho‐styryl)pyridine ( PhPy ) with a series of hydroboranes, including 9H‐9‐borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonyl (9H‐BBN), BH₃ ? THF, HBCl₂ ? SMe₂, HB(C₆F₅)₂, and a 9H‐9‐borafluorene derivative. The hydroboration reaction results in highly regioselective borylation under mild conditions and gives the products in good to excellent yields. The molecular structure and electronic properties of the obtained boranes have been experimentally investigated in detail, and complemented with DFT calculations to further elucidate the origin of differences in optical and electronic properties. The electron affinity of the conjugated system can be controlled through variation of the borane, while the optical properties are likewise directly linked to the type and molecular structure of the substituents on boron. The broad substrate range shows that this preparative approach is widely applicable to introduce chemically diverse boryl groups into conjugated systems.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Amination of Aryl Sulfides with Anilines

A combination of a palladium–NHC catalyst and potassium hexamethyldisilazide enables the amination of aryl sulfides with anilines to afford a wide variety of diarylamines. The reaction conditions are versatile enough for the reaction of even bulky ortho‐substituted aryl sulfides. This amination can be applied to the modular synthesis of N‐aryl carbazoles from the corresponding ortho‐bromothioanisoles. As aryl sulfoxides undergo extended Pummerer reactions to afford ortho‐substituted aryl sulfides, the Pummerer products are thus useful substrates for the amination to culminate in efficient syntheses of a 2‐anilinobenzothiophene and an indole as proof‐of‐principle of the utility of the extended Pummerer reaction/amination cascade.     

New Radical Borylation Pathways for Organoboron Synthesis Enabled by Photoredox Catalysis

Radical borylation using N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐BH₃ complexes as boryl radical precursors has emerged as an important synthetic tool for organoboron assembly. However, the majority of reported methods are limited to reaction modes involving carbo‐ and/or hydroboration of specific alkenes and alkynes. Moreover, the generation of NHC‐boryl radicals relies principally on hydrogen atom abstraction with the aid of radical initiators. A distinct radical generation method is reported, as well as the reaction pathways of NHC‐boryl radicals enabled by photoredox catalysis. NHC‐boryl radicals are generated via a single‐electron oxidation and subsequently undergo cross‐coupling with the in‐situ‐generated radical anions to yield gem‐difluoroallylboronates. A photoredox‐catalyzed radical arylboration reaction of alkenes was achieved using cyanoarenes as arylating components from which elaborated organoborons were accessed. Mechanistic studies verified the oxidative formation of NHC‐boryl radicals through a single‐electron‐transfer pathway.     

Oxidative Coupling of Anionic Abnormal N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes: Efficient Access to Janus‐Type 4,4′‐Bis(2H‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene)s

The oxidative coupling of anionic imidazol‐4‐ylidenes protected at the C2 position with [MnCp(CO)₂] or BH₃ led to the corresponding 4,4′‐bis(2H‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene) complexes or adducts, in which the two carbene moieties are connected through a single C?C bond. Subsequent acidic treatment of the later species led to the corresponding 4,4′‐bis(imidazolium) salts in good yields. The overall procedure offers practical access to a novel class of Janus‐type bis(NHC)s. Strikingly, the coplanarity of the two NHC rings within the mesityl derivative 4,4′‐bis(IMes), favored by steric hindrance along with stabilizing intramolecular C?H???π aryl interactions, allows the alignment of the π‐systems and, as a direct consequence, significant electron communication through the bis(carbene) scaffold.     

Are Boryl Radicals from Amine–Boranes and Phosphine–Boranes the Most Stable Radicals?

The relative stability of the radicals that can be produced from amine–boranes and phosphine–boranes is investigated at the G3‐RAD level of theory. Aminyl ([RNH]^.:BH₃) and phosphinyl ([RPH]^.:BH₃) radicals are systematically more stable than the boryl analogues, [RNH₂]:BH₂^. and [RPH₂]:BH₂^.. Despite similar stability trends for [RNH]^.:BH₃ and [RPH]^.:BH₃ radicals with respect to boryl radicals, there are significant dissimilarities between amine– and phosphine–boranes. The homolytic bond dissociation energy of the N?H bond decreases upon association of the amines with BH₃, whereas that of the P?H bond for phosphines increases. The stabilization of the free amine is much smaller than that of the corresponding aminyl radical, whereas for phosphines this is the other way around. The homolytic bond dissociation energy of the B?H bond of borane decreases upon complexation with both amines and phosphines.     

Photoredox‐Controlled β‐Regioselective Radical Hydroboration of Activated Alkenes with NHC‐Boranes

In this Communication, we report an unprecedented β‐regioselective radical inverse hydroboration (compared with ionic hydroboration) of α,β‐unsaturated amides with NHC‐BH₃ enabled by photoredox catalysis. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the unique photoredox cycle is a key factor to control the β‐regioselective radical hydroboration, by lowering the energy barrier in comparison with other pathways. This protocol provides a general and convenient route to construct a wide range of structurally diverse β‐borylated amides in synthetically useful yields under mild conditions.     

Palladium(II)‐N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Efficient Catalysts for the Direct C‐H Bond Arylation of Furans with Aryl Halides

This paper contains the synthesis and characterization of the seven new benzimidazolium salts and their corresponding new palladium(II)‐NHC complexes with the general formula [PdX₂(NHC)₂], (NHC = N‐heterocyclic carbene, X = Cl or Br), and also their catalytic activity in direct C‐H bond arylation of 2‐substituted furan derivatives with aryl bromides and aryl chlorides. Under the optimal conditions, these palladium(II)‐NHC complexes showed the good catalytic performance for the direct C‐H bond arylation of 2‐substituted furans with (hetero)aryl bromides, and with readily available and inexpensive aryl chlorides. The C‐H bond arylation regioselectively produced C5‐arylated furans by using 1 mol% of the palladium(II)‐NHC catalysts in moderate to high yields.     

Cobalt‐Catalyzed C?H Bond Functionalizations with Aryl and Alkyl Chlorides

Inexpensive cobalt catalysts derived from N‐heterocylic carbenes (NHC) allowed efficient catalytic C? H bond arylations on heteroaryl‐substituted arenes with widely available aryl chlorides, which set the stage for the preparation of sterically hindered tri‐ortho‐substituted biaryls. Likewise, challenging direct alkylations with β‐hydrogen‐containing primary and even secondary alkyl chlorides proceeded on pyridyl‐ and pyrimidyl‐substituted arenes and heteroarenes. The cobalt‐catalyzed C? H bond functionalizations occurred efficiently at ambient reaction temperature with excellent levels of site‐selectivities and ample scope. Mechanistic studies highlighted that electron‐deficient aryl chlorides reacted preferentially, while the arenes kinetic C? H bond acidity was found to largely govern their reactivity.     

Synthesis of bis‐N‐alkyl imidazolium salts and their palladium(0)(NHC)(η2‐MA)2 complexes

New N‐Alkyl‐substituted imidazolium salts as well as a series of their corresponding [Pd(NHC)(MA)₂] complexes have been obtained by three routes in good yield. The previously reported synthesis for the analogous N‐aryl substituted [Pd(NHC)(MA)₂] complexes has been improved. The N‐alkyl‐substituted [Pd(NHC)(MA)₂] complexes are thermally more labile than their N‐aryl counterparts. Catalytic transfer semi‐hydrogenation of phenylpropyne resulted in good to excellent chemo‐ and stereo‐ selectivity conversion into (Z)‐phenylpropene. The size of the alkyl substituents correlates with the rate of hydrogenation in the sense that more bulky substituents give rise to faster transfer hydrogenation rates. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fluorinated Phenanthrenes as Aryne Precursors: PAH Synthesis Based on Domino Ring Assembly Using 1,1‐Difluoroallenes

On treatment with the catalyst InBr₃, 1,1‐difluoroallenes that bear a cyclopentene moiety and an aryl group underwent domino ring assembly in the presence or absence of N‐bromosuccinimide or N‐iodosuccinimide to afford aryne precursors such as three‐ringed ortho‐fluoro(halo)phenanthrenes, four‐ringed ortho‐fluoro(halo)tetraphenes, ortho‐fluoro(halo)chrysenes and fluoro[4]helicenes. Metalation of the aryne precursors followed by elimination of the fluoride resulted in the unprecedented systematic generation of arynes bearing π‐extended systems. Diels?Alder reactions of these arynes with isobenzofurans afforded the corresponding cycloadducts whose reductive aromatisation in an SnCl₂/HBr system furnished fully aromatised benzotriphenylenes. In addition, oxidative aryl?aryl coupling (the Scholl reaction) of these benzotriphenylenes facilitated the synthesis of ‘half HBCs’ (hexabenzocoronenes).     

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.     

Metal‐Free Dehydrogenation of Amine‐Boranes by Tunable N‐Heterocyclic Iminoboranes

We report the synthesis of structurally tunable boron complexes supported by N‐heterocyclic imine ligands IPr=N?BR₂ (IPr=[(HCNDipp)₂C], Dipp=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃, R=Cl and/or Ph) that have the ability to abstract dihydrogen from amine‐boranes, and instigate their dehydrocoupling. In one instance, mild heating of the hydrogen addition product IPr=NH?B(Ph)HCl releases H₂ to regenerate the starting N‐heterocyclic iminoborane; accordingly IPr=N?B(Ph)Cl can be used as a metal‐free catalyst to promote the dehydrocoupling of MeNH₂ ? BH₃ to yield N‐methylaminoborane oligomers [MeNH‐BH₂]_x.     

N‐Heterocyclic carbene/phosphite synergistically assisted Pd/C‐catalyzed Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides

An N‐heterocyclic carbene and phosphite synergistically enhanced Pd/C catalyst system has been developed for Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides and aryl boronic acids from commercially available Pd/C with sterically demanding N,N′‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolylidene and trimethylphosphite. A remarkable increase in catalytic activity of Pd/C was observed when used along with 1 equiv. N,N′‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolium chloride and 2 equiv. phosphite with respect to palladium in appropriate solvents that were found to play a crucial role in Pd/C‐NHC‐P(OR)₃‐catalyzed Suzuki coupling. A dramatic ortho‐substitution effect of carbonyl and nitrile groups in aryl chlorides was observed and explained by a modified quasi‐heterogeneous catalysis mechanism. The Pd/C catalyst could be easily recovered from reaction mixtures by simple filtration and only low palladium contamination was detected in the biparyl products. A practical process for the synthesis of 4‐biphenylcarbonitrile has therefore been developed using the N‐heterocyclic carbene/phosphite‐assisted Pd/C‐catalyzed Suzuki coupling. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Intramolecular Frustrated Lewis Pair with the Smallest Boryl Site: Reversible H2 Addition and Kinetic Analysis

Ansa‐aminoborane 1 (ortho‐TMP? C₆H₄? BH₂; TMP=2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperid‐1‐yl), a frustrated Lewis pair with the smallest possible Lewis acidic boryl site (? BH₂), is prepared. Although it is present in quenched forms in solution, and BH₂ represents an acidic site with reduced hydride affinity, 1 reacts with H₂ under mild conditions producing ansa‐ammonium trihydroborate 2 . The thermodynamic and kinetic features as well as the mechanism of this reaction are studied by variable‐temperature NMR spectroscopy, spin‐saturation transfer experiments, and DFT calculations, which provide comprehensive insight into the nature of 1 .     

Highly efficient orthopalladated complexes of second and third benzyl amine for catalyzing the Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction

In this work, ortho‐palladated complexes [Pd(µ‐Cl)(C₆H₄CH₂ NRR′‐κ²‐C,N)]₂ and [Pd(C₆H₄CH₂NH₂‐2‐C,N)Cl(Y)] were tested in the Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction. Cyclopalladated Pd(II) complexes as thermally stable catalysts can activate aryl bromides and chlorides. These complexes were active and efficient catalysts for the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction of aryl bromides and even less reactive aryl chlorides. The cross‐coupled products of a variety of aryl bromides and aryl chloride with phenylboronic acid in methanol as solvent at 60 °C were produced in excellent yields. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Expanded‐Ring N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes for the Stabilization of Highly Electrophilic Gold(I) Cations

Strategies for the synthesis of highly electrophilic Au^I complexes from either hydride‐ or chloride‐containing precursors have been investigated by employing sterically encumbered Dipp‐substituted expanded‐ring NHCs (Dipp=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃). Thus, complexes of the type (NHC)AuH have been synthesised (for NHC=6‐Dipp or 7‐Dipp) and shown to feature significantly more electron‐rich hydrides than those based on ancillary imidazolylidene donors. This finding is consistent with the stronger σ‐donor character of these NHCs, and allows for protonation of the hydride ligand. Such chemistry leads to the loss of dihydrogen and to the trapping of the [(NHC)Au]⁺ fragment within a dinuclear gold cation containing a bridging hydride. Activation of the hydride ligand in (NHC)AuH by B(C₆F₅)₃, by contrast, generates a species (at low temperatures) featuring a [HB(C₆F₅)₃]^? fragment with spectroscopic signatures similar to the “free” borate anion. Subsequent rearrangement involves B?C bond cleavage and aryl transfer to the carbophilic metal centre. Under halide abstraction conditions utilizing Na[BAr^f₄] (Ar^f=C₆H₃(CF₃)₂‐3,5), systems of the type [(NHC)AuCl] (NHC=6‐Dipp or 7‐Dipp) generate dinuclear complexes [{(NHC)Au}₂(μ‐Cl)]⁺ that are still electrophilic enough at gold to induce aryl abstraction from the [BAr^f₄]^? counterion.     

Dihydrogen Generation from Amine/Boranes: Synthesis,FT‐ICR,and Computational Studies

A Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance spectrometry (FT‐ICR) study of the gas‐phase protonation of ammonia‐borane and sixteen amine/boranes R¹R²R³N? BH₃ (including six compounds synthesized for the first time) has shown that, without exception, the protonation of amine/boranes leads to the formation of dihydrogen. The structural effects on the experimental energetic thresholds of this reaction were determined experimentally. The most likely intermediate and the observed final species (besides H₂) are R¹R²R³N? BH₄⁺ and R¹R²R³N? BH₂⁺, respectively. Isotopic substitution allowed the reaction mechanism to be ascertained. Computational analyses ([MP2/6‐311+G(d,p)] level) of the thermodynamic stabilities of the R¹R²R³N? BH₃ adducts, the acidities of the proton sources required for dihydrogen formation, and the structural effects on these processes were performed. It was further found that the family of R¹R²R³N? BH₄⁺ ions is characterized by a three‐center, two‐electron bond between B and a loosely bound H₂ molecule. Unexpected features of some R¹R²R³N? BH₄⁺ ions were found. This information allowed the properties of amine/boranes most suitable for dihydrogen generation and storage to be determined.     

Encapsulating Inorganic Acetylene,HBNH, Using Flanking Coordinative Interactions

A stable donor–acceptor coordination complex of the elusive parent inorganic iminoborane HBNH (a structural analogue of acetylene) is reported. This species was generated via thermally induced N₂ elimination/1,2‐H migration from a hydrido(azido)borane adduct NHC?BH₂N₃ (NHC=N‐heterocyclic carbene) in the presence of a fluorinated triarylborane. The mechanism of this process was also investigated by computational and isotopic labeling studies. This transformation represents a new and potentially modular route to unsaturated inorganic building blocks for advanced material synthesis.