A low‐temperature modification of hexa‐tert‐butyldisilane and a new polymorph of 1,1,2,2‐tetra‐tert‐butyl‐1,2‐diphenyldisilane

Crystals of hexa‐tert‐butyldisilane, C₂₄H₅₄Si₂, undergo a reversible phase transition at 179 (2) K. The space group changes from Ibca (high temperature) to Pbca (low temperature), but the lattice constants a, b and c do not change significantly during the phase transition. The crystallographic twofold axis of the molecule in the high‐temperature phase is replaced by a noncrystallographic twofold axis in the low‐temperature phase. The angle between the two axes is 2.36 (4)°. The centre of the molecule undergoes a translation of 0.123 (1) Å during the phase transition, but the conformation angles of the molecule remain unchanged. Between the two tri‐tert‐butylsilyl subunits there are six short repulsive intramolecular C—H...H—C contacts, with H...H distances between 2.02 and 2.04 Å, resulting in a significant lengthening of the Si—Si and Si—C bonds. The Si—Si bond length is 2.6863 (5) Å and the Si—C bond lengths are between 1.9860 (14) and 1.9933 (14) Å. Torsion angles about the Si—Si and Si—C bonds deviate by approximately 15° from the values expected for staggered conformations due to intramolecular steric H...H repulsions. A new polymorph is reported for the crystal structure of 1,1,2,2‐tetra‐tert‐butyl‐1,2‐diphenyldisilane, C₂₈H₄₆Si₂. It has two independent molecules with rather similar conformations. The Si—Si bond lengths are 2.4869 (8) and 2.4944 (8) Å. The C—Si—Si—C torsion angles deviate by between −3.4 (1) and −18.5 (1)° from the values expected for a staggered conformation. These deviations result from steric interactions. Four Si—C(t‐Bu) bonds are almost staggered, while the other four Si—C(t‐Bu) bonds are intermediate between a staggered and an eclipsed conformation. The latter Si—C(t‐Bu) bonds are about 0.019 (2) Å longer than the staggered Si—C(t‐Bu) bonds.     

Rhodium(I)‐Catalyzed Sequential C(sp)C(sp3) and C(sp3)C(sp3) Bond Formation through Migratory Carbene Insertion

A Rh^I‐catalyzed three‐component reaction of tert‐propargyl alcohol, diazoester, and alkyl halide has been developed. This reaction can be considered as a carbene‐involving sequential alkyl and alkynyl coupling, in which C(sp)? C(sp³) and C(sp³)? C(sp³) bonds are built successively on the carbenic carbon atom. The Rh^I‐carbene migratory insertion of an alkynyl moiety and subsequent alkylation are proposed to account for the two separate C? C bond formations. This reaction provides an efficient and tunable method for the construction of all‐carbon quaternary center.     

Diol‐Linked Microporous Networks of Cubic Siloxane Cages

A new class of inorganic–organic hybrid porous materials has been synthesized by a reaction between octa(hydridosilsesquioxane) (H₈Si₈O₁₂), which has a double‐four‐ring (D4R) structure, and various diols, such as 1,3‐propanediol (PD), 1,4‐cyclohexanediol (CHD), and 1,3‐adamantanediol (AD). Solid‐state ²⁹Si magic‐angle‐spinning NMR spectroscopic analysis confirmed that most of the corner Si? H groups reacted with diols to form Si‐O‐C bonds with retention of the D4R cage. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption studies showed that the products are microporous solids with high BET surface areas (up to ≈580 m² g^?1 for CHD‐ and AD‐linked products). If n‐alkanediols are used as linkers, the surface area becomes smaller as the number of carbon atoms is increased. The thermal and hydrolytic stability of the products strongly depend on the type of diol linkers. The highest stabilities are found for the AD‐linked products, which are thermally stable up to around 400 °C and remain intact even after being soaked in water for 1 day. In contrast, the PD‐linked product is easily hydrolyzed in water to give microporous silica. These results offer a new route toward a series of silica‐based porous materials with unique structures and properties.     

Imino‐Bridged Bisphosphaalkenes (2,4‐Diphospha‐3‐azapentadienes)

Deprotonation of aminophosphaalkenes (RMe₂Si)₂C?PN(H)(R′) (R=Me, iPr; R′=tBu, 1‐adamantyl (1‐Ada), 2,4,6‐tBu₃C₆H₂ (Mes*)) followed by reactions of the corresponding Li salts Li[(RMe₂Si)₂C?P(M)(R′)] with one equivalent of the corresponding P‐chlorophosphaalkenes (RMe₂Si)₂C?PCl provides bisphosphaalkenes (2,4‐diphospha‐3‐azapentadienes) [(RMe₂Si)₂C?P]₂NR′. The thermally unstable tert‐butyliminobisphosphaalkene [(Me₃Si)₂C?P]₂NtBu ( 4 a ) undergoes isomerisation reactions by Me₃Si‐group migration that lead to mixtures of four‐membered heterocyles, but in the presence of an excess amount of (Me₃Si)₂C?PCl, 4 a furnishes an azatriphosphabicyclohexene C₃(SiMe₃)₅P₃NtBu ( 5 ) that gave red single crystals. Compound 5 contains a diphosphirane ring condensed with an azatriphospholene system that exhibits an endocylic P?C double bond and an exocyclic ylidic P⁽⁺⁾? C^(?)(SiMe₃)₂ unit. Using the bulkier iPrMe₂Si substituents at three‐coordinated carbon leads to slightly enhanced thermal stability of 2,4‐diphospha‐3‐azapentadienes [(iPrMe₂Si)₂C?P]₂NR′ (R′=tBu: 4 b ; R′=1‐Ada: 8 ). According to a low‐temperature crystal‐structure determination, 8 adopts a non‐planar structure with two distinctly differently oriented P?C sites, but ³¹P NMR spectra in solution exhibit singlet signals. ³¹P NMR spectra also reveal that bulky Mes* groups (Mes*=2,4,6‐tBu₃C₆H₂) at the central imino function lead to mixtures of symmetric and unsymmetric rotamers, thus implying hindered rotation around the P? N bonds in persistent compounds [(RMe₂Si)₂C?P]₂NMes* ( 11 a , 11 b ). DFT calculations for the parent molecule [(H₃Si)₂C?P]₂NCH₃ suggest that the non‐planar distortion of compound 8 will have steric grounds.     

Stability of Noble‐Gas‐Bound SiH3+ Clusters

The stability of noble gas (Ng)‐bound SiH₃⁺ clusters is explored by ab initio computations. Owing to a high positive charge (+1.53 e^?), the Si center of SiH₃⁺ can bind two Ng atoms. However, the Si?Ng dissociation energy for the first Ng atom is considerably larger than that for the second one. As we go down group 18, the dissociation energy gradually increases, and the largest value is observed for the case of Rn. For NgSiH₃⁺ clusters, the Ar–Rn dissociation processes are endergonic at room temperature. For He and Ne, a much lower temperature is required for it to be viable. The formation of Ng₂SiH₃⁺ clusters is also feasible, particularly for the heavier members and at low temperature. To shed light on the nature of Si?Ng bonding, natural population analysis, Wiberg bond indices computations, electron‐density analysis, and energy‐decomposition analysis were performed. Electron transfer from the Ng centers to the electropositive Si center occurs only to a small extent for the lighter Ng atoms and to a somewhat greater extent for the heavier analogues. The Si?Xe/Rn bonds can be termed covalent bonds, whereas the Si?He/Ne bonds are noncovalent. The Si?Ar/Kr bonds possess some degree of covalent character, as they are borderline cases. Contributions from polarization and charge transfer and exchange are key terms in forming Si?Ng bonds. We also studied the effect of substituting the H atoms of SiH₃⁺ by halide groups (?X) on the Ng binding ability. SiF₃⁺ showed enhanced Ng binding ability, whereas SiCl₃⁺ and SiBr₃⁺ showed a lower ability to bind Ng than SiH₃⁺. A compromise originates from the dual play of the inductive effect of the ?X groups and X→Si π backbonding (p_z–p_z interaction).     

Oxidative β‐Csp3−H Functionalization of tBuOH: A Selective Radical/Radical Cross‐Coupling Access to β‐Hydroxy Thioethers

An oxidative β‐Csp³?H functionalization of tert‐butanol (tBuOH) for the construction of C?S bonds through an iodine‐catalyzed Csp³?H/S?H coupling was successfully achieved. Different kinds of mercaptans were shown to be good coupling partners, affording the desired products in good yields. This protocol not only offers a novel method for the synthesis of β‐hydroxy thioethers, but also provides an effective strategy for selective radical/radical cross‐coupling.     

Highly Stereoselective Cobalt(III)‐Catalyzed Three‐Component C−H Bond Addition Cascade

A highly stereoselective three‐component C(sp²)?H bond addition across alkene and polarized π‐bonds is reported for which Co^III catalysis was shown to be much more effective than Rh^III. The reaction proceeds at ambient temperature with both aryl and alkyl enones employed as efficient coupling partners. Moreover, the reaction exhibits extremely broad scope with respect to the aldehyde input; electron rich and poor aromatic, alkenyl, and branched and unbranched alkyl aldehydes all couple in good yield and with high diastereoselectivity. Multiple directing groups participate in this transformation, including pyrazole, pyridine, and imine functional groups. Both aromatic and alkenyl C(sp²)?H bonds undergo the three‐component addition cascade, and the alkenyl addition product can readily be converted into diastereomerically pure five‐membered lactones. Additionally, the first asymmetric reactions with Co^III‐catalyzed C?H functionalization are demonstrated with three‐component C?H bond addition cascades employing N‐tert‐butanesulfinyl imines. These examples represent the first transition metal catalyzed C?H bond additions to N‐tert‐butanesulfinyl imines, which are versatile and extensively used intermediates for the asymmetric synthesis of amines.     

Acyl- und Alkylidenphosphane. XXIV. (N,N-Dimethylthiocarbamoyl)trimethylsilylphosphane und 1,2-Di(tert-butyl)-3-dimethylamino-1-thio-4-trimethylsilylsulfano-1λ5,2λ3-diphosphet-3-en

Acyl- and Alkylidenephosphines. XXIV. (N,N-Dimethylthiocarbamoyl)trimethylsilyl-phosphines and 1.2-Di(tert-butyl)-3-dimethylamino-1-thio-4-trimethylsilylsulfano-1λ⁵, 2λ³-diphosphet-3-ene In contrast to bis(trimethylsilyl)phosphines R? P[? Si(CH₃)₃]₂ 1 {R ? H₃C a ; (H₃C)₃C b ; H₅H₆ c ; H₁₁C₉ d ; (H₃C)₃Si e }, the more nucleophilic lithium trimethylsilylphosphides 4 react with N,N-dimethylthiocarbamoyl chloride already at ?78°C to give (N,N-dimethylthiocarbamoyl)trimethylsilylphosphines 2 . Working up the reaction, a dismutation of the mesityl derivative 2d is observed, whereas the tert-butyl compound 2b dissolved in toluene, eliminates dimethyl(trimethylsilyl)amine to form 1,2-di(tert-butyl)-3-dimethylamino-1-thio-4-trimethylsilyl-sulfano- 1λ⁵, 2λ³-diphosphet-3-ene 6b , nearly quantitatively within several days at +20°C.     

Synthesis of 4‐silaspiro[3.4]octa‐1,5‐diene derivatives: hybrid spiro compounds

Trialkynyl(vinyl)silanes CH₂?CH? Si(C?C? R)₃ (R = Bu, Ph, p‐tolyl) were prepared and treated with 9‐borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (9‐BBN). Consecutive 1,2‐hydroboration and intramolecular 1,1‐carboboration reactions (each requires different reaction conditions) were studied. 1,2‐Hydroboration of the Si? vinyl group takes place at ambient temperature (23°C in tetrahydrofuran), followed by intramolecular 1,1‐vinylboration to give 1‐silacyclopent‐2‐ene derivatives, bearing still two alkynyl functions at the silicon atom. Further treatment with a second equivalent of 9‐BBN affords 1‐alkenyl‐1‐(alkynyl)‐1‐silacyclopent‐2‐ene derivatives. These undergo intramolecular 1,1‐vinylboration to give 4‐silaspiro[3.4]octa‐1,5‐dienes bearing the boryl groups at 2 and 6 positions. Protodeborylation of all new compounds (intermediates and final products) using acetic acid in slight excess afforded corresponding silanes including spirosilanes. All compounds were characterized using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹¹B, ¹³C, ²⁹Si) in solution state. Solid‐state structures for one of the trialkynyl(vinyl)silanes (R = p‐tolyl) and one of the 1‐silacyclopent‐2‐ene derivatives (R = Ph) were confirmed using X‐ray diffraction. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dehydrogenative N‐Incorporation: A Direct Approach to Quinoxaline N‐Oxides under Mild Conditions

An efficient method for the synthesis of quinoxaline N‐oxides proceeds by the dehydrogenative N‐incorporation of simple imines by C(sp²)? H and C(sp³)? H bond functionalization. The overall transformation involves the cleavage of three C? H bonds. The reaction is easily handled and proceeds under mild conditions. Simple and readily available tert‐butyl nitrite (TBN) was employed as the NO source.     

The Ambivalent Chemistry of a Free Anionic N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Decorated with a Malonate Backbone: The Plus of a Negative Charge

The anionic heterocycle “[maloNHC]^?”, ([ 1 ]^?), is the archetype of a growing family of N‐heterocyclic carbenes incorporating an anionic backbone; here, a malonate group. A comprehensive experimental exploration of its chemistry as a free entity (in the form of its lithium salt [ 1 ] ? Li) is presented, and rationalized using DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6‐31+G** level of theory. For the sake of comparison, similar computations were performed on other representative carbene types. Reactions of [ 1 ]?Li with a broad series of electrophilic reagents were used to ascertain its intrinsic nature as a nucleophilic carbene. Unexpectedly, [ 1 ]?Li was also seen to react with the nucleophilic tert‐butylisocyanide, to give an anionic ketenimine, which could be subsequently derivatized, either into an imine by protonation of the ketenimine moiety, or into a neutral ketenimine by alkylation of the intracyclic malonate moiety. Further experiments on the electrophilic behavior of [ 1 ]?Li revealed its unexpected reactivity toward p‐chlorobenzaldehyde, resulting in a formal C? H activation and the first structurally characterized keto‐tautomer of the Breslow intermediate. Finally, [ 1 ]?Li remarkably activates polar E? H bonds, including N? H bonds from ammonia and amines, Si? H bonds, and B? H bonds. Importantly, DFT calculations indicate the importance of counterion effects. In particular, the key to the observed reactivity appears to be a modulation of energy levels associated with a dynamic variability of the Li? O distance between the remote malonate group and the counterion.     

Cubic Siloxanes with Both Si−H and Si−OtBu Groups for Site‐Selective Siloxane Bond Formation

Cage‐type siloxanes have attracted increasing attention as building blocks for silica‐based nanomaterials as their corners can be modified with various functional groups. Cubic octasiloxanes incorporating both Si?H and Si?OtBu groups [(tBuO)_nH_8?nSi₈O₁₂; n=1, 2 or 7] have been synthesized by the reaction of octa(hydridosilsesquioxane) (H₈Si₈O₁₂) and tert‐butyl alcohol in the presence of a Et₂NOH catalyst. The Si?H and Si?OtBu groups are useful for site‐selective formation of Si?O?Si linkages without cage structure deterioration. The Si?H group can be selectively hydrolyzed to form a Si?OH group in the presence of Et₂NOH, enabling the formation of the monosilanol compound (tBuO)₇(HO)Si₈O₁₂. The Si?OH group can be used for either intermolecular condensation to form a dimeric cage compound or silylation to introduce new reaction sites. Additionally, the alkoxy groups of (tBuO)₇HSi₈O₁₂ can be treated with organochlorosilanes in the presence of a BiCl₃ catalyst to form Si?O?Si linkages, while the Si?H group remains intact. These results indicate that such bifunctional cage siloxanes allow for stepwise Si?O?Si bond formation to design new siloxane‐based nanomaterials.     

A Series of Isolable Silanoic Thio‐, Seleno‐, and Telluroesters (LSi(X)OR) with Donor‐Supported SiX Double Bonds (L=β‐Diketiminate; X=S,Se, Te)

The first silicon analogues of carbonic (carboxylic) esters, the silanoic thio‐, seleno‐, and tellurosilylesters 3 (Si?S), 4 (Si?Se), and 5 (Si?Te), were prepared and isolated in crystalline form in high yield. These thermally robust compounds are easily accessible by direct reaction of the stable siloxysilylene L(Si:)OSi(H)L′ 2 (L=HC(CMe)₂[N(aryl)₂], L′=CH[(C?CH₂)‐CMe][N(aryl)]₂; aryl=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃) with the respective elemental chalcogen. The novel compounds were fully characterized by methods including multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Owing to intramolecular N→Si donor–acceptor support of the Si?X moieties (X=S, Se, Te), these compounds have a classical valence‐bond N⁺–Si–X^? resonance betaine structure. At the same time, they also display a relatively strong nonclassical Si?X π‐bonding interaction between the chalcogen lone‐pair electrons (n_π donor orbitals) and two antibonding Si? N orbitals (σ*_π acceptor orbitals mainly located at silicon), which was shown by IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Accordingly, the Si?X bonds in the chalcogenoesters are 7.4 ( 3 ), 6.7 ( 4 ), and 6.9 % ( 5 ) shorter than the corresponding Si? X single bonds and, thus, only a little longer than those in electronically less disturbed Si?X systems (“heavier” ketones).     

Cation–Cation Pairing by NCH⋅⋅⋅O Hydrogen Bonds

The pairing of ions of opposite charge is a fundamental principle in chemistry, and is widely applied in synthesis and catalysis. In contrast, cation–cation association remains an elusive concept, lacking in supporting experimental evidence. While studying the structure and properties of 4‐oxopiperidinium salts [OC₅H₈NH₂]X for a series of anions X^? of decreasing basicity, we observed a gradual self‐association of the cations, concluding in the formation of an isolated dicationic pair. In 4‐oxopiperidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide, the cations are linked by N? H???O?C hydrogen bonds to form chains, flanked by hydrogen bonds to the anions. In the tetra(perfluoro‐tert‐butoxy)aluminate salt, the anions are fully separated from the cations, and the cations associate pairwise by N? C? H???O?C hydrogen bonds. The compounds represent the first genuine examples of self‐association of simple organic cations based merely on hydrogen bonding as evidenced by X‐ray structure analysis, and provide a paradigm for an extension of this class of compounds.     

Cleavage of Unactivated Si−C(sp3) Bonds with Reed's Carborane Acids: Formation of Known and Unknown Silylium Ions

An efficient method for the benzenium‐ion‐mediated cleavage of inert Si−C(sp³) bonds is reported. Various tetraalkylsilanes can thus be converted into the corresponding counteranion‐stabilized silylium ions. The reaction is chemoselective in the case of hexamethyldisilane. Computations reveal a mechanism with backside attack of the proton at one of the alkyl groups. Several activated Si−C(spⁿ) bonds (n=3–1) react equally well, and the procedure can be extended to the generation of stannylium ions.     

Amino‐ und halogenfunktionelle Siloxititane

Amino‐ and halofunctional Siloxititanes Amino‐di‐tert‐butylsilanol reacts with tetrabutoxititane in a molar ratio of 2:1 to give di‐n‐butoxi(bis(di‐tert‐butyl‐n‐butoxi)siloxi)titane, (C₄H₉OSi(CMe₃)₂‐O)₂Ti(OC₄H₉)₂ ( 1 ), and lithium‐di‐tert‐butylchlorosilanolate in a molar ratio of 3:1 to give n‐butoxi(tris(di‐tert‐butyl‐n‐butoxi)siloxi)titane, (H₉C₄OSi(CMe₃)₂‐O)₃TiOC₄H₉ ( 2 ). The amino‐di‐tert‐butylsilanol substitutes the four chloroatoms of TiCl₄ in the presence of triethylamine as HCl‐acceptor. The tetrakis(amino‐di‐tert‐butyl)siloxititane ( 3 ) is formed. The lithium salt of di‐tert‐butylfluorosilanol reacts with TiCl₄ in a molar ratio of 2:1 to give 1, 1, 3, 3‐tetra‐tert‐butyl‐1‐fluoro‐3‐trichlorotitoxi‐1, 3‐disiloxane, FSi(CMe₃)₂‐O‐Si(CMe₃)₂‐O‐TiCl₃ ( 4 ). In the reaction of di‐tert‐butyl‐chlorosilanol and TiCl₄, the anion [chlorosiloxi‐octa(tri‐μ²‐chlorotitanate)]^— ( 5 ) with protonated diethylether as counterion is obtained by using diethylether as HCl‐acceptor. The crystal structure determinations of 3 and 5 are reported.     

Hydrogen Bonding of Fluorinated Saccharides in Solution: F Acting as H‐Bond Acceptor in a Bifurcated H‐Bond of 4‐Fluorinated Levoglucosans

4‐Fluorinated levoglucosans were synthesised to test if OH???F H‐bonds are feasible even when the O???F distance is increased. The fluorinated 1,6‐anhydro‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoses were synthesised from 1,6 : 3,4‐dianhydro‐β‐D ‐galactopyranose ( 8 ). Treatment of 8 with KHF₂ and KF gave 43% of 4‐deoxy‐4‐fluorolevoglucosan ( 9 ), which was transformed into the 3‐O‐protected derivatives 13 by silylation and 15 by silylation, acetylation, and desilylation. 4‐Deoxy‐4‐methyllevoglucosan ( 19 ) and 4‐deoxylevoglucosan ( 21 ) were prepared as reference compounds that can only form a bivalent H‐bond from HO? C(2) to O? C(5). They were synthesised from the ⁱPr₃Si‐protected derivative of 8 . Intramolecular bifurcated H‐bonds from HO? C(2) to F? C(4) and O? C(5) of the 4‐fluorinated levoglucosans in CDCl₃ solution are evidenced by the ¹H‐NMR scalar couplings ^h1J(F,OH) and ³J(H,OH). The OH???F H‐bond over an O???F distance of ca. 3.0 Å is thus formed in apolar solvents, at least when favoured by the simultaneous formation of an OH???O H‐bond.     

Base‐Mediated Defluorosilylation of C(sp2)−F and C(sp3)−F Bonds

The ability to selectively forge C–heteroatom bonds by C?F scission is typically accomplished by metal catalysts, specialized ligands and/or harsh reaction conditions. Described herein is a base‐mediated defluorosilylation of unactivated C(sp²)?F and C(sp³)?F bonds that obviates the need for metal catalysts. This protocol is characterized by its simplicity, mild reaction conditions, and wide scope, even within the context of late‐stage functionalization, constituting a complementary approach to existing C?Si bond‐forming protocols.     

General One‐Pot Reductive gem‐Bis‐Alkylation of Tertiary Lactams/Amides: Rapid Construction of 1‐Azaspirocycles and Formal Total Synthesis of (±)‐Cephalotaxine

Amides are a class of highly stable and readily available compounds. The amide functional group constitutes a class of powerful directing/activating and protecting group for C? C bond formation. Tertiary tert‐alkylamine, including 1‐azaspirocycle is a key structural feature found in many bioactive natural products and pharmaceuticals. The transformation of amides into tert‐alkylamines generally requires several steps. In this paper, we report the full details of the first general method for the direct transformation of tertiary lactams/amides into tert‐alkylamines. The method is based on in situ activation of amide with triflic anhydride/2,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methylpyridine (DTBMP), followed by successive addition of two organometallic reagents of the same or different kinds to form two C? C bonds. Both alkyl and functionalized organometallic reagents and enolates can be used as the nucleophiles. The method displayed excellent 1,2‐ and good 1,3‐asymmetric induction. Construction of 1‐azaspirocycles from lactams required only two steps or even one‐step by direct spiroannelation of lactams. The power of the method was demonstrated by a concise formal total synthesis of racemic cephalotaxine.     

Copper‐Promoted Site‐Selective Acyloxylation of Unactivated C(sp3)H Bonds

The site‐selective acyloxylation of aliphatic amides was achieved via a copper‐promoted C(sp³)? H bond functionalization process directed by a bidentate ligand. The reaction showed a great preference for activating C? H bonds of β‐methyl groups over those of γ‐methyl and unactivated methylene groups.