Density functional theory calculations of novel Rh(I) diphosphinite catalysts

Novel Rh(I) diphosphinite catalysts [Rh((R,R)-3,4-(bis(O-diphenylphosphino)-1,2,5,6-tetra-O-methyl-chiro-inositol)]+ ([Rh-CANDYPHOS]+) and [Rh((R,R)-3,4-(bis(O-diphenylphosphino)-1,2,5,6-tetra-O-ethyl-chiro-inositol)]+ ([Rh-EtCP]+) have been prepared utilizing naturally-occurring resources. Potential energy surfaces for the catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of the prochiral enamides methyl-(Z)-α-acetamido cinnamate, methyl-(Z)-α-acetamido cinnamic acid and dimethyl itaconate have been surveyed using density function theory (DFT) methods. Key transition states were identified from previous [Rh((R,R)-DUPHOS)]+ studies for the two diastereoisomeric manifolds 1 and 2. Transition state energies were found starting from models based on (1) the X-ray structure of the active complex (CANDYPHOS)(η⁴-(Z,Z)-cyclo-octa-1,5-diene)-rhodium(I) tetrafluoroborate CHCl₃ solvate [3] and (2) models in which the complex (without substrate) started with C2 molecular symmetry. The difficulties encountered in calculations of the transition state energies of large cations are outlined and limitations noted. Transition state enthalpy values are compared with the observed experimental free energy differences results and previous studies 1 and 2. The predictive aspects of the calculations appear to be limited with the starting models playing an important part in the absolute value of the final energies.     

Reactivity of oxo-rhenium precursor trans-ReOCl3(OPPh3)(SMe2) with diaza heterocyclic congeners: Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of mono and dinuclear compounds

The treatment of ReOCl₃(OPPh₃)(SMe₂) with an appropriate amount of [1,3]- and [1,4]-diaza heterocyclic ligands N  N (were N  N = pyrimidine (pym) and pyrazine (pyz)) in boiling acetonitrile under different reaction conditions yielded either the mononuclear ReOCl₃(OPPh₃)(pym) (1), ReOCl₃(OPPh₃)(pyz) (2) or dinuclear compounds [ReOCl₃(OPPh₃)]₂(μ-pym) (3), [ReOCl₃(OPPh₃)]₂(μ-pyz) (4). The new complexes were characterized in solution by means of NMR, IR, FIR, and UV–Vis spectroscopic methods. The molecular and crystal structures of 1, 3 and 4 were also determined by X-ray crystallography. All complexes adopt distorted octahedral geometries, with similar donor atoms arrangement, were axial positions are taken by terminal oxygen and triphenylphosphine oxide molecules. The equatorial planes are occupied by three chloride ligands and one nitrogen atom of the diaza ligand. The dinuclear complexes 3 and 4 comprise two equivalent six-coordinated monomeric units. Two halves of the dimer molecule are rotated about the Re–N  N–Re fragment: thus, an N-heterocyclic ring is stacked with two adjacent phenyl rings belonging to two triphenylphosphine oxide ligands. The preliminary results concerning the reactivity of the dimeric complexes point to their relative inertness in attempted further substitution towards synthesis of polynuclear complexes.     

High‐temperature catalysts for the production of α‐olefins based on iron(II) and iron(III) tridentate bis(imino)pyridine complexes modified by nitrilo group

Series of Fe(II) and Fe(III) tridentate bis(imino)pyridine complexes without nitrilo groups 2–6 and with nitrilo groups 7–13 were synthesized. According to X‐ray analysis, the introduction of nitrilo groups in para‐ and ortho‐positions tends to result in shorter axial Fe? N bonds. Both types of complexes, 2–6 and 9–13 , afforded very productive catalysts for the production of α‐olefins with higher K values and better linearity of Schultz–Flory distribution α‐olefins than the parent methyl substituted Fe(II) complex 1 . Noticeably, the complexes functionalized with a para‐nitrilo group 9–13 tend to make α‐olefins with higher K values of the Schultz–Flory distribution, more ideal distributions, and less of the heavier insoluble fractions of α‐olefins than corresponding nonsymmetrically substituted complexes without para‐nitrilo groups 2–6 . Statistically significant correlations were obtained between % solids of total α‐olefins and the blocked solid angle fraction in the +z hemisphere ( = 51.3%, p = 0.012) and between catalyst productivity and total blocked solid angle fraction ( = 43.5%, p = 0.023). The modest values of show that, while steric effects are significant, they are not the sole factor determining catalyst performance. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 585–611, 2008     

NMR elucidation of a novel (S)-pentacyclo-undecane bis-(4-phenyloxazoline) ligand and related derivatives

The NMR elucidation of a novel ligand (S)-pentacyclo-undecane bis-(4-phenyloxazoline) and related pentacyclo-undecane (PCU) derivatives is reported. Two-dimensional NMR proved to be a powerful technique in overcoming the difficulties associated with the elucidation of these compounds when only one-dimensional NMR data is utilized. A chiral substituent was introduced to both 'arms' of the PCU skeleton to produce derivatives 1-3. These derivatives display C(1) symmetry with all thecage atoms being nonequivalent. Owing to overlapping of peaks in the (1)H spectra, identification of these diastereomeric protons was very difficult. The (13)C spectra gave rise to clear splitting of the nonequivalent carbons. This is unusual compared to similar PCU derivatives with chiral substituents as splitting of all the diastereomeric cage carbons has not yet been reported. Nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY) correlations of derivatives 1-3 confirm the different conformations of the molecule in which the side 'arms' occupy different orientations with respect to cage moiety.     

Redox-active p-quinone-based Bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methane ligands: synthesis and coordination behaviour

The synthesis, structural characterisation and coordination behaviour of mono- and ditopic p-hydroquinone-based bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methane ligands is described (i.e., 2-(pz2CH)C6H3(OH)2 (2a), 2-(pz2CH)-6-(tBu)C6H2(OH)2 (2b), 2-(pz2CH)-6-(tBu)C6H2(OSiiPr3)(OH) (2c), 2,5-(pz2CH)2C6H2(OH)2 (4)). Ligands 2a, 2b and 4 can be oxidised to their p-benzoquinone state on a preparative scale (2a ox, 2b ox, 4 ox). An octahedral Ni II complex [trans-Ni(2c)2] and square-planar Pd II complexes [Pd2bCl2] and [Pd2b ox Cl2] have been prepared. In the two Pd II species, the ligands are coordinated only through their pyrazolyl rings. The fact that [Pd2bC12] and [Pd2b oxC12] are isolable compounds proves that redox transitions involving the p-quinone substituent are fully reversible. In [Pd2b oxCl2], the methine proton is highly acidic and can be abstracted with bases as weak as NEt(3). The resulting anion dimerises to give a dinuclear macrocyclic Pd II complex, which has been structurally characterised. The methylated ligand 2-(pz2CMe)C6H3O2 (11 ox) and its Pd II complex [Pd11 oxCl2] are base-stable. A new class of redox-active ligands is now available with the potential for applications both in catalysis and in materials science.     

New benzo[h]quinoline-based ligands and their pincer Ru and Os complexes for efficient catalytic transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds

New benzo[h]quinoline ligands (HCN'N) containing a CHRNH2 (R=H (a), Me (b), tBu (c)) function in the 2-position were prepared starting from benzo[h]quinoline N-oxide (in the case of ligand a) and 2-chlorobenzo[h]quinoline (for ligands b and c). These compounds were used to prepare ruthenium and osmium complexes, which are excellent catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation (TH) of ketones. The reaction of a with [RuCl2(PPh3)3] in 2-propanol at reflux afforded the terdentate CN'N complex [RuCl(CN'N)(PPh3)2] (1), whereas the complexes [RuCl(CN'N)(dppb)] (2-4; dppb=Ph2P(CH2)4PPh2) were obtained from [RuCl2(PPh3)(dppb)] with a-c, respectively. Employment of (R,S)-Josiphos, (S,R)-Josiphos*, (S,S)-Skewphos, and (S)-MeO-Biphep in combination with [RuCl2(PPh3)3] and ligand a gave the chiral derivatives [RuCl(CN'N)(PP)] (5-8). The osmium complex [OsCl(CN'N)(dppb)] (12) was prepared by treatment of [OsCl2(PPh3)3] with dppb and ligand a. Reaction of the chloride 2 and 12 with NaOiPr in 2-propanol/toluene afforded the hydride complexes [MH(CN'N)(dppb)] (M=Ru 10, Os 14), through elimination of acetone from [M(OiPr)(CN'N)(dppb)] (M=Ru 9, Os 13). The species 9 and 13 easily reacted with 4,4'-difluorobenzophenone, via 10 and 14, respectively, affording the corresponding isolable alkoxides [M(OR)(CN'N)(dppb)] (M=Ru 11, Os 15). The complexes [MX(CN'N)(P2)] (1-15) (M=Ru, Os; X=Cl, H, OR; P=PPh3 and P2=diphosphane) are efficient catalysts for the TH of carbonyl compounds with 2-propanol in the presence of NaOiPr (2 mol %). Turnover frequency (TOF) values up to 1.8x10(6) h(-1) have been achieved using 0.02-0.001 mol % of catalyst. Much the same activity has been observed for the Ru--Cl, --H, --OR, and the Os--Cl derivatives, whereas the Os--H and Os--OR derivatives display significantly lower activity on account of their high oxygen sensitivity. The chiral Ru complexes 5-8 catalyze the asymmetric TH of methyl-aryl ketones with TOF approximately 10(5) h(-1) at 60 degrees C, up to 97 % enatiomeric excess (ee) and remarkably high productivity (0.005 mol % catalyst loading). High catalytic activity (TOF up to 2.2x10(5) h(-1)) and enantioselectivity (up to 98 % ee) have also been achieved with the in-situ-generated catalysts prepared from [MCl2(PPh3)3], (S,R)-Josiphos or (S,R)-Josiphos*, and the benzo[h]quinoline ligands a-c.     

Delicate crystal structure changes govern the magnetic properties of 1D coordination polymers based on 3d metal carboxylates

Homo- and heterometallic 1D coordination polymers of transition metals (Co II, Mn II, Zn II) have been synthesized by an in-situ ligand generation route. Carboxylato-based complexes [Co(PhCOO)2]n (1 a, 1 b), [Co(p-MePhCOO)2]n (2), [ZnMn(PhCOO)4]n (3), and [CoZn(PhCOO)4]n (4) (PhCOOH=benzoic acid, p-MePhCOOH=p-methylbenzoic acid) have been characterized by chemical analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and magnetization measurements. The new complexes 2 and 3 crystallize in orthorhombic space groups Pnab and Pcab respectively. Their crystal structures consist of zigzag chains, with alternating M(II) centers in octahedral and tetrahedral positions, which are similar to those of 1 a and 1 b. Compound 4 crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2 1/c and comprises zigzag chains of M II ions in a tetrahedral coordination environment. Magnetic investigations reveal the existence of antiferromagnetic interactions between magnetic centers in the heterometallic complexes 3 and 4, while ferromagnetic interactions operate in homometallic compounds (1 a, 1 b, and 2). Compound 1 b orders ferromagnetically at TC=3.7 K whereas 1 a does not show any magnetic ordering down to 330 mK and displays typical single-chain magnet (SCM) behavior with slowing down of magnetization relaxation below 0.6 K. Single-crystal measurements reveal that the system is easily magnetized in the chain direction for 1 a whereas the chain direction coincides with the hard magnetic axis in 1 b. Despite important similarities, small differences in the molecular and crystal structures of these two compounds lead to this dramatic change in properties.     

In vitro anticancer activity and biologically relevant metabolization of organometallic ruthenium complexes with carbohydrate-based ligands

The synthesis and in vitro anticancer activity of dihalogenido(eta6-p-cymene)(3,5,6-bicyclophosphite-alpha-D-glucofuranoside)ruthenium(II) complexes are described. The compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and ESI mass spectrometry, and the molecular structures of dichlorido-, dibromido- and diiodido(eta6-p-cymene)(3,5,6-bicyclophosphite-1,2-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranoside)ruthenium(II) were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The complexes were shown to undergo aquation of the first halido ligand in aqueous solution, followed by hydrolysis of a P--O bond of the phosphite ligand, and finally formation of dinuclear species. The hydrolysis mechanism was confirmed by DFT calculations. The aquation of the complexes was markedly suppressed in 100 mM NaCl solution, and notably only very slow hydrolysis of the P--O bond was observed. The complexes showed affinity towards albumin and transferrin and monoadduct formation with 9-ethylguanine. In vitro studies revealed that the 3,5,6-bicyclophosphite-1,2-O-cyclohexylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranoside complex is the most cytotoxic compound in human cancer cell lines (IC50 values from 30 to 300 microM depending on the cell line).     

Oxidation by oxygen and sulfur of Tin(IV) derivatives containing a redox-active o-amidophenolate ligand

Oxidation of tin(IV) o-amidophenolate complexes [Sn(ap)Ph(2)] (1) and [Sn(ap)Et(2)(thf)] (2) (ap=dianion of 4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-o-iminobenzoquinone (ImQ)) with molecular oxygen and sulfur in toluene solutions was investigated. The reaction of oxygen with 1 at room temperature forms a paramagnetic derivative [Sn(isq)(2)Ph(2)] (3) (isq=radical anion of ImQ) and diphenyltin(IV) oxide [{Ph(2)SnO}(n)]. Interaction of 1 with sulfur gives another monophenyl-substituted paramagnetic tin(IV) complex, [Sn(ap)(isq)Ph] (4), and the sulfide, [Ph(3)Sn](2)S. The oxidation of 2 with oxygen and with sulfur proceeds through the derivative [Sn(isq)(2)Et(2)] (7), which undergoes alkyl elimination to give two new tin(IV) compounds, [Sn(ap)(isq)Et] (5) and [Sn(ap)(EtImQ)Et] (6) (EtImQ=2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)-3-ethylcyclohexa-1,4-dienolate ligand), respectively, along with the corresponding alkyltin(IV) oxide and sulfide. Complexes 3-5 and 7 were studied by EPR spectroscopy. The structures of 3, 4 and 6 were investigated by X-ray analysis.