Synthesis and Systematic Structural Analysis of Cationic Half-Sandwich Ruthenium Chalcogenocarbonyl Complexes

Although the chemistry of transition-metal complexes with carbonyl (CO) and thiocarbonyl (CS) ligands has been well developed, their heavier analogues, namely selenocarbonyl (CSe) and tellurocarbonyl (CTe) complexes remain scarce. The limited availability of such CSe and CTe complexes has so far hampered our understanding of the differences between such chalcogenocarbonyl (CE: E=O, S, Se, Te) ligands. Herein, we report the synthesis and properties of a series of cationic half-sandwich ruthenium CE complexes of the type [CpRu(CE)(H₂IMes)(CNCH₂Ts)][BAr^F₄] (Cp=η⁵-C₅H₅⁻; H₂IMes=1,3-dimesitylimidazolin-2-ylidene; Ar^F=3,5-(CF₃)₂C₆H₃). A combination of X-ray diffraction analyses, NMR spectroscopic analyses, and DFT calculations revealed an increasing π-accepting ability of the CE ligands in the order O<S<Se<Te. A variable-temperature NMR analysis of the thus obtained chiral-at-metal CE complexes indicated high stereochemical stability.     

Ambident Reactivity of Imidazolium Cations as Evidence of the Dynamic Nature of N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Mediated Organocatalysis

This work reveals ambident nucleophilic reactivity of imidazolium cations towards carbonyl compounds at the C2 or C4 carbene centers depending on the steric properties of the substrates and reaction conditions. Such an adaptive behavior indicates the dynamic nature of organocatalysis proceeding via a covalent interaction of imidazolium carbenes with carbonyl substrates and can be explained by generation of the H-bonded ditopic carbanionic carbenes.     

Hydroboration of Alkenes Catalysed by a Nickel N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complex: Reaction and Mechanistic Aspects

The pentamethylcyclopentadienyl N-heterocyclic carbene nickel complex [Ni(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Cl(IMes)] (IMes=1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene) efficiently catalyses the anti-Markovnikov hydroboration of alkenes with catecholborane in the presence of a catalytic amount of potassium tert-butoxide, and joins the very exclusive club of nickel catalysts for this important transformation. Interestingly, the regioselectivity can be reversed in some cases by using pinacolborane instead of catecholborane. Mechanistic investigations involving control experiments, ¹H and ¹¹B NMR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, piezometric measurements and DFT calculations suggest an initial reduction of the Ni^II precursor to a Ni^I active species with the concomitant release of H₂. The crucial role of the alkoxo-catecholato-borohydride species resulting from the reaction of potassium tert-butoxide with catecholborane in the formation of an intermediate nickel-hydride species that would then be reduced to the Ni^I active species, is highlighted.     

A Mechanistically and Operationally Simple Route to Metal–N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Complexes

We have been puzzled by the involvement of weak organic and inorganic bases in the synthesis of metal–N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes. Such bases are insufficiently strong to permit the presumed required deprotonation of the azolium salt (the carbene precursor) prior to metal binding. Experimental and computational studies provide support for a base-assisted concerted process that does not require free NHC formation. The synthetic protocol was found applicable to a number of transition-metal- and main-group-centered NHC compounds and could become the synthetic route of choice to form M–NHC bonds.     

Large-Scale Synthesis of a Niche Olefin Metathesis Catalyst Bearing an Unsymmetrical N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Ligand and its Application in a Green Pharmaceutical Context

A large-scale synthesis of known Ru olefin metathesis catalyst VII featuring an unsymmetrical N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand with one 2,5-diisopropylphenyl (DIPP) and one thiophenylmethylene N-substituent is reported. The optimised procedure does not require column chromatography in any step and allows for preparation of up to 0.5 kg batches of the catalyst from simple precursors. The application profile of the obtained catalyst was studied in environmentally friendly dimethyl carbonate (DMC). Although VII exhibited low efficiency in cross-metathesis (CM) with electron-deficient partners, good to excellent results were noted for substrates featuring easy to isomerise C−C double bonds. This includes polyfunctional substrates of medicinal chemistry interest, such as analogues of psychoactive 5F-PB-22 and NM-2201 and two PDE5 inhibitors—Sildenafil and Vardenafil. Finally, a larger scale ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of a Vardenafil derivative was conducted in DMC, allowing for straightforward isolation of the expected product (23 g) in high yield and with low Ru contamination level (7.7 ppm).     

An overview on the copper-promoted synthesis of five-membered heterocyclic systems

The development of novel approaches for the preparation of small-sized heterocyclic products has remained an extremely attractive but challenging proposition. Copper has been known as one of the most applicable and significant transition metals utilized in the synthesis of organic products. A couple of factors such as high earth abundance and versatile catalysis resulted in the growth of copper-promoted synthesis of five-membered heterocyclic products. Utilizations such as making coins and electrical equipment express the importance of copper, as well. Here, a comprehensive overview of the copper-catalyzed synthesis of five-membered heterocyclic products is presented, focusing on the developments over the past 4 years.     

Ionic Pd/NHC Catalytic System Enables Recoverable Homogeneous Catalysis: Mechanistic Study and Application in the Mizoroki–Heck Reaction

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands are ubiquitously utilized in catalysis. A common catalyst design model assumes strong M–NHC binding in this metal–ligand framework. In contrast to this common assumption, we demonstrate here that lability and controlled cleavage of the M−NHC bond (rather than its stabilization) could be more important for high-performance catalysis at low catalyst concentrations. The present study reveals a dynamic stabilization mechanism with labile metal–NHC binding and [PdX₃]⁻[NHC-R]⁺ ion pair formation. Access to reactive anionic palladium intermediates formed by dissociation of the NHC ligands and plausible stabilization of the molecular catalyst in solution by interaction with the [NHC-R]⁺ azolium ion is of particular importance for an efficient and recyclable catalyst. These ionic Pd/NHC complexes allowed for the first time the recycling of the complex in a well-defined form with isolation at each cycle. Computational investigation of the reaction mechanism confirms a facile formation of NHC-free anionic Pd in polar media through either Ph–NHC coupling or reversible H–NHC coupling. The present study formulates novel ideas for M/NHC catalyst design.     

Facile Chan‐Lam coupling using ferrocene tethered N‐heterocyclic carbene‐copper complex anchored on graphene

Ferrocene tethered N‐heterocyclic carbene‐copper complex anchored on graphene ([GrFemImi]NHC@Cu complex) has been synthesized by covalent grafting of ferrocenyl ionic liquid in the matrix of graphene followed by metallation with copper (I) iodide. The [GrFemImi]NHC@Cu complex has been characterized by fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), fourier transform Raman (FT‐Raman), CP‐MAS ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) analysis, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis and X‐ray diffractometer (XRD) analysis. This novel complex served as a robust heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of bioactive N‐aryl sulfonamides from variety of aryl boronic acids and sulfonyl azides in ethanol by Chan‐Lam coupling. Recyclability experiments were executed successfully for six consecutive runs.     

Ru(II)‐based antineoplastic: A “wingtip” N‐heterocyclic carbene facilitates access to a new class of organometallics that are cytotoxic to common cancer cell lines

The syntheses, structures, and chemotherapeutic activities of Ag(I)‐, Au(I)‐, and Ru(II)‐complexes ligated to a novel N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand, 2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridin‐2‐ylidene ( 1 ), are described. The corresponding complexes, [Ag( 1 )₂][PF₆], [Au( 1 )₂][PF₆] ( 3 ), and [Ru( 1 )(p‐cymene)Cl][PF₆] ( 4 ), were prepared using convenient transmetallation chemistry and characterized using a range of spectroscopic and analytical techniques. X‐ray crystallography revealed that complexes 2 and 3 adopted linear structures whereas 4 exhibited a prototypical “piano‐stool”‐like geometry; the structural assignments were further supported by DFT calculations. A series of in vitro studies revealed that while the aforementioned Ag(I), Au(I) and Ru(II) complexes exhibited significant cytotoxicities against the human colon adenocarcinoma (HCT 116), lung cancer (A549), and breast cancer (MCF7) cell lines, the Ru derivative was most prominent.     

Palladium complexes bearing an N‐heterocyclic carbene–sulfonamide ligand for cooligomerization of ethylene and polar monomers

Herein, we report the synthesis of palladium complexes bearing an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐sulfonamide bidentate ligand and their application in ethylene oligomerization and ethylene/polar monomer cooligomerization. These catalysts could smoothly catalyze ethylene oligomerization and ethylene/methyl acrylate cooligomerization albeit the performance was lower compared to that of a NHC–phenoxide catalyst. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 474–477