Clean coupling of unfunctionalized porphyrins at surfaces to give highly oriented organometallic oligomers

The direct coupling of complex, functional organic molecules at a surface is one of the outstanding challenges in the road map to future molecular devices. Equally demanding is to meet this challenge without recourse to additional functionalization of the molecular building blocks and via clean surface reactions that leave no surface contamination. Here, we demonstrate the directional coupling of unfunctionalized porphyrin molecules--large aromatic multifunctional building blocks--on a single crystal copper surface, which generates highly oriented one-dimensional organometallic macromolecular nanostructures (wires) in a reaction which generates gaseous hydrogen as the only byproduct. In situ scanning tunneling microscopy and temperature programmed desorption, supported by theoretical modeling, reveal that the process is driven by C-H bond scission and the incorporation of copper atoms in between the organic components to form a very stable organocopper oligomer comprising organometallic edge-to-edge porphyrin-Cu-porphyrin connections on the surface that are unprecedented in solution chemistry. The hydrogen generated during the reaction leaves the surface and, therefore, produces no surface contamination. A remarkable feature of the wires is their stability at high temperatures (up to 670 K) and their preference for 1D growth along a prescribed crystallographic direction of the surface. The on-surface formation of directional organometallic wires that link highly functional porphyrin cores via direct C-Cu-C bonds in a single-step synthesis is a new development in surface-based molecular systems and provides a versatile approach to create functional organic nanostructures at surfaces.     

Steering Surface Reaction Dynamics with a Self‐Assembly Strategy: Ullmann Coupling on Metal Surfaces

Ullmann coupling of 4‐bromobiphenyl thermally catalyzed on Ag(111), Cu(111), and Cu(100) surfaces was scrutinized by scanning tunneling microscopy as well as theoretical calculations. Detailed experimental evidence showed that initial formation of organometallic intermediates on the surface, as self‐assembled structures or sparsely dispersed species, is determined by the subsequent reaction pathway. Specifically, the assembled organometallic intermediates at full coverage underwent a single‐barrier process to directly convert into the final coupling products, while the sparsely dispersed intermediates at low coverage went through a double‐barrier process via newly identified clover‐shaped intermediates prior to formation of the final coupling products. These findings demonstrate that a self‐assembly strategy can efficiently steer surface reaction pathways and dynamics.     

Transition-metal catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling reactions to form C-C bonds involving organometallic reagents as nucleophiles

Transition-metal-catalyzed coupling reactions have become a versatile tool for chemical bond formation. From the variation of the coupling partners, coupling reactions can be classified into three models: traditional coupling, reductive coupling and oxidative coupling. The oxidative coupling, which is different from the traditional coupling, occurs between two nucleophiles. This critical review focuses on transition-metal-catalyzed oxidative coupling reactions involving organometallic reagents as nucleophiles. Since the scope of the oxidative coupling is highly diversified, this paper only reviews the oxidative coupling reactions concerning C-C bond formation, including the coupling between organometal reagents and hydrocarbons as well as coupling between two organometal reagents. Since terminal alkynes are normally activated by metal salts and in situ form the alkynyl metal reagents in coupling reactions, they are directly considered as organometal reagents in this review. Intramolecular oxidative couplings and oxidative cyclizations are not included in this critical review. Moreover, there are many examples of oxidative coupling leading to the formation of functional materials, such as the oxidative polymerization of thiophenes. Since several reviews in these areas have been published they are not included in this review either (99 references).     

Air-stable PinP(O)H as preligand for palladium-catalyzed Kumada couplings of unactivated tosylates

[reaction: see text] Air-stable and easily accessible PinP(O)H enables highly efficient palladium-catalyzed Kumada cross-coupling reactions of aryl tosylates. The in situ generated catalyst proved applicable not only to electron-rich and electron-poor carbocyclic tosylates but also to heterocyclic tosylates, such as pyridine and quinoline derivatives. The results described herein constitute the first use of air-stable secondary phosphine oxides as preligands for transition-metal-catalyzed coupling reactions between organometallic species and tosylates.     

Coupling of carbon monoxide molecules over oxygen-defected UO2(111) single crystal and thin film surfaces

While coupling reactions of carbon-containing compounds are numerous in organometallic chemistry, they are very rare on well-defined solid surfaces. In this work we show that the reductive coupling of two molecules of carbon monoxide to C2 compounds (acetylene and ethylene) could be achieved on oxygen-defected UO2(111) single crystal and thin film surfaces. This result allows in situ electron spectroscopic investigation of a typical organometallic reaction such as carbon coupling and extends it to heterogeneous catalysis and solids. By using high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy (HRXPS) it was possible to track the changes in surface states of the U and O atoms as well as identify the intermediate of the reaction. Upon CO adsorption U cations in low oxidation states are oxidized to U4+ ions; this was accompanied by an increase of the O-to-U surface ratios. The HRXPS C 1s lines show the presence of adsorbed species assigned to diolate species (-OCH=CHO-) that are most likely the reaction intermediate in the coupling of two CO molecules to acetylene and ethylene.     

An efficient coupling reaction of anionic propargyl and organic halides

The organometallic produced by controlled lithiation of allene functions as an efficient propargylic anion equivalent in coupling reactions with alkyl and allyl halides.     

Synthesis and explosive decomposition of organometallic dehydro[18]annulenes: an access to carbon nanostructures

The synthesis of eight new cyclobutadiene or ferrocene-fused organometallic dehydroannulenes is reported. Cadiot-type coupling of a 1-bromoethynyl-2-silylethynylbenzene derivative to an organometallic diyne (1,2-diethynyl-3,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)cyclobutadiene(cyclopentadienyl )cobalt or 1,2-diethynylferrocene) is followed by deprotection and Cu(OAc)(2)-promoted ring closure. Five of the organometallic dehydroannulenes were structurally characterized. Three of the novel cycles explode at temperatures from 196 to 293 degrees C and form insoluble carbon materials. The soot produced from 13a shows a high abundance of onion-like carbon nanostructures. The nanostructures were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.     

2H NMR calculations on polynuclear transition metal complexes: on the influence of local symmetry and other factors

It is now well-known that (2)H solid-state NMR techniques can bring a better understanding of the interaction of deuterium with metal atoms in organometallic mononuclear complexes, clusters or nanoparticles. In that context, we have recently obtained experimental quadrupolar coupling constants and asymmetry parameters characteristic of deuterium atoms involved in various bonding situations in ruthenium clusters, namely D(4)Ru(4)(CO)(12), D(2)Ru(6)(CO)(18) and other related compounds [Gutmann et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2010, 132, 11759], which are model compounds for edge-bridging (μ-H) and face-capping (μ(3)-H) coordination types on ruthenium surfaces. The present work is in line with density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the electric field gradient (EFG) tensors in deuterated organometallic ruthenium complexes. The comparison of quadrupolar coupling constants shows an excellent agreement between calculated and observed values. This confirms that DFT is a method of choice for the analysis of deuterium NMR spectra. Such calculations are achieved on a large number of ruthenium clusters in order to obtain quadrupolar coupling constants characteristic of a given coordination type: terminal-D, η(2)-D(2), μ-D, μ(3)-D as well as μ(4)-D and μ(6)-D (i.e. interstitial deuterides). Given the dependence of such NMR parameters mainly on local symmetry, these results are expected to remain valid for large assemblies of ruthenium atoms, such as organometallic ruthenium nanoparticles.     

Synthesis of Biaryls through Nickel‐Catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling of Amides by Carbon–Nitrogen Bond Cleavage

The first Ni‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of amides for the synthesis of widely occurring biaryl compounds through N?C amide bond activation is reported. The reaction tolerates a wide range of electron‐withdrawing, electron‐neutral, and electron‐donating substituents on both coupling partners. The reaction constitutes the first example of the Ni‐catalyzed generation of aryl electrophiles from bench‐stable amides with potential applications for a broad range of organometallic reactions.     

Silanes in organic syuthesis. 11. Regiocontrolled synthesis of α-hydroxymethylated (trimethylsilyl)allenes

The organometallic produced by reaction of trimethylsilylpropargyl bromide with aluminum amalgam in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran condenses readily with aldehydes and ketones to give allenic alcohols resulting from coupling α to the trimethylsilyl substituent.     

Asymmetric synthesis via chiral acetal templates. 8. Reactions with organometallic reagents

The titanium tetrachloride catalyzed coupling of organometallic reagents with chiral acetals 1 is shown to provide a convenient route for the preparation of a variety of chiral alcohols 4 of high optical purity.     

Organometallic chemistry of fluorinated propadienes and butadienes

1,1-Difluoroallene (1,1-difluoropropadiene) and tetrafluoroallene are not only strong π acidic ligands but versatile starting materials for the generation of more complex fluoroorganic ligands by metal induced dimerization reactions, CF bond activation and fluorine migration. Palladium catalyzed CC coupling reactions of organometallic fluorovinyl compounds allow the systematic synthesis and study of the ligand properties of fluorinated buta-1,3-dienes. Furthermore, they are the key compounds for the synthesis of butatrienes like tetrafluorobutatriene which now can be studied in detail.     

Organometallic reactions of α-haloimines as a useful tool in organic synthesis

The reaction of organometallic reagents, e.g. alkyllithiums, cuprates and alkylcoppers, with α-haloimines gave selectively a variety of synthetically useful reactions, including coupling to 1,4-diimines, homologation, and production of heterocycles.     

Pd(0)/C-catalyzed cross-couplings of acyl chlorides with triarylbismuths as atom-efficient sub-stoichiometric multi-coupling reagents

Aromatic and hetero-aromatic acyl chlorides were efficiently cross-coupled with triarylbismuths as atom-efficient nucleophilic organometallic coupling reagents in sub-stoichiometric amounts using catalytic Pd(0)/C. Thus, the coupling reactions of various triarylbismuths with a variety of acyl chlorides furnished a plethora of both symmetrical/unsymmetrical aromatic and hetero-aromatic ketones in high yields.     

Preparation of stereodefined homoallylic amines from the reductive cross-coupling of allylic alcohols with imines

Regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective coupling reactions between imines and allylic alcohols have been developed. These coupling reactions deliver complex homoallylic amine products through a convergent C-C bond forming process that does not proceed through intermediate allylic organometallic reagents. In general, convergent coupling, by exposure of an allylic alkoxide to a preformed Ti-imine complex, occurs with allylic transposition in a predictable and stereocontrolled manner. While simple diastereoselection in these reactions is high, delivering anti-products with ≥20:1 selectivity, the organometallic transformation described is compatible with a diverse range of functionality and substrates (including aliphatic and aromatic imines, allylic silanes, trisubstituted alkenes, vinyl- and aryl halides, trifluoromethyl groups, thioethers, and aromatic heterocycles). Alkene geometry of the products is a complex function of the allylic alcohol structure and is consistent with a mechanistic proposal based on syn-carbometalation followed by syn-elimination by way of a boat-like transition state geometry. Single asymmetric coupling reactions provide a means to translate the stereochemical information of the allylic alcohol to the homoallylic amine or to control diastereoselection in the coupling reactions of achiral allylic alcohols with chiral imines. Double asymmetric coupling reactions are also described that afford a unique means to control stereoselection in these complex convergent coupling processes. Finally, empirical models are proposed that are consistent with the observed stereochemical course of these coupling reactions en route to chiral homoallylic amines possessing di- or trisubstituted alkenes and anti- or syn- relative stereochemistry at the allylic and homoallylic positions.     

The direct use of phenyldimethylsilanes in silicon assisted palladium catalysed cross coupling

A vinyl-phenylsilane has been used as a masked vinyl organometallic for a cross coupling reaction with phenyl iodide to provide the cine substitution product in high yield.     

Pyridine dicarbanion-bonded Ag13 organometallic nanoclusters: synthesis and on-surface oxidative coupling reaction

Highly reactive organometallic nanoclusters in situ generated in metal-catalyzed reactions are pivotal in the comprehension of catalytic mechanisms. Herein, we develop a two-step synthetic method to achieve three unprecedented aryl dicarbanion-bonded Ag₁₃ nanoclusters by using protective macrocyclic ligands. Firstly, various aryl dicarbanion–Ag₄ cluster intermediates are acquired via a silver-mediated annulation reaction within a macrocyclic ligand. These Ag₄ cluster precursors are released from the surrounding macrocycle by protonation, and further undergo an inter-cluster coupling to generate bipyridine products and low-valence silver atoms. The remaining resurgent diide–Ag₄ clusters assemble with low-valence silver atoms to yield a series of organometallic Ag₁₃ nanoclusters. These Ag₁₃ nanoclusters feature a unique open-shell electronic structure as well as a chiral cluster architecture due to the asymmetric arrangements of surrounding aryl dianion ligands. Furthermore, the pyridyl diide ligands on the surface of the nanocluster further experience an intra-cluster oxidative coupling to produce bipyridine coupling products and large nanoparticles. The coupling reaction-driven cluster-to-cluster transformation is comprehensively tracked by high resolution mass spectroscopy. This work is not only reminiscent of the detailed evolution of cluster species upon the occurrence of coupling reactions, but also reproduces novel inter- and intra-cluster coupling steps at different reaction stages.

Unprecedented pyridine dicarbanion-bonded Ag₁₃ nanoclusters were constructed according to a macrocycle-involved two-step synthetic protocol.     

Conjugated organometallic polymers containing Vollhardt's cyclobutadiene complex: aggregation and morphologies

Organometallic polymers were prepared by acyclic diyne metathesis (ADIMET) or by Pd-catalyzed coupling of 1,3-diethynylcyclobutadiene(cyclopentadienyl)cobalt with a suitably substituted diiodobenzene. The polymers obtained by Heck coupling show a degree of polymerization (Pn) of 20-60. The monomers for ADIMET were made by the Pd-catalyzed coupling of [1,3-bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)-2,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)cyclobutadiene](cyclopentadienyl)cobalt to 1-bromo-2,5-dialkyl-4-propynylbenzenes in the presence of KOH in yields of 40-48%. The monomers carry hexyl, ethylhexyl, and (S)-3,7-dimethyloctyl side chains. Polymerization of the propynylated monomers furnishes organometallic polymers with a Pn of up to 230 arylene-ethynylene units. The polymers were fully characterized by polarizing microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, circular dichroism, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). They show nematic, lyotropic liquid crystalline phases as well as chiroptical properties from which aggregation in poor solvents and in the solid state can be concluded. Lamellar or irregular honeycomb-shaped morphologies in these organometallic polymers can be detected by electron microscopy.     

Three component coupling of alpha-iminoesters via umpolung addition of organometals: synthesis of alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino acids

The synthesis of alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino acids by means of a three component coupling is reported. The coupling occurs through umpolung addition of organometallic reagents to the nitrogen of alpha-iminoesters. The resulting enolate intermediates subsequently react with electrophiles (aldehydes, imines, alpha,beta-unsaturated nitro, alkyl halides, acyl cyanides) to form a quaternary center. Tethering of the electrophile and nucleophile components provides cyclic alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino acid derivatives.     

Development of a palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative cross-coupling of (2-azaaryl)carboxylates with aryl halides

A catalytic method for the decarboxylative coupling of 2-(azaaryl)carboxylates with aryl halides is described. The decarboxylative cross-coupling presented is mediated by a system catalytic in both palladium and copper without requiring stoichiometric amounts of organometallic reagents or organoboronic acids. This method circumvents additional synthetic steps required to prepare 2-azaaryl organometallics and organoborates as nucleophilic coupling partners, which are prone to protodemetallation and protodeborylation and produce potentially toxic byproducts.