Designing catalysts for nitrene transfer using early transition metals and redox-active ligands

In this Forum Article, we discuss the use of redox-active pincer-type ligands to enable multielectron reactivity, specifically nitrene group transfer, at the electron-poor metals tantalum and zirconium. Two analogous ligand platforms, [ONO] and [NNN], are discussed with a detailed examination of their similarities and differences and the structural and electronic constraints they impose upon coordination to early transition metals. The two-electron redox capabilities of these ligands enable the transfer of organic nitrenes to tantalum(V) and zirconium(IV) metal centers despite formal d(0) electron counts. Under the correct conditions, the resulting metal imido complexes can participate in further multielectron reactions such as imide reduction, nitrene coupling, or formal nitrene transfer to an isocyanide.     

Complexes of manganese, iron and cobalt with sterically demanding indenyl ligands

A series of manganese, iron and cobalt complexes bearing sterically demanding 1,3-disubstituted indenyl ligands, 1,3-(Me(3)C)(2)C(9)H(5) (Ind(tBu)) (1) and 1,3-(C(6)H(11))(2)C(9)H(5) (Ind(cHexyl)) (2), has been prepared. These complexes have been fully characterised by various spectroscopic techniques, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction experiments. In addition the electronic and steric properties of these ligands have been evaluated. Although the cone angles and electronic properties are similar to 1,2,4-(Me(3)C)(3)C(5)H(2) (Cp'), indenyl iron half-sandwich complexes are only stable at low temperature. This has been demonstrated for 1-FeI using suitable trapping experiments such as CO or NaCp' addition to yield 1-Fe(CO)(2)I and 1-FeCp', respectively. Overall the metal-ligand bonds in these indenyl compounds are weaker than in the corresponding cyclopentadienyl derivatives. In addition, the bis(indenyl)manganese complexes, 1-Mn and 2-Mn, are high-spin, as established by solid state magnetic susceptibility studies in the temperature range 2-300 K.     

Mitigating chain‐transfer and enhancing the thermal stability of co‐based olefin polymerization catalysts through sterically demanding ligands

Sterically demanding Fe‐ and Co‐based olefin polymerization catalysts 2‐Fe and 2‐Co bearing 2,6‐bis(biphenylmethyl)‐4‐methylaniline substituted bis(imino)pyridine ligands were synthesized and evaluated for ethylene polymerization. The late‐transition metal complexes were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, and HRMS, while their resultant polymers were characterized by size‐exclusion chromatography and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. While catalyst 2‐Fe was inactive, catalyst 2‐Co was found to polymerize ethylene and avoid any detectable chain‐transfer to aluminum events that are known to plague other Fe‐ and Co‐based catalyst systems and to limit molecular weight. Furthermore, 2‐Co displays virtually perfect thermal stability up to 80 °C and shows greatly enhanced thermal stability at 90 °C as compared to previously reported analogues. These observations are attributed to the extreme steric demand imposed by the ligand which mitigates catalyst transfer, deactivation, and decomposition reactions. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3990–3995     

Polytriazoles as copper(I)-stabilizing ligands in catalysis

Polytriazolylamines were synthesized by the copper(I)-catalyzed ligation of azides and alkynes. The C3-symmetric derivative, TBTA, was shown to be a powerful stabilizing ligand for copper(I), protecting it from oxidation and disproportionation, while enhancing its catalytic activity.     

Chiral quinolinyl-oxazolines as ligands for copper(I)-catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropanation

Chiral quinolinyl-oxazoline compounds have been synthesized from enantiomerically pure amino alcohols and 8-quinoline-carboxylic acid using a convenient procedure. Asymmetric cyclopropanation of styrene with diazoacetates in the presence of 1 mol% of CuOTf and quinolinyl-oxazolines gave 2-phenylcyclopropane carboxylates in moderate enantiomeric excesses.     

Changes in coordination of sterically demanding hybrid imidazolylphosphine ligands on Pd(0) and Pd(II)

Low-coordinate organometallic complexes are important in structure and catalysis, and hemilability or secondary interactions such as hydrogen bonding enabled by hybrid ligands are receiving increasing attention. To study the factors controlling these phenomena, three new imidazol-2-ylphosphine ligands, L, were made. In these ligands, the bulk around P and the hindrance at the basic and potentially coordinating imidazole N-3 were varied. Remarkably, L(2)Pd(0) complexes 3a-c were shown to be two-coordinate, 12-electron species, despite the availability of imidazole N-3 to enter into eta(2)-P,N chelation. In oxidative additions of C-X bonds to the Pd(0) complexes, reaction rates and products could be controlled by the nature of the C and X groups and the R groups on the phosphine. Most significantly, whereas 4c-PhI and 4c-MeOTf from 3c are normal trans-bis(phosphine)Pd(R)(X) species, 5a-PhI, 5a-PhBr, and 5b-PhI from 3a and 3b were shown by X-ray diffraction to be a monomeric species with a single eta(2)-P,N-chelating phosphine. From 3a and methyl triflate, an ionic complex [6a-Me](+)[OTf](-) with one chelating and one nonchelating phosphine was formed, with temperature-dependent windshield-wiper exchange of the two, showing hemilability. Thus, large phosphine substituents (R = tert-butyl rather than isopropyl) favor chelation. The chelate Pd-imidazole N-3 bond is longer when the heterocyclic nitrogen is hindered by an adjacent tert-butyl group at C-4 (comparing 5a-PhI and 5b-PhI). Finally, whereas in [8b-Ph](+)[OTf](-) from 5b-PhI and isopropylamine, the amine coordinates without chelate opening or hydrogen bonding, in [10c-Me](+)[OTf](-) made from 4c-MeOTf and isopropylamine, the amine is not only coordinated at N but also donates a hydrogen bond to each phosphine imidazol-2-yl substituent.     

Cu–iminopyridine complexes as catalysts for carbene and nitrene transfer reactions

Copper complexes with chiral iminopyridine ligands were screened for their catalytic efficiency in carbene (cyclopropanation) and nitrene transfer reactions (aziridination, C? H amidation). Both pre‐formed and in situ formed complexes were considered. The results highlighted the poor catalytic efficiency of these complexes in cyclopropanation reactions employing methyl phenyldiazoacetate as the carbene source, whereas better results were obtained in nitrene transfer reactions, particularly in the amidation of C? H bonds, albeit the enantioselectivity of the reactions was negligible in nearly all cases. Finally, copper complexes were also found to promote an interesting oxidative functionalization of alkynes with PhI(OAc)₂ at room temperature. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of zirconium, hafnium, and tantalum complexes with sterically demanding hydrazide ligands

The bulky hydrazine t-BuN(H)NMe2 was synthesized via hydrazone and t-BuN(H)N(H)Me intermediates as the major component in a 90:5:5 mixture consisting of t-BuN(H)NMe2, t-BuN(Me)N(H)Me, and t-BuN(Me)NMe2. Reacting the mixture with n-BuLi followed by distillation and fractional crystallization led to the isolation of the ligand precursor LiN(t-Bu)NMe2. Lithium hydrazides, LiN(R)NMe2, were reacted with metal chlorides to afford the hydrazide complexes M(N(Et)NMe2)4 (M = Zr or Hf), MCl(N(R)NMe2)3 (M = Zr, R = i-Pr or t-Bu; M = Hf, R = t-Bu), and TaCl3(N(i-Pr)NMe2)2. The X-ray crystal structures of [LiN(i-Pr)NMe2]4, [LiN(t-Bu)NMe2.THF]2, ZrCl(N(R)NMe2)3 (R = i-Pr or t-Bu), and TaCl3(N(i-Pr)NMe2)2 were determined. The structural analyses revealed that the hydrazide ligands in ZrCl(N(R)NMe2)3 (R = i-Pr or t-Bu) and TaCl3(N(i-Pr)NMe2)2 are eta2 coordinated.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of Sm(II) and Yb(II) complexes containing sterically demanding, chelating secondary phosphide ligands

Metathesis between [(Me3Si)2CH)(C6H4-2-OMe)P]K and SmI2(THF)2 in THF yields [([Me3Si]2CH)(C6H4-2-OMe)P)2Sm(DME)(THF)] (1), after recrystallization. A similar reaction between [(Me3Si)2CH)(C6H3-2-OMe-3-Me)P]K and SmI2(THF)2 yields [([Me3Si]2CH)(C6H3-2-OMe-3-Me)P)2Sm(DME)].Et2O (2), while reaction between [(Me3Si)2CH)(C6H4-2-CH2NMe2)P]K and either SmI2(THF)2 or YbI2 yields the five-coordinate complex [([Me3Si]2CH)(C6H4-2-CH2NMe2)P)2Sm(THF)] (3) or the solvent-free complex [([Me3Si]2CH)(C6H4-2-CH2NMe2)P)2Yb] (4), respectively. X-ray crystallography shows that complex 2 adopts a distorted cis octahedral geometry, while complex 1 adopts a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry (1, triclinic, P1, a = 11.0625(9) A, b = 15.924(6) A, c = 17.2104(14) A, alpha = 72.327(2) degrees, beta = 83.934(2) degrees, gamma = 79.556(2) degrees, Z = 2; 2, monoclinic, P2(1), a = 13.176(4) A, b = 13.080(4) A, c = 14.546(4) A, beta = 95.363(6) degrees, Z = 2). Complex 3 crystallizes as monomers with a square pyramidal geometry at Sm and exhibits short contacts between Sm and the ipso-carbon atoms of the ligands (3, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 14.9880(17) A, b = 13.0528(15) A, c = 24.330(3) A, beta = 104.507(2) degrees, Z = 4). Whereas preliminary X-ray crystallographic data for 4 indicate a monomeric structure in the solid state, variable-temperature 1H, 13C(1H), 31P(1H), and 171Yb NMR spectroscopies suggest that 4 undergoes an unusual dynamic process in solution, which is ascribed to a monomer-dimer equilibrium in which exchange of the bridging and terminal phosphide groups may be frozen out at low temperature.     

Synthesis of sterically hindered tris(4-imidazolyl)carbinol ligands and their copper(I) complexes related to metalloenzymes

Tris(4-imidazolyl)carbinol, which has close coordination environment to the active site of metalloenzymes, has not been utilized as a biomimetic ligand because of its instability. We have synthesized stable tris(4-imidazolyl)carbinol derivatives having a methyl group as the NH protective group and a bulky substituent on the imidazole ring for stabilizing reactive species bound to the metal center. These ligands provide stable monomeric copper(I) complexes whose coordination environment are very close to the active site of metalloenzymes.     

Ruthenium(III) complexes of amine-bis(phenolate) ligands as catalysts for transfer hydrogenation of ketones

Twelve ruthenium(III) complexes bearing amine-bis(phenolate) tripodal ligands of general formula [Ru(L¹–L³)(X)(EPh₃)₂] (where L¹–L³ are dianionic tridentate chelator) have been synthesized by the reaction of ruthenium(III) precursors [RuX₃(EPh₃)₃] (where E = P, X = Cl; E = As, X = Cl or Br) and [RuBr₃(PPh₃)₂(CH₃OH)] with the tripodal tridentate ligands H₂L¹, H₂L² and H₂L³ in benzene in 1:1 molar ratio. The newly synthesized complexes have been characterized by analytical (elemental and magnetic susceptibility) and spectral methods. The complexes are one electron paramagnetic (low-spin, d⁵) in nature. The EPR spectra of the powdered samples at RT and the liquid samples at LNT shows the presence of three different ‘g’ values (g_x ≠ g_y ≠ g_z) indicate a rhombic distortion around the ruthenium ion. The redox potentials indicate that all the complexes undergo one electron transfer process. The catalytic activity of one of the complexes [Ru(pcr-chx)Br(AsPh₃)₂] was examined in the transfer hydrogenation of ketones and was found to be efficient with conversion up to 99% in the presence of isopropanol/KOH.     

Facile synthesis of sterically demanding SHOP‐type nickel catalysts for ethylene polymerization

The P,O‐chelated shell higher olefin process (SHOP) type nickel complexes are practical homogeneous catalysts for the industrial preparation of linear low‐carbon α‐olefins from ethylene. We describes that a facile synthetic route enables the modulation of steric hindrance and electronic nature of SHOP‐type nickel complexes. A series of sterically bulky SHOP‐type nickel complexes with variable electronic nature, {[4‐R‐C₆H₄C(O) = C‐PArPh]NiPh (PPh₃); Ar = 2‐[2′,6′‐(OMe)₂C₆H₃]C₆H₄; R = H ( Ni1 ); R = OMe ( Ni2 ); R = CF₃ ( Ni3 )}, were prepared and used as single component catalysts toward ethylene polymerization without using any phosphine scavenger. These nickel catalysts exhibit high thermal stability during ethylene polymerization and result in highly crystalline linear α‐olefinic solid polymer. The catalytic performance of the SHOP‐type nickel complexes was significantly improved by introducing a bulky ortho‐biphenyl group on the phosphorous atom or an electron‐withdrawing trifluoromethyl on the backbone of the ligand, indicating steric and electronic effects play critical roles in SHOP‐type nickel complexes catalyzed ethylene polymerization.     

Gold(I) catalysts with bifunctional P, N ligands

A series of phosphanes with imidazolyl substituents were prepared as hemilabile PN ligands. The corresponding gold(I) complexes were tested as bifunctional catalysts in the Markovnikov hydration of 1-octyne, as well as in the synthesis of propargylamines by the three component coupling reaction of piperidine, benzaldehyde, and phenylacetylene. While the activity in the hydration of 1-octyne was low, the complexes are potent catalysts for the three component coupling reaction. In homogeneous solution the conversions to the respective propargylamine were considerably higher than under aqueous biphasic conditions. The connectivity of the imidazolyl substituents to the phosphorus atom, their substitution pattern, as well as the number of heteroaromatic substituents have pronounced effects on the catalytic activity of the corresponding gold(I) complexes. Furthermore, formation of polymetallic species with Au(2), Au(3), and Au(4) units has been observed and the solid-state structures of the compounds [(5)(2)Au(3)Cl(2)]Cl and [(3c)(2)Au(4)Cl(2)]Cl(2) (3c = tris(2-isopropylimidazol-4(5)-yl phosphane, 5 = 2-tert-butylimidazol-4(5)-yldiphenyl phosphane) were determined. The gold(I) complexes of imidazol-2-yl phosphane ligands proved to be a novel source for bis(NHC)gold(I) complexes (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene).     

Aminosulf(ox)ides as ligands for Iridium(I)-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

A new class of efficient catalysts was developed for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of unsymmetrical ketones. A series of chiral N,S-chelates (6-22) was synthesized to serve as ligands in the iridium(I)-catalyzed reduction of ketones. Both formic acid and 2-propanol proved to be suitable as hydrogen donors. Sulfoxidation of an (R)-cysteine-based aminosulfide provided a diastereomeric ligand family containing a chiral sulfur atom. The two chiral centers of these ligands showed a clear effect of chiral cooperativity. In addition, aminosulfides containing two asymmetric carbon atoms in the backbone were synthesized. Both the sulfoxide-containing beta-amino alcohols and the aminosulfides derived from 1,2-disubstituted amino alcohols gave rise to high reaction rates and moderate to excellent enantioselectivities in the reduction of various ketones. The enantioselective outcome of the reaction was favorably affected by selecting the most appropriate hydrogen donor. Enantioselectivities of up to 97% were reached in the reduction of aryl-alkyl ketones.     

Chiral iridium(I) bis(NHC) complexes as catalysts for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

The common use of NHC complexes in transition‐metal mediated C–C coupling and metathesis reactions in recent decades has established N‐heterocyclic carbenes as a new class of ligand for catalysis. The field of asymmetric catalysis with complexes bearing NHC‐containing chiral ligands is dominated by mixed carbene/oxazoline or carbene/phosphane chelating ligands. In contrast, applications of complexes with chiral, chelating bis(NHC) ligands are rare. In the present work new chiral iridium(I) bis(NHC) complexes and their application in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones are described. A series of chiral bis(azolium) salts have been prepared following a synthetic pathway, starting from L ‐valinol and the modular buildup allows the structural variation of the ligand precursors. The iridium complexes were formed via a one‐pot transmetallation procedure. The prepared complexes were applied as catalysts in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of various prochiral ketones, affording the corresponding chiral alcohols in high yields and moderate to good enantioselectivities of up to 68%. The enantioselectivities of the catalysts were strongly affected by the various, terminal N‐substituents of the chelating bis(NHC) ligands. The results presented in this work indicate the potential of bis‐carbenes as stereodirecting ligands for asymmetric catalysis and are offering a base for further developments. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dinuclear copper(I) and copper(I)/silver(I) complexes with condensed dithiolato ligands

The Cu(III) complex Pr 4N[Cu{S 2C=( t-Bu-fy)} 2] ( 1) ( t-Bu-fy = 2,7-di- tert-butylfluoren-9-ylidene) reacts with [Cu(PR 3) 4]ClO 4 in 1:1 molar ratio in MeCN to give the dinuclear complexes [Cu 2{[SC=( t-Bu-fy)] 2S}(PR 3) n ] [ n = 2, R = Ph ( 2a); n = 3, R = To ( 3b); To = p-tolyl]. The analogue of 2a with R = To ( 2b) can be obtained from the reaction of 3b with 1/8 equiv of S 8. Compound 2b establishes a thioketene-exchange equilibrium in solution leading to the formation of [Cu 4{S 2C=( t-Bu-fy)} 2(PTo 3) 4] ( 4b) and [Cu 2{[SC=( t-Bu-fy)] 3S}(PTo 3) 2] ( 5b). Solid mixtures of 4b and 5b in varying proportions can be obtained when the precipitation of 2b is attempted using MeCN. The reactions of 1 with AgClO 4 and PPh 3, PTo 3 or PCy 3 in 1:1:4 molar ratio in MeCN afford the heterodinuclear complexes [AgCu{[SC=( t-Bu-fy)] 2S}(PR 3) 3] [R = Ph ( 6a), To ( 6b), Cy ( 6c)]. Complex 6c dissociates PCy 3 in solution to give the bis(phosphine) derivative [AgCu{[SC=( t-Bu-fy)] 2S}(PCy 3) 2] ( 7c), which undergoes the exchange of [M(PCy 3)] (+) units in CD 2Cl 2 solution to give small amounts of [Cu 2{[SC=( t-Bu-fy)] 2S}(PCy 3) 2] ( 2c) and [Ag 2{[SC=( t-Bu-fy)] 2S}(PCy 3) 2] ( 8c). Complexes 6a and b participate in a series of successive equilibria in solution, involving the dissociation of phosphine ligands and the exchange of [M(PCy 3)] (+) units to give 2a or 3b and the corresponding disilver derivatives [Ag 2{[SC=( t-Bu-fy)] 2S}(PR 3) 2] [R = Ph ( 8a), To ( 8b)], followed by thioketene-exchange reactions to give [AgCu{[SC=( t-Bu-fy)] 3S}(PR 3) 2] [R = Ph ( 9a), To ( 9b)]. Complexes 9a and b can be directly prepared from the reactions of 1 with AgClO 4 and PPh 3 or PTo 3 in 1:1:3 molar ratio in THF. The crystal structures of 3b, 6b, 6c, 7c, and 9a have been solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies and, in the cases of 7c and 9a, reveal the formation of short Ag...Cu metallophilic contacts of 2.8157(4) and 2.9606(6) A, respectively.     

Tetrasubstituted phenanthrolines as highly potent, water-soluble, and selective g-quadruplex ligands

Small molecules capable of stabilizing the G-quadruplex (G4) structure are of interest for the development of improved anticancer drugs. Novel 4,7-diamino-substituted 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxamides that represent hybrid structures of known phenanthroline-based ligands have been designed. An efficient synthetic route to the compounds has been developed and their interactions with various G4 sequences have been evaluated by F?rster resonance energy transfer (FRET) melting assays, fluorescent intercalator displacement (FID), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The preferred compounds have high aqueous solubility and are strong and potent G4 binders with a high selectivity over duplex DNA; thus, they represent a significant improvement over the lead compounds. Two of the compounds are inhibitors of HeLa and HT1080 cell proliferation.     

Photoluminescent copper(I) complexes with amido-triazolato ligands

A series of heteroleptic copper(I) complexes incorporating amido-triazole and diphosphine ligands, [Cu(I)(N-phenyl-2-(1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)aniline)(dppb)] (1), [Cu(I)(N-(4-methylphenyl)-2-(1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)aniline)(dppb)] (2), [Cu(I)(N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-(1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)aniline)(dppb)] (3), [Cu(I)(N-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)aniline)(dppb)] (4), [Cu(I)(2,6-dimethyl-N-[2-(1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)phenyl]aniline)(dppb)] (5), [Cu(I)(2,6-dimethyl-N-[2-(1-benzyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)phenyl]aniline)(dppb)] (6), (dppb = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene), have been prepared. The complexes adopt a distorted tetrahedral geometry in the solid state with the amido-triazole ligand forming a six-member ring with the Cu(I) ion. The complexes exhibit long-lived photoluminescence with colors ranging from yellow to red-orange in the solid state, in frozen glass at 77 K, and in fluid solution with modest quantum yields of up to 0.022. Electrochemically, complexes 1-4 show irreversible oxidation waves while 5 and 6 are characterized by quasi-reversible oxidations as determined by cyclic voltammetry. For 1-4, the emission energy and oxidation potential are found to vary linearly with the Hammett parameter σ(p) of the substituent in the para position of the amido ligand, while in 5 and 6, large differences in emission are observed because of the nature of N3 substitution in the triazole ring. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on the singlet ground states (S(o)) of all complexes at the BP86/6-31G(d) level to assist in assignment of the excited states. On the basis of both experimental and computational results, we have assigned the excited states as intraligand + metal-to-ligand charge transfer (3)(ILCT+MLCT) or ligand-to-ligand charge transfer mixed with MLCT (3)(MLCT +LLCT) in these complexes.     

A new coupling reaction for the synthesis of ruthenium half-sandwich complexes with sterically demanding cyclopentadienyl ligands

The reaction of RuCl(3)(solv.)(n) with tert-butylacetylene in methanol or ethanol leads to the formation of chloro-bridged half-sandwich complexes with sterically demanding cyclopentadienyl ligands, which are of high interest as starting materials for the synthesis of novel Ru catalysts.