Dimethylplatinum(II) complexes: computational insights into Pt-C bond protonolysis

A detailed density functional theory (DFT) study of the protonation and subsequent methane elimination reactions of dimethylplatinum(II) complexes in presence of triflic acid in various solvents has been undertaken to contribute to the debate concerning the mechanism of the electrophilic cleavage of the Pt-C bond in Pt(II) complexes. Both mechanisms of direct one-step proton attack at the Pt-C bond (S(E)2) and stepwise oxidative-addition on the central metal followed by reductive elimination (S(E)(ox)) have been explored for a series of dimethylplatinum(II) complexes changing the nature of the ancillary ligands and the solvent. Theoretical calculations show that the most likely mechanism cannot be predicted on the basis of spectator ligands donating properties only. A one-step protonolysis pathway is characteristic for complexes containing P based ligands, whereas for complexes containing N based and, in general, hard poor-donor ligands a common behavior cannot be indicated. Solvent nucleophilicity can influence the rate of the S(E)(ox) rate mechanism, whereas its steric hindrance can induce a change of the preferred mechanism. The hypothesis that five-coordinate methyl hydrido platinum(IV) intermediates might be formed along the S(E)(ox) pathway is not supported. Only six-coordinate Pt(IV) hydride complexes are calculated to be stable intermediates generated by direct protonation at the platinum center. Formation and experimental detection of six-coordinate Pt(IV) hydrides, nevertheless, cannot be considered a definite evidence that a S(E)(ox) mechanism is operative because such intermediates can be also generated by a hydrogen migration to Pt from the carbon atom of the σ-complex methane molecule formed by a S(E)2 attack. For all the examined complexes methane loss occurs by an associative mechanism. Both solvent and anion of the acid can assist methane displacement. Calculations have been also carried out to probe whether the preference for a concerted or a stepwise mechanism should be predicted on the basis of two proposed criteria: metal-complex charge distribution as a consequence of the Pt-C bond polarization and the nature of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO).     

Interaction of a bulky N-heterocyclic carbene ligand with Rh(I) and Ir(I). Double C-H activation and isolation of bare 14-electron Rh(III) and Ir(III) complexes

Reactivity and structural studies of unusual rhodium and iridium systems bearing two N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands are presented. These systems are capable of intramolecular C-H bond activation and lead to coordinatively unsaturated 16-electron complexes. The resulting complexes can be further unsaturated by simple halide abstraction, leading to 14-electron species bearing an all-carbon environment. Saturation of the vacant sites in the 16- and 14-electron complexes with carbon monoxide permits a structural comparison. DFT calculations show that these electrophilic metal centers are stabilized by pi-donation of the NHC ligands.     

Synthetic, structural and spectroscopic studies of (pseudo)halo(1,3-di-tert-butylimidazol-2-ylidine)gold complexes

A series of (pseudo)halo(1,3-di-tert-butylimidazol-2-ylidine)gold complexes [(But2Im)AuX](X = Cl, Br, I, CN, N3, NCO, SCN, SeCN, ONO2, OCOCH3, CH3) have been synthesized and characterised spectroscopically and structurally. 13C NMR chemical shifts for the carbene carbon vary widely with differing ancillary anion, correlating well with the sigma-donor ability of the latter and with the M-C(carbene) bond distance. These results reinforce the notion that N-heterocyclic carbene ligands are primarily sigma-donor ligands with little pi-acceptor ability.     

Mechanism of formation of carbene complexes by reaction of cis-[PdCl2(PPh3)(CNR)] with secondary amines

A kinetic study is reported for the reactions of secondary aromatic amines p-YC₆H₄NHR (Y = MeO, Me, H; R = Me, Et) with the isocyanide complexes cis-[PdCl₂(p-XC₆H₄NC)(PPh₃)] (X = Me, H, Cl) leading to the carbene derivatives cis-[PdCl₂ {C(NH-p-C₆H₄X)NR-p-C₆H₄Y} (PPh₃)] in 1,2-dichloroethane at 25°C. A stepwise mechanism is proposed which involves a direct nucleophilic attack of the entering amine on the isocyanide carbon followed by proton transfers to the final carbene complexes. These take place both intramolecularly in a four-membered cyclic transition state and by the agency of one further amine molecule serving as a proton acceptor-donor in a six-membered transition state. Competition experiments with primary amines and trends in rate parameters are discussed to support the mechanism.     

Template synthesis of benzannulated N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

The reaction of 2-azidophenyl isocyanide (7) with [M(CO)(5)(thf)] (M=Cr, W) yields the isocyanide complexes [M(CO)(5)(7)] (M=Cr 8, M=W 9). Complexes 8 and 9 react with tertiary phosphines such as triphenylphosphane at the azido function of the isocyanide ligand to give the 2-triphenylphosphiniminophenyl isocyanide complexes 10 (M=Cr) and 11 (M=W). The polar triphenylphosphiniminophenyl function in complexes 10 and 11 can be hydrolyzed with H(2)O/HBr to afford triphenylphosphane oxide and the complexes containing the unstable 2-aminophenyl isocyanide ligand. This ligand spontaneously cyclizes by intramolecular nucleophilic attack of the primary amine at the isocyanide carbon atom to yield the 2,3-dihydro-1H-benzimidazol-2-ylidene complexes 12 (M=Cr) and 13 (M=W). Double deprotonation of the cyclic NH,NH-carbene ligands in 12 and 13 with KOtBu and reaction with two equivalents of allyl bromide yields the N,N'-dialkylated benzannulated N-heterocyclic carbene complexes 14 (M=Cr) and 15 (M=W). The molecular structures of complexes 9 and 11-15 were confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Solvation largely accounts for the effect of N-alkylation on the properties of nickel(II/I) and chromium(III/II) cyclam complexes

The source of the effect of N-alkylation on the redox properties of Ni(II/I) and Cr(III/II) cyclam complexes has been investigated using DFT calculations. The structures of the anhydrous and hydrated complexes were optimized in the gas phase, and single point calculations were performed in a polarized continuum. The main results are the following: the decrease in outer sphere solvation upon N-alkylation is the major source of the relative stabilization of the lower oxidation state complexes by the tertiary amine ligands; tertiary amine nitrogen donors are stronger sigma-donors than the secondary amines, as predicted from the inductive effect of alkyls; steric strain elongates the metal-nitrogen bonds in the tertiary complexes and decreases the ligand strain energies; and the site of water binding to the complexes differs because of their different electronic structures (i.e., in the Ni complexes, the water molecules bind to the M[bond]N[bond]H sites, whereas in the Cr complexes they bind to the central metal cation). Outer sphere hydrogen bonding of water to the ligands in the coordination sphere lowers the ionization potentials by charge delocalization.     

Amine nitrosation via NO reduction of the polyamine copper(II) complex Cu(DAC)2+

The reaction of the fluorescent macrocyclic ligand 1,8-bis(anthracen-9-ylmethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane with copper(II) salts leads to formation of the Cu(DAC)2+ cation (I), which is not luminescent. However, when aqueous methanol solutions of I are allowed to react with NO, fluorescence again develops, owing to the formation of the strongly luminescent N-nitrosated ligand DAC-NO (II), which is released from the copper center. This reaction is relatively slow in neutral media, and kinetics studies show it to be first order in the concentrations of NO and base. In these contexts, it is proposed that the amine nitrosation occurs via NO attack at a coordinated amine that has been deprotonated and that this step occurs with concomitant reduction of the Cu(II) to Cu(I). DFT computations at the BP/LACVP* level support these mechanistic arguments. It is further proposed that such nitrosation of electron-rich ligands coordinated to redox-active metal centers is a mechanistic pathway that may find greater generality in the biochemical formation of nitrosothiols and nitrosoamines.     

DFT study of the role of substituents in tin(II) bis(amidoethyl)amine complexes used for ε-caprolactone polymerization

DFT simulations of ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone in the presence of two stannylenes based on bis(2-amidoethyl)amine ligands demonstrated that rate limiting step of the whole process is the nucleophilic attack of a metal initiator with the formation of the tetrahedral carbon from sp² carbon atom of the carboxy group. The presence of electron-withdrawing groups at the terminal nitrogen atoms of the ligands leads to decrease in the activation energy of the rate limiting step.     

Blue phosphorescence from mixed cyano-isocyanide cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes

The synthesis, structure, and photophysical and electrochemical properties of cyclometalated iridium complexes with ancillary cyano and isocyanide ligands are described. In the first synthetic step, cleavage of dichloro-bridged dimers [Ir(N=C)2(mu-Cl)]2 (N=C = 2-phenylpyridine, 2-(2-fluorophenyl)pyridine, and 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine) by isocyanide ligands gave monomeric species of the types Ir(N=C)2(RNC)(Cl) (RNC = t-butyl isocyanide, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl isocyanide, 2-morpholinoethyl isocyanide, and 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide). In turn, the chloride was replaced by cyanide giving Ir(N=C)2(RNC)(CN). The X-ray structures for two of the complexes show that the trans-pyridyl/cis-phenyl geometry of the parent dimer is preserved, with the ancillary ligands positioned trans to the cyclometalated phenyls. The cyano complexes all display strong blue photoluminescence in ambient, deoxygenated solutions with the first lambdamax ranging from 441 to 458 nm, quantum yields spanning 0.60 to 0.75, and luminescent lifetimes of 12.0-21.4 mus. A lack of solvatochromism and highly structured emission indicate that the lowest energy excited state is triplet ligand centered with some admixture of singlet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer character.     

Electronic effects on reductive elimination to form carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds from palladium(II) complexes

The electronic properties of reactive and ancillary ligands have a large impact on the rate and scope of reductive elimination reactions. The purpose of this review is to compare and discuss published data on the effect of ligand electronic properties on the rates and scope of reductive eliminations from palladium(II). An understanding of these effects is important because reductive elimination from palladium(II) is the product-forming step of a variety of catalytic processes. The scope of this review will encompass the effect of the electron-donating abilities of alkyl, aryl, amido, alkoxo, thiolato, and phosphido groups on the rate of reductive elimination, the relative importance of inductive and resonance effects on the rate of reductive elimination, the relative sensitivity of the different classes of reductive eliminations to electronic perturbations, and the effect of the differences in electronic properties between the two aryl groups of biaryl complexes undergoing reductive elimination. In addition, this review will include the effects of electronic properties of the ancillary ligands on the rate of reductive eliminations from palladium(II). The effect of the overall electron-donating ability of ancillary ligands and the effect of the relative orientation of ancillary ligands to the two reactive ligands on the rate of reductive elimination will be discussed. Where appropriate, electronic effects on reductive elimination from complexes of other metals are described.     

Multiplicity of Reaction Pathways in the Processes of Oxygen Transfer to Secondary Amines by Mo(VI) and W(VI) Peroxo Complexes

Oxidation of N,N-benzylmethylamine, N,N-benzylisopropylamine, and N,N-benzyl-tert-butylamine by both anionic and neutral Mo(VI) and W(VI) oxodiperoxo complexes yields the corresponding nitrones quantitatively. The oxidation reactions employing anionic oxidants were performed in CHCl(3) and follow second-order kinetics, first order with respect to the amine and to the oxidant. The data were rationalized on the basis of a rate-determining nucleophilic attack of the amine onto the peroxide oxygen of the oxidant, with a transition state in which N-O bond formation and O-O bond cleavage occur in a concerted way (electrophilic oxygen transfer mechanism). This attack yields the corresponding hydroxylamine, which then is furtherly oxidized to nitrone in a fast step. On the other hand, in the case of neutral oxidants (1)H-NMR data as well as kinetic data indicate that amine coordinates the metal center replacing the original ligand HMPA and yields a new peroxo complex. For N,N-benzyl-tert-butylamine such a complex was isolated and characterized. These new peroxo complexes can themselves behave as electrophilic oxidants, transferring oxygen to external amine molecules through the same pathway followed by anionic oxidants, or can yield the reaction product by intramolecular oxidation of the coordinate amine. Measurements of added HMPA effects on oxidation rate would seem more consistent with the electrophilic oxygen transfer mechanism.     

Gold metal-catalyzed reactions of isocyanides with primary amines and oxygen: analogies with reactions of isocyanides in transition metal complexes

Despite its generally poor catalytic properties, bulk gold metal is observed to catalyze reactions of isocyanides (CN-R) with primary amines (H2N-R') and O2 to give carbodiimides (R-N=C=N-R') at room temperature and above. Detailed infrared reflection absorption spectroscopic (IRRAS) and kinetic studies show that the reaction occurs by initial eta1-adsorption of the isocyanide on the Au surface, which activates the isocyanide to attack by the amine. This attack is the rate-determining step in the catalytic cycle and has characteristics very similar to those of amine reactions with coordinated isocyanides in transition metal complexes. However, the metallic Au surface provides a pathway involving O2 to give the carbodiimide product whereas homogeneous metal ion catalysts give formamidines [HC(=NR)(NHR')].     

Electrochemical investigations of cationictrans-haloarylisocyanidebis(tertiaryphosphino)platinum (II) complexes

Summary The electrochemical behaviour of a series of cationic platinum(II) isocyanide complexes has been studied in acetonitrile. All the tested compounds are oxidized at a platinum electrode via a two-electron process and reduced at a platinum or mercury electrode via two successive one-electron steps. The anodic step involves the formation of platinum(IV) complexes. The main reduction product formed in correspondence to the first cathodic process is a stable dimer platinum(I) containing bridging isocyanide ligands. Platinum(0) species are formed in the subsequent reduction step.     

A computational study of the effectiveness of the frontier molecular orbital formalism in predicting conformational isomerism in (p-RC6H4NC)2W(dppe)2

Ab initio electronic structure calculations on a series of ligands, p-RC6H4NC:, indicate, that the energy of the LUMO correlates with the electron-withdrawing/donating capabilities of the substituent group, which determines the relative pi-acidity of the ligand. Depending on the nature of the para substituent group on the aryl isocyanide ligand, bis(aryl isocyanide) complexes of tungsten-containing bulky bidentate arylphosphine ligands adopt either cis or trans conformations. The frontier molecular orbital formalism predicts that strong pi-acids, which contain electron-withdrawing groups, tend to polarize sufficient charge density away from the metal center to effect the formation of the sterically less favorable but electronically stabilized cis conformer. Density functional theory calculations on similar complexes containing phosphines which do not impose severe steric contraints indicate that the balance between steric and electronic stabilization can be effectively predicted by comparing the relative energies of the ligand LUMOs.     

Electrochemical behavior and antioxidant activity of tetradentate Schiff bases and their copper(II) complexes

This study describes the effects of the substituents on electrochemical behavior and antioxidant activity of the six tetradentate Schiff bases, containing ethane-1,2-diamine or propane-1,2-diamine as the amine part and pentane-2,4-dione and/or 1-phenylbutane-1,3-dione as ??-diketone, and corresponding copper(II) complexes. Cyclic voltammograms of these compounds were recorded in dimethylsulfoxide and 0.1?M sodium perchlorate as supporting electrolyte with glassy carbon as working electrode at different scan rates. The voltammograms of Schiff bases alone showed only one irreversible peak. Voltammograms recorded for complexes showed the presence of quasi-reversible processes taking place at the metal center and reversible process at the ligand part. Both steric and inductive effects of substituents and structure of imine bridge of Schiff base ligands as well as complexes were discussed. These effects appear relevant for the antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activity of the investigated compounds expressed as Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity is also discussed. The electrochemical behavior showed a high correlation with the antioxidant activity for investigated compounds.     

Formation of Homo- and Heteronuclear Platinum(II) and Palladium(II) Carbene Complexes in the Reactions of Coordinated Isocyanides with Aminothiazaheterocycles

The reaction of 5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amine with cis-dichlorobis(2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide)platinum(II) (cis-[PtCl₂(CNXyl)₂], Xyl = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃) gave platinum(II) monocarbene complex whose deprotonation with an organic base generated a nucleophilic species capable of reacting with palladium(II) and platinum(II) bis(isocyanide) complexes to afford homo- and heteronuclear isocyanide/carbene structures.     

One-step multi-electron transfer mechanism of polynuclear copper complexes for molecular conversions

The oxidative coupling reaction of 2,6-dimethylphenol may result in either a desired polymeric substance (i.e. the polyphenylene ether, PPE) or the undesired “dimeric” species diphenoquinone, DPQ. The relative amounts of each product depend on the experimental conditions and the used catalytic system. Usually copper amine compounds are used as a catalyst for the oxidative coupling reactions. They have the advantage of easy access and produce high yields of high molecular PPE; however, other metal coordination compounds, like those of Mn, may also be used as catalysts. The present paper focuses on mechanistic studies with various copper (aliphatic and aromatic) amine compounds as catalysts. Owing to the steric constraints of the amine ligands, dinuclear Cu(II) compounds, with small bridging anionic ligands, are easily formed. Such species are believed to be the catalyst precursors. Upon addition of a base (1:1 on copper) and excess phenol, phenolate ligands coordinate as bridging ligands to copper. After a two-electron transfer reaction, the resulting phenoxonium ligand, which is a rather poor ligand, remains attached to the Cu(I), probably coordinating via its aromatic ring. Nucleophilic attack by a phenol to the phenoxonium ion at the 4-position is likey to be most important to the coupling reaction. In the beginning of the reaction the undesired side product DPQ is also formed via a C–C coupling reaction. With copper(II) compounds containing imidazole-type chelating ligands, good activity was obtained; in the case of pyrazole-based and bridging S-donor chelating ligands, that no or very weak activity was found. In a study of the mechanism of the propagation reaction the rate-determining reaction was thought to be probably a one-step, two-electron transfer, during which the two Cu(II) ions in the dinuclear complex oxidize the phenolate to phenoxonium. After the phenoxium ion is formed the bonding with the (then) Cu(I) species is weakened and the reactions with phenolic end groups can take place. The effect of the amine ligands appears to be both steric and electronic. With certain ligands the reoxidationof the reduced catalyst is not possible.     

C?H bond functionalization of aromatic heterocycles with chelating dicarbene palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes

Chelating dicarbene complexes of palladium(II) and platinum(II) catalyse at room temperature with 1% catalyst loading the reaction of ethyl phenylpropiolate with aromatic heterocycles to yield synthetically useful intermediates for fine chemicals without the need to use prefunctionalized substrates. The reaction outcome was found to be strongly dependent on the nature of the anionic ligands at the metal complex. Addition of silver salts to replace halide ligands with more weakly coordinating anions improves the reaction yield and changes the product distributions: heterocycle? alkyne 2:1 adducts are obtained together with the usual hydroarylation products, which potentially broadens the scope of the reaction. The nature of the employed heterocycle, in particular its steric characteristics, is also found to strongly influence the outcome of the reaction. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Coordination chemistry of amine bis(phenolate) titanium complexes: tuning complex type and structure by ligand modification

The coordination chemistry of titanium(IV) complexes of amine bis(phenolate) ligands was investigated by synthesizing various types of complexes and analyzing them specroscopically and structurally. Steric effects of tridentate [ONO]- and tetradentate [ONNO]-type ligands were studied by reacting the ligand precursors with titanium tetra(isopropoxide). [ONNO]-type ligands featuring an amine donor located on a pendant arm led to octahedral bis(isopropoxide) complexes, regardless of the steric bulk around the metal. Several such complexes having varying steric crowding were thus synthesized. On the other hand, steric effects were found to play a major role in determining the complex constitution when [ONO]-type ligands, featuring no side donor, were involved. Relatively sterically undemanding ligands led to octahedral bis(homoleptic) complexes, whereas increased steric bulk resulted in the formation of pentacoordinate bis(isopropoxide) complexes. These pentacoordinate complexes readily lead to bis(heteroleptic) complexes by reaction with nonsterically demanding [ONO]- and [ONNO]-type ligand precursors. In the latter case the sidearm nitrogen remains uncoordinated to the metal. The bis(isopropoxide) complexes of the [ONNO]-type ligands may also lead to bis(heteroleptic) complexes, however, these reactions are much slower.     

Unexpected reaction pathways in the reaction of alkoxyalkynylchromium(0) carbenes with aromatic dinucleophiles

Thermal- or SiO(2)-induced reactions of the Michael adducts of 1,2-aromatic dinucleophiles and alkynylchromium(0) carbene complexes, compounds 7-10, form different products in good yields depending on the nature of the aromatic dinucleophile used. Thus, 1,2-diaminobenzene derivatives 7 and 8 rearrange to pentacarbonylchromium(0) isocyanide complexes 11, 12, 14, and 15 in a process that occurs through bicyclic intermediates 24. Adducts 9 derived from o-aminophenol give 2,3-dihydro-1,5-benzoxazepine derivatives 17 by intramolecular 1,2-addition, followed by protonation at the chromium center and reductive elimination. In contrast, base-promoted addition of the phenolic hydroxy group in compound 9 a affords 3-ethoxy-5-phenyl-5,6-dihydro-2H-1,6-benzoxazocin-2-one (18), together with the expected adduct 17 a. Compound 18 is formed by a nucleophilic addition to a CO ligand in a preformed carbene complex. This is a new example of the rare attack of a nucleophile on a CO ligand in a Fischer carbene complex. Adducts 10 form seven-membered-ring carbene complexes 19 and 20 by intramolecular aminolysis. In contrast, reaction of alkynyl carbene complexes with 1,8-diaminonaphthalene under very mild conditions leads to 2-substituted perimidines 33 together with the corresponding ethoxymethylmetal carbene complex 32 through an unprecedented fragmentation process in a formal retro-Aumann reaction.