Efficient transfer hydrogenation of ketones in the presence of ruthenium N-heterocyclic carbene catalysts

Novel ruthenium carbene complexes have been in situ generated and tested for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones. Applying Ru(cod)(methylallyl)₂ in the presence of imidazolium salts in 2-propanol and sodium-2-propanolate as base, turnover frequencies up to 346 h⁻¹ have been obtained for reduction of acetophenone. A comparative study involving ruthenium carbene and ruthenium phosphine complexes demonstrated the higher activity of ruthenium carbene complexes.     

石英片基表面联吡啶钌配合物的合成与表征

将6-溴-2,2'∶6',2"-三联吡啶转化为6-甲酰基-2,2'∶6',2"-三联吡啶, 再将其与表面组装有氨基硅氧烷的石英片基反应, 使甲酰基与片基表面的氨基反应生成Schiff碱型化合物, 在氨基化片基表面成功地固定6-甲酰基-2,2'∶6',2"-三联吡啶及相应的钌配合物, 并用紫外-可见吸收光谱及光电子能谱(XPS)检测联吡啶及相应钌配合物的组装过程.     

Ruthenium(II)-NHC-catalyzed (NHC = perhydrobenzimidazol-2-ylidene) alkylation of amines using the hydrogen borrowing methodology under solvent-free conditions

Transition Metal Chemistry - New ruthenium(II) complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene ligand were synthesized by transmetalation reactions between silver(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes and...     

含NS和NNSS供电子原子的钌(Ⅱ)羰基配合物

通过[RuHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂(B)] (B=PPh₃, 吡啶 (py), 哌啶 (pip), 吗啉 (morph))与适当的席夫碱按1∶1的物质的量的比反应，合成了二齿和四齿席夫碱钌(Ⅱ)配合物。所用席夫碱配体通过S-苄基二硫代肼基甲酸酯与2,3-丁二酮(物质的量的比分别为1∶1和1∶2)的缩合反应制得。通过元素分析和多种物理化学方法对钌(Ⅱ)配合物和其席夫碱配体进行了表征。钌(Ⅱ)配合物为六配位的反磁性物质。用三种细菌对席夫碱配体及其钌(Ⅱ)配合物的抗微生物活性进行了筛选试验。     

Probing the potential of N-heterocyclic carbenes in molecular electronics: redox-active metal centers interlinked by a rigid ditopic carbene ligand

Bimetallic homonuclear iron(II) and ruthenium(II) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes have been synthesized and crystallographically analyzed. As a spacer ligand for interconnecting the two redox-active metal centers, a ditopic carbene ligand has been used that comprises two carbene sites annelated to benzene. Detailed electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical analyses of the bimetallic systems revealed that despite the potentially pi-delocalized nature of the ditopic ligand, the iron centers are only moderately coupled. In the ruthenium complexes, the intermetallic interactions are very weak and the centers are electrochemically nearly independent. A model is proposed for rationalizing these observations which is based on (I) relatively weak charge delocalization in the spacer ligand and (II) on electrostatic factors governing the metal-carbene bond.     

Carbene-based ruthenium photosensitizers

A new series of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-pyridine ruthenium complexes incorporating a carbene unit as an ancillary ligand were designed and successfully synthesized by using simple synthetic methods. The photophysical, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties of these NHC-pyridine based ruthenium complexes were investigated. These complexes showed photoelectric conversion efficiencies in the range of 6.43 ～ 7.24% under the illumination of AM 1.5 (100 mW cm(-2)). Interestingly, the modifications on the ancillary ligand of these sensitizers by removal of an alkoxyl group and replacement of the octyl chain with a 3,5-difluorobenzyl group showed a 13% increase in the conversion efficiency for the CifPR dye. These results demonstrated that structural modifications on the NHC-pyridine ancillary ligand of ruthenium complexes results in dye-sensitized solar cells exhibiting a comparable cell performance to that obtained using the standard N719 dye.     

Recent advances in anticancer ruthenium Schiff base complexes

Nowadays in cancer treatment, both metal complexes and organic molecules are being widely used. Current years have seen a surge of interest in the application of organometallic compounds to treat cancer and other diseases. Undeniably, the unique properties of organometallic compounds, intermediate between those of classical inorganic and organic materials, provide new opportunities in the field of medicinal chemistry. Since the discovery of cisplatin, many transition metal complexes have been synthesized and assayed for anticancer activity. In recent years, ruthenium-based Schiff base complexes have emerged as promising antitumor and antimetastatic agents with potential uses in treatment of platinum-resistant tumors or as alternatives to platinum-based chemotherapy. Advantages of utilizing ruthenium complexes in drug development include reliable methods of synthesizing stable complexes; the ability to tune ligand affinities, electron transfer and substitution rates, and reduction potentials; and an increasing knowledge of the biological effects of such complexes. This great expansion of ruthenium-based Schiff base complexes is mainly due to the unique ability of the ruthenium core to permit multiple oxidation states, hence versatile electron-transfer pathways, and because of the ease of preparation with versatile and variable-denticity Schiff base ligands. This review aims to bring the reader up to date with the more recent Ru(II)/(III)-based Schiff base complexes that have been synthesized and investigated for their cytotoxicity.     

Synthesis of Carbene-Metal-Amido (CMA) Complexes and Their Use as Precatalysts for the Activator-Free,Gold-Catalyzed Addition of Carboxylic Acids to Alkynes

A straightforward synthetic protocol leading to carbene–metal–amido (CMA) complexes (metal=Au, Cu) using a mild base and an environmentally desirable solvent (EtOH) has been explored, with a focus on complexes bearing backbone-substituted N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands, including BIAN-NHCs (BIAN=bis(imino)acenaphthene). The novel CMAs were structurally characterized, and gold-based CMAs bearing diverse NHCs were screened as simple, Brønsted-basic precatalysts. The readily accessible complexes display high catalytic activity in the intermolecular and intramolecular hydrocarboxylation of internal alkynes and alkynoic acids respectively, while the screening reveals the ancillary ligand effect of NHCs in these catalytic systems.     

Imidazol(in)ium‐2‐Carboxylates as Efficient Precursors to N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes of Copper and Silver

Copper and silver N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes were prepared through a simple, base‐free protocol involving the decomposition of corresponding imidazol(in)ium‐2‐carboxylates under thermolytic conditions and a subsequent reaction of the in situ generated carbenes with copper(I) or silver(I) chloride, respectively. The desired NHC metal complexes were isolated with good yields after simple crystallization.     

Ruthenium-Induced Alkyne Cycloisomerization: Construction of Metalated Heterocycles,Revelation of Unconventional Reaction Pathways,and Exploration of Functional Applications

While the fascinating chemistry demonstrated by metalated N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes highlights the significance of metalated heterocyclic chemistry, the development of other metalated heterocycles is falling behind, presumably because of the sparseness of general synthetic methodologies. In this Concept article, the strategy to prepare metalated heterocyclic complexes by metal-induced cycloisomerization of heteroatom-functionalized alkynes is presented. The isolation of and calculations on novel ruthenium complexes bearing chromene, chromone, indole, indoline, indolizine, and indolizinone moieties prepared from reactions between alkynes and ruthenium complexes are discussed, with emphasis on the mechanistic insights into the ruthenium-induced alkyne transformations and applications in material design and drug discovery.     

Ruthenium complexes bearing bidentate Schiff base ligands as efficient catalysts for organic and polymer syntheses

A concise overview is given on mononuclear and dinuclear, bidentate Schiff base ruthenium complexes with different additional ligands and on their applications in various chemical transformations such as Kharasch addition, enol-ester synthesis, alkyne dimerization, olefin metathesis and atom transfer radical polymerization. These new ruthenium complexes, conveniently prepared from commonly available ruthenium compounds, are very stable, exhibit a good tolerance towards organic functionalities, air and moisture and display high activity and chemoselectivity in chemical transformations. Relevant features of coordination chemistry connected with the reaction mechanism and chemoselectivity are also fully described. Since the nature of Schiff bases can be changed in a variety of ways, appealing routes for designing and preparing novel ruthenium complexes can be foreseen in the future.     

DNA interaction and cytotoxicity studies of ruthenium(III) complexes containing 3-(benzothiazol-2-yliminomethyl)-naphthalen-2-ol ligand

A new Schiff base, 3-(benzothiazol-2-yliminomethyl)-naphthalen-2-ol, has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV–vis, nuclear magnetic resonance, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Ruthenium(III) complexes of the Schiff base were synthesized and characterized by analytical and spectroscopic (FT-IR, UV–vis, and electron paramagnetic resonance) data as well as magnetic susceptibility measurements. DNA-binding properties of the ligand and its ruthenium(III) complexes have been investigated by electronic absorption spectroscopy. The three ruthenium(III) complexes were tested for DNA cleavage. Further in vitro study of the cytotoxity of the ligand and the complexes on human cervical cancer cell line and human laryngeal epithelial carcinoma cell line were carried out.     

Synthesis, characterization, redox property and biological activity of Ru(II) carbonyl complexes containing O,N-donor ligands and heterocyclic bases

Stable ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes having the general composition [RuCl(CO)(PPh3)(B)(L)] (where B=PPh3, pyridine, piperidine or morpholine; L=anion of bidentate Schiff bases (Vanmet, Vanampy, Vanchx)) were synthesized from the reaction of [RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)2(B)] with bidentate Schiff base ligands derived from condensation of o-vanillin with primary amines such as methylamine, 2-aminopyridine and cyclohexylamine. The new complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis and 1H NMR spectral data. The redox property of the complexes were studied by cyclic voltammetric technique and the stability of the complexes towards oxidation were related to the electron releasing or electron withdrawing ability of the substituent in the phenyl ring of o-vanillin. An octahedral geometry has been assigned for all the complexes. In all the above reactions, the Schiff bases replace one molecule of PPh3 and hydride ion from the starting complexes, which indicate that the Ru-N bonds present in the complexes containing heterocyclic nitrogen bases are stronger than the Ru-P. The Schiff bases and their ruthenium(II) complexes have been tested in vitro to evaluate their activity against bacteria, viz., Staphylococcus aureus (209p) and E. coli (ESS 2231).     

Synthesis,spectral, electrochemical and catalytic studies of new Ru(III) tetradentate Schiff base complexes

The synthesis and characterization of several hexa‐coordinated ruthenium(III) Schiff base complexes of the type [RuX(EPh₃)(L)] (X = Cl or Br; E = P or As; L = dianion of the tetradentate Schiff base) are reported. IR, EPR, electronic spectra and cyclic voltammetric data of the complexes are discussed. An octahedral geometry has been tentatively proposed for all of these complexes. The new complexes have been subjected to catalytic activity in the reaction of oxidation of alcohols in the presence of N‐methylmorpholine‐N‐oxide. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Metal-Salen Schiff base complexes in catalysis: practical aspects

Schiff base ligands are considered "privileged ligands" because they are easily prepared by the condensation between aldehydes and imines. Stereogenic centres or other elements of chirality (planes, axes) can be introduced in the synthetic design. Schiff base ligands are able to coordinate many different metals, and to stabilize them in various oxidation states, enabling the use of Schiff base metal complexes for a large variety of useful catalytic transformations. Practical guidelines for the preparation and use of different Schiff base metal complexes in the field of catalytic transformations are discussed in this tutorial review.     

A new class of ruthenium complexes containing Schiff base ligands as promising catalysts for atom transfer radical polymerization and ring opening metathesis polymerization

A novel series of Schiff base ruthenium complexes that are active catalysts in the field of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), have been prepared. Moreover, when activated with trimethylsilyldiazomethane (TMSD), these species exhibit good catalytic activity in the ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene and cyclooctene. The activity for both the ROMP and ATRP reaction is dependent on the steric bulk and electron donating ability of the Schiff base ligand. The control over polymerization in ATRP was verified for the two substrates that exhibit the highest activity, namely MMA and styrene. The results show that the optimal ATRP equilibrium leading to a controlled polymerization, can be established by adjusting the steric and electronic properties of the Schiff base ligand.     

Mononuclear and Tetranuclear Copper(II) Complexes Bearing Amino Acid Schiff Base Ligands: Structural Characterization and Catalytic Applications

Two new glycine-Schiff base copper(II) complexes were synthesized. Single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) allowed us to establish the structure of both complexes in the solid state. The glycine-Schiff base copper(II) complex derived from 2′-hydroxy-5′-nitroacetophenone showed a mononuclear hydrated structure, in which the Schiff base acted as a tridentate ligand, and the glycine-Schiff base copper(II) complex derived from 2′-hydroxy-5′-methylacetophenone showed a less common tetranuclear anhydrous metallocyclic structure, in which the Schiff base acted as a tetradentate ligand. In both compounds, copper(II) had a tetracoordinated square planar geometry. The results of vibrational, electronic, and paramagnetic spectroscopies, as well as thermal analysis, were consistent with the crystal structures. Both complexes were evaluated as catalysts in the olefin cyclopropanation by carbene transference, and both led to very high diastereoselectivity (greater than 98%).     

Catalytic oxidation and C–C coupling reactions of new ruthenium(III) Schiff base complexes containing PPh<Subscript>3</Subscript> or AsPh<Subscript>3</Subscript> co-ligands

New mononuclear ruthenium(III) Schiff base complexes of the type [RuX₂(EPh₃)(L)] (X = Cl or Br; E = P or As; L = monobasic tridentate Schiff base derived from o-aminophenol or o-aminothiophenol with ethylacetoacetate or ethylbenzoylacetate) have been synthesized. The Schiff base ligands chelate to ruthenium through O, N, and O/S by dissociation of the phenolic proton/thiophenolic proton forming chelate rings. These complexes have been characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. Cyclic voltammetric data of all the complexes showed Ru(III)/Ru(IV) oxidation and Ru(III)/Ru(II) reduction within the range of 0–1.5 V and 0 to −1.5 V with respect to Ag/AgCl, respectively. The complexes were tested as catalysts in the oxidation of alcohols using molecular oxygen at ambient temperature, and also in C–C coupling reactions. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Spectral, redox and catalytic studies of triphenylphosphine/triphenylarsine complexes of Ru(III) with N, O donor ligands derived from 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde and primary amines

A series of new mixed ligand hexacoordinated ruthenium(III) Schiff base complexes of the type [RuX(2)(EPh(3))(2)(LL')] (X=Cl, E=P; X=Cl or Br, E=As and LL'=anion of the Schiff bases derived from the condensation of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde with aniline, 4-chloroaniline, 2-methyl aniline and 4-methoxy aniline) are reported. All the complexes have been characterized by analytical and spectral (IR, electronic and EPR) data. The redox behavior of the complexes has also been studied. The complexes exhibit catalytic activity in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde in the presence of N-methyl morpholine-N-oxide (NMO). An octahedral structure has been proposed for all of the complexes.     

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.