N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Adducts of Aluminium Triiodide

N‐Heterocyclic carbene adducts of aluminium triiodide, IMes · AlI₃ ( 1 ) and IPr · AlI₃ ( 2 ) (IMes = 1,3‐bis(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene and IPr = 1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene) are reported. These adducts are available by the reaction of aluminium triiodide with the correspondingN‐heterocyclic carbene. Compounds 1 and 2 are soluble in hydrocarbon solvents, stable in inert atmosphere, and have been characterised by elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies.     

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Catalyzed α‐Alkylation of Ketones with Primary Alcohols

Several N‐heterocyclic carbene precursors are synthesized and used in the α‐alkylations of ketones with primary alcohols. With the assistance of a base, these N‐heterocyclic carbenes can catalyze the reaction smoothly to furnish dialkylated ketones in good‐to‐excellent yields.     

Binuclear meta‐xylyl‐linked Ag(I)‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes of N‐alkyl/aryl‐alkyl‐substituted bis‐benzimidazolium salts: synthesis,crystal structures and in vitro anticancer studies

Salts of meta‐xylyl‐linked N‐ethyl/n‐butyl/benzyl‐substituted bis‐benzimidazolium having hexafluorophosphate counterions have been synthesized. The corresponding binuclear Ag(I)‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes were prepared by the reaction of Ag₂O. The N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand precursor 7 and Ag(I)–NHC complexes 10 and 11 have been structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction technique. All of the reported compounds have been tested for their anticancer activity using human colorectal (HCT 116) cancer cell lines. Sterically varied benzimidazolium salts displayed significant activity against HCT 116 cell line, yielding IC₅₀ values in the range 0.1–19.4 µ m , while Ag(I)–carbene complexes showed exceptionally good activity (0.2–1.3 µ m ) against tested cancer cell lines. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Copper,Silver and Sodium Salt‐Mediated Quaternization by Arylation: Syntheses of N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Precursors and 6‐H‐Phenanthridine Derivatives

We have developed a Cu^II‐, Ag^I‐, and NaOTf‐mediated intramolecular quaternization by arylation reactions to synthesize a variety of N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors with a benzene‐fused backbone. The methodology also provides a convenient alternative route for the synthesis of 6‐H‐phenanthridine derivatives. A novel silver–NHC complex was prepared by treatment of Ag₂O with the free carbene, which was in situ prepared from the deprotonation of a representative quinazolinonium salt.     

Facile Syntheses of N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Precursors through I2‐ or NIS‐Promoted Amidiniumation of N‐Alkenyl Formamidines

We have developed I₂‐ or N‐iodosuccinimide (NIS)‐mediated amidiniumation of N‐alkenyl formamidines for the syntheses of cyclic formamidinium salts, some of which could be directly used as N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors. Treatment of iodine‐containing formamidinium salts with Al₂O₃ led to the formation of cyclic formamidinium salts with an unsaturated backbone. A rhodium(I) complex ligated by a representative NHC was prepared by the reaction of [Rh(cod)Cl]₂ (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) with the free carbene obtained in situ from deprotonation of the corresponding formamidinium salts. The NHCs prepared in situ can also react with S₈ to afford the corresponding thiones.     

Synthesis of palladium complexes derived from imidazolidin‐2‐ylidene ligands and used for catalytic amination reactions

N‐Aryl amination and the Buchwald–Hartwig reaction are of great synthetic and industrial interest and scientists accept their usefulness and versatility for obtaining arylamines. In this study Ag–N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes were used as transmetallation reagents for the synthesis of Pd–N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes. The new Pd–N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes were characterized using elemental analysis and ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and infrared spectroscopies. The crystal structure of one, namely dichlorobis[1,3‐bis(2‐methylbenzyl)imidazolidin‐2‐yliden]palladium(II), is presented. The activity of the Pd(II) complexes in the coupling reaction of anilines or amines with bromobenzene was investigated. These complexes exhibited high catalytic activities in the direct synthesis of triarylamines and secondary amines in a single step. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stable ‐ESiMe3 Complexes of CuI and AgI (E=S,Se) with NHCs: Synthons in Ternary Nanocluster Assembly

As a part of efforts to prepare new “metallachalcogenolate” precursors and develop their chemistry for the formation of ternary mixed‐metal chalcogenide nanoclusters, two sets of thermally stable, N‐heterocyclic carbene metal–chalcogenolate complexes of the general formula [(IPr)Ag?ESiMe₃] (IPr=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene; E=S, 1 ; Se, 2 ) and [(iPr₂‐bimy)Cu?ESiMe₃]₂ (iPr₂‐bimy=1,3‐diisopropylbenzimidazolin‐2‐ylidene; E=S, 4 ; Se, 5 ) are reported. These are prepared from the reaction between the corresponding carbene metal acetate, [(IPr)AgOAc] and [(iPr‐bimy)CuOAc] respectively, and E(SiMe₃)₂ at low temperature. The reaction of [(IPr)Ag?ESiMe₃] 1 with mercury(II) acetate affords the heterometallic complex [{(IPr)AgS}₂Hg] 3 containing two (IPr)Ag?S^? fragments bonded to a central Hg^II, representing a mixed mercury–silver sulfide complex. The reaction of [(iPr₂‐bimy)Cu‐SSiMe₃]₂, which contains a smaller N‐heterocyclic‐carbene, with mercuric(II) acetate affords the high nuclearity cluster, [(iPr₂‐bimy)₆Cu₁₀S₈Hg₃] 6 . The new N‐heterocyclic carbene metal–chalcogenolate complexes 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 and the ternary mixed‐metal chalcogenolate complex 3 and cluster 6 have been characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (¹H and ¹³C), elemental analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.     

Cationic Bis‐N‐Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Ruthenium Complex: Structure and Application as Latent Catalyst in Olefin Metathesis

An unexpected cationic bis‐N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) benzylidene ether based ruthenium complex ( 2 a ) was prepared through the double incorporation of an unsymmetrical unsaturated N‐heterocyclic carbene (U₂‐NHC) ligand that bore an N‐substituted cyclododecyl side chain. The isolation and full characterization (including X‐ray diffraction studies) of key synthetic intermediates along with theoretical calculations allowed us to understand the mechanism of the overall cationization process. Finally, the newly developed complex 2 a displayed interesting latent behavior during ring‐closing metathesis, which could be “switched on” under acidic conditions.     

Synthesis,cytotoxicity and antibacterial studies of symmetrically and non‐symmetrically benzyl‐ or p‐cyanobenzyl‐substituted N‐Heterocyclic carbene–silver complexes

From the reaction of 1H‐imidazole ( 1a ), 4,5‐dichloro‐1H‐imidazole ( 1b ) and 1H‐benzimidazole ( 1c ) with p‐cyanobenzyl bromide ( 2 ), symmetrically substituted N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) [( 3a–c )] precursors, 1‐methylimidazole ( 5a ), 4,5‐dichloro‐1‐methylimidazole ( 5b ) and 1‐methylbenzimidazole ( 5c ) with benzyl bromide ( 6 ), non‐symmetrically substituted N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) [( 7a–c )] precursors were synthesized. These NHC? precursors were then reacted with silver(I) acetate to yield the NHC‐silver complexes [1,3‐bis(4‐cyanobenzyl)imidazole‐2‐ylidene] silver(I) acetate ( 4a ), [4,5‐dichloro‐1,3‐bis(4‐cyanobenzyl)imidazole‐2‐ylidene] silver(I) acetate ( 4b ), [1,3‐bis(4‐cyanobenzyl)benzimidazole‐2‐ylidene] silver(I) acetate ( 4c ), (1‐methyl‐3‐benzylimidazole‐2‐ylidene) silver(I) acetate ( 8a ), (4,5‐dichloro‐1‐methyl‐3‐benzylimidazole‐2‐ylidene) silver(I) acetate ( 8b ) and (1‐methyl‐3‐benzylbenzimidazole‐2‐ylidene) silver(I) acetate ( 8c ) respectively. The four NHC‐precursors 3a–c, 7c and four NHC–silver complexes 4a–c and 8c were characterized by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. The preliminary antibacterial activity of all the compounds was studied against Gram‐negative bacteria Escherichia coli, and Gram‐positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus using the qualitative Kirby‐Bauer disc‐diffusion method. All NHC–silver complexes exhibited medium to high antibacterial activity with areas of clearance ranging from 4 to 12 mm at the highest amount used, while the NHC‐precursors showed significantly lower activity. In addition, all NHC–silver complexes underwent preliminary cytotoxicity tests on the human renal‐cancer cell line Caki‐1 and showed medium to high cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 53 ( ± 8) to 3.2 ( ± 0.6) µM. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reaction of the N‐heterocyclic carbene, 1,3‐dimesityl‐ imidazol‐2‐ylidene,with a uranyl triflate complex,UO2(OTf)2(thf)3

The N‐heterocyclic carbene, 1,3‐dimesityl‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene (IMes) reacts with tetrahydrofuran (THF) in the presence of an oxidizing uranyl triflate complex, UO₂(OTf)₂(thf)₃ (^?OTf = ^?OSO₂CF₃), to give 1,4‐bis(1,3‐dimesityl‐2‐imidazolium)‐1,3‐butadiene bis(trifluoromethanesulfonate), formally understood as the coupling product of two equivalents of IMes with [CH?CH? CH?CH](OTf)₂. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In Silico Olefin Metathesis with Ru‐Based Catalysts Containing N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes Bearing C60 Fullerenes

Density functional theory calculations have been used to explore the potential of Ru‐based complexes with 1,3‐bis(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene (SIMes) ligand backbone ( A ) being modified in silico by the insertion of a C₆₀ molecule ( B and C ), as olefin metathesis catalysts. To this end, we investigated the olefin metathesis reaction catalyzed by complexes A , B , and C using ethylene as the substrate, focusing mainly on the thermodynamic stability of all possible reaction intermediates. Our results suggest that complex B bearing an electron‐withdrawing N‐heterocyclic carbene improves the performance of unannulated complex A . The efficiency of complex B is only surpassed by complex A when the backbone of the N‐heterocyclic carbene of complex A is substituted by two amino groups. The particular performance of complexes B and C has to be attributed to electronic factors, that is, the electronic‐donating capacity of modified SIMes ligand rather than steric effects, because the latter are predicted to be almost identical for complexes B and C when compared to those of A . Overall, this study indicates that such Ru‐based complexes B and C might have the potential to be effective olefin metathesis catalysts.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Borylative Allyl–Allyl Coupling Reaction

Borylative allyl–allyl coupling using allenes, bis(pinacolato)diboron, and allyl phosphates has been developed in the presence of a copper catalyst bearing an N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand. The reaction affords boryl‐substituted 1,5‐diene derivatives in good to high yields with high regioselectivity and Z selectivity.     

Cationic nitrile‐functionalized Ag(I)‐ and Hg(II)‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes of CCC,CNC, and NCN pincer‐type carbene ligands: Synthesis,crystal structures,and characterization

Three nitrile‐functionalized (benz)imid‐ zaolium derivatives with CCC, CNC, and NCN coordination pockets have been synthesized and isolated as the bromide salts and are converted into their hexafluorophosphate counterparts ( 5–7 ) by ligand metathesis. N‐heterocyclic carbene Ag(I)‐ and Hg(II)‐complexes ( 8–10 and 11–13 ) are readily formed in good to excellent yields from ligand precursors 5–7 and Ag₂O and Hg(OAc)₂, respectively. All reported compounds have been characterized by various spectral and analytical techniques, such as FTIR, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction studies. Solid‐state structures of carbene precursors 5 , 7 , and an Ag(I)–carbene complex 10 have been determined crystallographically. Single crystal X‐ray crystallography of complex 10 reveals the chelation of carbene carbons to metal center in almost a linear manner. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 23:486–497, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.21041     

Well‐Defined N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Palladium Complexes as Efficient Catalysts for Domino Sonogashira Coupling/Cyclization Reaction and C‐H bond Arylation of Benzothiazole

Well‐defined and air‐stable PEPPSI (Pyridine Enhanced Precatalyst Preparation Stabilization and Initiation) themed palladium bis‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes have been developed for the domino Sonogashira coupling/cyclization reaction of 2‐iodophenol with a variety of terminal alkynes and C‐H bond arylation of benzothiazole with aryl iodides. The PEPPSI themed palladium complexes, 2a and 2b were synthesized in good yields from the reaction of corresponding imidazolium salts with PdCl₂ and K₂CO₃ in pyridine. The new air‐stable palladium‐NHC complexes were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, X‐ray crystallography, elemental analysis, and mass spectroscopy studies. The PEPPSI themed palladium(II) bis‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes 2a and 2b exhibited excellent catalytic activities for domino Sonogashira coupling/cyclization reaction of 2‐iodophenol with terminal alkynes yielding benzofuran derivatives. In addition, the palladium complexes, 2a and 2b successfully catalyzed the direct C‐H bond arylation of benzothiazole with aryl iodides as coupling partners in presence of CuI as co‐catalyst.     

Alcohol‐Induced C−N Bond Cleavage of Cyclometalated N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands with a Methylene‐Linked Pendant Imidazolium Ring

Reaction of the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl rhodium iodide dimer [Cp*RhI₂]₂ with 1,1′‐diphenyl‐3,3′‐methylenediimidazolium diiodide in non‐alcohol solvents, in the presence of base, led to the formation of bis‐carbene complex [Cp*Rh(bis‐NHC)I]I (bis‐NHC=1,1′‐diphenyl‐4,4′‐methylenediimidazoline‐5,5′‐diylidene). In contrast, when employing alcohols as the solvent in the same reaction, cleavage of a methylene C?N bond is observed, affording ether‐functionalized (cyclometalated) carbene ligands coordinated to the metal center and the concomitant formation of complexes with a coordinated imidazole ligand. Studies employing other 1,1′‐diimidazolium salts indicate that the cyclometalation step is a prerequisite for the activation/scission of the C?N bond and, based on additional experimental data, a S_N2 mechanism for the reaction is tentatively proposed.     

Synthesis of a Metallo‐Iminosilane via a Silanone–Metal π‐Complex

Facile oxygenation of the acyclic amido‐chlorosilylene bis(N‐heterocyclic carbene) Ni⁰ complex [{N(Dipp)(SiMe₃)ClSi:→Ni(NHC)₂] ( 1 ; Dipp=2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₄; N‐heterocyclic carbene=C[(ⁱPr)NC(Me)]₂) with N₂O furnishes the first Si‐metalated iminosilane, [DippN=Si(OSiMe₃)Ni(Cl)(NHC)₂] ( 3 ), in a rearrangement cascade. Markedly, the formation of 3 proceeds via the silanone (Si=O)–Ni π‐complex 2 as the initial product, which was predicted by DFT calculations and observed spectroscopically. The Si=O and Si=N moieties in 2 and 3 , respectively, show remarkable hydroboration reactivity towards H−B bonds of boranes, in the former case corroborating the proposed formation of a (Si=O)–Ni π‐complex at low temperature.     

Silver‐Catalyzed Amidiniumation of Alkynes: Isolation of a Silver Intermediate,Synthesis of Enamine Amido Carbene Precursors,and an Unprecedented Umpolung of Propiolamide

A silver‐catalyzed amidiniumation of N‐propiolic formamidines for the synthesis of novel enamine amido carbene precursors is reported. Isolation of a first silver intermediate in silver‐catalyzed amidiniumation of alkynes and other organogold intermediates supports our proposed mechanisms. Several control experiments reveal the unexpected effects of both HOTf and substrate substituents on the choice of either a π or σ,π silver activation mode and the cyclization fashion. Bis(hydroxyimidazol)ium salts were obtained through an unprecedented umpolung of propiolamides. The byproduct Ag₂O as either an oxidant or silver source promotes the syntheses of N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors or Ag/NHC complexes.     

Silver‐Catalyzed Amidiniumation of Alkynes: Isolation of a Silver Intermediate,Synthesis of Enamine Amido Carbene Precursors,and an Unprecedented Umpolung of Propiolamide

A silver‐catalyzed amidiniumation of N‐propiolic formamidines for the synthesis of novel enamine amido carbene precursors is reported. Isolation of a first silver intermediate in silver‐catalyzed amidiniumation of alkynes and other organogold intermediates supports our proposed mechanisms. Several control experiments reveal the unexpected effects of both HOTf and substrate substituents on the choice of either a π or σ,π silver activation mode and the cyclization fashion. Bis(hydroxyimidazol)ium salts were obtained through an unprecedented umpolung of propiolamides. The byproduct Ag₂O as either an oxidant or silver source promotes the syntheses of N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors or Ag/NHC complexes.     

1‐Ferrocenylmethyl‐3‐(2,4,6‐trimethylbenzyl)‐1H‐imidazolidin‐3‐ium iodide and trans‐bis(3‐benzyl‐1‐ferrocenylmethyl‐1H‐imidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)diiodidopalladium(II)

Owing to increasing interest in the use of N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) based on imidazolidinium ions as ligands in the design of highly efficient transition‐metal‐based homogeneous catalysts, the characterizations of the 1‐ferrocenylmethyl‐3‐(2,4,6‐trimethylbenzyl)imidazolidin‐3‐ium iodide salt, [Fe(C₅H₅)(C₁₉H₂₄N₂)]I, (I), and the palladium complex trans‐bis(3‐benzyl‐1‐ferrocenylmethyl‐1H‐imidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)diiodidopalladium(II), [Fe₂Pd(C₅H₅)₂(C₁₆H₁₇N₂)₂I₂], (II), are reported. Compound (I) has two iodide anions and two imidazolidinium cations within the asymmetric unit (Z′ = 2). The two cations have distinctly different conformations, with the ferrocene groups orientated exo and endo with respect to the N‐heterocyclic carbene. Weak C—H donor hydrogen bonds to both the iodide anions and the π system of the mesitylene group combine to form two‐dimensional layers perpendicular to the crystallographic c direction. Only one of the formally charged imidazolidinium rings forms a near‐linear hydrogen bond with an iodide anion. Complex (II) shows square‐planar coordination around the Pd^II metal, which is located on an inversion centre (Z′ = 0.5). The ferrocene and benzyl substituents are in a trans–anti arrangement. The Pd—C bond distance between the N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands and the metal atom is 2.036 (7) Å. A survey of related structures shows that the lengthening of the N—C bonds and the closure of the N—C—N angle seen here on metal complexation is typical of similar NHCs and their complexes.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Vicinal Diphosphination of Styrenes: Access to 1,2‐Bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane‐Type Bidentate Ligands from Olefins

A copper/N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed oxidative vicinal diphosphination of styrenes with diphenyl(trimethylsilyl)phosphine proceeds in the presence of LiOtBu and a pyridine N‐oxide/MnO₂ combined oxidant to deliver the corresponding 1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethanes (DPPEs) in good yields. The present copper catalysis can provide access to the DPPE‐type ligands directly from the relatively simple alkenes.