Homoleptic Phosphaalkyne Complexes of Silver(I)

By employing silver salts with a weakly coordinating anion Ag[A] ([A]=[FAl{OC₁₂F₁₅}₃], [Al{OC(CF₃)₃}₄]), two phosphaalkynes could be coordinated side‐on to a bare silver(I) center to form the unprecedented homoleptic complexes [Ag(η²‐P≡CtBu)₂][FAl{OC₁₂F₁₅}₃] ( 1 ) and [Ag(η²‐P≡CtBu)₂][Al{OC(CF₃)₃}₄] ( 2 ). DFT calculations show that the perpendicular arrangement in 1 is the minimum energy structure of the coordination of the two phosphaalkynes to a silver atom, whereas for 2 a unique square‐planar coordination mode of the phosphaalkynes at Ag⁺ was found. Reactions with donor molecules yield the trigonally planar coordinated silver salts [((CH₃)₂CO)Ag(η²‐P≡CtBu)₂][FAl{OC₁₂F₁₅}₃] ( 3 ) and [(C₇H₈)₂Ag(η²‐P≡CtBu)][FAl{OC₁₂F₁₅}₃] ( 4 ). All of the compounds were comprehensively characterized in solution and in the solid state.     

Di‐tert‐butyldiphosphatetrahedrane: Catalytic Synthesis of the Elusive Phosphaalkyne Dimer

While tetrahedranes as a family are scarce, neutral heteroatomic species are all but unknown, with the only reported example being AsP₃. Herein, we describe the isolation of a neutral heteroatomic X₂Y₂ molecular tetrahedron (X, Y=p‐block elements), which also is the long‐sought‐after free phosphaalkyne dimer. Di‐tert‐butyldiphosphatetrahedrane, (tBuCP)₂, is formed from the monomer tBuCP in a nickel‐catalyzed dimerization reaction using [(NHC)Ni(CO)₃] (NHC=1,3‐bis(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene (IMes) and 1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene (IPr)). Single‐crystal X‐ray structure determination of a silver(I) complex confirms the structure of (tBuCP)₂. The influence of the N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand on the catalytic reaction was investigated, and a mechanism was elucidated using a combination of synthetic and kinetic studies and quantum chemical calculations.     

Beyond the Dimer and Trimer: Tetraspiro[2.1.25.1.29.1.213.13] hexadecane‐1,3,5,7‐tetraone—the Cyclic Tetramer of Carbonylcyclopropane

Tetraspiro[2.1.2⁵.1.2⁹.1.2¹³.1³]hexadecane‐1,3,5,7‐tetraone 4 , a unique tetraketone containing a cyclooctane core and four spiroannelated cyclopropane moieties, represents the previously unknown cyclotetramer of carbonylcyclopropane. For this purpose oxidation of the parent polyspirocyclic hydrocarbon was examined under various oxidative conditions, and the reactivity of oxidants towards methylene groups of the eight‐membered cycle, activated by adjacent spirocyclopropane rings, was evaluated and contrasted. Whereas the treatment of tetraspirohexadecane with ozone resulted in monooxidation, its reaction with methyl(trifluoromethyl)dioxirane afforded the product of four‐fold oxidation, triketoalcohol 10 . Subsequent oxidation of the latter with Dess–Martin periodinane gave the target tetraketone 4 .     

A New Stilbene Tetramer from Caragana rosea

Cararosinol A, a new stilbene tetramer, was isolated from Caragana rosea. Its strucatre has been established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.     

A New Isopropenyl Benzofuran-type Tetramer from Ligularia stenocephala

A new isopropenyl benzofuran-type tetramer was isolated from the roots of ligularia stenocephala and its structure was established by spectroscopic methods.     

Trinuclear Phosphaferroles from Alkylidyne‐Phosphaalkyne Coupling Reactions

Reaction of bisalkylidyne cluster compounds [Fe₃(CO)₉(μ₃‐CR)₂] ( 1a—d ) ( a , R = H; b , R = F; c , R = Cl; d , R = Br) with the phosphaalkyne t‐C₄H₉‐C≡P ( 2 ) yield a single isomer of the phosphaferrole cluster [Fe₃(CO)₈][CR‐C(t‐Bu)‐P‐CR] ( 3a—d ). However, the three isomeric compounds [Fe₃(CO)₈][C(OEt)‐C(t‐Bu)‐P‐C(Me)] ( 5a ), [Fe₃(CO)₈][C(Me)‐C(t‐Bu)‐P‐C(OEt)] ( 5b ), and [Fe₃(CO)₈][C(OEt)‐C(Me)‐C(t‐Bu)‐P] ( 5c ) are obtained in the reaction of [Fe₃(CO)₉(μ₃‐CMe)(μ₃‐C‐OEt)] ( 4 ) with 2 . As the phosphaferroles 3 possess a lone pair of electrons at the phosphorus atom they can act as ligands. [Fe₃(CO)₈][CF‐C(t‐Bu)‐P‐CF]ML_n ( 7a—c ) ( a , ML_n = Cr(CO)₅; b , ML_n = CpMn(CO)₂; c , ML_n = Cp^*Mn(CO)₂) were formed from 3b and L_nM(η²‐C₈H₁₄) ( 6a—c ). The dinuclear cluster [Fe₂(CO)₆][CF‐CF‐C(t‐Bu)‐PH(OMe)] ( 8 ) was obtained from 3b and NiCl₂·6H₂O in methanol. The structures of 3a—d , 5a—c , 7b , and 8 have been elucidated by X‐ray crystal structure determinations.     

Intramolecular addition of carbon radicals to aldehydes: synthesis of enantiopure tetrahydrofuran-3-ols

A simple and efficient substrate-controlled asymmetric synthesis of enantiopure tetrahydrofuran-3-ols by a 5-exo-trig radical cyclization is described. This cyclization occurs when a δ-carbon radical adds intramolecularly to the carbonyl group of an aldehyde. The δ-carbon radicals can be efficiently produced from the tin hydride mediated deselenenylation of 5-phenylseleno-3-oxapentanals, which were easily prepared starting from commercially available enantiopure epoxides or chlorohydrins.