N-Heterocyclic carbene complexes of rhodium: structure, stability and reactivity

The organometallic chemistry of N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of the transition metals has received significant attention over the past ten years, especially with respect to complexes of Pd and Ru. The present Perspective highlights the chemistry of NHC complexes of another important transition metal, Rh. The application of Rh-NHC complexes in the industrially significant reactions of hydrogenation and hydroformylation is described. In order to accurately assess the activity of these complexes, their stability must be carefully determined. Various synthetic routes to Rh-NHC complexes are also described.     

Hydrogen bonded complexes of oxazole family: electronic structure,stability, and reactivity aspects

Structural Chemistry - In the present study, five-membered heterocyclic ring systems containing oxygen with one, two, three, and four nitrogen atoms in the ring along with their isomeric forms and...     

The structure,stability, and reactivity of oxalato-monoperoxovanadium(V) in solution

In order to understand the solution chemistry of an oxalato-monoperoxovanadium(V) complex (K₃[VO(O₂)(C₂O₄)₂] · ½H₂O, mpVox), the solid and solution-state NMR characteristics, transformation behavior, and exchange phenomena in the solution are described in this article. NMR experimental and theoretical results indicated that the vanadium of mpVox in solid and solution state are seven coordinate. However, some geometric parameters tend to change upon dissolution. The dynamic transformation of mpVox in solution was investigated using NMR, IR, and UV-Vis. The reduction product is oxalato-bisoxovanadate. Concentration, pH, and temperature affect this transformation. ⁵¹V NMR investigation on the system of mpVox with picolinc acid showed that two oxalates are substituted to produce [VO(O₂)(ox)(pic)]^2? and [VO(O₂)(pic)₂]^?.     

Hydroxy-1-aminoindans and derivatives: preparation, stability, and reactivity

The chemical stability and reactivity of hydroxy-1-aminoindans and their N-propargyl derivatives are strongly affected by the position of the OH group and its orientation relative to that of the amino moiety. Thus, the 4- and 6-OH regioisomers were found to be stable, while the 5-OH analogues were found to be inherently unstable as the free bases. The latter, having a para orientation between the OH and the amino moieties, could be isolated only as their hydrochloride salts. 7-Hydroxy-1-aminoindans and 7-hydroxy-1-propargylaminoindans represent an intermediate case; while sufficiently stable even as free bases, they exhibit, under certain experimental conditions, unexpected reactivity. The instability of the 5- and 7-hydroxy-aminoindans is attributed to their facile conversion to the corresponding, reactive quinone methide (QM) intermediates. The o-QM obtained from 7-hydroxy-aminoindans was successfully trapped with ethyl vinyl ether via a Diels-Alder reaction to give tricyclic acetals 32a,b.     

Substituted lithiumtrimethylsiloxysilanides LiSiRR′(OSiMe3) - Investigations of their synthesis, stability and reactivity

The reactions of the trimethylsiloxychlorosilanes (Me₃SiO)RR′SiCl (1a-h: R′ = Ph, 1a: R = H, 1b: R = Me, 1c: R = Et, 1d: R = ⁱPr, 1e: R = ^tBu, 1f: R = Ph, 1g: R = 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂ (Mes), 1h: R = 2,4,6-(Me₂CH)₃C₆H₂ (Tip); 1i: R = R′ = Mes) with lithium metal in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at −78 °C and in a mixture of THF/diethyl ether/n-pentane in a volume ratio 4:1:1 at −110 °C lead to mixtures of numerous compounds. Dependent on the substituents silyllithium derivatives (Me₃SiO)RR′SiLi (2b-i), Me₃SiO(RR′Si)₂Li (3a-g), Me₃SiRR′SiLi (4a-h), (LiO)RR′SiLi (12e, 12g-i), trisiloxanes (Me₃SiO)₂SiRR′ (5a-i) and trimethylsiloxydisilanes (6f^∗, 6h^∗, 6i^∗) are formed. All silyllithium compounds were trapped with Me₃SiCl or HMe₂SiCl resulting in the following products: (Me₃SiO)RR′SiSiMe₂R″ (6b-i: R″ = Me, 7c-i: R″ = H), Me₃SiO(RR′Si)₂SiMe₂R″ (8a-g: R″ = Me, 9a-g: R″ = H), Me₃SiRR′SiSiMe₂R″ (10a-h: R″ = Me, 11a-h: R″ = H) and (HMe₂SiO)RR′SiSiMe₂H (13e, 13g-i). The stability of trimethylsiloxysilyllithiums 2 depends on the substituents and on the temperature. (Me₃SiO)Mes₂SiLi (2i) is the most stable compound due to the high steric shielding of the silicon centre. The trimethylsiloxysilyllithiums 2a-g undergo partially self-condensation to afford the corresponding trimethylsiloxydisilanyllithiums Me₃SiO(RR′Si)₂Li (3a-g). (Me₃)Si-O bond cleavage was observed for 2e and 2g-i. The relatively stable trimethylsiloxysilyllithiums 2f, 2g and 2i react with n-butyllithium under nucleophilic butylation to give the n-butyl-substituted silyllithiums ⁿBuRR′SiLi (15g, 15f, 15i), which were trapped with Me₃SiCl. By reaction of 2g and 2i with 2,3-dimethylbuta-1,3-diene the corresponding 1,1-diarylsilacyclopentenes 17g and 17i are obtained.X-ray studies of 17g revealed a folded silacyclopentene ring with the silicon atom located 0.5 Å above the mean plane formed by the four carbon ring atoms.     

Amino substituted bisketenes: generation, structure, and reactivity

Hitherto unknown diamino-substituted bisketenes with both free (14) and tethered (16) amino substituents have been generated by using laser flash photolysis for ring opening of the corresponding cyclobutenediones. The time-resolved kinetics of ring closure of the amino bisketenes back to the cyclobutenediones were measured by IR or UV spectroscopy, and give first-order rate constants which vary by a factor of 7.5x10(4), and the bis(Me2N) bisketene 14 is the most reactive in ring closure that has been reported. Rate constants for ring closure of these and previously observed bisketenes vary by a factor of 10(13). The dialkylamino bisketenes 16 (R=Me, n-Bu) with tethered substituents and restricted geometries are less reactive than the bis(Me2N) bisketene 14 by factors of 1700 and 540, respectively. Computational results obtained with DFT methods suggest angle strain in the tethered cyclobutenediones 15 inhibits facile cyclization of bisketenes 16.     

Chemistry of boryllithium: synthesis, structure, and reactivity

A series of lithium salts of boryl anion, boryllithiums, were synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and crystallographic analysis. In addition to the parent boryllithium compound 35a, structural modification of boryllithium, using saturated C-C and benzannulated C=C backbones in the five-membered ring and mesityl groups on the nitrogen atoms, also allowed generation of the corresponding boryllithium. The solid state structures of boryllithium showed that the boron-lithium bond is polarized where the boron atom is anionic in all (35a x DME)(2), 35a x (THF)(2), 35b x (THF)(2), and 35c x (THF)(2) when compared to the structures of hydroborane 38a-c and optimized free boryl anion opt-46a-c. Dissolution of the isolated single crystals of (35a x DME)(2) and 35a x (THF)(2) in THF-d(8) showed that the boron-lithium bond remained in solution and free DME or THF molecules were observed. Temperature-dependent (11)B NMR chemical shift changes of 35a were observed in THF-d(8) or methylcyclohexane-d(14), suggesting a change of chemical shift anisotropy around the boron center. The HOMO of opt-35a x (THF)(2) had a lone pair character on the boron atom, as observed for phenyllithium, whereas the HOMO of hydroborane 38a corresponds to the pi-orbital of the boron-containing five-membered heterocycle. The polarity of the B-Li bond, estimated by AIM analysis, was similar to that of alkyllithium. Boryllithiums 35a and 35b behave as a base or a boron nucleophile in reaction with organic electrophiles via deprotonation, S(N)2-type substitution, halogen-metal exchange or electron-transfer, 1,2-addition to a carbonyl group, and S(N)Ar reaction. In the case of the reaction with CO(2), intramolecular cyclization followed by CO elimination from borylcarboxylate anion and subsequent protonation gave hydroxyboranes 64a and 64b. The characters of the carbonyl groups in the borylcarbonyl compounds 60a, 60b, 61, 62, and 63a, which were obtained from the reaction of boryllithiums 35a and 35b, were investigated by X-ray crystallography, IR, and (13)C NMR spectroscopy to show that the boryl substituent weakened the C=O bond when compared to carbon substituted analogues.     

A base-free thorium-terminal-imido metallocene: synthesis, structure, and reactivity

The synthesis, structure, and reactivity of a base-free thorium terminal-imido metallocene have been comprehensively studied. Treatment of thorium metallocenes [{η(5)-1,2,4-(Me(3)C)(3)C(5)H(2)}(2)ThMe(2)] and [{η(5)-1,3-(Me(3)C)(2)C(5)H(3)}(2)ThMe(2)] with RNH(2) gives diamides [{η(5)-1,2,4-(Me(3)C)(3)C(5)H(2)}(2)Th(NHR)(2)] (R=Me (7), p-tolyl (8)) and [{η(5)-1,3-(Me(3)C)(2)C(5)H(3)}(2)Th(NH-p-tolyl)(2)] (9), respectively. Diamides 7 and 9 do not eliminate methylamine or p-toluidine, but sublime without decomposition at 150 °C under vacuum (0.01 mmHg), whereas diamide 8 is converted at 140 °C/0.01 mmHg into the primary amine p-tolyl-NH(2) and [{η(5)-1,2,4-(Me(3)C)(3)C(5)H(2)}(2)Th=N(p-tolyl)] (10), which may be isolated in pure form. Imido metallocene 10 does not react with electrophiles such as alkylsilyl halides; however, it reacts with electron-rich or unsaturated reagents. For example, reaction of 10 with sulfur affords the metallacycle [{η(5)-1,2,4-(Me(3)C)(3)C(5)H(2)}(2)Th{N(p-tolyl)S-S}]. Imido 10 is an important intermediate in the catalytic hydroamination of internal alkynes, and an efficient catalyst for the trimerization of PhCN. Density functional theory (DFT) studies provide a detailed understanding of the experimentally observed reactivity patterns.     

Thermal stability and reactivity in oxygen of potassium ferrites with spinel structure

The potassium content really incorporated in the spinel lattice of the magnetite determined by thermogravimetric analysis in vacuum or in oxygen was about 2.45 wt%. In spite of this low content, the potassium strongly stabilises the defect spinel structure resulted by the potassium-substituted magnetite oxidation and increases the transformation temperature of the defect phases into -Fe₂O₃ or KFe₁₁O₁₇.

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Zusammenfassung Der tatsächlich in das Spinellgitter von Magnetit eingebaute Kaliumgehalt beträgt 2.45 Gewichtsprozente. Dies wurde durch TG-Analyse in Vakuum bzw. Sauerstoff ermittelt. Trotz dieses geringen Gehaltes wird das defekte Spinell des durch Oxydation erhaltenen kaliumsubstituierten Magnetits durch Kalium stark stabilisiert, was ein Ansteigen der Temperatur für die Umwandlung der defekten Phase in Fe₂O₃ oder KFe₁₁O₁₇ nach sich zieht.

     

1,2-BN cyclohexane: synthesis, structure, dynamics, and reactivity

BN/CC isosterism has emerged as a viable strategy to increase the structural diversity of carbon-based compounds. We present the first synthesis and characterization of the parent 1,2-BN cyclohexane, the BN-isostere of cyclohexane. 1,2-BN cyclohexane is an air- and water-stable compound that cleanly forms a trimer with release of dihydrogen when thermally activated. We also demonstrate that 1,2-BN cyclohexane has a lower activation barrier for ring inversion than cyclohexane due to BN/CC isosterism.     

Bithienylsilanes: unexpected structure and reactivity

5-(2,2′-Bithienyl)hydrosilanes were prepared by reaction of bithienyl lithium with chlorodimethylsilane, dichloromethylsilane and trichlorosilane. It was shown that 5-(2,2′-bithienyl)dimethylsilane possesses higher reactivity in the hydrosilylation reaction of monosubstituted acetylene derivatives compared with (2-thienyl)dimethylsilane. The elongation of the π-conjugated chain leads to increasing selectivity of the hydrosilylation reaction. An unusual structure for bis[5-(2,2′-bithienyl)]methylsilane has been established by X-ray analysis.     

A bipyridyl thorium metallocene: synthesis, structure and reactivity

The synthesis, structure and reactivity of a new bipy thorium metallocene have been studied. The reduction of the thorium chloride metallocene [η(5)-1,3-(Me(3)C)(2)C(5)H(3)](2)ThCl(2) (1) with potassium graphite in the presence of 2,2'-bipyridine gives the purple bipy metallocene [η(5)-1,3-(Me(3)C)(2)C(5)H(3)](2)Th(bipy) (2) in good yield. Complex 2 has been fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis. Complex 2 reacts cleanly with trityl chloride, silver halides and diphenyl diselenide, leading to the halide metallocenes [η(5)-1,3-(Me(3)C)(2)C(5)H(3)](2)ThX(2) (X = Cl (1), Br (3), I (4)) and [η(5)-1,3-(Me(3)C)(2)C(5)H(3)](2)Th(F)(μ-F)(3)Th[η(5)-1,3-(Me(3)C)(2)C(5)H(3)](F)(bipy) (5), and selenido metallocene [η(5)-1,3-(Me(3)C)(2)C(5)H(3)](2)Th(SePh)(2) (6), in good conversions. In addition, 2 cleaves the C[double bond, length as m-dash]S bond of CS(2) to give the sulfido complex, [η(5)-1,3-(Me(3)C)(2)C(5)H(3)](2)ThS (7), which further undergoes an irreversible dimerization or nucleophilic addition with CS(2), leading to the dimeric sulfido complex {[η(5)-1,3-(Me(3)C)(2)C(5)H(3)](2)Th}(μ-S)(2) (8) and dimeric trithiocarbonate complex {[η(5)-1,3-(Me(3)C)(2)C(5)H(3)](2)Th}(μ-CS(3))(2) (10) in good yields, respectively.     

Benzyl cobaloximes with thiodioximes: Synthesis, structure and reactivity

Five benzyl cobaloximes with different thiodioximes, BnCo[d(SR)gH]₂Py, have been synthesized and four of these complexes have been characterized by X-ray. The reactivity of these complexes towards molecular oxygen has been studied. The puckering of the Co(dioxime)₂ unit, caused by dioxime side chain, the SR group, significantly influences the Co-C bond reactivity. Structural features in one of the oxygen inserted cobaloximes have been studied to confirm if puckering of dioxime is the guiding factor. The reactivity is also affected, to some extent, by the C-H…π interaction between the benzyl and the dioxime moiety.     

A well-defined hydrocarbon-soluble calcium hydroxide: synthesis, structure, and reactivity

Controlled hydrolysis of a (beta-diketiminate)calcium-amide gave a heteroleptic (beta-diketiminate)calcium-hydroxide complex that is remarkably stable against ligand exchange and formation of Ca(OH)2. The structure of this dimeric complex shows OH- units that symmetrically bridge the Ca2+ ions. This hydrocarbon-soluble calcium hydroxide reacted rapidly with CO2 to produce a gel from which amorphous CaCO3 slowly separated. This reaction behavior allows for sol-gel coating with CaCO3 from an organic solvent. Reaction with benzophenone did not lead to nucleophilic attack of OH- to the carbonyl but gave a red benzophenone adduct instead.     

Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of borole-functionalized ferrocenes

Herein, we report on the synthesis of ferrocenylborole [Fc(BC(4) Ph(4) )(2) ] featuring two borole moieties in the 1,1'-positions. The results of NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies provided conclusive evidence for the enhanced Lewis acidity of the boron centers resulting from the conjugation of two borole fragments. This finding was further validated by the reaction of [Fc(BC(4) Ph(4) )(2) ] and the 4-Me-NC(5) H(4) adduct of monoborole [Fc(BC(4) Ph(4) )], which led to quantitative transfer of the Lewis base. The coordination chemistry of ferrocenylboroles was further studied by examining their reactivity towards several pyridine bases. Accordingly, the strong Lewis acidity of boroles in general was nicely demonstrated by the reaction of [Fc(BC(4) Ph(4) )] with 4,4'-bipyridine. Unlike common borane derivatives such as [FcBMe(2) ], which only forms a 2:1 adduct, we also succeeded in the isolation of a 1:1 Lewis acid/base adduct, with one nitrogen donor of 4,4'-bipyridine remaining uncoordinated. In addition, the reduction chemistry of ferrocenylboroles [Fc(BC(4) Ph(4) )] and [Fc(BC(4) Ph(4) )(2) ] has been studied in more detail. Thus, depending on the reducing agent and the reaction stoichiometry, chemical reduction of [Fc(BC(4) Ph(4) )] might lead to the migration of the borolediide fragment towards the iron center, affording dianions with either η(5) -coordinated C(5) H(4) or η(5) -coordinated BC(4) Ph(4) moieties. In contrast, no evidence for borole migration was observed during reduction of bisborole [Fc(BC(4) Ph(4) )(2) ], which readily resulted in the formation of the corresponding tetraanion. Finally, our efforts to further enhance the borole ratio in ferrocenylboroles aiming at the synthesis of [Fc(BC(4) Ph(4) )(4) ] failed and, instead, generated an uncommon ansa-ferrocene containing two borole fragments in the 1,1'-positions and a B(2) C(4) ansa-bridge.