Kinetics and mechanism of hydrogen-atom abstraction from rhodium hydrides by alkyl radicals in aqueous solutions

The kinetics of the reaction of benzyl radicals with [L(1)(H(2)O)RhH{D}](2+) (L(1)=1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) were studied directly by laser-flash photolysis. The rate constants for the two isotopologues, k=(9.3±0.6) × 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) (H) and (6.2±0.3) × 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) (D), lead to a kinetic isotope effect k(H)/k(D)=1.5±0.1. The same value was obtained from the relative yields of PhCH(3) and PhCH(2)D in a reaction of benzyl radicals with a mixture of rhodium hydride and deuteride. Similarly, the reaction of methyl radicals with {[L(1)(H(2)O)RhH](2+) + [L(1)(H(2)O)RhD](2+)} produced a mixture of CH(4) and CH(3)D that yielded k(H)/k(D)=1.42±0.07. The observed small normal isotope effects in both reactions are consistent with reduced sensitivity to isotopic substitution in very fast hydrogen-atom abstraction reactions. These data disprove a literature report claiming much slower kinetics and an inverse kinetic isotope effect for the reaction of methyl radicals with hydrides of L(1)Rh.     

A combined experimental and theoretical study of the reaction between methylglyoxal and OH/OD radical: OH regeneration

Experimental studies have been conducted to determine the rate coefficient and mechanism of the reaction between methylglyoxal (CH(3)COCHO, MGLY) and the OH radical over a wide range of temperatures (233-500 K) and pressures (5-300 Torr). The rate coefficient is pressure independent with the following temperature dependence: k(3)(T) = (1.83 +/- 0.48) x 10(-12) exp((560 +/- 70)/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) (95% uncertainties). Addition of O(2) to the system leads to recycling of OH. The mechanism was investigated by varying the experimental conditions ([O(2)], [MGLY], temperature and pressure), and by modelling based on a G3X potential energy surface, rovibrational prior distribution calculations and master equation RRKM calculations. The mechanism can be described as follows: Addition of oxygen to the system shows that process (4) is fast and that CH(3)COCO completely dissociates. The acetyl radical formed from reaction (4) reacts with oxygen to regenerate OH radicals (5a). However, a significant fraction of acetyl radical formed by reaction (R4) is sufficiently energised to dissociate further to CH(3) + CO (R4b). Little or no pressure quenching of reaction (R4b) was observed. The rate coefficient for OD + MGLY was measured as k(9)(T) = (9.4 +/- 2.4) x 10(-13) exp((780 +/- 70)/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) over the temperature range 233-500 K. The reaction shows a noticeable inverse (k(H)/k(D) < 1) kinetic isotope effect below room temperature and a slight normal kinetic isotope effect (k(H)/k(D) > 1) at high temperature. The potential atmospheric implications of this work are discussed.     

A unique mechanism for base catalyzed hydrolysis of pentaaminecobalt(III) complexes containing picolyl residues

A novel [Co(pentaamine)Cl](2+) complex having all tertiary amine or pyridine donors has been synthesized (pentaamine = 1,4-bis(2'-pyridyl)-7-methyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane). This asym-[Co(dmpmetacn)Cl](2+) species has been completely characterized through 1D and 2D NMR studies, and through the X-ray structure for the ZnCl(4)(2)(-) salt. Despite the lack of an activating NH center, remarkably its hydrolysis to [Co(pentaamine)OH](2+) is base catalyzed (k(OH) 0.70 M(-)(1) s(-)(1), 25 degrees C, I = 1.0 M, NaCl). Detailed NMR studies reveal that the base catalyzed substitution leads to the exchange of just one deuterium in one of the two -CH(2)- pyridyl arms, that is approximately trans to the leaving group, and this occurs during and not after base hydrolysis. Quenching experiments for the reaction of asym-[Co(dmpmetacn)Cl](2+) and control experiments on H/D exchange for the product asym-[Co(dmpmetacn)OD](2+) in OD(-) show that each act of deprotonation at the acidic methylene leads to loss of Cl(-). This is the first established case of base catalyzed substitution for a complex where the effective site of deprotonation is at a pyridyl group. A pronounced kinetic isotope effect is observed for the species perdeuterated at the pyridyl methylenes (k(H)/k(D) = 5.0), consistent with rate limiting deprotonation which is a rare event in Co(III) substitution chemistry. The activation afforded by the carbanion is discussed in terms of a new process coined the pseudo-aminate mechanism.     

Billion-fold acceleration of the methanolysis of paraoxon promoted by La(OTf)3 in methanol

The methanolysis of the insecticide paraoxon (2) was investigated in methanol solution containing varying [La(OTf)(3)] (OTf = (-)OS(O)(2)CF(3)) as a function of at 25 degrees C. Plots of the pseudo-first-order rate constants (k(obs)) for methanolysis as a function of [La(OTf)(3)](total) were obtained under buffered conditions from 5.15 to 10.97, and the slopes of the linear parts of these were used to determine the second-order rate constants (k(2)(obs)) for the La(3+)-catalyzed methanolysis of 2. Detailed analysis of the potentiometric titration data of La(OTf)(3) in methanol through fits to a multicomponent equilibrium mixture of dimers of general stoichiometry La(3+)(2)((-)OCH3)n, where n assumes values of 1-5, gives the equilibrium distribution of each as a function of. These data, when fit to a second expression describing k(2)(obs) in terms of a linear combination of individual rate constants k(2)(2:1), k(2)(2:2).k(2)(2:)n for the dimers, allow one to describe the overall catalytic profile in terms of the individual contributions. The most catalytically important species are the three dimers La(3+)(2)((-)OCH3)1, La(3+)(2)((-)OCH3)2, and La(3+)(2)((-)OCH3)3. The catalysis of the methanolysis of 2 is spectacular: a 2 x 10(-3) M solution of [La(3+)](total), at neutral, affords a 10(9)-fold acceleration relative to the base reaction (t(1/2) approximately 20 s at 8.2) with excellent turnover. A mechanism of the catalyzed reaction involving the La(3+)(2)((-)OCH3)2 species is proposed.     

La3+-catalyzed methanolysis of N-aryl-beta-lactams and nitrocefin

The kinetics of the La(3+)-catalyzed methanolysis of N-phenyl-beta-lactam (2) and N-p-nitrophenyl-beta-lactam (3) as well as that of nitrocefin (1) were studied at 25 degrees C under buffered conditions. In the case of 2 and 3, the observed second-order rate constants (k(2)(obs)) for catalysis plateau at pH 7.5-7.8, reaching values of 1 x 10(-)(2) and 35 x 10(-)(2) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) respectively. Potentiometric titrations of solutions of 2 x 10(-)(3) M La(OTf)(3) were analyzed in terms of a dimer model (La(3+)(2)((-)OCH(3))(n)()), where the number of methoxides varies from 1 to 5. The species responsible for catalysis in the pH range investigated contain 1-3 methoxides, the one having the highest catalytic activity being La(3+)(2)((-)OCH(3))(2), which comprises 80% of the total La(3+) forms present at its pH maximum of 8.9. The catalysis afforded by the La(3+) dimers at a neutral pH is impressive relative to the methoxide reactions: at pH 8.4 a 1 mM solution of catalyst (generated from 2 mM La(OTf)(3)) accelerated the methanolysis of 2 by approximately 2 x 10(7)-fold and 3 by approximately 5 x 10(5)-fold. As a function of metal ion concentration, the La(3+)-catalyzed methanolysis of 1 proceeds by pathways involving first one bound metal ion and then a second La(3+) leading to a plateau in the k(obs) vs [La(3+)](total) plots at all pH values. The k(max)(obs) pseudo-first-order rate constants at the plateaus, representing the spontaneous methanolysis of La(3+)(2)(1(-)) forms, has a linear dependence on [(-)OCH(3)] (slope = 0.84 +/- 0.05 if all pH values are used and 1.02 +/- 0.03 if all but the two highest pH values are used). The speciation of bound 1 at a La(3+) concentrations corresponding to that of the onset of the kinetic plateau region was approximated through potentiometric titration of the nonreactive 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid in the presence of 2 equiv of La(OTf)(3). A total speciation diagram for all bound forms of La(3+)(2)(1(-))((-)OCH(3))(n)(), where n = 0-5, was constructed and used to determine their kinetic contributions to the overall pH vs k(max)(obs) plot under kinetic conditions. Two kinetically equivalent mechanisms were analyzed: methoxide attack on La(3+)(2)(1(-))((-)OCH(3))(n)(), n = 0-2; unimolecular decomposition of the forms La(3+)(2)(1(-))((-)OCH(3))(n)(), n = 1-3.     

Kinetic isotope effects in cycloreversion of rhenium (V) diolates

Cycloreversion of 4-methoxystyrene from the corresponding Tp'Re(O)(diolato) complex (Tp' = hydrido-tris-(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) was measured competitively for various isotopomers at 103 degrees C. Primary ((12)C/(13)C) and secondary ((1)H/(2)H) kinetic isotope effects were determined. The primary KIEs were k(12C)/k(13C) = 1.041 +/- 0.005 at the alpha position and 1.013 +/- 0.006 at the beta position. Secondary KIEs were k(H)/k(D) = 1.076 +/- 0.005 at the alpha position and 1.017 +/- 0.005 at the beta position. Computational modeling (B3LYP/LACVP+) located a transition state for concerted cycloreversion of styrene from TpRe(O)(OCH(2)CHPh) exhibiting dramatically different C-O bond lengths. A Hammett study on cycloreversions of substituted styrenes from a series of Tp'Re(O)(diolato) showed dichotomous behavior for electron donors and electron-withdrawing groups as substituents: rho = -0.65 for electron donors, but rho = +1.13 for electron-withdrawing groups. The data are considered in light of various mechanistic proposals. While the extrusion of 4-methoxystyrene is concluded to be a highly asynchronous concerted reaction, the Hammett study reflects a likelihood that multiple reaction mechanisms are involved.     

Kinetics and mechanism of methane, methanol, and dimethyl ether C-H activation with electrophilic platinum complexes

The relative rates of C-H activation of methane, methanol, and dimethyl ether by [(N-N)PtMe(TFE-d(3))](+) ((N-N) = ArN=C(Me)-C(Me)=NAr; Ar = 3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl, TFE-d(3) = CF(3)CD(2)OD) (2(TFE)) were determined. Methane activation kinetics were conducted by reacting 2(TFE)-(13)C with 300-1000 psi of methane in single-crystal sapphire NMR tubes; clean second-order behavior was obtained (k = 1.6 +/- 0.4 x 10(-3) M(-1) s(-1) at 330 K; k = 2.7 +/- 0.2 x 10(-4) M(-1) s(-1) at 313 K). Addition of methanol to solutions of 2(TFE) rapidly establishes equilibrium between methanol (2(MeOD)) and trifluoroethanol (2(TFE)) adducts, with methanol binding preferentially (K(eq) = 0.0042 +/- 0.0006). C-H activation gives [(N-N)Pt(CH(2)OD)(MeOD)](+) (4), which is unstable and reacts with [(RO)B(C(6)F(5))(3)](-) to generate a pentafluorophenyl platinum complex. Analysis of kinetics data for reaction of 2 with methanol yields k = 2.0 +/- 0.2 x 10(-3) M(-1) s(-1) at 330 K, with a small kinetic isotope effect (k(H)/k(D) = 1.4 +/- 0.1). Reaction of dimethyl ether with 2(TFE) proceeds similarly (K(eq) = 0.023 +/- 0.002, 313 K; k = 5.5 +/- 0.5 x 10(-4) M(-1) s(-1), k(H)/k(D) = 1.5 +/- 0.1); the product obtained is a novel bis(alkylidene)-bridged platinum dimer, [(diimine)Pt(mu-CH(2))(mu-(CH(OCH(3)))Pt(diimine)](2+) (5). Displacement of TFE by a C-H bond appears to be the rate-determining step for all three substrates; comparison of the second-order rate constants (k((methane))/k((methanol)) = 1/1.3, 330 K; k((methane))/k((dimethy)(l e)(ther)) = 1/2.0, 313 K) shows that this step is relatively unselective for the C-H bonds of methane, methanol, or dimethyl ether. This low selectivity agrees with previous estimates for oxidations with aqueous tetrachloroplatinate(II)/hexachloroplatinate(IV), suggesting a similar rate-determining step for those reactions.     

Copper(I)-dioxygen reactivity of [(L)Cu(I)](+) (L = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine): kinetic/thermodynamic and spectroscopic studies concerning the formation of Cu-O2 and Cu2-O2 adducts as a function of solvent medium and 4-pyridyl ligand substituent variations

The kinetic and thermodynamic behavior of O(2)-binding to Cu(I) complexes can provide fundamental understanding of copper(I)/dioxygen chemistry, which is of interest in chemical and biological systems. Here we report stopped-flow kinetic investigations of the oxygenation reactions of a series of tetradentate copper(I) complexes [(L(R))Cu(I)(MeCN)](+) (1(R), R=H, Me, tBu, MeO, Me(2)N) in propionitrile (EtCN), tetrahydrofuran (THF), and acetone. The syntheses of 4-pyridyl substituted tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine ligands (L(R)) and copper(I) complexes are detailed. Variations of ligand electronic properties are manifested in the electrochemistry of 1(R) and nu(CO) of [(L(R))Cu(I)-CO](+) complexes. The kinetic studies in EtCN and THF show that the O(2)-reactions of 1(R) follow the reaction mechanism established for oxygenation of 1(H) in EtCN (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1993, 115, 9506), involving reversible formation (k(1)/k(-1)) of [(L(R))Cu(II)(O(2-))](+) (2(R)), which further reacts (k(2)/k(-2)) with 1(R) to form the 2:1 Cu(2)O(2) complex [[(L(R))Cu(II)](2)(O(2)(2-))](2+) (3(R)). In EtCN, the rate constants for formation of 2(R) (k(1)) are not dramatically affected by the ligand electronic variations. For R = Me and tBu, the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters are very similar to those of the parent complex (1(H)); e.g., k(1) is in the range 1.2 x 10(4) to 3.1 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) at 183 K. With the stronger donors R = MeO and Me(2)N, more significant effects were observed, with the expected increase in thermodynamic stability of resultant 2(R) and 3(R) complexes, and decreased dissociation rates. The modest ligand electronic effects manifested in EtCN are due to the competitive binding of solvent and dioxygen to the copper centers. In THF, a weakly coordinating solvent, the formation rate for 2(H) is much faster (>/=100 times) than that in EtCN, and the thermodynamic stabilities of both the 1:1 (K(1)) and 2:1 (beta = K(1)K(2)) copper-dioxygen species are much higher than those in EtCN (e.g., for 2(H), deltaH(o) (K(1))=-41 kJ mol(-1) in THF versus -29.8 kJ mol(-1) in EtCN; for 3(H), deltaH(o) (beta)=-94 kJ mol(-1) in THF versus -77 kJ mol(-1) in EtCN). In addition, a more significant ligand electronic effect is seen for the oxygenation reactions of 1(MeO) in THF compared to that in EtCN; the thermal stability of superoxo- and peroxocopper complexes are considerably enhanced using L(MeO) compared to L(H). In acetone as solvent, a different reaction mechanism involving dimeric copper(I) species [(L(R))(2)Cu(I)(2)](2+) is proposed for the oxygenation reactions, supported by kinetic analyses, electrical conductivity measurements, and variable-temperature NMR spectroscopic studies. The present study is the first systematic study investigating both solvent medium and ligand electronic effects in reactions forming copper-dioxygen adducts.     

Acid-catalyzed oxidation of iodide ions by superoxo complexes of rhodium and chromium

Superoxometal complexes L(H(2)O)MOO(2+) (L = (H(2)O)(4), (NH(3))(4), or N(4)-macrocycle; M = Cr(III), Rh(III)) react with iodide ions according to the stoichiometry L(H(2)O)MOO(2+) + 3I(-) + 3H(+) --> L(H(2)O)MOH(2+) + 1.5I(2) + H(2)O. The rate law is -d[L(H(2)O)MOO(2+)]/dt = k [L(H(2)O)MOO(2+)][I(-)][H(+)], where k = 93.7 M(-2) s(-1) for Cr(aq)OO(2+), 402 for ([14]aneN(4))(H(2)O)CrOO(2+), and 888 for (NH(3))(4)(H(2)O)RhOO(2+) in acidic aqueous solutions at 25 degrees C and 0.50 M ionic strength. The Cr(aq)OO(2+)/I(-) reaction exhibits an inverse solvent kinetic isotope effect, k(H)()2(O)/k(D)2(O) = 0.5. In the proposed mechanism, the protonation of the superoxo complex precedes the reaction with iodide. The related Cr(aq)OOH(2+)/I(-) reaction has k(H)2(O)/k(D)2(O) = 0.6. The oxidation of (NH(3))(5)Rupy(2+) by Cr(aq)OO(2+) exhibits an [H(+)]-dependent pathway, rate = (7.0 x 10(4) + 1.78 x 10(5)[H(+)])[Ru(NH(3))(5)py(2+)][Cr(aq)OO(2+)]. Diiodine radical anions, I(2)(*)(-), reduce Cr(aq)OO(2+) with a rate constant k = 1.7 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1).     

Study on the transesterification of methyl aryl phosphorothioates in methanol promoted by Cd(II), Mn(II), and a synthetic Pd(II) complex

Methanol solutions containing Cd(II), Mn(II), and a palladacycle, (dimethanol bis(N,N-dimethylbenzylamine-2C,N)palladium(II) (3), are shown to promote the methanolytic transesterification of O-methyl O-4-nitrophenyl phosphorothioate (2b) at 25 °C with impressive rate accelerations of 10(6)-10(11) over the background methoxide promoted reaction. A detailed mechanistic investigation of the methanolytic cleavage of 2a-d having various leaving group aryl substitutions, and particularly the 4-nitrophenyl derivative (2b), catalyzed by Pd-complex 3 is presented. Plots of k(obs) versus palladacycle [3] demonstrate strong saturation binding to form 2b:3. Numerical fits of the kinetic data to a universal binding equation provide binding constants, K(b), and first order catalytic rate constants for the methanolysis reaction of the 2b:3 complex (k(cat)) which, when corrected for buffer effects, give corrected (k(cat)(corr)) rate constants. A sigmoidal shaped plot of log(k(cat)(corr)) versus (s)(s)pH (in methanol) for the cleavage of 2b displays a broad (s)(s)pH independent region from 5.6 ≤ (s)(s)pH ≤ 10 with a k(minimum) = (1.45 ± 0.24) × 10(-2) s(-1) and a [lyoxide] dependent wing plateauing above a kinetically determined (s)(s)pK(a) of 12.71 ± 0.17 to give a k(maximum) = 7.1 ± 1.7 s(-1). Br?nsted plots were constructed for reaction of 2a-d at (s)(s)pH 8.7 and 14.1, corresponding to reaction in the midpoints of the low and high (s)(s)pH plateaus. The Br?nsted coefficients (β(LG)) are computed as -0.01 ± 0.03 and -0.86 ± 0.004 at low and high (s)(s)pH, respectively. In the low (s)(s)pH plateau, and under conditions of saturating 3, a solvent deuterium kinetic isotope effect of k(H)/k(D) = 1.17 ± 0.08 is observed; activation parameters (ΔH(Pd)(++) = 14.0 ± 0.6 kcal/mol and ΔS(Pd)(++)= -20 ± 2 cal/mol·K) were obtained for the 3-catalyzed cleavage reaction of 2b. Possible mechanisms are discussed for the reactions catalyzed by 3 at low and high sspH. This catalytic system is shown to promote the methanolytic cleavage of O,O-dimethyl phosphorothioate in CD3OD, producing (CD3O)2P═O(S(-)) with a half time for reaction of 34 min.     

Mechanistic aspects of hydrosilylation catalyzed by (ArN=)Mo(H)(Cl)(PMe3)3

The reaction of (ArN=)MoCl(2)(PMe(3))(3) (Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) with L-Selectride gives the hydrido-chloride complex (ArN=)Mo(H)(Cl)(PMe(3))(3) (2). Complex 2 was found to catalyze the hydrosilylation of carbonyls and nitriles as well as the dehydrogenative silylation of alcohols and water. Compound 2 does not show any productive reaction with PhSiH(3); however, a slow H/D exchange and formation of (ArN=)Mo(D)(Cl)(PMe(3))(3) (2(D)) was observed upon addition of PhSiD(3). Reactivity of 2 toward organic substrates was studied. Stoichiometric reactions of 2 with benzaldehyde and cyclohexanone start with dissociation of the trans-to-hydride PMe(3) ligand followed by coordination and insertion of carbonyls into the Mo-H bond to form alkoxy derivatives (ArN=)Mo(Cl)(OR)(PMe(2))L(2) (3: R = OCH(2)Ph, L(2) = 2 PMe(3); 5: R = OCH(2)Ph, L(2) = η(2)-PhC(O)H; 6: R = OCy, L(2) = 2 PMe(3)). The latter species reacts with PhSiH(3) to furnish the corresponding silyl ethers and to recover the hydride 2. An analogous mechanism was suggested for the dehydrogenative ethanolysis with PhSiH(3), with the key intermediate being the ethoxy complex (ArN=)Mo(Cl)(OEt)(PMe(3))(3) (7). In the case of hydrosilylation of acetophenone, a D-labeling experiment, i.e., a reaction of 2 with acetophenone and PhSiD(3) in the 1:1:1 ratio, suggests an alternative mechanism that does not involve the intermediacy of an alkoxy complex. In this particular case, the reaction presumably proceeds via Lewis acid catalysis. Similar to the case of benzaldehyde, treatment of 2 with styrene gives trans-(ArN=)Mo(H)(η(2)-CH(2)═CHPh)(PMe(3))(2) (8). Complex 8 slowly decomposes via the release of ethylbenzene, indicating only a slow insertion of styrene ligand into the Mo-H bond of 8.     

Biomimetic iron-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of aromatic alkenes by using hydrogen peroxide

A novel and general biomimetic non-heme Fe-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of aromatic alkenes by using hydrogen peroxide is reported herein. The catalyst consists of ferric chloride hexahydrate (FeCl(3)6 H(2)O), pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (H(2)(pydic)), and readily accessible chiral N-arenesulfonyl-N'-benzyl-substituted ethylenediamine ligands. The asymmetric epoxidation of styrenes with this system gave high conversions but poor enantiomeric excesses (ee), whereas larger alkenes gave high conversions and ee values. For the epoxidation of trans-stilbene (1 a), the ligands (S,S)-N-(4-toluenesulfonyl)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine ((S,S)-4 a) and its N'-benzylated derivative ((S,S)-5 a) gave opposite enantiomers of trans-stilbene oxide, that is, (S,S)-2 a and (R,R)-2 a, respectively. The enantioselectivity of alkene epoxidation is controlled by steric and electronic factors, although steric effects are more dominant. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest the in situ formation of several chiral Fe-complexes, such as [FeCl(L*)(2)(pydic)]HCl (L*=(S,S)-4 a or (S,S)-5 a in the catalyst mixture), which were identified by ESIMS. A UV/Vis study of the catalyst mixture, which consisted of FeCl(3)6 H(2)O, H(2)(pydic), and (S,S)-4 a, suggested the formation of a new species with an absorbance peak at lambda=465 nm upon treatment with hydrogen peroxide. With the aid of two independent spin traps, we could confirm by EPR spectroscopy that the reaction proceeds via radical intermediates. Kinetic studies with deuterated styrenes showed inverse secondary kinetic isotope effects, with values of k(H)/k(D)=0.93 for the beta carbon and k(H)/k(D)=0.97 for the alpha carbon, which suggested an unsymmetrical transition state with stepwise O transfer. Competitive epoxidation of para-substituted styrenes revealed a linear dual-parameter Hammett plot with a slope of 1.00. Under standard conditions, epoxidation of 1 a in the presence of ten equivalents of H(2) (18)O resulted in an absence of the isotopic label in (S,S)-2 a. A positive nonlinear effect was observed during the epoxidation of 1 a in the presence of (S,S)-5 a and (R,R)-5 a.     

Zn2+-catalyzed methanolysis of phosphate triesters: a process for catalytic degradation of the organophosphorus pesticides paraoxon and fenitrothion

The methanolyses of two neutral phosphorus triesters, paraoxon (1) and fenitrothion (3), were investigated as a function of added Zn(OTf)(2) or Zn(ClO(4))(2) in methanol at 25 degrees C either alone or in the presence of equimolar concentrations of the ligands phenanthroline (4), 2,9-dimethylphenanthroline (5), and 1,5,9-triazacyclododecane (6). The catalysis requires the presence of methoxide, and when studied as a function of added NaOCH(3), the rate constants (k(obs)) for methanolysis of Zn(2+) alone or in the presence of equimolar 4 or 5 maximize at different [(-)OCH(3)]/[Zn(2+)](total) ratios of 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0, respectively. Plots of k(obs) vs [Zn(2+)](total) either alone or in the presence of equimolar ligands 4 and 5 at the [(-)OCH(3)]/[Zn(2+)](total) ratios corresponding to the rate maxima are curved and show a nonlinear dependence on [Zn(2+)](total). In the cases of 4 and 5, this is explained as resulting from formation of a nonactive dimer, formulated as a bis-mu-methoxide-bridged form (L:Zn(2+)((-)OCH(3))(2)Zn(2+):L) in equilibrium with an active monomeric form (L:Zn(2+)((-)OCH(3))). In the case of the Zn(2+):6 system, no dimeric forms are present as can be judged by the strict linearity of the plots of k(obs) vs [Zn(2+)](total) in the presence of equimolar 6 and (-)OCH(3). Analysis of the potentiometric titration curves for Zn(2+) alone and in the presence of the ligands allows calculation of the speciation of the various Zn(2+) forms and shows that the binding to ligands 4 and 6 is very strong, while the binding to ligand 5 is weaker. Overall the best catalytic system is provided by equimolar Zn(2+), 5, and (-)OCH(3), which exhibits excellent turnover of the methanolysis of paraoxon when the substrate is in excess. At a concentration of 2 mM in each of these components, which sets the pH of the solution at 9.5, the acceleration of the methanolysis of paraoxon and fenitrothion relative to the methoxide reaction is 1.8 x 10(6)-fold and 13 x 10(6)-fold, respectively. A mechanism for the catalyzed reactions is proposed which involves a dual role for the metal ion as a Lewis acid and source of nucleophilic Zn(2+)-bound (-)OCH(3).     

Europium ion catalyzed methanolysis of esters at neutral pH and ambient temperature. catalytic Involvement of Eu3+(CH3O-)(CH3OH)x

The Eu(3+)-promoted methanolysis of three esters, p-nitrophenyl acetate (1), phenyl acetate (2), and ethyl acetate (3) is reported, as well as the potentiometric titration of Eu(3+) in MeOH at various [Eu(SO(3)CF(3))(3)] (SO(3)CF(3) = OTf). The titration data are analyzed in terms of two ionizations corresponding to macroscopic and values, which are respectively defined as the values at which the [CH(3)O(-)]/[Eu(3+)] = 0.5 and 1.5. As a function of increasing [Eu(OTf)(3)], increases slightly due to a proposed Eu(3+)/(-)OTf ion pairing effect, which tends to reduce the acidity of the metal-coordinated CH(3)OH, while decreases due to the formation of Eu(3+) dimers and oligomers which stabilize the (Eu(3+)(CH(3)O(-))(2))(n)forms through bridging of the methoxides between two or more metal ions. For ester 1, a detailed kinetic analysis of the reaction rates as a function of both [Eu(OTf)(3)] and in buffered methanol reveals that the /second-order rate constant (k(2)) plot for the catalyzed reaction follows a bell-shaped profile, suggesting that the active form is a Eu(3+)(CH(3)O(-)) monomer with a kinetic of 6.33 +/- 0.06 for formation and a of 8.02 +/- 0.10 for its conversion into the inactive (Eu(3+)(CH(3)O(-))(2))(n)oligomeric form. At higher values, plots of k(obs) vs [Eu(OTf)(3)] are linear at low metal concentration and plateau at higher metal concentration due to the formation of inactive higher order aggregates. The Eu(3+)(CH(3)O(-)) catalysis of the methanolysis of esters 1, 2, and 3 is substantial. Solutions of 10(-2) M of the catalyst at 7.12 accelerate the reaction relative to the methoxide reaction at that by 8 530 000-, 195 000 000- and 7 813 000-fold, respectively.     

Scope and mechanistic study of the ruthenium-catalyzed ortho-C-H bond activation and cyclization reactions of arylamines with terminal alkynes

The cationic ruthenium hydride complex [(PCy(3))(2)(CO)(CH(3)CN)(2)RuH](+)BF(4)(-) was found to be a highly effective catalyst for the C-H bond activation reaction of arylamines and terminal alkynes. The regioselective catalytic synthesis of substituted quinoline and quinoxaline derivatives was achieved from the ortho-C-H bond activation reaction of arylamines and terminal alkynes by using the catalyst Ru(3)(CO)(12)/HBF(4).OEt(2). The normal isotope effect (k(CH)/k(CD) = 2.5) was observed for the reaction of C(6)H(5)NH(2) and C(6)D(5)NH(2) with propyne. A highly negative Hammett value (rho = -4.4) was obtained from the correlation of the relative rates from a series of meta-substituted anilines, m-XC(6)H(4)NH(2), with sigma(p) in the presence of Ru(3)(CO)(12)/HBF(4).OEt(2) (3 mol % Ru, 1:3 molar ratio). The deuterium labeling studies from the reactions of both indoline and acyclic arylamines with DCCPh showed that the alkyne C-H bond activation step is reversible. The crossover experiment from the reaction of 1-(2-amino-1-phenyl)pyrrole with DCCPh and HCCC(6)H(4)-p-OMe led to preferential deuterium incorporation to the phenyl-substituted quinoline product. A mechanism involving rate-determining ortho-C-H bond activation and intramolecular C-N bond formation steps via an unsaturated cationic ruthenium acetylide complex has been proposed.     

La(3+)-Catalyzed methanolysis of hydroxypropyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate as a model for the RNA transesterification reaction

The methanolysis of hydroxypropyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate (HPNPP, 1) promoted by La(OTf)(3) under buffered conditions was studied in methanol as a function of pH at 25 degrees C. (31)P NMR studies at -90 degrees C indicate that there are at least three La/1 complexes formed at pH approximately 5.3 of 1:1, 2:2, and 1:2 stoichiometry. Kinetic studies of the observed pseudo-first-order rate constants for the methanolysis of 1 as a function of [La(3+)] at 4.5 < pH < 10.5 indicate there are two general pH regimes. In the low pH regime between 4.5 and 7.6, the plots of k(obs) versus [La(3+)] exhibit saturation behavior with very strong 1:1 binding, with a plateau rate constant that depends on [OCH(3)(-)]. The catalytically productive species is shown to be a 2:2 complex of La(3+) and 1, where the phosphate is proposed to be doubly activated, thereby promoting the methoxide reaction by some 4.6 x 10(10)-fold. In the high pH regime from 7.9 to 10.5, 1:1, 2:2, and 2:1 La(3+)/1 complexes are formed with the La(3+) coordinated in the form of [La(3+)(OCH(3)(-))](1,2). Throughout this pH regime at high [La(3+)], a saturation complex, (La(3+)OCH(3)(-))(2)/1, is formed that spontaneously decomposes with a rate constant of (5-10) x 10(-)(3) s(-)(1), leading to an acceleration of 10(9)-fold at pH 8.0.     

Expanding the 3d-4f heterometallic chemistry of the (py)2CO and pyCOpyCOpy ligands: structural, magnetic and Mössbauer spectroscopic studies of two Fe(II)-Gd(III) complexes

Complex [Fe(II)Gd(III){pyCO(OEt)pyCOH(OEt)py}(3)](ClO(4))(2) (1) crystallizes in the Cc space group and contains one hexacoordinate ferrous ion and one enneacoordinate Gd(III) ion. Complex [Fe(2)(II)Gd(III){pyCO(OEt)py}(4)(NO(3))(H(2)O)][Gd(NO(3))(5)](0.5)(ClO(4)) (2) crystallizes in the C2/c space group and contains two hexacoordinate ferrous ions and one octacoordinate Gd(III) ion. Both complexes have been prepared by the metal-assisted ethanolysis of ligands di-2,6-(2-pyridylcarbonyl)pyridine (pyCOpyCOpy, dpcp) and di-2-pyridyl ketone ((py)(2)CO, dpk), which exhibit similar structures. M?ssbauer spectroscopic studies of 2 revealed the presence of two quadrupole-split doublets of equal intensities, each assigned to a ferrous site. These doublets exhibit similar isomer shifts (δ(1) = 1.14 mm s(-1), δ(2) = 1.11 mm s(-1)) but quite different quadrupole splittings (ΔE(Q1) = 3.55 mm s(-1), ΔE(Q2) = 2.74 mm s(-1)). Magnetic studies revealed weak ferromagnetic Fe(II)-Gd(III) interactions for both complexes (J(FeGd) = +0.68 cm(-1), D(Fe) = 12.0 cm(-1) for 1 and J(FeGd) = +0.03 cm(-1), J(FeFe) = -1.73 cm(-1) for 2, according to the -JS(i)S(j) spin-Hamiltonian formalism).     

Synthesis and structures of the [benzamidinato]3- complexes Li3(tmeda)(L1)]2 and [Li(thf)4][Li5(L2)(OEt2)2] [L1 = N(SiMe3)C(Ph)N(SiMe3) and L2 = N(SiMe3)C(C6H4-4)NPh

Reduction at ambient temperature of each of the lithium benzamidinates [Li(L(1))(tmeda)] or [{Li(L(2))(OEt(2))(2)}(2)] with four equivalents of lithium metal in diethyl ether or thf furnished the brown crystalline [Li(3)(L(1))(tmeda)] (1) or [Li(thf)(4)][Li(5)(L(2))(2)(OEt(2))(2)] (2), respectively. Their structures show that in each the [N(R(1))C(R(3))NR(2)](3-) moiety has the three negative charges largely localised on each of N, N' and R = Aryl); a consequence is that the "aromatic" 2,3- and 5,6-CC bonds of R(3) approximate to being double bonds. Multinuclear NMR spectra in C(6)D(6) and C(7)D(8) show that 1 and 2 exhibit dynamic behaviour. [The following abbreviations are used: L(1) = N(SiMe(3))C(Ph)N(SiMe(3)); L(2) = N(SiMe(3))C(C(6)H(4)Me-4)N(Ph); tmeda = (Me(2)NCH(2)-)(2); thf = tetrahydrofuran.] This reduction is further supported by a DFT analysis.     

Phosphato, chromato, and perrhenato complexes of titanium(IV) and zirconium(IV) containing Kläui's tripodal ligand

Treatment of titanyl sulfate in dilute sulfuric acid with 1 equiv of NaL(OEt) (L(OEt)(-) = [(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Co{P(O)(OEt)(2)](3)](-)) in the presence of Na(3)PO(4) and Na(4)P(2)O(7) led to isolation of [(L(OEt)Ti)(3)(mu-O)(3)(mu(3-)PO(4))] (1) and [(L(OEt)Ti)(2)(mu-O)(mu-P(2)O(7))] (2), respectively. The structure of 1 consists of a Ti(3)O(3) core capped by a mu(3)-phosphato group. In 2, the [P(2)O(7)](4-) ligands binds to the two Ti's in a mu:eta(2),eta(2) fashion. Treatment of titanyl sulfate in dilute sulfuric acid with NaL(OEt) and 1.5 equiv of Na(2)Cr(2)O(7) gave [(L(OEt)Ti)(2)(mu-CrO(4))(3)] (3) that contains two L(OEt)Ti(3+) fragments bridged by three mu-CrO(4)(2-)-O,O' ligands. Complex 3 can act as a 6-electron oxidant and oxidize benzyl alcohol to give ca. 3 equiv of benzaldehyde. Treatment of [L(OEt)Ti(OTf)(3)] (OTf(-) = triflate) with [n-Bu(4)N][ReO(4)] afforded [[L(OEt)Ti(ReO(4))(2)](2)(mu-O)] (4). Treatment of [L(OEt)MF(3)] (M = Ti and Zr) with 3 equiv of [ReO(3)(OSiMe(3))] afforded [L(OEt)Ti(ReO(4))(3)] (5) and [L(OEt)Zr(ReO(4))(3)(H(2)O)] (6), respectively. Treatment of [L(OEt)MF(3)] with 2 equiv of [ReO(3)(OSiMe(3))] afforded [L(OEt)Ti(ReO(4))(2)F] (7) and [[L(OEt)Zr(ReO(4))(2)](2)(mu-F)(2)] (8), respectively, which reacted with Me(3)SiOTf to give [L(OEt)M(ReO(4))(2)(OTf)] (M = Ti (9), Zr (10)). Hydrolysis of [L(OEt)Zr(OTf)(3)] (11) with Na(2)WO(4).xH(2)O and wet CH(2)Cl(2) afforded the hydroxo-bridged complexes [[L(OEt)Zr(H(2)O)](3)(mu-OH)(3)(mu(3)-O)][OTf](4) (12) and [[L(OEt)Zr(H(2)O)(2)](2)(mu-OH)(2)][OTf](4) (13), respectively. The solid-state structures of 1-3, 6, and 11-13 have been established by X-ray crystallography. The L(OEt)Ti(IV) complexes can catalyze oxidation of methyl p-tolyl sulfide with tert-butyl hydroperoxide. The bimetallic Ti/ Re complexes 5 and 9 were found to be more active catalysts for the sulfide oxidation than other Ti(IV) complexes presumably because Re alkylperoxo species are involved as the reactive intermediates.     

Density functional theory study of the mechanism of the BF(3)-catalyzed rearrangement of 2,3,3-trimethyl-1,2-epoxybutane to 2,3,3-trimethylbutanal

The potential energy surface for the rearrangement of BF(3)-coordinated 2,3,3-trimethyl-1,2-epoxybutane to 2,3, 3-trimethylbutanal has been investigated at the B3LYP/6-31G level of theory. SCRF(SCI-PCM) solvent calculations and theoretical primary and secondary kinetic isotope effects at the same level of theory provide support for a two-step process with ring opening of the BF(3)-coordinated epoxide to a tertiary carbocation intermediate followed by hydride/deuteride migration to give aldehyde. The experimentally measured primary isotope effect (k(H)(D)/k(D)(H)) requires a correction for an appropriate secondary isotope effect to give a true isotope effect k(H)(H)/k(D)(H). For the lowest energy pathway for hydride migration, the calculated secondary kinetic isotope effect is 0.92, which when applied to the experimentally measured isotope effect of k(H)(D)/k(D)(H) = 1.73 gives a revised "true" primary kinetic isotope effect of k(H)(H)/k(D)(H) = 1.59. This compares with a calculated value of 2.01. From intermediate 15, migration of the C1-H(a) proton via 19 is energetically favored over C1-H(b) migration via 18 and this result is consistent with the experimental results in which hydride migration of the proton cis to the methyl is favored.