Olefin metathesis catalyst bearing a chelating phosphine ligand

An improved synthetic procedure for the complex (SPY-5-34)-dichloro-(κ²(C,P)-diphenyl-(2-benzylidene)-phosphine)-(1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-imidazol-2-ylidene)-ruthenium (2) was elaborated and the title compound was tested as latent initiator in Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) and as catalyst for Ring-Closing Metathesis (RCM) at elevated temperatures. While not particularly suited as latent initiator for ROMP, exhibiting a switching temperature of only 42 °C in the polymerization of a typical norbornene derivative, 2 shows an appealing performance in RCM of α,ω-dienes at higher temperatures.     

Selective catch and release of a synthetically useful phosphine ligand

The selective catch and release of the synthetically useful (o-biphenyl)(t-butyl)₂P from basic and non basic compounds, utilizing solid phase supported sulfonic acid sources is demonstrated.     

Preparation of a palladium dimer with a cobalt-containing bulky phosphine ligand: Its application in palladium catalyzed Suzuki reactions

A palladium dimer with a cobalt-containing phosphine ligand, {(μ-PPh₂CH₂PPh₂)Co₂(CO)₄(μ,η-(tBu)₂PCCC₆H₄-κC¹)Pd(μ-Cl)}₂ (3), was prepared from the reaction of its monomer precursor, (μ-PPh₂CH₂PPh₂)Co₂(CO)₄(μ,η-(tBu)₂PCCC₆H₄-κC¹)Pd(μ-OAc) (2), with LiCl. The crystal structure of 3, determined by X-ray diffraction methods, revealed a doubly chloride-bridged palladium dimeric conformation. Suzuki coupling reactions of bromobenzene with phenylboronic acid were carried out catalytically using these two novel palladium complexes 2 and 3 as catalyst precursors. Factors such as the molar ratio of substrate/catalyst, reaction temperature, base and solvent that might affect the catalytic efficiencies were investigated. As a general rule, the performance is much better by employing 3 than 2 as the catalyst precursor.     

Stereoselective synthesis of amides possessing a vinylsilicon functionality via a ruthenium catalyzed silylative coupling reaction

An effective stereoselective synthesis of E-N-2-(silyl)vinylamides via silylative coupling of vinyl amides such as N-vinylpyrrolidinone, N-vinylphthalimide, and N-vinylformamide with vinyltrisubstituted silanes catalyzed by [RuH(Cl)(CO)(PCy₃)₂] I is described.     

Synthesis and coordination chemistry of a photoswitchable bis(phosphine) ligand

A 1,2-dithienylethene compound bearing bis(phosphine) groups (1o) represents a new class of photoresponsive ligands where there are steric and electronic differences between two photogenerated isomers. The coordination chemistry of this ligand class is demonstrated by preparing a gold(I) complex (2o) and a phosphine selenide (3o).     

Neighboring group participation of phosphine oxide functionality in the highly regio- and stereoselective iodohydroxylation of 1,2-allenylic diphenyl phosphine oxides

Two sets of reaction conditions were established to enable the highly regio- and stereoselective iodohydroxylation of 1,2-allenylic diphenyl phosphine oxides, yielding (E)-2-iodo-3-hydroxy-1-alkenyl diphenyl phosphine oxides with very high stereoselectivity. The scope of this reaction was examined extensively. Notably, studies on the reactivity of optically active substrates indicated that the axial chirality in the starting allenes may be efficiently transferred to the center chirality of the products with no discernible loss of enantiopurity. Due to the importance of phosphine-containing compounds, both as reagents and ligands, this reaction shows potentials in organic synthesis. Investigations using ESI-MS technology on the (18)O-labeled product, which was prepared using (18)O-water as the solvent, indicated that the (18)O atom was bound to phosphorus in the final product and the oxygen atom of the hydroxyl comes from the phosphinyl functionality of the allene reactant. These results provided solid evidence for the formation of a five-membered cyclic intermediate from the neighboring group participation of the diphenylphosphinyl group. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the neighboring group participation of this type of group was observed.     

Ruthenium hydride complexes of the hindered phosphine ligand tris(3-diisopropylphosphinopropyl)phosphine

The synthesis and characterization of the novel hindered tripodal phosphine ligand P(CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)P(i)Pr(2))(3) (P(3)P(3)(iPr)) (1) are reported, along with the synthesis and characterization of ruthenium chloro and hydrido complexes of 1. Complexes [RuCl(P(3)P(3)(i)Pr)][BPh(4)] (2[BPh(4)]), RuH(2)(P(3)P(3)(i)Pr) (3), and [Ru(H(2))(H)(P(3)P(3)(iPr))][BPh(4)] (4[BPh(4)]) were characterized by crystallography. Complex 2 is fluxional in solution, and low-temperature NMR spectroscopy of the complex correlates well with two dynamic processes, an exchange between stereoisomers and a faster turnstile-type exchange within one of the stereoisomers.     

Luminescence of ruthenium halide complexes containing a hemilabile phosphine pyrenyl ether ligand

A series of Ru(II) complexes, tcc-RuX2(POC4Pyr-P,O)2 (X = Cl (3), Br (4), I (5)), containing the hemilabile phosphine pyrenyl ether ligand 4-{2-(diphenylphosphino)phenoxy}butylpyrene (POC4Pyr (1)) are reported. The synthesis and spectroscopic properties of both the ligand, POC4pyr (1), and ligand oxide, P(=O)OC4pyr 2, and the solid-state structure of 1 are reported. Complexes 3-5 react rapidly with CO to give complexes ttt-RuX2(CO)2(POC4pyr-P)2 (X = Cl (6), Br (7), I (8)). No pyrene excimer emission is detected from 3-5; however, different intensities of excimer emission are observed for 6-8. The intensity of excimer emission decreases through the series, with 6 showing the most intense response. The emission is solely due to intramolecular pyrene excimers at low concentrations (< or =10(-4) M). Comparison of the UV-vis and steady-state fluorescence spectra shows overlap between the low energy d-d absorption of 7 and 8 with excimer emission (480 nm), suggesting nonradiative energy transfer may be occurring. Once excess CO is removed, complexes 6-8 isomerize to cis-dicarbonyl complexes cct-RuX2(CO)2(POC4Pyr-P)2 (X = Cl (9), Br (10), I (11)). The intensity of excimer emission from 9-11 increases with respect to the excimer emission observed for 6-8, with 9 showing a significant increase in excimer intensity.     

Coordination chemistry umpolung: a gallane ligand on a phosphine lewis acceptor.

Pentaphenylphosphinophosphonium trifluoromethanesulfonate reacts with amino-iminogall(I)ane to effect quantitative substitution of Ph3P and formation of the first complex of a gallium Lewis base on a phosphine Lewis acid.     

Solid-phase Suzuki cross-coupling reactions using a phosphine ligand based on a phospha-adamantane framework

The use of a catalyst system based on Pd₂dba₃·CHCl₃ and 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-2,4,8-trioxa-6-phenyl-6-phospha-adamantane allows for Suzuki coupling aryl halides with an array of boronic acids on a solid-phase platform. The reactions can be carried out at room temperature with low palladium loadings in high yields.     

New silatranes possessing urea functionality: Synthesis, characterization and their structural aspects

The present work aims at the synthesis of various novel silatranes bearing substituted urea functionality. Nucleophilic addition of various amines (morpholine, aniline, ethylenediamine and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane) to 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane resulted in the four triethoxysilanes; N-[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]morpholine-4-carboxylic acid amide (1), 1-[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]-3-phenylurea (2), 1,2-bis{N′-[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]ureido}-ethane (3) and N-[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]-N′-[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]urea (4), respectively. In the presence of a base the resulting silanes undergo transesterification reaction with triethanolamine, thus forming the corresponding silatranes, N-(3-silatranylpropyl)morpholine-4-carboxylic acid amide (5), 1-(3-silatranylpropyl)-3-phenylurea (6), 1,2-Bis[N′-(3-silatranylpropyl)ureido]-ethane (7) and N-(3-silatranylpropyl)-N′-(3-silatranylpropyl)urea (8), respectively. Among these are four novel compounds (5-8), which were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C and ²⁹Si) NMR and mass spectroscopy. Structures of compounds 5 and 6 were deduced by X-ray crystallography. Single crystal X-ray studies revealed distorted trigonal bipyramidal coordination about Si in 5 and 6 with Si-N bond distance of 2.121(1) Å and 2.189(2) Å, respectively.     

Synthesis of a photoswitchable azobenzene-functionalized tris(indazol-1-yl) borate ligand and its ruthenium(II) cyclopentadienide complex

In this paper, the design and synthesis of a new indazole bearing a photoisomerizable fragment at its 4-position are presented as well as the photoisomerization studies on both the indazole precursor and the final ruthenium model complex. It was obtained after five steps, the last one being the cleavage of the indazole protecting group. Reaction of 1 equiv of this functionalized indazole with 2 equiv of plain indazole and dibromophenylborane gave access to a mixture of four tripodal ligands of the tris(indazolyl)borate family. In a last step, complexation of this mixture with [RuCp(CH₃CN)₃]PF₆ yielded the corresponding ruthenium complexes from which the target ruthenium complex coordinated to a dissymmetric azobenzene-functionalized tripodal ligand was successfully isolated. Photoisomerization occured reversibly upon irradiation with UV light at 365 nm.     

Hydroformylation of alkenes employing rhodium(i) complexes and a phosphine oxide ligand

Following the facile synthesis of a novel phosphine oxide compound, (diphenylphosphinoyl)phenylmethanol (1), this compound was employed as a ligand in the rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of alkenes, with good conversions and regioselectivities. This ligand was partially resolved using an enzyme, and enantioselective hydroformylation was carried out with the addition of a rhodium(I) complex. The rhodium(I) complex containing ligand 1 was not isolated, although it was subjected to low-temperature NMR studies.     

Dimerization of terminal alkynes catalyzed by a nickel complex having a bulky phosphine ligand

Ni(cod)(2)/P(t)Bu(3) system catalyzed the dimerization of terminal alkynes to give (E)-head-to-head dimerization products, in which the stannylacetylene dimer could be applied to a one-pot synthesis of a conjugated enyne, when combined with Migita-Stille coupling.     

Photocytotoxicity and photoinduced phosphine ligand exchange in a Ru(ii) polypyridyl complex

Two new tris-heteroleptic Ru(ii) complexes with triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) coordination, cis-[Ru(phen)₂(PPh₃)(CH₃CN)]²⁺ (1a, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) and cis-[Ru(biq)(phen)(PPh₃)(CH₃CN)]²⁺ (2a, biq = 2,2′-biquinoline), were synthesized and characterized for photochemotherapeutic applications. Upon absorption of visible light, 1a exchanges a CH₃CN ligand for a solvent water molecule. Surprisingly, the steady-state irradiation of 2a followed by electronic absorption and NMR spectroscopies reveals the photosubstitution of the PPh₃ ligand. Phosphine photoinduced ligand exchange with visible light from a Ru(ii) polypyridyl complex has not previously been reported, and calculations reveal that it results from a trans-type influence in the excited state. Complexes 1a and 2a are not toxic against the triple negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 in the dark, but upon irradiation with blue light, the activity of both complexes increases by factors of >4.2 and 5.8, respectively. Experiments with PPh₃ alone show that the phototoxicity observed for 2a does not arise from the released phosphine ligand, indicating the role of the photochemically generated ruthenium aqua complex on the biological activity. These complexes represent a new design motif for the selective release of PPh₃ and CH₃CN for use in photochemotherapy.

New Ru(ii) complexes exhibit selective ligand dissociation driven by an excited state trans-type influence. The complexes are not toxic to triple-negative breast cancer cells in the dark, but induce cell death upon irradiation with visible light.     

One-pot synthesis of Mo(0) dinitrogen complexes possessing monodentate and multidentate phosphine ligands

Mo(0) dinitrogen complexes bearing electron-rich mono- and bidentate phosphines can be synthesized in good yields from inexpensive and readily accessible MoCl(5) via a one-step mild reduction with Mg metal. trans-[(N(2))(2)Mo(PMePh(2))(PPh(CH(2)CH(2)PPh(2))(2))] can also be obtained via this strategy. However, in the presence of tri- and tetradentate ligands that are sterically restrictive, the analogous reduction leads to either (η(6)-arene) formation or [Mo(multidentate phosphine)(m)](n) oligomer complexes that have no dinitrogen ligands. One such η(6)-arene complex, where the Mo(0) center is ligated by 1,1,1-tris(diphenylphosphinomethyl)ethane, was isolated and characterized via X-ray crystallography.     

Development of additives possessing both solid-phase and gas-phase flame retardant activities

Effective additives are required to impart a measure of fire retardancy to polymeric materials used in a variety of applications. Traditionally, these have been gas-phase active additives, most commonly organohalogen compounds or solid-phase active agents, often organophosphorus compounds. Organosphosphorus flame retardants are often very effective but may suffer from a cost disadvantage when compared with their organobromine counterparts. Organohalogen flame retardants are usually quite effective but their use is a subject to several environmental concerns. The development of additives that could simultaneously promote both types of fire retardant action could make available flame retardants that are both more cost effective and more environmentally friendly than those currently in use. Several sets of compounds with the potential to display both solid-phase and gas-phase flame retardant activities have been prepared and evaluated.