Redox noninnocence of nitrosoarene ligands in transition metal complexes

Studies on the coordination of nitrosoarene (ArNO) ligands to late-transition metals are used to provide the first definition of the geometric, spectroscopic, and computational parameters associated with a PhNO electron-transfer series. Experimentally, the Pd complexes PdCl(2)(PhNO)(2), PdL(2)(PhNO)(2), and PdL(2)(TolNO) (L = CNAr(Dipp2); Ar(Dipp2) = 2,6-(2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3))(2)-C(6)H(3)) are characterized as containing (PhNO)(0), (PhNO)(?1-), and (TolNO)(2-) ligands, respectively, and the structural and spectroscopic changes associated with this electron transfer series provide the basis for an extensive computational study of these and related ArNO-containing late-transition metal complexes. Most notable from the results is the unambiguous characterization of the ground state electronic structure of PdL(2)(PhNO)(2), found to be the first isolable, transition metal ion complex containing an η(1)-N-bound π-nitrosoarene radical anion. In addition to the electron transfer series, the synthesis and characterization of the Fe complex [Fe(TIM)(NCCH(3))(PhNO)][(PF(6))(2)] (TIM = 2,3,9,10-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-1,3,8,10-tetraene) allows for comparison of the geometric and spectroscopic features associated with metal-to-ligand π-backbonding as opposed to (PhNO)(?1-) formation. Throughout these series of complexes, the N-O, M-N, and C-N bond distances as well as the N-O stretching frequencies and the planarity of the ArNO ligands provided distinct parameters for each ligand oxidation state. Together, these data provide a delineation of the factors needed for evaluating the oxidation state of nitrosoarene ligands bound to transition metals in varying coordination modes.     

C-H activation reactions of ruthenium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: application in a catalytic tandem reaction involving C-C bond formation from alcohols

A series of ruthenium hydride N-alkyl heterocyclic carbene complexes has been investigated as catalysts for a tandem oxidation/Wittig/reduction reaction to give C-C bonds from alcohols. The C-H-activated carbene complex Ru(IiPr(2)Me(2))'(PPh(3))(2)(CO)H (9) proves to be the most active precursor catalyzing the reaction of PhCH(2)OH and Ph(3)P=CHCN in 3 h at 70 degrees C. These results provide (a) a rare case in which N-alkyl carbenes afford higher catalytic activity than their N-aryl counterparts and (b) a novel example of the importance of NHC C-H activation in a catalytic cycle.     

Cyclopropenylidene carbene ligands in palladium C-C coupling catalysis

A palladium complex supported by a 2,3-diphenylcyclopropenylidene carbene ligand is a highly active and robust catalyst for Heck and Suzuki coupling reactions.     

C-C bond formation via C-H bond activation: catalytic arylation and alkenylation of alkane segments

A new system for catalytic arylation and alkenylation of alkane segments has been developed. The ortho-tert-butylaniline substrates and 2-pivaloylpyridine may be arylated and alkenylated at the tert-butyl group, while no functionalization occurred at more reactive C-H and other bonds. Arylation and alkenylation of these substrates are achieved in the presence of Ph2Si(OH)Me and Ph-CH=CH-Si(OH)Me2, respectively, and the catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)2 and stoichiometric oxidant (Cu(OAc)2, 2 equiv) in DMF. In contrast, the ortho-i-propylaniline substrate underwent cyclopalladation, but no arylation product was obtained. Complex compound 14 was synthesized via tandem arylation-alkenylation of tert-butylaniline 11. We hypothesize that the high selectivity of this system stems from the confluence of directing effect of the Schiff base or pyridine moiety and unique reactivity properties of a phenyl-palladium acetate species (Ph-Pd-OAc.Ln).     

Borrowing hydrogen: a catalytic route to C-C bond formation from alcohols

Ruthenium complexes have been shown to perform efficient transfer hydrogenation reactions between alcohols and alkenes; in combination with an in situ Wittig reaction, indirect formation of C-C bonds has been achieved from alcohols.     

Synthesis and use of mono- or bisxylyl linked bis(benzimidazolium) bromides as carbene precursors for C-C bond formation reactions

Two benzimidazolium moieties linked by one or two xylyls (m- and p-) have been synthesized, characterized and then they were used for Heck coupling reactions as in situ formed catalysts. Mono bridged salts are more efficient as compared to bisbridged salts. In addition, mono bridged salts were converted to Rh-NHC complexes which were tested as catalysts for the arylation of aldehydes.     

Heterogenised N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: synthesis, characterisation and application for hydroformylation and C-C bond formation reactions

The imidazolium salts: 1-mesityl-3-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)imidazolium iodide and 1-tert-butyl-3-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)imidazolium iodide, abbreviated as (tmpMes)HI (3a) and (tmp(t)Bu)HI (3b), respectively, have been synthesised. The palladium(ii) complexes (η(3)-C(3)H(5)) (tmpMes)PdCl (5a) and (η(3)-C(3)H(5))(tmp(t)Bu)PdCl (5b), rhodium(i) and iridium(i) complexes (η(4)-1,5-COD) (tmpMes)MCl, M = Rh (6a), Ir (7a) and (η(4)-1,5-COD)(tmp(t)Bu)MCl, where M = Rh (6b), Ir (7b), were synthesised by silver transmetallation reactions using the silver(i) complexes (tmpMes)AgI (4a) and (tmp(t)Bu)AgI (4b). The iridium complex 7b has been structurally characterised. The Pd(ii) and Rh(i) complexes have been immobilised by attachment to chemically modified MCM-41. The immobilised palladium(ii) materials have been tested as recyclable catalysts for Suzuki type C-C bond formation reactions in water and the immobilised rhodium(i) materials have been examined for their catalytic ability for the hydroformylation of 1-octene.     

C-C bond formation catalyzed heterogeneously by nickel-on-graphite (Ni/Cg)

Inexpensive nickel(II) mounted on graphite (Ni/Cg) can be easily activated and used to heterogeneously catalyze cross-couplings involving aryl halides/tosylates with boronic acids, vinylalanes, and vinylzirconocenes. Comparisons are made with the charcoal analogue, Ni/C, and some unusual chemoselectivities between these catalysts have been uncovered.     

C-C and C-H bond activation reactions in N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of ruthenium

Thermolysis of Ru(PPh3)3(CO)H2 with the N-heterocyclic carbene bis(1,3-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) (IMes) results in C-C activation of an Ar-CH3 bond in one of the mesityl rings of the carbene ligand. Upon addition of IMes to Ru(PPh3)3(CO)H2 at room temperature in the presence of an alkene, C-H bond activation is observed instead. The thermodynamics of these C-C and C-H cleavage reactions have been probed using density functional theory.     

Smooth C(alkyl)-H bond activation in rhodium complexes comprising abnormal carbene ligands

Rhodation of trimethylene-bridged diimidazolium salts induces the intramolecular activation of an alkane-type C-H bond and yields mono- and dimetallic complexes containing a formally monoanionic C,C,C-tridentate dicarbene ligand bound to each rhodium centre. Mechanistic investigation of the C(alkyl)-H bond activation revealed a significant rate enhancement when the carbene ligands are bound to the rhodium centre via C4 (instantaneous activation) as compared to C2-bound carbene homologues (activation incomplete after 2 days). The slow C-H activation in normal C2-bound carbene complexes allowed intermediates to be isolated and suggests a critical role of acetate in mediating the bond activation process. Computational modelling supported by spectroscopic analyses indicate that halide dissociation as well as formation of the agostic intermediate is substantially favoured with C4-bound carbenes. It is these processes that discriminate the C4- and C2-bound systems rather than the subsequent C-H bond activation, where the computed barriers are very similar in each case. The tridentate dicarbene ligand undergoes selective H/D exchange at the C5 position of the C4-bound carbene exclusively. A mechanism has been proposed for this process, which is based on the electronic separation of the abnormal carbene ligand into a cationic N-C-N amidinium unit and a metalla-allyl type M-C-C fragment.     

Novel triphenylarsinyl-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene ligands in palladium-catalyzed C-C coupling reactions

Synthesis of novel triphenylarsinyl-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene pre-ligands starting from N,N-dimethylbenzylamine, chlorodiphenylarsine and different 1-substituted imidazoles and their characterization by NMR and X-ray analysis is reported. Furthermore, these precursors are applied to different palladium-catalyzed reactions such as Heck-, hydro-Heck, π, σ domino-Heck and Suzuki reactions to give the C-C coupling products in good to excellent isolated yields.     

An effective C-C double bond formation via Cu(I)-catalyzed dehydrogenation

A dehydrogenation method using Cu(I) and either N,N-di-tert-butylthiadiaziridine 1,1-dioxide or N,N-di-tert-butyldiaziridinone is reported. The dehydrogenation allows a facile introduction of C-C double bond(s) into various carbocycles and heterocycles such as oxazolines and thiazolines.     

Aromatic allylation via diazotization: metal-free C-C bond formation

A new method for the synthesis of allyl aromatic compounds not involving any metal-containing reagent or catalyst has been developed. Arylamines substituted with a large number of different substituents were converted via diazotizative deamination with tert-butyl nitrite in allyl bromide and acetonitrile to the corresponding allyl aromatic compounds. The allylation reaction was found to be suitable for larger scale synthesis due to short reaction times, a nonextractive workup, and robustness toward moisture, air, and type of solvent.     

Kinetics of the C-C bond beta scission reactions in alkyl radicals

High pressure limits of thermal rate constants of four C-C bond beta scission reactions of propyl, 1-butyl, 2-butyl and isobutyl radicals were calculated using the canonical variational transition state theory (CVT) with a multi-dimensional small-curvature tunneling (SCT) correction over the temperature range of 300-3000 K. The CCSD(T)/cc-pVDZ//BH&HLYP/cc-pVDZ method was used to provide necessary potential energy surface information. Rate constants for these reactions were used to extrapolate rate constants for reactions in larger alkyls where experimental data are available using the Reaction Class Transition State Theory (RC-TST). Excellent agreement with experimental data confirms the validity of the RC-TST methodology and the accuracy of the calculated kinetic data in this study.     

Hydrogen-mediated C-C bond formation: catalytic regio- and stereoselective reductive condensation of alpha-keto aldehydes and 1,3-enynes

Hydrogenation of 1,3-enynes in the presence of alpha-keto aldehydes using cationic Rh(I) catalysts enables regio- and stereoselective reductive coupling to the acetylenic terminus of the enyne to afford (E)-2-hydroxy-3,5-dien-1-one products. Reductive condensation of 1-phenyl but-3-en-1-yne 1a with phenyl glyoxal 2a performed under an atmosphere of D(2) provides the product of mono-deuteration, (E)-2-hydroxy-3-deuterio-3,5-dien-1-one deuterio-3a, in 85% yield. Competition experiments involving catalytic hydrogenation of phenyl glyoxal in the presence of equimolar quantities of 1,4-diphenylbutadiene and 1,4-diphenylbut-3-en-1-yne 10a, as well as 1,4-diphenylbut-3-en-1-yne 10a and 1,4-diphenylbutadiyne, are chemoselective for coupling to the more highly unsaturated partner, suggesting a preequilibrium involving precoordination and exchange of the pi-unsaturated pronucleophiles with the catalyst prior to C-C bond formation, as well as a preference for coordination of the most pi-acidic reacting partner, as explained by the Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson model for alkyne coordination.     

Reductive generation of enolates from enones using elemental hydrogen: catalytic C-C bond formation under hydrogenative conditions

Exposure of enones to elemental hydrogen in the presence of a Rh(I) catalyst enables reductive enolate generation, as evidenced by electrophilic trapping of the enolate by appendant and exogenous aldehyde partners. The significance of these findings resides in the ability to regioselectivity generate and transform transition metal enolates under catalytic conditions that circumvent formation of stoichiometric byproducts.     

First examples of improved catalytic asymmetric C-C bond formation using the monodentate ligand combination approach

[reaction: see text] Using a combination of chiral monodentate phosphoramidite ligands in the rhodium-catalyzed conjugate addition of boronic acids to three different substrates, we have shown for the first time that the ligand combination approach is applicable for C-C bond formation. Chiral catalysts based on hetero-combinations of ligands are found to be more effective than the homo-combinations. (31)P NMR experiments show that the hetero-combinations are formed in excess over the homo-combinations.     

Electrochemical behavior of an aminotrithioether ligand: copper(II)-mediated oxidative C-C bond formation

A neutral aminotrithioether interacts with CuI, generating a coordination polymer in the solid state. Electrochemical studies indicate that the ligand is prone to oxidation by CuII, which results in a novel C-C bond formation reaction.