η3‐Diphosphavinylcarbene: A P2 Analogue of the Dötz Intermediate

Do the twist : The reaction of in situ generated phosphinidenes with phosphaalkynes is a facile route to the new metal‐coordinated η³‐diphosphavinylcarbene 1 , which shows facile ligand‐exchange reactions and undergoes an unprecedented rearrangement that involves phosphinidene complex 2 and η³‐phosphaalkenylphosphinidene complex 3 , the 1,3 isomer of 1 .

     

Reaction of an N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Stabilized Silicon(II) Monohydride with Alkynes: [2+2+1] Cycloaddition versus Hydrogen Abstraction

An in depth study of the reactivity of an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐stabilized silylene monohydride with alkynes is reported. The reaction of silylene monohydride 1 , tBu₃Si(H)Si←NHC, with diphenylacetylene afforded silole 2 , tBu₃Si(H)Si(C₄Ph₄). The density functional theory (DFT) calculations for the reaction mechanism of the [2+2+1] cycloaddition revealed that the NHC played a major part stabilizing zwitterionic transition states and intermediates to assist the cyclization pathway. A significantly different outcome was observed, when silylene monohydride 1 was treated with phenylacetylene, which gave rise to supersilyl substituted 1‐alkenyl‐1‐alkynylsilane 3 , tBu₃Si(H)Si(CH?CHPh)(C?CPh). Mechanistic investigations using an isotope labelling technique and DFT calculations suggest that this reaction occurs through a similar zwitterionic intermediate and subsequent hydrogen abstraction from a second molecule of phenylacetylene.     

Versatile stereoselective cycloadditions between heterocumulenes and phosphagermaallene Tip(tBu)Ge=C=PMes*: experimental and theoretical investigations

Phosphagermaallene Tip(tBu)Ge=C=PMes* 1 (Tip=2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl, Mes*=2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl) reacts with phenyl isocyanate and tert-butyl isocyanate by a [2+2] cycloaddition that involves the Ge=C and C=O double bonds to afford 1-oxa-2-germacyclobutanes 2 and 3. With N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, a [2+2] cycloaddition is observed between the Ge=C and C=N unsaturations to lead to 1-aza-2-germacyclobutane 6 with exocyclic P=C and C=N double bonds. In sharp contrast, 1 reacts with phenyl isothiocyanate, ethyl isothiocyanate, and carbon disulfide according to a [3+2] cycloaddition that involves the whole Ge=C=P unit and the C=S double bond to give transient phosphagermacarbenes (PGeHCs) 11, 12, and 13. These new PGeHCs undergo C-H insertions into one o-tBu group of Mes* (in the case of 11 and 12) or one o-iPr group of Tip (in the case of 13) with formation of tricyclic compounds 8, 9, and 10, respectively. The reaction mechanisms that involve 1 and the phenyl isocyanate and the phenyl isothiocyanate are described and their regioselectivity is explained by theoretical calculations.     

Azavinylidenephosphoranes: A Class of Cyclic Push–Pull Carbenes

The synthesis of a novel family of cyclic push–pull carbenes, namely, azavinylidene phosphoranes, is described. The methodology is based on a formal [3+2] cycloaddition between terminal alkynes and phosphine–imines followed by an oxidation/deprotonation step. Carbenes 6 , obtained by simple deprotonation, exhibit typical transient carbene reactivity like the intramolecular C?H insertion reaction and a pronounced ambiphilic character exemplified by [2+1] cycloaddition with electron‐poor methyl acrylate. Owing to the cyclic structure, carbenes 6 also exhibit an excellent coordination ability toward transition metals. Rh^I complex 10 was obtained in excellent yield and was fully characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography. The corresponding Rh^I–carbonyl complex was also prepared; this indicates that carbenes 6 belong to the strongest σ‐donating ligands to date. DFT calculations confirmed the high σ‐donation ability of 6 and their classification as push–pull carbenes with a relatively small singlet–triplet energy gap of 23.2–24.3 kcal mol^?1.     

A Triatomic Silicon(0) Cluster Stabilized by a Cyclic Alkyl(amino) Carbene

Reduction of the neutral carbene tetrachlorosilane adduct (cAAC)SiCl₄ (cAAC=cyclic alkyl(amino) carbene :C(CMe₂)₂(CH₂)N(2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃) with potassium graphite produces stable (cAAC)₃Si₃, a carbene‐stabilized triatomic silicon(0) molecule. The Si?Si bond lengths in (cAAC)₃Si₃ are 2.399(8), 2.369(8) and 2.398(8) Å, which are in the range of Si?Si single bonds. Each trigonal pyramidal silicon atom of the triangular molecule (cAAC)₃Si₃ possesses a lone pair of electrons. Its bonding, stability, and electron density distributions were studied by quantum chemical calculations.     

Transient Dipnictyl Analogues of Acrylamides,R−E=E′−CONR2, and a Related Diphosphadigalletane from Na[OCP] and (R2N)2ECl (E,E′=P,As, Ga)

The reaction of Na[OCP] with (R₂N)₂ECl (E=P or As; R=alkyl) granted direct access to transient amine-substituted diphospha- and arsaphospha-acrylamide analogues, (R₂N)E=P(CONR₂) 1 . Their facile formation allowed for a comprehensive reactivity study. Dimerization yielded the four-membered rings (R₂N)₂E₂P₂(CONR₂)₂, whereas in the presence of excess Na[OCP], a stepwise [2+2] cycloaddition occured, leading to the sodium salts of carboxotripnictides [(R₂N)EP₂CO(CONR₂)]⁻. These salts served as a reservoir of 1 , either by extrusion of Na[OCP] or by reaction with the appropriate (R₂N)₂ECl, giving the [4+2]-cycloaddition products (R₂N)EP(C₆H₁₀)(CONR₂) in the presence of 2,3-dimethylbutadiene. The formal conjugate addition product K[(tBuO)(R₂N)PP(CONR₂)] was obtained by reaction of Na[(R₂N)PP₂CO(CONR₂)] with tBuOK. In addition, a rare diphosphadigalletane with a ladder-type (R₂N)₂Ga₂P₂(CONR₂)₂ core was isolated from the reaction of Na[OCP] with (R₂N)₂GaCl (R=alkyl). The unprecedented pnictogenyl carboxamide compounds were thoroughly characterized, including single-crystal X-ray structure determinations, and mechanisms for their formation were investigated by DFT calculations.     

Theory of the Formation and Decomposition of N‐Heterocyclic Aminooxycarbenes through Metal‐Assisted [2+3]‐Dipolar Cycloaddition/Retro‐Cycloaddition

The theoretical background of the formation of N‐heterocyclic oxadiazoline carbenes through a metal‐assisted [2+3]‐dipolar cycloaddition (CA) reaction of nitrones R¹CH?N(R²)O to isocyanides C?NR and the decomposition of these carbenes to imines R¹CH?NR² and isocyanates O?C?NR is discussed. Furthermore, the reaction mechanisms and factors that govern these processes are analyzed in detail. In the absence of a metal, oxadiazoline carbenes should not be accessible due to the high activation energy of their formation and their low thermodynamic stability. The most efficient promotors that could assist the synthesis of these species should be “carbenophilic” metals that form a strong bond with the oxadiazoline heterocycle, but without significant involvement of π‐back donation, namely, Au^I, Au^III, Pt^II, Pt^IV, Re^V, and Pd^II metal centers. These metals, on the one hand, significantly facilitate the coupling of nitrones with isocyanides and, on the other hand, stabilize the derived carbene heterocycles toward decomposition. The energy of the LUMO_CNR and the charge on the N atom of the C?N group are principal factors that control the cycloaddition of nitrones to isocyanides. The alkyl‐substituted nitrones and isocyanides are predicted to be more active in the CA reaction than the aryl‐substituted species, and the N,N,C‐alkyloxadiazolines are more stable toward decomposition relative to the aryl derivatives.     

Serendipitous Observation of AlI Insertion into a C−O Bond in L2PhB (L=Oxazol‐2‐ylidene)

Oxidative addition of the C?O bond in L₂PhB: (L=oxazol‐2‐ylidene) to an Al^I center induced ring expansion of an oxazol‐2‐ylidene ring, affording a unique organoboron species formally involving either an Al, N, O mixed heterocyclic carbene or anionic (amino)(boryl)carbene fragment.     

Ring Contraction by NHC‐Induced Pnictogen Abstraction

The reaction of [Cp′′′Co(η⁴‐P₄)] ( 1 ) (Cp′′′=1,2,4‐tBu₃C₅H₂) with ^MeNHC (^MeNHC=1,3,4,5‐tetramethylimidazol‐2‐ylidene) leads through NHC‐induced phosphorus cation abstraction to the ring contraction product [(^MeNHC)₂P][Cp′′′Co(η³‐P₃)] ( 2 ), which represents the first example of an anionic CoP₃ complex. Such NHC‐induced ring contraction reactions are also applicable for triple‐decker sandwich complexes. The complexes [(Cp*Mo)₂(μ,η^6:6‐E₆)] ( 3 a , 3 b ) (Cp*=C₅Me₅; E=P, As) can be transformed to the complexes [(^MeNHC)₂E][(Cp*M)₂(μ,η^3:3‐E₃)(μ,η^2:2‐E₂)] ( 4 a , 4 b ), with 4 b representing the first structurally characterized example of an NHC‐substituted As^I cation. Further, the reaction of the vanadium complex [(Cp*V)₂(μ,η^6:6‐P₆)] ( 5 ) with ^MeNHC results in the formation of the unprecedented complexes [(^MeNHC)₂P][(Cp*V)₂(μ,η^6:6‐P₆)] ( 6 ), [(^MeNHC)₂P][(Cp*V)₂(μ,η^5:5‐P₅)] ( 7 ) and [(Cp*V)₂(μ,η^3:3‐P₃)(μ,η^1:1‐P{^MeNHC})] ( 8 ).     

Zinc‐Catalyzed Alkene Cyclopropanation through Zinc Vinyl Carbenoids Generated from Cyclopropenes

The zinc‐catalyzed reaction of cyclopropenes with alkenes leading to vinylcyclopropane derivatives is reported. A broad range of alkenes (including highly substituted or functionalized alkenes) is compatible with this protocol. On the basis of trapping experiments and computational studies, this cyclopropanation reaction is proposed to proceed through initial formation of an electrophilic zinc vinyl carbenoid intermediate, which may be involved in a concerted cyclopropanation reaction. The reported protocol represents an unprecedented and simple strategy for the catalytic generation of zinc vinyl carbenoids, which are promising intermediates in organic synthesis.     

Formation of Aminocyclopentadienes from Silyldihydropyridines: Ring Contractions Driven by Anion Stabilization

Highly functionalized aminocyclopentadienes can be formed through the rearrangement of anions generated from readily prepared 6‐silyl‐1,2‐dihydropyridines by desilylation with fluoride. The scope and generality of the reaction was defined, and diverse transformations were performed on the highly functionalized products. A mechanism and driving force for the rearrangement were identified from experiments and DFT calculations.     

Investigation into the Regiochemistry of Some Pyrazoles Derived from 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of Methyl Methacrylate with Some Nitrilimines: A Combined Theoretical and Experimental Study

1,3‐Dipolar cycloaddition between methyl methacrylate as dipolarophile and some nitrilimines which were generated in situ afforded the new pyrazoles. The regiochemistry and reactivity of these reactions has been investigated on the basis of density functional theory (DFT)‐based reactivity indexes and activation energy calculations. The theoretical ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of the cycloadducts which were obtained by GIAO method were comparable with the observed values.     

Investigation into the Regiochemistry of 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition of C,N‐Diphenyl Nitrone with Some Vinyl Sulfoximines as Dipolarophile: Theoretical Studies

The regiochemistry of 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reactions of C,N‐diphenyl nitrone with some vinyl sulfox‐ imines as dipolarophile was investigated using density functional theory (DFT)‐based reactivity indexes and activation energy calculations at B3LYP/6‐31G(d) level of theory. Analysis of the geometries and bond orders (BOs) at the TS structures associated with the different reaction pathways shows that these 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reactions occur via an asynchronous concerted mechanism. Analysis of the local electrophilicity and nucleophilicity indexes permits an interpretation about the regioselectivity of these 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reactions. The theoretical results obtained in the work clearly predict the regiochemistry of the isolated cycloadducts and agree to experimental outcomes.     

Reaction of N‐Heterocyclic Silylenes with Thioketone: Formation of Silicon–Sulfur Three (Si‐C‐S)‐ and Five (Si‐C‐C‐C‐S)‐Membered Ring Systems

Three‐ and five‐membered rings that bear the (Si‐C‐S ) and (Si‐C‐C‐C‐S ) unit have been synthesized by the reactions of L SiCl ( 1 ; L =PhC(NtBu)₂) and L′ Si ( 2 ; L′ =CH{(C?CH₂)(CMe)(2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃N)₂}) with the thioketone 4,4′‐bis(dimethylamino)thiobenzophenone. Treatment of 4,4′‐bis(dimethylamino)thiobenzophenone with L SiCl at room temperature furnished the [1+2]‐cycloaddition product silathiacyclopropane 3 . However, reaction of 4,4′‐bis(dimethylamino)thiobenzophenone with L′ Si at low temperature afforded a [1+4]‐cycloaddition to yield the five‐membered ring product 4 . Compounds 3 and 4 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, EIMS, and elemental analysis. The molecular structures of 3 and 4 were unambiguously established by single‐crystal X‐ray structural analysis. The room‐temperature reaction of 4,4′‐bis(dimethylamino)thiobenzophenone with L′ Si resulted in products 4 and 5 , in which 4 is the dearomatized product and 5 is formed under the 1,3‐migration of a hydrogen atom from the aromatic phenyl ring to the carbon atom of the C? S unit. Furthermore, the optimized structures of probable products were investigated by using DFT calculations.     

Investigations on Novel 1,3-Diazetidine Based Four-Membered N-Heterocyclic Carbenes

Attempts towards the synthesis of two novel four-membered 1,3-diazetidine based N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) containing an organic backbone with a carbonyl functionality were undertaken. These carbenes cannot be isolated but the respective carbene dimers are obtained in quantitative yield which undergo a degradation and rearrangement sequence upon thermal exposure. Some of the species involved in these thermal reactions could be isolated and characterized, others were observed by mass spectrometric experiments. Ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) calculations provide a mechanistic rationale for the experimental observations. Since dimerization is strongly favored, classic carbene trapping reactions remain a goal to achieve.