Towards a Comprehensive Hydride Donor Ability Scale

Rates of hydride transfer from several hydride donors to benzhydrylium ions have been measured at 20 °C and used for the determination of empirical nucleophilicity parameters N and s_N according to the linear free energy relationship log k_{20 °C}=s_N(N+E). Comparison of the rate constants of hydride abstraction by tritylium ions with those calculated from the reactivity parameters s_N, N, and E showed fair agreement. Therefore, it was possible to convert the large number of literature data on hydride abstraction by tritylium ions into N and s_N parameters for the corresponding hydride donors, and construct a reactivity scale for hydride donors covering more than 20 orders of magnitude.     

Kinetics of Hydride Abstractions from 2‐Arylbenzimidazolines

The rates of the hydride abstractions from the 2‐aryl‐1,3‐dimethyl‐benzimidazolines 1a – f by the benzhydrylium tetrafluoroborates 3a – e were determined photometrically by the stopped‐flow method in acetonitrile at 20 °C. The reactions follow second‐order kinetics, and the corresponding rate constants k₂ obey the linear free energy relationship log k₂(20 °C)= s(N+E), from which the nucleophile‐specific parameters N and s of the 2‐arylbenzimidazolines 1a – c have been derived. With nucleophilicity parameters N around 10, they are among the most reactive neutral C? H hydride donors which have so far been parameterized. The poor correlation between the rates of the hydride transfer reactions and the corresponding hydricities (ΔH⁰) indicates variable intrinsic barriers.     

Reactivity of Oxygen Radical Anions Bound to Scandia Nanoparticles in the Gas Phase: CH Bond Activation

The activation of C?H bonds in alkanes is currently a hot research topic in chemistry. The atomic oxygen radical anion (O^?.) is an important species in C?H activation. The mechanistic details of C?H activation by O^?. radicals can be well understood by studying the reactions between O^?. containing transition metal oxide clusters and alkanes. Here the reactivity of scandium oxide cluster anions toward n‐butane was studied by using a high‐resolution time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer coupled with a fast flow reactor. Hydrogen atom abstraction (HAA) from n‐butane by (Sc₂O₃)_NO^? (N=1–18) clusters was observed. The reactivity of (Sc₂O₃)_NO^? (N=1–18) clusters is significantly sizedependent and the highest reactivity was observed for N=4 (Sc₈O₁₃^?) and 12 (Sc₂₄O₃₇^?). Larger (Sc₂O₃)_NO^? clusters generally have higher reactivity than the smaller ones. Density functional theory calculations were performed to interpret the reactivity of (Sc₂O₃)_NO^? (N=1–5) clusters, which were found to contain the O^?. radicals as the active sites. The local charge environment around the O^?. radicals was demonstrated to control the experimentally observed size‐dependent reactivity. This work is among the first to report HAA reactivity of cluster anions with dimensions up to nanosize toward alkane molecules. The anionic O^?. containing scandium oxide clusters are found to be more reactive than the corresponding cationic ones in the C?H bond activation.     

Nucleophilicities of Para‐Substituted Phenoxide Ions in Water and Correlation Analysis

Second‐order rate constants for the reactions of 2‐aryl‐4,6‐dinitrobenzotriazole 1‐oxides 1a‐d with some 4‐X‐substituted phenoxide ions 2a‐d (X = OCH₃, H, Cl, and CN) have been measured in aqueous solution at 20°C. The pK_a values for the σ‐complexation processes of a series of benzotriazole 1a‐d measured in water have been used to determine their electrophilicity parameters E according to the correlation E = –3.20 – 0.662 pK_a (F. Terrier, S. Lakhdar, T. Boubaker, and R. Goumont, J Org Chem, 2005 , 70, 6242–6253). For these reactions, plots of log k versus the electrophilicity parameters E of the benzotriazoles 1a‐d were linear, allowing to derive the nucleophilicity parameters N and s for phenoxide ions as defined by the Mayr equation log k₁ (20°C) = s (E + N) (H. Mayr, M. Patz. Angew Chem, Int Ed Engl 1994 , 33, 938–957). The N values are found to cover a range of nucleophilicity from 6.85 to 10.22, going from 4‐cyanophenoxide 2d for the least reactive ion to 4‐methoxyphenoxide 2a for the most reactive nucleophile. Good linear correlations were found between the nucleophilicity parameters N of phenoxide ions 2a‐d and the pK_a values of their conjugate acids (N = –3.05 + 1.25 pK_a) and the constants of the substituents X (N = 9.21 – 2.51).     

Nucleophilicity of Glutathione: A Link to Michael Acceptor Reactivities

Deprotonated glutathione is among the most potent biological nucleophiles and plays an important physiological role in cellular detoxification by forming covalent conjugates with Michael acceptors. The electrophilicity E of various Michael acceptors was characterized recently according to the Patz–Mayr relation lg k₂=s_N(N+E). We now determined the nucleophilic reactivity (N, s_N) of glutathione (GSH) in aqueous solution at 20 °C to connect published GSH reactivities (k_GSH) with Mayr's electrophilicity scale (E). In this way, electrophilicities E of more than 70 Michael acceptors could be estimated, which can now be used to systematically predict novel reactions with the multitude of nucleophiles whose nucleophilicity parameters N/s_N are known.     

Reactions of Substituted Phenylnitromethane Carbanions with Aromatic Nitro Compounds in Methanol: Carbanion Reactivity,Kinetic, and Equilibrium Studies

The feasibility of carrying out nucleophilic addition from electron‐deficient heteroaromatics has been addressed through a detailed investigation of the interaction of a two 7‐substituted‐nitrobenzofurazan (R = OMe 2a ; R = Cl 2b ) with a series of substituted‐nitroaryl anions (X = 4‐NO₂ 1a ; X = 3‐NO₂ 1b ; X = 4‐CN 1c ; X = 4‐Br 1d ), all reactions first lead to the quantitative formation of the σ‐adducts 3a–d and 4a–d arising from covalent addition of the nucleophile to the C‐5 carbon. The rate and equilibrium constants for the formation of σ‐adducts 3a–d and 4a–d (k₅, K ₅ ) together with the rate constants for their decomposition (k_?5) have been determined in methanol at 25°C, allowing a determination of intrinsic rate constants, k₀ = 0.03, the lower k₀ value reflects the very strong salvation by methanol of the negative charge on the nitro group. The discovery of a linear correlation between the E and pK_a^MeOH parameters allows a calibration of the electrophilicity power of 2a and 2b , E = ?11.67 and ?10.29, respectively. Applying the general approach to nucleophilicity/electrophilicity recently developed by Mayr et al. through the relationship log k = s(E + N), a successful ranking of our nitroaryl anions 1a–d on the general nucleophilicity scale (N) has been carried out. The N values of 1a–d are found to cover a range from 15.78 to 16.69. The results are compared with previously reported data in water and DMSO.     

Bio‐Inspired Transition Metal–Organic Hydride Conjugates for Catalysis of Transfer Hydrogenation: Experiment and Theory

Taking inspiration from yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (yADH), a benzimidazolium (BI⁺) organic hydride‐acceptor domain has been coupled with a 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen) metal‐binding domain to afford a novel multifunctional ligand ( L ^BI+) with hydride‐carrier capacity ( L ^BI++H^?? L ^BIH). Complexes of the type [Cp*M( L ^BI)Cl][PF₆]₂ (M=Rh, Ir) have been made and fully characterised by cyclic voltammetry, UV/Vis spectroelectrochemistry, and, for the Ir^III congener, X‐ray crystallography. [Cp*Rh( L ^BI)Cl][PF₆]₂ catalyses the transfer hydrogenation of imines by formate ion in very goods yield under conditions where the corresponding [Cp*Ir( L ^BI)Cl][PF₆] and [Cp*M(phen)Cl][PF₆] (M=Rh, Ir) complexes are almost inert as catalysts. Possible alternatives for the catalysis pathway are canvassed, and the free energies of intermediates and transition states determined by DFT calculations. The DFT study supports a mechanism involving formate‐driven Rh?H formation (90 kJ mol^?1 free‐energy barrier), transfer of hydride between the Rh and BI⁺ centres to generate a tethered benzimidazoline (BIH) hydride donor, binding of imine substrate at Rh, back‐transfer of hydride from the BIH organic hydride donor to the Rh‐activated imine substrate (89 kJ mol^?1 barrier), and exergonic protonation of the metal‐bound amide by formic acid with release of amine product to close the catalytic cycle. Parallels with the mechanism of biological hydride transfer in yADH are discussed.     

Exploration of the Synthetic Potential of Electrophilic Trifluoromethylthiolating and Difluoromethylthiolating Reagents

The electrophilicity parameters (E) of some trifluoromethylthiolating and difluoromethylthiolating reagents were determined by following the kinetics of their reactions with a series of enamines and carbanions with known nucleophilicity parameters (N, s_N), using the linear free‐energy relationship log k₂=s_N(N+E). The electrophilic reactivities of these reagents cover a range of 17 orders of magnitude, with Shen and Lu's reagent 1 a being the most reactive and Billard's reagent 1 h being the least reactive electrophile. While the observed electrophilic reactivities (E) of the amido‐derived trifluoromethylthiolating reagents correlate well with the calculated Gibbs energies for heterolytic cleavage of the X?SCF₃ bonds (Tt⁺DA), the cumol‐derived reagents 1 f and 1 g are more reactive than expected from the thermodynamics of the O?S cleavage. The E parameters of the tri/difluoromethylthiolating reagents derived in this work provide an ordering principle for their use in synthesis.     

Electrophilic Reactivities of Azodicarboxylates

The kinetics of the reactions of the azodicarboxylates 1 with the enamines 2 have been studied in CH₃CN at 20 °C. The reactions follow a second‐order rate law and can be described by the linear free energy relationship log k₂(20 °C)=s(N+E) (E=electrophilicity parameter, N=nucleophilicity parameter, and s=nucleophile‐specific slope parameter). With E parameters from ?12.2 to ?8.9, the electrophilic reactivities of 1 turned out to be comparable to those of α,β‐unsaturated iminium ions, amino‐substituted benzhydrylium ions, and ordinary Michael acceptors. While the E parameters of the azodicarboxylates 1 determined in this work also hold for their reactions with triarylphosphines, they cannot be used for estimating rate constants for their reactions with amines. Comparison of experimental and calculated rate constants for cycloadditions and ene reactions of azodicarboxylates provides information on the concertedness of these reactions.     

Mechanistic Investigation of Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase by Using N‐Methylated Phenylalanines

N‐Methyl‐L ‐phenylalanine ( 5 ), N‐methyl‐4‐nitro‐L ‐phenylalanine ( 6 ), and N,N‐dimethyl‐4‐nitro‐L ‐phenylalanine ( 7 ?H⁺) were investigated as substrates or inhibitors of phenylalanine ammonia lyase from Petroselinum crispum. Whereas the former was a reluctant substrate (K_m =6.6 mM , k_cat =0.22 s^?1), no reverse reaction could be detected by using methylamine and (E)‐cinnamate ( 2 ). The K_m value for ammonia in the reverse reaction by using (E)‐cinnamate ( 2 ) was determined to be 4.4 and 2.6M at pH 8.8 and 10, respectively. The N‐methylated 4‐nitro‐L ‐phenylalanines 6 and 7 showed only strong inhibitory effects (K_i =130 nM and 8 nM , resp.). These and former results are discussed in terms of the mechanism of action of phenyalalanine and histidine ammonia lyases.     

Counterion Dependence of Dinitrogen Activation and Functionalization by a Diniobium Hydride Anion

We report the synthesis of anionic diniobium hydride complexes with a series of alkali metal cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺) and the counterion dependence of their reactivity with N₂. Exposure of these complexes to N₂ initially produces the corresponding side‐on end‐on N₂ complexes, the fate of which depends on the nature of countercations. The lithium derivative undergoes stepwise migratory insertion of the hydride ligands onto the aryloxide units, yielding the end‐on bridging N₂ complex. For the potassium derivative, the N?N bond cleavage takes place along with H₂ elimination to form the nitride complex. Treatment of the side‐on end‐on N₂ complex with Me₃SiCl results in silylation of the terminal N atom and subsequent N?N bond cleavage along with H₂ elimination, giving the nitride‐imide‐bridged diniobium complex.     

The Unexpected Mechanism Underlying the High‐Valent Mono‐Oxo‐Rhenium(V) Hydride Catalyzed Hydrosilylation of CN Functionalities: Insights from a DFT Study

In this study, we theoretically investigated the mechanism underlying the high‐valent mono‐oxo‐rhenium(V) hydride Re(O)HCl₂(PPh₃)₂ ( 1 ) catalyzed hydrosilylation of C?N functionalities. Our results suggest that an ionic S_N2‐Si outer‐sphere pathway involving the heterolytic cleavage of the Si?H bond competes with the hydride pathway involving the C?N bond inserted into the Re?H bond for the rhenium hydride ( 1 ) catalyzed hydrosilylation of the less steric C?N functionalities (phenylmethanimine, PhCH=NH, and N‐phenylbenzylideneimine, PhCH=NPh). The rate‐determining free‐energy barriers for the ionic outer‐sphere pathway are calculated to be ～28.1 and 27.6 kcal mol^?1, respectively. These values are slightly more favorable than those obtained for the hydride pathway (by ～1–3 kcal mol^?1), whereas for the large steric C?N functionality of N,1,1‐tri(phenyl)methanimine (PhCPh=NPh), the ionic outer‐sphere pathway (33.1 kcal mol^?1) is more favorable than the hydride pathway by as much as 11.5 kcal mol^?1. Along the ionic outer‐sphere pathway, neither the multiply bonded oxo ligand nor the inherent hydride moiety participate in the activation of the Si?H bond.     

Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions of 2‐Methoxy‐3‐X‐5‐nitrothiophenes: Effect of Substituents and Structure–Reactivity Correlations

A kinetic study is reported for reactions of 2‐methoxy‐3‐X‐5‐nitrothiophenes 1a–d (X = SO₂CH₃, CO₂CH₃, CONH₂, H) with piperidine in different solvents at 20°C. It is shown that the reactions take place through a S_NAr mechanism with the initial nucleophilic addition step being rate limiting. The satisfactory Hammett correlations (log k₁ vs. σ) obtained in the present system confirms that a 3‐X substituent exerts an effect on the 2‐position of the same type as that exerted from the 5‐position. The second‐order rate constants associated with these reactions are employed to determine the electrophilicity parameters E of the thiophenes 1a–d according to the relationship log k (20°C) = s(E + N) (Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl. 1994, 33, 938–957). The E values of 1a–d are found to cover a range from ?21.33 to ?17.18, going from 1d , the least reactive, to 1a , the most reactive thiophene. Interestingly, a linear correlation (r² = 0.9910) between the electrophilicity parameters E determined in this work and the Hammett's σ constants values has been observed and discussed. On the other hand, we have found that the reported rate constants of some thiophenes 1 complexation by the methoxide ion in methanol are 3.5–73.5 times higher than predicted by Mayr's approach.     

Conformational Analysis of Biphenyl Derivatives. I. A Novel Steric Constant from the Internal Rotation Rate of 2,2′‐Bis‐(N‐Substituted Carbamoylmethyl)Biphenyl by Means of Dynamic NMR

A novel scale of steric substituent constant E_s^D is defined from the correlation of the logarithms of the internal rotation rate (k_r) at 393 K with Hancock (E_s^c) steric constant by means of dynamic NMR. In the inhibition of Pseudomona species lipase by 2,2′‐bis‐(N‐substituted carbamoylmethyl)biphenyls (1‐8), the logarithms of bimolecular rate constants are multiply correlated with both the Taft substituent constant σ* and E_s^D.     

Azo‐Coupling Reactions of Para‐X‐Benzenediazonium Cations with 3‐Ethoxythiophene in Acetonitrile

Kinetic studies for the azo‐coupling reactions of 3‐ethoxythiophene 1 with a series of 4‐X‐substituted diazonium cations 2a‐e (X = OCH₃, CH₃, H, Cl, and NO₂) have been investigated in acetonitrile at 20°C. The second‐order rate constants have been employed to determine the nucleophilicity parameters N and s of the thiophene 1 according the Mayr equation. Thus, the nucleophile‐specific parameters N and s of thiophene 1 have been derived and compared with the reactivities of other C‐nucleophiles in acetonitrile (pyrroles, furan, indoles, etc.). The Yukawa–Tsuno plot resulted in an excellent correlation (R² = 0.9980) with an r value of 0.89, suggesting that the nonlinear Hammett plot observed in the present work is due to resonance demand of the π–electron donor substituent of on the –N₂⁺ moiety. Importantly, using the concept of global electrophilicity (ω) proposed by Parr, we successfully predict the electrophilicity parameters E of seven substituted diazonium cations whose experimental data are available.     

Insertion of Molecular Oxygen in Transition‐Metal Hydride Bonds,Oxygen‐Bond Activation,and Unimolecular Dissociation of Metal Hydroperoxide Intermediates. Short Communication

Thermal activation of molecular oxygen is observed for the late‐transition‐metal cationic complexes [M(H)(OH)]⁺ with M=Fe, Co, and Ni. Most of the reactions proceed via insertion in a metal? hydride bond followed by the dissociation of the resulting metal hydroperoxide intermediate(s) upon losses of O, OH, and H₂O. As indicated by labeling studies, the processes for the Ni complex are very specific such that the O‐atoms of the neutrals expelled originate almost exclusively from the substrate O₂. In comparison to the [M(H)(OH)]⁺ cations, the ion? molecule reactions of the metal hydride systems [MH]⁺ (M=Fe, Co, Ni, Pd, and Pt) with dioxygen are rather inefficient, if they occur at all. However, for the solvated complexes [M(H)(H₂O)]⁺ (M=Fe, Co, Ni), the reaction with O₂ involving O? O bond activation show higher reactivity depending on the transition metal: 60% for the Ni, 16% for the Co, and only 4% for the Fe complex relative to the [Ni(H)(OH)]⁺/O₂ couple.     

Cobalt‐Catalyzed sp2‐C−H Activation: Intermolecular Heterocyclization with Allenes at Room Temperature

The reactivity of allenes in transition‐metal‐catalyzed C?H activation chemistry is governed by the formation of either alkenyl–metal (M–alkenyl) or metal–π‐allyl intermediates. Although either protonation or a β‐hydride elimination is feasible with a M–alkenyl intermediate, cyclization has remained unexplored to date. Furthermore, due to the increased steric hindrance, the regioselectivity for the intramolecular cyclization of the metal–π‐allyl intermediate was hampered towards the more substituted side. To address these issues, a unified approach to synthesize a diverse array of biologically and pharmaceutically relevant heterocyclic moieties by cobalt‐catalyzed directed C?H functionalization was envisioned. Upon successful implementation, the present strategy led to the regioselective formation of dihydroisoquinolin‐1(2H)‐ones, isoquinolin‐1(2H)‐ones, dihydropyridones, and pyridones.     

The Ketimide Ligand is Not Just an Inert Spectator: Heteroallene Insertion Reactivity of an Actinide–Ketimide Linkage in a Thorium Carbene Amide Ketimide Complex

The ketimide anion R₂C?N^? is an important class of chemically robust ligand that binds strongly to metal ions and is considered ideal for supporting reactive metal fragments due to its inert spectator nature; this contrasts with R₂N^? amides that exhibit a wide range of reactivities. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of a rare example of an actinide ketimide complex [Th(BIPM^TMS){N(SiMe₃)₂}(N?CPh₂)] [ 2 , BIPM^TMS=C(PPh₂NSiMe₃)₂]. Complex 2 contains Th?C_carbene, Th? N_amide and Th? N_ketimide linkages, thereby presenting the opportunity to probe the preferential reactivity of these linkages. Importantly, reactivity studies of 2 with unsaturated substrates shows that insertion reactions occur preferentially at the Th? N_ketimide bond rather than at the Th?C_carbene or Th? N_amide bonds. This overturns the established view that metal‐ketimide linkages are purely inert spectators.     

Nucleophilicities and carbon basicities of pyridines

Rate and equilibrium constants for the reactions of pyridines with donor‐substituted benzhydrylium ions have been determined spectrophotometrically. The correlation equation log k(20 °C)=s(N+E), in which s and N are nucleophile‐specific parameters and E is an electrophile‐specific parameter, has been used to determine the nucleophilicity parameters of various pyridines in CH₂Cl₂ and aqueous solution and to compare them with N of other nucleophiles. It is found that the nucleophilic organocatalyst 4‐(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) and tertiary phosphanes have comparable nucleophilicities and carbon basicities despite widely differing Brønsted basicities. For that reason, these reactivity parameters are suggested as guidelines for the development of novel organocatalysts. The Marcus equation is employed for the determination of the intrinsic barriers of these reactions.     

Structure-reactivity relationships on Michael additions of secondary cyclic amines with 3-cyanomethylidene-2-oxindoline derivatives

A kinetic study of the nucleophilic addition reactions of 3-cyanomethylidene-2-oxindoline derivatives with cyclic amines (namely: piperidine, morpholine and pyrrolidine) in MeCN solution at 20 °C is reported. The second-order rate constants showed of this process fit nicely the Brönsted equation log k₁ = β_nuc pK_a + C, allowing the determination of the β_nuc parameter in the range of 0.63 < β_nuc < 0.77 that indicates that the degree of formation of N–C bond in the transition state is more half complete. Moreover, the analysis of the kinetic measurements based on a good linear log k (20 °C) = s_N (E + N) free enthalpy relationship are used to assess the electrophilic reactivity in term of E parameter of these series of 2-oxindoline derivatives Michael acceptors. Of major interest is that the estimated E values were established to cover a domain of reactivity of ~3 units of E, ranging from −17.5 for 2-(5-chloro-2-oxindolin-3-ylidene)malononitrile (the most reactive electrophile) to −20.3 for ethyl 2-(5-chloro-1-methyl-2-oxindolin-3-ylidene)-2-cyanoacetate (the least reactive electrophile). The theoretical reactivity indices ω based on the conceptual Density Functional Theory (DFT) explains correctly the experimental electrophilicity E ordering founded in terms of experimental scales.