Synthesis,characterization and catalytic properties of cationic N-heterocyclic carbene silver complexes

Three new dibenzimidazolium salts bridged by 2-methylenepropane-1,3-diyl group were synthesized. Their dinuclear N-heterocyclic carbene Ag(I) complexes were prepared by the reactions of these salts with Ag₂O. The structures of the synthesized compounds were defined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), elemental analysis, and LC-MSMS (for complexes) techniques. Stability of the silver complexes was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Catalytic activities of Ag(I) compounds were tested for three-component coupling reaction of some aldehydes, amines, and phenylacetylene.     

N-Heterocyclic Olefin-Ligated Palladium(II) Complexes as Pre-Catalysts for Buchwald–Hartwig Aminations

New N-heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) are described with functionalization on the ligand heterocyclic backbone and terminal alkylidene positions. Various Pd^II–NHO complexes have been formed and their use as pre-catalysts in Buchwald–Hartwig aminations was explored. The most active system for catalytic C−N bond formation between hindered arylamine and arylhalide substrates was accessed by combining a backbone methylated NHO with [Pd(cinnamyl)Cl]₂ in the presence of NaOtBu as a base. In these active systems evidence suggests that catalysis is mediated by colloidal palladium metal, highlighting a different coordination ability of NHOs in comparison with commonly used N-heterocyclic carbene co-ligands.     

Air-stable, convenient to handle Pd based PEPPSI (pyridine enhanced precatalyst preparation, stabilization and initiation) themed precatalysts of N/O-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes and its utility in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction

Several new air-stable, convenient to handle and easily synthesized Pd based PEPPSI (Pyridine Enhanced Precatalyst Preparation, Stabilization and Initiation) type precatalysts supported over N/O-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) namely, trans-[1-(benzyl)-3-(N-t-butylacetamido)imidazol-2-ylidene]Pd(pyridine)Cl2 (), trans-[1-(2-hydroxy-cyclohexyl)-3-(benzyl)imidazol-2-ylidene]Pd(pyridine)Cl2 () and trans-[1-(o-methoxybenzyl)-3-(t-butyl)imidazol-2-ylidene]Pd(pyridine)Br2 (), have been designed. Specifically, the Pd-NHC complexes, , and , were conveniently synthesized from their respective imidazolium halide salts by the reaction with PdCl2 in pyridine in presence of K2CO3 as a base. A new imidazolium chloride salt, 1-(benzyl)-3-(N-t-butylacetamido)imidazolium chloride () was synthesized by the alkylation reaction of benzyl imidazole with N-t-butyl-2-chloroacetamide. The molecular structures of the imidazolium chloride salt, , and the Pd-NHC complexes, , and , have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The density functional theory studies of the , and complexes were carried out to in order to gain insight about their structure, bonding and the electronic properties. The nature of the NHC-metal bond in these complexes was examined using Charge Decomposition Analysis (CDA), which revealed that the N-heterocyclic carbene ligands are effective sigma-donors. In addition, the catalysis studies revealed that the Pd-NHC complexes, , and , are effective catalysts for the Suzuki-Miyaura type C-C cross-coupling reactions.     

Copper-free and amine-free Sonogashira coupling in air in a mixed aqueous medium by palladium complexes of N/O-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes

Highly convenient copper-free and amine-free Sonogashira coupling of aryl bromides and iodides with terminal acetylenes under amenable conditions in air and in a mixed aqueous medium are reported using several new, user friendly and robust palladium precatalysts (1–5) of N/O-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). In particular, the precatalysts, 1 and 2, were synthesized from the imidazolium chloride salts by the treatment with PdCl₂ in pyridine in presence of K₂CO₃ as a base while the precatalysts, 3–5, were synthesized from the respective silver complexes by the treatment with (COD)PdCl₂. The DFT studies carried out on the 1–5 complexes suggest the presence of strong NHC–Pd σ-interactions arising out of deeply buried NHC–Pd σ-bonding molecular orbitals (MOs) that account for the inert nature of the metal–carbene bonds and also provide insights into the exceptional stability of these precatalysts.     

Palladium(II) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: synthesis,structures and cytotoxicity potential studies against breast cancer cell line

Abstract

Mononuclear trans-Pd(II)–NHC complexes (where NHC?=?N-heterocyclic carbene) bearing asymmetrically substituted NHC-ligand have been synthesized via transmetalation reaction between Ag(I)–NHC complexes and [Pd(NCCH₃)₂Cl₂]. The NHC precursors are accessible in two steps by N-n-alkyl reactions of benzimidazole. The resultant benzimidazolium salts were deprotonated with Ag₂O by in situ deprotonation to facilitate the formation of mononuclear Ag(I)–NHC complexes. Single-crystal structural study for Pd(II)–NHC shows that the palladium(II) ion exhibits a square-planar geometry of two NHC ligands and two chloride ions. The cytotoxicity study was investigated against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). The Ag(I)–NHC complexes exhibit better activities than their corresponding Pd(II)–NHC complexes, whereas all benzimidazolium salts are inactive toward MCF-7 cancer cell line.     

A series of (NHC)Pd(N˄O)(OAc) complexes: synthesis,characterization and catalytic activities towards desulfinative Sonogashira coupling of arylsulfonyl hydrazides with arylalkynes

A series of well-defined N-heterocyclic carbene palladium (II) complexes with general formula (NHC)Pd(N^˄O)(OAc) were prepared through reaction of Pd (NHC)(OAc)₂(H₂O) with 1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid or 1-methyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxylic acid in the presence of K₂CO₃. These complexes were then used for desulfinative Sonogashira coupling of arylsulfonyl hydrazides with terminal alkynes. With low catalyst loading, all synthesized palladium compounds exhibited moderate to high catalytic activities for the reactions.     

Palladium(II)?NHC complexes containing benzimidazole ligand as a catalyst for C?N bond formation

The reaction of 2‐(2‐bromoethyl)‐1,3‐dioxane with 1‐alkylbenzimidazole derivatives results in the formation of the new benzimidazolium salts (1). The reaction of Pd(OAc)₂ with 1,3‐dialkylbenzimidazolium salts (1a–c) yields palladium N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes (2a–c). All synthesized compounds were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³ C NMR, IR and elemental analysis techniques which support the proposed structures. As catalysts, these new palladium complexes offer a simple and efficient methodology for the synthesis of triarylamines and secondary amines from anilines and amines and in a single step with potassium tertiary butoxide as a base. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of an iron triazole complex resulting from the unexpected ligand cleavage of a triazolium carbene precursor

Typically reactions of N-heterocyclic carbenes with transition metals are straightforward and require a carbene salt, a base strong enough to deprotonate such a salt and a metal. Yet when carbene precursors are in the form of triazolium salts, reaction may not proceed as easily as expected. In our work, we intended to obtain a triazolylidene complex of iron(II) chloride, but due to the presence of small amounts of water in the tetrahydrofuran solvent used, bis(acetonitrile)tetrakis(1-benzyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole-κN⁴)iron(II) μ-oxido-bis[trichloridoferrate(III)] acetonitrile disolvate, [Fe(C₉H₉N₃)₄(CH₃CN)₂][Fe₂Cl₆O]·2CH₃CN – an interesting anion with a linear geometry of the O atom – was formed instead of the iron carbene complex. Reaction proceeded via cleavage of the alkyl N-substituent of the triazolium salt. The formation of the product was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The crystal structure and possible reaction pathways are discussed.     

One-N, six-membered heterocyclic carbene complexes and the remote heteroatom concept

A whole library of six-membered N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of Ni(ii) and Pd(ii) were prepared by oxidative substitution. In some of these compounds the heteroatom occurs in a position distant from the carbene donor atom. Combined structural and physical data, especially (13)C NMR results, indicate carbene character in such ligands. DFT quantum mechanical calculation at the RI-BP56/SVP level allowed the extraction of valuable chemical information predicting that rNHC (r = remote) ligands would bond more strongly than their nNHC (n = normal) isomers. This result is also corroborated by calculations on the metal complexes themselves. Orbital overlap (mainly sigma) follows the order N(2)HC(5) < nN(1)HC(6) < rN(1)HC(6) when ligands derived from halo-imidazolium and halo-pyridinium salts are compared. In C-C coupling catalysis using Pd(ii) and Ni(ii) complexes, the simple one-N, six-membered carbene complexes are superior to simple two-N, five-membered examples but clear differentiation between nNHC and rNHC precatalysts in the former family, is not always possible.     

Polycondensation of haloarylketones catalyzed by palladium compounds bearing N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands

Palladium-catalyzed α-arylation of ketones, which can efficiently give coupling products by using appropriate ligands and bases, could be applied to a polycondensation reaction. Stable N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) were used as favorable ligands coordinating the Pd catalysts, which were generated in situ from commercially available palladium compounds such as Pd(OAc)₂ and Pd₂(dba)₃ as suitable catalyst precursors in this polymerization. Using small amounts of binary catalysts, poly(aryl alkyl ketone)s were afforded in high yields from haloarylketones in the presence of a base. A primarily prepared palladium catalyst having an NHC ligand, [Pd(OAc)₂(NHC)], also efficiently catalyzed the polycondensation, whereas a palladium compound bearing two carbene ligands, [PdX₂(NHC)₂], did not.     

Unexpected Vulnerability of DPEphos to C−O Activation in the Presence of Nucleophilic Metal Hydrides

C−O bond activation of DPEphos occurs upon mild heating in the presence of [Ru(NHC)₂(PPh₃)₂H₂] (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene) to form phosphinophenolate products. When NHC=IEt₂Me₂, C−O activation is accompanied by C−N activation of an NHC ligand to yield a coordinated N-phosphino-functionalised carbene. DFT calculations define a nucleophilic mechanism in which a hydride ligand attacks the aryl carbon of the DPEphos C−O bond. This is promoted by the strongly donating NHC ligands which render a trans dihydride intermediate featuring highly nucleophilic hydride ligands accessible. C−O bond activation also occurs upon heating cis-[Ru(DPEphos)₂H₂]. DFT calculations suggest this reaction is promoted by the steric encumbrance associated with two bulky DPEphos ligands. Our observations that facile degradation of the DPEphos ligand via C−O bond activation is possible under relatively mild reaction conditions has potential ramifications for the use of this ligand in high-temperature catalysis.     

Grubbs Metathesis Enabled by a Light-Driven gem-Hydrogenation of Internal Alkynes

[(NHC)(cymene)RuCl₂] (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes instigate a light-driven gem-hydrogenation of internal alkynes with concomitant formation of discrete Grubbs-type ruthenium carbene species. This unorthodox reactivity mode is harnessed in the form of a “hydrogenative metathesis” reaction, which converts an enyne substrate into a cyclic alkene. The intervention of ruthenium carbenes formed in the actual gem-hydrogenation step was proven by the isolation and crystallographic characterization of a rather unusual representative of this series carrying an unconfined alkyl group on a disubstituted carbene center.     

Acyclic Palladium(II)‐N‐heterocyclic Carbene Metallacrown Ether Complexes: Synthesis,Structure and Catalytic Activity

Novel acyclic Pd(II)‐N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) metallacrown ethers 5a , 5b have been synthesized. Reaction of the imidazolium salts bearing a long polyether chain with Ag₂O afforded Ag‐NHC complexes, which then reacted as carbene transfer agent with PdCl₂(MeCN)₂ to give the desired acyclic Pd(II)‐NHC metallacrown ether complexes 5a and 5b . The ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra show 5a and 5b exist as mixtures of cis and trans isomers in solution. The trans isomer of 5a was characterized by X‐ray diffraction, which clearly demonstrated two pseudo‐crown ether cavities in trans‐ 5a . Pd(II)‐NHC complexes 5a and 5b have been shown to be highly effective in the Suzuki‐Miyaura reactions of a variety of aryl bromides in neat water without the need of inert gas protection.     

N-heterocyclic carbenes: III. N-heterocyclic carbene ligands based on abietane in Suzuki-Miyaura reaction

By reactions of N-alkyl- and N-arylimidazoles with methyl 12-bromoacetyldehydroabietate a series of unsymmetrically substituted chiral imidazolium bromides with the abietane fragment was synthesized. The salts obtained were suggested as new N-heterocyclic carbene ligands in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction.     

Gold(I) Complexes Stabilized by Nine- and Ten-Membered N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands

Nine- and ten-membered N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have been developed and for the first time their gold(I) complexes were synthesized. The protonated NHC pro-ligands 2 a – h were prepared by the reaction of readily available N,N′-diarylformamidines with bis-electrophilic building blocks, followed by anion exchange. In situ deprotonation of the tetrafluoroborates 2 a – h with tBuOK in the presence of AuCl(SMe₂) provided fast access to NHC-gold(I) complexes 3 – 10 . These new NHC-gold(I) complexes show very good catalytic activity in a cycloisomerization reaction (0.1 mol % catalyst loading, up to 100 % conversion) and their solid-state structures reveal high steric hindrance around the metal atom (%V_bur up to 53.0) which is caused by their expanded-ring architecture.     

Novel and efficient bridged bis(N-heterocyclic carbene)palladium(II) catalysts for selective carbonylative Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions to biaryl ketones and biaryl diketones

Bridged N,N′-substituted bisbenzimidazolium bromide salts (L1, L2, and L3) were synthesized and fully characterized. Reactions of palladium acetate with L1, L2, and L3 afforded corresponding new bridged bis(N-heterocyclic carbene)palladium(II) complexes (C1, C2, and C3) in high yields. The X-ray structure of complex C1 showed that the Pd(II) ion is bonded to the two carbon atoms of the bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) and two bromido ligands are in the cis position, resulting in a distorted square planar geometry. The three Pd(NHC)₂Br₂ complexes C1, C2, and C3 were evaluated in carbonylative Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions of aryl boronic acids with aryl halides and displayed high catalytic activity with low catalyst loading. The coupling reactions of aryl bromides were selective towards the carbonylation product at higher carbon monoxide pressure.     

Palladium N‐heterocyclic‐carbene‐catalyzed ortho‐arylation of benzaldehyde derivatives

New, sterically demanding 1,3‐dialkylbenzimidazolium salts ( 2a–c ) as N‐heterocyclic‐carbene precursors have been synthesized and characterized. The ortho position of aromatic aldehydes was directly and selectively arylated with aryl chlorides in the presence of a catalytic system prepared in situ from Pd(OAc)₂, 1,3‐dialkylbenzimidazolium chlorides ( 2a–c ), and Cs₂CO₃. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 19:569–574, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20479     

Nitrile‐functionalized Hg(II)‐ and Ag(I)‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes: synthesis,crystal structures,nuclease and DNA binding activities

Various nitrile‐functionalized benzimidazol‐2‐ylidene carbene complexes of Hg(II) and Ag(I) were synthesized by the interaction of 1‐benzyl/1‐butyl‐3‐(cyano‐benzyl)‐3 H‐benzimidazol‐1‐ium mono/dihexafluorophosphate with Hg(OAc)₂/Ag₂O in acetonitrile. Two of the benzimidazolium salts were structurally characterized by single crystal X‐ray diffraction technique. Structures of reported compounds were characterized by ¹ H, ¹³C NMR, FT‐IR, UV–visible spectroscopic techniques, and molar conductivity and elemental analyses. For bis‐benzimidazolium salt, dinuclear Hg(II)– and Ag(I)–carbene complexes were obtained. Nuclease activity and binding interactions of the synthesized benzimidazolium salts and their Ag(I)–carbene complexes with DNA were studied using agarose gel electrophoresis and, absorption spectroscopy and viscosity measurements, respectively. Ag(I)–carbene complexes showed higher DNA binding activity compared to their respective benzimidazolium salts. However, a benzimidazolium salt and two of the Ag(I) complexes showed remarkably higher nuclease activity both, in the presence and absence of an oxidizing agent. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Palladium-catalysed oxidation of alcohols with carbon tetrachloride,formation of 4,4,4-trichloro ketones from allylic alcohols and carbon tetrachlorid

Pd salts catalyse oxidation of alcohols with CCl₄ in the presence of K₂CO₃. Primary alcohols are oxidised to esters, and secondary alcohols to ketones. CCl₄ is converted to CHCl₃. The reaction of allylic alcohols bearing a terminal olefinic bond with CCl₄ or BrCCl₃ in the presence of palladium catalyst at 110° affords 4,4,4-trichloro ketones. At 40°, simple adducts of CCl₄ or BrCCl₃ having a halohydrin structure are obtained, which are converted to the corresponding trichloro ketones by the catalysis of palladium. Various halohydrins are converted to ketones by Pd catalysis.     

Palladium complexes with ethylene-bridged bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) for C-C coupling reactions

A series of new ethylene-bridged bis(imidazolium) halides with various N-substitutions were synthesized. Complexation of these imidazolium halides with Pd(OAc)₂ produced new Pd(II) ethylene-bridged bis(carbene) complexes. Crystallographic analyses of some of the new imidazolium salts and Pd(II) complexes were determined. Applications of these seven-member palladacycles in Suzuki and Heck coupling reactions produced comparable catalytic activities to those of six-member analogs.