Lewis acid-catalyzed reactions of mono-aryl group substituted methylenecyclopropanes with diethyl ketomalonate

Mono-aryl group substituted methylenecyclopropanes (MCPs) 1 react with diethyl ketomalonate 2a, an activated ketone, to give the corresponding 7-hydroxy-5-oxa-spiro[2,4]heptan-6-one derivatives 6 with syn-configuration in moderate yields in the presence of water under the catalysis of Lewis acids such as Sc(OTf)₃, Yb(OTf)₃ or In(OTf)₃ at room temperature. The reaction mechanism has been discussed on the basis of an ¹⁸O-labeling experiment.     

Synthesis of indenes by ytterbium-catalyzed carboalkoxylation/Friedel-Crafts reaction of arylidenecyclopropanes with acetals

Ytterbium-catalyzed tandem carboalkoxylation/Friedel-Crafts reaction of arylidenecyclopropanes 1 with acetals 2 afforded the corresponding indene derivatives 3 in good to high yields. For example, in the presence of 10 mol % of Yb(OTf)₃ the reaction of 1-phenylbenzylidenecyclopropane 1a with the dimethyl acetals of benzaldehyde 2a, p-tolualdehyde 2b, and p-anisaldehyde 2c gave 1,3-diphenyl-2-(2-methoxyethyl)indene 3a, 2-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-phenyl-1-(p-tolyl)indene 3b, and 1-(p-anisyl)-2-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-phenylindene 3c in 82%, 80%, and 80% yields, respectively.     

Novel catalytic hydrogenolysis of silyl enol ethers by the use of acidic ruthenium dihydrogen complexes

Treatment of 1-trimethylsilyloxy-1-cyclohexene (1a) in the presence of a catalytic amount of the acidic dihydrogen complex [RuCl(η²-H₂)(dppe)₂]OTf (4a) [dppe=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, OTf=OSO₂CF₃] (10 mol.%) under 1 atm of H₂ in anhydrous ClCD₂CD₂Cl at 50 °C for 8 h afforded cyclohexanone (3a) and Me₃SiH in quantitative NMR yields. Silyl enol ethers such as 1-triethylsilyloxy-1-cyclohexene (1b), 1-t-butyldimethylsilyloxy-1-cyclohexene (1c), and other trimethylsilylethers (1d, 1e, and 1f) reacted similarly with H₂ to afford the corresponding ketones and trialkylsilanes. The direct proton transfer from H₂ to the trimethylsilyl enol ethers (1a and 1d-1f) was confirmed by the experiments employing D₂ gas, where α-monodeuterated ketones (3a′ and 3d′-3f′) were obtained in high yields. The enantioselective protonation of prochiral silyl enol ethers with 1 atm of H₂ by employing [RuCl(η²-H₂)((S)-BINAP)₂]OTf (4e) [BINAP=2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthyl] and [RuCl(η²-H₂)((R, R)-CHIRAPHOS)₂]OTf (4f) [CHIRAPHOS=2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane] showed that no enantioselectivity was observed in either catalytic or stoichiometric protonation reactions under various reaction conditions. The reaction of [RuHCl(dppe)₂] (5a) with one equivalent of Me₃SiOTf under 1 atm of H₂ produced rapidly 4a, concurrent with the formation of Me₃SiH. Based on these studies, the mechanism for this novel hydrogenolysis of silyl enol ethers is proposed which involves heterolytic cleavage of the coordinated H₂ on the ruthenium atom caused by the nucleophilic attack of the oxygen atom of enol ethers to give ketones and Me₃SiOTf, and the subsequent reaction of the resultant complex 5a with Me₃SiOTf under 1 atm of H₂ to regenerate the original dihydrogen complex 4a. On the other hand, the stoichiometric reaction of a lithium enolate 6e with one equivalent of 4e at −78 °C in CH₂Cl₂ under 1 atm of H₂ afforded 2-methyl-1-tetralone (3e) with 75% ee (S) in >95% yield, together with the formation of [RuHCl((S)-BINAP)₂] (5e).     

Insertion of nitrene and chalcogenolate groups into the Ir-C σ bond in a cyclometalated iridium(III) complex

Treatment of [Cp∗Ir(ppy)Cl] (Cp∗ = η⁵-C₅Me₅, ppyH = 2-(2-pyridyl)phenyl) with Ag(OTf) (OTf⁻ = triflate) in MeOH and MeCN gave the solvento complexes [Cp∗Ir(ppy)(solv)][OTf] (solv = MeOH (1) and MeCN (2)). Complex 1 is capable of catalyzing oxidation and azirdination of styrene with PhIO and PhINTs (Ts = tosyl), respectively. Treatment of 2 with a stoichiometric amount of PhINTs resulted in the insertion of the NTs group into the Ir-C(ppy) bond and formation of [Cp∗Ir(η²-ppy-NTs)(MeCN)][OTf] (3). Treatment of 1 with R₂E₂ afforded [Cp∗Ir(ppy)(η¹-R₂E₂)][OTf] (E = S (4), Se (5), Te (6)). Reactions of 4 and 5 with Ag(OTf) resulted in cleavage of the E-E bond and insertion of an ER group into the Ir-C(ppy) bond. The crystal structures of complexes 2-6 and [Cp∗Ir(η²-ppy-S-p-tol)(H₂O)][OTf]₂ have been determined.     

Mechanistic studies on reaction of [ReH4(η-H2)(Cyttp)] with ketones to give the hydrido-oxo complex [ReH2(O)(Cyttp)] (Cyttp = PhP(CH2CH2CH2PCy2)2)

Mechanistic studies were conducted on reaction of [ReH₄(η²-H₂)(Cyttp)]OTf (1(OTf); Cyttp = PhP(CH₂CH₂CH₂PCy₂)₂, OTf = O₃SCF₃) with ketones, both neat and in solution. Treatment of 1(OTf) with excess acetone at 60-65 °C affords [ReH₂(O)(Cyttp)]OTf (2(OTf)) in high yield, nearly 1 equiv. of H₂, 2 equiv. of 2-propanol, 1 equiv. of each of 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone (B) and 4-methylpent-3-en-2-one (C), and smaller amounts of other organic products derived by condensation or related reactions of acetone. The presence of C, apparently arising by dehydration of B, points to the formation of 1 equiv. of H₂O in the reaction system. Use of acetone-d₆ in conjunction with 1(OTf) gives 2(OTf) containing no deuterium, as well as 1 equiv. of each of (CD₃)₂CHOH/OD and (CD₃)₂CDOD/OH. Reactions of 1(OTf) with cyclohexanone, including cyclohexanone-2,2,6,6-d₄, under comparable conditions, give analogous results. The ketones cyclopentanone, 2-butanone, and 3-pentanone also convert 1(OTf) to 2(OTf) upon heating, as does isobutyraldehyde, but only in the presence of the stabilizer BHT. In contrast, the more robust ketones 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanone, 2,6-dimethylcyclohexanone, and 2-adamantanone, which do not undergo condensation, failed to effect this transformation. Other organooxygen compounds, i.e., methanol, cyclohexanol, 1,2-butene oxide, cyclohexene oxide, DMSO, and Me₃NO, also are ineffective. A mechanism is proposed which begins with loss of H₂ by 2 to give a 16-electron “[ReH₄(Cyttp)]⁺” which, depending on the experimental conditions, binds a solvent or ligand molecule. A [ReH₄(R₂CO)(Cyttp)]⁺ intermediate generated in this manner reacts spontaneously by elimination of R₂CHOH (containing methine hydrogen even when deuteriated ketone is used), which results from transfer of two hydride ligands to coordinated ketone. Continued reaction leads to the formation of 2 and another molecule of R₂CHOH (containing methine deuterium when deuteriated ketone is employed), with the added hydrogens coming from H₂O, which derives from solvent/reactant ketone.     

High-pressure NMR study of migratory CO-insertion in palladium-methyl complexes modified with Cs-symmetrical 1,4-diphosphines

Carbonylation of the palladium complexes [PdCH₃(P^∧P′)Cl] (P^∧P′ = 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e) and [PdCH₃(P^∧P′)(CH₃CN)](OTf) was investigated by means of high-pressure NMR with the determination of the half-life times t_1/2. The results were rationalized on the basis of the electronic properties of the diphosphines and the nature of the solvento ligand in the first coordination sphere. The crystal structures of the complexes [Pd(1b)Cl₂] and [Pd(1b)(H₂O)₂](OTf)₂ are described (1b = 1-(diphenylphosphinomethyl)-2-[bis(3- trifluoromethylphenyl)phosphinomethyl]benzene).     

(R,R,R)-Tris(2-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)- and (S,S,S)-tris(2-hydroxy-2-methylethyl)phosphine: water-soluble chiral trialkylphosphines with C3-symmetry

The first α- and β-chiral water-soluble trialkylmonophosphines, 1 and 2, respectively, both with C₃ symmetry, were synthesised from sodium phosphide and chiral mesylates, accessible from (S)-ethyl lactate. X-ray structures of a corresponding 2:1 gold(I) complex [1₂Au(I)]OTf and of a borane complex 2·BH₃ were determined.     

Intramolecular allylboration of γ-(ω-formylalkoxy)allylboronates for syntheses of trans- or cis-2-(ethenyl)tetrahydropyran-3-ol and 2-(ethenyl)oxepan-3-ol

3-Alkoxy-1-alkynes 4 were hydroborated with pinacolborane (HBpin) to give 3-alkoxy-1-alkenylboronates 5. The latter gave (E)-3-alkoxyallylboronates (8: (E)-(MeO)₂CHCH₂(CH₂)_nCH₂OCHCHCH₂Bpin, n=1-3) when they were subjected to iridium-catalyzed isomerization of the double bond. The corresponding (Z)-isomers 10 were synthesized by nickel-catalyzed isomerization of 5. Both allylboronates underwent intramolecular allylboration leading to the formation of trans-2-(ethenyl)tetrahydropyran-3-ol or 2-(ethenyl)oxepan-3-ol from 8 and the corresponding cis-isomers from 10 in the presence of Yb(OTf)₃ (20 mol%) in aqueous acetonitrile at 90°C.     

Half sandwich complexes of Ru(II) and complexes of Pd(II) and Pt(II) with seleno and thio derivatives of pyrrolidine: Synthesis, structure and applications as catalysts for organic reactions

The reactions of PhSe⁻, PhS⁻ and Se²⁻ with N-{2-(chloroethyl)}pyrrolidine result in N-{2-(phenylseleno)ethyl}pyrrolidine (L1), N-{2-(phenylthio)ethyl}pyrrolidine (L2), and bis{2-pyrrolidene-N-yl)ethyl selenide (L3), respectively, which have been explored as ligands. The complexes [PdCl₂(L1/L2)] (1/7), [PtCl₂(L1/L2)] (2/8), [RuCl(η⁶-C₆H₆)(L1/L2)][PF₆] (3/9), [RuCl(η⁶-p-cymene)(L1/L2)][PF₆] (4/10), [RuCl(η⁶-p-cymene)(NH₃)₂][PF₆] (5) and [Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)(L1)(CH₃CN)][PF₆]₂·CH₃CN (6) have been synthesized. The L1-L3 and complexes were found to give characteristic NMR (Proton, Carbon-13 and Se-77). The crystal structures of complexes 1, 3-6, 9 and 10 have been solved. The Pd-Se and Ru-Se bond lengths have been found to be 2.353(2) and 2.480(11)/2.4918(9)/2.4770(5) Å, respectively. The complexes 1 and 7 have been explored for catalytic Heck and Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions. The value of TON has been found up to 85 000 with the advantage of catalyst’s stability under ambient conditions. The efficiency of 1 is marginally better than 7. The Ru-complexes 3 and 9 are good for catalytic oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols in CH₂Cl₂ in the presence of N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMO). The TON value varies between 8.0 × 10⁴ and 9.7 × 10⁴ for this oxidation. The 3 is somewhat more efficient catalyst than 9.     

Titanium(IV) terminal hydroxo complexes containing chelating bis(phosphine oxide) ligands

Treatment of [L_OEtTi(OTf)₃] (, OTf⁻ = triflate) with S-binapO₂ (binap = 2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphinoyl)-1,1′-binaphthyl) afforded the terminal hydroxo complex [L_OEtTi(S-binapO₂)(OH)][OTf]₂ (1). Treatment of [L_OEtTi(OTf)₃] with K(tpip) (tpip⁻ = [N(Ph₂PO)₂]⁻) afforded [L_OEtTi(tpip)(OTf)][OTf] (2) that reacted with CsOH to give [L_OEtTi(tpip)(OH)][OTf] (3). The structures of 1 and 2 have been determined.     

Copper catalysed 1,4-addition of organozinc reagents to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds: a mechanistic investigation

A mechanistic study of the 1,4-addition of diethylzinc to 2-cyclohexenone catalysed by copper complexes of the Schiff base ligand H₂L1 was performed. The kinetic law of this system was determined and the nature of the different copper complexes involved in the reaction was investigated. The experimental results indicate a first-order dependence of the reaction rate on 2-cyclohexenone concentration, a zero-order on diethylzinc concentration, and a first-order dependence with respect to the concentration of a 1:1.2 mixture of Cu(OTf)₂ and H₂L1. A sharp change in the kinetics of the reaction was observed at catalyst concentrations higher than 9 mM, indicating the possible formation of catalytically inactive species. An aggregate copper complex, with the molecular formula [(CuL1)₂ · Cu(OTf)₂](TfOH)_1/3 (1), is formed upon mixing Cu(OTf)₂ and ligand H₂L1 in toluene. Complex 1 is reduced in situ to a catalytically active copper(I) species by addition of 12 equivalents of Et₂Zn. This species is able to perform the conjugate addition to 2-cyclohexenone under stoichiometric conditions and resumes its catalytic activity in the presence of 2-cyclohexenone and Et₂Zn.     

Heterolytic CH-bond activation in the synthesis of Ni{(2-aryl-κC)pyridine-κN}2 and derivatives

Thermolysis of Ni(OTf)₂ in 2-phenyl-pyridine or 2-tolyl-pyridine afforded the cationic chelate derivatives, [bis(2-aryl-pyridine)Ni{(2-aryl-κC²)pyridine-κN}]OTf (aryl = phenyl, 1a; tolyl, 1b). Addition of KBr to 1a and LiBr to 1b provided the bromides, (2-aryl-pyridine)BrNi{(2-aryl-κC²)pyridine-κN} (aryl = phenyl, 2a; tolyl, 2b). When subjected to KO^tBu in Et₂O, the bromides generated the entitled bis-cyclometalated compounds, Ni{(2-aryl-κC²)pyridine-κN}₂ (aryl = phenyl, 3a; tolyl, 3b). These compounds insert diphenylacetylene into one cyclometalate arm to produce [(2-aryl-κC²)pyridine-κN]Ni[2-(2-(1,2-diphenylethenyl-κC²)aryl)pyridine-κN] (aryl = phenyl, 4a; p-tolyl, 4b). X-ray crystallographic studies were conducted on 1a, 2a, 3a and 4a, and a brief DFT study of 3a confirmed its low spin configuration and rippled geometry.     

Direct functionalization of the cyclometalated 2-(2′-pyridyl)phenyl ligand bound to iridium(III)

Treatment of [Ir(ppy)₂(μ-Cl)]₂ and [Ir(ppy)₂(dtbpy)][OTf] (ppy = 2-(2′-pyridyl)phenyl; dtbpy = 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine; OTf = triflate) with pyridinium tribromide in the presence of Fe powder led to isolation of [Ir(4-Br-ppy)(μ-Br)]₂ (1) and [Ir(4-Br-ppy)₂(dtbpy)][OTf] (2), respectively. Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling of 2 with RB(OH)₂ afforded [Ir(4-R-ppy)₂(dtbpy)][OTf] (R = 4′-FC₆H₄ (3)), 4′-PhC₆H₄ (4), 2′-thienyl (5), 4′-C₆H₄CH₂OH (6). Treatment of 4 with B₂(pin)₂ (pin = pinacolate) afforded [Ir{4-(pin)B-ppy}₂(dtbpy)][OTf] (7). The alkynyl complexes [Ir(4-PhCC-ppy)₂(dtbpy)][OTf] (8) and [Ir{4-Me₂(OH)CC-ppy}(4-Br-ppy)(dtbpy)][OTf] (9) were prepared by cross-coupling of 2 with PhCCSnMe₃ and Me₂C(OH)CCH, respectively. Ethynylation of [Ir(fppy)₂(dtbpy)][OTf] (fppy = 5-formyl-2-(2′-pyridyl)phenyl) with Ohira’s reagent MeCOC(N₂)P(O)(OEt)₂ afforded [Ir{5-HCC-ppy}₂(dtbpy)][OTf] (10). The solid-state structures of 2, 5, 7, and 10 have been determined.     

Selenoether ligand assisted Heck catalysis

Selenoether ligands, 2,2′-methylenebis(selanediyl)bis(2,1-phenylene)dimethanol (5), (2,2′-(ethane-1,2-diylbis(selanediyl))bis(2,1-phenylene))dimethanol (6) and (2-(benzylselanyl)phenyl)methanol (7) have been synthesized by reducing di-o-formylphenyl diselenide and reacting the in situ generated selenolate with dibromomethane, 1,2-dibromoethane and benzyl chloride, respectively. The ligands, bis(2-(4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydrooxazol-2-yl)phenylselanyl)methane (8) and 1,2-bis(2-(4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydrooxazol-2-yl)phenylselanyl)ethane (9) have been synthesized similarly from bis[2-(4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolinyl)phenyl] diselenide using electrophiles dibromomethane and 1,2-dibromoethane, respectively. Activity of ligands 5-9 along with 2-(2-(benzylselanyl)phenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydrooxazole (10) and 1-(2-(benzylselanyl)phenyl)-N,N-dimethylmethanamine (11) were examined for the Heck reaction of aryl halides with olefins. Bidentate Se,N ligand 11 was found to be the best one in the series and constitutes an efficient phosphine-free catalytic system with PdCl₂. The catalytic system showed moderate activity for the coupling of activated aryl chlorides in the presence of tetra-n-butyl ammonium bromide (TBAB). Complexes [10-PdCl₂] (12) and [11-PdCl₂] (13) have shown marginally better activity in comparison to the in situ generated catalysts from PdCl₂ and 10 and 11, respectively in the coupling of 4-bromoacetophenone with n-butylacrylate. Ligand 9 and complex 13 have been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

1-Methylimidazolin-2-yl functionalized cyclopentadienyl complexes of titanium and zirconium. Crystal structure of {[η:η-κN-C5H4CPh2CH2-(1-Me-C3H4N2)]ZrCl2}2(μ-Cl)2

The novel bidentate ligand, C₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3), has been prepared and characterized as its lithium salt LiC₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3-Li). Cyclopentadiene HC₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3-H) has been obtained from 6,6-diphenylfulvene and 1,2-dimethylimidazoline (1). In THF-d₈ solution in the presence of 1, (1-methylimidazoline-2-yl)methyllithium (2) has been proved to undergo gradual conversion into a dilithium derivative of N¹-methyl-N²-[(1E,2E)-1-methyl-2-(1-methylimidazolidine-2-idene)ethylidene]ethane-1,2-diamine (2a). In a solution, cyclopentadiene 3-H has been shown to undergo isomerization into 3-{N-[2-(N-methylamino)ethyl]amino}-1,1-diphenyl-1,2-dihydropentalene (4) and, further, into a mixture of 4 and two rotameric 3-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-methylamino]-1,1-diphenyl-1,2-dihydropentalenes (5a) and (5b). Treatment of the lithium salt 3-Li with Me₃SiCl has lead to 3-{N-[2-(N-trimethylsilylamino)ethyl]amino}-1,1-diphenyl-1,2-dihydropentalene (6) as the dominant component in the reaction mixture. In the latter case the expected Me₃Si-C₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3-Si) was not observed. Stannylation of 3-Li with 1 equiv. of Me₃SnCl has resulted in formation of a mixture of Me₃Sn-C₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3-Sn), (Me₃Sn)₂-C₅H₃CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂) (3-Sn₂), and cyclopentadiene 3-H in a ca. 2:1:1 molar ratio. Monocyclopentadienyl complexes {[η⁵:η¹-κN-C₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂)]MCl₃ (M = Ti (7), Zr (8)) have been prepared starting from the organotin and organolithium compounds 3-Sn and 3-Li, respectively. The dynamic behavior of complexes 7 and 8 has been investigated by means of variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy in solutions. The molecular structures of the dihydropentalene 4, binuclear complex {[η⁵:η¹-κN-C₅H₄CPh₂CH₂-(1-Me-C₃H₄N₂)]ZrCl₂}₂(μ-Cl)₂8, and a coordination dimer of the dilithium salt 2a have been established by X-ray diffraction analysis. In the crystal structure of the 2a-dimer, the shortest known Li-Li contact has been found.     

Synthesis and structure of new compounds with Pt-Ga bonds: Insertion of the bulky gallium (I) bisimidinate Ga(DDP) into Pt-Cl bond

Reactions of the sterically bulky mono-valent group 13 bisimidinate gallium(I), Ga(DDP) (1) (DDP = 2-{(2, 6-diisopropylphenyl)amino}-4-{(2, 6-diisopropylphenyl)imino}-2-pentene, HC(CMeNC₆H₃-2,6-ⁱPr₂)₂) with olefin supported group 10 complexes, [(diene)PtCl₂] [diene = 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD), endo-dicyclopentadiene (dcy)] and [(COD)Pd(Me)(OTf)] (OTf = O₃SCF₃) are reported. These reactions afforded [(COD)Pt(Cl){ClGa(DDP)}] (2), [(dcy)Pt(Cl){ClGa(DDP)}] (3) and [(DDP)Ga(Me)(OTf)] (4) in moderate yields. Compounds 2-4 were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR (¹H, ¹³C) spectroscopy and also by single crystal X-ray structural analysis. The solid state structures of complexes 2 and 3 reveal the oxidative insertion of Ga(DDP) into the Pt-Cl bond without altering the π-coordinated double bonds in the olefin.     

Silver(I) complexes of bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl] ether

The reaction of AgOTf in dichloromethane with bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl) ether (DPEphos) in an equimolar ratio afforded a dinuclear complex [Ag₂(κ²-P,P′-DPEphos)₂(μ-OTf)₂] (1), whereas the similar reaction in a 1:2 molar ratio resulted in the formation of a bis-chelating complex [Ag(κ²-P,P′-DPEphos)₂][OTf] (2). The silver(I) complex 1 was obtained as a dimer, in which two silver atoms are bridged by two triflate groups to form three adjacent eight-membered spirocyclic rings. The mixed-ligand complex [Ag(κ²-P,P′-DPEphos)(2,2′-bpy)][OTf] (3) was obtained in the reaction of 1 in dichloromethane with 2,2′-bipyridine. The crystal structures of complexes 1–3 were determined by single crystal X-ray analyses.     

Stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids: (−)-trolline, (+)-crispin A, (+)-oleracein E

Tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids, (S)-(−)-trolline, (R)-(+)-crispin A, and (R)-(+)-oleracein E, have been synthesized stereoselectively from the both enantiomers of common intermediate (S)-4 and (R)-4. The key step in the synthesis include a stereoselective Bi(OTf)₃-catalyzed intramolecular 1,3-chirality transfer reaction of chiral non-racemic amino allylic alcohols (S)-6 and (R)-6 to construct both enantiomers of (E)-1-propenyl tetrahydroisoquinoline 4.     

Trifluoroethanol: key solvent for palladium-catalyzed polymerization reactions

A series of cationic palladium complexes of general formula [Pd(CH₃)(NCCH₃)(N-N)][X] (N-N = phen 1, 3-sec-butyl-1,10-phenanthroline (3-sBu-phen) 2, bpy 3, (−)-(S,S)-3,3′-(1,2-dimethylethylenedioxy)-2,2′-bipyridine (bbpy) 4, (+)-(R)-3,3′-(1-methylethylenedioxy)-2,2′-bipyridine (pbpy) 5, N,N′-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-2,3-butanediimine (iso-DAB) 6; , OTf (OTf = triflate) b) containing different nitrogen-donor ligands were prepared from the corresponding neutral chloro derivatives [Pd(CH₃)(Cl)(N-N)] (1c-6c). They were characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Single crystals suitable for X-ray determination were obtained for complexes [Pd(CH₃)(NCCH₃)(bbpy)][PF₆] (4a), [Pd(CH₃)(NCCH₃)(iso-DAB)][PF₆] (6a) and [Pd(Cl)₂(bbpy)] (4c′). The latter is the result of an exchange reaction of the methyl group, present in complex 4c, with a chloride, that occurred after dissolution of 4c in CDCl₃, for 1 week at 0 °C. The catalytic behavior of complexes 1a-5a and 1b-5b in the CO/styrene copolymerization was studied in CH₂Cl₂ and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) evidencing the positive effect of the fluorinated alcohol both in terms of productivity and molecular weight values of the polymers obtained. Influence of the nitrogen ligand, the anion and the reaction time in both solvents were investigated and is discussed in detail. Encouraging preliminary results were also obtained in the synthesis of polyethylene, in TFE, catalyzed by [Pd(CH₃)(NCCH₃)(iso-DAB)][PF₆] (6a).     

Synthesis of three-dimensionally arranged porphyrin arrays via intramolecular meso-meso coupling

The synthesis and photophysical properties of three-dimensionally arranged porphyrin arrays with through-space electronic communication are reported. 1,3,5-Trioxamethylphenylene bridged Zn(II) porphyrin trimer 3 was coupled by Ag(I)-promoted oxidative coupling reaction to give porphyrin cage 5 comprising three meso-meso linked diporphyrins, which was then transformed by oxidation with DDQ and Sc(OTf)₃ into porphyrin cage 7 comprising three fused diporphyrins. Intramolecular meso-meso coupling reaction was applied to porphyrin pentamer 11 to provide porphyrin array 12 consisting of a porphyrin core flanked by two meso-meso linked diporphyrins. Further oxidation of 12 with DDQ and Sc(OTf)₃ afforded triply stacked porphyrin array 13 that is comprised of a porphyrin core flanked by two porphyrin tapes. UV-vis-NIR absorption and fluorescence spectra of 5, 7, 12, and 13 showed their distorted conformations and electronic interaction within the stacked porphyrin arrays.