Acetylenedithiolate: alkyne complex formation renders it a dithiolate chelate ligand

The isostructural complexes [{Tp'W(CO)(2)(eta(2)-C(2)S(2))}(2)M] (M = Ni, Pd, Pt) show that the eta(2)-C,C'-alkyne complexes of acetylenedithiolate at [Tp'W(CO)(2)](+) can generally act as dithiolate chelate ligands, leading to dithiolene type complexes.     

Disulfuration and hydrosulfuration of an alkyne at a 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane-thiolate ligand

The reaction of the dinuclear cobalt compound [(CpCoS(2)C(2)B(10)H(10))(CpCoSC(2)B(10)H(11))(n-C(4)H(9)S)] (1) with HC≡CC(O)Fc leads to the cobalt-free products (C(2)B(10)H(10))(SCH=CHCOFc)(2) (4-6), (S(2)C(2)B(10)H(10))(HC=CCOFc) (7), and (C(2)B(10)H(11))(SCH=CHCOFc) (8, 9). 4-6 are produced by hydrosulfuration of the alkyne at the 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane-dithiolate ligand with the generated vinyl groups in Z/Z, Z/E and E/E configurations, respectively. In 7, the alkyne is added to 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane-dithiolate at the two sulfur sites. 8 and 9 are the products of alkyne hydrosulfuration at the 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane-1-monothiolate ligand with the generated vinyl group in either Z or E configuration. The treatment of 1 with HC≡CCO(2)Me gives rise to the parallel products (C(2)B(10)H(10))(SCH=CHCO(2)Me)(2) (10-12) and (C(2)B(10)H(11))(SCH=CHCO(2)Me) (13, 14). All of the new compounds have been characterized by IR, NMR, elemental analysis and mass spectroscopy. The structures of compounds 4, 7, and 8 have also been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Selective synthesis of fullerenol derivatives with terminal alkyne and crown ether addends

A series of isomerically pure alkynyl-substituted fullerenol derivatives such as C(60)(OH)(6)(O(CH(2))(3)CCH)(2) were synthesized through Lewis acid catalyzed epoxy ring opening and/or S(N)1 replacement reactions starting from the fullerene-mixed peroxide C(60)(O)(t-BuOO)(4). Copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition readily converted the terminal alkynyl groups into triazole groups. Intramolecular oxidative alkyne coupling afforded a fullerenyl crown ether derivative.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed cycloaddition of propargylic alcohols with phenol derivatives via allenylidene intermediates: catalytic use of the allenylidene ligand as the C(3) unit

Novel ruthenium-catalyzed cycloaddition of propargylic alcohols with 2-naphthols and phenols bearing electron-donating groups via allenylidene intermediates has been developed to give the corresponding 1H-naphtho[2,1-b]pyrans and 4H-1-benzopyrans, respectively, in moderate to excellent yields with complete regioselectivity.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed cyclization of epoxide with a tethered alkyne: formation of ketene intermediates via oxygen transfer from epoxides to terminal alkynes

Treatment of (o-ethynyl)phenyl epoxides with TpRuPPh(3)(CH(3)CN)(2)PF(6) (10 mol %) in hot toluene (100 degrees C, 3-6 h) gave 2-naphthols or 1-alkylidene-2-indanones very selectively with isolated yields exceeding 72%, depending on the nature of the epoxide substituents. Surprisingly, the reaction intermediate proved to be a ruthenium-pi-ketene species that can be trapped efficiently by alcohol to give an ester compound. This phenomenon indicates a novel oxygen transfer from epoxide to its terminal alkyne catalyzed by a ruthenium complex. A plausible mechanism is proposed on the basis of reaction products and the deuterium-labeling experiment. The 2-naphthol products are thought to derive from 6-endo-dig cyclization of (o-alkenyl)phenyl ketene intermediates, whereas 1-alkylidene-2-indanones are given from the 5-endo-dig cyclization pathway.     

Divalent dirhodium imido complexes: formation, structure, and alkyne cycloaddition reactivity

Dirhodium amido complexes [(Cp*Rh)2(mu2-NHPh)(mu2-X)] (X = NHPh (2), Cl (3), OMe (4); Cp* = eta5-C5Me5) were prepared by chloride displacement of [Cp*Rh(mu2-Cl)]2 (1) and have been used as precursors to a dirhodium imido species [Cp*Rh(mu2-NPh)RhCp*]. The imido species can be trapped by PMe3 to give the adduct [Cp*Rh(mu2-NPh)Rh(PMe3)Cp*] (5) and undergoes a formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction with unactivated alkynes to give the azametallacycles [Cp*Rh(mu2-eta2:eta3-R1CCR2NPh)RhCp*] (R1 = R2 = Ph (6a), R1 = H, R2 = t-Bu (6b), R1 = H, R2 = p-tol (6c)). Isolation of a relevant unsaturated imido complex [Cp*Rh(mu2-NAr)RhCp*] (7) was achieved by the use of a sterically hindered LiNHAr (Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) reagent in a metathesis reaction with 1. X-ray structures of 2, 6a, 7 and the terminal isocyanide adduct [Cp*Rh(mu2-NAr)Rh(t-BuNC)Cp*] (8) are reported.     

Copper-catalyzed hydrative amide synthesis with terminal alkyne, sulfonyl azide, and water

It is shown for the first time that N-sulfonyl amides can be efficiently prepared by an unconventional approach of the hydrative reaction between terminal alkynes, sulfonyl azides, and water in the presence of copper catalyst and amine base under very mild conditions. The present route is quite general, and a wide range of alkynes and sulfonyl azides are readily coupled catalytically with water to furnish amides in high yields. A variety of labile functional groups are tolerated under the conditions, and the reaction is regioselective in that only terminal alkynes react while double or internal triple bonds are intact. The reaction can be readily scaled up and is also adaptable to a solid-phase procedure with high efficiency.     

Synthesis of an extended hexagonal molecule as a highly symmetrical ligand

An extended hexagonal molecule that has high symmetry and rigidity was designed and synthesized by a cobalt-catalyzed cyclotrimerization reaction. The ligand possesses six benzoic acids at its periphery, which were connected to a central hexakis(2,5-dodesyloxyphenyl)hexaphenylbenzene core with a maximum intramolecular carboxyl group distance of approximately 3.5 nm.     

Synthesis and coordination chemistry of an alkyne functionalised bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligand

The alkyne functionalised bidentate N-donor ligand (2-propargyloxyphenyl)bis(pyrazolyl)methane was prepared in high yield from the reaction of (2-hydroxyphenyl)bis(pyrazolyl)methane with propargyl bromide in the presence of base. A series of transition-metal complexes including [MCl2] (M=Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Pt), [M2](NO3)2 (M=Cu, Co, Ni, Zn), [Ag]NO3 and [Pd(dppe)](OTf)2 were prepared and characterised by spectroscopic techniques. In addition, ligand as well as the Co(II) and Zn(II) complexes [CoCl2]2, [ZnCl2] were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The organometallic gold(I) and platinum(II) acetylide complexes [Pz2CH(C6H(4)-2-OCH2C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CAuPPh3)] and trans-[{Pz2CHC6H(4)-2-OCH2C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C}2Pt(PPh3)2] were prepared from and [AuCl(PPh3)] and trans-[PtCl2(PPh3)2], respectively. Treatment of these complexes with [Pd(OTf)2(dppe)] or [Cu(MeCN)4]PF6 results in formation of the cationic, mixed-metal complexes, which were isolated (Pt/Pd, Au/Pt) or detected by electrospray mass spectrometry (Au/Cu, Pt/Cu).     

Highly chemoselective nickel-catalyzed three-component cross-trimerization between two distinct terminal alkynes and an internal alkyne

The highly chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective three-component cross-trimerization reaction between triisopropylsilylacetylene, diarylacetylene, and a terminal alkyne was achieved by Ni(cod)(2)/P(p-CF(3)C(6)H(4))(3) catalyst at room temperature via selective C-H oxidative addition of the terminal silylacetylene. The reaction is applicable for various diarylacetylenes and terminal alkynes to yield the corresponding 1,3-diene-5-yne compounds.     

Calixarenes: Structure of an acetonitrile inclusion complex and some transition metal rimmed derivatives

The hostt-butylcalix[4]arene,1a, forms a 11 inclusion compound with acetonitrile as guest. The inclusion compound has been isolated and characterised by X-ray analysis of a twinned crystal at 123 K. The acetonitrile guest lies on a crystallographic four-fold symmetry axis passing through the centre of the bowl of1a which adopts a regular cone conformation. A known tetradentate and a new tridentate phosphinitocalix[4]arene derivative,2a and2c respectively, have been synthesized from1a and Ph₂Cl. Both2a and2c show a strong ability to coordinate with late transition metals and new complexes of gold(I), palladium(II) and platinum(II) are reported. Supplementary Data relating to this paper have been deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP 92171 (5 pp.)This paper is dedicated to the commemorative issue on the 50th anniversary of calixarenes.     

Benzocyclobutadienyl anion: formation and energetics of an antiaromatic molecule

Benzocyclobutadienyl diazirine (2) was synthesized and reacted with hydroxide ion in a Fourier transform mass spectrometer to afford the conjugate base of benzocyclobutadiene (1a). Authentication of the ion structure was carried out by a derivatization experiment (i.e., la was converted to benzocyclobutenone enolate, which has previously been studied), and its reactivity was explored. Thermochemical data for benzocyclobutadiene (1) were obtained (deltaH(o)acid (1) = 386 +/- 3 kcal mol(-1), EA(1r) = 1.8 +/- 0.1 eV, and C-H BDE (1) = 114 +/- 4 kcal mol(-1)), compared to MP2 and B3LYP calculations, and contrasted to a series of model compounds. Cyclobutadienyl radical appears to be quite different from benzocyclobutadienyl radical (1r) and worth further exploration.     

Mechanism of reversible alkyne coupling at zirconocene: ancillary ligand effects

The mechanism of reversible alkyne coupling at zirconium was investigated by examination of the kinetics of zirconacyclopentadiene cleavage to produce free alkynes. The zirconacyclopentadiene rings studied possess trimethylsilyl substituents in the alpha-positions, and the ancillary Cp2, Me2C(eta(5)-C5H4)2, and CpCp* (Cp* = eta(5)-C5Me5) bis(cyclopentadienyl) ligand sets were employed. Fragmentation of the zirconacyclopentadiene ring in Cp2Zr[2,5-(Me3Si)2-3,4-Ph2C4] with PMe3, to produce Cp2Zr(eta(2)-PhC[triple bond]CSiMe3)(PMe3) and free PhC[triple bond]CSiMe3, is first-order in initial zirconacycle concentration and zero-order in incoming phosphine (k(obs) = 1.4(2) x 10(-5) s(-1) at 22 degrees C), and the activation parameters determined by an Eyring analysis (DeltaH(double dagger) = 28(2) kcal mol(-1) and DeltaS(double dagger) = 14(4) eu) are consistent with a dissociative mechanism. The analogous reaction of the ansa-bridged complex Me2C(eta(5)-C5H4)2Zr[2,5-(Me3Si)2-3,4-Ph2C4] is 100 times faster than that for the corresponding Cp2 complex, while the corresponding CpCp* complex reacts 20 times slower than the Cp2 derivative. These rates appear to be largely influenced by the steric properties of the ancillary ligands.     

Synthesis and modifications of alkyne derivatives of dihydroquinopimaric,maleopimaric, and fumaropimaric acids

Reactions of maleopimaric and dihydroquinopimaric acid chlorides with propargyl alcohol and propargylamine afforded new terminal diterpene alkynes, and Sonogashira cross-coupling of the latter with 4-iodonitrobenzene led to the formation of arylalkynyl derivatives of Diels–Alder adducts of levopimaric acid.     

Enhanced reactivity of 2-rhodaoxetanes through a labile acetonitrile ligand

New cationic, square-planar, ethene complexes [(Rbpa)RhI(C2H4)]+ [2a]--[2c]+ (Rbpa = N-alkyl-N,N-di(2-pyridylmethyl)amine; [2a]+: alkyl =R=Me; [2b]+: R = Bu; [2c]+: R = Bz) have been selectively oxygenated in acetonitrile by aqueous hydrogen peroxide to 2-rhoda(III)oxetanes with a labile acetonitrile ligand, [(Rbpa)RhIII(kappa2-C,O-CH2CH2O-)(MeCN)]+, [3a]+-[3c]+. The rate of elimination of acetaldehyde from [(Rbpa)RhIII(kappa2-C,O-CH2CH2O-)(MeCN)]+ increases in the order R = Me< R = Bu< R = Bz. Elimination of acetaldehyde from [(Bzbpa)RhIII(kappa2-C,O-CH2CH2O)(MeCN)]+ [3c]+, in the presence of ethene results in regeneration of ethene complex [(Bzbpa)RhI(C2H4)]+ [2c]+, and closes a catalytic cycle. In the presence of Z,Z-1,5-cyclooctadiene (cod) the corresponding cod complex [(Bzbpa)RhI(cod)]+ [6c]+ is formed. Further oxidation of [3c]+ by H2O2 results in the transient formylmethyl-hydroxy complex [(Bzbpa)RhIII(OH)[kappa1-C-CH2C(O)H]]+ [5c]+.     

Sequential and selective hydrogenation of the C(alpha)-C(beta) and M-C(alpha) double bonds of an allenylidene ligand coordinated to osmium: new reaction patterns between an allenylidene complex and alcohols

Complex [OsH(=C=C=CPh2)(CH3CN)2(PiPr3)2]BF4 (1) reacts with primary and secondary alcohols to give the corresponding dehydrogenated alcohols and the hydride-carbene derivative [OsH(=CHCH=CPh2)(CH3CN)2(PiPr3)2]BF4 (2), as a result of hydrogen transfer reactions from the alcohols to the Calpha-Cbeta double bond of the allenylidene ligand of 1. The reactions with phenol and t-butanol, which do not contain any beta-hydrogen, afford the alkoxy-hydride-carbyne complexes [OsH(OR)(CCH=CPh2)(CH3CN)(PiPr3)2]BF4 (R = Ph (3), tBu (4)), as a consequence of the 1,3-addition of the O-H bond of the alcohols to the metallic center and the Cbeta atom of the allenylidene of 1. On the basis of the reactions of 1 with these tertiary alcohols, deuterium labeling experiments, and DFT calculations, the mechanism of the hydrogenation is proposed. In acetonitrile under reflux, the Os-C double bond of 2 undergoes hydrogenation to give 1,1-diphenylpropene and [Os{CH2CH(CH3)PiPr2(CH3CN)3(PiPr3)]BF4 (11), containing a metalated phosphine ligand. This reaction is a first-order process with activation parameters of DeltaH = 89.0 +/- 6.3 kJ mol-1 and DeltaS = -43.5 +/- 9.6 J mol-1 K-1. The X-ray structures of 2 and 3 are also reported.     

Microwave-assisted decarboxylative three-component coupling of a 2-oxoacetic acid, an amine, and an alkyne

A novel and efficient microwave-assisted decarboxylative three-component coupling of a 2-oxoacetic acid, an amine, and an alkyne (OA(2)-coulpling) has been developed. This new multicomponent coupling constitutes an efficient approach for the synthesis of polysubstituted propargylamines in the presence of a catalytic amount of copper(I) catalyst.     

Iridium(I) complex of chelating pyridine-2-thiolate ligand: Synthesis, reactivity, and application to the catalytic E-selective terminal alkyne dimerization via C-H activation

A novel iridium(I) complex bearing a chelate-coordinated pyridine-2-thiolate ligand [Ir(η²-SNC₅H₄)(PPh₃)₂] (2) was prepared by the reaction of iridium ethylene complex [IrCl(C₂H₄)(PPh₃)₂] (1) with lithium salt of pyridine-2-thiol (Li[SNC₅H₄]). On the treatment of iridium(I) complex 2 with chloroform, iridium(III) dichloro-complex [IrCl₂(η²-SNC₅H₄)(PPh₃)₂] (3) was formed. Reactions of complex 2 with methyldiphenylsilane, acetic acid, and p-tolylacetylene afforded iridium(III) hydride complexes [IrH(SiMePh₂)(η²-SNC₅H₄)(PPh₃)₂] (4), [IrH(O₂CCH₃)(η²-SNC₅H₄)(PPh₃)₂] (5), and [IrH(CC(p-tolyl))(η²-SNC₅H₄)(PPh₃)₂] (6), respectively. Complex 2 catalyzed dimerization of terminal alkynes leading to enynes (7) with high E-selectivity via C-H bond activation.