Catalytic asymmetric conjugate boration of α,β-unsaturated sulfones

The α,β-unsaturated sulfones are suitable activated olefins in catalytic asymmetric conjugate β-boration. These substrates undergo smooth conjugate addition of bis(pinacolato)diboron [B(2)(pin)(2)] catalyzed by nonracemic Cu(I)-diphosphine complexes to provide, upon subsequent oxidation, β-hydroxy sulfones in good yields and high enantiocontrol.     

Unexpected copper(II) catalysis: catalytic amine base promoted β-borylation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in water

Using bis(pinacolato)diboron, catalytic amounts of Cu(II), and various amine bases in water under atmospheric conditions at rt, acyclic and cyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones and esters are β-borylated in up to 98% yield. Mechanistic investigations using UV-vis spectroscopy, (11)B NMR, and solvent kinetic isotope effect suggest that the role of the amine is not only to coordinate to Cu(II) but also to activate a nucleophilic water molecule to form the reactive sp(2)-sp(3) diboron complex.     

Highly selective methods for synthesis of internal (α-) vinylboronates through efficient NHC-Cu-catalyzed hydroboration of terminal alkynes. Utility in chemical synthesis and mechanistic basis for selectivity

Cu-catalyzed methods for site-selective hydroboration of terminal alkynes, where the internal or α-vinylboronate is generated predominantly (up to >98%) are presented. Reactions are catalyzed by 1-5 mol % of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes of copper, easily prepared from N-aryl-substituted commercially available imidazolinium salts, and proceed in the presence of commercially available bis(pinacolato)diboron [B(2)(pin)(2)] and 1.1 equiv of MeOH at -50 to -15 °C in 3-24 h. Propargyl alcohol and amine and the derived benzyl, tert-butyl, or silyl ethers as well as various amides are particularly effective substrates; also suitable are a wide range of aryl-substituted terminal alkynes, where higher α-selectivity is achieved with substrates that bear an electron-withdrawing substituent. α-Selective Cu-catalyzed hydroborations are amenable to gram-scale procedures (1 mol % catalyst loading). Mechanistic studies are presented, indicating that α selectivity arises from the structural and electronic attributes of the NHC ligands and the alkyne substrates. Consistent with suggested hypotheses, catalytic reactions with a Cu complex, derived from an N-adamantyl-substituted imidazolinium salt, afford high β selectivity with the same class of substrates and under similar conditions.     

Theoretical study of trans-metalation process in palladium-catalyzed borylation of iodobenzene with diboron

Trans-metalation process in the palladium-catalyzed borylation of iodobenzene with diboron was theoretically investigated with the DFT method. Palladium(II) hydroxo phenyl complex, Pd(OH)(Ph)(PH(3))(2), and the fluoro analogue easily undergo the trans-metalation with diboron, B(2)(eg)(2) (eg = -OCH(2)CH(2)O-), to afford Pd(Ph)(Beg)(PH(3))(HO-Beg) and Pd(Ph)(Beg)(PH(3))(F-Beg), respectively, where B(2)(eg)(2) is adopted as a model of bis(pinacolato)diboron used experimentally. The electron re-distribution in the trans-metalation clearly indicates that the B-B bond scission occurs in a heterolytic manner. In the chloro analogue, PdCl(Ph)(PH(3))(2), however, the trans-metalation occurs in a homolytic manner with much difficulty, which is consistent with the experimental result. The significant differences between the chloro complex and the other hydroxo and fluoro complexes are easily interpreted in terms that hydroxo and fluoro ligands can form strongly bonding interaction with B(2)(eg)(2) but the chloro ligand cannot.     

Synthesis of β‐Boryl‐α‐Aminosilanes by Copper‐Catalyzed Aminoboration of Vinylsilanes

A copper‐catalyzed regioselective and stereospecific aminoboration of vinylsilanes with bis(pinacolato)diboron (pinB‐Bpin) and hydroxylamines has been developed. In the presence of a CuCl/MeO‐dppbz catalyst, the boryl group and amino group are incorporated at the β position and α position, respectively, and the corresponding β‐boryl‐α‐aminosilanes are obtained with good diastereoselectivity. The boryl group is a good latent functional group, and subsequent manipulations provide a variety of β‐functionalized α‐aminosilanes of great potential in medicinal chemistry. Additionally, preliminary application to asymmetric catalysis is also described.     

DFT survey of monoboron and diboron corroles: regio- and stereochemical preferences for a constrained, low-symmetry macrocycle

The structures of a number of mono- and diboron corrole complexes have been optimized using DFT methods in order to establish regio- and stereochemical preferences for bonding of one or two boron atoms to the corrole macrocycle. The formulations of the complexes were suggested either from preliminary experimental results (to be reported elsewhere) or by analogy with related diboron porphyrin compounds. The computational results suggest for the monoboron corroles BF(2)(H(2)corrole) and BPhH(H(2)corrole) that the regioisomer in which the boron is bound to a dipyrromethene site adjacent to the bipyrrole is preferred over the other possible regioisomers in which boron coordinates either in the bipyrrole or in the dipyrromethene site opposite the bipyrrole. In the N-substituted corrole complexes there are only two possiblities and, for each complex, the regioisomer with boron in the dipyrromethene site adjacent to the bipyrrole is lower in energy. For all four monoboron complexes the stereoisomers in which boron and both its substituents are displaced out of the mean N(4) plane are more stable than the boron in-plane stereoisomers. These regio- and stereochemical preferences are rationalised by an analysis of the deformations to the corrole macrocycle and the geometry at the boron atoms. The lowest energy structures in all cases correspond to the least strained configurations. In addition, all four complexes show significant BFHN hydrogen bonding and BHHN dihydrogen bonding interactions, which are maximised in the lowest energy configurations for each structure, indicating that these are important additional stabilising interactions. Three different regioisomers, each with cisoid or transoid stereochemistry were optimised for the diboron complex PhBOB(corrole) which contains a bridging BOB group. The dipyrromethene/dipyrromethene isomer is more stable than either of the dipyrromethene/bipyrrole isomers and cisoid stereochemistry is preferred over transoid. This contrasts with porphyrin complexes containing BOB groups for which both stereochemical possibilities are observed, and reflects the contracted size of the corrole macrocycle. Three further diboron corroles were investigated, the diboranyl cation [B(2)(corrole)](+) and its one- and two-electron reduced derivatives B(2)(corrole) and [B(2)(corrole)](-). These calculations were undertaken to determine whether the site of reduction of [B(2)(corrole)](+) is likely to be the diboron moiety or the macrocycle. The B-B bond lengths do not shorten upon reduction and an analysis of the molecular orbitals of each species indicates that reduction will be most likely to occur at the macrocycle, offering a potential route to an example of the two-electron reduced corrole ligand, an analogue of the 20-electron isophlorin ligand observed in the corresponding reduced porphyrin complex B(2)(porphine).     

Ligand Structural Effects on the Electrochemistry of Chromium(III) Amino Carboxylate Complexes

The aqueous electrochemical behavior of 10 Cr(III) complexes with potentially tri- and hexadentate amino carboxylate ligands is reported and is shown to depend on the composition and spatial arrangement of the donor atom set. Complexes with two amine and four carboxylate donors (N(2)O(4)) and two amine, one aquo, and three carboxylate donors (N(2)O(3)O') in which the N atoms are coordinated cis to one another undergo chemically and electrochemically reversible reduction at ca. -1.4 and ca. -1.2 V vs SCE, respectively. However, complexes with a trans-N(2)O(4) donor atom set, as exemplified by Cr(MIDA)(2)(-) (MIDA(2)(-) = N-methyliminodiacetate), undergo quasi-reversible Cr(III/II) reduction at ca. -1.4 V that is followed by a sequence of reactions which establishes an electrochemical square scheme. The chemical reactions in the scheme involve displacement of a bound carboxylate group following reduction to Cr(II) and its reattachment after reoxidation to Cr(III). This mechanistic sequence is analyzed by digital simulation, and values of formal potentials, transfer coefficients, and chemical and electrochemical rate constants are reported for Cr(MIDA)(2)(-) and its N-ethyl homolog. The difference in electrochemical behavior between cis- and trans-N(2)O(4) complexes is attributed to differences in the Jahn-Teller distortions experienced by these structures upon reduction to Cr(II). It is proposed that simultaneous N-Cr-N bond elongation, which is possible only for trans species, leads to greater strain in the facially coordinated N-alkyliminodiacetate ligand and thus increases the barrier to electron transfer and facilitates Cr-carboxylate bond cleavage after reduction.     

Palladium-catalyzed borylation of primary alkyl bromides

A mild Pd-catalyzed process for the borylation of alkyl bromides has been developed using bis(pinacolato)diboron as a boron source. This process accommodates the use of a wide range of functional groups on the alkyl bromide substrate. Primary bromides react with complete selectivity in the presence of a secondary bromide. The generality of this approach is demonstrated by its extension to the use of alkyl iodides and alkyl tosylates, as well as borylation reactions employing bis(neopentyl glycolato)diboron as the boron source.     

Reaction systems related to dissimilatory nitrate reductase: nitrate reduction mediated by bis(dithiolene)tungsten complexes

Kinetics of the oxygen atom transfer reactions [M(IV)(QC6H2-2,4,6-Pr(i)3)(S2C2Me2)2]1- + XO --> [M(VI)O(QC6H2-2,4,6-Pr(i)3)(S2C2Me2)2]1- + X in acetonitrile with substrates XO = NO3- and (CH2)4SO have been determined. The reactants are bis(dithiolene) complexes with M = Mo, W and sterically encumbered axial ligands with Q = O, S to stabilize mononuclear square pyramidal structures. The complex [MoIV(SC6H2-2,4,6-Pr(i)3)(S2C2Me2)2]1- is an analogue of the active site of dissimilatory nitrate reductase which in the reduced state contains a molybdenum atom bound by two pyranopterindithiolene ligands and a cysteinate residue. Nitrate reduction was studied with tungsten complexes because of unfavorable stability properties of the molybdenum complexes. Product nitrite was detected by a colorimetric method. All reactions with both substrates are second-order with associative transition states (deltaS approximately -20 eu). Variation of atoms M and Q, together with data from prior work, allows certain kinetics comparisons to be made. Among them, k2W/k2Mo = 25 for (CH2)4SO reduction (Q = S), an expression of the kinetic metal effect. Further, k2S/k2O = 28 and approximately 10(4) for nitrate and (CH2)4SO reduction, respectively, effects attributed to relatively more steric congestion in achieving the transition state with hindered phenolate vs thiolate ligands. The effect is more pronounced with the larger substrate. These results demonstrate the feasibility of tungsten-mediated nitrate reduction by direct atom transfer using molecules with both axial thiolate and phenolate ligands. Complexes of the type [M(IV)(OR)(S2C2Me2)2] are capable of reducing biological N-oxide, S-oxide, and nitrate substrates and thus constitute functional analogue reaction systems of enzymic transformations.     

Iridium-catalyzed borylation of benzene with diboron. Theoretical elucidation of catalytic cycle including unusual iridium(v) intermediate

Iridium-catalyzed borylation of benzene with diboron was theoretically investigated with the DFT method, where an iridium(I) boryl complex, Ir(Beg)(NN) 1, and an iridium(III) tris(boryl) complex, Ir(Beg)(3)(NN) 14, (eg (ethyleneglycolato) = -OCH(2)CH(2)O-, NN = HN=CHCH=NH (diim) or 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy)) were adopted as models of active species and B(2)(eg)(2) was adopted as a model of bis(pinacolato)diboron (pinacolato = -OCMe(2)CMe(2)O-). Oxidative addition of a benzene C-H sigma-bond to 1 takes place with an activation barrier (E(a)) of 11.2 kcal/mol, followed by reductive elimination of phenylborane, Ph-Beg, from Ir(Beg)(H)(Ph)(diim) with an activation barrier of 15.6 kcal/mol. Though the oxidative addition and the reductive elimination occur with moderate activation barriers, B(2)(eg)(2) much more easily reacts with 1 to afford 14 than does benzene, of which the activation barrier is very small (2.9 kcal/mol). Oxidative addition of the benzene C-H sigma-bond to 14 occurs with a moderate activation barrier of 24.2 kcal/mol to afford an unusual seven-coordinate iridium(V) complex, Ir(H)(Ph)(Beg)(3)(bpy) 16. From this complex, phenylborane Ph-Beg is produced through the reductive elimination with concomitant formation of IrH(Beg)(2)(bpy) 17, where the activation barrier is 4.9 kcal/mol. Complex 17 further reacts with diboron to form Ir(H)(Beg)(4)(bpy) (E(a) = 8.0 kcal/mol), followed by the reductive elimination of borane H-Beg (E(a) = 2.6 kcal/mol) to regenerate Ir(Beg)(3)(bpy), when diboron exists in excess in the reaction solution. After consumption of diboron, IrH(Beg)(2)(bpy) reacts with borane, H-Beg, to form Ir(H)(2)(Beg)(3) (E(a) = 21.3 kcal/mol) followed by the reductive elimination of H(2), to regenerate Ir(Beg)(3)(bpy) with concomitant formation of H(2). Formation of the iridium(III) tris(boryl) complex 14 from IrCl(diim) and diboron was also theoretically investigated; IrCl(diim) undergoes two steps of oxidative addition of diboron to afford a seven-coordinate iridium(V) complex, IrCl(Beg)(4)(NN), from which the reductive elimination of Cl-Beg takes place easily to afford 14. From these results, it should be clearly concluded that the iridium(III) tris(boryl) complex is an active species and an unusual iridium(V) species is involved as a key intermediate in the reaction. Detailed discussion is presented on the full catalytic cycle and the importance of a seven-coordinate iridium(V) intermediate.     

Metal-catalyzed reactions of diborons for synthesis of organoboron compounds

Metal-catalyzed borylation of alkenes, alkynes, arenes, and organic halides with B-B or H-B compounds has been developed for the synthesis of organoboron compounds from simple organic substrates. The platinum(0)-catalyzed addition of bis(pinacolato)diboron to alkenes and alkynes provided a method for the stereoselective synthesis of cis-bis(boryl)alkanes or cis-bis(boryl)alkenes. The addition of diboron to 1,3-dienes with platinum(0) complexes provided a new access to cis-1,4-bis(boryl)-2-butene derivatives, which are versatile reagents for diastereoselective allylboration of carbonyl compounds. The first one-step procedure for the syntheses of aryl-, vinyl-, and allylboronates was achieved via crosscoupling reactions of diborons with aryl and 1-alkenyl halides or triflates and allyl acetates. Direct C-H borylation of arenes catalyzed by a transition metal complex was studied as an economical protocol for the synthesis of a variety of arylboron derivatives. Ir-catalyzed C-H borylation of arenes, heteroarenes, and benzylic positions of alkylarenes by bis(pinacolato)diboron or pinacolborane furnished aryl-, heteroaryl-, and benzylboron compounds. This article discusses the mechanisms of these reactions and their synthetic applications.     

Metal-free catalytic enantioselective C-B bond formation: (pinacolato)boron conjugate additions to α,β-unsaturated ketones, esters, Weinreb amides, and aldehydes promoted by chiral N-heterocyclic carbenes

The first broadly applicable metal-free enantioselective method for boron conjugate addition (BCA) to α,β-unsaturated carbonyls is presented. The C-B bond forming reactions are promoted in the presence of 2.5-7.5 mol % of a readily accessible C(1)-symmetric chiral imidazolinium salt, which is converted, in situ, to the catalytically active diastereo- and enantiomerically pure N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) by the common organic base 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (dbu). In addition to the commercially available bis(pinacolato)diboron [B(2)(pin)(2)], and in contrast to reactions with the less sterically demanding achiral NHCs, the presence of MeOH is required for high efficiency. Acyclic and cyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones, as well as acyclic esters, Weinreb amides, and aldehydes, can serve as suitable substrates; the desired β-boryl carbonyls are isolated in up to 94% yield and >98:2 enantiomer ratio (er). Transformations are often carried out at ambient temperature. In certain cases, such as when the relatively less reactive unsaturated amides are used, elevated temperatures are required (50-66 °C); nonetheless, reactions remain highly enantioselective. The utility of the NHC-catalyzed method is demonstrated through comparison with the alternative Cu-catalyzed protocols; in cases involving a polyfunctional substrate, unique profiles in chemoselectivity are exhibited by the metal-free approach (e.g., conjugate addition vs reaction with an alkyne, allene, or aldehyde).     

Coordination complexes of molybdenum with 3,6-di-tert-butylcatechol. Addition products of DMSO, pyridine N-oxide, and triphenylarsine oxide to the putative [MoVIO(3,6-DBCat)2] monomer and self-assembly of the chiral [(MoVIO(3,6-DBCat)2)4] square

Molybdenum complexes of 3,6-di-tert-butylcatechol have been prepared from the reaction between [Mo(CO)(6)] and 3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone. A putative "[MoO(3,6-DBCat)(2)]" monomer is assumed to form initially by reaction with trace quantities of oxygen. Condensation of the reaction mixture leads to the formation of oligomeric products, including the [(MoO(3,6-DBCat)(2))(4)] chiral square isolated by chromatographic separation. Molybdenum centers at the corner of the square are bridged by oxo ligands centered along edges. Four-fold and inversion crystallographic symmetry gives tetramers as either LambdaLambdaLambdaLambda or DeltaDeltaDeltaDelta isomers, and the crystal structure consists of parallel columns of squares with the same chirality. Addition of O-Subst (O-Subst = dmso, pyridine N-oxide, triphenylarsine oxide) ligands to [MoO(3,6-DBCat)(2)] occurs selectively to give cis-[MoO(O-Subst)(3,6-DBCat)(2)] products. All three addition complexes are fluxional in solution. The temperature-dependent stereodymanic behavior of [MoO(dmso)(3,6-DBCat)(2)] has been shown to occur via a trigonal prismatic intermediate (Bailar twist) that conserves the cis disposition of oxo and dmso ligands. Electrochemical and chemical reduction reactions have been investigated for [MoO(dmso)(3,6-DBCat)(2)] with interest in displacement of SMe(2) with formation of cis-[MoO(2)(3,6-DBCat)(2)](2-). Cyclic voltammetry shows an irreversible two-electron reduction for the complex at -0.852 V (vs Fc/Fc(+)). Chemical reduction using CoCp(2) was observed to give a product with an electronic spectrum that is generally associated with cis-[MoO(2)(Cat)(2)](2-) complexes. Structural characterization revealed that the product was [CoCp(2)][MoO(3,6-DBCat)(2)], possibly formed as the product of dmso displacement upon one-electron reduction of [MoO(dmso)(3,6-DBCat)(2)].     

Mechanism for Solvent Exchange on trans-[Os(en)(2)(eta(2)-H(2))S](2+)

Solvent exchange on trans-[Os(en)(2)(eta(2)-H(2))S](2+) (S = H(2)O, CH(3)CN) has been studied in neat solvent as a function of temperature and pressure by (17)O NMR line-broadening and isotopic labeling experiments (S = H(2)O) and by (1)H NMR isotopic labeling experiments (S = CH(3)CN). Rate constants and activation parameters are as follows for S = H(2)O and CH(3)CN, respectively: k(ex)(298) = 1.59 +/- 0.04 and (2.74 +/- 0.03) x 10(-)(4) s(-)(1); DeltaH() = 72.4 +/- 0.5 and 98.0 +/- 1.4 kJ mol(-)(1); DeltaS() = +1.7 +/- 1.8 and +15.6 +/- 4.9 J mol(-)(1) K(-)(1); DeltaV() = -1.5 +/- 1.0 and -0.5 +/- 1.0 cm(3) mol(-)(1). The present investigation of solvent exchange when compared with a previous study on substitution reactions on the same complexes leads to the conclusion that substitution reactions on these compounds undergo an interchange dissociative, I(d), or dissociative, D, reaction mechanism, where solvent dissociation is the rate-limiting step.     

Nickel-catalysed reactions with trialkylboranes and silacyclobutanes

Nickel catalysis enables us to develop new reactions with trialkylboranes and silacyclobutanes of modest reactivity. A combination of Ni(cod)(2) and tri-tert-butylphosphine catalyses alkylation reactions of aldehydes and alpha,beta-unsaturated esters with various trialkylboranes of modest reactivity, suppressing conceivable beta-hydride elimination from alkylnickel intermediates. A nickel catalyst is also useful for 1,4-addition of bis(pinacolato)diboron to alpha,beta-unsaturated esters and amides. Nickel-catalysed reaction of silacyclobutanes with aldehydes results in ring opening to afford the corresponding alkoxyallylsilanes. In contrast, the ring expansion reaction of benzosilacyclobutene with aldehydes yields benzoxasilacyclohexenes. A nickel catalyst prepared from Ni(cod)(2) and tricyclohexylphosphine realises direct silylation of terminal alkenes with silacyclobutane furnishing vinylsilanes.     

Oxo transfer reactions mediated by bis(dithiolene)tungsten analogues of the active sites of molybdoenzymes in the DMSO reductase family: comparative reactivity of tungsten and molybdenum.

The discovery of tungsten enzymes and molybdenum/tungsten isoenzymes, in which the mononuclear catalytic sites contain a metal chelated by one or two pterin-dithiolene cofactor ligands, has lent new significance to tungsten-dithiolene chemistry. Reaction of [W(CO)(2)(S(2)C(2)Me(2))(2)] with RO(-) affords a series of square pyramidal desoxo complexes [W(IV)(OR')(S(2)C(2)Me(2))(2)](1)(-), including R' = Ph (1) and Pr(i)() (3). Reaction of 1 and 3 with Me(3)NO gives the cis-octahedral complexes [W(VI)O(OR')(S(2)C(2)Me(2))(2)](1)(-), including R' = Ph (6) and Pr(i)() (8). These W(IV,VI) complexes are considered unconstrained versions of protein-bound sites of DMSOR and TMAOR (DMSOR = dimethylsulfoxide reductase, TMAOR = trimethylamine N-oxide reductase) members of the title enzyme family. The structure of 6 and the catalytic center of one DMSO reductase isoenzyme have similar overall stereochemistry and comparable bond lengths. The minimal oxo transfer reaction paradigm thought to apply to enzymes, W(IV) + XO --> W(VI)O + X, has been investigated. Direct oxo transfer was demonstrated by isotope transfer from Ph(2)Se(18)O. Complex 1 reacts cleanly and completely with various substrates XO to afford 6 and product X in second-order reactions with associative transition states. The substrate reactivity order with 1 is Me(3)NO > Ph(3)AsO > pyO (pyridine N-oxide) > R(2)SO > Ph(3)PO. For reaction of 3 with Me(3)NO, k(2) = 0.93 M(-)(1) s(-)(1), and for 1 with Me(2)SO, k(2) = 3.9 x 10(-)(5) M(-)(1) s(-)(1); other rate constants and activation parameters are reported. These results demonstrate that bis(dithiolene)W(IV) complexes are competent to reduce both N-oxides and S-oxides; DMSORs reduce both substrate types, but TMAORs are reported to reduce only N-oxides. Comparison of k(cat)/K(M) data for isoenzymes and k(2) values for isostructural analogue complexes reveals that catalytic and stoichiometric oxo transfer, respectively, from substrate to metal is faster with tungsten and from metal to substrate is faster with molybdenum. These results constitute a kinetic metal effect in direct oxo transfer reactions for analogue complexes and for isoenzymes provided the catalytic sites are isostructural. The nature of the transition state in oxo transfer reactions of analogues is tentatively considered. This research presents the first kinetics study of substrate reduction via oxo transfer mediated by bis(dithiolene)tungsten complexes.     

New approach to the chemistry of technetium(V) and rhenium(V) phenylimido complexes: novel [M(NPh)PNP]3+ metal fragments (M = Tc, Re; PNP = aminodiphosphine) suitable for the synthesis of stable mixed-ligand compounds

Ligand-exchange reactions of the aminodiphosphine ligand bis[(2-diphenylphosphino)ethyl]amine hydrochloride (PNHP x HCl) with labile M(NPh)Cl3(PPh3)2 precursors (M = Re, Tc) in the presence of triethylamine yield monocationic phenylimido mer,cis-[M(NPh)Cl2(PNHP)]Cl (M = Re, 1; Tc, 2) intermediate complexes. X-ray analyses show that in both compounds the aminodiphosphine acts as a tridentate ligand dictating a mer,cis arrangement. Two chloride ligands, respectively in an equatorial and in the axial position trans to the linear M-NPh moiety, fill the remaining positions in a distorted-octahedral geometry. The chloride trans to the metal-imido core is labile, and is replaced by an alcoholate group, without affecting the original geometry, as established in mer,cis-[Re(NPh)(OEt)Cl(PNHP)]Cl 4. Otherwise, ligand-exchange reactions involving the aminodiphosphine bis[(2-diphenylphosphino)ethyl]methylamine (PNMeP), in which the central secondary amine has been replaced by a tertiary amine function, or its hydrochloride salt (PNMeP x HCl) give rise to three different species, depending on the experimental conditions: fac,cis-[Re(NPh)Cl2(PNMeP)]Cl 3a, cis,fac-Re(NPh)Cl3(PNMeP) x HCl 3b, and mer,trans-[Re(NPh)Cl2(PNMeP)]Cl 3c, which are characterized in solution by multinuclear NMR studies. The monodentate groups incorporated in these intermediate compounds, either halides and/or ethoxide, undergo substitution reactions with bidentate donor ligands such as catechol, ethylene glycol, and 1,2-aminophenol to afford stable mixed ligand complexes of the type [M(NPh)(O,O-cat)(PNP)]Cl [PNP = PNHP M = Re 5, Tc 6; PNP = PNMeP M = Re 7], [Re(NPh)(O,O-gly)(PNP)]Cl [PNP = PNHP 8, PNMeP 9] and [Re(NPh)(O,N-ap)(PNMeP)]Cl 10. X-ray diffraction analyses of the representative compounds 5 and 8 reveal that the aminodiphosphine switches from the meridional to the facial coordination mode placing the heteroatom of the diphosphine trans to the phenylimido unit and the bidentate ligand in the equatorial plane. Solution-state NMR studies suggest an analogous geometry for 6, 7, 9, and 10. Comparison with similar mixed ligand complexes including the terminal nitrido group is discussed.     

Polarographic study of bis(2-pyridyl)disulphide di-N-oxide and bis(2-quinolyl)disulphide di-N-oxide in aqueous ethanol

The polarographic reduction of bis(2-pyridyl)- and of bis(2-quinolyl)disulphide di-N-oxide in aqueous alcohol yields aryl mercaptans. The electrode reaction is kinetically controlled by an initial one-electron transfer step, and values for the transfer coefficients and the specific heterogeneous rate constants for the forward reactions are presented. The polar N-oxide function in the alpha-position withdraws electrons from the disulphide bond, making the half-wave potential less negative than that of the diphenyl disulphide. The pk(a) values of the mercapto compounds formed have been evaluated and the low values obtained for the heterocyclic N-oxides are further evidence for tautomerism in these compounds.     

Easy access to bio-inspired osmium(II) complexes through electrophilic intramolecular C(sp2)-H bond cyclometalation

Mild electrophilic C(sp2)-H cyclometalation of 2-phenylpyridine and N,N-dimethylbenzylamine by the chloro-bridged osmium(II) dimer [OsCl(micro-Cl)(eta6-C6H6)]2 in acetonitrile affords cyclometalated pseudotetrahedral OsII complexes [Os(C approximately N)(eta6-C6H6)(NCMe)]PF6 (C approximately N=o-C6H4py-kappa C,N (2) and o-C6H4CH2NMe2-kappa C,N (5), respectively) in good to excellent yields. The cyclometalation reactions are super sensitive to the nature of an external base. Sodium hydroxide is essential for cyclometalation of 2-phenylpyridine, but NaOH retards metalation of N,N-dimethylbenzylamine, the tertiary amine being self-sufficient as a base. Further reactions of compounds 2 and 5 with 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2'-bipyridine (N approximately N) lead to the substitution of the eta6-bound benzene to produce octahedral species [Os(C approximately N)(N approximately N)(NCMe)2]PF6 or [Os(C approximately N)(N approximately N)2]PF6 in MeCN or MeOH as solvent, respectively. The cis configuration of the MeCN ligands in [Os(C approximately N)(phen)(NCMe)2]PF6 has been confirmed by an X-ray crystallographic study. Electrochemical investigation of the octahedral osma(II)cycles by cyclic voltammetry showed a pseudoreversible MIII/II redox feature at (-50)-(+109) and 190-300 mV versus Ag/AgCl in water and MeCN, respectively. As a possible application of the compounds, a rapid electron exchange between the reduced active site of glucose oxidase enzyme from Aspergillus niger and the electrochemically generated OsIII species has been demonstrated. The corresponding second-order rate constants cover the range (0.7-4.8)x10(6) M(-1) s(-1) at 25 degrees C and pH 7.     

Multielectron atom transfer reactions of perchlorate and other substrates catalyzed by rhenium oxazoline and thiazoline complexes: reaction kinetics, mechanisms, and density functional theory calculations

The title complexes, the Re(O)L(2)(Solv)(+) complexes (L = hoz, 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxazoline(-) or thoz, 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-thiazoline(-); Solv = H(2)O or CH(3)CN), are effective catalysts for the following fundamental oxo transfer reaction between closed shell molecules: XO + Y --> X + YO. Among suitable oxygen acceptors (Y's) are organic thioethers and phosphines, and among suitable oxo donors (XO's) are pyridine N-oxide (PyO), t-BuOOH, and inorganic oxyanions. One of the remarkable features of these catalysts is their high kinetic competency in effecting perchlorate reduction by pure atom transfer. Oxo transfer to rhenium(V) proceeds cleanly to afford the cationic dioxorhenium(VII) complex Re(O)(2)L(2)(+) in a two-step mechanism, rapid substrate (XO) coordination to give the precursor adduct cis-Re(V)(O)(OX)L(2)(+) followed by oxygen atom transfer (OAT) as the rate determining step. Electronic variations with PyO derivatives demonstrated that electron-withdrawing substituents accelerate the rate of Re(VII)(O)(2)L(2)(+) formation from the precursor adduct cis-Re(V)(O)(OX)L(2)(+). The activation parameters for OAT with picoline N-oxide and chlorate have been measured; the entropic barrier to oxo transfer is essentially zero. The potential energy surface for the reaction of Re(O)(hoz)(2)(OH(2))(+) with PyO was defined, and all pertinent intermediates and transition states along the reaction pathway were located by density functional theory (DFT) calculations (B3LYP/6-31G). In the second half of the catalytic cycle, Re(O)(2)L(2)(+) reacts with oxygen acceptors (Y's) in second-order reactions with associative transition states. The rate of OAT to substrates spans a remarkable range of 0.1-10(6) L mol(-)(1) s(-)(1), and the substrate reactivity order is Ph(3)P > dialkyl sulfides > alkyl aryl sulfides > Ph(2)S approximately DMSO, which demonstrates electrophilic oxo transfer. Competing deactivation and inhibitory pathways as well as their relevant kinetics are also reported.