Intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds in alkyl and silyl ethers: experimental and theoretical analysis

We have investigated the electronic impact of the R protecting group (TBS or PMB) in the conformational equilibrium of alpha-methyl substituted alcohols 1 (R = TBS) and 2 (R = PMB). The conformational analysis and (1)H NMR experiments for alcohols 1 and 2 reflect the tendency for the existence of hydrogen-bonded conformations. The intrinsic low basicity of silyl ethers does not affect the capacity of the oxygen attached to the silicon atom in forming intramolecular hydrogen bonds. We showed that the extents of the hydrogen bonds in silyl and alkyl ethers are determined by several properties, such as orbital interactions, lone pair hybridizations, and lone pair energies, and not just by the electronic occupancy of the donor atom. The populational analysis of NBO allowed understanding the intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the OH group and oxygen bonded to silicon as well as to alkyl ethers, concluding that there are distinct lone pair contributions.     

Homolysis of weak Ti-O bonds: experimental and theoretical studies of titanium oxygen bonds derived from stable nitroxyl radicals

Titanium-oxygen bonds derived from stable nitroxyl radicals are remarkably weak and can be homolyzed at 60 degrees C. The strength of these bonds depends sensitively on the ancillary ligation at titanium. Direct measurements of the rate of Ti-O bond homolysis in Ti-TEMPO complexes Cp2TiCl(TEMPO) (3) and Cp2TiCl(4-MeO-TEMPO) (4) (TEMPO = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl, 4-MeO-TEMPO = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-methoxypiperidine-N-oxyl) were conducted by nitroxyl radical exchange experiments. Eyring plots gave the activation parameters, deltaH++ = 27(+/- 1) kcal/mol, deltaS++ = 6.9(+/- 2.3) eu for 3 and deltaH++ = 28(+/- 1) kcal/mol, deltaS++ = 9.0(+/- 3.0) eu for 4, consistent with a process involving the homolysis of a weak Ti-O bond to generate the transient Cp2Ti(III)Cl and the nitroxyl radical. Thermolysis of the titanocene TEMPO complexes in the presence of epoxides leads to the Cp2Ti(III)Cl-mediated ring-opening of the epoxide followed by trapping by the nitroxyl radical. The X-ray crystal structure of the Ti-TEMPO derivative, Cp2TiCl(4-MeO-TEMPO) (4), is reported. DFT (B3LYP/6-31G*) calculations and experimental studies reveal that the strength of the Ti-O bond decreases dramatically with the number of cyclopentadienyl groups on titanium. The calculated Ti-O bond strength of the monocyclopentadienyl complex 2 is 43 kcal/mol, whereas that of the biscyclopentadienyl complex 3 is 17 kcal/mol, a difference of 26 kcal/mol. These studies reveal that the strength of these Ti-O bonds can be tuned over an interesting and experimentally accessible temperature range by appropriate ligation on titanium.     

Nucleophilic substitution of ferrocenyl alcohols by cerium ammonium nitrate: C-N, C-S, and C-O bonds formation

Nucleophilic substitution of ferrocenyl alcohols with N-, S-, O-centered nucleophiles promoted by a catalytic amount of cerium ammonium nitrate (CAN) was studied. By this protocol, a series of second arylamine, thioether, and ether were facilely synthesized in moderate to good yields under mild conditions.     

Thermodynamics, kinetics, and dynamics of the two alternative aniomesolytic fragmentations of C-O bonds: an electrochemical and theoretical study

Fragmentation reactions of radical anions (mesolytic cleavages) of cyanobenzyl alkyl ethers (intramolecular dissociative electron transfer, heterolytic cleavages) have been studied electrochemically. The intrinsic barriers for the processes have been established from the experimental thermodynamic and kinetic parameters. These values are more than 3 kcal/mol lower as an average than the related homolytic mesolytic fragmentations of radical anions of 4-cyanophenyl ethers. In the particular case of isomers 4-cyanobenzyl phenyl ether and 4-cyanophenyl benzyl ether, the difference in intrinsic barriers amounts to 5.5 kcal/mol, and this produces an energetic crossing where the thermodynamically more favorable process (homolytic) is the kinetically slower one. The fundamental reasons for this behavior have been established by means of theoretical calculations within the density functional theory framework, showing that, in this case, the factors that determine the kinetics are clearly different (mainly present in the transition state) from those that determine the thermodynamics and they are not related to the regioconservation of the spin density ("spin regioconservation principle"). Our theoretical results reproduce quite well the experimental energetic difference of barriers and demonstrate the main structural origin of the difference.     

Catalytic formation of C-O bonds by alkene activation: Lewis acid-cycloisomerisation of olefinic alcohols

Tin(IV) trifluoromethanesulfonate has been found to be an excellent catalyst for the cycloisomerisation of non-activated and differently substituted olefinic alcohols to cyclic ethers.     

Broad photoelectron spectrum and lowered electron affinity due to hydrogen in ZnOH: a joint experimental and theoretical study

We report a combined experimental and theoretical photoelectron spectroscopy study of ZnOH(-). We find that the electron binding energy spectrum of ZnOH(-) reveals a broad and featureless peak between 1.4 and 2.4 eV in energy. The vertical detachment energy (VDE) of ZnOH(-) is determined to be 1.78 eV, which is lower than the 2.08 eV VDE of ZnO(-). Our theoretical calculations match the VDE of ZnOH(-) accurately, but we find that the broadness of the peak cannot be explained by rotational or vibrational state excitation. The broadness of this peak is in strong contrast to the narrow and easily understood first peak of the ZnO spectrum, which features a well-resolved vibrational progression that can be readily explained by calculating the Franck-Condon transition factors. This study provides spectroscopic evidence of the effect of hydrogen on diatomic ZnO.     

Cu-facilitated C-O bond formation using N-hydroxyphthalimide: efficient and selective functionalization of benzyl and allylic C-H bonds

A highly efficient protocol for the benzyl or allylic C-H functionalization of simple hydrocarbons has been developed using stoichiometric amounts of N-hydroxyphthalimide and PhI(OAc)2 in the presence of CuCl catalyst. The reaction was revealed to proceed via a radical pathway, in which phthalimide N-oxyl (PINO) radical plays a dual role, serving as a catalytic hydrogen abstractor from hydrocarbons as well as a stoichiometric reagent to couple with the resultant alkyl radicals.     

Interplay between hydrogen bond formation and multicenter pi-electron delocalization: intermolecular hydrogen bonds

The interplay between aromatic electron delocalization and intermolecular hydrogen bonding is thoroughly investigated using multicenter delocalization analysis. The effect on the hydrogen bond strength of aromatic electron delocalization within the acceptor and donor molecules is determined by means of the interaction energies between monomers, calculated at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. This magnitude is compared to variations of multicenter electron delocalization indices and covalent hydrogen bond indices, which are shown to correlate perfectly with the relative values of the interaction energies for the different complexes studied. The multicenter electron delocalization indices and covalent bond indices have been computed using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules approach. All the hydrogen bonds are formed with oxygen as the acceptor atom; however, the atom bonded to the donor hydrogen has been either oxygen or nitrogen. The water-water complex is taken as reference, where the donor and acceptor molecular environments are modified by substituting the hydrogens and the hydroxyl group by phenol, furan, and pyrrole aromatic rings. The results here shown match perfectly with the qualitative expectations derived from the resonance model.     

Alkylation of carbonyl compounds in water: formation of C-C and C-O bonds in the presence of surfactants

The formation of C-C and C-O bonds by the reaction of enolate intermediates with electrophilic substrates commonly requires strong bases, aprotic solvents and very low temperatures. A way of performing the same reactions with sodium hydroxide at moderate temperatures in aqueous surfactant solutions is presented. Different halides, ketones and surfactants (cationic, zwitterionic and anionic) have been used. The results obtained show that the amount of ketone alkylation is much higher and that the reactions are faster in the presence than in the absence of surfactant aggregates. The hydrolysis of the halide is minimised in the presence of cationic or zwitterionic surfactants.     

A versatile and efficient ligand for copper-catalyzed formation of C-N, C-O, and P-C bonds: pyrrolidine-2-phosphonic acid phenyl monoester

A new and readily available bidentate ligand, namely, pyrrolidine-2-phosphonic acid phenyl monoester (PPAPM), has been developed for the copper-catalyzed formation of C-N, C-O, and P-C bonds, and various N-, O-, and P-arylation products were synthesized in good to excellent yields by using the CuI/PPAPM catalyst system. Addition of the PPAPM ligand greatly increases the reactivity of the copper catalyst, and the resulting versatile and efficient catalyst system is of widespread and practical application in cross-coupling reactions.     

The nature of unsupported uranium-ruthenium bonds: a combined experimental and theoretical study

Four new uranium-ruthenium complexes, [(Tren(TMS))URu(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)(2)] (9), [(Tren(DMSB))URu(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)(2)] (10), [(Ts(Tolyl))(THF)URu(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)(2)] (11), and [(Ts(Xylyl))(THF)URu(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)(2)] (12) [Tren(TMS)=N(CH(2)CH(2)NSiMe(3))(3); Tren(DMSB)=N(CH(2)CH(2)NSiMe(2)tBu)(3)]; Ts(Tolyl)=HC(SiMe(2)NC(6)H(4)-4-Me)(3); Ts(Xylyl)=HC(SiMe(2)NC(6)H(3)-3,5-Me(2))(3)], were prepared by a salt-elimination strategy. Structural, spectroscopic, and computational analyses of 9-12 shows: i) the formation of unsupported uranium-ruthenium bonds with no isocarbonyl linkages in the solid state; ii) ruthenium-carbonyl backbonding in the [Ru(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)(2)](-) ions that is tempered by polarization of charge within the ruthenium fragments towards uranium; iii) closed-shell uranium-ruthenium interactions that can be classified as predominantly ionic with little covalent character. Comparison of the calculated U-Ru bond interaction energies (BIEs) of 9-12 with the BIE of [(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(3)URu(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)(2)], for which an experimentally determined U-Ru bond disruption enthalpy (BDE) has been reported, suggests BDEs of approximately 150 kJ mol(-1) for 9-12.     

Cation-anion hydrogen bonds: a new class of hydrogen bonds that extends their strength beyond the covalent limit. A theoretical characterization

The existence of O-H···O hydrogen bonds having a strength within the -80 to -210 kcal/mol range, that is, in the range of strength of covalent bonds and well beyond the so-called covalent limit (-50 kcal/mol), is reported on complexes where the O-H proton donor and O acceptor groups are located in ions of opposite sign. A complete analysis of short distance O-H···O hydrogen bonds between charged fragments was performed for cases where the OH and O groups are both located on charged molecules. It shows that these interactions (a) are nonsymmetrical for the O-H and H···O distances, (b) have a noncovalent H···O bond critical point, and (c) have a strong and energetically stable electrostatic component when the OH and O groups are located in oppositely charged molecules. These cation-anion O-H···O interactions are energetically stable, satisfy the usual topology for hydrogen bonds, HBs, and also have the same directionality found in other HBs. Therefore, they should be considered as a new class of HBs, the cation-anion hydrogen bonds.     

Metal-free, organocatalytic cascade formation of C-N and C-O bonds through dual sp3 C-H activation: oxidative synthesis of oxazole derivatives

An organocatalytic cascade reaction that involves the formation of C-N, C-O and C=N bonds in one process via dual sp(3) C-H activation has been developed. This protocol affords a facile metal-free methodology for the synthesis of oxazole derivatives in air under mild conditions.     

Interplay between hydrogen-bond formation and multicenter pi-electron delocalization: intramolecular hydrogen bonds

The specific case of intramolecular hydrogen bonds assisted by pi-electron delocalization is thoroughly investigated using multicenter delocalization analysis. The effect of the pi-electron delocalization on the intramolecular hydrogen-bond strength is determined by means of the relative molecular energies of "open" and "closed" structures, calculated at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. These relative energies are compared to variations in the multicenter electron delocalization indices and covalent hydrogen-bond indices, which are shown to correlate very well with the relative strength of the intramolecular hydrogen bonds studied. The multicenter electron delocalization indices and covalent bond indices have been computed using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules approach. The hydrogen bonds are formed with oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur as acceptor atom, which are also the atoms considered to be bonded to the donor hydrogen. Malonaldehyde is taken as reference; the substitution of oxygen by other atoms at the acceptor and donor positions and the effect of the aromaticity have been studied. The results shown here match perfectly with the qualitative expectations derived from the resonance models. In addition, they provide a quantitative picture of the role played by the pi-electron delocalization on the relative strength of intramolecular hydrogen bonds.     

Syntheses and structural studies of Schiff bases involving hydrogen bonds

New Schiff bases have been prepared by reacting 3-hydroxy-4-pyridine- carboxaldehyde with various amines. NMR spectroscopic methods provided clear evidence that the Schiff bases exist in the solid state and in solution as hydroxyimino tautomers with the E-configuration. A study of the stabilities of the tautomeric forms and the different conformers has been carried out using density functional calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G** level.     

Structural and energetic consequences of the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds

Formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds leads to structural modifications in the whole molecule, which are discussed on the basis of B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) calculations. The energy and the structure of various hydrogen-bonded and open conformers are considered for two groups of ortho-substituted phenols–N-dimethylaminomethylphenols (Mannich bases) and N-methylbenzylideneamines (Schiff bases). The energy of intramolecular hydrogen bond formation in Mannich bases was corrected for non-bonded interactions within the molecules, based on a thermodynamic cycle. Structural data were used to estimate the fraction of the ortho-quinoid (keto) form in particular tautomers. It is shown that proton transfer in Schiff bases leads to an increase of this fraction to about 40%, while opening of the hydrogen bond in the proton transferred form increases the keto fraction to 70%.     

Acidity of ortho-substituted benzoic acids: an infrared and theoretical study of the intramolecular hydrogen bonds

The structures of ortho-substituted benzoic acids with substituents bearing hydrogen atoms (OH, NH2, COOH and SO2NH2) were investigated by means of IR spectroscopy and of density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-311 + G(d,p) level. All possible conformations, hydrogen bonds, tautomeric forms and zwitterions were taken into consideration and particular attention was given to intramolecular H-bonds and their effect on acidity. Strong H-bonds in the anions of all four acids, were revealed by calculations. In three cases they were confirmed by the IR spectra of the tetrabutylammonium salts in tetrachloromethane solution, while the salt of 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid was not sufficiently soluble. The H-bonds are of different strengths but in all cases they are the main cause of the strengthened acidity of these acids in the gas phase and also in solution, although their effect is opposed by weaker H-bonds present in the undissociated acid molecules. The substituent effect on the acidity was evaluated in terms of isodesmic reactions, separately in the acid molecules and in the anions. While the acidity of the 2-OH and 2-NH2 acids is determined essentially by the H-bonds, that of the 2-COOH and 2-SO2NH2 acids is strengthened by the polar effect operating in the undissociated molecule in addition to the H-bond in the anion. The steric inhibition of resonance (SIR), estimated from model conformations with fixed torsional angles, is of little importance. This analysis goes significantly beyond the classical explanation obtained from the acidities in solution but essentially conforms with it.     

Steric stabilization of a monomeric proalumatrane: experimental and theoretical studies

Treatment of tripodal tris(3-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl)amine (L) with 1 equiv of trimethylaluminum in toluene gave the stable proalumatrane (AlL) (1) [wherein L = tris(3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-2-oxidobenzyl)amine] featuring a distorted trigonal monopyramidal four-coordinate aluminum geometry. An analogous reaction uses the less sterically congested isomer of L, namely, tris(5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-3-methylbenzyl)amine provided dimeric (AlL')2 (2) [wherein L' = tris(5-tert-butyl-3-methyl-2-oxidobenzyl)amine], which contains two bridging alumatrane moieties possessing five-coordinate TBP aluminum geometries. Reaction of AlL with water provided the adduct H2O.AlL (3), a species that is representative of a coordinatively stabilized intermediate in the hydrolysis of an aluminum alkoxide. Theoretical calculations revealed that considerable stabilization energy is obtained by the coordination of a water molecule to the tetracoordinate aluminum in AlL and that this result is consistent with the postulate that the Lewis acidity of AlL exceeds that of boron trifluoride, despite the presence of the transannular N-->Al bond in AlL.     

Borrowing hydrogen: iridium-catalysed reactions for the formation of C-C bonds from alcohols

Alcohols have been employed as substrates for C-C bond-forming reactions which involve initial activation by the temporary removal of hydrogen to form an aldehyde. The intermediate aldehyde is converted into an alkene via a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction, nitroaldol and aldol reactions. The 'borrowed hydrogen' is then returned to the alkene to form a C-C bond.