Tuning the electronic properties of N-heterocyclic carbenes

The electron-donating properties of N-heterocyclic carbenes ([N,N'-bis(2,6-dimethylphenyl)imidazol]-2-ylidene and the respective dihydro ligands) with 4,4'-R-substituted aryl rings (4,4'-R=NEt2, OC(12)H(25), Me, H, Br, S(4-tolyl), SO(4-tolyl), SO2(4-tolyl)) were studied. Twelve new N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands were synthesized as well as the respective iridium complexes [IrCl(cod)(NHC)] and [IrCl(CO)2(NHC)]. Cyclic voltammetry (DeltaE1/2) and IR (nu (CO)) can be used to measure the electron-donating properties of the carbene ligands. Modifying the 4-positions with electron-withdrawing substituents (4-R=-SO(2)Ar, DeltaE1/2=+0.92 V) results in NHC ligands with virtually the same electron-donating capacity as a trialkylphosphine in [IrCl(cod)(PCy3)] (DeltaE1/2 =+0.95 V), while [IrCl(cod)(NHC)] complexes with 4-R=NEt2 (DeltaE1/2= +0.59 V) show drastically more cathodic redox potentials and significantly enhanced donating properties.     

A versatile gold synthon for acetylene C-H bond activation

The reaction of N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene gold hydroxide ([Au(OH)(IPr)]; 1) with acetylene and trimethylsilylacetylene derivatives cleanly leads to the formation of a gold-acetylide bond with the concomitant formation of water or trimethylsilanol. All compounds were isolated in high yield (>85%). The crystal structures of selected gold acetylides in conjunction with their UV-vis absorption/emission properties were investigated. Finally, DFT calculations were performed in an attempt to gain an insight into the mechanism of the general reaction.     

Cross-Coupling of Diarylborinic Acids and Anhydrides with Arylhalides Catalyzed by a Phosphite/N-Heterocyclic Carbene Co-supported Palladium Catalyst System

A highly efficient cross-coupling of diarylborinic acids and anhydrides with aryl chlorides and bromides has been effected by using a palladium catalyst system co-supported by a strong σ-donor N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC), N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) imidazol-2-ylidene, and a strong π-acceptor phosphite, triphenylphosphite, in tert-BuOH in the present of K(3)PO(4)·3H(2)O. Unsymmetrical biaryls with a variety of functional groups could be obtained in good to excellent yields using as low as 0.01, 0.2-0.5, and 1 mol % palladium loadings for aryl bromides and activated and deactivated aryl chlorides, respectively, under mild conditions. A ligand synergy between the σ-donor NHC and the π-acceptor phosphite in the Pd/NHC/P(OPh)(3) catalytic system has been proposed to be responsible for the high efficacy to arylchlorides in the cross-coupling. A scalable and economical process has therefore been developed for synthesis of Sartan biphenyl from the Pd/NHC/P(OPh)(3) catalyzed cross-coupling of di(4-methylphenyl)borinic acid with 2-chlorobenzonitrile.     

New pyridine carboxamide ligands and their complexation to copper(II). X-Ray crystal structures of mono-, di, tri- and tetranuclear copper complexes

Seven new pyridine dicarboxamide ligands H2L(1-7) have been synthesised from condensation reactions involving pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (H2dipic), pyridine-2,6-dicarbonyl dichloride or 2,6-diaminopyridine with heterocyclic amine or carboxylic acid precursors. Crystallographic analyses of N,N'-bis(2-pyridyl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide monohydrate (H2L8 x H2O), N,N'-bis[2-(2-pyridyl)methyl]pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide and N,N'-bis[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide monohydrate revealed extensive intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. 2,6-Bis(pyrazine-2-carboxamido)pyridine (H2L6) and 2,6-bis(pyridine-2-carboxamido)pyridine (H2L7) reacted with copper(II) acetate monohydrate to give tricopper(II) complexes [Cu3(L)2(mu2-OAc)2]. X-Ray crystallography confirmed deprotonation of the amidic nitrogen atoms and that the (L6,7)2- ligands and acetate anions hold three copper(II) ions in approximately linear fashion. H2L8. Reacted with copper(II) tetrakis(pyridine) perchlorate to give [Cu(L8)(OH2)]2 x 2H2O, in which (L8)2- was tridentate through the nitrogen atoms of the central pyridine ring and the deprotonated carboxamide groups at one copper centre, with one of the terminal pyridyl rings coordinating to the other copper atom in the dimer. The corresponding reaction using H2L7 gave [Cu3(L7)2(py)2][ClO4]2, which transformed during an attempted recrystallisation from ethanol under aerobic conditions to a tetracopper(II) complex [Cu4(L7)2(L7-O)2].     

Self-assembly in palladium(II) and platinum(II) chemistry: the biomimetic approach

The self-assembly of complex cationic structures by combination of cis-blocked square planar palladium(II) or platinum(II) units with bis(pyridyl) ligands having bridging amide units has been investigated. The reactions have yielded dimers, molecular triangles, and polymers depending primarily on the geometry of the bis(pyridyl) ligand. In many cases, the molecular units are further organized in the solid state through hydrogen bonding between amide units or between amide units and anions. The molecular triangle [Pt(3)(bu(2)bipy)(3)(mu-1)(3)](6+), M = Pd or Pt, bu(2)bipy = 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine, and 1 = N-(4-pyridinyl)isonicotinamide, stacks to give dimers by intertriangle NH.OC hydrogen bonding. The binuclear ring complexes [[Pd(LL)(mu-2)](2)](CF(3)SO(3))(4), LL = dppm = Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2) or dppp = Ph(2)P(CH(2))(3)PPh(2) and 2 = NC(5)H(4)-3-CH(2)NHCOCONHCH(2)-3-C(5)H(4)N, form transannular hydrogen bonds between the bridging ligands. The complexes [[Pd(LL)(mu-3)](2)](CF(3)SO(3))(4), LL = dppm or dppp, L = PPh(3), and 3 = N,N'-bis(pyridin-3-yl)-pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide, and [[Pd(LL)(mu-4)](2)](CF(3)SO(3))(4), LL = dppm, dppp, or bu(2)bipy, L = PPh(3), and 4 = N,N'-bis(pyridin-4-yl)-pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide, are suggested to exist as U-shaped or square dimers, respectively. The ligands N,N'-bis(pyridin-3-yl)isophthalamide, 5, or N,N'-bis(pyridin-4-yl)isophthalamide, 6, give the complexes [[Pd(LL)(mu-5)](2)](CF(3)SO(3))(4) or [[Pd(LL)(mu-6)](2)](CF(3)SO(3))(4), but when LL = dppm or dppp, the zigzag polymers [[Pd(LL)(mu-6)](x)](CF(3)SO(3))(2)(x) are formed. When LL = dppp, a structure determination shows formation of a laminated sheet structure by hydrogen bonding between amide NH groups and triflate anions of the type NH-OSO-HN.     

Molecular N2 complexes of iron stabilised by N-heterocyclic 'pincer' dicarbene ligands

The first N2 complex stabilised by N-heterocyclic carbene ligands, Fe(C-N-C)(N2)2, has been obtained by the reduction of Fe(C-N-C)Br2 where C-N-C = 2,6-bis(aryl-imidazol-2-ylidene)pyridine, aryl = 2,6-Pr(i)2C6H3, with Na(Hg); it serves as a convenient precursor for other iron NHC 'pincer' complexes of the type Fe(C-N-C)(N2)L where L = C2H4, PMe3 and Fe(C-N-C)(CO)2.     

Zwitterionic dithiocarboxylates derived from N-heterocyclic carbenes: coordination to gold surfaces

The zwitterionic dithiocarboxylates 1(+)-CS(2)(-)-4(+)-CS(2)(-) were prepared by reacting the corresponding N-heterocyclic carbenes 1,3-bis(2,6-diisoproylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (1), 1,3-diisopropylimidazol-2-ylidene (2), 1,3-dibenzylimidazol-2-ylidene (3) and 1,3-diethylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene (4) with CS(2). In the latter two cases, the corresponding N-heterocylic carbene was generated in situ. Compounds 2(+)-CS(2)(-)-4(+)-CS(2)(-) were structurally characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The chemisorption of these zwitterionic dithiocarboxylates on solid gold substrates was investigated in situ and in real time by optical second harmonic generation (SHG). The resulting thin films were exemplarily characterised by near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in the case of 1(+)-CS(2)(-) and 2(+)-CS(2)(-), revealing the formation of almost contamination-free self-assembled monolayers, which exhibit a remarkable degree of orientational order.     

N-杂环卡宾Pd络合物的合成及其在Buchwald-Hartwig反应中的应用

合成鉴定了二个N-杂环卡宾环金属Pd络合物[1,3-N,N’-双{2,6-二取代基苯基}咪唑基-2-卡宾][N,N-二甲基卞胺-2-C,N]氯化钯(Ⅱ)(3a：取代基 = 异丙基；和3b：取代基 = 甲基)，评价了它们在氯代芳烃和各种胺偶联反应中的催化性能。发现NaOBu-t是效果较好的碱，及Pd周围有较大的立体位阻的3a在4-甲基氯苯与吗啡啉反应中较3b有更好的催化性能.     

Anion-pi-pi interactions in a dinuclear M2L2 metallocycle

The combination of the square-planar cis-protected [Pt(dppp)(O 3SCF 3) 2] (M) with the ditopic N, N'-bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-pyridinyl)-4-ethoxy-2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide ligand (L) leads both in solution and in the solid state to the quantitative self-assembly of a M 2L 2 metallocycle. We also report crystallographic evidence derived from the solid-state structure of the dinuclear metallocycle in support of the existence of anion-pi-pi interactions.     

Synthesis of Some New Thiazoles and Pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines Containing an Antipyrine Moiety

Ethyl 2-{2-[4-(2,3-dimethyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-3-(pyrazolin-4-yl)]-2-cyano-1-(phenylamino)vinylthio}-acetate, 2-[4-(2,3-dimethyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-(3-pyrazolin-4-yl))(1,3-thiazol-2-yl)]2-(4-oxo-3-phenyl-(1,3-thiazoilidin-2-ylidene))ethanenitrile, 2-[4-(2,3-dimethyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl(3-pyrazolin-4-yl))(1,3-thiazol-2-yl)]-2-(4-methyl-3-phenyl(1,3-thiazolin-2-ylidene))ethanenitrile, 2-(5-acetyl-4-methyl-3-phenyl(1,3-thiazolin-2-ylidene))-2-[4-(2,3-dimethyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl(3-pyrazolin-4-yl))(1,3-thiazol-2-yl)]ethanenitrile, and ethyl 2-(cyano(4-(2,3-dihydro-1,5-dimethyl-3-oxo-2-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)thiazol-2-yl)methylene)-2,3-dihydro-4-methyl-3-phenylthiazole-5-carboxylate were synthesized by treatment of 2-(4-(2,3-dihydro-1,5-dimethyl-3-oxo-2-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)thiazol-2-yl)-3-mercapto-3-(phenylamino)-acrylonitrile with appropriate halo ketones or halo esters. Also, 4-{2-[5,7-dimethyl-2-(phenylamino)(7a-hydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-3-yl](1,-thiazol-4-yl)}-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolin-5-one derivatives were synthesized via reaction of 4-{2-[5-amino-3-(phenylamino)pyrazolin-4-yl](1,3-thiazol-2-yl)}-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolin-5-one with β-diketone or β-keto ester. All synthesized compound were established by elemental analysis, spectral data, and alternative synthesis whenever possible.     

Neutral mononuclear, dinuclear, tetranuclear d7/d10 metal complexes containing bis-pyrazole/pyridine ligands supported by 2,6-bis(3-pyrazolyl)pyridine: synthesis, structure, spectra, and catalytic activity

A series of novel bis-pyrazole/pyridine complexes, [Zn(2)(HL(1))(2)(μ(2)-SO(4))](2)·EtOH·H(2)O (1), [Co(2)(HL(1))(2)(μ(2)-SO(4))](2)·2DMF·6H(2)O (2), [Zn(4)(HL(1))(4)(μ(4)-SO(4))][OH](2) (3), [Zn(2)(HL(2))(2)(μ(2)-SO(4))]·2H(2)O (4), [Zn(H(2)L(2))(H(2)O)(2)](SO(4))·0.87H(2)O (5) (H(2)L(1) = 2,6-di-(5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine, H(2)L(2) = 2,6-di-(5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine), were synthesized hydrothermally from the self-assembly of Zn(II) or Co(II) with different types of bipyrazolyl/pyridine derivative ligands. All the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV-vis spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structural analyses revealed that metal atoms (Zn and Co) in complexes 1-5 are five-coordination modes, forming slightly distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometries. In complexes 1-3, H(2)L(1) ligand connected the two metal centers via the tetradentate fashion, and the same form of connection was found in complex 4 with H(2)L(2) ligand. While in complex 5, H(2)L(2) only connected with one metal center via the tridentate fashion, which was different from those in complexes 1-4. Additionally, there are abundant hydrogen bonding interactions in complexes 1-4. Interestingly, for hydrogen bonding connecting fashions being different, the molecules for the complexes 1 and 4 are held together by the hydrogen bond to form a 1D supramolecular structure, whereas complexes 2 and 3 are a hydrogen bonded dimer. In addition, quantum chemical calculations for 1, 3, and 4, thermal behaviors and photoluminescent properties for 1 and 3-5 were performed and discussed in detail. In the mean time, we found that these complexes had potential catalytic activity for the oxidation reaction of cyclohexane.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of uranium(IV) complexes with compartmental Schiff bases: from mononuclear species to tri- and tetranuclear clusters

Treatment of U(acac)4 with the hexadentate Schiff base H2L(i) gave the [UL(i)2] complexes 1-4 [H2L1=N,N'-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)-2-methyl-1,2-propanediamine, H2L2=N,N'-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)-1,2-phenylenediamine, H2L3=N,N'-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)-2-aminobenzylamine and H2L4=N,N'-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine for 1-4, respectively]. The [U(L(i))(acac)2] compounds could not be isolated because of their ready disproportionation into [UL(i)2] and U(acac)4. Compounds 2 and 4 adopt a meridional configuration in the solid state and in solution, while exists in solution as the two equilibrating meridional and sandwich isomers and crystallizes in the meridional isomeric form. Reaction of U(acac)4 with H4L5 afforded the expected compound [U(H2L5)(acac)2] (5) [H4L5=N,N'-bis(3-hydroxysalicylidene)-2-methyl-1,2-propanediamine] but, in the presence of H4L6 and H4L7, U(acac)4 was transformed in a serendipitous and reproducible manner into the tri- and tetranuclear U(IV) complexes [U3(L6)(HL6)2(acac)2] (6) and [U4(HL7)4(H2L7)2] (7) [H4L6=N,N'-bis(3-hydroxysalicylidene)-1,2-phenylenediamine and H4L7=N,N'-bis(3-hydroxysalicylidene)-2-aminobenzylamine]. The crystal structures of 6.3thf and 7.5thf show the assembling role of the Schiff-base ligands.     

Modified (NHC)Pd(allyl)Cl (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes for room-temperature Suzuki-Miyaura and Buchwald-Hartwig reactions

A series of (NHC)Pd(R-allyl)Cl complexes [NHC: IPr = N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene, SIPr = N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene; R = H, Me, gem-Me2, Ph] have been synthesized and fully characterized. When compared to (NHC)Pd(allyl)Cl, substitution at the terminal position of the allyl scaffold favors a more facile activation step. This translates into higher catalytic activity in the Suzuki-Miyaura and Buchwald-Hartwig reactions, allowing for the coupling of unactivated aryl chlorides at room temperature in minutes. In the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction, aryl triflates, bromides, and chlorides react with boronic acids using very low catalyst loading. In the N-aryl amination reaction, a wide range of substrates has been coupled efficiently; primary-, secondary-, alkyl-, or aryl-amines react in high yields with unactivated, neutral, and activated aryl chlorides and bromides. In both reactions, extremely hindered substrates such as tri-ortho-substituted biaryls and tetra-ortho-substituted diarylamines can be produced without loss of activity. Finally, the present catalytic system has proven to be efficient with as low as 10 parts-per-million (ppm) of precatalyst in the Buchwald-Hartwig reaction and 50 ppm in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction.     

Tailored molybdenum imido alkylidene N-heterocyclic carbene complexes as latent catalysts for the polymerization of dicyclopentadiene

Three novel molybdenum imido alkylidene N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) pre-catalysts, that is, Mo(N-t-Bu)(1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3-isopropyl-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene)(CHCMe₂Ph)(OTf)₂ ( I1 , OTf = CF₃SO₃), Mo(N-t-Bu)(1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3-isopropyl-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene)(CHCMe₂Ph)(OTf)(t-BuO) ( I2 ) and Mo(N-2,6-Me₂-C₆H₃)(1,3,4-triphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene)(CHCMe₂Ph)(OTf)₂ ( I3 ) are presented. Compared to complexes based on imidazol-2-ylidenes or imidazolin-2-ylidenes, (1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3-isopropyl-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene) used in precatalysts I1 and I2 exerts a comparably strong trans effect to the triflate groups trans to the NHC, while (1,3,4-triphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene) used in I3 has a weaker trans effect on the triflate. In combination with a suitable second anionic ligand at molybdenum, that is, OTf, t-BuO, compounds I1 – I3 require higher temperatures to become active and can thus be used as truly room temperature latent pre-catalysts, even for a highly reactive monomer such as dicyclopentadiene (DCPD). When used as latent precatalysts, I1 – I3 offer access to poly-DCPD with different degrees of cross-linking and glass-transition temperatures (T_g). © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3028–3033     

Lewis-acid assisted cross metathesis of acrylonitrile with functionalized olefins catalyzed by phosphine-free ruthenium carbene complex

The exchange of the PPh3 ligand in the complex [1,3-bis(2,6-dimethylphenyl)4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene](PPh3)(Cl)2Ru=CHPh (7) for a pyridine ligand at ambient temperature leads to the formation of the stable phosphine-free carbene ruthenium complex [1,3-bis(2,6-dimethylphenyl)4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene](C5H5N)2(Cl)2 Ru=CHPh (8). The resulted ruthenium complex exhibits highly catalytic activity for the cross metathesis of acrylonitrile with various functionalized olefins under mild conditions, and its activity can be further improved by the addition of a Lewis acid such as Ti(OiPr)4. In the mixture products, the Z-isomer predominates.     

A structural, spectroscopic and computational study of the molecular and electronic structure of a [bis(alpha-diiminato)manganese(II)] pi radical complex

The synthesis, molecular and electronic structure of the first bis(alpha-diiminato)manganese(II) complex are reported, [Mn(II)(L )(2)] (S(t) = (3)/(2)) where (L )(1-) represents the one-electron reduced form of N,N'-bis(2,6-isopropylphenyl)-1,4-diaza-1,3-diene; density functional theoretical calculations using the B3LYP functional and the broken symmetry approach BS(5,2) corroborate the presence of a high-spin Mn(II) ion and two ligand pi radical monoanions.     

Trinuclear lanthanide complexes of a compartmental ligand N,N'-bis(2-pyridinyl)-2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide: a spectroscopic investigation

Trinuclear lanthanide complexes of the formula [Ln(3)(PPDA)(NO(3))(6)(H(2)O)(2)].NO(3).2H(2)O where Ln=La(III), Pr(III), Sm(III), Nd(III), Eu(III) Gd(III) Tb(III), Dy(III) and Y(III); H(2)PPDA=N,N'-bis(2-pyridinyl)-2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide, have been isolated. The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, conductivity measurements, magnetic susceptibility measurements and spectral (IR, NMR, UV-vis, fluorescence, FAB and EPR) and thermal studies.     

A novel phosphate chemosensor utilizing anion-induced fluorescence change

[structure: see text] The neutral receptor N,N'-bis[3,5-di[(1-pyrenylmethyl)carbamoyl]benzyl] pyridine-2,6-dicarbamide (2) provides a pseudo-tetrahedron cleft and multiple hydrogen bondings to form a 1:1 complex with phosphate ion in a highly selective manner, by comparison with other anions (F(-), Cl(-), Br(-), SCN(-), AcO(-), NO(3)(-), ClO(4)(-), and HSO(4)(-)). The binding strength can be inferred from the emission intensity ratio of the pyrene monomer (lambda(max) 377 nm) to the excimer (lambda(max) 477 nm). Fluorescence titration, X-ray analysis, and NMR studies support a proposed complexation model.     

Efficient nickel-mediated intramolecular amination of aryl chlorides

The use of an in situ generated Ni(0) catalyst associated with 2,2'-bipyridine or N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene (SIPr) as a ligand and NaO-t-Bu as the base for the intramolecular coupling of aryl chlorides with amines is described. The procedure has been applied to the formation of five-, six-, and seven-membered rings. [reaction: see text]     

Suzuki-Miyaura, alpha-ketone arylation and dehalogenation reactions catalyzed by a versatile N-heterocyclic carbene-palladacycle complex

[reaction: see text] The activity of the complex (IPr)PdCl(eta2-N,C-C12H7NMe2), 1 [IPr = (N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol)-2-ylidene], in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction involving unactivated aryl chlorides and triflates with arylboronic acids at room temperature in technical grade 2-propanol is described. These conditions allow for the synthesis of di- and tri-ortho-substituted biaryls in very short reaction times. This complex also displays very high activity for alpha-ketone arylation and dehalogenation reactions of activated and unactivated aryl chlorides.