Theory-enforced Re-investigation of the Origin of the Large Metal–Carbon Bond Strength in PdCH2I+ and its reactions with unsaturated hydrocarbons

State-of-the-art ab initio studies demonstrate that the reaction Pd⁺ + CH₃I → PdCH₂I⁺ + H^. is endothermic by ca. 20 kcal/mol, which translates into a bond dissociation energy (BDE) of ca. 83 kcal/mol for the Pd⁺? CH₂I bond. This figure is in agreement with an experimental bracket of 68 kcal/mol < BDE(Pd⁺? CH₂I) < 92 kcal/mol. Based on these findings, the previously studied Pd⁺/CH₃I system was re-investigated, and double-resonance experiments demonstrate that the formation of PdCH₂I⁺ occurs stepwise via PdCH as a reactive intermediate. Further, ion/molecule reactions of PdCH₂I⁺ with unsaturated hydrocarbons are studied, which reveal the formation of carbon–carbon bonds in the gas phase.     

Gas‐phase reaction mechanism of Pd+ with CH3CHO: A density functional theoretical study

Details on the reactions of: (1) Pd⁺ + CH₃CHO → PdCO⁺ + CH₄ and (2) Pd⁺ + CH₃CHO → PdH + CH₃CO⁺ in the gas phase were investigated using density functional theory (B3LYP), in conjunction with the LANL2DZ+6‐311+G(d) basis set. Three encounter complexes were located on the potential energy surfaces and the calculations indicated that both the C? C and aldehyde C? H bond activation of acetaldehyde could lead to the dominant demethanation reaction. The charge transfer process for PdH abstraction was caused by an intramolecular PdH rearrangement of the newly found η¹‐aldehyde attached complex. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Heterolytic activation of C?H bond in methane with (HNCHCHNH)M(CH3) (M = Pd+, Pt+, Rh+, Ir+, Rh,Ir): Comparative density functional study of activation mechanisms

Activation of methane by oxidative addition and σ‐bond metathesis has been investigated for (N‐N)M(CH₃) (M = Pd⁺, Pt⁺, Rh⁺, Ir⁺, Rh, Ir; N‐N = (HN?CH? CH?NH) using different density functional approaches. The pathway of oxidative addition is in general favored, the exceptions being Pd⁺ and Rh⁺. Oxidative addition is clearly more favorable for the third‐row metal complexes than those of the second row. The third‐row metal complexes also tend to have a lower activation barrier for σ‐bond metathesis than those of the second row. In each case, the oxidative addition is preceded by formation of a sigma complex. The bonding energies of these complexes are significantly stronger for the cationic systems. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2003     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Cascade CH Trifluoroethylation of Aryl Iodides and Heck Reaction: Efficient Synthesis of ortho‐Trifluoroethylstyrenes

A palladium‐catalyzed selective C? H bond trifluoroethylation of aryl iodides has been explored. The reaction allows for the efficient synthesis of a variety of ortho‐trifluoroethyl‐substituted styrenes. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction might involve a key Pd^IV intermediate, which is generated through the rate‐determining oxidative addition of CF₃CH₂I to a palladacycle; the bulky nature of CF₃CH₂I influences the reactivity. Reductive elimination from the Pd^IV complex then leads to the formation of the aryl–CH₂CF₃ bond.     

Investigation of the state of palladium in the Pd/SO4/ZrO2 system by diffuse-reflectance IR spectroscopy

The Pd/ZrO₂ and Pd/SO₄/ZrO₂ systems were investigated by diffuse-reflectance IR spectroscopy using CO as the probe molecule. For the Pd/ZrO₂ system, the behavior of the metal is characteristic of the weak metal-support interaction. Intense bands attibuted to the bridging CO species indicate the formation of large metal particles in the reduced systems. Modification of the ZrO₂ support with SO₄ ^2? anions leads to an increase in the metal—support interaction and makes the metal more resistant to reduction. On the surface promoted by SO₄ ^2? anions, metal particles with a positive charge (Pd⁺ and Pd^δ+) were observed. The smaller the size of the metal clusters and the higher degree of oxidation of sulfur, the stronger the influence of acidic protons and surface sulfur compounds on the metal.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Cascade C?H Trifluoroethylation of Aryl Iodides and Heck Reaction: Efficient Synthesis of ortho‐Trifluoroethylstyrenes

A palladium‐catalyzed selective C H bond trifluoroethylation of aryl iodides has been explored. The reaction allows for the efficient synthesis of a variety of ortho‐trifluoroethyl‐substituted styrenes. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction might involve a key Pd^IV intermediate, which is generated through the rate‐determining oxidative addition of CF₃CH₂I to a palladacycle; the bulky nature of CF₃CH₂I influences the reactivity. Reductive elimination from the Pd^IV complex then leads to the formation of the aryl–CH₂CF₃ bond.     

Mechanism of the formation of palladium complexes serving as catalysts in hydrogenation reactions : I. Reactions of complexes with molecular hydrogen

The interaction of Ph₃PPD(OAc)₂₂ with molecular H₂ yields a binuclear complex of zero-valent palladium, (Ph₃P)₂Pd₂. This complex interacts reversibly with H₂ in CH₂Cl₂, yielding (Ph₃P)₂Pd₂H₂. In argon atmosphere (Ph₃P)₂Pd₂ reacts with [Ph₃PPd(OAc)₂₂ to form a binuclear complex of Pd^I with a metal—metal bond. These data, as well as the results of kinetic studies of the reactions between [Ph₃PPd(OAc)₂₂ and H₂, are in agreement with an autocatalytic mechanism for the process, including catalysis of the reduction of Pd^II complexes by the Pd⁰ compounds. It has been established that the synthesized compound of Pd^II, Pd^I and Pd⁰ with the ratio P/Pd?1, are inactive in the hydrogenation of unsaturated compounds. The catalytically active complex (PPh)₂Pd₅ is formed when palladium acetate reacts with (Ph₃P)₂Pd₂ in the presence of H₂. The same compound is formed when a solution of (Ph₃P)₂Pd₂ is treated with a mixture of H₂ and O₂ (or H₂O₂ in an atmosphere of H₂). (PPh)₂Pd₅ is an effective catalyst for the hydrogenation of olefins, dienes, acetylenes, aldehydes, organic peroxides, quinones, O₂, Schiff bases, and nitro, nitroso, and azo compounds.     

A theoretical study of co insertion reactions: an assessment of electron correlation effects

MP2 and CAS SCF calculations for CO insertion reactions of the type RMCO → M(COR), R = H, CH₃; M = Mn, Pd⁺ are reported. Non-dynamical correlation appears to be quite important, involving essentially the metal-carbon π bond in the Mn(I) systems and the metal-carbon and metal-hydrogen σ bonds in the Pd(II) systems.     

Clustering and activation in reactions of CoCp with hydrogen and methane

Gas-phase clustering reactions of CoCp⁺ with H₂ and with CH₄ were investigated using temperature-dependent equilibrium experiments. In both systems, the CoCp⁺ ion was found to form strong interactions with two ligands. The first and second H₂ groups cluster to CoCp⁺ with bond energies of 16.2 and 16.8 kcal/mol, respectively, while the first and second CH₄ groups cluster to CoCp⁺ with bond energies of 24.1 and 12.1 kcal/mol, respectively. These bond energies are in good agreement with those determined by density functional theory (DFT). Molecular geometries for the four clusters determined with DFT are also presented. Weak experimental bond energies of 0.9 kcal/mol for the third H₂ and 2.2 kcal/mol for the third CH₄ clustering to CoCp⁺ suggest these ligands occupy the second solvation shell of the ion. In addition to clustering in the methane system, H₂-elimination from CoCp(CH₄)₂⁺ was observed. The mechanism for this reaction was investigated by collision-induced dissociation experiments and DFT, which suggest the predominate H₂-elimination product is (c-C₅H₆)Co⁺---C₂H₅. Theory indicates that dehydrogenation requires the active participation of the Cp ring in the mechanism. Transfer of H and CH₃ groups to the C₅-ring ligand allows the metal center to avoid the high-energy Co(IV) oxidation state required when it forms two covalent bonds in addition to its interaction with a C₅-ring ligand.     

Directionality of Dihydrogen Bonds: The Role of Transition Metal Atoms

A theoretical study on two series of electron‐rich group 8 hydrides is carried out to evaluate involvement of the transition metal in dihydrogen bonding. To this end, the structural and electronic parameters are computed at the DFT/B3PW91 level for hydrogen‐bonded adducts of [(PP₃)MH₂] and [Cp*MH(dppe)] (M=Fe, Ru, Os; PP₃=κ⁴‐P(CH₂CH₂PPh₂)₃, dppe= κ²‐Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂) with CF₃CH₂OH (TFE) as proton donor. The results are compared with those of adduct [Cp₂NbH₃] ? TFE featuring a “pure” dihydrogen bond, and classical hydrogen bonds in pyridine ? TFE and Me₃N ? TFE. Deviation of the H ??? H? A fragment from linearity is shown to originate from the metal participation in dihydrogen bonding. The latter is confirmed by the electronic parameters obtained by NBO and AIM analysis. Considered together, orbital interaction energies and hydrogen bond ellipticity are salient indicators of this effect and allow the MH ??? HA interaction to be described as a bifurcate hydrogen bond. The impact of the M ??? HA interaction is shown to increase on descending the group, and this explains the experimental trends in mechanisms of proton‐transfer reactions via MH ??? HA intermediates. Strengthening of the M ??? H interaction in the case of electron‐rich 5d metal hydrides leads to direct proton transfer to the metal atom.     

Mild and Versatile Nitrate‐Promoted CH Bond Fluorination

A novel and facile C? H bond fluorination proceeds under remarkably mild conditions (close to room temperature in most cases). Both aromatic and olefinic C(sp²)? H bonds with a wide range of electronic properties are selectively fluorinated in the presence of a catalytic amount of simple, cheap, and nontoxic nitrate as the promoter. A Pd^II/Pd^IV catalytic cycle that is initiated by an in situ generated cationic [Pd(NO₃)]⁺ species was proposed based on preliminary mechanistic studies.     

Two isomers of Pd2(S2NC7H4)4

The dichloromethane solvates of the isomers tetrakis(μ‐1,3‐benzothiazole‐2‐thiolato)‐κ⁴N:S;κ⁴S:N‐dipalladium(II)(Pd—Pd), (I), and tetrakis(μ‐1,3‐benzothiazole‐2‐thiolato)‐κ⁶N:S;κ²S:N‐dipalladium(II)(Pd—Pd), (II), both [Pd₂(C₇H₄NS₂)₄]·CH₂Cl₂, have been synthesized in the presence of (o‐isopropylphenyl)diphenylphosphane and (o‐methylphenyl)diphenylphosphane. Both isomers form a lantern‐type structure, where isomer (I) displays a regular and symmetric coordination and isomer (II) an asymmetric and distorted structure. In (I), sitting on an centre of inversion, two 1,3‐benzothiazole‐2‐thiolate units are bonded by a Pd—N bond to one Pd atom and by a Pd—S bond to the other Pd atom, and the other two benzothiazolethiolate units are bonded to the same Pd atoms by, respectively, a Pd—S and a Pd—N bond. In (II), three benzothiazolethiolate units are bonded by a Pd—N bond to one Pd atom and by a Pd—S bond to the other Pd atom, and the fourth benzothiazolethiolate unit is bonded to the same Pd atoms by, respectively, a Pd—S bond and a Pd—N bond.     

Early Main Group Metal Catalysis: How Important is the Metal?

Organocalcium compounds have been reported as efficient catalysts for various alkene transformations. In contrast to transition metal catalysis, the alkenes are not activated by metal–alkene orbital interactions. Instead it is proposed that alkene activation proceeds through an electrostatic interaction with a Lewis acidic Ca²⁺. The role of the metal was evaluated by a study using the metal‐free catalysts: [Ph₂N^?][Me₄N⁺] and [Ph₃C^?][Me₄N⁺]. These “naked” amides and carbanions can act as catalysts in the conversion of activated double bonds (C?O and C?N) in the hydroamination of Ar? N?C?O and R? N?C?N? R (R=alkyl) by Ph₂NH. For the intramolecular hydroamination of unactivated C?C bonds in H₂C?CHCH₂CPh₂CH₂NH₂ the presence of a metal cation is crucial. A new type of hybrid catalyst consisting of a strong organic Schwesinger base and a simple metal salt can act as catalyst for the intramolecular alkene hydroamination. The influence of the cation in catalysis is further evaluated by a DFT study.     

A Theoretical Study of Complex Formation between Formaldehyde and Lithium

Ab initio SCF and CI calculations on the cationic and neutral complexes of formaldehyde and lithium are reported. For the cationic complex CH₂O/Li⁺, the stabilization energy of 41.7 kcal/mol obtained from the SCF calculation increases to 51.6 kcal/mol if a configuration interaction is introduced. For the neutral complex CH₂O^?/Li⁺, the C_2v-conformer of the ²A₁-state with the equilibrium bond distances of d(C? O) = 1.23 Å and d (O? Li) = 1.90 Å is calculated to be more stable than the ₂B₁-state with d (C? O) = 1.34 Å, and d (O? Li) = 1.65 Å. Charge transfer and polarization effects upon complex formation are discussed.     

On the metal ion selectivity of PNP-lariat ether—an insight from density functional theory calculations

The complexes of Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Be²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺ metal cations with [N₃P₃R₄O(CH₂CH₂O)₄] (R?=?H(1), NMe₂(2), NC(NMe₂)₂(3)) PNP-lariat ethers were systematically studied in the gas phase by using density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP-D3/6-311+G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) method. The gas phase cation affinities were calculated to span the wide range between 64.2 and 496.1 kcal mol^?1 in order K⁺?<?Na⁺?<?Li⁺?<?Ca²⁺?<?Mg²⁺?<?Be²⁺. The structural and electronic properties of 1–3 and their complexes were investigated and effects of electron-donor substituents were analyzed. The electron-donor substituents were found to promote the cation affinity. Sidearm coordinative interaction with the crown ether-complexed metal ion has been noticed. The nature of the metal–ligand interactions was investigated using Bader’s Quantum theory of atoms in molecule. It has been found that the Be²⁺–N bonds are partly covalent in nature while other coordinate bonds are of the electrostatic nature. The electron density at the bond critical points was found to be consistent with cation affinity. Natural bond orbital analysis was performed on the optimized geometries. The results showed that the stabilization interaction energies are caused by the donation of O/N lone pair electrons to the LP* orbitals of the metal cations. The amount of charge transfer follows the cation affinity order. The largest charge transfer and associated second-order perturbation stabilization energy were observed for Be²⁺ complexes.

     

C−I‐Selective Cross‐Coupling Enabled by a Cationic Palladium Trimer

While there is a growing interest in harnessing synergistic effects of more than one metal in catalysis, relatively little is known beyond bimetallic systems. This report describes the straightforward access to an air‐stable Pd trimer and presents unambiguous reactivity data of its privileged capability to differentiate C?I over C?Br bonds in C?C bond formations (arylation and alkylation) of polyhalogenated arenes, which typical Pd⁰ and Pd^I‐Pd^I catalysts fail to deliver. Experimental and computational reactivity data, including the first location of a transition state for bond activation by the trimer, are presented, supporting direct trimer reactivity to be feasible.     

Surfing π Clouds for Noncovalent Interactions: Arenes versus Alkenes

A comparative study of molecular balances by NMR spectroscopy indicates that noncovalent functional‐group interactions with an arene dominate over those with an alkene, and that a π‐facial intramolecular hydrogen bond from a hydroxy group to an arene is favored by approximately 1.2 kJ mol^?1. The strongest interaction observed in this study was with the cyano group. Analysis of the series of groups CH₂CH₃, CH?CH₂, C?CH, and C?N shows a correlation between conformational free‐energy differences and the calculated charge on the C^α atom of these substituents, which is indicative of the electrostatic nature of their π interactions. Changes in the free‐energy differences of conformers show a linear dependence on the solvent hydrogen bond acceptor parameter β.     

The Prominent Enhancing Effect of the Cation–π Interaction on the Halogen–Hydride Halogen Bond in M1⋅⋅⋅C6H5X⋅⋅⋅HM2

We designed M¹???C₆H₅X???HM² (M¹=Li⁺, Na⁺; X=Cl, Br; M²=Li, Na, BeH, MgH) complexes to enhance halogen–hydride halogen bonding with a cation–π interaction. The interaction strength has been estimated mainly in terms of the binding distance and the interaction energy. The results show that halogen–hydride halogen bonding is strengthened greatly by a cation–π interaction. The interaction energy in the triads is two to six times as much as that in the dyads. The largest interaction energy is ?8.31 kcal mol^?1 for the halogen bond in the Li⁺???C₆H₅Br???HNa complex. The nature of the cation, the halogen donor, and the metal hydride influence the nature of the halogen bond. The enhancement effect of Li⁺ on the halogen bond is larger than that of Na⁺. The halogen bond in the Cl donor has a greater enhancement than that in the Br one. The metal hydride imposes its effect in the order HBeH<HMgH<HNa<HLi for the Cl complex and HBeH<HMgH<HLi<HNa for the Br complex. The large cooperative energy indicates that there is a strong interplay between the halogen–hydride halogen bonding and the cation–π interaction. Natural bond orbital and energy decomposition analyses indicate that the electrostatic interaction plays a dominate role in enhancing halogen bonding by a cation–π interaction.     

Elucidating Interactions between DMSO and Chelate‐Based Ionic Liquids

The C?D bond stretching vibrations of deuterated dimethyl sulfoxide ([D₆]DMSO) and the C₂?H bond stretching vibrations of 1,1,1,5,5,5‐hexafluoropentane‐2,4‐dione (hfac) ligand in anion are chosen as probes to elucidate the solvent–solute interaction between chelate‐based ionic liquids (ILs) and DMSO by vibrational spectroscopic studies. The indirect effect from the interaction of the adjacent S=O functional group of DMSO with the cation [C₁₀mim]⁺ and anion [Mn(hfac)₃]^? of the ILs leads to the blue‐shift of the C?D stretching vibrations of DMSO. The C₂?H bond stretching vibrations in hfac ligand is closely related to the ionic hydrogen bond strength between the cation and anion of chelate‐based ILs. EPR studies reveal that the crystal field of the central metal is kept when the chelate‐based ILs are in different microstructure environment in the solution.