Fischer carbene complexes: beautiful playgrounds to study single electron transfer (SET) reactions

The knowledge of the reactivity of Fischer carbene complexes in electron transfer processes is still in the early stage of development, but interesting advances are foreseeable in this young branch of metal-carbene chemistry. Although these compounds have a dual reactivity (which makes them good substrates for oxidation and reduction processes), their behavior towards chemical electron transfer (ET) reagents was unknown until very recently. This article covers the progress accomplished in the reactivity of these compounds towards chemical ET reagents (C(8)K or SmI(2)), as well as the use of nonconventional sources of electrons, such as electrospray ionization (ESI) to induce ET processes. Special emphasis will be made on the effect of the structure of the starting carbene in the outcome of the reaction and in discussing the different mechanisms proposed.     

Study of the ESI-mass spectrometry ionization mechanism of Fischer carbene complexes

By means of deuterium-labeling experiments, we have carried out a systematic ESI-MS study to determine the mechanism of ESI ionization of alkenyl and alkynyl group 6 Fischer carbene complexes. These compounds can be ionized under ESI conditions only in the presence of additives such as hydroquinone (HQ) or tetrathiafulvalene (TTF). Our results demonstrate that in the ESI source an anion-radical is formed after the initial HQ- or TTF-mediated electron transfer to the metallic carbene complex. For alkenyl carbene complexes, this species evolves by extrusion of a hydrogen radical to form an allenylchromium anion that is detected as the [M - H](-) ion in the mass spectrum. The preference for this mechanistic pathway could be rationalized by DFT calculations. In the case of alkynyl carbene complexes, experiments combining deuterated substrate, additive, and solvent demonstrate that the previously proposed allene-anion carbene complex is not formed. Instead, the H transfer from the ethoxy group in the anion radical, followed by extrusion of a hydrogen radical, leads to an allenyl anion that is detected in the ESI-MS as [M - H - CO](-).     

Stereoselective synthesis of pentacarbonyl(3-oxa-2-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexylidene)- and pentacarbonyl(cyclopropylmethoxymethylene)tungsten compounds on the route to cyclopropane-gamma-lactones and -carboxylates

The diastereoselective synthesis of pentacarbonyl-3-oxa-2-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexylidene- and pentacarbonyl(cyclopropylmethoxymethylene)tungsten compounds 4 and 9 by the reaction of lithiated oxazolinyloxiranes 2 and 8 and Fischer carbene tungsten complexes 3 is described. A mechanism for the formation of 4 and 9 is reported as well as their oxidation to cyclopropane-gamma-lactone 13 and -carboxylate 14.     

Easy synthesis of heterocyclic carbene complexes by activation of chalcogenopyrones and benzopyrones to pyrylium salts and subsequent addition of carbanion of methoxy(methyl)pentacarbonyltungsten carbene complex

Methylenechalcogenopyran and benzopyran Fischer carbene complexes are easily obtained from commercially available chalcogenopyrones or benzopyrones and carbanion of methoxy(methyl)carbene tungsten complex. The key of the heterocyclic carbene formation is the activation of the carbonyl group by alkylation with alkyl trifluoromethanesulfonate reagent.     

Group 6 heteroatom- and non-heteroatom-stabilized carbene complexes. beta,beta'- and alpha,beta,beta'-annulation reactions of cyclic enamines

Cyclization reactions of group 6 Fischer carbene complexes with cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone enamines are described. Enamine 3a undergoes thermal alpha,beta,beta'-annulation with alkenylcarbene complexes 1 and 2 (THF, 60 degrees C), affording semibullvalenes 5. The metalate intermediates 6, resulting from beta,beta'-annulation of the enamines 3a and 4a, were quantitatively formed by running the reaction in hexane at room temperature. Acid-promoted demetalation of 6 afforded endo-2-bicyclo[3.2.1]octen-8-ones 7 and endo/exo-2-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonen-9-ones 8 (endo/exo = 5:1). Using (S)-methoxymethylpyrrolidine-derived enamines 3b and 4b,c allowed highly enantioenriched cycloadducts endo-(+)-7 as well as endo-(-)-8 and exo-(-)-8 to be accessed. The non-heteroatom-stabilized carbene complex 10 was formed from complex 6 by Me(3)SiOTf-promoted elimination of the methoxy group, characterized by (13)C NMR, and transformed into the organic compounds 7, 7-d, and 11 as well as into bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2,8-diones 14 and cycloheptanones 15. On the basis of this sequence, enantioenriched cycloheptanones (+)-15 were efficiently prepared in one pot from carbene complexes 2 and enamine 3b (51-55% yield, 91-96% ee). Extension of this work to simple Fischer carbene complexes 16 allowed an appropriate way to generate the nonstabilized pentacarbonyl[(phenyl(alkyl)carbene]tungsten complex 17 to be designed, for which the thermal and chemical behavior leading to compounds 18-21 is described.     

The [2 + 1] and [4 + 3] cyclization reactions of fulvenes with Fischer carbene complexes: new access to annulated cyclopentanones

Pentafulvenes are regioselectively cyclopropanated with group 6 Fischer carbene complexes leading to the homofulvene ring with complete endo selectivity. The homofulvene adducts undergo in turn a further cyclopropanation with ethyl diazoacetate or cyclopentannulation with a Fischer alkenyl carbene complex to provide substituted cyclopentanones after ozonolysis of the exocyclic carbon=carbon double bond. Fischer alkynyl carbene complexes also produce the corresponding alkynyl homofulvenes, albeit the exo stereoisomer is in this case exclusively or preferentially formed. Under moderate CO pressure, tungsten alkynyl carbene complexes cycloadd to pentafulvenes in a [4 + 3] fashion, giving rise to bicyclo[3.2.1]octadien-2-ones.     

1,4-Addition Reactions of Alkynyl Fischer Carbene Complexes with Azides-Synthesis of β-Amino Alkenyl Carbene Complexes

Seredipitious 1, 4-additon reactions of alkynyl tungsten Fischer carbene complex with azides with the exclusion of nitrogen to form βamino carbene complexes were found.     

Reaction of α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes with allyl alkoxide

Optically enriched homo-binuclear Fischer chromium carbene complexes with planar chiral arene chromium complexes gave α-allyl β-arylpropionates up to 97% ee by reaction with allyl alkoxide and subsequent photo-oxidative demetalation. The chiral hetero-binuclear tungsten carbene complexes afforded anti α-allyl β-hydroxy β-arylpropionates as a major product up to 92/8 dr by the same reaction sequence. High diastereoselectivity in these reactions is contributed to the planar chirality of the arene chromium complex, even though the reaction was carried out under vigorous basic media. The reaction products, α-allyl β-arylpropionates were derived by 1,3-M(CO)₅ shift and subsequent [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. Also, the corresponding chromium-uncomplexed α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes afforded α-allyl β-arylpropionates under the same conditions. Formation of β-allyl β-arylpropionates via 1,2-M(CO)₅ shift followed by [3,4]-sigmatropic rearrangement was not observed in both reactions of chromium-coordinated and the corresponding chromium-uncoordinated α,β-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes with allyl alkoxide in the presence of base.     

Synthesis of chromium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes using chromium Fischer carbenes as a source of chromium carbonyls

Chromium Fischer carbene complexes, [Cr{OMe(R)}(CO)₅] have been utilized as a source of chromium carbonyls in the synthesis of chromium NHC complexes. Using the synthetic method, chromium complexes of various NHC ligands were isolated in reasonable yields. Moreover, the method can be employed for the synthesis of molybdenum and tungsten NHC compounds.     

Stereoselective [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement promoted by the metal [1,3]-shift of binuclear Fischer carbene complexes

Reaction of chiral homobinuclear Fischer chromium carbene complexes with allyl alcohol in the presence of NaH and the following oxidative demetalation gave alpha-allyl esters in up to 97% ee via [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement reaction promoted by the metal 1,3-shift. On the other hand, chiral heterobinuclear tungsten carbene complexes with arene chromium complexes afforded alpha-allyl-beta-hydroxy esters as a major product in up to 92/8 dr by the same reaction sequence.     

Gas-phase synthesis of charged copper and silver Fischer carbenes from diazomalonates: mechanistic and conformational considerations in metal-mediated wolff rearrangements

Copper(I) and silver(I) Fischer carbenes are synthesized in the gas phase. Various diazomalonate-based compounds with an attached metal ion are introduced into the gas phase by electrospray ionization and subjected to collisional activation. Loss of N(2) generates a metastable Fischer carbene, which subsequently undergoes Wolff rearrangement and loss of CO. Further excitation leads to the loss of another CO molecule and the generation of a stable Fischer carbene. Isotopically labeled compounds are utilized to confirm the assignment of the products resulting from this process. DFT calculations are used to evaluate various mechanistic possibilities and to quantitatively assess the energetics of reactants and products. Silver(I) is shown to be more effective in facilitating Wolff rearrangement than copper(I), although both are more effective when compared to spectator charges such as sodium or a fixed quaternary nitrogen. Carbenes are not produced when copper(II), nickel(II), or a proton is used to form a quasi-molecular ion from the diazomalonate carbene precursor. Finally, trapping of the Fischer carbene by various functional groups attached through the open coordination site of the metal is investigated.     

Multimetal Fischer carbene complexes of Group VI transition metals: synthesis, structure and substituent effect investigation

Fischer carbene complexes of tungsten with substituents containing up to two additional different transition metals, with all the metals in electronic contact with the carbene carbon atom, were synthesised and studied both in solution and in the solid state. For the complexes of the type [W(CO)(5){C(OR')R}], the substituents chosen were heteroaromatic 2-benzo[b]thienyl (2-BT), or 2-BT π-bonded to a chromium tricarbonyl fragment ([Cr(CO)(3)(2-η(6)-BT)]) or ferrocenyl (Fc) as the R-substituent, while the OR'-substituent was systematically varied between an ethoxy or a titanoxy group, to yield the complexes 1b (R' = Et, R = 2-BT), 2b (R' = Et, R = [Cr(CO)(3)(2-η(6)-BT)]), 3b (R' = TiCp(2)Cl, R = 21-BT), 4b (R' = TiCp(2)Cl, R = [Cr(CO)(3)(2-η(6)-BT)]), 5b (R' = Et, R = Fc) and 6b (R' = TiCp(2)Cl, R = Fc). The structural features and their relevance to bonding in the multimetal carbene compounds of both these tungsten and the analogous chromium complexes were investigated as they represent indicators of possible reactivity sites in multimetal carbene assemblies. The possibility of using DFT calculations to quantify the effect of metal-containing substituents on the carbene ligands was tested and correlated with experimental parameters by employing methods such as vibrational spectroscopy, molecular orbital analysis, and cyclic voltammetry.     

Electronic structure of alkoxychromium(0) carbene complexes: a joint TD-DFT/experimental study

The joint computational (TD-DFT) experimental study of the UV-vis spectroscopy of alkoxychromium(0) carbene complexes accurately assigns the vertical transitions responsible for the observed spectra of these compounds. Both the LF and the MLCT band have a remarkably pi-pi* character, which has been demonstrated by the strong dependence of the absorptions with the donor/acceptor nature of the substituent in p-substituted styrylchromium(0) carbene complexes. The effect of the substituent is also related with the equilibrium geometry of the complexes and the occupations of the p atomic orbital of the carbene carbon atom. Additionally, the ferrocenyl moiety behaves in chromium(0) (Fischer) carbene complexes as a pi-donor group.     

Synthetic approach to substituted cyclopropanes based on the coupling reaction of lithiated chloroalkyloxazolines with Fischer carbene complexes

Regioselective addition of lithiated oxazoline 2a, easily available from 2-(1-chloroethyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazoline 1a (LDA, THF, -98 degrees C), to alpha,beta-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes 3 afforded cyclopropylcarbene complexes 4 as sole diastereoisomers. Exposure of carbene complexes 4a-c (M = Cr) to air and sunlight gave cyclopropane carboxylate derivatives 5a-c. A plausible mechanistic explanation is proposed. Moreover, when lithiated oxazoline 2b was generated from 1b in the presence of the carbene complex 3a,b, the oxazolinylcyclopropane carboxylates 6a,b formed as a 1:1 mixture of diastereoisomers. Chiral lithiated oxazoline 2c added regioselectively and diastereoselectively to chromium complexes 3a,b and to tungsten complexes 3d,e, leading, after oxidation of the metal fragment, to esters 7a,b with good diastereoselectivity (dr = 4:1). The reaction of lithiated oxazoline 2d with chromium complex 3b and tungsten complex 3e proceeded less diastereoselectively, furnishing, in both cases, after oxidation, the ester 7c as a 3:2 diastereoselective mixture.     

钨卡宾络合物在有机合成中的应用

对钨卡宾络合物参与的反应机理和一些合成方法作了简要的介绍,并评述了部分钨卡宾络合物合成有机化合物的反应。     

Thermal and photochemical reactions of Fischer carbene complexes with trialkylsilyl-substituted alkynes

Thermal reaction of Fischer carbene complexes with triisopropylsilyl (TIPS) substituted alkynes in benzene afforded TIPS-substituted vinylketenes or 2-TIPS-substituted cyclobutenones as major products while photochemical reaction of Fischer carbene complexes with trimethylsilyl (TMS) substituted alkynes in acetonitrile afforded 3-TMS-substituted cyclobutenones.     

The electrochemical activity of heteroatom-stabilized Fischer-type carbene complexes

A cyclic voltammetry study of some alkoxy, amino and hydrazino carbene complexes of chromium and tungsten has been performed, affording for the first time a detailed overview on the electrochemical activity of this useful and versatile compound class, focusing on the modulating effects of both the carbene metal and substituents.The interest for the above results is also related to the possibility of using Fischer carbenes as new electrochemical active probes for labeling ‘peptide nucleic acids’, which are DNA analogues, for diagnostic purposes.     

Tautomerism-dependent ring construction of N-heterocyclic compounds from the reactions of 1-alkynyl Fischer carbene complexes and substituted pyrazolinones

Four types of N-heterocyclic ring systems were successfully constructed from the reactions of 1-alkynyl Fischer carbene complexes (OC)5M=C(OEt)C[triple bond]CPh (1) (M = Cr, W) and substituted pyrazolinones (2). Reactions of 1 with 3-methyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one (2a), 3-n-propyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one (2b), 3,4-dimethyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one (2c), 3,4-trimethylene-2-pyrazolin-5-one (2d), or 3,4-tetramethylene-2-pyrazolin-5-one (2e) generated three kinds of Fischer aminocarbene complexes (3-5), and reactions of 1 with phenyl-substituted pyrazolinones, i.e., 3-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one (2f) and its tautomer 3-phenyl-3-pyrazolin-5-one (2g), gave Fischer alkoxycarbene complexes (6) as the major products and aminocarbene complexes of types 3-5 as the minor products. Multiple tautomerism of pyrazolinones is attributed to the versatile formation of N-heterocyclic Fischer carbene complexes. Oxidative demetalation of complexes 3-6 with pyridine N-oxide or m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid efficiently afforded organic carbonyl products, and thus, strongly fluorescent syn-mixed-bimanes were prepared. The present findings constitute an alternative new method to synthesize mixed bimanes and other novel N-heterocyclic compounds.     

A Click Approach to Polymetallic Chromium(0) and Tungsten(0) Fischer‐Carbene Complexes and Their Use in the Synthesis of Functionalized Polymetallic Metal?Carbene Complexes

Alkynylamino Cr⁰ and W⁰ Fischer carbenes undergo a CuAAC reaction with a diverse range of di‐, tri‐, and tetra‐azides to produce polymetallic chromium(0) and tungsten(0) (Fischer)‐carbene complexes in good‐to‐excellent yields. This method is simple, versatile, and is suitable for the preparation of a diverse range of structures with a high level of symmetry. Moreover, the resulting polymetallic carbene complexes are suitable partners for the peripheral functionalization of the metal nuclei, whilst retaining the metal fragment. This fact has been demonstrated in a simultaneous Pauson–Khand reaction, which, in some cases, allows for the generation of four bicyclic [5,5] rings on the periphery of a tetrametallic molecule in a process that involves the formation of 12 new C? C bonds, with four simultaneous CO‐insertion processes. The electrochemistry of the polymetallic Fischer carbenes show completely independent behavior for each nucleus, as well as an anomalous observation of the reversible oxidation of the allyl substituents, which has not been reported before in this class of chemistry.     

Comparison of atmospheric pressure photoionization and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the analysis of UV filters

A comparison was made between the electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) responses of eleven ultraviolet (UV) filters. Four of the target compounds were favourably ionized in negative ion mode, and the other seven compounds in positive ion mode. For nine of the compounds APPI generated a similar response to that of ESI, but the APPI signal‐to‐noise (S/N) ratios were 1.3–60 times higher. The two most polar of the UV filter compounds (PBSA and BP‐4) were more efficiently ionized by ESI, offering higher signal intensities and lower detection limits. APPI was, however, less susceptible to ion suppression than ESI when real samples were injected. In order to optimize the APPI conditions different dopant solvents were examined to enhance the efficiency of the photoionization process. Among the evaluated dopants, toluene was selected as the best compromise. At a toluene flow rate of 10% of the solvent flow rates the ionization response increased by a factor of 40–50 over the use of no dopant for the compounds in positive ion mode and by more than 300 for the compounds in negative ion mode. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.