Formal Co(0), Fe(0), and Mn(0) complexes with NHC and styrene ligation

The limited knowledge on low-coordinate zero-valent transition-metal species has intrigued great synthetic efforts in developing ligand sets for their stabilization. While the combined ligand set of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) with vinylsilanes was the only known ligand system amenable to the stabilization of three-coordinate formal zero-valent cobalt, iron, and manganese complexes, the exploration on other ligands has proved that the ligand set of NHCs with styrene is equally effective in stabilizing three-coordinate formal zero-valent metal complexes in the form of (NHC)M(η²-CH₂CHPh)₂ (NHC = IPr, IMes; M = Co, Fe, Mn). These styrene complexes can be prepared by the one-pot reactions of MCl₂ with styrene, NHC and KC₈, and have been characterized by various spectroscopic methods. Preliminary reactivity study indicated that the interaction of [(IMes)Fe(η²-CH₂CHPh)₂] with DippN₃ produces the iron(IV) bisimido complex [(IMes)Fe(NDipp)₂] and styrene, which hints at the utility of these zero-valent metal styene complexes as synthons of the mono-coordinate species (NHC)M(0).     

Hydride‐Rhodium(III)‐N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysts for Vinyl‐Selective H/D Exchange: A Structure–Activity Study

A series of neutral and cationic Rh^III‐hydride and Rh^III‐ethyl complexes bearing a NHC ligand has been synthesized and evaluated as catalyst precursors for H/D exchange of styrene using CD₃OD as a deuterium source. Various ligands have been examined in order to understand how the stereoelectronic properties can modulate the catalytic activity. Most of these complexes proved to be very active and selective in the vinylic H/D exchange, without deuteration at the aromatic positions, displaying very high selectivity toward the β‐positions. In particular, the cationic complex [RhClH(CH₃CN)₃(IPr)]CF₃SO₃ showed excellent catalytic activity, reaching the maximum attainable degree of β‐vinylic deuteration in only 20 min. By modulation of the catalyst structure, we obtained improved α/β selectivity. Thus, the catalyst [RhClH(κ²‐O,N‐C₉H₆NO)(SIPr)], bearing an 8‐quinolinolate ligand and a bulky and strongly electron‐donating SIPr as the NHC, showed total selectivity for the β‐vinylic positions. This systematic study has shown that increased electron density and steric demand at the metal center can improve both the catalytic activity and selectivity. Complexes bearing ligands with very high steric hindrance, however, proved to be inactive.     

Structure and bonding of transition metal-boryl compounds. Theoretical study of [(PH3)2(CO)ClOs-BR2] and [(PH3)2(CO)2ClOs-BR2] (BR2 = BH2, BF2, B(OH)2, B(OCH=CHO), Bcat)

Quantum chemical DFT calculations using the B3LYP functionals have been carried out for the electronically unsaturated 16 VE five-coordinate osmium boryl-complexes [(PH3)2(CO)ClOs-BR2] and the 18 VE six-coordinate complexes [(PH3)2(CO)2ClOs-BR2] with BR2 = BH2, BF2, B(OH)2, B(OHC=CHO), and Bcat (cat = catecholate O2C6H4). The bonding situation of the Os-BR2 bond was analyzed with the help of the NBO partitioning scheme. The Os-B bond dissociation energies of the 16 VE complexes are very high, and they do not change very much for the different boryl ligands. The 18 VE complexes have only slightly lower bond energies than the 16 VE species. The Os-B bond in both classes of compounds is provided by a covalent sigma-bond which is polarized toward osmium and by strong charge attraction. Os-->B pi-donation is not important for the Os-B binding interactions, except for the Os-BH2 complexes. The stability of the boryl complexes [Os]-BR2 comes mainly from B<--R pi-donation, which is clearly higher than the Os-->B pi-donation. The intraligand charge distribution of the BR2 group changes little when the Os-B bond is formed, except for BH2. The CO ligand in [(PH3)2(CO)2ClOs-BR2] which is trans to BR2 has a relatively weak bond to the osmium atom.     

Polymer-supported N-heterocyclic carbene-palladium complex for heterogeneous Suzuki cross-coupling reaction

Poly(1-methylimidazoliummethyl styrene)-surface grafted-poly(styrene) resin was prepared for the first time as a polymer-supported N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursor for palladium complex by suspension polymerization. To prepare this polymer-supported NHC precursor, 1-methyl-3-(4-vinylbenzyl)imidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [MVBIM][PF6-], was synthesized as a monomer and copolymerized with styrene and DVB in water. This polymer-supported NHC precursor with imidazolium as a ligand, which exists solely on the surface of the resin, was well characterized by FE-SEM, CLSM, and IR spectroscopy. The precursor containing imidazolium readily formed a stable complex with Pd(OAc)2, and this polymer-supported N-heterocyclic carbene-palladium complex exhibited excellent catalytic activity for Suzuki cross-coupling reaction in an aqueous medium. The catalyst was recovered quantitatively from the reaction mixture by simple filtration and was able to be reused for a number of recycles with consistent activity in all of the coupling reactions.     

Adduct Formation,B−H Activation and Ring Expansion at Room Temperature from Reactions of HBcat with NHCs

We report the reactions of catecholborane (HBcat; 1 ) with unsaturated and saturated NHCs as well as CAAC^Me. Mono‐NHC adducts of the type HBcat?NHC (NHC=nPr₂Im, iPr₂Im, iPr₂Im^Me, and Dipp₂Im) were obtained by stoichiometric reactions of HBcat with the unsaturated NHCs. The reaction of CAAC^Me with HBcat yielded the B?H activated product CAAC^Me(H)Bcat via insertion of the carbine‐carbon atom into the B?H bond. The saturated NHC Dipp₂SIm reacted in a 2:2 ratio yielding an NHC ring‐expanded product at room temperature forming a six‐membered ?B?C=N?C=C?N? ring via C?N bond cleavage and further migration of the hydrides from two HBcat molecules to the former carbene‐carbon atom.     

基于非血红素铁模型配合物[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+的新型N杂环卡宾配合物的理论设计

基于四价非血红素铁模型配合物[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+, 通过理论计算设计出一种新型N杂环卡宾配合物[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+. 采用密度泛函理论B3LYP方法, 计算了[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+的几何结构和电子结构, 并研究了[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+使环己烷C-H键羟基化的反应机理. 结果表明, [FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+的五重态能量比基态三重态能量高约5.7 kJ/mol, 故五重态几乎不能参与反应. 赤道方向的配位基N杂环卡宾(NHC)对FeO单元的σ-贡献要大于N4Py的贡献, 而它的空间位阻效应也大于N4Py, 因此2+的稳定性强于[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+. [FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+的三重态的反应能垒比[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+的三重态反应能垒高2.0 kJ/mol, 且为单态反应, 所以[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+的反应活性要高于[FeⅣ(O)(N4Py)]2+.     

A new tridentate pincer phosphine/n-heterocyclic carbene ligand: palladium complexes, their structures, and catalytic activities

A new imidazolium salt, 1,3-bis(2-diphenylphosphanylethyl)-3H-imidazol-1-ium chloride (2), for the phosphine/N-heterocyclic carbene-based pincer ligand, PC(NHC)P, and its palladium complexes were reported. The complex, [Pd(PC(NHC)P)Cl]Cl (4), was prepared by the common route of silver carbene transfer reaction and a novel direct reaction between the ligand precursor, PC(NHC)P.HCl and PdCl(2) without the need of a base. Metathesis reactions of 4 with AgBF(4) in acetonitrile produced [Pd(PC(NHC)P)(CH(3)CN)](BF(4))(2) (5). The same reaction in the presence of excess pyridine gave [Pd(PC(NHC)P)(py)](BF(4))(2) (6). The X-ray structure determination on 4-6 revealed the chiral twisting of the central imidazole rings from the metal coordination plane. In solution, fast interconversion between left- and right-twisted forms occurs. The twisting reflects the weak pi-accepting property of the central NHC in PC(NHC)P. The uneven extent of twisting among the three complexes further implies the low rotational barrier about the Pd-NHC bond. Related theoretical computations confirm the small rotational energy barrier about the Pd-NHC bond (ca. 4 kcal/mol). Catalytic applications of 4 and 5 have shown that the complexes are modest catalysts in Suzuki coupling. The complexes were active catalysts in Heck coupling reactions with the dicationic complex 5 being more effective than the monocationic complex 4.     

σ-Silane Platinum(II) Complexes as Intermediates in C−Si Bond-Coupling Processes

Platinum complexes [Pt(NHC′)(NHC)][BAr^F] (in which NHC′ denotes a cyclometalated N-heterocyclic carbene ligand, NHC) react with primary silanes RSiH₃ to afford the cyclometalated platinum(II) silyl complexes [Pt(NHC-SiHR′)(NHC)][BAr^F] through a process that involves the formation of C−Si and Pt−Si bonds with concomitant extrusion of H₂. Low-temperature NMR studies indicate that the process proceeds through initial formation of the σ-SiH complexes [Pt(NHC′)(NHC)(HSiH₂R)][BAr^F], which are stable at temperatures below −10 °C. At higher temperatures, activation of one Si−H bond followed by a C−Si coupling reaction generates an agostic SiH platinum hydride derivative [Pt(H)(NHC′-SiH₂R)(NHC)][BAr^F], which undergoes a second Si−H bond activation to afford the final products. Computational modeling of the reaction mechanism indicates that the stereochemistry of the silyl/hydride ligands after the first Si−H bond cleavage dictates the nature of the products, favoring the formation of a C−Si bond over a C−H bond, in contrast to previous results obtained for tertiary silanes. Furthermore, the process involves a trans-to-cis isomerization of the NHC ligand before the second Si−H bond cleavage.     

N-Heterocyclic carbene functionalized iridium phosphinidene complex [Cp*(NHC)Ir=PMes*]: comparison of phosphinidene,imido, and carbene complexes

The novel phosphinidene complex [Cp*(NHC)Ir=PMes*] (3; NHC=1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene) was prepared in high yield from [Cp*(NHC)IrCl(2)] (2) and [LiPHMes*].3 THF. It represents the first example of an NHC ligated transition metal phosphinidene complex. The X-ray crystal structure for 3 is also reported. DFT calculations on the N-heterocyclic carbene containing parent complexes [Cp(NHC)Ir=E] (E=PH, NH, CH(2)) show that the NHC ligand acts as good sigma-donor/weak pi-acceptor ligand and forms strong Ir-C(NHC) single bonds. The Ir=E double bonds result from strong triplet-triplet interactions between [Cp(NHC)Ir] and E.     

Reversible Oxidative Addition at Carbon

The reactivity of N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) and cyclic alkyl amino carbenes (cAACs) with arylboronate esters is reported. The reaction with NHCs leads to the reversible formation of thermally stable Lewis acid/base adducts Ar‐B(OR)₂⋅NHC ( Add1 – Add6 ). Addition of cAAC^Me to the catecholboronate esters 4‐R‐C₆H₄‐Bcat (R=Me, OMe) also afforded the adducts 4‐R‐C₆H₄Bcat⋅cAAC^Me ( Add7 , R=Me and Add8 , R=OMe), which react further at room temperature to give the cAAC^Me ring‐expanded products RER1 and RER2 . The boronate esters Ar‐B(OR)₂ of pinacol, neopentylglycol, and ethyleneglycol react with cAAC at RT via reversible B−C oxidative addition to the carbene carbon atom to afford cAAC^Me(B{OR}₂)(Ar) ( BCA1 – BCA6 ). NMR studies of cAAC^Me(Bneop)(4‐Me‐C₆H₄) ( BCA4 ) demonstrate the reversible nature of this oxidative addition process.     

Effect of structural modifications of diaza-18-crown-6 on the extractability and selectivity of univalent metal picrates

The solvent extraction of univalent metal cations with N,N'-dibenzyl-1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16 diaza-2,3,11,12-dibenzocycloocta deca-2,11-diene (L(1)), N,N' didodecyl-1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diaza-2,3-benzocylooctadeca-2 ene (L(2)) and N,N'-dibenzyl-1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16 diaza-2,3,11,12-dibenzocyclo octadeca-2,11-diene (L(3)) with picrate anion into dichloromethane has been studied at 25 degrees C by UV-visible spectroscopy. The extractability and selectivity of univalent metal picrates (Li(+), Na(+), Ag(+), PhCH(2)NH(3)(+), NH(4)(+)) was evaluated as a function of [ligand]/[metal cation]. L(2) showed the highest extractability and selectivity for Li(+) over the larger studied cations, and also exhibited the highest [Li(+)]/[NH(4)(+)] selectivity as L/M=1.     

Activation of two C-H bonds of NHC N-methyl groups on triosmium and triruthenium carbonyl clusters

The thermolysis of the NHC triosmium cluster [Os3(Me2Im)(CO)11] (1a; Me2Im = 1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene) in toluene at reflux temperature sequentially affords the edge-bridged cluster [Os3(micro-H)(micro-kappa2-MeImCH2)(CO)10] () and the face-capped derivative [Os3(micro-H)2(micro3-kappa2-MeImCH)(CO)9] (3a). These products result from the sequential oxidative addition of one (2a) and two (3a) N-methyl C-H bonds of the original NHC ligand. The related face-capped triruthenium cluster [Ru3(micro-H)2(micro3-kappa2-MeImCH)(CO)9] (3b) has been prepared by heating the NHC triruthenium cluster [Ru3(Me2Im)(CO)11] (1b) in THF at reflux temperature. In this case, the pentanuclear derivatives [Ru5(Me2Im)(micro4-kappa2-CO)(CO)14] (4b) and [Ru5(Me2Im)2(micro4-kappa2-CO)(CO)13] (5b) are minor reaction products, but a ruthenium cluster analogous to has not been obtained. The face-capped oxazole-derived NHC triruthenium cluster [Ru3(micro-H)2(micro3-kappa2-OxCH)(CO)9] (3c; MeOx = N-methyloxazol-2-ylidene) is the only isolated product of the thermolysis of [Ru3(MeOx)(CO)11] (1c) in THF at reflux temperature.     

N-Heterocyclic carbene–rhodium complexes as catalysts for hydroformylation and related reactions

Rhodium(I) complexes with N-heterocyclic carbenes (Rh–NHC) can be considered as important candidates for catalysts of hydroformylation of olefins. The high stability of Rh-C(NHC) bonding under reaction conditions allow to expect that NHC ligand will be present in coordination sphere of the catalytically active rhodium complex and therefore influences the reaction yield and regioselectivity. The potential applicability of Rh–NHC complexes containing chiral carbene ligand in asymmetric hydroformylation can be also considered. The excellent review articles relevant to application of Rh–NHC in hydroformylation have been published recently [1], [2], [3]. After that, important contributions to this subject, concerning theoretical and experimental studies, both structural and catalytic, have been reported. Therefore, the reactivity of Rh–NHC complexes can be discussed now in term of these new data. The up to now reported results indicate that the most promising and selective systems for hydroformylation can be composed from Rh–NHC complex and stoichiometric amount of electron-withdrawing phosphorus ligand.     

Arylation of styrene derivatives using aryliron complexes [CpFe(CO)2Ar] revealed by density functional theory calculations: Fe(II)-assisted group exchange through Fe-C bond cleavage and Fe-X bond formation

The detailed mechanism for arylation of styrene or its α-CF₃ substituted analog using aryliron complex [CpFe(CO)₂Ar] was studied using density functional theory calculations. Results of calculations show that the arylation mechanism mainly involves three steps: (1) a ligand exchange process between a CO and styrene or its derivative; (2) migration of Ar group from Fe to β-C of styrene; (3) β-H (or β-F) elimination and dissociation of the stilbene derivative from the CpFeHCO (or CpFeFCO) moiety. Both of Steps (2) and (3) experience a similar four-memberred cyclic transition state. The d_π-p_π interaction stabilizes the CC π coordinated complexes and the agostic interaction plays an important role in stabilizing intermediates and promoting elimination of the β-H (or β-F if available). For arylation of the α-CF3 substituted styrene, our calculations clarified that the dissociation of ethylene derivatives to give PF (product for β-F elimination) is kinetically and thermodynamically more favorable than to give PH (product for β-H elimination), which is the determined step for the selectivity of the final products.     

Nickel(II) complexes of bidentate N-heterocyclic carbene/phosphine ligands: efficient catalysts for Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides

Nickel(II) complexes of bidentate N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)/phosphane ligand L were prepared and structurally characterized. Unlike palladium, which forms [PdCl(2)(L)], the stable nickel product isolated is the ionic [Ni(L)(2)]Cl(2). These Ni(II) complexes are highly robust in air. Among different N-substituents on the ligand framework, the nickel complex of ligand L bearing N-1-naphthylmethyl groups (2 a) is a highly effective catalyst for Suzuki cross-coupling between phenylboronic acid and a range of aryl halides, including unreactive aryl chlorides. The activities of 2 a are largely superior to those of other reported nickel NHC complexes and their palladium counterparts. Unlike the previously reported [NiCl(2)(dppe)] (dppe=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane), 2 a can effectively catalyze the cross-coupling reaction without the need for a catalytic amount of PPh(3), and this suggests that the PPh(2) functionality of hybrid NHC ligand L can partially take on the role of free PPh(3). However, for unreactive aryl chlorides at low catalyst loading, the presence of PPh(3) accelerates the reaction.     

Stepwise synthesis of a hydrido, N-heterocyclic dicarbene iridium(III) pincer complex featuring mixed NHC/abnormal NHC ligands

We describe a stepwise synthesis of the hydrido, N-heterocyclic dicarbene iridium(III) pincer complex [Ir(H)I(C(NHC)CC(aNHC))(NCMe)] (3) which features a combination of normal and abnormal NHC ligands. The reaction of the bis(imidazolium) diiodide [(CH(imid)CHCH(imid))]I(2) (1) with [Ir(μ-Cl)(cod)](2) afforded first the mono-NHC Ir(I) complex [IrI(cod)(CH(imid)CHC(NHC))]I (2), which was then reacted with 2 equiv. of Cs(2)CO(3) in acetonitrile at 60 °C for 40 h to yield 3. These observations support our previously proposed mechanism for the formation of hydrido, N-heterocyclic dicarbene iridium(III) pincer complexes from the reaction of bis(imidazolium) salts with weak bases involving a mono-NHC Ir(I) intermediate. We describe the reactivity of the mono-NHC Ir(I) complex 2 under various conditions. By changing the reaction solvent from MeCN to toluene, we observed the cleavage of the imidazol-2-ylidene ring and the formation of an iminoformamide-containing mono-NHC Ir(I) complex [IrI(cod){[NHCH=CHN(Ad)CHO]CHC(NHC)}] (4). Complex 4 was also prepared in high yield from the reaction of 2 with strong bases (potassium tert-butoxide or potassium hexamethyldisilazane), via the initial formation of the complex [IrI(cod)(CH(NHC)CHC(NHC))] (5), which contains a coordinated NHC moiety and a free carbene arm, followed by subsequent hydrolysis of the latter. The bis(imidazolium) salt 1 can be deprotonated by strong bases to form the bis(carbene) ligand C(NHC)CHC(NHC) (6), which readily reacts with [Ir(μ-Cl)(cod)](2) to give the dinuclear complex [{IrI(cod)}(2)(μ-C(NHC)CHC(NHC))] (7), in which the N-heterocyclic bis(carbene) ligand bridges the two metals through the carbene carbon atoms.     

Titanium(III) trisamidotriazacyclononane: reactions with C60 and radicals

The reaction of titanium trisamidotriazacyclononane, [Ti{N(Ph)SiMe2}3tacn] (1), with C60 led to the synthesis of [Ti{N(Ph)SiMe2}3tacn]C60 (2) in high yield. Treatment of 2 with PhCH2Br led to the formation of [Ti{N(Ph)SiMe2}3tacn]Br and the radical PhCH2C60 (3). The reaction of CH3I with 1 gives two products. One is [Ti{N(Ph)SiMe2}3tacn]I (4), which results from the oxidation of 1 by an I radical. The other product, 5, resulting from a multistep reaction scheme that involves redox and nucleophilic reactions, presents an imido ligand formed by ligand rearrangement upon C-N bond cleavage. In solution, an exchange process that corresponds to a reversible 1,3-silyl shift between two Ti-bonded N atoms leads to isomers 5a and 5b. This equilibrium transforms an imido (TiNPh) into an amido ligand (Ti{NPh}SiMe2CH2Ph) with concomitant generation of an anionic moiety in the originally neutral triazacyclononane ring. In solution, either 5a or 5b displays additional fluxional processes that consist of its corresponding racemization processes.     

High-pressure investigations under CO/H2 of rhodium complexes containing hemispherical diphosphites

The two rhodium complexes [Rh(acac)(L(R))] (L(R)=(S,S)-5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,27-di(OR)-26,28-bis(1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-dioxyphosphanyloxy)calix[4]arene; 6: R=benzyl, 7: R=fluorenyl), each based on a hemispherical chelator forming a pocket about the metal centre upon chelation, are active in the hydroformylation of 1-octene and styrene. As expected for this family of diphosphanes, both complexes resulted in remarkably high selectivity towards the linear aldehyde in the hydroformylation of 1-octene (l/b≈15 for both complexes). Linear aldehyde selectivity was also observed when using styrene, but surprisingly only 6 displayed a marked preference for the linear product (l/b=12.4 (6) vs. 1.9 (7)). A detailed study of the structure of the complexes under CO or CO/H(2) in toluene was performed by high-pressure NMR (HP NMR) and FT-IR (HP-IR) spectroscopies. The spectroscopic data revealed that treatment of 6 with CO gave [Rh(acac)(CO)(η(1)-L(benzyl))] (8), in which the diphosphite behaves as a unidentate ligand. Subsequent addition of H(2) to the solution resulted in a well-defined chelate complex with the formula [RhH(CO)(2)(L(benzyl))] (9). Unlike 6, treatment of complex 7 with CO only led to ligand dissociation and concomitant formation of [Rh(acac)(CO)(2)], but upon addition of H(2) a chelate complex analogous to 9 was formed quantitatively. In both [RhH(CO)(2)(L(R))] complexes the diphosphite adopts the bis-equatorial coordination mode, a structural feature known to favour the formation of linear aldehydes. As revealed by variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy, these complexes show the typical fluxionality of trigonal bipyramidal [RhH(CO)(2)(diphosphane)] complexes. The lower linear selectivity of 7 versus 6 in the hydroformylation of styrene was assigned to steric effects, due to the pocket in which the catalysis takes place being less adapted to accommodate CO or larger olefins and, therefore, possibly leading to facile ligand decoordination. This interpretation was corroborated by an X-ray structure determination carried out for 7.     

Steric and electronic consequences of flexibility in a tetradentate redox-active ligand: Ti(IV) and Zr(IV) complexes

A redox-active, tetradentate ligand, N,N'-bis-(3-dimethylamino-propyl)-4,5-dimethoxy-benzene-1,2-diamide ([N(2)N(2)(cat)](2-)), was developed, and the six-coordinate metal complexes [N(2)N(2)(cat)]TiCl(2) (3) and [N(2)N(2)(cat)]ZrCl(2) (4) were synthesized. The tetradentate ligand was determined to be fluxional in 3 and 4, enabled by reversible dissociation of the neutral amine groups of the [N(2)N(2)(cat)](2-) ligand. Both amine arms of 3 could be replaced by N,N-dimethylaminopyridine with an overall free energy change of -4.64(3) kcal mol(-1) at 298 K. Cyclic voltammetry experiments were used to probe the redox capabilities of the [N(2)N(2)(cat)](2-) ligand: complex 3 exhibited two one-electron oxidations at -0.19 and -0.52 V versus [Cp(2)Fe](+/0) while 4 exhibited a single two-electron oxidation at -0.55 V. Substitution of the chlorides in 3 for an imide afforded the dimer {[N(2)N(2)(cat)]Ti(μ-p-NC(6)H(4)Me)}(2), in which the metal centers are five-coordinate because of dissociation of one amine arm of the [N(2)N(2)(cat)](2-) ligand. While the bis-azide complex [N(2)N(2)(cat)]Ti(N(3))(2) was stable toward elimination of N(2), the bis-phenylacetylide complex [N(2)N(2)(cat)]Ti(C≡CPh)(2) could be oxidized by PhICl(2), resulting in subsequent reductive elimination of 1,4-diphenylbutadiyne.     

Stable N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-palladium(0) complexes as active catalysts for olefin cyclopropanation reactions with ethyl diazoacetate

The Pd(0) complexes [(NHC)PdL(n)] (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene ligand; L=styrene for n=2 or PR(3) for n=1) efficiently catalyse olefin cyclopropanation by using ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) as the carbene source with activities that improve on previously described catalytic systems based on this metal. Mechanistic studies have shown that all of these catalyst precursors deliver the same catalytic species in solution, that is, [(IPr)Pd(sty)], a 14e(-) unsaturated intermediate that further reacts with EDA to afford [(IPr)Pd(=CHCO(2)Et)(sty)], from which the cyclopropane is formed.