Synthesis, characterization and electrochemistry of diruthenium complexes linked by aryl acetylide bridges

The reactions between Ru₂(ap)₄Cl and the appropriate lithiated aryl acetylene resulted in the complexes Ru₂(ap)₄(CC4-C₆H₄CCX) with X as SiMe₃ (1), H (2) and Ru₂(ap)₄ (3), 1,3-[Ru₂(ap)₄(CC)]₂(C₆H₄) (4), 1,3-[{Ru₂(ap)₄(CC)}₂]C₆H₃5-CCH (5) and 1-[Ru₂(ap)₄(CC)]C₆H₃3,5-(CCH)₂ (6), where ap is 2-anilinopyridinate. The spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of the new complexes have been assessed. Complexes 3, 4 and 6 display two-electron oxidation and reductions, implying the absence of any significant electronic interaction between the two Ru₂(ap)₄ units in these complexes.     

SNAr reactions of β-substituted porphyrins and the synthesis of meso substituted tetrabenzoporphyrins

Reaction of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphyrin with LiR reagents containing functional groups readily yields meso substituted derivatives suitable for further transformations with residues such as -p-C₆H₅Br, -p-C₆H₅-CCH, -p-C₆H₅-NH₂ or -(CH₂)₃-CHCH₂. Similar reactions of tetrabenzoporphyrin with alkyllithium reagents afforded the first entry into meso mono- and dialkylsubstituted tetrabenzoporphyrins while reaction of bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-type masked isoindole precursors with LiR followed by in situ retro-Diels-Alder reaction also afforded the 5-phenyl and 5,10-diphenyltetrabenzoporphyrins in high purity.     

Combinative use of high-pressure, metal-templating and sulfur-nucleophilicity towards dithiacyclophane synthesis and its complex intermediates

Combined use of elevated pressure in the liquid phase (15 kbar), a metal template and the sulfur nucleophilicity of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(P-P)₂] (P-P = diphosphine or 2 · monophosphine) facilitates the one-pot synthesis of 3,8-dibenzo-1,6-dithiacyclodecane. Under r.t.p., nucleophilic addition of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(P-P)₂] [P-P = 2 · PPh₃; Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂, n = 2, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe), 3, 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp)] with α-α′-dichloro-o-xylene would terminate as a dithiolato bridged cation viz. [Pt₂(μ-SCH₂C₆H₄CH₂S)(P-P)₂]²⁺. Under high pressure (15 kbar) at r.t., these stoichiometric reactions progress via a “catalytic-like” pathway to yield 3,8-dibenzo-1,6-dithiacyclodecane (up to 35%), and a series of mechanistically relevant intermediates and byproducts. The dithiolated intermediates [Pt₂(μ-SCH₂C₆H₄CH₂S)(P-P)₂]²⁺ for PPh₃ and dppp have been isolated as complexes and their crystal structure determined. The formation of 3,8-dibenzo-1,6-dithiacyclodecane demonstrates a convenient synthetic strategy over the multi-step synthesis of this macrocyclic dithioether.     

Carbon-rich organometallic materials derived from 4-ethynylphenylferrocene

Using 4-ethynylphenylferrocene (1) as the building block, a new series of rigid-rod alkynylferrocenyl precursors consisting of fluoren-9-one unit, 2-bromo-7-(4-ferrocenylphenylethynyl)fluoren-9-one (2a), 2,7-bis(4-ferrocenylphenylethynyl)fluoren-9-one (2b), 2-trimethylsilylethynyl-7-(4-ferrocenylphenylethynyl)fluoren-9-one (3) and 2-ethynyl-7-(4-ferrocenylphenylethynyl)fluoren-9-one (4) have been prepared in moderate to good yields. The acetylene complex 4 is a useful precursor for the synthesis of well-defined carbon-rich ferrocenyl heterometallic complexes, trans-[(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)C₆H₄CCRCCPt(PEt₃)₂Ph] (5), trans-[(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)C₆H₄CCRCCPt(PBu₃)₂CCRC≡CC₆H₄(η⁵-C₅H₄)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₅)] (6), trans-[(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)C₆H₄CCRCCM(dppm)₂Cl] (M=Ru (7), Os (8)) (R=fluoren-9-one-2,7-diyl). All new complexes have been characterized by FTIR, NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopies and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS). The molecular structures of 1, 2a, 4, 6 and 8 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray studies where an ironiron through-space distance of nanosized dimension (ca. 42 Å) is observed in the trimetallic molecular rod 6. The electronic absorption, luminescence and electrochemical properties of these carbon-rich molecules were investigated and the data were correlated with the theoretical results obtained by the method of density functional theory.     

Synthesis and characterisation of new platinum ethynyl dimers and polymers with pendant ferrocenyl groups

The square-planar platinum(II) complex trans-[(Ph₂FcP)₂PtCl₂] (1) (Fc=ferrocenyl), that is a metal-containing polymer precursor, has been synthesised and its single crystal structure determined. Using 1, new ferrocene-containing platinum ethynyl dimers trans-[(Ph₂FcP)₂Pt(CCR)₂] {R=SiMe₃ (2), C₆H₅ (3) and C₆H₄-p-NO₂ (4)} and a polymer [(Ph₂FcP)₂Pt(CCC₆H₂-p-(OC₈H₁₇)₂CC)]_n (5) have been formed by the reaction of the metal precursor with the appropriate mono- and bis-ethynyl ligands. Single crystal X-ray studies of 4 have shown it to exist as two different polymorphic forms, both having trans-geometry with respect to the ferrocenyl phosphines and ethynyl ligands. GPC measurements on the polymer show a high degree of polymerisation with an average molecular weight of ca. 88?000.     

Preparation of models and oligomers of metal alkynyls: NMR, GPC and X-ray structural characterization of building blocks for the construction of molecular devices

A systematic study has been carried out for the use of the palladium-based Extended One Pot (EOP) synthetic protocol toward the preparation of metal alkynyl oligomers of general formula [CCArCCM(L)_m]_n (M=Pt, Pd). Model compounds of type trans-M(PBu₃)₂(CCC₆H₅)₂ have been prepared by the reaction of tributyltinethynylbenzene with trans-M(PBu₃)₂Cl₂, in the absence of palladium catalysis, since the presence of catalytic Pd(PPh₃)₄ yields reaction mixtures containing starting material, product and intermediate complex trans-MCl(PBu₃)₂(CCC₆H₅). Palladium catalysis has been used for the formation of the bistinacetylide compounds Bu₃SnCCArCCSnBu₃ (Ar=C₆H₄; bis(2,5-n-octyloxy)C₆H₄). Subsequent coupling of these compounds with MCl₂(PBu₃)₂ in the absence of palladium catalyst yields metal alkynyl oligomers. Comparison of ³¹P-NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analyses indicates that the GPC technique represents a reliable method to estimate polymer chain lengths for polymers bearing branched aromatic spacers, in spite of the rigid-rod shape of the polymer backbone. Single crystal X-ray determinations of model compounds demonstrate the essential role of side substituents in the aromatic ring to control the supramolecular order and, as a consequence, the optoelectronic properties of materials.     

Reactions of 1,4-diaza-3-methylbutadien-2-ylpalladium(II) derivatives with chloro-bridged rhodium(I) complexes

The reactions of the organometallic 1,4-diazabutadienes, RN=C(R′)C(Me)=NR″ [R = R″ = p-C₆H₄OMe, R′ = trans-PdCl(PPh₃)₂ (DAB); R = p-C₆H₄OMe, R″ = Me, R′ = trans-PdCl(PPh₃)₂ (DAB^I; R = R″ = p-C₆H₄OMe, R′ = Pd(dmtc)-(PPh₃), dmtc = dimethyldithiocarbamate (DAB^II); R = R″ = p-C₆H₄OMe, R′ = PdCl(diphos), diphos = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (DAB^III)] with [RhCl(COD)]₂ (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene, Pd/Rh ratio = $\text{1}\text{2}$) depend on the nature of the ancillary ligands at the Pd atom in group R′. In the reactions with DAB and DAB^I transfer of one PPh₃ ligand from Pd to Rh occurs yielding [RhCl(COD)(PPh₃)] and the new binuclear complexes [Rh(COD) {RN=C(R?)-C(Me)=NR″}], in which the diazabutadiene moiety acts as a chelating bidentate ligand. Exchange of ligands between the two different metallic centers also occurs in the reaction with DAB^II. In this case, the migration of the bidentate dmtc anion yields [Rh(COD)Pdmtc] and [Rh(COD) {RN=C(R?)C(Me)=NR″}]. In contrast, the reaction with DAB^III leads to the ionic product [Rh(COD)- (DAB^III)][RhCl₂(COD)], with no transfer of ligands. The cationic complex [Rh(COD)(DAB^III)]⁺ can be isolated as the perchlorate salt from the same reaction (Pd/Rh ratio = 1/1) in the presence of an excess of NaClO₄. In all the binuclear complexes the coordinated 1,5-cyclooctadiene can be readily displaced by carbon monoxide to give the corresponding dicarbonyl derivatives. The reaction of [RhCl(CO)₂]₂ with DAB and/or DAB^I yields trinuclear complexes of the type [RhCl(CO)₂]₂(DAB), in which the diazabutadiene group acts as a bridging bidentate ligand. Some reactions of the organic diazabutadiene RN=C(Me)C(Me)=NR (R = p-C₆H₄OMe) are also reported for comparison.     

Bis(alkoxycarbonyl) complexes of platinum: preparation,reactivity and their role in carbonylation reactions

bis(alkoxycarbonyl) complexes of platinum of the type [Pt(COOR)₂L] [L = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe), 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp), l,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (dppb), 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf) or 1,2-bis-(diphenylphosphino)benzene (dpb); R = CH₃, C₆H₅ or C₂H₅] were obtained by reaction of [PtCl₂L] with carbon monoxide and alkoxides. Palladium and nickel complexes gave only carbonyl complexes of the type [M(CO)L] or [M(CO)₂L]. The new complexes were characterized by chemical and spectroscopic means. The X-ray structure of [Pt(COOCH₃)₂(dppf] · CH₃OH is also reported. The reactivity of some alkoxycarbonyl complexes was also investigated.     

Synthese von [(η-C5H5)2Ti(Cl)(CCSiMe3)]Ni(CO) und dessen Reaktionsverhalten gegenüber Phosphiten: die Festkörperstruktur von (CO)2Ni[P(OC6H4CH3-2)3]2

Treatment of [Ti](Cl)(CCSiMe₃) (1) {[Ti]=(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂Ti} with Ni(CO)₄ (2) in a 1:1 molar ratio produces the heterobimetallic early-late transition metal complex {[Ti](Cl)(CCSiMe₃)}Ni(CO) (3), which features a low-valent Ni(CO) entity stabilized by a datively bonded Cl and a η²-coordinated Me₃SiCC ligand. As side-products [Ti]Cl₂ (8) and {[Ti](CCSiMe₃)₂}Ni(CO) (5) are formed. The latter complex can also be synthesized by the reaction of [Ti](CCSiMe₃)₂ (4) with equimolar amounts of 2. If 3 is reacted with stoichiometric amounts of P(OR)₃ (6a, R=C₆H₅; 6b, R=C₆H₄CH₃-2; 6c, R=C₆H₄^tBu-2) the bis(alkynyl) titanocene 4, (CO)₂Ni[P(OR)₃]₂ (7a, R=C₆H₅; 7b, R=C₆H₄CH₃-2; 7c, R=C₆H₄^tBu-2), complex 8, {[Ti](μ,η¹:η²-CCSiMe₃)}₂ (9) along with Me₃SiCCCCSiMe₃ (10) is produced. A possible mechanism for the formation of these species is presented. The solid-state structure of 7b is reported. Complex 7b crystallizes in the tetragonalic space group P-42₁c with the following parameters: a=14.852(2), b=14.852(2), c=19.410(4) Å, V=4281.5(12) ų, Z=4 and ρ=1.271 g cm⁻³. Mononuclear 7b features a Ni(0) centre in a pseudo-tetrahedral environment, caused by the CO and P(OC₆H₄CH₃-2)₃ ligands.     

N-aryl-and N-vinyldiaza-18-crown-6: Synthesis and complexing ability

The nucleophilic aromatic and vinyl substitution using diaza-18-crown-6 as nucleophile afforded a number of its N,N’-diaryl-[aryl = 2,4-(NO₂)₂C₆H₃, 4-C₅F₄N, 4-CF₃C₆F₄] and N,N’-dialkenyl-substituted derivatives [alkenyl = PhC(O)CH=CH, MeOCOCH=CH, (EtO₂C)₂C=C(Ph), etc.]. Arylation of diaza-18-crown-6 with nonactivated aryl bromides, such as 4-Me₂NC₆H₄Br, 4-MeOC₆H₄Br, C₆H₅Br, and 4-CF₃C₆H₄Br, was effected under catalysis by palladium complexes. N,N’-Diaryldiaza-18-crowns-6 having electron-acceptor substituents in the aromatic rings turned out to be incapable of forming complexes with metal cations, while their analogs containing electron-donor para-methoxy and para-dimethylamino groups gave complexes with barium perchlorate.     

Using ligand exchange reactions to control the coordination environment of Pt(II) acetylide complexes: applications to conjugated metallacyclynes

Ligand exchange of cis-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene (dppee) with trans-(Ph₃P)₂Pt(CCR)₂ easily generates the cis-complexes (dppee)Pt(CCR)₂ in 64-95% yield. This transformation is used to convert pyridine-containing macrocycle 7 to its cis-analogue 8 and the macrocyclic bipyridine analogue 10 to the unique macrocyclic ligand 11. X-ray structural characterization of trans-complexes 5a and 5b and cis-complexes 6a and 6b are reported, as is the structure of the strained macrocycle 8.     

Hydrogenation of heteroaromatic nitrogen compounds catalyzed by rhodium and iridium systems containing diphosphine ligands

The systems prepared in situ by addition of two equivalents of diphosphine [1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe), 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp) and 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (dppb)] to M₂Cl₂(COE)₄ (M = Rh, Ir; COE = cyclooctene) showed to be efficient and regioselective precatalysts for the hydrogenation of quinoline, isoquinoline, 5,6- and 7,8-benzoquinoline and acridine, under mild reaction conditions (130°C and 4 atm H₂). The Rh systems showed to be more active than the corresponding Ir ones, except for the case of acridine, where an inversed tendency was observed (Ir > Rh).     

Substituent effects in the 13C NMR chemical shifts of para-(para-substituted benzylidene amino)benzonitrile and para-(ortho-substituted benzylidene amino)benzonitrile

¹³C NMR chemical shifts were measured in CDCl₃ for two series of substituted benzylidene anilines. The substituted benzylidene anilines p-X-C₆H₄CH=NC₆H₄-p-CN p-X-C₆H₄CH=NC₆H₄-o-CN (X = NO₂, F, Cl, Br, H, Me, MeO, NMe₂). The substituent dependence of δC(C=N) was used as a tool to study electronic substituent effects on the azomethine unit. The benzylidene substituents X have a reverse effect on δC(C=N): electron-withdrawing substituents cause shielding, while electrondonating ones do the reverse, the resonance effects clearly predominating over the inductive effects. Additionally, the presence of a specific cross-interaction between X and C=N could be verified. The electronic effects of the neighboring aromatic ring substituents systematically modify the sensitivity of the C=N group to the electronic effects of the benzylidene substituents. These results can be rationalized in terms of the substituent-sensitive balance of the electron delocalization (mesomeric effects).     

Asymmetric acetylenic thioethers in ruthenium cluster chemistry

The compounds [Ru₃(CO)₉(μ,η²-SCCR)(μ₃,η²-CCR^′)] (R=SiMe₃, R^′=SiⁱPr₃ (1); R=SiⁱPr₃, R^′=SiMe₃ (2); R=SiⁱPr₃, R^′=H (3); R=H, R^′=SiⁱPr₃ (4)) have been obtained by cleavage of one S-C bond of the thioethers ⁱPr₃SiCCSCCR (R=H, SiMe₃) in the presence of Ru₃(CO)₁₂. Thermal treatment of [Ru₃(CO)₉(μ,η²-SCCSiⁱPr₃)(μ₃,η²-CCH)] yields to the cluster [Ru₄(CO)₉(μ-CO)₂(μ₄-S)(μ₄-η²-C(H)C)(CCSiⁱPr₃)] (5) which contains a bridging sulfur atom and a polycarbon chain as a consequence of the rupture of the S-C bond and a C-C coupling reaction. All derivatives have been characterized by spectroscopic data. An X-ray diffraction study was carried out on the species [Ru₃(CO)₉(μ,η²-SCCSiⁱPr₃)(μ₃,η²-CCSiMe₃)] and of [Ru₃(CO)₉(μ,η²-SCCSiⁱPr₃)(μ₃,η²-CCH)].     

Reactions of bis(tetrazole)phenylenes. Surprising formation of vinyl compounds from alkyl halides

The reactions of 1,2-bis(tetrazol-5-yl)benzene (1), 1,3-bis(tetrazol-5-yl)benzene (2), 1,4-bis(tetrazol-5-yl)benzene (3), 1,2-(Bu₃SnN₄C)₂C₆H₄ (4), 1,3-(Bu₃SnN₄C)₂C₆H₄ (5) and 1,4-(Bu₃SnN₄C)₂C₆H₄ (6) with 1,2-dibromoethane were carried out by two different methods in order to synthesise pendant alkyl halide derivatives of the parent bis-tetrazoles. This lead to the formation of several alkyl halide derivatives, substituted at either N1 or N2 on the tetrazole ring, as well as the surprising formation of several vinyl derivatives. The crystal structures of both 1,2-[(2-vinyl)tetrazol-5-yl)]benzene (1-N,2-N′) (1b) and 1,3-bis[(2-bromoethyl)tetrazol-5-yl]benzene (2-N,2-N′) (5d) are discussed.     

The electrochemical synthesis of anionic cobalt halide complexes with several quaternary and diquaternary phosphorus cations

Summary A simple low-voltage electrochemical technique was used to obtain crystalline anionic halo-salts of cobalt. Complexes of the type [R₃PH]₂[CoX₄] (R=n-Bu, Ph or 4-totyl; X=Cl or Br) and [H₂P-P][CoX₄][P-P = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane or bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane; X=Cl or Br] were synthesized by the one-step electrochemical oxidation of cobalt in an acetonitrile-hydrohalic acid solution of the neutral tertiary or ditertiary phosphine. I.r. absorption and n.m.r. spectra (¹H and³¹P) provided diagnostic criteria for confirming the presence of the phosphonium cation rather than the ligated phosphine.     

Synthesis of 2‐ and 2,7‐Functionalized Pyrene Derivatives: An Application of Selective C?H Borylation

An efficient synthetic route to 2‐ and 2,7‐substituted pyrenes is described. The regiospecific direct C? H borylation of pyrene with an iridium‐based catalyst, prepared in situ by the reaction of [{Ir(μ‐OMe)cod}₂] (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) with 4,4′‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine, gives 2,7‐bis(Bpin)pyrene ( 1 ) and 2‐(Bpin)pyrene ( 2 , pin=OCMe₂CMe₂O). From 1 , by simple derivatization strategies, we synthesized 2,7‐bis(R)‐pyrenes with R=BF₃K ( 3 ), Br ( 4 ), OH ( 5 ), B(OH)₂ ( 6 ), and OTf ( 7 ). Using these nominally nucleophilic and electrophilic derivatives as coupling partners in Suzuki–Miyaura, Sonogashira, and Buchwald–Hartwig cross‐coupling reactions, we obtained 2,7‐bis(R)‐pyrenes with R=(4‐CO₂C₈H₁₇)C₆H₄ ( 8 ), Ph ( 9 ), C≡CPh ( 10 ), C≡C[{4‐B(Mes)₂}C₆H₄] ( 11 ), C≡CTMS ( 12 ), C≡C[(4‐NMe₂)C₆H₄] ( 14 ), C≡CH ( 15 ), N(Ph)[(4‐OMe)C₆H₄] ( 16 ), and R=OTf, R′=C≡CTMS ( 13 ). Lithiation of 4 , followed by reaction with CO₂, yielded pyrene‐2,7‐dicarboxylic acid ( 17 ), whilst borylation of 2‐tBu‐pyrene gave 2‐tBu‐7‐Bpin‐pyrene ( 18 ) selectively. By similar routes (including Negishi cross‐coupling reactions), monosubstituted 2‐R‐pyrenes with R=BF₃K ( 19 ), Br ( 20 ), OH ( 21 ), B(OH)₂ ( 22 ), [4‐B(Mes)₂]C₆H₄ ( 23 ), B(Mes)₂ ( 24 ), OTf ( 25 ), C≡CPh ( 26 ), C≡CTMS ( 27 ), (4‐CO₂Me)C₆H₄ ( 28 ), C≡CH ( 29 ), C₃H₆CO₂Me ( 30 ), OC₃H₆CO₂Me ( 31 ), C₃H₆CO₂H ( 32 ), OC₃H₆CO₂H ( 33 ), and O(CH₂)₁₂Br ( 34 ) were obtained from 2 . These derivatives are of synthetic and photophysical interest because they contain donor, acceptor, and conjugated substituents. The crystal structures of compounds 4 , 5 , 7 , 12 , 18 , 19 , 21 , 23 , 26 , and 28 – 31 have also been obtained from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data, revealing a diversity of packing modes, which are described in the Supporting Information. A detailed discussion of the structures of 1 and 2 , their polymorphs, solvates, and co‐crystals is reported separately.     

Synthesis and characterisation of aromatic ethynyl-bridged ferrocenes

A series of aromatic ethynyl-bridged ferrocenes with the general formula Fc-CC-R-CC-Fc (Fc=ferrocenyl, R=C₆H₂(-p-CH₃)₂ (1), C₆H₄-p-C₆H₄ (2), C₅H₃N (3), 9,10-C₁₄H₈ (4), C₄H₂S (5), (C₄H₂S)₂ (6) and (C₄H₂S)₃ (7)) has been synthesised by the reaction of ethynyl ferrocene with the appropriate dibromo-arenes. The new complexes have been characterised by spectroscopic techniques. The structures of 3 and 7 were determined via X-ray crystallography, and both show the trans-trans configuration of the two ethynyl ferrocene groups with respect to the central R group. The electronic properties of the compounds have been studied via optical spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry.     

Using a two-step hydride transfer to achieve 1,4-reduction in the catalytic hydrogenation of an acyl pyridinium cation

The stoichiometric reduction of N-carbophenoxypyridinium tetraphenylborate (6) by CpRu(P-P)H (Cp = eta(5)-cyclopentadienyl; P-P = dppe, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, or dppf, 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene), and Cp*Ru(P-P)H (Cp* = eta(5)-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; P-P = dppe) gives mixtures of 1,2- and 1,4-dihydropyridines. The stoichiometric reduction of 6 by Cp*Ru(dppf)H (5) gives only the 1,4-dihydropyridine, and 5 catalyzes the exclusive formation of the 1,4-dihydropyridine from 6, H(2), and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine. In the stoichiometric reductions, the ratio of 1,4 to 1,2 product increases as the Ru hydrides become better one-electron reductants, suggesting that the 1,4 product arises from a two-step (e(-)/H(*)) hydride transfer. Calculations at the UB3LYP/6-311++G(3df,3pd)//UB3LYP/6-31G* level support this hypothesis, indicating that the spin density in the N-carbophenoxypyridinium radical (13) resides primarily at C4, while the positive charge in 6 resides primarily at C2 and C6. The isomeric dihydropyridines thus result from the operation of different mechanisms: the 1,2 product from a single-step H(-) transfer and the 1,4 product from a two-step (e(-)/H(*)) transfer.     

Mechanism of formation of carbene complexes by reaction of cis-[PdCl2(PPh3)(CNR)] with secondary amines

A kinetic study is reported for the reactions of secondary aromatic amines p-YC₆H₄NHR (Y = MeO, Me, H; R = Me, Et) with the isocyanide complexes cis-[PdCl₂(p-XC₆H₄NC)(PPh₃)] (X = Me, H, Cl) leading to the carbene derivatives cis-[PdCl₂ {C(NH-p-C₆H₄X)NR-p-C₆H₄Y} (PPh₃)] in 1,2-dichloroethane at 25°C. A stepwise mechanism is proposed which involves a direct nucleophilic attack of the entering amine on the isocyanide carbon followed by proton transfers to the final carbene complexes. These take place both intramolecularly in a four-membered cyclic transition state and by the agency of one further amine molecule serving as a proton acceptor-donor in a six-membered transition state. Competition experiments with primary amines and trends in rate parameters are discussed to support the mechanism.