Palladium(II)‐N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Efficient Catalysts for the Direct C‐H Bond Arylation of Furans with Aryl Halides

This paper contains the synthesis and characterization of the seven new benzimidazolium salts and their corresponding new palladium(II)‐NHC complexes with the general formula [PdX₂(NHC)₂], (NHC = N‐heterocyclic carbene, X = Cl or Br), and also their catalytic activity in direct C‐H bond arylation of 2‐substituted furan derivatives with aryl bromides and aryl chlorides. Under the optimal conditions, these palladium(II)‐NHC complexes showed the good catalytic performance for the direct C‐H bond arylation of 2‐substituted furans with (hetero)aryl bromides, and with readily available and inexpensive aryl chlorides. The C‐H bond arylation regioselectively produced C5‐arylated furans by using 1 mol% of the palladium(II)‐NHC catalysts in moderate to high yields.     

Prominent enhancing effects of substituents on the strength of π···σ‐hole tetrel bond

The potential applications of tetrel bonds involving π‐molecules in crystal materials and biological systems have prompted a theoretical investigation of the strength of π···σ‐hole tetrel bond in the systems with acetylene and its derivatives of CH₃, AuPH₃, Li, and Na as well as benzene as the π electron donors. A weak tetrel bond (ΔE < 15 kJ/mol) is found between acetylene and tetrel donor molecule TH₃F (T = C, Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb). All substituents strengthen the π tetrel bond, but the electron‐donating sodium atoms have the largest enhancing effect and the interaction energy is up to about 24 kJ/mol in C₂Na₂‐CH₃F. The electron‐donating ability of the AuPH₃ fragment is intermediate between the methyl group and alkali metal atom. The origin of the stability of the π tetrel‐bonded complex is dependent on the nature of the tetrel donor and acceptor molecules and can be regulated by the substituents.     

A Ru-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex from metal-metal singly bonded diruthenium(I) precursor: Synthesis, structure and catalytic evaluation

A mononuclear Ru(II)-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex [Ru^II(CO)₂(κ²C,N-BIN)(H₂O)Br][OTf] (OTf = trifluoromethane sulphonate) (1) has been synthesized in high-yield by the oxidative cleavage of the metal-metal singly-bonded diruthenium(I) precursor [Ru₂(CO)₄(CH₃CN)₆(OTf)₂] with 1,8-naphthyridine functionalized NHC precursor 1-benzyl-3-(5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyrid-2-yl)imidazolium bromide (BIN·HBr) at room temperature. Compound 1 catalyzes transfer hydrogenation of ketones to alcohols, and carbene-transfer from ethyl diazoacetate to a variety of substrates. It is shown to be an excellent catalyst for the insertion of carbene into the O-H and N-H bonds of alcohols and amines.     

Structural studies of seven homoisoflavonoids, six thiohomoisoflavonoids, and four structurally related compounds

¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts have been determined and assigned based on PFG ¹H, ¹³C HMQC, and HMBC experiments for 3-(4′-X-benzyl)-4-chromenones (Ia, X = CN and Ib, X = NO₂), 3-(4′-X-benzyl)-4-thiochromenones (IIa, X = Cl and IIb, X = Br), (E)-3-(4′-X-benzylidene)-4-chromanones (IIIa–IIIe, X = OCH₃, CH₃, Cl, N(CH₃)₂, Br), (Z)-3-(4′-X-benzylidene)4-thiochromanones (IVa–IVd, X = Cl, Br, F, OCH₃), 2-benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthol (V), 2-benzyl- and (E)-2-benzylidene-1-tetralones (VI and VII), and (E)-2-benzylidene-1-benzosuberol (VIII). The crystal structures have been determined for the following seven compounds: derivatives of 4-chromanones (IIIa–IIId), 1-tetrahydronaphtol (V), and 1-tetralones (VI and VII). The molecular features and intermolecular interactions in crystal state have been discussed.     

Different orientations of C=O versus P=O in P(O)NHC(O) skeleton: the first study on an aliphatic diazaphosphorinane with a gauche orientation

Different orientations of P(O) versus C(O) in P(O)NHC(O) skeleton have been discussed in two new phosphorus(V)-nitrogen compounds with formula XP(O)Y and XP(O)Z₂ where X = NHC(O)C₆H₄(4-F) and Y = NHCH₂C(CH₃)₂CH₂NH (1), Z = NHC₆H₄(4-CH₃) (2). Compound 1 is the first example of an aliphatic diazaphosphorinane with a gauche orientation which has been studied by X-ray crystallography; the P=O bond is in the equatorial position of the ring. Both compounds show ⁿ J(F,C) and ^m J(F,H) coupling constants (n = 1, 2, 3 and 4; m = 3 and 4) and ³ J(P,C) > ² J(P,C). Quantum chemical calculations were performed with HF and Density Functional Theory (DFT) methods using 6−31+G(d,p) basis set. A tentative assignment of the observed vibrational bands for these molecules is discussed. Compound 1 shows a deshielded C atom of the carbonyl moiety (in ¹³C NMR spectrum) relative to that of 2, which is supported by IR spectroscopy in which the considerably lower C=O frequency is observed for 1. Comparing the X-ray crystallography and IR spectra of 1 and 2 shows that the acyclic compound 2, containing P=O and C=O bonds in an anti position, are involving in a stronger N–H···O=P hydrogen bond in crystal network. This leads to a weaker P=O and N_C(O)NHP(O)–H bonds and stronger N···O interaction. The N_amide–H is involved in an intramolecular N–H···O hydrogen bond.     

Insertion reactions of the p-complex structure of silylenoid into C–X bonds (X = F,Cl, Br,O, and N)

The insertion reactions of the p-complex structure (A) of silylenoid H₂SiLiF into C–X bonds of CH₃XH _n−1 (X = F, Cl, Br, O, N; n = 1, 1, 1, 2, 3) have been studied using ab initio and DFT methods. The results indicate that the insertions proceed in a concerted manner, forming H₂SiXH _n−1CH₃ and LiF. The order of reactivity by A insertion indicates the reaction barriers increase for the same-row element X from right to left in the periodic table, whereas change very little for the same-family element X. The insertions of A and the three-membered-ring structure of H₂SiLiF are similar. Both structures may participate in insertion reactions.     

Tetrel Bonds between Phenyltrifluorosilane and Dimethyl Sulfoxide: Influence of Basis Sets,Substitution and Competition

Ab initio calculations have been performed for the complexes of DMSO and phenyltrifluorosilane (PTS) and its derivatives with a substituent of NH₃, OCH₃, CH₃, OH, F, CHO, CN, NO₂, and SO₃H. It is necessary to use sufficiently flexible basis sets, such as aug’-cc-pVTZ, to get reliable results for the Si···O tetrel bonds. The tetrel bond in these complexes has been characterized in views of geometries, interaction energies, orbital interactions and topological parameters. The electron-donating group in PTS weakens this interaction and the electron-withdrawing group prominently strengthens it to the point where it exceeds that of the majority of hydrogen bonds. The largest interaction energy occurs in the p-HO₃S-PhSiF₃···DMSO complex, amounting to −122 kJ/mol. The strong Si···O tetrel bond depends to a large extent on the charge transfer from the O lone pair into the empty p orbital of Si, although it has a dominant electrostatic character. For the PTS derivatives of NH₂, OH, CHO and NO₂, the hydrogen bonded complex is favorable to the tetrel bonded complex for the NH₂ and OH derivatives, while the σ-hole interaction prefers the π-hole interaction for the CHO and NO₂ derivatives.     

DFT study of the reactivity of methane and dioxygen with d-L2M complexes

A density functional theory analysis of the reactions of methane and O₂ with d¹⁰-L₂M complexes (M = Pd, Pt; L = N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC), PMe₃) is presented. Computations suggest that reaction of L₂M⁰ with O₂/CH₄ to form cis- (L)₂M(OOH)(CH₃) is only slightly uphill (ΔG ∼ 10-11 kcal/mol). Based on calculated thermodynamics, reaction of (L)₂Pt⁰ with CH₄ and O₂ is predicted to be more favorable by first addition of CH₄ and then reaction of O₂ with the resulting methyl-hydrido complex. However, oxidative addition for either the C-H bond of methane or of O₂ to d¹⁰-L₂M complexes is kinetically prohibitive. If barriers to oxidative addition to d¹⁰-L₂M systems could be reduced, conversion of L₂M(H)(CH₃) to L₂M(OOH)(CH₃) via hydrogen atom abstract/radical rebound is calculated to be thermodynamically and kinetically feasible, particularly for NHC and Pd. As (NHC)₂Pd also has a lower free energy to methane C-H oxidative addition than does (NHC)₂Pt, the former combination would appear to be a promising starting point in the search for catalysts for partial hydrocarbon oxidation.     

Kinetics and quantification of the electrophilic reactivities of substituted thiophenes and structure‐reactivity relationships

Second‐order rate constants (k₁) have been measured spectrophotometrically for reactions of 2‐methoxy‐3‐X‐5‐nitrothiophene 1a‐c (X = NO₂, CN, and COCH₃) with secondary cyclic amines (pyrrolidine 2a , piperidine 2b , and morpholine 2 c ) in CH₃CN and 91:9 (v/v) CH₃OH/CH₃CN at 20°C. The experimental data show that the rate constants (k₁) values exhibit good correlation with the parameters of nucphilicity (N) of the amines 2a‐c and are consistent with the Mayr's relationship log k (20°C) = s(E + N). We have shown that the electrophilicity parameters E derived for 1a–c and those reported previously for the thiophenes 1d‐g (X = SO₂CH₃, CO₂CH₃, CONH₂, and H) are linearly related to the pK_a values for their gem‐dimethoxy complexes in methanol. Using this correlation, we successfully evaluated the electrophilicity E values of 12 structurally diverse electrophiles in methanol for the first time. In addition, a satisfactory linear correlation (r² = 0.9726) between the experimental (log k_exp) and the calculated (log k_calcd) values for the σ‐complexation reactions of these 12 electrophiles with methoxide ion in methanol has been observed and discussed.     

Synthesis of Mixed Silylene–Carbene Chelate Ligands from N‐Heterocyclic Silylcarbenes Mediated by Nickel

The Ni^II‐mediated tautomerization of the N‐heterocyclic hydrosilylcarbene L²Si(H)(CH₂)NHC 1 , where L²=CH(C?CH₂)(CMe)(NAr)₂, Ar=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃; NHC=3,4,5‐trimethylimidazol‐2‐yliden‐6‐yl, leads to the first N‐heterocyclic silylene (NHSi)–carbene (NHC) chelate ligand in the dibromo nickel(II) complex [L¹Si:(CH₂)(NHC)NiBr₂] 2 (L¹=CH(MeC?NAr)₂). Reduction of 2 with KC₈ in the presence of PMe₃ as an auxiliary ligand afforded, depending on the reaction time, the N‐heterocyclic silyl–NHC bromo Ni^II complex [L²Si(CH₂)NHCNiBr(PMe₃)] 3 and the unique Ni⁰ complex [η²(Si‐H){L²Si(H)(CH₂)NHC}Ni(PMe₃)₂] 4 featuring an agostic Si? H→Ni bonding interaction. When 1,2‐bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane (DMPE) was employed as an exogenous ligand, the first NHSi–NHC chelate‐ligand‐stabilized Ni⁰ complex [L¹Si:(CH₂)NHCNi(dmpe)] 5 could be isolated. Moreover, the dicarbonyl Ni⁰ complex 6 , [L¹Si:(CH₂)NHCNi(CO)₂], is easily accessible by the reduction of 2 with K(BHEt₃) under a CO atmosphere. The complexes were spectroscopically and structurally characterized. Furthermore, complex 2 can serve as an efficient precatalyst for Kumada–Corriu‐type cross‐coupling reactions.     

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.     

C−N Bond Activation and Ring Opening of a Saturated N-Heterocyclic Carbene by Lateral Alkali-Metal-Mediated Metalation

Combining alkali-metal-mediated metalation (AMMM) and N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) chemistry, a novel C−N bond activation and ring-opening process is described for these increasingly important NHC molecules, which are generally considered robust ancillary ligands. Here, mechanistic investigations on reactions of saturated NHC SIMes ( SIMes =[:C{N(2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂)CH₂}₂]) with Group 1 alkyl bases suggest this destructive process is triggered by lateral metalation of the carbene. Exploiting co-complexation and trans-metal-trapping strategies with lower polarity organometallic reagents (Mg(CH₂SiMe₃)₂ and Al(TMP)iBu₂), key intermediates in this process have been isolated and structurally defined.     

Theoretical study on the substitution and insertion reactions of silylenoid H2SiLiF with CH3XHn−1 (X = F, Cl, Br, O, N; n = 1, 1, 1, 2, 3)

The substitution and insertion reactions of H₂SiLiF (A) with CH₃XH_n−1 (X = F, Cl, Br, O, N; n = 1, 1, 1, 2, 3) have been studied using density functional theory. The results indicate that the substitution reactions of A with CH₃XH_n−1 proceed via two reaction paths, I and II, forming the same product H₂SiFCH₃. The insertion reactions of A with CH₃XH_n−1 form H₂SiXH_n−1CH₃. The following conclusions emerge from this work. (i) The substitution reactions of A with CH₃XH_n−1 occur in a concerted manner. The substitution barriers of A with CH₃XH_n−1 for both pathways decrease with the increase of the atomic number of the element X for the same family systems or for the same row systems. Path I is more favorable than path II. (ii) A inserts into a C-X bond via a concerted manner, and the reaction barriers increase for the same-row element X from right to left in the periodic table, whereas change very little for the systems of the same-family element X. (iii) The substitution reactions occur more readily than the insertion reactions for A with CH₃XH_n−1 systems. (iv) All substitution and insertion reactions of A with CH₃XH_n−1 are exothermic. (v) In solvents, the substitution reaction process of A with CH₃XH_n−1 is similar to that in vacuum. The barrier heights in solvents increase in the order CH₃F < CH₃Cl < CH₃Br < CH₃OH < CH₃NH₂. The solvent polarity has little effects on the substitution barriers. The calculations are in agreement with experiments.     

Synthesis and characterization of amide-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene-Pd complexes

Amide-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors such as azolium compounds have been designed and synthesized. Reaction of PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂ with the NHC-Ag complex derived from the azolium salt gave [(NHC)PdCl₂]₂ or (NHC)₂PdCl₂, whereas PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ reacted with the Ag complex to afford a mixed carbene/phosphine complex such as (NHC)(PPh₃)PdCl₂ together with a cationic [(NHC)(PPh₃)₂PdCl]⁺Cl⁻ whose structure was characterized by X-ray crystallographic studies. Thus, the library of NHC-Pd complexes with a tethered amide group has been successfully expanded.     

Synthesis and structure of indenylnickel(II) chlorides bearing free N-heterocyclic carbene ligands and their catalysis for styrene polymerization

The reaction of (R-Ind)₂Ni (Ind = C₉H₇, indenyl) with an equivalent of a bulky aryl-substituted imidazolium salt in CH₂Cl₂/THF at 45 °C results in the corresponding N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) indenylnickel(II) chloride of the type (R-Ind)Ni(L)Cl [R = 1-H, L = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (IPr), 1; R = 1-Me, L = IPr, 2] in high yield. Complexes 1 and 2 were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The resulted NHC indenylnickel(II) complexes are capable of polymerizing styrene in the presence of NaBPh₄ to give atactic polystyrene with M_n values in the range of 10⁴. The present studies show a close relationship between the structure and catalytic activity of the NHC indenylnickel(II) halides (including the previously reported indenylnickel(II) halides bearing alkyl-substituted NHC ligands), and complex 2 shows the highest catalytic activity. In comparison with its phosphine analogue (1-Me-Ind)Ni(PPh₃)Cl, complex 2 shows significant improvements in stability and catalytic performance.     

Syntheses,characterization, antibacterial activity and molecular modelling of phenylantimony(III) heteroleptic derivatives containing substituted oximes and piperidine dithiocarbamate

Six new heteroleptic phenylantimony(III) derivatives containing substituted oximes and dithiocarbamate moieties of the type (where R = ─C₆H₅, X = ─CH₃ ( 2a ); R = ─C₆H₄CH₃, X = ─CH₃ ( 2b ); R = ─C₆H₄Cl, X = ─CH₃ ( 2c ); R = ─C₆H₄Br, X = ─CH₃ ( 2d ); R = ─C₆H₄OH, X = ─H ( 2e ); R(X)C = ( 2f )) have been synthesized by the reactions of phenylantimony(III) dichloride with the sodium salt of substituted oximes and dithiocarbamate moiety in unimolar ratio with stirring in dichloromethane. All these newly synthesized derivatives have been characterized using physicochemical and elemental analyses. Structures have been proposed on the basis of infrared, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and LC–MS spectral studies and molecular modelling. In these derivatives the oxime behaves in an unidentate manner whereas dithiocarbamate behaves in a monofunctional anisobidentate manner. Pseudo‐trigonal bipyramidal (ψ‐TBP) geometry around the antimony metal centre is proposed for these phenylantimony(III) heteroleptic derivatives. The geometry of a representative complex has been optimized through molecular modelling. These newly synthesized derivatives were screened against Bacillus subtilis (Gram‐positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram‐negative) bacteria to evaluate their antibacterial potential. The structure–activity relationship for antibacterial activity among the four derivatives 2a , 2c , 2e and 2f is discussed.     

Atmospheric chemistry of n‐CH3(CH2)xCN (x = 0–3): Kinetics and mechanisms

Smog chamber/Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques were used to measure the kinetics of the reaction of n‐CH₃(CH₂)_xCN (x = 0–3) with Cl atoms and OH radicals: k(CH₃CN + Cl) = (1.04 ± 0.25) × 10⁻¹⁴, k(CH₃CH₂CN + Cl) = (9.20 ± 3.95) × 10⁻¹³, k(CH₃(CH₂)₂CN + Cl) = (2.03 ± 0.23) × 10⁻¹¹, k(CH₃(CH₂)₃CN + Cl) = (6.70 ± 0.67) × 10⁻¹¹, k(CH₃CN + OH) = (4.07 ± 1.21) × 10⁻¹⁴, k(CH₃CH₂CN + OH) = (1.24 ± 0.27) × 10⁻¹³, k(CH₃(CH₂)₂CN + OH) = (4.63 ± 0.99) × 10⁻¹³, and k(CH₃(CH₂)₃CN + OH) = (1.58 ± 0.38) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at a total pressure of 700 Torr of air or N₂ diluents at 296 ± 2 K. The atmospheric oxidation of alkyl nitriles proceeds through hydrogen abstraction leading to several carbonyl containing primary oxidation products. HC(O)CN, NCC(O)OONO₂, ClC(O)OONO₂, and HCN were identified as the main oxidation products from CH₃CN, whereas CH₃CH₂CN gives the products HC(O)CN, CH₃C(O)CN, NCC(O)OONO₂, and HCN. The oxidation of n‐CH₃(CH₂)_xCN (x = 2–3) leads to a range of oxygenated primary products. Based on the measured OH radical rate constants, the atmospheric lifetimes of n‐CH₃(CH₂)_xCN (x = 0–3) were estimated to be 284, 93, 25, and 7 days for x = 0,1, 2, and 3, respectively.     

Oxidative Coupling of Anionic Abnormal N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes: Efficient Access to Janus‐Type 4,4′‐Bis(2H‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene)s

The oxidative coupling of anionic imidazol‐4‐ylidenes protected at the C2 position with [MnCp(CO)₂] or BH₃ led to the corresponding 4,4′‐bis(2H‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene) complexes or adducts, in which the two carbene moieties are connected through a single C?C bond. Subsequent acidic treatment of the later species led to the corresponding 4,4′‐bis(imidazolium) salts in good yields. The overall procedure offers practical access to a novel class of Janus‐type bis(NHC)s. Strikingly, the coplanarity of the two NHC rings within the mesityl derivative 4,4′‐bis(IMes), favored by steric hindrance along with stabilizing intramolecular C?H???π aryl interactions, allows the alignment of the π‐systems and, as a direct consequence, significant electron communication through the bis(carbene) scaffold.