Si?H and C?H Activation by Transition Metal Complexes: A Step Towards Isolable Alkane Complexes?

The recognition of the fundamental contributions by G. A. Olah on the elucidation of the structure of nonclassical carbocations, in the form of the award of the Nobel prize for chemistry, has recently emphasized the importance of electron-deficient bonds in the understanding of chemical bonding in organic chemistry. In the field of coordination chemistry, the formulation of electron-deficient bonds has been used for some time to describe nonclassical interactions between atoms. Traditional ligands in coordination chemistry such as amines and phosphanes bond to metal centers through their lone pair of electrons. Synergistic bonding effects dominate in the coordination of π-bonded ligands such as alkenes. In the mid-1980s the discovery of dihydrogen complexes having side-on coordination of H₂ gave fresh impetus to transition metal chemistry as well as to the understanding of the interaction of σ-coordinating ligands with transition metals. In the meantime, transiton metal complexes can be obtained with a variety of σ-coordinated X-H fragments, and their mode of bonding can be understood by a common and quite general model. The chemistry of σ-bound silane ligands is particularly varied and well-investigated. These silane ligands enable the investigation of a large range of σ-coordinated metal complex fragments up to complete oxidative addition with cleavage of the Si? H bond and formation of silyl(hydrido) complexes, which has thus also widened our general understanding of the bonding of other σ-bound ligands. Whilst there is a large range of isolable and stable H₂ and SiR₄ complexes available, there are no such alkane analogues known at present. Only when the C? H bond is part of a ligand that is already directly bonded to the transition metal center will the resulting chelate effect stabilize this agostic C-H-M interaction. The complexation of SiH₄, the simplest heavier homologue of CH₄, was achieved recently. This is a further step towards the understanding of the factors which govern σ-complexation of ligands at transition metal centers.     

A Molecular Hexacoordinated Triorganoaluminum Compound with Trifold Si–H···Al Coordination

The synthesis of a hexacoordinate triorganoaluminum compound Al(NapSiH)₃ ( 6 ) (NapSiH = 8‐dimethylsilylnaphthyl) is reported. Three additional Si–H ··· Al contacts complete the coordination sphere around the central aluminum atom. Structural and spectroscopic evidence is provided for an activation of the Si–H bond by the aluminum Lewis acid. This activation is however small when compared to other recently described aluminum / silane complexes. These findings are supported by the results of quantum mechanical calculations, which indicate the presence of three Si–H ··· Al three center intractions in complex 6 .     

Geminal 2J(29Si‐O‐29Si) couplings in oligosiloxanes and their relation to direct 1J(29Si‐13C) couplings

Absolute values of (79) geminal ²J(²⁹Si‐O‐²⁹Si) couplings were measured in an extensive series of (55) unstrained siloxanes dissolved in chloroform‐d. Signs of ²J(²⁹Si‐O‐²⁹Si) in some (9) silicon hydrides were determined relative to ¹J(²⁹Si‐¹H) which are known to be negative. It is supposed that positive sign of the ²J(²⁹Si‐O‐²⁹Si) coupling found in all studied hydrides is common to all siloxanes. Theoretical calculations for simple model compounds failed to reproduce this sign and so their predictions of bond length and angle dependences cannot be taken as reliable. Useful empirical correlations were found between the ²J(²⁹Si‐O‐²⁹Si) couplings on one side and the total number m of oxygen atoms bonded to the silicon atoms, sum of ²⁹Si chemical shifts or product of ¹J(²⁹Si‐¹³C) couplings on the other side. The significance of these correlations is briefly discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multiple Reaction Pathways in Rhodium‐Catalyzed Hydrosilylations of Ketones

A detailed density functional theory (DFT) computational study (using the BP86/SV(P) and B3LYP/TZVP//BP86/SV(P) level of theory) of the rhodium‐catalyzed hydrosilylation of ketones has shown three mechanistic pathways to be viable. They all involve the generation of a cationic complex [L_nRh^I]⁺ stabilized by the coordination of two ketone molecules and the subsequent oxidative addition of the silane, which results in the Rh–silyl intermediates [L_nRh^III(H)SiHMe₂]⁺. However, they differ in the following reaction steps: in two of them, insertion of the ketone into the Rh? Si bond occurs, as previously proposed by Ojima et al., or into the Si? H bond, as proposed by Chan et al. for dihydrosilanes. The latter in particular is characterized by a very high activation barrier associated with the insertion of the ketone into the Si? H bond, thereby making a new, third mechanistic pathway that involves the formation of a silylene intermediate more likely. This “silylene mechanism” was found to have the lowest activation barrier for the rate‐determining step, the migration of a rhodium‐bonded hydride to the ketone that is coordinated to the silylene ligand. This explains the previously reported rate enhancement for R₂SiH₂ compared to R₃SiH as well as the inverse kinetic isotope effect (KIE) observed experimentally for the overall catalytic cycle because deuterium prefers to be located in the stronger bond, that is, C? D versus M? D.     

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.     

Mononuclear Nonheme High‐Spin (S=2) versus Intermediate‐Spin (S=1) Iron(IV)–Oxo Complexes in Oxidation Reactions

Mononuclear nonheme high‐spin (S=2) iron(IV)–oxo species have been identified as the key intermediates responsible for the C?H bond activation of organic substrates in nonheme iron enzymatic reactions. Herein we report that the C?H bond activation of hydrocarbons by a synthetic mononuclear nonheme high‐spin (S=2) iron(IV)–oxo complex occurs through an oxygen non‐rebound mechanism, as previously demonstrated in the C?H bond activation by nonheme intermediate (S=1) iron(IV)–oxo complexes. We also report that C?H bond activation is preferred over C=C epoxidation in the oxidation of cyclohexene by the nonheme high‐spin (HS) and intermediate‐spin (IS) iron(IV)–oxo complexes, whereas the C=C double bond epoxidation becomes a preferred pathway in the oxidation of deuterated cyclohexene by the nonheme HS and IS iron(IV)–oxo complexes. In the epoxidation of styrene derivatives, the HS and IS iron(IV) oxo complexes are found to have similar electrophilic characters.     

Theoretical study of bifurcated hydrogen bonding effects on the 1J(N,H), 1hJ(N,H), 2hJ(N,N) couplings and 1H, 15N shieldings in model pyrroles

According to the density functional theory calculations, the X···H···N (X?N, O) intramolecular bifurcated (three‐centered) hydrogen bond with one hydrogen donor and two hydrogen acceptors causes a significant decrease of the ^1hJ(N,H) and ^2hJ(N,N) coupling constants across the N? H···N hydrogen bond and an increase of the ¹J(N,H) coupling constant across the N? H covalent bond in the 2,5‐disubsituted pyrroles. This occurs due to a weakening of the N? H···N hydrogen bridge resulting in a lengthening of the N···H distance and a decrease of the hydrogen bond angle at the bifurcated hydrogen bond formation. The gauge‐independent atomic orbital calculations of the shielding constants suggest that a weakening of the N? H···N hydrogen bridge in case of the three‐centered hydrogen bond yields a shielding of the bridge proton and deshielding of the acceptor nitrogen atom. The atoms‐in‐molecules analysis shows that an attenuation of the ^1hJ(N,H) and ^2hJ(N,N) couplings in the compounds with bifurcated hydrogen bond is connected with a decrease of the electron density ρ_H···N at the hydrogen bond critical point and Laplacian of this electron density ?²ρ_H···N. The natural bond orbital analysis suggests that the additional N? H···X interaction partly inhibits the charge transfer from the nitrogen lone pair to the σ*_{N? H} antibonding orbital across hydrogen bond weakening of the ^1hJ(N,H) and ^2hJ(N,N) trans‐hydrogen bond couplings through Fermi‐contact mechanism. An increase of the nitrogen s‐character percentage of the N? H bond in consequence of the bifurcated hydrogen bonding leads to an increase of the ¹J(N,H) coupling constant across the N? H covalent bond and deshielding of the hydrogen donor nitrogen atom. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A detailed evaluation of the dependence of 3J(H?H) on bond angle in alkenes and cycloalkenes

Newly determined and accurate data for the magnitudes of cis vinyl proton-proton spin-spin coupling constants in cis-dialkylethylenes and cycloalkenes have been obtained. With these new data and also values taken from the recent literature, it has proved possible to make a critical determination of the correlation between ³J(H? H) and C?C? H bond angles in ethylenic systems. It is suggested that it is possible to obtain accurate estimates of bond angles using NMR coupling constants, even though much more data will be required to fully substantiate this proposal. Whereas cis-³J(H? H) decreases rapidly with increasing C?C? H bond angles, evidence is presented that the opposite is the case for trans-³J(H? H). A brief theoretical discussion of these trends in coupling constants is given.     

Etude des Signes des Constantes de Couplage 3J(P?X?C?H) et 4J(F?P?X?C?H) dans les Diaza-, Dioxa- et Dithiaphospholanes Fluores

The NMR spectra of the trivalent fluorophospholanes ( 1, 2, 3 ) have been analysed at length. The absolute signs of the ³J(P? H) and ⁴J(F? H) coupling constants have been referred to the known negative sign of the ¹J(P? F) coupling constant from selective heteronuclear double resonance experiments. The ³J(P? O? C? H) and ³J(P? N? C? H) coupling are positive. The weak values observed for ³J(P? S? C? H) have opposite signs, the larger being positive. All the ⁴J(F? P? X? C? H) coupling constants are positive showing a lack of stereospecificity.     

Nonclassical titanocene silyl hydrides

The titanocene silyl hydride complexes [Ti(Cp)2(PMe3)(H)(SiR3)] [SiR3=SiMePhCl (6), SiPh2Cl (7), SiMeCl2 (8), SiCl3 (9)] were prepared by HSiR3 addition to [Ti(Cp)2(PMe3)2] and were studied by NMR and IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (for 6, 8, and 9), and DFT calculations. Spectroscopic and structural data established that these complexes exhibit nonclassical Ti-H-Si-Cl interligand hypervalent interactions. In particular, the observation of silicon-hydride coupling constants J(Si,H) in 6-9 in the range 22-40 Hz, the signs of which we found to be negative for 8 and 9, is conclusive evidence of the presence of a direct Si-H bond. The analogous reaction of [Ti(Cp)2(PMe3)2] with HSi(OEt)3 does not afford the expected classical silyl hydride complex [Ti(Cp)2(PMe3)(H)[Si(OEt)3]], and instead NMR-silent titanium (apparently TiIII) complex(es) and the silane redistribution product Si(OEt)4 are formed. The structural data and DFT calculations for the compounds [Ti(Cp)2(PMe3)(H)(SiR3)] show that the strength of interligand hypervalent interactions in the chlorosilyl complexes decreases as the number of chloro groups on silicon increases. However, in the absence of an Si-bound electron-withdrawing group trans to the Si-H moiety, a silane sigma complex is formed, characterized by a long Ti-Si bond of 2.658 A and short Si-H contact of 1.840 A in the model complex [Ti(Cp)2(PMe3)(H)(SiMe3)]. Both the silane sigma complexes and silyl hydride complexes with interligand hypervalent interactions exhibit bond paths between the silicon and hydride atoms in Atoms in Molecules (AIM) studies. To date a classical titanocene phosphane silyl hydride complex without any Si-H interaction has not been observed, and therefore titanocene silyl hydrides are, depending on the nature of the R groups on Si, either silane sigma complexes or compounds with an interligand hypervalent interaction.     

Transition‐Metal‐Mediated Cleavage of Fluoro‐Silanes under Mild Conditions

Si?F bond cleavage of fluoro‐silanes was achieved by transition‐metal complexes under mild and neutral conditions. The Iridium‐hydride complex [Ir(H)(CO)(PPh₃)₃] was found to readily break the Si?F bond of the diphosphine‐ difluorosilane {(o‐Ph₂P)C₆H₄}₂Si(F)₂ to afford a silyl complex [{[o‐(iPh₂P)C₆H₄]₂(F)Si}Ir(CO)(PPh₃)] and HF. Density functional theory calculations disclose a reaction mechanism in which a hypervalent silicon species with a dative Ir→Si interaction plays a crucial role. The Ir→Si interaction changes the character of the H on the Ir from hydridic to protic, and makes the F on Si more anionic, leading to the formation of H^δ+???F^δ? interaction. Then the Si?F and Ir?H bonds are readily broken to afford the silyl complex and HF through σ‐bond metathesis. Furthermore, the analogous rhodium complex [Rh(H)(CO)(PPh₃)₃] was found to promote the cleavage of the Si?F bond of the triphosphine‐monofluorosilane {(o‐Ph₂P)C₆H₄}₃Si(F) even at ambient temperature.     

Hydrogen Bonding of Fluorinated Saccharides in Solution: F Acting as H‐Bond Acceptor in a Bifurcated H‐Bond of 4‐Fluorinated Levoglucosans

4‐Fluorinated levoglucosans were synthesised to test if OH???F H‐bonds are feasible even when the O???F distance is increased. The fluorinated 1,6‐anhydro‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoses were synthesised from 1,6 : 3,4‐dianhydro‐β‐D ‐galactopyranose ( 8 ). Treatment of 8 with KHF₂ and KF gave 43% of 4‐deoxy‐4‐fluorolevoglucosan ( 9 ), which was transformed into the 3‐O‐protected derivatives 13 by silylation and 15 by silylation, acetylation, and desilylation. 4‐Deoxy‐4‐methyllevoglucosan ( 19 ) and 4‐deoxylevoglucosan ( 21 ) were prepared as reference compounds that can only form a bivalent H‐bond from HO? C(2) to O? C(5). They were synthesised from the ⁱPr₃Si‐protected derivative of 8 . Intramolecular bifurcated H‐bonds from HO? C(2) to F? C(4) and O? C(5) of the 4‐fluorinated levoglucosans in CDCl₃ solution are evidenced by the ¹H‐NMR scalar couplings ^h1J(F,OH) and ³J(H,OH). The OH???F H‐bond over an O???F distance of ca. 3.0 Å is thus formed in apolar solvents, at least when favoured by the simultaneous formation of an OH???O H‐bond.     

Borane‐Catalyzed Cross‐Metathesis Strategy for Facile Transformation of Cyclic (Alkyl)(Amino)Germylenes

A borane B(C₆F₅)₃‐catalyzed metathesis reaction between the Si?C bond in the cyclic (alkyl)(amino)germylene (CAAGe) 1 and the Si?H bond in a silane (R₃SiH; 2 ) is reported. Mechanistic studies propose that the initial step of the reaction involves Si?H bond activation to furnish an ionic species [ 1 ‐SiR₃]⁺[HB(C₆F₅)₃]^?, from which [Me₃Si]⁺[HB(C₆F₅)₃]^? and an azagermole intermediate are generated. The former yields Me₃SiH concomitant with the regeneration of B(C₆F₅)₃ whereas the latter undergoes isomerization to afford CAAGes bearing various silyl groups on the carbon atom next to the germylene center. This strategy allows the straightforward synthesis of eight new CAAGes starting from 1 .     

π–π Stacking,hydrogen bonding and anti-ferromagnetic coupling mechanism on a mononuclear Cu(II) complex

Weak anti-ferromagnetic coupling is observed in a mononuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu(Pid)(OSO₃)(H₂O)]?·?(H₂O) (Pid?=?2,2′-(1,10-phenanthrolin-2-ylimino)diethanol). The Cu(II) complex is a distorted square pyramid. Analysis of the crystal structure indicates that there are two types of magnetic coupling pathways, where one pathway involves π–π stacking between adjacent complexes and the second one involves the O–H?···?O hydrogen bonds between adjacent complexes. The variable-temperature magnetic susceptibilities show that there is a weak anti-ferromagnetic coupling between adjacent Cu(II) ions with Curie–Weiss constant θ?=??13.71?K?=??9.93?cm^?1. Theoretical calculations reveal that the π–π stacking resulted in anti-ferromagnetic coupling with 2J?=??6.30?cm^?1, and the O–H?···?O hydrogen-bonding pathway led to a weaker anti-ferromagnetic interaction with 2J?=??3.38?cm^?1. The theoretical calculations also indicate that anti-ferromagnetic coupling sign from the π–π stacking accords with the McConnell I spin-polarization mechanism.     

Using (FH)2 and (FH)3 to Bridge the σ‐Hole and the Lone Pair at P in Complexes with H2XP,for X=CH3, OH,H, CCH,F, Cl,NC, and CN

Ab initio MP2/aug′‐cc‐pVTZ calculations are used to investigate the binary complexes H₂XP:HF, the ternary complexes H₂XP:(FH)₂, and the quaternary complexes H₂XP:(FH)₃, for X=CH₃, OH, H, CCH, F, Cl, NC, and CN. Hydrogen‐bonded (HB) binary complexes are formed between all H₂XP molecules and FH, but only H₂FP, H₂ClP, and H₂(NC)P form pnicogen‐bonded (ZB) complexes with FH. Ternary complexes with (FH)₂ are stabilized by F?H???P and F?H???F hydrogen bonds and F???P pnicogen bonds, except for H₂(CH₃)P:(FH)₂ and H₃P:(FH)₂, which do not have pnicogen bonds. All quaternary complexes H₂XP:(FH)₃ are stabilized by both F?H???P and F?H???F hydrogen bonds and P???F pnicogen bonds. Thus, (FH)₂ with two exceptions, and (FH)₃ can bridge the σ‐hole and the lone pair at P in these complexes. The binding energies of H₂XP:(FH)₃ complexes are significantly greater than the binding energies of H₂XP:(FH)₂ complexes, and nonadditivities are synergistic in both series. Charge transfer occurs across all intermolecular bonds from the lone‐pair donor atom to an antibonding σ* orbital of the acceptor molecule, and stabilizes these complexes. Charge‐transfer energies across the pnicogen bond correlate with the intermolecular P?F distance, while charge‐transfer energies across F?H???P and F?H???F hydrogen bonds correlate with the distance between the lone‐pair donor atom and the hydrogen‐bonded H atom. In binary and quaternary complexes, charge transfer energies also correlate with the distance between the electron‐donor atom and the hydrogen‐bonded F atom. EOM‐CCSD spin‐spin coupling constants ^2hJ(F–P) across F?H???P hydrogen bonds, and ^1pJ(P–F) across pnicogen bonds in binary, ternary, and quaternary complexes exhibit strong correlations with the corresponding intermolecular distances. Hydrogen bonds are better transmitters of F–P coupling data than pnicogen bonds, despite the longer F???P distances in F?H???P hydrogen bonds compared to P???F pnicogen bonds. There is a correlation between the two bond coupling constants ^2hJ(F–F) in the quaternary complexes and the corresponding intermolecular distances, but not in the ternary complexes, a reflection of the distorted geometries of the bridging dimers in ternary complexes.     

C−H and C−F Bond Activation Reactions of Fluorinated Propenes at Rhodium: Distinctive Reactivity of the Refrigerant HFO‐1234yf

The reaction of [Rh(H)(PEt₃)₃] ( 1 ) with the refrigerant HFO‐1234yf (2,3,3,3‐tetrafluoropropene) affords an efficient route to obtain [Rh(F)(PEt₃)₃] ( 3 ) by C?F bond activation. Catalytic hydrodefluorinations were achieved in the presence of the silane HSiPh₃. In the presence of a fluorosilane, 3 provides a C?H bond activation followed by a 1,2‐fluorine shift to produce [Rh{(E)‐C(CF₃)=CHF}(PEt₃)₃] ( 4 ). Similar rearrangements of HFO‐1234yf were observed at [Rh(E)(PEt₃)₃] [E=Bpin ( 6 ), C₇D₇ ( 8 ), Me ( 9 )]. The ability to favor C?H bond activation using 3 and fluorosilane is also demonstrated with 3,3,3‐trifluoropropene. Studies are supported by DFT calculations.     

Conformational study of phosphoserine in aqueous solutions. II—1H n.m.r. results

The 270 MHz n.m.r. spectra of phosphoserine (PSer) have been measured and completely analysed for seven pD values. The resulting vicinal coupling constants ³J(HαHβ) and ³J(PHβ) are used to discuss the conformations of PSer with respect to the (Hα)? Cα? Cβ? (O) and (Cα)? Cβ? O? (P) bond axes. The all-trans conformer predominates for all pD values, with its fractional population being minimal at pD values close to neutrality. The Cβ? O bond rotamer populations agree reasonably well with those obtained from ¹³C investigations.     

SQ—SQ experiment for determination of relative signs of small nJ(29Si,13C) couplings in a wide variety of silicon compounds

A modification of double quantum–zero quantum (DQ—ZQ) experiment termed single‐quantum–single‐quantum (SQ—SQ) experiment is proposed for the determination of relative signs and magnitudes of coupling constants. The modification replaces the multiple‐quantum evolution period by two synchronously incremented single‐quantum periods. Similarly to DQ—ZQ experiment, the sequence requires only two coupling constants that share one nucleus, the one to be measured and a reference one. This allows application to a larger variety of molecular fragments than traditional 2D sequences producing E.COSY or TROSY pattern. The SQ—SQ experiment eliminates the effects of some other couplings during t₁, thereby simplifying the 2D pattern and increasing the signal intensity in comparison with DQ—ZQ experiment. The presented sequence is particularly designed for the determination of silicon–carbon coupling constants across several bonds at natural abundance using silicon–hydrogen couplings as the sign reference. The signs of silicon–carbon couplings across two and three bonds in dimethyl(phenoxy)silane which cannot be detected by traditional methods and which have not yet been determined are established by the SQ—SQ method here: ²J(Si,C) = +2.2 Hz and ³J(Si,C) = ?1.7 Hz. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Protonenresonanz-Spektroskopie ungesättigter Ringsysteme—XVI 7,7-Difluor-benzo-cyclopropen

The NMR-spectrum of 7·7-difluoro-benzo-cyclopropene ( 2 ) has been analysed to obtain chemical shifts and spin, spin-coupling constants: δ_AA′ = 7·6026, δ_BB′ = 7·4834 ppm; J_AB = 6·86, J_AA′ = 7·45, J_AB′ = 0·34 and J_BB′ = 1·89 Hz. Heteronuclear double resonance experiments have been used to establish a positive sign for ⁴J(H? F) (3.64 Hz) and a negative sign for ⁵J(H? F) (?0·33 Hz) in this molecule. The results are discussed with reference to the structure of 2 and the NMR data found for benzo-cyclopropene.     

A Theoretical Study of Correlation between Hydrogen‐Bond Stability and J‐Coupling through a Hydrogen Bond

trans‐Hydrogen‐bond hyperfine splitting via magnetic interaction, which is observed as J‐coupling in NMR experiments, was theoretically studied. trans‐Hydrogen‐bond hyperfine splitting should be closely related to the orbital interaction between the lone‐pair orbital of the H‐bond acceptor and the antibond orbital of the H‐bond donor. A linear relationship was observed between magnetic interaction hyperfine splitting through a H‐bond and the H‐bond strength. The relationship was dependent on the type of the nucleus forming the H‐bond; linear correlation was observed in N H⋅⋅⋅O/N type or O H⋅⋅⋅N type H‐bonded complexes, but not in O H⋅⋅⋅O type H‐bonded complexes.