Stereoselective cis-addition of aromatic C-H bonds to alkynes catalyzed by dinuclear palladium complexes

Reactions of alkynes with arenes proceeded in the presence of dinuclear palladium complexes and trialkylboranes to yield alkyne hydroarylation products with high stereoselectivity. In the reactions of monosubstituted benzenes, meta and para products were formed in statistical ratios, while no ortho isomers were detected.     

Hydrosilylation of alkynes catalyzed by ruthenium carbene complexes

Hydrosilylation of terminal alkynes with a variety of silanes catalyzed by Cl₂(PCy₃)₂RuCHPh (1) affords mainly the Z-isomer via trans addition in excellent yields. The presence of a hydroxyl group in close proximity to the triple bond was observed to exert a strong directing effect, resulting in the highly selective formation of the α-isomer. Intramolecular hydrosilylation of a homopropargylic silyl ether was demonstrated to give the cis addition product.     

Mechanistic study of palladium catalyzed S-S and Se-Se bonds addition to alkynes

The mechanistic study of palladium catalyzed S-S and Se-Se bonds addition to alkynes revealed the involvement of dinuclear transition metal complexes in the catalytic cycle. Coordination of alkyne to dinuclear transition metal complex was found to be the rate determining step of the reaction. An unusual phosphine ligand effect increasing the yield of addition reaction was found in the studied system. A new synthetic procedure was developed to perform the catalytic reaction using easily available Pd(II) complex. The scope of the reaction and the reactivity of S-S and Se-Se bonds toward alkynes were investigated. The X-ray structure of the product of S-S bond addition reaction showed favorable geometry for the possible application as a chelate ligand.     

Phase transfer catalyzed dibromocarbene insertion into diene-iron tricarbonyl complexes

The insertion of dibromocarbene into a saturated carbon-hydrogen bond of a diene-iron tricarbonyl complex can be effected in reasonable yields, and under gentle conditons, by phase transfer catalysis.     

New diruthenium vinyliminium complexes from the insertion of alkynes into bridging aminocarbynes

Primary alkynes R′CCH [R′ = Me₃Si, Tol, CH₂OH, CO₂Me, (CH₂)₄CCH, Me] insert into the metal-carbon bond of diruthenium μ-aminocarbynes [Ru₂{μ-CN(Me)(R)}(μ-CO)(CO)(MeCN)(Cp)₂][SO₃CF₃] [R = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃ (Xyl), 1a; CH₂Ph (Bz), 1b; Me, 1c] to give the vinyliminium complexes [Ru₂{μ-η¹:η³-C(R′)CHCN(Me)(R)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)₂][SO₃CF₃] [R = Xyl, R′ = Me₃Si, 2a; R = Bz, R′ = Me₃Si, 2b; R = Me, R′ = Me₃Si, 2c; R = Xyl, R′ = Tol, 3a; R = Bz, R′ = Tol, 3b; R = Bz, R′ = CH₂OH, 4; R = Bz, R′ = CO₂Me, 5a; R = Me, R′ = CO₂Me, 5b; R = Xyl, R′ = (CH₂)₄CCH, 6; R = Xyl, R′ = Me, 7a; R = Bz, R′ = Me, 7b; R = Me, R′ = Me, 7c]. The related compound [Ru₂{μ-η¹:η³-C[C(Me)CH₂]CHCN(Me)(Xyl)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)₂][SO₃CF₃], (9) is better prepared by reacting [Ru₂{μ-CN(Me)(Xyl)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cl)(Cp)₂] (8) with AgSO₃CF₃ in the presence of HCCC(Me)CH₂ in CH₂Cl₂ at low temperature.In a similar way, also secondary alkynes can be inserted to give the new complexes [Ru₂{μ-η¹:η³-C(R′)C(R′)CN(Me)(R)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)₂][SO₃CF₃] (R = Bz, R′ = CO₂Me, 11; R = Xyl, R′ = Et, 12a; R = Bz, R′ = Et, 12b; R = Xyl, R′ = Me, 13). The reactions of 2-7, 9, 11-13 with hydrides (i.e., NaBH₄, NaH) have been also studied, affording μ-vinylalkylidene complexes [Ru₂{μ-η¹:η³-C(R′)C(R″)C(H)N(Me)(R)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)₂] (R = Bz, R′ = Me₃Si, R″ = H, 14a; R = Me, R′ = Me₃Si, R″ = H, 14b; R = Bz, R′ = Tol, R″ = H, 15; R = Bz, R′ = R″ = Et, 16), bis-alkylidene complexes [Ru₂{μ-η¹:η²-C(R′)C(H)(R″)CN(Me)(Xyl)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)₂] (R′ = Me₃Si, R″ = H, 17; R′ = R″ = Et, 18), acetylide compounds [Ru₂{μ-CN(Me)(R)}(μ-CO)(CO)(CCR′)(Cp)₂] (R = Xyl, R′ = Tol, 19; R = Bz, R′ = Me₃Si, 20; R = Xyl, R′ = Me, 21) or the tetranuclear species [Ru₂{μ-η¹:η²-C(Me)CCN(Me)(Bz)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)₂]₂ (23) depending on the properties of the hydride and the substituents on the complex. Chromatography of 21 on alumina results in its conversion into [Ru₂{μ-η³:η¹-C[N(Me)(Xyl)]C(H)CCH₂}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)₂] (22). The crystal structures of 2a[CF₃SO₃] · 0.5CH₂Cl₂, 12a[CF₃SO₃] and 22 have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Rapid phosphorus triester hydrolysis catalyzed by bimetallic tetrabenzimidazole complexes

Bimetallic complexes based on the binucleating ligand N,N,N',N'-tetrakis[(2-benzimidazolyl)methyl]-2-hydroxy-1,3-diaminopropane (1L) and its new toluoyl ester derivative (2L) catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphorus triesters at ambient temperature with activities rivalling the fastest known systems.     

Arylmagnesiation of alkynes catalyzed cooperatively by iron and copper complexes

Iron and copper complexes cooperatively catalyzed the arylmagnesiation of unfunctionalized alkynes including dialkylacetylenes, where the presence of both iron and copper catalysts is essential for high yields of 2-aryl-1-alkenylmagnesium bromides.     

Cyclohydrocarbonylation of substituted alkynes and tandem cyclohydrocarbonylation-CO insertion of alpha-keto alkynes catalyzed by immobilized Co-Rh heterobimetallic nanoparticles

The use of cobalt-rhodium (Co(2)Rh(2)) heterobimetallic nanoparticles in the cyclohydrocarbonylation of substituted alkynes and tandem cyclohydrocarbonylation-CO insertion of alpha-keto alkynes to give 2(3H)- or 2(5H)-furanones is described.     

Hybrid molecular magnets obtained by insertion of decamethyl-metallocenium cations into layered, bimetallic oxalate complexes:

A new series of hybrid organometallic - inorganic layered magnets with the formula [Z(III)Cp*2][M(II)M(III)(ox)3] (Z(III) = Co, Fe; M(III) = Cr, Fe; M(II) = Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn; ox = oxalate; Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) has been prepared. All of these compounds are isostructural and crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/m, as found by X-ray structure analysis. Their structure consists of an eclipsed stacking of the bimetallic oxalate-based extended layers separated by layers of organometallic cations. These salts show spontaneous magnetization below To, which corresponds to the presence of ferro-, ferri-, or canted antiferromagnetism. Compounds in which the paramagnetic deca-methylferrocenium is used instead of the diamagnetic decamethylcobaltocenium are good examples of chemically constructed magnetic multilayers with alternating ferromagnetic and paramagnetic layers. The physical properties of this series have been thoroughly studied by means of magnetic measurements and ESR and Mossbauer spectroscopy. We have found that the two layers are electronically quasiindependent. As a consequence, the bulk properties of these magnets have not been significantly affected by the insertion of a paramagnetic layer of S = 1/2 spins in between the extended layers. In fact, the critical temperatures remain unchanged even when comparing [MCp*2]+ derivatives with [XR4]+ compounds (X = N, P; R = Ph, nPr, nBu). Nevertheless, the presence of the paramagnetic layer has been shown to have some influence on the hysteresis loops of these compounds. In the same context, the spin polarization of the paramagnetic units (which arises from the internal magnetic field created by the bimetallic layers in the ordered state) has been observed by Mossbauer and ESR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis of enol esters from terminal alkynes catalyzed by ruthenium complexes

Regioselective enol ester formation results from the addition of saturated and unsaturated carboxylic acids to phenylacetylene in the presence of RuCl₃, RuCl₃/2PR₃ or RuCl₂(PMe₂)(arene) catalysts.     

CO2 insertion into metal-carbon bonds: a computational study of Rh(I) pincer complexes

Catalytic carboxylation reactions that use CO(2) as a C1 building block are still among the 'dream reactions' of molecular catalysis. To obtain a deeper insight into the factors that control the fundamental steps of potential catalytic cycles, we performed a detailed computational study of the insertion reaction of CO(2) into rhodium-alkyl bonds. The minima and transition-state geometries for 38 pincer-type complexes were characterized and the according energies for the C-C bond-forming step were determined. The electronic properties of the Rh-alkyl bond were found to be more important for the magnitude of the activation barrier than the interaction between rhodium and CO(2). The charge of the alkyl-chain carbon atom, as well as agostic and orbital interactions with the rhodium, exhibit the most pronounced influence on the energy of the transition states for the CO(2) insertion reaction. By varying the backbone and the donor groups of the pincer ligand those properties can be tuned over a very broad range. Thus, it is possible to match the electronic and steric properties with the fundamental requirements of the CO(2) insertion into rhodium-alkyl bonds of the ligand framework.     

Stereochemistry of the insertion of disubstituted alkynes into the metal aminocarbyne bond in diiron complexes

Terminal alkynes (HCCR^′) (R^′=COOMe, CH₂OH) insert into the metal-carbyne bond of the diiron complexes [Fe₂{μ-CN(Me)(R)}(μ-CO)(CO)(NCMe)(Cp)₂][SO₃CF₃] (R=Xyl, 1a; CH₂Ph, 1b; Me, 1c; Xyl=2,6-Me₂C₆H₃), affording the corresponding μ-vinyliminium complexes [Fe₂{μ-σ:η³-C(R^′)CHCN(Me)(R)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)₂][SO₃CF₃] (R=Xyl, R^′=COOMe, 2; R=CH₂Ph, R^′=COOMe, 3; R=Me, R^′=COOMe, 4; R=Xyl, R^′=CH₂OH, 5; R=Me, R^′=CH₂OH, 6). The insertion is regiospecific and C-C bond formation selectively occurs between the carbyne carbon and the CH moiety of the alkyne. Disubstituted alkynes (R^′CCR^′) also insert into the metal-carbyne bond leading to the formation of [Fe₂{μ-σ:η³-C(R^′)C(R^′)CN(Me)(R)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)₂][SO₃CF₃] (R^′=Me, R=Xyl, 8; R^′=Et, R=Xyl, 9; R^′=COOMe, R=Xyl, 10; R^′=COOMe, R=CH₂Ph, 11; R^′=COOMe, R=Me, 12). Complexes 2, 3, 5, 8, 9 and 11, in which the iminium nitrogen is unsymmetrically substituted, give rise to E and/or Z isomers. When iminium substituents are Me and Xyl, the NMR and structural investigations (X-ray structure analysis of 2 and 8) indicate that complexes obtained from terminal alkynes preferentially adopt the E configuration, whereas those derived from internal alkynes are exclusively Z. In complexes 8 and 9, trans and cis isomers have been observed, by NMR spectroscopy, and the structures of trans-8 and cis-8 have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies. Trans to cis isomerization occurs upon heating in THF at reflux temperature. In contrast to the case of HCCR^′, the insertion of 2-hexyne is not regiospecific: both [Fe₂{μ-σ:η³-C(CH₂CH₂CH₃)C(Me)CN(Me)(R)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)₂][SO₃CF₃] (R=Xyl, 13; R=Me, 15) and [Fe₂{μ-σ:η³-C(Me)C(CH₂CH₂CH₃)CN(Me)(R)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)₂][SO₃CF₃] (R=Xyl, 14, R=Me, 16) are obtained and these compounds are present in solution as a mixture of cis and trans isomers, with predominance of the former.     

Novel Z-selective head-to-head dimerization of terminal alkynes catalyzed by lanthanide half-metallocene complexes

Various terminal alkynes have been cleanly dimerized into the corresponding head-to-head (Z)-enynes by use of the half-metallocene lutetium alkyl complexes Me2Si(C5Me4)(NAr)Lu(CH2SiMe3)(THF) (Ar = Ph, C6H3Me2-2,6, C6H2Me3-2,4,6) as catalysts. Aromatic C-Cl, C-Br, and C-I bonds, which are known to be extremely susceptible to reductive cleavage by transition metals, survived in the present reactions. The corresponding dimeric alkynide species [Me2Si(C5Me4)(NAr)Lu(mu-CCR)]2 are thought to be the true catalysts, some of which have been isolated and structurally characterized. These alkynide species were thermally stable and soluble at the reaction temperatures (80-110 degrees C), but they precipitated upon cooling to room temperature after completion of the reaction. Therefore, this catalyst system works homogeneously but can be separated and reused, thus constituting the first example of a recyclable catalyst system for the dimerization of terminal alkynes and also the first example of (Z)-selective head-to-head dimerization of aromatic terminal alkynes.     

Addition of alkynes to aldehydes and activated ketones catalyzed by rhodium-phosphine complexes

A mixture of 2-(di-tert-butylphosphino)biphenyl and dicarbonylacetonato rhodium(I) provides an effective catalyst system for the addition of alkynes to aldehydes and activated ketones. In contrast to the more common zinc-catalyzed processes, enolizable 1,2-dicarbonyls are excellent substrates for these rhodium-catalyzed additions. This reaction allows for the formation of propargylic alcohols under mild conditions, tolerating many functional groups (such as carboxylic acids) that are incompatible with other methods. Little selectivity was observed in cases of unsymmetrical 1,2-diketones. Addition of alkynes to aldehydes with an adjacent chirality center usually provides the Felkin addition product with excellent selectivity in some cases. Studies on the catalyst structure show that both the beta-diketonate and a carbon monoxide ligand appear to be bound to the active catalyst. The use of chiral phosphines to induce asymmetry in the propargyl alcohol products provided low enantioselectivity, which may be due to the phosphine having a distal relationship to the reacting centers. Modification of other ligands, such as the beta-diketonate, appears to be a more promising avenue for the development of an enantioselective variant.     

Lactam synthesis via the intramolecular hydroamidation of alkynes catalyzed by palladium complexes

The palladium complexes catalyzed intramolecular hydroamidation reaction of amidoalkynes gives the corresponding lactams in good to high yields. For example, in the presence of 10 mol % of Pd(PPh3)4 and 20 mol % of PhCOOH, the reaction of the amidoalkyne 3a in 1,4-dioxane at 100 degrees C proceeded smoothly to give the corresponding lactam 4a in 92% yield.     

Direct mono-insertion of isocyanides into terminal alkynes catalyzed by rare-earth silylamides

Rare-earth silylamide complexes, Ln[N(SiMe3)2]3 (Ln = Y, La, Sm, Yb), effectively catalyzed the coupling reaction of isocyanides with both aliphatic and aromatic terminal alkynes under mild conditions.     

InCl3 catalyzed carbene insertion into O-H bonds: efficient synthesis of ethers

An efficient InCl₃ mediated insertion of the carbene fragment (:CHCO₂Et), generated in situ from ethyl diazoacetate into O-H bond of a series of saturated and unsaturated alcohols under mild conditions has been developed to afford the corresponding ethers as exclusive products in good to high yields (70-95%) and in shorter reaction times. In the case of unsaturated alcohols, the reaction proceeded with unprecedented selectivity resulting in ethers as the only products and in high yields.