Synthesis of B-trisubstituted borazines via the rhodium-catalyzed hydroboration of alkenes with N,N′,N″-trimethyl or N,N′,N″-triethylborazine

Hydroboration of terminal and internal alkenes with N,N′,N″-trimethyl- and N,N′,N″-triethylborazine was carried out at 50 °C in the presence of a rhodium(I) catalyst. Addition of dppb or DPEphos (1 equiv.) to RhH(CO)(PPh₃)₃ gave the best catalyst for hydroboration of ethylene at 50 °C, resulting in a quantitative yield of B,B′,B″-triethyl-N,N′,N″-trimethylborazine. On the other hand, a complex prepared from (t-Bu)₃P (4 equiv.) and [Rh(coe)₂Cl]₂ gave the best yield for hydroboration of terminal or internal alkenes.     

Rhodium(I)/cationic 2,2′-bipyridyl-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes with alkynes in water under air

A simply performed procedure for the [Rh(cod)Cl]₂/cationic 2,2′-bipyridyl system-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes with terminal and internal alkynes was achieved in water under air at 60 °C. The reaction proceeded smoothly with 1 equiv α,ω-diynes and 3 equiv alkynes in the presence of 20 mol % KOH for 1 h or 9 h, resulting in the formation of tri- and tetra-substituted benzene derivatives in moderate to high yields. After separation of the organic products by extraction, the residual aqueous solution could be reused for further reactions until complete degradation of its catalytic activity.     

Efficient synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes in an aqueous-organic system using a versatile and recyclable Rh/m-TPPTC catalyst

We have found that the use of [Rh(cod)OH]₂ associated with the water-soluble ligand m-TPPTC was highly efficient for the Rh-catalyzed arylation of alkynes. Aryl and alkyl alkynes were transformed to alkenes using 3 mol % rhodium catalyst and 2.5 equiv of boronic acid at 100 °C in a biphasic water/toluene system in 80-99% yield. The reaction was found to be totally regioselective for alkyl arylalkynes and alkyl silylated alkynes. The Rh/m-TPPTC system was for the first time recycled with no loss of the activity and with excellent purity of the desired alkene.     

Efficient and selective alkylation of arenes and heteroarenes with benzyl and allyl ethers using a Ir/Sn bimetallic catalyst

A high-valent heterobimetallic catalyst namely [Ir₂(COD)₂(SnCl₃)₂(Cl)₂(μ-Cl)₂] (5 mol %), or dual catalyst system of [Ir(COD)Cl]₂ (1 mol %) and SnCl₄ (4 mol %), promotes the benzylation or allylation of arenes and heteroarenes using ethers as the alkylating agents. An electrophilic mechanism is proposed from a Hammett correlation.     

Some phosphinite complexes of Rh and Ir, their intramolecular reactivity and DFT calculations about their application in biphenyl metathesis

Biphen(OPR₂) (with R: Ph, iPr, Cy) is reacted with [Rh(COE)₂Cl]₂. The corresponding μ-chloro-bridged dimers are received. An X-ray analysis of [Biphen(OPCy₂)RhCl]₂ is included. This compound shows a dynamic behaviour in solution, ascribed to a monomer/dimer equilibrium. The difference of the Biphen ligands to Milsteins PCP pincer-type ligand is shown. A catalytic cycle for biphenyl metathesis containing the coupling of oxidative addition and reductive elimination of the bridging C-C single bond in the biphenyl fragment using Rh^I/III complexes and the concept of chelating assistance was calculated using DFT (B3PW91/LANL2DZ). According to the calculations the activation energy of the oxidative addition is about 30 kcal/mol and for the reductive elimination about 19 kcal/mol. The fac-Rh^III complex is by far the most stable compound, but the formation of it is kinetically strongly disfavoured. Pre-catalysts (COD)M(Ph-O-PR₂) (M: Rh, Ir) were synthesized by pre-coordinating the phosphinite to the metal (X-ray structures of four such compounds included) followed by treatment with 2 equiv. of sec. BuLi (X-ray structures of two such compounds included). In case of Ir this synthesis is complicated by C-H activation (X-ray structure of (COD)Ir(H)(Cl)(2-Br-phenyl-O-(diisopropylphosphinite)) included) and fast oxidative addition of the Ph-C-Halide bond. For (COD)Ir(H)(Cl)(2-phenyl-O-(diisopropylphosphinite)) the C-H activation is reversible and thermodynamic parameters for the ring closure reaction were determined by VT-NMR measurement (ΔH = −21.1 ± 0.5 kJ/mol, ΔS = −62.8 ± 1.7 J/(mol K)). The pre-catalysts were reacted with Biphen(OPR₂) to enter the calculated catalytic cycle. With Rh as center metal this reaction works out cleanly to give new complexes with the three P-atoms coordinated to one Rh center. No hemi-labile character was found for these P-donors even at 105 °C in toluene. If (COD)Rh(2-phenyl-O-(diisopropylphosphinite)) is reacted with 2 equiv. of 2-iodo-phenyl-O-(diisopropylphosphinite) oxidative addition of one C-Iodo bond is observed and the corresponding mer-Rh^III complex is received. Upon treatment with 2 equiv. of sec. BuLi the resulting product is(Biphen(OPiPr₂))Rh^I(2-phenyl-O-(diisopropylphosphinite)) rather than mer-Rh^III(2-phenyl-O-(diisopropylphosphinite))₃. Reaction of [Rh(COD)Cl]₂ with 3 equiv. of 2-bromo-phenyl-O-(diphenylphosphinite) shows a fast scrambling of the chlorine into all possible ortho positions of the phenolate rings in the final Rh^III reaction product.     

Synthesis,characterization and antimalarial activity of new iridium–chloroquine complexes

Chloroquine base (CQ) reacts with [Ir(COD)Cl]₂ and IrCl₃ · 3H₂O to yield of Ir(CQ)Cl(COD) (1) and Ir₂Cl₆(CQ) · 3H₂O (2), respectively. Reaction of [Ir(COD)Cl]₂ with CQ in the presence of NH₄PF₆ leaded to [Ir(CQ)(Solv)₂]PF₆ (3). The three new iridium–CQ complexes were characterized by a combination of elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopies and evaluated in vitro against Plasmodium beghei. Comparison of the IC₅₀ values obtained with the experimental compounds with that determined for chloroquine diphosphate indicated a higher activity for complex 2, while complexes 1 and 3 showed a similar and lower activity, respectively.     

Terminal and Bridging Parent Amido 1,5‐Cyclooctadiene Complexes of Rhodium and Iridium

The ready availability of rare parent amido d⁸ complexes of the type [{M(μ‐NH₂)(cod)}₂] (M=Rh ( 1 ), Ir ( 2 ); cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) through the direct use of gaseous ammonia has allowed the study of their reactivity. Both complexes 1 and 2 exchanged the di‐olefines by carbon monoxide to give the dinuclear tetracarbonyl derivatives [{M(μ‐NH₂)(CO)₂}₂] (M=Rh or Ir). The diiridium(I) complex 2 reacted with chloroalkanes such as CH₂Cl₂ or CHCl₃, giving the diiridium(II) products [(Cl)(cod)Ir(μ‐NH₂)₂Ir(cod)(R)] (R=CH₂Cl or CHCl₂) as a result of a two‐center oxidative addition and concomitant metal–metal bond formation. However, reaction with ClCH₂CH₂Cl afforded the symmetrical adduct [{Ir(μ‐NH₂)(Cl)(cod)}₂] upon release of ethylene. We found that the rhodium complex 1 exchanged the di‐olefines stepwise upon addition of selected phosphanes (PPh₃, PMePh₂, PMe₂Ph) without splitting of the amido bridges, allowing the detection of mixed COD/phosphane dinuclear complexes [(cod)Rh(μ‐NH₂)₂Rh(PR₃)₂], and finally the isolation of the respective tetraphosphanes [{Rh(μ‐NH₂)(PR₃)₂}₂]. On the other hand, the iridium complex 2 reacted with PMe₂Ph by splitting the amido bridges and leading to the very rare terminal amido complex [Ir(cod)(NH₂)(PMePh₂)₂]. This compound was found to be very reactive towards traces of water, giving the more stable terminal hydroxo complex [Ir(cod)(OH)(PMePh₂)₂]. The heterocyclic carbene IPr (IPr=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene) also split the amido bridges in complexes 1 and 2 , allowing in the case of iridium to characterize in situ the terminal amido complex [Ir(cod)(IPr)(NH₂)]. However, when rhodium was involved, the known hydroxo complex [Rh(cod)(IPr)(OH)] was isolated as final product. On the other hand, we tested complexes 1 and 2 as catalysts in the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone with iPrOH without the use of any base or in the presence of Cs₂CO₃, finding that the iridium complex 2 is more active than the rhodium analogue 1 .     

Synthesis of enol and vinyl esters catalyzed by an iridium complex

Enol and vinyl esters were successfully synthesized by the use of an iridium complex as a catalyst. The reaction of carboxylic acids with terminal alkynes in the presence of catalytic amounts of [Ir(cod)Cl]₂ and Na₂CO₃ gave the corresponding 1-alkenyl esters. The addition of carboxylic acids to alkynes principally took place in the Markovnikov fashion. In addition, by the use of an Ir complex combined with NaOAc various vinyl esters were prepared through the transvinylation between carboxylic acids and vinyl acetate.     

Exohedral functionalization vs. core expansion of siliconoids with Group 9 metals: catalytic activity in alkene isomerization

Taking advantage of pendant tetrylene side-arms, stable unsaturated Si₆ silicon clusters (siliconoids) with the benzpolarene motif (the energetic counterpart of benzene in silicon chemistry) are successfully employed as ligands towards Group 9 metals. The pronounced σ-donating properties of the tetrylene moieties allow for sequential oxidative addition and reductive elimination events without complete dissociation of the ligand at any stage. In this manner, either covalently linked or core-expanded metallasiliconoids are obtained. [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂ inserts into an endohedral Si–Si bond of the silylene-functionalized hexasilabenzpolarene leading to an unprecedented coordination sphere of the Rh centre with five silicon atoms in the initial product, which is subsequentially converted to a simpler derivative under reconstruction of the Si₆ benzpolarene motif. In the case of [Ir(cod)Cl]₂ (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) a similar Si–Si insertion leads to the contraction of the Si₆ cluster core with concomitant transfer of a chlorine atom to a silicon vertex generating an exohedral chlorosilyl group. Metallasiliconoids are employed in the isomerization of terminal alkenes to 2-alkenes as a catalytic benchmark reaction, which proceeds with competitive selectivities and reaction rates in the case of iridium complexes.

Unprecedented metallasiliconoids are accessible from a silylene-substituted Si₆ siliconoid and Group 9 metal fragments. The isomerization of terminal alkenes to 2-alkenes is competitively catalyzed by these species ( = silicon).     

Polymerization of 3‐ethynylthiophene with homogeneous and heterogeneous Rh catalysts

3‐Ethynylthiophene (3ETh) was polymerized with Rh(I) complexes: [Rh(cod)acac], [Rh(nbd)acac], [Rh(cod)Cl]₂, and [Rh(nbd)Cl]₂ (cod is η²:η²‐cycloocta‐1,5‐diene and nbd η²:η²‐norborna‐2,5‐diene), used as homogeneous catalysts and with the last two complexes anchored on mesoporous polybenzimidazole (PBI) beads: [Rh(cod)Cl]₂/PBI and [Rh(nbd)Cl]₂/PBI used as heterogeneous catalysts. All tested catalyst systems give high‐cis poly(3ETh). In situ NMR study of homogeneous polymerizations induced with [Rh(cod)acac] and [Rh(nbd)acac] complexes has revealed: (i) a transformation of acac ligands into free acetylacetone (Hacac) occurring since the early stage of polymerization, which suggests that this reaction is part of the initiation, (ii) that the initiation is rather slow in both of these polymerization systems, and (iii) a release of cod ligand from [Rh(cod)acac] complex but no release of nbd ligand from [Rh(nbd)acac] complex during the polymerization. The stability of diene ligand binding to Rh‐atom in [Rh(diene)acac] catalysts remarkably affects only the molecular weight but not the yield of poly(3ETh). The heterogeneous catalyst systems also provide high‐cis poly(3ETh), which is of very low contamination with catalyst residues since a leaching of anchored Rh complexes is negligible. The course of heterogeneous polymerizations is somewhat affected by limitations arising from the diffusion of monomer inside catalyst beads. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2776–2787, 2008     

Synthesis, characterization and reactivity of tribenzylphosphine rhodium and iridium complexes

New rhodium and iridium complexes, with the formula [MCl(PBz₃)(cod)] [M = Rh (1), Ir (2)] and [M(PBz₃)₂(cod)]PF₆ [M = Rh (3), Ir (4)] (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene), stabilized by the tribenzylphosphine ligand (PBz₃) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic methods. The molecular structures of 1 and 2 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The addition of pyridine to a methanol solution of 1or 2, followed by metathetical reaction with NH₄PF₆, gave the corresponding derivatives [M(py)(PBz₃)(cod)]PF₆ [M = Rh (5), Ir (6)]. At room temperature in CHCl₃ solution, 4 converted spontaneously to the ortho-metallated complex [IrH(PBz₃)(cod){η²-P,C-(C₆H₄CH₂)PBz₂}]PF₆ (7) as a mixture of cis/trans isomers via intramolecular C-H activation of a benzylic phenyl ring. The reaction of 3 or 4 with hydrogen in coordinating solvents gave the dihydrido bis(solvento) derivative [M(H)₂(S)₂(PBz₃)₂]PF₆ (M = Rh, Ir; S = acetone, acetonitrile, THF), that transformed into the corresponding dicarbonyls [M(H)₂(CO)₂(PBz₃)₂]PF₆ by treatment with CO. Analogous cis-dihydrido complexes [M(H)₂(THF)₂(py)(PBz₃)₂]PF₆ (M = Rh, Ir) were observed by reaction of the py derivatives 5 and 6 with H₂.     

Rhodium and iridium complexes of N-heterocyclic carbenes: Structural investigations and their catalytic properties in the borylation reaction

Bridged and unbridged N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands are metalated with [Ir/Rh(COD)₂Cl]₂ to give rhodium(I/III) and iridium(I) mono- and biscarbene substituted complexes. All complexes were characterized by spectroscopy, in addition [Ir(COD)(NHC)₂][Cl,I] [COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene, NHC =  1,3-dimethyl- or 1,3-dicyclohexylimidazolin-2-ylidene] (1, 4), and the biscarbene chelate complexes 12 [(η⁴-1,5-cyclooctadiene)(1,1′-di-n-butyl-3,3′-ethylene-diimidazolin-2,2′-diylidene)iridium(I) bromide] and 14 [(η⁴-1,5-cyclooctadiene)(1,1′-dimethyl-3,3′-o-xylylene-diimidazolin-2,2′-diylidene)iridium(I) bromide] were characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis. The relative σ-donor/π-acceptor qualities of various NHC ligands were examined and classified in monosubstituted NHC-Rh and NHC-Ir dicarbonyl complexes by means of IR spectroscopy. For the first time, bis(carbene) substituted iridium complexes were used as catalysts in the synthesis of arylboronic acids starting from pinacolborane and arene derivatives.     

Oxidative Coordination versus C3−C(O)Me Bond Cleavage in Acetylacetonate Iridium Complexes

Iridabicycles [Ir{κ³-N,C,O-(pyC(H)=C(C(O)Me)₂}(Cl)(L−L)](L−L=cod (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene), 1 a ; bipy (bipy=2,2’-bipyridine), 1 b ) have been obtained by oxidative coordination of 3-(pyridine-2-yl-methylene)pentane-2,4-dione L1 , to the complexes [{Ir(μ-Cl)(cod)}₂] and [{Ir(μ-Cl)(coe)₂}₂] (coe=cis-cyclooctene), the latter in the presence of bipy. Remarkably, cleavage of the C³−C(O)Me bond of L1 has instead been achieved in the reaction with [Ir(Cl)(dmb)₂] (dmb=2,3-dimethylbutadiene), yielding a compound formulated as [Ir{κ²-N,C-(pyC(H)C(C(O)Me))}(CO)(μ-Cl)(Me)]₂, 2 . Treatment of dimer 2 with DMSO or PMe₃ produced the complexes[Ir{κ²-N,C-(pyC(H)C(C(O)Me)}(CO)Cl(Me)L] (L=DMSO, 3 a ; PMe₃, 3 b ). Plausible mechanisms for the reactions leading to complexes 1 and 2 are proposed by means of DFT calculations.     

Ruthenium complexes of the general formula [RuCl2(PHOX)2] and their catalytic activity in the Mukaiyama aldol reaction

New ruthenium phosphinooxazoline (PHOX) complexes were synthesized and applied in the Mukaiyama aldol reaction. Four ruthenium complexes of the general formula [RuCl₂(PHOX)₂] were synthesized from [RuCl₂(dmso)₄] and the corresponding PHOX ligands through thermal ligand exchange. Two of the complexes were characterized structurally. Achiral PHOX ligands gave the ruthenium complexes as single isomers, whereas chiral PHOX ligands gave a mixture of isomers and also some incomplete substitution. After activation by chloride abstraction, one of the new ruthenium complexes was applied as catalyst in the Mukaiyama aldol reaction to give silyl-protected β-hydroxyl alcohols in 74–92% isolated yields (room temperature, 18–24 h reaction time, 1 mol % catalyst loading).     

Iridium-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of α,ω-diynes with alkynyl ketones and alkynyl esters

We found that the combination of [Ir(cod)Cl]₂ and rac-BINAP served as an efficient catalyst for the [2+2+2] cycloaddition of 2,7-nonadiyne derivatives and related compounds with alkynyl ketones and alkynyl esters. The corresponding products were obtained in high yields under mild reaction conditions.     

Imine hydrogenation catalyzed by iridium complexes comprising monodentate chiral phosphoramidites and N-donor ligands

The relatively inexpensive chiral monodentate phosphoramidite (S)-MONOPHOS may be used in combination with pyridines to prepare iridium complexes effective for catalysis of asymmetric imine hydrogenation with comparable enantioselectivity to some of those containing more costly chiral bidentate phosphines. [Ir(cod)((S)-MONOPHOS)(L)]BArF (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene; L = 3-methylisoquinoline, acridine, 2,6-lutidine, acetonitrile, or 2,3,3-trimethylindolenine; BArF = tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate) are efficient catalysts for the asymmetric hydrogenation of 2,3,3-trimethylindolenine. An important observation is that the catalyst containing acridine is more enantioselective than the catalyst derived from 2,3,3-trimethylindolenine which suggests that the other N-donor ligands are not readily displaced by the substrate during the catalytic cycle.     

Quinoline-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of iridium: Synthesis, structures and catalytic activities in transfer hydrogenation

Iridium complexes containing quinoline-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have been synthesized by the transmetalation route from silver carbene precursors. The silver complexes undergo a facile reaction with [Ir(COD)Cl]₂ (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) to yield a series of carbene complexes [(NHC)Ir(COD)Cl] (NHC = 3-methyl-1-(8-quinolylmethyl)imidazole-2-ylidene (2a); 3-n-butyl-1-(8-quinolylmethyl)imidazole-2-ylidene (2b); 3-benzyl-1-(8-quinolylmethyl)imidazole-2-ylidene (2c); 1,3-di(8-quinolylmethyl)imidazole-2-ylidene (2d). The coordinated COD was replaced by carbon monoxide to yield the corresponding carbonyl species [(NHC)Ir(CO)₂Cl] (3). Complexes 2 and 3 have been characterized by IR, ESI-MS, ¹H and ¹³C NMR and elemental analyses. The molecular structures of complexes 2b and 2c have been confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Two analogous Ir(I) complexes 5 and 6 with naphthalene-containing NHC have also been synthesized and characterized. These Ir(I) complexes in the current work have been proved to be active catalysts in the transfer hydrogenation of ketones to alcohols using 2-propanol as the hydrogen source.     

Graphene oxide nanosheets supported manganese(III) porphyrin: a highly efficient and reusable biomimetic catalyst for epoxidation of alkenes with sodium periodate

Efficient epoxidation of alkenes catalyzed by tetrakis(p-aminophenyl)porphyrinatomanganese(III) chloride, [Mn(TNH₂PP)Cl], supported on graphene oxide nanosheets, is reported. The catalyst, [Mn(TNH₂PP)Cl]@GO, was prepared by covalent attachment of amino groups of porphyrin to carboxylic acid groups of GO. This new heterogenized catalyst was characterized by ICP, FT-IR and diffuse reflectance UV–vis spectroscopies, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. This catalyst was applied as an efficient and reusable catalyst in the epoxidation of alkenes with NaIO₄ at room temperature, in the presence of imidazole as axial ligand. The most noteworthy advantage of [Mn(TNH₂PP)Cl]@GO is its high reusability in the oxidation reactions, in which the catalyst was reused several times without significant loss of its catalytic activity.     

Insertion of nitrene and chalcogenolate groups into the Ir-C σ bond in a cyclometalated iridium(III) complex

Treatment of [Cp∗Ir(ppy)Cl] (Cp∗ = η⁵-C₅Me₅, ppyH = 2-(2-pyridyl)phenyl) with Ag(OTf) (OTf⁻ = triflate) in MeOH and MeCN gave the solvento complexes [Cp∗Ir(ppy)(solv)][OTf] (solv = MeOH (1) and MeCN (2)). Complex 1 is capable of catalyzing oxidation and azirdination of styrene with PhIO and PhINTs (Ts = tosyl), respectively. Treatment of 2 with a stoichiometric amount of PhINTs resulted in the insertion of the NTs group into the Ir-C(ppy) bond and formation of [Cp∗Ir(η²-ppy-NTs)(MeCN)][OTf] (3). Treatment of 1 with R₂E₂ afforded [Cp∗Ir(ppy)(η¹-R₂E₂)][OTf] (E = S (4), Se (5), Te (6)). Reactions of 4 and 5 with Ag(OTf) resulted in cleavage of the E-E bond and insertion of an ER group into the Ir-C(ppy) bond. The crystal structures of complexes 2-6 and [Cp∗Ir(η²-ppy-S-p-tol)(H₂O)][OTf]₂ have been determined.     

Iridium Complexes of 2,2′‐Bidipyrrins

The reaction of [{Ir(cod)(μ‐Cl)}₂] and K₂CO₃ or of [{Ir(cod)(μ‐OMe)}₂] alone with the non‐natural tetrapyrrole 2,2′‐bidipyrrin (H₂BDP) yields, depending on the stoichiometry, the mononuclear complex [Ir(cod)(HBDP)] or the homodinuclear complex [{Ir(cod)}₂(BDP)]. Both complexes react readily with carbon monoxide to yield the species [Ir(CO)₂(HBDP)] and [{Ir(CO)₂}₂(BDP)], respectively. The results from NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction reveal different conformations for the tetrapyrrolic ligand in both complexes. The reaction of [{Ir(coe)₂(μ‐Cl)}₂] with H₂BDP proceeds differently and yields the macrocyclic [4e^?,2H⁺]‐oxidized product [IrCl₂(9‐Meic)] (9‐Meic = monoanion of 9‐methyl‐9,10‐isocorrole), which can be addressed as an iridium analog of cobalamin.