Aggregation and Degradation of White Phosphorus Mediated by N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Nickel(0) Complexes

The reaction of zerovalent nickel compounds with white phosphorus (P₄) is a barely explored route to binary nickel phosphide clusters. Here, we show that coordinatively and electronically unsaturated N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) nickel(0) complexes afford unusual cluster compounds with P₁, P₃, P₅ and P₈ units. Using [Ni(IMes)₂] [IMes=1,3‐bis(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene], electron‐deficient Ni₃P₄ and Ni₃P₆ clusters have been isolated, which can be described as superhypercloso and hypercloso clusters according to the Wade–Mingos rules. Use of the bulkier NHC complexes [Ni(IPr)₂] or [(IPr)Ni(η⁶‐toluene)] [IPr=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene] affords a closo‐Ni₃P₈ cluster. Inverse‐sandwich complexes [(NHC)₂Ni₂P₅] (NHC=IMes, IPr) with an aromatic cyclo‐P₅^? ligand were identified as additional products.     

Triptycene‐Based Chiral and meso‐N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands and Metal Complexes

Based on 1‐amino‐4‐hydroxy‐triptycene, new saturated and unsaturated triptycene‐NHC (N‐heterocyclic carbene) ligands were synthesized from glyoxal‐derived diimines. The respective carbenes were converted into metal complexes [(NHC)MX] (M=Cu, Ag, Au; X=Cl, Br) and [(NHC)MCl(cod)] (M=Rh, Ir; cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) in good yields. The new azolium salts and metal complexes suffer from limited solubility in common organic solvents. Consequently, the introduction of solubilizing groups (such as 2‐ethylhexyl or 1‐hexyl by O‐alkylation) is essential to render the complexes soluble. The triptycene unit infers special steric properties onto the metal complexes that enable the steric shielding of selected areas close to the metal center. Next, chiral and meso‐triptycene based N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands were prepared. The key step in the synthesis of the chiral ligand is the Buchwald–Hartwig amination of 1‐bromo‐4‐butoxy‐triptycene with (1S,2S)‐1,2‐diphenyl‐1,2‐diaminoethane, followed by cyclization to the azolinium salt with HC(OEt)₃. The analogous reaction with meso‐1,2‐diphenyl‐1,2‐diaminoethane provides the respective meso‐azolinium salt. Both the chiral and meso‐azolinium salts were converted into metal complexes including [(NHC)AuCl], [(NHC)RhCl(cod)], [(NHC)IrCl(cod)], and [(NHC)PdCl(allyl)]. An in situ prepared chiral copper complex was tested in the enantioselective borylation of α,β‐unsaturated esters and found to give an excellent enantiomeric ratio (er close to 90:10).     

Cyclometalated Gold(III) Complexes Containing N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands Engage Multiple Anti‐Cancer Molecular Targets

Metal N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes are a promising class of anti‐cancer agents displaying potent in vitro and in vivo activities. Taking a multi‐faceted approach employing two clickable photoaffinity probes, herein we report the identification of multiple molecular targets for anti‐cancer active pincer gold(III) NHC complexes. These complexes display potent and selective cytotoxicity against cultured cancer cells and in vivo anti‐tumor activities in mice bearing xenografts of human cervical and lung cancers. Our experiments revealed the specific engagement of the gold(III) complexes with multiple cellular targets, including HSP60, vimentin, nucleophosmin, and YB‐1, accompanied by expected downstream mechanisms of action. Additionally, Pt^II and Pd^II analogues can also bind the cellular proteins targeted by the gold(III) complexes, uncovering a distinct pincer cyclometalated metal–NHC scaffold in the design of anti‐cancer metal medicines with multiple molecular targets.     

Oxidation and β‐Alkylation of Alcohols Catalysed by Iridium(I) Complexes with Functionalised N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands

The borrowing hydrogen methodology allows for the use of alcohols as alkylating agents for C?C bond forming processes offering significant environmental benefits over traditional approaches. Iridium(I)‐cyclooctadiene complexes having a NHC ligand with a O‐ or N‐functionalised wingtip efficiently catalysed the oxidation and β‐alkylation of secondary alcohols with primary alcohols in the presence of a base. The cationic complex [Ir(NCCH₃)(cod)(MeIm(2‐ methoxybenzyl))][BF₄] (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene, MeIm=1‐methylimidazolyl) having a rigid O‐functionalised wingtip, shows the best catalyst performance in the dehydrogenation of benzyl alcohol in acetone, with an initial turnover frequency (TOF₀) of 1283 h^?1, and also in the β‐alkylation of 2‐propanol with butan‐1‐ol, which gives a conversion of 94 % in 10 h with a selectivity of 99 % for heptan‐2‐ol. We have investigated the full reaction mechanism including the dehydrogenation, the cross‐aldol condensation and the hydrogenation step by DFT calculations. Interestingly, these studies revealed the participation of the iridium catalyst in the key step leading to the formation of the new C?C bond that involves the reaction of an O‐bound enolate generated in the basic medium with the electrophilic aldehyde.     

Syntheses,Structures, and Properties of Phosphorescent Iridium(III) Complexes Containing N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands

The organic salts 1‐(2‐pyridylmethyl)‐3‐alkylbenzimidazolium halide (pm‐RbH ⁺X⁻) and 1‐(2‐pyridylmethyl)‐3‐alkylimidazolium halide (pm‐R′iH ⁺X′⁻) were prepared (where R = 4‐, 3‐, 2‐fluorobenzyl ( 4f , 3f , and 2f , respectively), 4‐, 3‐, 2‐chlorobenzyl ( 4c , 3c , and 2c , respectively); 4‐methoxybenzyl (4mo); 2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluorobenzyl (f₅); benzyl (b); and methyl (m)); X = Cl and Br; R′ = benzyl (b) and methyl (m); and X′ = Cl and I. From these salts, heteroleptic Ir(III ) complexes containing one N ‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC ) ligand [Ir(κ²‐ppy)₂(κ²‐(pm‐Rb))]PF₆ (R = 4f, 1 (PF₆ ); 3f, 2 (PF₆ ); 2f, 3 (PF₆ ); f₅b, 4 (PF₆ ); 4c, 5 (PF₆ ); 3c, 6 (PF₆ ); 2c, 7 (PF₆ ); 4mo, 8 (PF₆ ); b, 9 (PF₆ ); m, 10 (PF₆ )) and [Ir(κ²‐ppy)₂(κ²‐(pm‐R′i))]PF₆ (R = b, 11 (PF₆ ); m, 12 (PF₆ )), were synthesized, and the crystal structures of 1 (PF₆ ), 2 (PF₆ ), 3 (PF₆ ), 5 (PF₆ ), 6 (PF₆ ), 7 (PF₆ ), 9 (PF₆ ), 10 (PF₆ ), and 12 (PF₆ ) were determined by X‐ray diffraction. The neutral NHC ligands 1‐(2‐pyridylmethyl)‐3‐alkylbenzimidazolin‐2‐ylidene (pm‐Rb) and 1‐(2‐pyridylmethyl)‐3‐alkylimidazolin‐2‐ylidene (pm‐R′i) of all cations were found to be involved in the intermolecular π−π stacking interactions with the surrounding cations in the solid state, thereby probably influencing the photophysical behavior in the solid state and in solution. The absorption and emission properties of all the complexes show only small variations.     

Dinuclear Zinc Hydride Supported by an Anionic Bis(N‐Heterocyclic Carbene) Ligand

Methylene‐linked bis(N,N′‐di‐tert‐butylimidazol‐2‐ylidene) 1 reacted with diethylzinc to give dinuclear zinc ethyl compound 2 , which contains a formally anionic bis(carbene) ligand as a result of deprotonation of the methylene bridge. The reaction of 2 with PhSiH₃ gave the phenylsilyl compound 3 . The zinc hydride 4 was obtained by the reaction of 2 with LiAlH₄ or Ph₃SiOH followed by treatment with PhSiH₃. X‐ray diffraction studies show that compounds 2 , 3 , and 4 all have a similar dimeric structure with D_2h symmetry. The reaction of hydride 4 with carbon dioxide and N,N′‐diisopropylcarbodiimide gave formato ( 5 ) and formamidinato ( 7 ) derivatives as a result of the insertion of the heterocumulene into both Zn? H bonds. Reaction with Ph₂CO gave the diphenylmethoxy compound 6 . Hydride 4 shows catalytic activity in the hydrosilylation of 1,1‐diphenylethylene and methanolysis of silanes.     

Large yet Flexible N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands for Palladium Catalysis

A straightforward and scalable eight‐step synthesis of new N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) has been developed from inexpensive and readily available 2‐nitro‐m‐xylene. This process allows for the preparation of a novel class of NHCs coined ITent (“Tent” for “tentacular”) of which the well‐known IMes (N,N′‐bis(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene), IPr (N,N′‐bis(2,6‐di(2‐propyl)phenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene) and IPent (N,N′‐bis(2,6‐di(3‐pentyl)phenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene) NHCs are the simplest and already known congeners. The synthetic route was successfully used for the preparation of three members of the ITent family: IPent (N,N′‐bis(2,6‐di(3‐pentyl)phenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene), IHept (N,N′‐bis(2,6‐di(4‐heptyl)phenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene) and INon (N,N′‐bis(2,6‐di(5‐nonyl)phenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene). The electronic and steric properties of each NHC were studied through the preparation of both nickel and palladium complexes. Finally the effect of these new ITent ligands in Pd‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura and Buchwald–Hartwig cross‐couplings was investigated.     

Tricarbonylrhenium(I) Complexes with N‐Heterocyclic Thiones and Selenols

Reactions of (NEt₄)₂[Re(CO)₃Br₃] with N‐heterocyclic thiols such as 2‐mercaptobenzimidazole (H₂Sbenzim), 2‐mercaptothiazoline (HSthiaz), or 5‐mercapto‐1‐methyltetrazole (HSmetetraz) give rhenium(I) complexes of various compositions: (NEt₄)[Re(CO)₃Br₂(H₂Sbenzim)], [Re(CO)₃(HSthiaz)₃]Br, and (NEt₄)[Re₂(CO)₆(μ‐S‐Smetetraz‐κS)(μ‐N,S‐Smetetraz‐κS,N)₂]. Corresponding reactions with 2‐mercaptopyridine (HSpy) and bis(2‐pyridine)diselenide [(Sepy)₂] did not give defined products in reasonable yields, whereas [Re(CO)₅Br] reacts with HSpy and (Sepy)₂ with formation of [Re(CO)₃(HSpy)₃]Br and [Re₂(CO)₆(Sepy)₂], respectively. All reactions were performed without the addition of a supporting base and the sulfur‐containing organic ligands are coordinated in their thione forms with the exception of Smetetraz^– in its μS‐bridging coordination mode in (NEt₄)[Re₂(CO)₆(μ‐S‐Smetetraz‐κS)(μ‐N,S‐Smetetraz‐κS,N)₂], which can be regarded as thiolate. The bonding mode of the selenium containing ligands in the dimeric compound [Re₂(CO)₆(Sepy)₂] (C–Se distance: 1.93 Å) can also best be described as selenolate. The products are stable on air at an ambient temperature. They were studied spectroscopically and by X‐ray diffraction.     

Water‐Soluble Luminescent Cyclometalated Gold(III) Complexes with cis‐Chelating Bis(N‐Heterocyclic Carbene) Ligands: Synthesis and Photophysical Properties

A new class of cyclometalated Au^III complexes containing various bidentate C‐deprotonated C^N and cis‐chelating bis(N‐heterocyclic carbene) (bis‐NHC) ligands has been synthesized and characterized. These are the first examples of Au^III complexes supported by cis‐chelating bis‐NHC ligands. [Au(C^N)(bis‐NHC)] complexes display emission in solutions under degassed condition at room temperature with emission maxima (λ_max) at 498–633 nm and emission quantum yields of up to 10.1 %. The emissions are assigned to triplet intraligand (IL) π→π* transitions of C^N ligands. The Au^III complex containing a C^N (C‐deprotonated naphthalene‐substituted quinoline) ligand with extended π‐conjugation exhibits prompt fluorescence and phosphorescence of comparable intensity with λ_max at 454 and 611 nm respectively. With sulfonate‐functionalized bis‐NHC ligand, four water‐soluble luminescent Au^III complexes, including those displaying both fluorescence and phosphorescence, were prepared. They show similar photophysical properties in water when compared with their counterparts in acetonitrile. The long phosphorescence lifetime of the water‐soluble AuIII complex with C‐deprotonated naphthalene‐substituted quinoline ligand renders it to function as ratiometric sensor for oxygen. Inhibitory activity of one of these water‐soluble Au^III complexes towards deubiquitinase (DUB) UCHL3 has been investigated; this complex also displayed a significant inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ value of 0.15 μM .     

Color‐Tunable Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence of Ruthenium N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes

Ru(II) complexes 1 – 3 bearing various N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands were synthesized, and their photophysical, electrochemical, and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) properties were discussed to evaluate a potential of their use as multicolor ECL labels. Interestingly, they exhibited ECL emission ranging from greenish‐yellow to red both in nonaqueous and mixed aqueous solutions, which might show the potential of the Ru(II) complexes as multicolor ECL labels.     

A Chemical–Biological Evaluation of Rhodium(I) N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes as Prospective Anticancer Drugs

Rhodium(I) complexes bearing N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have been widely used in catalytic chemistry, but there are very few reports of biological properties of these organometallics. A series of Rh^I‐NHC derivatives with 1,5‐cyclooctadiene and CO as secondary ligands were synthesized, characterized, and biologically investigated as prospective antitumor drug candidates. Pronounced antiproliferative effects were noted for all complexes, along with moderate inhibitory activity of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and efficient binding to biomolecules (DNA, albumin). Biodistribution studies showed that the presence of albumin lowered the cellular uptake and confirmed the transport of rhodium into the nuclei. Changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were observed as well as DNA fragmentation in wild‐type and daunorubicin‐ or vincristine‐resistant Nalm‐6 leukemia cells. Overall, these studies indicated that Rh^I‐NHC fragments could be used as partial structures of new antitumor agents, in particular in those drugs designed to address resistant malignant tissues.     

Ferrocenyl‐Coupled N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes of Gold(I): A Successful Approach to Multinuclear Anticancer Drugs

Four gold(I) carbene complexes featuring 4‐ferrocenyl‐substituted imidazol‐2‐ylidene ligands were investigated for antiproliferative and antivascular properties. They were active against a panel of seven cancer cell lines, including multidrug‐resistant ones, with low micromolar or nanomolar IC₅₀ (72 h) values, according to their lipophilicity and cellular uptake. The delocalized lipophilic cationic complexes 8 and 10 acted by increasing the reactive oxygen species in two ways: through a genuine ferrocene effect and by inhibiting the thioredoxin reductase. Both complexes gave rise to a reorganization of the F‐actin cytoskeleton in endothelial and melanoma cells, associated with a G1 phase cell cycle arrest and a retarded cell migration. They proved antiangiogenic in tube formation assays with endothelial cells and vascular‐disruptive on real blood vessels in the chorioallantoic membrane of chicken eggs. Biscarbene complex 10 was also tolerated well by mice where it led to a volume reduction of xenograft tumors by up to 80 %.