Inversion of the direction of stereoinduction in the coupling of chiral gamma,delta-unsaturated Fischer carbene complexes with o-ethynylbenzaldehyde

[reaction: see text] A variety of gamma,delta-unsaturated carbene complexes that feature a stereogenic center at the beta-carbon couple with 2-ethynylbenzaldehyde to afford hydrophenanthrene derivatives with a high degree of stereoinduction. The direction of stereoinduction is opposite for examples where the stereogenic center is acyclic vs examples where it is within a ring.     

Generation of reactive species by one-electron reduction of Fischer-type carbene complexes of group 6 metals and their use for carbon-carbon bond formation

Carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions mediated by one-electron reduction of Fischer-type carbene complexes of Group 6 metals were investigated. In the case of aryl- or silylcarbene complexes of tungsten, the anion radical species generated by one-electron reduction smoothly underwent addition reaction to ethyl acrylate. One-electron reduction of alpha,beta-unsaturated carbene complexes afforded biscarbene complexes by dimerization of the corresponding anion radical species at the position gamma to the metal center. In contrast, one-electron reduction of chromium phenyl- or alkylcarbene complexes gave, via carbonyl insertion, alpha-methoxyacylchromate complexes, which further underwent conjugate addition to various electron-poor olefins to give the corresponding alpha-methoxyketones.     

Redox noninnocence of carbene ligands: carbene radicals in (catalytic) C-C bond formation

In this Forum contribution, we highlight the radical-type reactivities of one-electron-reduced Fischer-type carbenes. Carbene complexes of group 6 transition metals (Cr, Mo, and W) can be relatively easily reduced by an external reducing agent, leading to one-electron reduction of the carbene ligand moiety. This leads to the formation of "carbene-radical" ligands, showing typical radical-type reactivities. Fischer-type carbene ligands are thus clearly redox-active and can behave as so-called "redox noninnocent ligands". The "redox noninnocence" of Fischer-type carbene ligands is most clearly illustrated at group 9 transition metals in the oxidation state II+ (Co(II), Rh(II), and Ir(II)). In such carbene complexes, the metal effectively reduces the carbene ligand by one electron in an intramolecular redox process. As a result, the thus formed "carbene radicals" undergo a variety of radical-type C-C and C-H bond formations. The redox noninnocence of Fischer-type carbene ligands is not just a chemical curiosity but, in fact, plays an essential role in catalytic cyclopropanation reactions by cobalt(II) porphyrins. This has led to the successful development of new chiral cobalt(II) porphyrins as highly effective catalysts for asymmetric cyclopropanation with unprecedented reactivity and stereocontrol. The redox noninnocence of the carbene intermediates results in the formation of carbene-radical ligands with nucleophilic character, which explains their effectiveness in the cyclopropanation of electron-deficient olefins and their reduced tendency to mediate carbene dimerization. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first example in which the redox noninnocence of a reacting ligand plays a key role in a catalytic organometallic reaction. This Forum contribution ends with an outlook on further potential applications of one-electron-activated Fischer-type carbenes in new catalytic reactions.     

Pd-catalyzed inter- and intramolecular carbene transfer from group 6 metal-carbene complexes.

The use of group 6 metal-carbene complexes in inter- and intramolecular carbene transfer reactions has been studied. Thus, pentacarbonyl[(aryl)(methoxy)carbene]chromium(0) and tungsten complexes, 10, efficiently dimerize at room temperature in the presence of diverse Pd(0) and Pd(II)/Et(3)N catalysts. The effect of additives (PPh(3), AsPh(3), or SbPh(3)) on the nature and the isomeric ratio of the reaction products is negligible. The nature of the reaction products is more catalyst-dependent for metal carbenes 12 bearing alkyl groups attached to the carbene carbon. In these cases, either carbene ligand dimerization or beta-hydrogen elimination reactions are observed, depending on the catalyst. The carbene ligand dimerization reaction can be used to prepare conjugated polyenes, including those having metal moieties at both ends of the polyene system, as well as enediyne derivatives. The intramolecular carbene ligand dimerization of chromium bis-carbene complexes 28 and 30 allows the preparation of mono- and bicyclic derivatives, with ring sizes from six to nine members. For bis-carbene derivatives the beta-hydrogen elimination reaction is inhibited, provided that both metal centers are tethered by an o-xylylene group. Other alkyl complexes 32 form new mononuclear carbene complexes 37 or decompose to complex reaction mixtures. The results obtained in these reactions may be explained by transmetalation from Cr(0) to Pd(0) and the intermediacy of Pd-carbene complexes. Aminocarbene-chromium(0) complexes 15, need harsher reaction conditions to transfer the carbene ligand, and this transfer occurs only in the presence of deactivated olefins. The corresponding insertion/hydrolysis products 48 resulted in these cases. A catalytic cycle involving transmetalation from a chromacyclobutane to a palladacyclobutane is proposed to explain these results.     

Iron in the service of chromium: the ortho-benzannulation of trans,trans-dienyl Fischer carbene complexes

Chromium Fischer carbene complexes with trans,trans-dienyl substituents on the carbene carbon will react with diiron nonacarbonyl to give 2-alkoxycyclohexa-2,4-dienone iron tricarbonyl complexes and/or 2-alkoxyphenols in excellent yields. In the presence of silica gel or base, the cyclohexadienone complex will suffer loss of the iron and aromatization to give 2-alkoxyphenols. The formation of 2-alkoxyphenols from dienyl chromium carbene complexes is a known process (ortho-benzannulation) that only occurs with certain cis,trans-dienyl complexes. Control experiments show that trans,trans-dienyl chromium carbene complexes do not undergo conversion to 2-alkoxyphenols in the absence of an iron source. The process most likely occurs either via coordination of the dienyl unit in the chromium carbene complex to an iron tricarbonyl group and then loss of the chromium or via direct trans-metalation of the carbene ligand to give an iron carbene complex and then internal coordination to the dienyl unit such that cis to trans isomerization of the alpha,beta-double bond occurs.     

Unexpected reaction pathways in the reaction of alkoxyalkynylchromium(0) carbenes with aromatic dinucleophiles

Thermal- or SiO(2)-induced reactions of the Michael adducts of 1,2-aromatic dinucleophiles and alkynylchromium(0) carbene complexes, compounds 7-10, form different products in good yields depending on the nature of the aromatic dinucleophile used. Thus, 1,2-diaminobenzene derivatives 7 and 8 rearrange to pentacarbonylchromium(0) isocyanide complexes 11, 12, 14, and 15 in a process that occurs through bicyclic intermediates 24. Adducts 9 derived from o-aminophenol give 2,3-dihydro-1,5-benzoxazepine derivatives 17 by intramolecular 1,2-addition, followed by protonation at the chromium center and reductive elimination. In contrast, base-promoted addition of the phenolic hydroxy group in compound 9 a affords 3-ethoxy-5-phenyl-5,6-dihydro-2H-1,6-benzoxazocin-2-one (18), together with the expected adduct 17 a. Compound 18 is formed by a nucleophilic addition to a CO ligand in a preformed carbene complex. This is a new example of the rare attack of a nucleophile on a CO ligand in a Fischer carbene complex. Adducts 10 form seven-membered-ring carbene complexes 19 and 20 by intramolecular aminolysis. In contrast, reaction of alkynyl carbene complexes with 1,8-diaminonaphthalene under very mild conditions leads to 2-substituted perimidines 33 together with the corresponding ethoxymethylmetal carbene complex 32 through an unprecedented fragmentation process in a formal retro-Aumann reaction.     

PtBr2-catalyzed transformation of allyl(o-ethynylaryl)carbinol derivatives into functionalized indenes. Formal sp3 C-H bond activation

The PtBr2-catalyzed reaction of 1-ethynyl-2-(1-alkoxybut-3-enyl)benzenes at 120 degrees C in CH3CN gave functionalized indenes in good to allowable yields. Most probably, the hydrogen at the terminal alkyne is transferred to the adjacent internal beta-carbon to form an (eta2-vinylidene)platinum carbene intermediate, which activates the sp3 C-H bond at the benzylic carbon. This reaction pathway is supported by DFT calculations which suggest that the formation of the Pt-vinylidene complex is the rate-limiting stage for the whole transformation.     

Kinetic and density functional studies on alkyl-carbene elimination from Pd(II) heterocylic carbene complexes: a new type of reductive elimination with clear implications for catalysis.

A number of new methyl-Pd(II) complexes of heterocyclic carbenes of the form [PdMe(tmiy)L(2)]BF(4) have been prepared, and their reaction behavior has been studied (tmiy = 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazolin-2-ylidene, L = cyclooctadiene (8), methyldiphenylphosphine (9), triphenyl phosphite (10), triphenylphosphine (11)). In common with other hydrocarbyl-M carbene complexes (M = Pd, Ni) the complexes are predisposed to a facile decomposition process. A detailed mechanism for the process and of the decomposition pathway followed is presented herein. All complexes decompose with first-order kinetics to yield 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and Pd(0) species. The kinetic investigations combined with density functional studies show that the complexes decompose via a mechanism of concerted reductive elimination of the methyl group and carbene. The reaction represents a new type of reductive elimination from transition metals and also represents a low-energy pathway to catalyst deactivation for catalysts based on heterocyclic carbenes. The theoretical studies indicate extensive involvement of the p(pi) orbital on the carbene carbon in the transition structure. Methods of stabilizing catalysts based on heterocyclic carbene complexes are suggested, and the possibility of involvement of carbene species during catalysis in ionic liquids is discussed.     

Electronic structure of alkoxychromium(0) carbene complexes: a joint TD-DFT/experimental study

The joint computational (TD-DFT) experimental study of the UV-vis spectroscopy of alkoxychromium(0) carbene complexes accurately assigns the vertical transitions responsible for the observed spectra of these compounds. Both the LF and the MLCT band have a remarkably pi-pi* character, which has been demonstrated by the strong dependence of the absorptions with the donor/acceptor nature of the substituent in p-substituted styrylchromium(0) carbene complexes. The effect of the substituent is also related with the equilibrium geometry of the complexes and the occupations of the p atomic orbital of the carbene carbon atom. Additionally, the ferrocenyl moiety behaves in chromium(0) (Fischer) carbene complexes as a pi-donor group.     

Efficient transfer hydrogenation of ketones in the presence of ruthenium N-heterocyclic carbene catalysts

Novel ruthenium carbene complexes have been in situ generated and tested for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones. Applying Ru(cod)(methylallyl)₂ in the presence of imidazolium salts in 2-propanol and sodium-2-propanolate as base, turnover frequencies up to 346 h⁻¹ have been obtained for reduction of acetophenone. A comparative study involving ruthenium carbene and ruthenium phosphine complexes demonstrated the higher activity of ruthenium carbene complexes.     

Asymmetric dearomatization of the furan ring promoted by conjugate organolithium addition to (menthyloxy)(3-furyl)carbene complexes of chromium

The sequential low-temperature addition reaction of an organolithium compound and methyl triflate to (menthyloxy)(3-furyl)carbene complexes of chromium and tungsten proceeded with excellent regioselectivity (1,4-addition) and diastereoselectivity (2,3-trans disposition of the nucleophile and electrophile groups) to afford new 2,3-disubstituted (2,3-dihydro-3-furyl)carbene complexes. In addition, a high degree of diastereofacial selectivity was achieved by employing alkenyllithium compounds. After detachment of both the metal fragment and the chiral auxiliary group, trisubstituted 2,3-dihydrofuran derivatives containing a quaternary stereogenic center at the C3 position were obtained. The characterization, including X-ray crystallography, of a novel type of stable four-membered chelate (eta(2)-alkene)tetracarbonylcarbene complex of chromium is also reported.     

Study of the ESI-mass spectrometry ionization mechanism of Fischer carbene complexes

By means of deuterium-labeling experiments, we have carried out a systematic ESI-MS study to determine the mechanism of ESI ionization of alkenyl and alkynyl group 6 Fischer carbene complexes. These compounds can be ionized under ESI conditions only in the presence of additives such as hydroquinone (HQ) or tetrathiafulvalene (TTF). Our results demonstrate that in the ESI source an anion-radical is formed after the initial HQ- or TTF-mediated electron transfer to the metallic carbene complex. For alkenyl carbene complexes, this species evolves by extrusion of a hydrogen radical to form an allenylchromium anion that is detected as the [M - H](-) ion in the mass spectrum. The preference for this mechanistic pathway could be rationalized by DFT calculations. In the case of alkynyl carbene complexes, experiments combining deuterated substrate, additive, and solvent demonstrate that the previously proposed allene-anion carbene complex is not formed. Instead, the H transfer from the ethoxy group in the anion radical, followed by extrusion of a hydrogen radical, leads to an allenyl anion that is detected in the ESI-MS as [M - H - CO](-).     

Density functional computations of the cyclopropanation of ethene catalyzed by iron (II) carbene complexes Cp(CO)(L)FeCHR,L = CO,PMe3, R = Me,OMe, ph,CO2Me

Density functional theory has been used to study the Fe‐catalyzed cyclopropanation of Fe‐carbene complexes with ethene. All the intermediates and transition states were optimized completely at the B3LYP/6‐31+G(d,p) level. Calculation results confirm that the cyclopropanation of Fe‐carbene complexes with ethene involves the two reaction paths I and II . In the reaction path I , the double bond of ethene attacks directly on the carbene carbon of Fe‐carbene complexes to generate the cyclopropane. In the reaction path II , ethene substitution for PMe₃ or CO in the Fe‐carbene complexes leads to the complexes M2 ; and the attack of one carbon of ethene on the carbene carbon results in the complexes M3 with a Fe? C? C? C four‐membered ring, and then generates the cyclopropane via the elimination reaction. For Fe‐carbene complexes A , C , D , E , and H , the main reaction mode is the reaction path I ; for Fe‐carbene complexes B , F , and G , the main reaction mode is the reaction path II . © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

New Fischer carbene complexes of rhodium(i): preparation and 2-cyclopentenone ring synthesis by annelation to alkynes

A new type of metal carbene complexes of group 9, specifically a cationic Fischer carbene of rhodium(I), has been synthesized from chromium carbene complexes via double transfer of carbene and CO ligands. These complexes reveal a different reactivity than other transition metal carbenes, including their chromium precursors, toward neutral and electron-poor alkynes, giving selectively polysubstituted cyclopentenones.     

Group 6 heteroatom- and non-heteroatom-stabilized carbene complexes. beta,beta'- and alpha,beta,beta'-annulation reactions of cyclic enamines

Cyclization reactions of group 6 Fischer carbene complexes with cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone enamines are described. Enamine 3a undergoes thermal alpha,beta,beta'-annulation with alkenylcarbene complexes 1 and 2 (THF, 60 degrees C), affording semibullvalenes 5. The metalate intermediates 6, resulting from beta,beta'-annulation of the enamines 3a and 4a, were quantitatively formed by running the reaction in hexane at room temperature. Acid-promoted demetalation of 6 afforded endo-2-bicyclo[3.2.1]octen-8-ones 7 and endo/exo-2-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonen-9-ones 8 (endo/exo = 5:1). Using (S)-methoxymethylpyrrolidine-derived enamines 3b and 4b,c allowed highly enantioenriched cycloadducts endo-(+)-7 as well as endo-(-)-8 and exo-(-)-8 to be accessed. The non-heteroatom-stabilized carbene complex 10 was formed from complex 6 by Me(3)SiOTf-promoted elimination of the methoxy group, characterized by (13)C NMR, and transformed into the organic compounds 7, 7-d, and 11 as well as into bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2,8-diones 14 and cycloheptanones 15. On the basis of this sequence, enantioenriched cycloheptanones (+)-15 were efficiently prepared in one pot from carbene complexes 2 and enamine 3b (51-55% yield, 91-96% ee). Extension of this work to simple Fischer carbene complexes 16 allowed an appropriate way to generate the nonstabilized pentacarbonyl[(phenyl(alkyl)carbene]tungsten complex 17 to be designed, for which the thermal and chemical behavior leading to compounds 18-21 is described.     

Easy synthesis of heterocyclic carbene complexes by activation of chalcogenopyrones and benzopyrones to pyrylium salts and subsequent addition of carbanion of methoxy(methyl)pentacarbonyltungsten carbene complex

Methylenechalcogenopyran and benzopyran Fischer carbene complexes are easily obtained from commercially available chalcogenopyrones or benzopyrones and carbanion of methoxy(methyl)carbene tungsten complex. The key of the heterocyclic carbene formation is the activation of the carbonyl group by alkylation with alkyl trifluoromethanesulfonate reagent.     

Photoreactions of 3-diazo-3H-benzofuran-2-one; dimerization and hydrolysis of its primary photoproduct, a quinonoid cumulenone: a study by time-resolved optical and infrared spectroscopy

Light-induced deazotization of 3-diazo-3H-benzofuran-2-one (1) in solution is accompanied by facile (CO)-O bond cleavage yielding 6-(oxoethenylidene)-2,4-cyclohexadien-1-one (3), which appears with a rise time of 28 ps. The expected Wolff-rearrangement product, 7-oxabicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-trien-8-ylidenemethanone (4), is not formed. The efficient light-induced formation of the quinonoid cumulenone 3 opens the way to determine the reactivity of a cumulenone in solution. The reaction kinetics of 3 were monitored by nanosecond flash photolysis with optical (lambda(max) approximately 460 nm) as well as Raman (1526 cm(-1)) and IR detection (2050 cm(-)(1)). Remarkably, the reactivity of 3 is that expected from its valence isomer, the cyclic carbene 3H-benzofuran-2-one-3-ylidene, 2. In aqueous solution, acid-catalyzed addition of water forms the lactone 3-hydroxy-3H-benzofuran-2-one (5). The reaction is initiated by protonation of the cumulenone on its beta-carbon atom. In hexane, cumulenone 3 dimerizes to isoxindigo ((E)-[3,3']bibenzofuranylidene-2,2'-dione, 7), coumestan (6H-benzofuro[3,2-c][1]benzopyran-6-one, 8), and a small amount of dibenzonaphthyrone ([1]benzopyrano[4,3-][1]benzopyran-5,11-dione, 9) at a nearly diffusion-controlled rate. Ab initio calculations (G3) are consistent with the observed data. Carbene 2 is predicted to have a singlet ground state, which undergoes very facile, strongly exothermic (irreversible) ring opening to the cumulenone 3. The calculated barrier to formation of 4 (Wolff-rearrangement) is prohibitive. DFT calculations indicate that protonation of 3 on the beta-carbon is accompanied by cyclization to the protonated carbene 2H(+), and that dimerization of 3 to 7 and 9 takes place in a single step with negligible activation energy.     

Stereoselective formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition of N-alkylidene glycine ester anions to chiral Fischer alkenylcarbene complexes. Asymmetric synthesis of 3,4,5-trisubstituted prolines

The reaction between N-alkylidene glycine ester enolates, generated from glycine esters aldimines with LDA in THF at low temperature, and chiral alkoxyalkenylcarbene complexes of chromium provided directly 2,4,5-trisubstituted-3-pyrrolidinylcarbene complexes with total exo selectivity and very high syn and facial diastereoselectivity when carbene complexes bearing the (-)-8-phenylmenthyloxy group were employed. Oxidation of the metal carbene moiety followed by basic hydrolysis of the esters afforded enantiomerically highly enriched syn,exo-3,4,5-trisubstituted prolines, whereas acidic hydrolysis of the same functional groups proceeded with epimerization at the alpha-amino acid center leading to anti,exo-3,4,5-trisubstituted prolines of very high enantiomeric purity as well.     

Bis-phosphorus stabilised carbene complexes

The stabilisation of the carbene centre in a complex can be achieved either by the metal moiety or the carbon substituents. The balance between these two stabilising effects determines the nature of the M=C bond and therefore the reactivity of the metal complexes. Introducing two vicinal phosphorus groups as substituents of the carbene centre proved to be rewarding, since depending on the coordination number of this atom different electronic properties are observed. Indeed, a sigma(3)-P atom possesses a lone pair that can interact with a carbene centre by destabilising its vacant p(pi) orbital. On the contrary a sigma(4)-P group presents low lying sigma* orbitals which can be involved in delocalising electronic density in the carbene p(pi) orbital by negative hyperconjugation. Therefore, PCP carbene complexes can exhibit either an electrophilic or nucleophilic reactivity depending on the nature of the phosphorus group and the metal centre. Carbenes complexes of early and late transition metals, but also of lanthanides are discussed in this perspective.     

Group 10 metal complexes of meso-aryl-substituted [26]hexaphyrins with a metal-carbon bond

Nickel(II), palladium(II), and platinum(II) complexes of meso-aryl-substituted [26]hexaphyrin have been prepared and structurally characterized. In mono-metalated complexes, the metal ion is commonly bound with three pyrrolic nitrogen atoms and one pyrrolic beta-carbon, whereas a bis-Pd(II) complex exhibits a unique structure involving a Pd-C(alpha) bond. These results reveal novel coordination abilities of the hexaphyrin that lead to a metal-carbon bond at either pyrrolic C(beta) or C(alpha) position.