Synthesis and Reactivity of a CAAC–Aminoborylene Adduct: A Hetero‐Allene or an Organoboron Isoelectronic with Singlet Carbenes

A one‐electron reduction of a cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC)–bis(trimethylsilyl)aminodichloroborane adduct leads to a stable aminoboryl radical. A second one‐electron reduction gives rise to a CAAC–aminoborylene adduct, which features an allenic structure. However, in manner similar to that of stable electrophilic singlet carbenes, this compound activates small molecules, such as CO and H₂.     

Reactivity of a Frustrated Lewis Pair and Small‐Molecule Activation by an Isolable Arduengo Carbene?B{3,5‐(CF3)2C6H3}3 Complex

Tris[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borane reacts with the sterically demanding Arduengo carbenes 1,3‐di‐tert‐butylimidazolin‐2‐ylidene and 1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene to form isolable normal adducts. In the case of 1,3‐di‐tert‐butylimidazolin‐2‐ylidene, the adduct exhibits dynamic behaviour in solution and frustrated‐Lewis‐pair (FLP) reactivity. Fast cleavage of dihydrogen and THF, the C? H activation of phenylacetylene, and carbon dioxide fixation were achieved by using solutions of this adduct in benzene. This adduct is stable at room temperature in the absence of suitable substrates; however, thermal rearrangement into an abnormal carbene–borane adduct can be observed. In contrast, the 1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene adduct exhibits no evidence of FLP reactivity or of dissociation in solution. DFT calculations confirmed the experimental behaviour and stability of these carbene–borane adducts.     

Oxidative Addition at a Carbene Center: Synthesis of an Iminoboryl–CAAC Adduct

The reaction of a cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) with dichloro‐ and dibromobis(trimethylsilyl)aminoborane results in the formation of haloiminoborane–CAAC adducts. When the iodo analogue is used, an oxidative addition at the carbene center affords a cationic iminoboryl–CAAC adduct, featuring a boron–nitrogen triple bond. Similar salts are also obtained by halide abstraction from the chloro‐ and bromoiminoborane–CAAC adducts. The reactivity of all of these compounds towards CO₂ is discussed.     

Crystalline BP‐Doped Phenanthryne via Photolysis of The Elusive Boraphosphaketene

The synthesis and reactivity study of the first isolable boraphosphaketene, cyclic(alkyl)(amino) carbene (CAAC)‐borafluorene‐P=C=O ( 2 ), is described. Photolysis of compound 2 results in the formation of CAAC‐stabilized BP‐doped phenanthryne ( 3 ) through tandem decarbonylation, monoatomic phosphide insertion, and ring‐expansion. Notably, while BN‐doped phenanthryne was previously discussed as a reactive intermediate which could not be isolated, the heavier BP‐doped analogue exhibits remarkable solution and solid‐state stability. The reactivity of 2 with stable carbenes was also explored. Addition of CAAC to 2 led to migration of the original CAAC ligand from boron to phosphorus and coordination of the added CAAC to carbon, affording compound 4 . Reaction of 1,3‐diisopropyl‐4,5‐dimethylimidazol‐2‐ylidene (NHC) with 2 resulted in N?C bond activation to give the unusual spiro‐heterocyclic compound ( 5 ).     

Cyclic (Alkyl)(Amino)Carbene Complexes of Rhodium and Nickel and Their Steric and Electronic Parameters

N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) and cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes (CAACs) are of great interest, as their electronic and steric properties provide a unique class of ligands and organocatalysts. Herein, substitution reactions involving novel carbonyl complexes of rhodium and nickel were studied to provide a deeper understanding of the fundamental electronic factors characterizing CAAC^methyl, which were compared with the large array of data available for NHC and sterically more demanding CAAC ligands.     

N‐Heterocyclic Olefin–Carbon Dioxide and –Sulfur Dioxide Adducts: Structures and Interesting Reactivity Patterns

Depending on the amount of methanol present in solution, CO₂ adducts of N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) and N‐heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) have been found to be in fully reversible equilibrium with the corresponding methyl carbonate salts [EMIm][OCO₂Me] and [EMMIm][OCO₂Me]. The reactivity pattern of representative 1‐ethyl‐3‐methyl‐NHO–CO₂ adduct 4 has been investigated and compared with the corresponding NHC–CO₂ zwitterion: The protonation of 4 with HX led to the imidazolium salts [NHO–CO₂H][X], which underwent decarboxylation to [EMMIm][X] in the presence of nucleophilic catalysts. NHO–CO₂ zwitterion 4 can act as an efficient carboxylating agent towards CH acids such as acetonitrile. The [EMMIm] cyanoacetate and [EMMIm]₂ cyanomalonate salts formed exemplify the first C?C bond‐forming carboxylation reactions with NHO‐activated CO₂. The reaction of the free NHO with dimethyl carbonate selectively led to methoxycarbonylated NHO, which is a perfect precursor for the synthesis of functionalized ILs [NHO–CO₂Me][X]. The first NHO‐SO₂ adduct was synthesized and structurally characterized; it showed a similar reactivity pattern, which allowed the synthesis of imidazolium methyl sulfites upon reaction with methanol.     

Multinuclear NMR studies and ab initio structure calculations of hindered phencyclone diels‐alder adducts from symmetrical cyclic dienophiles: Cyclohexene,vinylene carbonate,vinylene trithiocarbonate and two N‐aryl maleimides

A series of hindered Diels‐Alder adducts have been prepared from phencyclone, 1 , with various unusual symmetrical cyclic dienophiles, including cyclohexene, 2a ; vinylene carbonate, 2b ; vinylene trithiocarbonate, 2c ; and the N‐aryl maleimides: N‐(4‐dimethylamino‐3,5‐dinitrophenyl)maleimide (“Tuppy's maleimide”), 2d ; and N‐[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]maleimide, 2e . The highly hindered adducts, 3a‐e , respectively, were extensively characterized by one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR methods, observing proton, carbon‐13 and fluorine‐19. High resolution COSY45 spectra permitted rigorous proton NMR assignments. The 2D heteronuclear C‐H chemical shift correlation spectra (HETCOR, XHCORR) were obtained for adducts 3a‐d , allowing specific assignments for protonated carbons. Corrections to earlier proton NMR assignments for the vinylene carbonate adduct are given; results of the gated decoupling ¹³C NMR experiment for this adduct supported endo adduct stereochemistry. Relative proton chemical shifts for bridgehead phenyls of adduct 3c appeared anomalous relative to other adducts, suggesting possible special anisotropic interactions (with endocyclic sulfur or other anisotropic groups in the product) due to the unusual calculated orientation of the phenyls. The unsubstituted bridgehead phenyls in all adducts were shown to exhibit slow exchange limit (SEL) ¹H and ¹³C spectra on the NMR timescales at ambient temperatures (7 tesla) showing slow rotations about the C(sp³)‐C(aryl sp²) bonds. The rapid rotation of the N‐aryl rings of the maleimide adducts was indicated by fast exchange limit spectra, suggesting that ortho substitution of the N‐aryl ring may be necessary to slow this rotation to the SEL regime. Ab initio geometry optimizations at the Hartree‐Fock level were carried out for each adduct, with the 6‐31G* basis sets. Appreciable geometry differences were seen in calculated structures, and significant NMR chemical shift differences were experimentally observed, depending on the nature of the groups attached to the (Z)‐HC=CH moiety of the dienophiles.     

Ru–η6‐Arene Cations [{(Ph2PC6H4)2B(η6‐Ph)}RuX]+ (X=Cl,H) as Lewis Acids

The reactivity of [{(Ph₂PC₆H₄)₂B(η⁶‐Ph)}RuCl][B(C₆F₅)₄] ( 1 ) as a Lewis acid was investigated. Treatment of 1 with mono and multidentate phosphorus Lewis bases afforded the Lewis acid–base adducts with the ortho‐carbon atom of the coordinated arene ring. Similar reactivity was observed upon treatment with N‐heterocyclic carbenes; however, adduct formation occurred at both ortho‐ and para‐carbon atoms of the bound arene with the para‐position being favoured by increased steric demands. Interestingly treatment with isocyanides resulted in adduct formation with the B‐centre of the ligand framework. The hydride‐cation [{(Ph₂PC₆H₄)₂B(η⁶‐Ph)}RuH] [B(C₆F₅)₄] was prepared via reaction of 1 with silane. This species in the presence of a bulky phosphine behaves as a frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) to activate H₂ between the phosphorus centre and the ortho‐carbon atom of the η⁶‐arene ring.     

Quantum chemical study on enantioselective reduction of keto oxime ether with borane catalyzed by oxazaborolidine. Part 2. Structures of catalyst‐alkoxyborane adduct with a four‐membered ring and succeeding reaction intermediates

Quantum chemical ab initio computations of the structures and properties of oxazaborolidine‐alkoxyborane adduct with a B? N? B? O four‐membered ring and succeeding reaction intermediates are carried out in the current work by means of the Hartree–Fock (HF) and the density functional methods. All the structures are optimized completely at the HF/6‐31G(d) and Becke's three‐parameter exchange functional and the gradient‐corrected functional of Lee, Yang, and Paar (B3LYP)/6‐31G(d) levels. As shown in the obtained results, the oxazaborolidine‐alkoxyborane adduct with a B? N? B? O four‐membered ring may be formed during the reduction of the carbonyl bond of the catalyst‐borane‐keto oxime ether adduct. The breakdown of the B? N? B? O four‐membered ring results in the formation of the adduct with a B? N? B? O? C? C? N seven‐membered ring and an oxime bond. The reduction of the oxime bond leads to the adduct with a chiral oxime carbon. The B(2)? N_{C? N} bond in the B? N? B? O? C? C? N seven‐membered ring of the adduct with a reduced oxime bond is weaker comparatively and thus may be more easily broken down. All the adducts have four stable structures. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 93: 294–306, 2003     

Diboryldiborenes: π‐Conjugated B4 Chains Isoelectronic to the Butadiene Dication

B(sp²)–B(sp³) diborane species based on bis(catecholato)diboron and N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) underwent catechol/bromide exchange selectively at the sp³‐hybridized boron atom. The reduction of the resulting 1,1‐dibromodiborane adducts led to reductive coupling and isolation of doubly NHC‐stabilized 1,2‐diboryldiborenes. These compounds are the first examples of molecules exhibiting π‐electron delocalization over an all‐boron chain.     

Late‐Transition‐Metal Complexes as Tunable Lewis Bases

Syntheses of the first heteroleptic N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)–phosphane platinum(0) complexes and formation of the corresponding Lewis acid–base adducts with aluminum chloride is reported. The influence of N‐heterocyclic carbenes on tuning the Lewis basic properties of the metal complexes was judged from spectroscopic, structural, and computational data. Conclusive experimental evidence for the enhanced Lewis basicity of NHC‐containing complexes was provided by a transfer reaction.     

Diborabutatriene: An Electron‐Deficient Cumulene

The complexation of two equivalents of a cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) to tetrabromodiborane, followed by reduction with four equivalents of sodium naphthalide, led to the formation of the CAAC‐stabilized linear diboracumulene (CAAC)₂B₂. The capacity of the CAAC ligand to facilitate B₂→CAAC donation of π‐electron density resulted in important differences between this species and a previously reported complex featuring a B?B triple bond stabilized by cyclic di(amino)carbenes, including a longer B? B bond and shorter B? C bonds. Frontier orbital analysis indicated sharing of valence electrons across the entire linear C‐B‐B‐C unit in (CAAC)₂B₂, which is supported by natural population analysis and cyclic voltammetry.     

Distribution of the methyl radical adduct of N‐benzylidene‐1‐diethoxyphosphoryl‐1‐methylethylamine N‐oxide‐type nitrones in water–sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles: an electron paramagnetic resonance spin trapping study

The behavior of the methyl radical adduct of six β‐phosphorylated nitrones in the N‐benzylidene‐1‐diethoxyphosphoryl‐1‐methylethylamine N‐oxide series in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles was followed by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Except when the highly hydrophilic trap 4‐PyOPN (2) was used, all the adducts were found to partition significantly between micelles and the bulk aqueous phase. The average correlation time τ of the exchange of spin adducts between SDS micelles and water was found to be in the range 5 × 10^?8—4 × 10^?7 s, which is in the region of the life time of an SDS monomer in the micelle structure. In each case, the adduct affinity for the micelles has been quantified by evaluating its micelle–water distribution coefficient K_d. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantum chemical study on enantioselective reduction of aromatic ketones catalyzed by chiral cyclic sulfur‐containing oxazaborolidines. Part 1. Structures and properties of catalysts

The ab initio molecular orbital method is employed to study the structures and properties of chiral cyclic sulfur‐containing oxazaborolidine, as a catalyst, and its borane adducts. All the structures are optimized completely by means of the Hartree–Fock method at 6‐31g* basis sets. The catalyst is a twisted chair structure and reacts with borane to form four plausible catalyst–borane adducts. Borane–sulfur adducts may be formed, but they barely react with aromatic ketone to form catalyst–borane–ketone adducts, because they are repulsed greatly by the atoms arising from the chair rear of the catalyst with a twisted chair structure. Borane–N adduct has the largest formation energy and is predicted to react easily with aromatic ketone to form catalyst–borane–ketone adducts. The formation of the catalyst–borane adducts causes the B_BH3 H_BH3 bond lengths of the BH₃ moiety to be increased and thus enhances the activity of the enantioselective catalytic reduction. The borane–N adduct is of great advantage to hydride transfer. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 78: 245–251, 2000     

Theoretical and Structural Analysis of Long CC Bonds in the Adducts of Polycyanoethylene and Anthracene Derivatives and Their Connection to the Reversibility of Diels–Alder Reactions

X‐ray structure determinations on four Diels–Alder adducts derived from the reactions of cyano‐ and ester‐substituted alkenes with anthracene and 9,10‐dimethylanthracene have shown the bonds formed in the adduction to be particularly long. Their lengths range from 1.58 to 1.62 Å, some of the longest known for Diels–Alder adducts. Formation of the four adducts is detectably reversible at ambient temperature and is associated with free energies of reaction ranging from ?2.5 to ?40.6 kJ mol^?1. The solution equilibria have been experimentally characterised by NMR spectroscopy. Density‐functional‐theory calculations at the MPW1K/6‐31+G(d,p) level with PCM solvation agree with experiment with average errors of 6 kJ mol^?1 in free energies of reaction and structural agreement in adduct bond lengths of 0.013 Å. To understand more fully the cause of the reversibility and its relationship to the long adduct bond lengths, natural‐bond‐orbital (NBO) analysis was applied to quantify donor–acceptor interactions within the molecules. Both electron donation into the σ*‐anti‐bonding orbital of the adduct bond and electron withdrawal from the σ‐bonding orbital are found to be responsible for this bond elongation.     

Dihydroxyacetone Phosphate Aldolase Catalyzed Synthesis of Structurally Diverse Polyhydroxylated Pyrrolidine Derivatives and Evaluation of their Glycosidase Inhibitory Properties

The chemoenzymatic synthesis of a collection of pyrrolidine‐type iminosugars generated by the aldol addition of dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) to C‐α‐substituted N‐Cbz‐2‐aminoaldehydes derivatives, catalyzed by DHAP aldolases is reported. L ‐Fuculose‐1‐phosphate aldolase (FucA) and L ‐rhamnulose‐1‐phosphate aldolase (RhuA) from E. coli were used as biocatalysts to generate configurational diversity on the iminosugars. Alkyl linear substitutions at C‐α were well tolerated by FucA catalyst (i.e., 40–70 % conversions to aldol adduct), whereas no product was observed with C‐α‐alkyl branched substitutions, except for dimethyl and benzyl substitutions (20 %). RhuA was the most versatile biocatalyst: C‐α‐alkyl linear groups gave the highest conversions to aldol adducts (60–99 %), while the C‐α‐alkyl branched ones gave moderate to good conversions (50–80 %), with the exception of dimethyl and benzyl substituents (20 %). FucA was the most stereoselective biocatalyst (90–100 % anti (3R,4R) adduct). RhuA was highly stereoselective with (S)‐N‐Cbz‐2‐aminoaldehydes (90–100 % syn (i.e., 3R,4S) adduct), whereas those with R configuration gave mixtures of anti/syn adducts. For iPr and iBu substituents, RhuA furnished the anti adduct (i.e., FucA stereochemistry) with high stereoselectivity. Molecular models of aldol products with iPr and iBu substituents and as complexes with the RhuA active site suggest that the anti adducts could be kinetically preferred, while the syn adducts would be the equilibrium products. The polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines generated were tested as inhibitors against seven glycosidases. Among them, good inhibitors of α‐L ‐fucosidase (IC₅₀=1–20 μM ), moderate of α‐L ‐rhamnosidase (IC₅₀=7–150 μM ), and weak of α‐D ‐mannosidase (IC₅₀=80–400 μM ) were identified. The apparent inhibition constant values (K_i) were calculated for the most relevant inhibitors and computational docking studies were performed to understand both their binding capacity and the mode of interaction with the glycosidases.     

Synthesis and deblocking of cardanol‐ and anacardate‐blocked toluene diisocyanates

Methyl anacardate and secondary butyl anacardate were prepared from anacardic acid and corresponding alcohols and were used, in addition to cardanol, as blocking agents for 2,4‐toluene diisocyanate (TDI). Blocked diisocyanate adducts were characterized via nitrogen estimation, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The deblocking temperatures of the adducts were determined using an FTIR spectrophotometer in conjunction with the carbon dioxide evolution method. The gel times of hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene–TDI adducts also were determined. Deblocking temperature and gel time analyses revealed that cardanol‐blocked 2,4‐TDI deblocks at a lower temperature and at a higher rate compared with anacardate‐blocked adducts. In addition, it was found that the electron‐withdrawing ester group reduces the deblocking temperature of the adduct only when it is in solvated form. All adducts were waxy solids that were found to be soluble in polyether polyol, polyester polyol, and polyhydrocarbon polyols. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4047–4055, 2004     

Single and Consecutive Cyclization Reactions of Alkynyl Carbene Complexes and 8‐Azaheptafulvenes: Direct Access to Polycyclic Pyrrole and Indole Derivatives

The reactivity of alkynyl and enynyl Fischer carbene complexes towards 8‐azaheptafulvenes is examined. Alkynyl carbenes 1 a – f undergo regioselective [8+2] heterocyclization with 8‐aryl‐8‐azaheptafulvenes 2 a , b providing cycloheptapyrroles 3 and 4 with metal carbene or ester functionality at C3. Moreover, consecutive cyclization reactions are involved when enynyl carbenes are used. Thus, the cyclopenta[b]pyrrole framework 7 is formed by the consecutive [8+2] cyclization and cyclopentannulation reactions. The initially formed cyclopentannulation adduct can be intercepted through a Diels–Alder reaction with classic dienophiles to afford increasing structural complexity (compounds 8 and 9 ). More importantly, the construction of the indole skeleton is accomplished with a high degree of substitution and functionalization (compounds 11 – 15 ) by a one‐pot sequence that involves [8+2] cyclization, R? NC or CO insertion, and ring closure.     

NHC‐CAAC Heterodimers with Three Stable Oxidation States

The synthesis of N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)–cyclic (alkyl)(amino) carbene (CAAC) heterodimers is presented. As the free carbenes do not react together in solution, the synthetic approach involves the addition of a free NHC to a cyclic iminium salt, which results in the formation of the protonated heterodimer. Subsequent deprotonation leads to the isolation of the corresponding mixed Wanzlick dimers. One‐ and two‐electron oxidations of these triazaolefins result in the formation of stable cationic radicals and bis(cations), respectively, which have been isolated and fully characterized. Cyclic voltammetry, UV/Vis spectroscopy, spin density, and DFT calculations suggest that these heterodimers feature complementary electronic properties to tetrathiafulvalenes (TTFs).     

Asymmetric Diels–Alder and Inverse‐Electron‐Demand Hetero‐Diels–Alder Reactions of β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Ketoesters with Cyclopentadiene Catalyzed by N,N′‐Dioxide Copper(II) Complex

Highly enantioselective Diels–Alder (DA) and inverse‐electron‐demand hetero‐Diels–Alder (HDA) reactions of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters with cyclopentadiene catalyzed by chiral N,N′‐dioxide–Cu(OTf)₂ (Tf=triflate) complexes have been developed. Quantitative conversion of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters and excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1) and enantioselectivities (up to >99 % ee) were observed for a broad range of substrates. Both aromatic and aliphatic β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters were found to be suitable substrates for the reactions. Moreover, the chemoselectivity of the DA and HDA adducts were improved by regulating the reaction temperature. Good to high chemoselectivity (up to 94 %) of the DA adducts were obtained at room temperature, and moderate chemoselectivity (up to 65 %) of the HDA adducts were achieved at low temperature. The reaction also featured mild reaction conditions, a simple procedure, and remarkably low catalyst loading (0.1–1.5 mol %). A strong positive nonlinear effect was observed.