Synthesis, properties and complexation of (pS)-1-isocyano-2-methylferrocene, the first planar-chiral isocyanide ligand

Reaction of enantiomerically pure, planar-chiral (_pS)-1-bromo-2-methylferrocene (1) with phthalimide in the presence of Cu₂O produces (_pS)-1-phthalimido-2-methylferrocene (2), quantitative reduction of which with hydrazine hydrate affords (_pS)-1-amino-2-methylferrocene (3) with >99% ee. Formylation of amine 3 followed by dehydration of the resulting (_pS)-1-formamido-2-methylferrocene (4) provides (_pS)-1-isocyano-2-methylferrocene (5), the first example of a planar-chiral isocyanide ligand, in a good yield. Isocyanide 5 reacts with PdI₂ to give the crystallographically characterized chiral complex trans-[PdI₂{(_pS)-1-isocyano-2-methylferrocene}₂] (6). The redox behavior of 4, 5, and 6, accessed by cyclic voltammetry, is discussed.     

Salen-ligands based on a planar-chiral hydroxyferrocene moiety: Synthesis, coordination chemistry and use in asymmetric silylcyanation

Condensation of the O-protected hydroxyferrocene carbaldehyde (S_p)-1 with suitable diamines, followed by liberation of the hydroxyferrocene moiety leads to a new type of ferrocene-based salen ligands (3). While the use of ethylenediamine in the condensation reaction yields the planar-chiral ethylene-bridged ligand [(S_p,S_p)-3a], reaction with the enantiomers of trans-1,2-cyclohexylendiamine gives rise to the corresponding diastereomeric cyclohexylene-bridged systems [(S,S,S_p,S_p)-3b and (R,R,S_p,S_p)-3c], which feature a combination of a planar-chiral ferrocene unit with a centrochiral diamine backbone. Starting with the ferrocene-aldehyde derivative (R_p)-1, the enantiomeric ligand series (3d/e/f) is accessible via the same synthetic route.The (S_p)-series of these newly developed N₂O₂-type ligands was used for the construction of the corresponding mononuclear bis(isopropoxy)titanium (4a/b/c), methylaluminum (5a/b/c) and chloroaluminum-complexes (6a/b/c), which were isolated in good yields and identified by X-ray diffraction in several cases. The aluminum complexes (5/6) were successfully used in the Lewis-acid catalyzed addition of trimethylsilylcyanide to benzaldehyde, yielding the corresponding cyanohydrins in 45-62% enantiomeric excess.     

Syntheses of rac/meso-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C5H3)2}-Zr{RN(CH2)3NR}, structural analyses of rac-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C5H3)2}Zr{RN(CH2)3NR} (where R is SiMe3 or Ph), and meso to rac isomerization

Syntheses of rac/meso-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C₅H₃)₂}Zr{Me₃SiN(CH₂)₃NSiMe₃} (rac-3/meso-3) and rac/meso-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C₅H₃)₂}Zr{PhN(CH₂)₃NPh} (rac-4/meso-4) were achieved by metallation of K₂[PhP(3-t-Bu-C₅H₃)₂] · 1.3 THF (2) with Zr{RN(CH₂)₃NR}Cl₂(THF)₂ (where R = SiMe₃ or Ph, respectively) using ethereal solvent. These isomeric pairs were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy; rac-3 and rac-4 were also examined via single crystal X-ray crystallography. The structures of rac-3 and rac-4 are notable in the tendency of the cyclopentadienyl rings towards η³ coordination. While isolated samples of rac-3/meso-3 and rac-4/meso-4 slowly isomerize in tetrahydrofuran-d₈ to equilibrium ratios, the isomerization rate for 3 is more than 15-fold greater than that for 4. In addition, equilibrium ratios are rapidly reached when isolated samples of rac-3/meso-3 and rac-4/meso-4 are exposed to tetrabutylammonium chloride in tetrahydrofuran-d₈ solvent. We propose that a nucleophile (either chloride or the phosphine interannular linker) brings about dissociation of one cyclopentadienyl ring, thus promoting the rac/meso isomerization mechanism.     

Translation of helical chirality from polymer into monomer: supramolecular polymerization of a chirality-memory molecule with an asymmetric Pd(II) complex

A chirality-memorizing saddle-shaped porphyrin (1_2H) with 3,5-dipyridylphenyl side arms at the opposite meso positions underwent supramolecular polymerization in CH₂Cl₂ with a chiral Pd(II) complex of 2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthyl (Pd^II(BINAP)), forming a ladder-shaped polymer (3_2H) with a prevailing one-handed helical chirality. When this polymer was poured into AcOH containing 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (DPPP) as a decomplexing agent, 3_2H was depolymerized in a stereochemically retentive way to give optically active 1_2H, hydrogen-bonded with AcOH. Although a cyclodimeric reference of 3_2H, formed from 2_2H having two 3-pyridylphenyl meso substituents in conjunction with Pd^II(BINAP), behaved similar to 3_2H, the translation efficiency of helical chirality was lower than that in the case with 3_2H.     

Synthesis of three-dimensionally arranged porphyrin arrays via intramolecular meso-meso coupling

The synthesis and photophysical properties of three-dimensionally arranged porphyrin arrays with through-space electronic communication are reported. 1,3,5-Trioxamethylphenylene bridged Zn(II) porphyrin trimer 3 was coupled by Ag(I)-promoted oxidative coupling reaction to give porphyrin cage 5 comprising three meso-meso linked diporphyrins, which was then transformed by oxidation with DDQ and Sc(OTf)₃ into porphyrin cage 7 comprising three fused diporphyrins. Intramolecular meso-meso coupling reaction was applied to porphyrin pentamer 11 to provide porphyrin array 12 consisting of a porphyrin core flanked by two meso-meso linked diporphyrins. Further oxidation of 12 with DDQ and Sc(OTf)₃ afforded triply stacked porphyrin array 13 that is comprised of a porphyrin core flanked by two porphyrin tapes. UV-vis-NIR absorption and fluorescence spectra of 5, 7, 12, and 13 showed their distorted conformations and electronic interaction within the stacked porphyrin arrays.     

The absolute axial configurations of knipholone and knipholone anthrone by TDDFT and DFT/MRCI CD calculations: a revision

Triggered by a seemingly inconsistent twisting direction in the atroposelective ring cleavage reaction of biaryl lactones by using the ‘lactone concept’, the absolute axial configurations of the most important phenylanthraquinones, knipholone (1), and knipholone anthrone (2) were reassigned on the basis of renewed quantum chemical circular dichroism (CD) calculations using advanced, higher-level methods, viz. a time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) and a multireference configurational interaction approach (DFT/MRCI). Additional confirmation of the new configurational assignment of 1 and 2 was achieved by their stereochemically unambiguous interconversion, and further corroborated by the transformation of 1 into an ‘leuco’ phenylanthracene derivative 3, i.e., a compound with a substantially different chromophore, whose absolute configuration was independently assigned again by quantum chemical CD calculations. Accordingly, the dextrorotatory enantiomer of knipholone, (+)-1, and its anthrone, (+)-2, has the P-configuration, while the laevorotatory forms, (−)-1 and (−)-2 (which likewise exist in nature), are M-configured. From this new configurational assignment, the absolute axial stereostructures of a whole series of further naturally occurring phenylanthraquinones may now be deduced.     

Diastereoselectivity at chiral metal center of half-sandwich-type ruthenium complexes with planar-chiral cyclopentadienyl ligands in multiple ligand transfer reaction

The triple ligand transfer reaction between planar-chiral cyclopentadienyl-ruthenium complexes [Cp′Ru(NCMe)₃][PF₆] (1) (Cp′ = 1-(COOR²)-2-Me-4-R¹C₅H₂; R¹ = Me, Ph, t-Bu) and iron complexes CpFe(CO)(L)X (2) (L = PMe₃, PMe₂Ph, PMePh₂, PPh₃; X = I, Br) resulted in the formation of metal-centered chiral ruthenium complexes Cp′Ru(CO)(L)X (3) in moderate yields with diastereoselectivities of up to 68% de. The configurations of some major diastereomers were determined to be by X-ray crystallography. The diastereoselectivity of 3 was under kinetic control and not affected by the steric effect of the substituents on the Cp′ ring of 1 and the phosphine of 2. Although the double ligand transfer reaction between [Cp′Ru{P(OMe)₃}(NCMe)₂][PF₆] (7) and CpFe(CO)₂X (8) produced Cp′Ru{P(OMe)₃}(CO)X (9), the selectivity at the ruthenium center was low.     

Conformational chirality and chiral crystallization of N-sulfonylpyrimidine derivatives

New N-sulfonylpyrimidine derivatives 1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)uracil (1), 1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)thymine (2), 5-bromo-1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)uracil (3), 1-(methanesulfonyl)uracil (4), 1-(1-naphthylsulfonyl)uracil (5), and 1-(1-naphthylsulfonyl)thymine (6) were prepared by the condensation reaction of silylated pyrimidine derivatives with selected sulfonyl chlorides in acetonitrile. Some members of the series showed unexpected crystal properties as a consequence of their conformational chirality in the solid state. Compounds 1 and 5 exhibited chiral crystallization, which was, in the case of 1, accompanied by the formation of racemically twinned crystals regardless of the solvent used, while 5 gave a conglomerate of enantiomorphous crystals. For 2, 3, and 6, substituents at the C-5 position of the pyrimidine ring prevented chiral crystallization by influencing the crystal packing. Analysis of the crystal structures of 1, 4, and 5, reveals the influence of the arylsulfonyl group on the occurrence or absence of chiral crystallization.     

The first bidentate phosphanylborohydride: Synthesis, structure, and reactivity towards [CpFe(CO)2I]

Deprotonation of the phosphane-borane adduct rac/meso-(HP(BH₃)(Ph)CH₂)₂ (2) with KH provides facile access to the bidentate phosphanylborohydride rac/meso-K₂[(P(BH₃)(Ph)CH₂)₂] (3). Treatment of 3 with two equivalents of [CpFe(CO)₂I] gives the dinuclear complex rac/meso-[(CpFe(CO)₂)₂-μ-(P(BH₃)(Ph)CH₂)₂] (4). Single crystals of the pure diastereomers meso-2, meso-3(thf)₄, and rac-4 have been grown from toluene/pentane, diethyl ether/thf, and benzene/pentane, respectively. The molecular structures of all three compounds have been determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Resolution of BIPHEP on Rh with a chiral diene auxiliary

Resolution of the atropisomeric chiral BIPHEP ligand on Rh has been achieved with the aid of 2-(4-tert-butyl-phenyl)-8-methoxy-1,8-dimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.2]octa-2,5-diene, a chiral chelating diene ligand. The diene complex 3 containing an (S)-BIPHEP ligand was found to be configurationally stable in CDCl₃ solution at RT. Conversion of the diene complex 3 to a dicarbonyl Rh complex 4 that had a barrier of 25.0 kcal/mol for atropisomerization of the BIPHEP ligand. Preliminary studies of the use of the resolved complex 3 for catalysis are presented.     

Synthesis and structures of dinuclear iron, molybdenum and tungsten complexes derived from (PhCHCHPh)-coupled bis(cyclopentadiene)

Reductive coupling of phenylfulvene with amalgamated calcium metal followed by hydrolysis yields CpPhCHCHPhCp (1) in high yield. Refluxing ligand 1 and Fe(CO)₅ in xylene produces (PhCHCHPh)-coupled bis(cyclopentadienyl) tetracarbonyl diiron (PhCHCHPh)[(η⁵-C₅H₄)Fe(CO)₂]₂ (2) as a mixture of meso (2-meso) and racemic isomers (2-rac). The pure racemic isomers of the Mo and W analogues (3-rac and 4-rac) have been synthesized by lithiation of ligand 1 and addition of (MeCN)₃M(CO)₃ (M = Mo, W) followed by oxidation with 2 equiv. of ferrocenium tetrafluoroborate. All the new complexes have been fully characterized. The molecular structures of 1-meso, 2-meso, 2-rac, 3-rac, and 4-rac have been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Reactions of Mo(II)-tetraphosphine complex [MoCl2{meso-o-C6H4(PPhCH2CH2PPh2)2}] with a series of small molecules

Reactions of Mo(II)-tetraphosphine complex [MoCl₂(κ⁴-P4)] (2; P4 = meso-o-C₆H₄(PPhCH₂CH₂PPh₂)₂) with a series of small molecules have been investigated. Thus, treatment of 2 with alkynes RCCR′ (R = Ph, R′ = H; R = p-tolyl, R′ = H; R = Me, R′ = Ph) in benzene or toluene gave neutral mono(alkyne) complexes [MoCl₂(RCCR′)(κ³-P4)] containing tridentate P4 ligand, which were converted to cationic complexes [MoCl(RCCR′)(κ⁴-P4)]Cl having tetradentate P4 ligand upon dissolution into CDCl₃ or CD₂Cl₂. The latter complexes were available directly from the reactions of 2 with the alkynes in CH₂Cl₂. On the other hand, treatment of 2 with 1 equiv. of XyNC (Xy = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃) afforded a seven-coordinate mono(isocyanide) complex [MoCl₂(XyNC)(κ⁴-P4)] (7), which reacted further with XyNC to give a cationic bis(isocyanide) complex [MoCl(XyNC)₂(κ⁴-P4)]Cl (8). From the reaction of 2 with CO, a mono(carbonyl) complex [MoCl₂(CO)(κ⁴-P4)] (9) was obtained as a sole isolable product. Reaction of 9 with XyNC afforded [MoCl(CO)(XyNC)(κ⁴-P4)]Cl (10a) having a pentagonal-bipyramidal geometry with axial CO and XyNC ligands, whereas that of 7 with CO resulted in the formation of a mixture of 10a and its isomer 10b containing axial CO and Cl ligands. Structures of 7 and 9 as well as [MoCl(XyNC)₂(κ⁴-P4)][PF₆](8′) and [MoCl(CO)(XyNC)(κ⁴-P4)][PF₆] (10a′) derived by the anion metathesis from 8 and 10a, respectively, were determined in detail by the X-ray crystallography.     

Chiral dinaphthylporphyrin with C2 symmetry: synthesis,resolution, and enantio-discrimination by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis

An intrinsic chiral dinaphthylporphyrin with C₂ symmetry, namely [5,15-trans-bis(2-hydroxynaphthyl)-10-phenyl-20-(4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrinato]zinc(??) (ZnDNP), has been designed and synthesized. The molecular structure of ZnDNP was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Resolution of the racemic mixture was achieved with chiral HPLC technique. In particular, the stereostructures of the enantiomers and the specific interactions between the chiral meso-dinaphthylporphyrin with l-Phe-OMe were elucidated in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of enantiomeric imidazolopiperidinoses and imidazoloazepanoses using Wittig/dihydroxylation reactions

A new route for the synthesis of imidazolosugars—6-deoxyimidazolopiperidinoses 1 and 2 and 7-deoxyimidazoloazepanoses 3 and 4 in two enantiomerical forms—is reported. The new synthetic approach is based on two key reactions: (i) stereocontrolled Wittig Z-olefination of an imidazolecarbaldehyde with phosphoranes containing one chiral centre, obtained from (S)- and (R)-1,2,4-butantriol; (ii) diastereoselective cis-dihydroxylation of previously obtained olefins. All synthesised imidazolosugars were evaluated as potential inhibitors of glycosidases.     

Chiral diethylzinc complexes with diamine ligands: synthesis, crystal structure and enantioselective solvent-free alkylation

In search for conglomerates of stereochemically labile organometallic reagents, three new complexes between diethylzinc and diamine ligands have been synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. Ligands include N,N,N′,N′-tetraethylethylenediamine (teeda), N-isopropyl-N,N′,N′-trimethylethylenediamine (itmeda), and (−)-sparteine (spa). Diethylzinc forms monomeric complexes, exhibiting a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry around zinc in all three complexes, viz. [ZnEt₂(teeda)] (1), [ZnEt₂(itmeda)] (2), and [ZnEt₂(spa)] (3). Both 1 and 2 are stereochemically labile and exhibit chiral complexes, displaying different types of conformational chirality, but they form racemic crystals. By using the chiral crystals of 3 in a nucleophilic addition to benzaldehyde in the absence of solvent at low temperature, an increase in ee from approximately 8 to 10% was obtained (compared to the same reaction in solution). It thus seems feasible, not only to retain the enantioselectivity obtained in solution, but perhaps even to increase the ee by using solventless reactions.     

Bridged bioxepines and bi[10]paracyclophanes—synthesis and absolute configuration of a bi[10]paracyclophane with two chiral planes and one chiral axis

A preparative synthesis of novel bioxepines and bi[10]paracyclophanes with meso- and rac-configuration is described. The bi[10]paracyclophane (−)-6b with two elements of planar chirality and one chiral axis has been obtained in enantiomerically pure form. Its absolute configuration was determined by quantum chemical calculation of the circular dichroism and comparison with the experimental CD spectrum.     

Heterometallic complexes containing 1,1′-(CC)2Fc′ units linking two different metal centres

Proto-desilylation of 1-(Me₃SiCC)-1′-{Cp^∗(dppe)RuCC}Fc′ (1) afforded the corresponding ethynyl derivative 2, from which the green Co₂(μ-dppm)_n(CO)_8−2n (n = 0, 1) adducts 3 and 4 were obtained. Replacement of the ethynyl proton in reactions between 2 and AuCl(PPh₃), Hg(OAc)₂ or FeCl(dppe)Cp^∗ gave complexes 1-(RCC)-1′-{Cp^∗(dppe)RuCC}Fc′ [R = Au(PPh₃) 5, 1/2Hg 6, Fe(dppe)Cp^∗8]; the latter gave bis-vinylidene 9 with MeI, characterised (as was 2) by a single crystal X-ray study. Oxidative coupling of 2 (CuCl/tmeda/acetone, air) gave diyne 10, while coupling of 5 with Co₃(μ₃-CBr)(μ-dppm)(CO)₇ afforded 1-{Cp^∗(dppe)RuCC}-1′-{(OC)₇(μ-dppm)Co₃(μ₃-CCC)}Fc′ (11). Cyclic voltammetric measurements indicated that there was no significant electronic coupling between the end-groups through the ferrocene centre in any of these compounds.     

Synthesis of polylactide using a zinc complex containing (S)-N-ethyl-N-phenyl-2-pyrrolidinemethanamine

The reaction between ZnCl₂ and (S)-N-ethyl-N-phenyl-2-pyrrolidinemethanamine (S-EPP) as a chiral ligand affords [ZnCl₂(S-EPP)], whose structure has been determined by X-ray crystallography. [ZnEt₂(S-EPP)] has demonstrated high activity toward the polymerization of rac-lactide with a maximum turnover frequency (TOF) of 121. Despite the intended stereocontrol by employing a chiral ligand, however, the observed heterotacticity was limited to under 0.6. The MWDs of the PLAs were found to be modulated by changing the solvent or controlling the concentration of the monomer in the solution. The glass transition temperature (T_g) was critically dependent on the MW within the narrow MWD regime, but the dependence became significantly shallow when the MWD was broadened.     

Senepodines B-E, new C22N2 alkaloids from Lycopodium chinense

Four new C₂₂N₂Lycopodium alkaloids, senepodines B-E (2-5), consisting of an octahydroquinoline ring and a quinolizidine ring have been isolated together with senepodine A (1) from the club moss Lycopodium chinense. The relative and absolute stereochemistry of 2-5 were determined by combination of NOESY correlations and chemical transformation, while the absolute configuration of 1 was assigned by exciton chirality method.     

Highly enantioselective copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of diethylzinc to cyclic enones with spirocyclic phosphoramidite ligands

A series of spirocyclic phosphoramidite ligands 6-9 with different substituents on the amine moiety were synthesized from the chiral spirocyclic diol (R)-5. These monodentate ligands have been applied in copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of diethylzinc to cyclic enones. Excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) can be achieved by the use of ligand (R,S,S)-9 bearing stereochemically matched structure derived from the C₂-symmetric (S,S)-bis(α-methylbenzyl)amine.