Total syntheses of (S)-(-)-zearalenone and lasiodiplodin reveal superior metathesis activity of ruthenium carbene complexes with imidazol-2-ylidene ligands

Total syntheses of the bioactive orsellinic acid derivatives zearalenone 3 and lasiodiplodin 1 are reported based on a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction of styrene precursors as the key steps. These and closely related macrocyclizations are catalyzed with high efficiency by the "second generation" ruthenium carbene catalyst 5 bearing a N-heterocyclic carbene ligand, whereas the standard Grubbs carbene 4 fails to afford any cyclized product. Only the (E)-isomer of the macrocyclic cycloalkene is formed in all cases. The substrates for RCM can be obtained either via a Stille cross-coupling reaction of tributylvinylstannane or, even more efficiently, by Heck reactions of the aryl triflate precursors with pressurized ethene. Furthermore, the synthesis of 1 via RCM is compared with an alternative approach employing a low-valent titanium-induced McMurry coupling of dialdehyde 47 for the formation of the large ring. This direct comparison clearly ends in favor of metathesis which turned out to be superior in all preparatively relevant respects.     

Anionic Fischer-type carbene complexes as bidentate (N,O) ligands

New polynuclear complexes, (L1)3M2 [M2 = Cr(III) (4a,4b), Fe(III) (5), Co(III) (8)], (L1)2M2(L2)2 [M2 = Co(II) (7), Ni(II) (9)], (L1)2M2(O)L2 [M2 = V(IV) (6)] and L1M2Cp2 [M2 = Ti(III) (10)] with L1 = (CO)5M1=C[C=NC(CH3)=CHS](O-)(M1 = Cr or W) and L2 = 4-methylthiazole or THF, are described. The molecular structures of these complexes determined by X-ray diffraction show that the Fischer-type carbene complexes act as bidentate ligands towards the second metal centre, coordinating through C(carbene)-attached O-atoms and imine N-atoms of the thiazolyl groups to form five-membered chelates with the oxygen atoms in the mer configuration. Isostructural complexes have similar characteristic band patterns in their far-IR spectra. Cyclic voltammetry of selected complexes reveals the oxidation of the carbene complex ligand between 1.01 and 1.29 V. Oxidation of the central metal (M2) takes place at 0.56 and 0.86 V for 7 and 9, respectively. Three stepwise reductions of Cr(III) to Cr(0) occur for 4a and 4b in the region -0.51 to -1.58 V. These new ligand types and other variants thereof should find application in ligand design with the first metal -- and other ligands attached thereto -- in the carbene complex ligand, playing an important role.     

Synthesis, spectroscopy, and electrochemistry of copper(II) complexes with N,N'-bis(3,5-di-t-butylsalicylideneimine)polymethylenediamine ligands

Bulky salen CuL(x) derived from aliphatic polymethylene diamines, H(2)N-(CH(2))(x)-NH(2), where n = 2-6, and 3,5-di-t-butylsalicylaldehyde (H(2)L(x)) and some corresponding tetrahydrosalan complexes (CuL(x)') have been synthesized and characterized by their IR, UV-vis absorption and EPR spectra, by magnetic moments and by cyclic voltammetry in acetonitrile (for H(2)L(x)) and DMF (for CuL(x)). Complexes CuL(x) and CuL(x)' are magnetically normal (mu(exp) = 1.83-1.91 mu(B)). EPR spectra CuL(x) characterized by the axial g and A(Cu) tensors with g parallel > g perpendicular and without (14)N-shf resolution in CHCl(3)/toluene at 300 and 150K. The CV studies on acetonitrile solutions of H(2)L(x) revealed a well-defined quasi-reversible redox wave at E(1/2) = 0.95-1.15 V versus Ag/AgCl but CV of the CuL(x) complexes in DMF exhibit weak pronounced irreversible oxidation waves at E(pa)(1) = 0.51 - 098 V and E(pa)(2) = 1.16 - 1.33 V attributable to metal centered Cu(II/III) and ligand centered CuL(x)/CuL(x)*+ couples, respectively. A poorly defined wave was observed for the quasi-reversible reduction Cu(II)/Cu(I) at potentials less than -1.0 V.     

Titanium(IV) imido complexes of imine imidazol-2-imine ligands

Free imine imidazol-2-imine ligands with two different substitution patterns have been isolated for the first time and they were found to exist as an equilibrium mixture of geometric and mesomeric isomers. The relative ratios of these isomers are dependent on both the nature of the substituents and of the solvent. The synthesis of the titanium(IV) alkyl and arylimido complexes of these ligands was unexpectedly found to be very selective and was successfully achieved only with the lesser sterically-demanding 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl derivative IMesN^Imine 2a. The solid-state structure of the alkylimido complex further confirms the zwitterionic character of the ligand. The isolated titanium imido complexes were found to be active catalysts for the polymerisation of ethylene.     

Reactivity of a N-heterocyclic carbene, 1,3-di-(1-adamantyl) imidazol-2-ylidene, with a pseudo-acid: structural characterization of Claisen condensation adduct

The reactivity of a N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) with a pseudo-acid (ester in this case) is described. The product results from an unusual C-H bond activation. The structure of the product has been established by a single crystal diffraction study.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes with tetradentate pyridylthioazoimine [N,S,N,N] ligands: Synthesis, crystal structure and spectroscopy

The Ru(II) complexes cis-[Ru(L)Cl₂] (C1-C3) of novel tetradentate NSNN ligands (L) {where L is C₅H₄N-CH₂-S-C₆H₄NC(COCH₃)-NN-C₆H₄X, and X is H (L1), CH₃ (L2) and Br (L3)}, were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopy (IR, UV/vis and NMR), cyclic voltammetry and crystallography. The tetradentate ligands were isolated as the amidrazones H₂L {where H₂L is C₅H₄N-CH₂-S-C₆H₄NH-C(COCH₃)N-NH-C₆H₄X and X is H (H₂L1), CH₃ (H₂L2) and Br (H₂L3)} as shown by crystallography of H₂L1, but oxidize to azoimines during the formation of the Ru(II) complexes. A crystallographic analysis of C1 showed that the Ru(II) centre is in a distorted octahedral coordination sphere in which the tetradentate ligand occupies three equatorial sites and one axial site (two azoimine nitrogens and a thio sulfur in the equatorial plane and an axial pyridine nitrogen) and two chlorides occupying axial and equatorial coordination sites. The Ru(II) oxidation state is greatly stabilized by the novel tetradentate ligand, showing Ru(III/II) couples ranging from 1.43 to 1.51 V. The absorption spectrum of C1 in acetonitrile was modelled by time-dependent density functional theory.     

Simple (imidazol-2-ylidene)-Pd-acetate complexes as effective precatalysts for sterically hindered Suzuki-Miyaura couplings

[reaction: see text] A simplified synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)Pd-carboxylate complexes and their activity in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions are described. Coupling of sterically hindered aryl and activated alkyl chlorides bearing beta-hydrogens has been successfully achieved.     

Iron(II) complexes with bio-inspired N,N,O ligands as oxidation catalysts: olefin epoxidation and cis-dihydroxylation

The Rieske dioxygenases are a group of non-heme iron enzymes, which catalyze the stereospecific cis-dihydroxylation of its substrates. Herein, we report the iron(II) coordination chemistry of the ligands 3,3-bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)propionate (L1) and its neutral propyl ester analogue propyl 3,3-bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)propionate (PrL1). The molecular structures of two iron(II) complexes with PrL1 were determined and two different coordination modes of the ligand were observed. In [Fe(II)(PrL1)(2)](BPh(4))(2) (3) the ligand is facially coordinated to the metal with an N,N,O donor set, whereas in [Fe(II)(PrL1)(2)(MeOH)(2)](OTf)(2) (4) a bidentate N,N binding mode is found. In 4, the solvent molecules are in a cis arrangement with respect to each other. Complex 4 is a close structural mimic of the crystallographically characterized non-heme iron(II) enzyme apocarotenoid-15-15'-oxygenase (APO). The mechanistic features of APO are thought to be similar to those of the Rieske oxygenases, the original inspiration for this work. The non-heme iron complexes [Fe(II)(PrL1)(2)](OTf)(2) (2) and [Fe(II)(PrL1)(2)](BPh(4))(2) (3) were tested in olefin oxidation reactions with H(2)O(2) as the terminal oxidant. Whereas 2 was an active catalyst and both epoxide and cis-dihydroxylation products were observed, 3 showed negligible activity under the same conditions, illustrating the importance of the anion in the reaction.     

Anionic N-heterocyclic carbenes with N,N'-bis(fluoroaryl) and N,N'-bis(perfluoroaryl) substituents

A series of rhodium complexes, [Rh(cod)(NHC-F(x))(OH(2))] (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene; NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene), incorporating anionic N-heterocyclic carbenes with 2-tert-butylmalonyl backbones and 2,6-dimethylphenyl (x = 0), 2,6-difluorophenyl (x = 4), 2,4,6-trifluorophenyl (x = 6), and pentafluorophenyl (x = 10) N,N'-substituents, respectively, has been prepared by deprotonation of the corresponding zwitterionic precursors with potassium hexamethyldisilazide, followed by immediate reaction of the resulting potassium salts with [{RhCl(cod)}(2)]. These complexes could be converted to the related carbonyl derivatives [Rh(CO)(2)(NHC-F(x))(OH(2))] by displacement of the COD ligand with CO. IR and NMR spectroscopy demonstrated that the degree of fluorination of the N-aryl substituents has a considerable influence on the σ-donating and π-accepting properties of the carbene ligands and could be effectively used to tune the electronic properties of the metal center. The carbonyl groups on the carbene ligand backbone provided a particularly sensitive probe for the assessment of the metal-to-ligand π donation. The ortho-fluorine substituents on the N-aryl groups in the carbene ligands interacted with the other ligands on rhodium, determining the conformation of the complexes and creating a pocket suitable for the coordination of water to the metal center. Computational studies were used to explain the influence of the fluorinated N-substituents on the electronic properties of the ligand and evaluate the relative contribution of the σ- and π-interactions to the ligand-metal interaction.     

Ruthenium(II) ammine and hydrazine complexes with [N(Ph2PQ)2]- (Q = S, Se) ligands

Reactions of coordinatively unsaturated Ru[N(Ph2PQ)2]2(PPh3) (Q = S (1), Se (2)) with pyridine (py), SO2, and NH3 afford the corresponding 18e adducts Ru[N(Ph2PQ)2]2(PPh3)(L) (Q = S, L = NH3 (5); Q = Se, L = py (3), SO2 (4), NH3 (6)). The molecular structures of complexes 2 and 6 are determined. The geometry around Ru in 2 is pseudo square pyramidal with PPh3 occupying the apical position, while that in 6 is pseudooctahedral with PPh3 and NH3 mutually cis. The Ru-P distances in 2 and 6 are 2.2025(11) and 2.2778(11) A, respectively. The Ru-N bond length in 6 is 2.185(3) A. Treatment of 1 or 2 with substituted hydrazines L or NH2OH yields the respective adducts Ru[N(Ph2PQ)2]2(PPh3)(L) (Q = S, L = NH2NH2 (12), t-BuNHNH2 (14), l-aminopiperidine (C5H10NNH2) (15); Q = Se, L = PhCONHNH2 (7), PhNHNH2 (8), NH2OH (9), t-BuNHNH2 (10), C5H10NNH2 (11), NH2NH2 (13)), which are isolated as mixtures of their trans and cis isomers. The structures of cis-14 and cis-15 are characterized by X-ray crystallography. In both molecular structures, the ruthenium adopts a pseudooctahedral arrangement with PPh3 and hydrazine mutually cis. The Ru-N bond lengths in cis-14.CH2Cl2 and cis-15 are 2.152(3) and 2.101(3) A, respectively. The Ru-N-N bond angles in cis-14.CH2Cl2 and cis-15 are 120.5(4) and 129.0(2) degrees, respectively. Treatment of 1 with hydrazine monohydrate leads to the isolation of yellow 5 and red trans-Ru[N(Ph2PS)2]2(NH3)(H2O) (16), which are characterized by mass spectrometry, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analyses. The geometry around ruthenium in 16 is pseudooctahedral with the NH3 and H2O ligands mutually trans. The Ru-O and Ru-N bond distances are 2.118(4) and 2.142(6) A, respectively. Oxidation reactions of the above ruthenium hydrazine complexes are also studied.     

Ruthenium(III) complexes of amine-bis(phenolate) ligands as catalysts for transfer hydrogenation of ketones

Twelve ruthenium(III) complexes bearing amine-bis(phenolate) tripodal ligands of general formula [Ru(L¹–L³)(X)(EPh₃)₂] (where L¹–L³ are dianionic tridentate chelator) have been synthesized by the reaction of ruthenium(III) precursors [RuX₃(EPh₃)₃] (where E = P, X = Cl; E = As, X = Cl or Br) and [RuBr₃(PPh₃)₂(CH₃OH)] with the tripodal tridentate ligands H₂L¹, H₂L² and H₂L³ in benzene in 1:1 molar ratio. The newly synthesized complexes have been characterized by analytical (elemental and magnetic susceptibility) and spectral methods. The complexes are one electron paramagnetic (low-spin, d⁵) in nature. The EPR spectra of the powdered samples at RT and the liquid samples at LNT shows the presence of three different ‘g’ values (g_x ≠ g_y ≠ g_z) indicate a rhombic distortion around the ruthenium ion. The redox potentials indicate that all the complexes undergo one electron transfer process. The catalytic activity of one of the complexes [Ru(pcr-chx)Br(AsPh₃)₂] was examined in the transfer hydrogenation of ketones and was found to be efficient with conversion up to 99% in the presence of isopropanol/KOH.     

Chemistry of re with N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (H2pmen): hydrolysis, dehydrogenation, and ternary complexes

A number of Re complexes with N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (H2pmen) have been made from [NH4][ReO4]. [ReOCl2(H2pmen)]Cl, [ReOCl(Hpmen)][ReO4], and [ReO2(H2pmen)][ReO4] are related by hydrolysis/HCl substitution. [ReOCl(Hpmen)][ReO4] was structurally characterized and found to contain a water-stable amido-Re bond. Dehydrogenation of the N-donor ligand from each amine to imine with concomitant two-electron reduction of the Re center occurs readily in these systems. With suitable 3-hydroxy-4-pyrones, ternary complexes such as [ReIIICl(ma)(C14H14N4)][ReO4].CH3OH, 5, were made from [NH4][ReO4], H2pmen.4HCl and pyrones in one-pot syntheses. 5, a seven-coordinate ReIII complex, was structurally characterized.     

Synthesis of transition metal—heterocyclic carbene complexes. Oxazol-2-ylidene and oxazolidin-2-ylidene complexes of osmium(II) derived from coordinated tosylmethylisocyanide

Tosylmethylisocyanide, when coordinated to osmium(II), reacts with aldehydes and ketones in the presence of sodium methoxide, to produce oxazol-2-ylidene and oxazolidin-2-ylidene complexes.     

One-step entry to olefin-tethered N,S-heterocyclic carbene complexes of ruthenium with mixed ligands

A series of Ru(II) mixed-ligand complexes RuBr(2)(PPh(3))(2)(N-AyBzTh) (Ay = prop-2-enyl; BzTh = benzothiazol-2-ylidene) (4), RuBr(OAc)(PPh(3))(N-MeAyBzTh) (5), RuBr(OAc)(PPh(3))(N-MeBnBzTh)(2) (MeBn = 3-methylbut-2-enyl) (6) and RuCl(OAc)(PPh(3))(N-MeBnBzTh) (7) have been synthesized from Ru(OAc)(2)(PPh(3))(2) in one-pot condensation and ligand exchange reactions. X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis revealed that they are neutral octahedral Ru(II) complexes with one or two N,S-heterocyclic carbene (NSHC) ligands and a coordinated (4, 5 and 7) or dangling (6) olefin arm. The system displays a range of self-selecting structural variations. Entry of the hybrid olefin-NSHC and halide ligands ejects either one (5, 6 and 7) phosphine ligand or keeps both phosphines (4) by replacing the acetate. It is also possible to accommodate two NSHC ligands by keeping the olefin pendant (6). Complexes 5 and 7 are isostructural with all different ligands on the coordination sphere. Complexes 4-6 are active towards transfer hydrosilylation showing good β(Z) selectivity, with the Ru(II) bearing acetate giving higher yields.     

Gold(I) catalysts with bifunctional P, N ligands

A series of phosphanes with imidazolyl substituents were prepared as hemilabile PN ligands. The corresponding gold(I) complexes were tested as bifunctional catalysts in the Markovnikov hydration of 1-octyne, as well as in the synthesis of propargylamines by the three component coupling reaction of piperidine, benzaldehyde, and phenylacetylene. While the activity in the hydration of 1-octyne was low, the complexes are potent catalysts for the three component coupling reaction. In homogeneous solution the conversions to the respective propargylamine were considerably higher than under aqueous biphasic conditions. The connectivity of the imidazolyl substituents to the phosphorus atom, their substitution pattern, as well as the number of heteroaromatic substituents have pronounced effects on the catalytic activity of the corresponding gold(I) complexes. Furthermore, formation of polymetallic species with Au(2), Au(3), and Au(4) units has been observed and the solid-state structures of the compounds [(5)(2)Au(3)Cl(2)]Cl and [(3c)(2)Au(4)Cl(2)]Cl(2) (3c = tris(2-isopropylimidazol-4(5)-yl phosphane, 5 = 2-tert-butylimidazol-4(5)-yldiphenyl phosphane) were determined. The gold(I) complexes of imidazol-2-yl phosphane ligands proved to be a novel source for bis(NHC)gold(I) complexes (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene).     

Ruthenium(II) complexes with ferrocene-modified arene ligands: synthesis and electrochemistry

A series of arene-ruthenium complexes of the general formula [RuCl₂{η⁶-C₆H₅(CH₂)₂R}L] with R=OH, CH₂OH, OC(O)Fc, CH₂OC(O)Fc (Fc=ferrocenyl) and L=PPh₃, (diphenylphosphino)ferrocene, or bridging 1,1^′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene, have been synthesized. Two synthetic pathways have been used for these ferrocene-modified arene-ruthenium complexes: (a) esterification of ferrocene carboxylic acid with 2-(cyclohexa-1,4-dienyl)ethanol, followed by condensation with RuCl₃ · nH₂O to afford [RuCl₂{η⁶-C₆H₅(CH₂)₂OC(O)Fc}]₂, and (b) esterification between ferrocene carboxylic acid and [RuCl₂{η⁶-C₆H₅(CH₂)₃OH}L] to give [RuCl₂{η⁶-C₆H₅(CH₂)₃OC(O)Fc}L]. All new compounds have been characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as by mass spectrometry. The single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of [RuCl₂{η⁶-C₆H₅(CH₂)₃OH}(PPh₃)] shows that the presence of a CH₂CH₂CH₂OH side-arm allows [RuCl₂{η⁶-C₆H₅(CH₂)₃OH}(PPh₃)] to form an intramolecular hydrogen bond with a chlorine atom. The electrochemical behavior of selected representative compounds has been studied. Complexes with ferrocenylated side arms display the expected cyclic voltammograms, two independent reversible one-electron waves of the Ru(II)/Ru(III) and Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox couples. Introduction of a ferrocenylphosphine onto the ruthenium is reflected by an additonal reversible, one-electron wave due to ferrocene/ferrocenium system which is, however, coupled with the Ru(II)/Ru(III) redox system.     

Reactions of a carbene stabilised indium trihydride complex, [InH3{CN(Mes)C2H2N(Mes)}] Mes = mesityl,with transition metal complexes

The reactivity of the carbene stabilised indium trihydride complex, [InH₃(IMes)] IMes = 1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene, toward a variety of transition metal complexes has been investigated. The study has shown that the InH₃ complex can act as a carbene and/or hydride transfer reagent to transition metal centres but does not yield heterobimetallic materials. Two new complexes, [Cp₂Ti(-Cl)₂Zn(IMes)Cl] and [CpNi(H)(IMes)], have resulted from this work, both of which have been spectroscopically and structurally characterised.     

Ruthenium(II) 2-hydroxybenzophenone N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazone complexes

New ruthenium(II) complexes with 2-hydroxybenzophenone N(4)-substituted (Me, Ph and/or piperidyl) thiosemicarbazones have been prepared and characterised by elemental analysis, molar conductivity, thermal analysis, spectroscopy (i.r., ¹H-n.m.r. and u.v.–vis.) and by cyclic voltammetry. The thiosemicarbazones coordinate to ruthenium(II) as mononegative tridentate ligands via the deprotonated hydroxyl group, N¹ nitrogen and thione sulphur centres. The redox properties, nature of the electrode processes and the stability of the complexes towards oxidation in CH₂Cl₂ are discussed. The change in the E _1/2 values of the complexes can be related to the basicity of the N(4)-substituents. All the complexes display an irreversible one-electron charge-transfer couple in the potential range studied. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.