Where Is the Limit of Highly Fluorinated High‐Oxidation‐State Osmium Species?

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF.     

Direct Arylation of Benzene with Aryl Bromides using High‐Temperature/High‐Pressure Process Windows: Expanding the Scope of C?H Activation Chemistry

A detailed investigation on the direct arylation of benzene with aryl bromides by using first‐row transition metals under high‐temperature/high‐pressure (high‐T/p) conditions is described. By employing a parallel reactor platform for rapid reaction screening and discovery at elevated temperatures, various metal/ligand/base combinations were evaluated for their ability to enable biaryl formation through C? H activation. The combination of cobalt(III) acetylacetonate and lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide was subjected to further process intensification at 200 °C (15 bar), allowing a significant reduction of the catalyst/base loading and a dramatic increase in catalytic efficiency (turnover frequency) by a factor of 1000 compared to traditional protocols. The high‐throughput screening additionally identified novel nickel‐ and copper‐based metal/ligand combinations that favored an amination pathway competing with C? H activation, with the addition of ligands, such as 1,10‐phenanthroline, having a profound influence on the selectivity. In addition to metal‐based catalysts, high‐T/p process windows were also successfully applied to transition‐metal‐free systems, utilizing 1,10‐phenanthroline as organocatalyst.     

Dioxygen Reactivity of Biomimetic Iron–Catecholate and Iron–o‐Aminophenolate Complexes of a Tris(2‐pyridylthio)methanido Ligand: Aromatic C?C Bond Cleavage of Catecholate versus o‐Iminobenzosemiquinonate Radical Formation

An iron(III)–catecholate complex [L¹Fe^III(DBC)] ( 2 ) and an iron(II)–o‐aminophenolate complex [L¹Fe^II(HAP)] ( 3 ; where L¹=tris(2‐pyridylthio)methanido anion, DBC=dianionic 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylcatecholate, and HAP=monoanionic 4,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2‐aminophenolate) have been synthesised from an iron(II)–acetonitrile complex [L¹Fe^II(CH₃CN)₂](ClO₄) ( 1 ). Complex 2 reacts with dioxygen to oxidatively cleave the aromatic C? C bond of DBC giving rise to selective extradiol cleavage products. Controlled chemical or electrochemical oxidation of 2 , on the other hand, forms an iron(III)–semiquinone radical complex [L¹Fe^III(SQ)](PF₆) ( 2^ox‐PF₆ ; SQ=3,5‐di‐tert‐butylsemiquinonate). The iron(II)–o‐aminophenolate complex ( 3 ) reacts with dioxygen to afford an iron(III)–o‐iminosemiquinonato radical complex [L¹Fe^III(ISQ)](ClO₄) ( 3^ox‐ClO₄ ; ISQ=4,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐o‐iminobenzosemiquinonato radical) via an iron(III)–o‐amidophenolate intermediate species. Structural characterisations of 1 , 2 , 2^ox and 3^ox reveal the presence of a strong iron? carbon bonding interaction in all the complexes. The bond parameters of 2^ox and 3^ox clearly establish the radical nature of catecholate‐ and o‐aminophenolate‐derived ligand, respectively. The effect of iron? carbon bonding interaction on the dioxygen reactivity of biomimetic iron–catecholate and iron–o‐aminophenolate complexes is discussed.     

Iron‐Catalyzed C?H Bond Activation for the ortho‐Arylation of Aryl Pyridines and Imines with Grignard Reagents

Direct arylation of the ortho‐C? H bond of an aryl pyridine or an aryl imine with an aryl Grignard reagent has been achieved by using an iron‐diamine catalyst and a dichloroalkane as an oxidant in a short reaction time (e.g., 5 min) under mild conditions (0 °C). The use of an aromatic co‐solvent, such as chlorobenzene and benzene, and slow addition of the Grignard reagent are essential for the high efficiency of the reaction. The present arylation reaction has distinct merits over the previously developed reaction that used an arylzinc reagent, such as its reaction rate and atom economy. Selective C? H bond activation occurs in the presence of a leaving group, such as a tosyloxy, chloro, and bromo group. Studies on a stoichiometric reaction and kinetic isotope effects shed light on the reaction intermediate and the C? H bond‐activation step.     

Does Hydrogen‐Bonding Donation to Manganese(IV)–Oxo and Iron(IV)–Oxo Oxidants Affect the Oxygen‐Atom Transfer Ability? A Computational Study

Iron(IV)–oxo intermediates are involved in oxidations catalyzed by heme and nonheme iron enzymes, including the cytochromes P450. At the distal site of the heme in P450 Compound I (Fe^IV–oxo bound to porphyrin radical), the oxo group is involved in several hydrogen‐bonding interactions with the protein, but their role in catalysis is currently unknown. In this work, we investigate the effects of hydrogen bonding on the reactivity of high‐valent metal–oxo moiety in a nonheme iron biomimetic model complex with trigonal bipyramidal symmetry that has three hydrogen‐bond donors directed toward a metal(IV)–oxo group. We show these interactions lower the oxidative power of the oxidant in reactions with dehydroanthracene and cyclohexadiene dramatically as they decrease the strength of the O? H bond (BDE_OH) in the resulting metal(III)–hydroxo complex. Furthermore, the distal hydrogen‐bonding effects cause stereochemical repulsions with the approaching substrate and force a sideways attack rather than a more favorable attack from the top. The calculations, therefore, give important new insights into distal hydrogen bonding, and show that in biomimetic, and, by extension, enzymatic systems, the hydrogen bond may be important for proton‐relay mechanisms involved in the formation of the metal–oxo intermediates, but the enzyme pays the price for this by reduced hydrogen atom abstraction ability of the intermediate. Indeed, in nonheme iron enzymes, where no proton relay takes place, there generally is no donating hydrogen bond to the iron(IV)–oxo moiety.     

Generating CuII–Oxyl/CuIII–Oxo Species from CuI–α‐Ketocarboxylate Complexes and O2: In Silico Studies on Ligand Effects and C?H‐Activation Reactivity

Theoretically speaking : The mechanistic details associated with the generation and reaction of [CuO]⁺ species from Cu^I–α‐ketocarboxylate complexes, especially with respect to modifications of the ligand supporting the copper center, were investigated (see scheme). Theoretical models were used to characterize the electronic structures of different [CuO]⁺ species and their reactivity in C? H activation and O‐atom transfer reactions.

     

Titanacyclobutenes or Titanium Vinyl Carbene Complexes? Reactivity of Organotitanium Species Generated by the Reaction of γ‐Chloroallyl Sulfides with a Titanocene(II) Reagent

The reactivity of the organotitanium species generated by the reductive titanation of gamma-chloroallyl sulfides with the titanocene(II) reagent [Cp(2)Ti{P(OEt)(3)}(2)] was studied. The organotitanium species formed from alpha-monosubstituted gamma-chloroallyl sulfides reacted with 1,5-diphenylpentan-3-one and styrene to produce conjugated dienes and vinyl cyclopropanes as major products, thus suggesting the formation of vinyl carbene complexes as intermediates. On the contrary, the organotitanium species generated from acyclic beta,gamma-disubstituted gamma-chloroallyl sulfides revealed titanacyclobutene-like reactivity, and their reaction with 1,5-diphenylpentan-3-one produced homoallyl alcohols. These organotitanium species did not react with styrene, but did react with dichlorophenylphosphine to afford phosphacyclobutenes. In the case of beta-monosubstituted, gamma-monosubstituted, and alpha,gamma-disubstituted gamma-chloroallyl sulfides, the organotitanium species reacted with both 1,5-diphenylpentan-3-one and styrene. The former reaction produced homoallyl alcohols and the latter gave vinyl cyclopropanes or unconjugated dienes. These results suggest that titanacyclobutenes and/or titanium vinyl carbene complexes are produced by the reductive titanation of gamma-chloroallyl sulfides depending on their substitution patterns.     

How do Pseudoenantiomers Structurally Differ in the Gas Phase? An IR/UV Spectroscopy Study of Jet‐Cooled Hydroquinine and Hydroquinidine

The gas‐phase structures of the cinchona alkaloids, hydroquinine and its pseudoenantiomer hydroquinidine, are studied in a supersonic expansion by means of laser‐induced fluorescence and IR/UV double‐resonance spectroscopy. Vibrational spectroscopy combined with density functional calculations show that the conformational properties of the two pseudoenantiomers are identical. In both cases, they exist in two isoenergetic forms, with similar IR spectra. Both conformers are similar to the most stable cis‐γ‐open form of quinine; they differ from each other by the position of the ethyl substituent attached to the quinuclidine ring. Further differences between the two conformers are observed in the laser‐induced fluorescence spectrum. The first electronic transition is characterized by time‐dependent density functional theory and RI‐cc2 calculations, and is of ππ* nature. The results described here emphasize the role of the ethyl substituent in the structural differences between pseudoenantiomers of cinchona alkaloids.     

Sterically Active Electron Pairs in Lead Sulfide? An Investigation of the Electronic and Vibrational Properties of PbS in the Transition Region Between the Rock Salt and the α‐GeTe‐Type Modifications

Recently, we have investigated the energy landscape of PbS for many different pressures on the ab initio level by using Hartree–Fock and density functional theory to globally search for possible thermodynamically stable and metastable structures. The perhaps most fascinating observation was that besides the experimentally known modification exhibiting the rock salt structure a second minimum exists close‐by on the landscape showing the low‐temperature α‐GeTe‐type structure. In the present study, we investigate the possible reasons for the existence of this metastable modification; in particular we address the question, whether the α‐GeTe‐type modification might be stabilized (and conversely the rock salt modification destabilized) by steric effects of the non‐bonding electron pair.     

[{Fe(tim)}2]: An Fe?Fe Dimer Containing an Unsupported Metal–Metal Bond and Redox‐Active N4 Macrocyclic Ligands

Mixed doubles : The dimeric complex [{Fe(tim)}₂] (see structure, tim=2,3,9,10‐tetramethyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradeca‐1,3,8,10‐tetraene) represents an unprecedented complex containing an unsupported Fe? Fe bond. The crystal structure confirms the presence of reduced tim units, thus indicating ligand redox activity. Spectroscopic and computational studies establish a triplet ground state for [{Fe(tim)}₂] and suggest a mixed‐valence compound with respect to both the Fe ions and the ligands.

     

Prediction of the reduction potential in transition‐metal containing complexes: How expensive? For what accuracy?

Accurate computationally derived reduction potentials are important for catalyst design. In this contribution, relatively inexpensive density functional theory methods are evaluated for computing reduction potentials of a wide variety of organic, inorganic, and organometallic complexes. Astonishingly, SCRF single points on B3LYP optimized geometries with a reasonably small basis set/ECP combination works quite well‐‐B3LYP with the BS1 [modified‐LANL2DZ basis set/ECP (effective core potential) for metals, LANL2DZ(d,p) basis set/LANL2DZ ECP for heavy nonmetals (Si, P, S, Cl, and Br), and 6‐31G(d') for other elements (H, C, N, O, and F)] and implicit PCM solvation models, SMD (solvation model based on density) or IEFPCM (integral equation formalism polarizable continuum model with Bondi atomic radii and α = 1.1 reaction field correction factor). The IEFPCM‐Bondi‐B3LYP/BS1 methodology was found to be one of the least expensive and most accurate protocols, among six different density functionals tested (BP86, PBEPBE, B3LYP, B3P86, PBE0, and M06) with thirteen different basis sets (Pople split‐valence basis sets, correlation consistent basis sets, or Los Alamos National Laboratory ECP/basis sets) and four solvation models (SMD, IEFPCM, IPCM, and CPCM). The MAD (mean absolute deviation) values of SCRF‐B3LYP/BS1 of 49 studied species were 0.263 V for SMD and 0.233 V for IEFPCM‐Bondi; and the linear correlations had respectable R ² values (R ² = 0.94 for SMD and R ² = 0.93 for IEFPCM‐Bondi). These methodologies demonstrate relatively reliable, convenient, and time‐saving functional/basis set/solvation model combinations in computing the reduction potentials of transition metal complexes with moderate accuracy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Synthetic polymers and biomembranes. How do they interact? Atomistic molecular dynamics simulation study of PEO in contact with a DMPC lipid bilayer

The understanding of interactions of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) or poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with biological interfaces has important technological application in industry and in medicine. In this paper, structural and dynamical properties of PEO at the dimyristoylphospatidylcholine (DMPC) bilayer/water interface have been investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) and steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations. The structural properties of a PEO chain in bulk water, at the water/vacuum interface, and in the presence of the membrane were compared with available experimental data. The presence of a barrier for the PEO penetration into the DMPC bilayer has been found. A qualitative estimation of the barrier provided a value equal to approximately 19 kJ/mol, that is, 7 times the value of kT at 310 K.     

A comparison of low and high activity precatalysts: Do the calculated energy barriers during the self‐metathesis reaction of 1‐Octene correlate with the precatalyst metathesis activity?

The self‐metathesis reaction of 1‐octene with several well‐known Grubbs‐type precatalysts and the new Z‐selective Grubbs precatalyst were studied with molecular modeling. The obtained Gibbs‐free energy values for all the steps during the productive metathesis of 1‐octene were compared to the values obtained for some low catalytic activity precatalysts. Determining how the Gibbs‐free energy values of highly active precatalysts compare to that of low catalytic activity precatalysts gave a deeper insight into the mechanism. The questionable correlation of the theoretically observed trends with those obtained experimentally does point to the need to be very cautious when making assumptions from theoretical results without a sufficiently large dataset. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

How Important Is Molecular Rigidity for the Complex Stability of Artificial Host–Guest Systems? A Theoretical Study on Self‐Assembly of Gas‐Phase Arginine

Arginine forms much less stable dimers than 2-(guanidiniocarbonyl)-1H-pyrrole-5-carboxylate although the principal binding interactions are very similar. The reasons for this difference are addressed in this work by state-of-the-art ab initio computations. The investigation shows that the extraordinary high stability of the 2-(guanidiniocarbonyl)-1H-pyrrole-5-carboxylate dimer results to about 50 % from the rigidity of its monomer. Within this study monomer and dimer conformers of arginine were calculated leading to new low lying structures which have not been reported before as well as new global minima are predicted. In these structures stacking interactions with the guanidinium moiety are especially important. For the monomer we predict the energy minimum to be the canonical form with the lowest lying zwitterionic structure being only 9 kJ mol(-1) less stable. During the course of these calculations we found that DFT did not predict the structures and their relative energy correctly in comparison to perturbation theory (MP2) and some potential reasons for the failure of DFT in these cases are discussed. Vibrational frequencies of the various structures are presented and a suitable wavenumber region for an experimental determination of the global minimum of the arginine monomer is identified. The effect of molecular rigidity on the self-assembly is probed using a local minimum of the arginine monomer which does not possess any intramolecular stabilizing effects. Our results suggest that the deliberate control of the conformational flexibility is a powerful instrument to steer the complex affinity of artificial hosts.