Synthesis of B-trisubstituted borazines via the rhodium-catalyzed hydroboration of alkenes with N,N′,N″-trimethyl or N,N′,N″-triethylborazine

Hydroboration of terminal and internal alkenes with N,N′,N″-trimethyl- and N,N′,N″-triethylborazine was carried out at 50 °C in the presence of a rhodium(I) catalyst. Addition of dppb or DPEphos (1 equiv.) to RhH(CO)(PPh₃)₃ gave the best catalyst for hydroboration of ethylene at 50 °C, resulting in a quantitative yield of B,B′,B″-triethyl-N,N′,N″-trimethylborazine. On the other hand, a complex prepared from (t-Bu)₃P (4 equiv.) and [Rh(coe)₂Cl]₂ gave the best yield for hydroboration of terminal or internal alkenes.     

Palladium-free zinc-mediated hydroamination of alkynes: efficient synthesis of indoles from 2-akynylaniline derivatives

Reaction of 2-phenylethynyl N-tosylanilide prepared by Pd-free procedure with ZnBr₂ (3 equiv) in refluxing toluene gave N-tosyl-2-phenylindole in 93% yield. Treatment of 2-phenylethynylaniline with ZnBr₂ (1 equiv) in refluxing toluene resulted in the formation of 2-phenylindole in 91% yield. Catalytic ZnBr₂ (0.05 equiv) effectively reacted with 2-alkynylanilines to afford 2-substituted indoles in high yields. Thus, complete Pd-free zinc catalyzed hydroamination of 2-alkynylanilines was achieved.     

The first example of atropisomeric amide-derived P,O-ligands used for an asymmetric Heck reaction

Atropisomeric N,N-diisopropyl 2-diphenylphosphino- and 2-di(tert-butyl)phosphino-1-naphthamides were used, for the first time, as bidentate P,O-ligands for intermolecular asymmetric Heck reactions of 2,3-dihydrofuran with aryl triflates. The reactions were carried out in the presence of 4 mol% Pd(OAc)₂, 8 mol% of the axially chiral ligand, and 3 equiv. of (i-Pr)₂NEt in THF at 60 °C for 3 days. Optically active 2-aryl-2,5-dihydrofurans were obtained as the major products along with the rearranged 2-aryl-2,3-dihydrofurans. Enantioselectivity up to 55.2% ee was obtained for the major product.     

Synthesis of novel multidentate carbohydrate-triazole ligands

Cu(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (click reaction) of 1 mol equiv of N,N′-di-prop-2-ynyl-phthalamide (1a), N,N′-di-prop-2-ynyl-isophthalamide (1b), and pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid bis-prop-2-ynylamide (1c), respectively with 2 mol equiv of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl azide (2a), 2-azidoethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (2b), and 2-azidoethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-mannopyranoside (2c), respectively, afforded the corresponding bis-cycloadducts 3-5, containing two 1,2,3-triazole moieties each, in 38-76% yield. Reaction of 1 mol equiv of 2c with 1 mol equiv of 1c under otherwise identical conditions gave the mono-cycloadduct 6, containing one 1,2,3-triazole and one 2-propynylamide moiety, in 77% yield. Reaction of 6 with 2a afforded 7, containing two different sugar moieties, in 67% yield.     

Synthesis and characterization of aluminum complexes of 2-pyrazol-1-yl-ethenolate ligands

The synthesis and the characterization of some new aluminum complexes with bidentate 2-pyrazol-1-yl-ethenolate ligands are described. 2-(3,5-Disubstituted pyrazol-1-yl)-1-phenylethanones, 1-PhC(O)CH₂-3,5-R₂C₃HN₂ (1a, R = Me; 1b, R = Bu^t), were prepared by solventless reaction of 3,5-dimethyl pyrazole or 3,5-di-tert-butyl pyrazole with PhC(O)CH₂Br. Reaction of 1a or 1b with (R¹ = Me, Et) yielded N,O-chelate alkylaluminum complexes (2a, R = R¹ = Me; 2b, R = Bu^t, R¹ = Me; 2c, R = Me, R¹ = Et). Compound 1a was readily lithiated with LiBuⁿ in thf or toluene to give lithiated species 3. Treatment of 3 with 0.5 equiv of MeAlCl₂ or AlCl₃ yielded five-coordinated aluminum complexes [XAl(OC(Ph)CH{(3,5-Me₂C₃HN₂)-1})₂] (4, X = Me; 5, X = Cl). Reaction of 5 with an equiv of LiHBEt₃ generated [Al(OC(Ph)CH{(3,5-Me₂C₃HN₂)-1})₃] (6). Complex 6 was also obtained by reaction of 3 with 1/3 equiv of AlCl₃. Treatment of 5 with 2 equiv of AlMe₃ yielded complex 2a, whereas with an equiv of AlMe₃ afforded a mixture of 2a and [Me(Cl)AlOC(Ph)CH{(3,5-Me₂C₃HN₂)-1}] (7). Compounds 1a, 1b, 2a-2c and 4-6 were characterized by elemental analyses, NMR and IR (for 1a and 1b) spectroscopy. The structures of complexes 2a and 5 were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Both 2a and 5 are monomeric in the solid state. The coordination geometries of the aluminum atoms are a distorted tetrahedron for 2a or a distorted trigonal bipyramid for 5.     

Organoplatinum(II) complexes with phosphite ligands

The phosphite complexes cis-[PtMe₂L(SMe₂)] in which L = P(OⁱPr)₃, 1a, or L = P(OPh)₃, 1b, were synthesized by the reaction of cis,cis-[Me₂Pt(μ-SMe₂)₂PtMe₂] with 2 equiv. of L. If 4 equiv. of L was used the bis-phosphite complexes cis-[PtMe₂L₂] in which L = P(OⁱPr)₃, 2a, or L = P(OPh)₃, 2b, were obtained. The reaction of cis-[Pt(p-MeC₆H₄)₂(SMe₂)₂] with 2 equiv. of L gave the aryl bis-phosphite complexes cis-[Pt(p-MeC₆H₄)₂L₂] in which L = P(OⁱPr)₃, 2a′, or L = P(OPh)₃, 2b′. Use of 1 equiv. of L in the latter reaction gave the bis-phosphite complex along with the starting complex in a 1:1 ratio.The complexes failed to react with MeI. The reaction of cis,cis-[Me₂Pt(μ-SMe₂)₂PtMe₂] with 2 equiv. of the phosphine PPh₃ gave cis-[PtMe₂(PPh₃)₂] and cis-[PtMe₂(PPh₃)(SMe₂)] along with unreacted starting material. Reaction of cis-[PtMe₂L(SMe₂)], 1a and 1b with the bidentate phosphine ligand bis(diphenylphosphino)methane, dppm = Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂, gave [PtMe₂(dppm)], 8, along with cis-[PtMe₂L₂], 2. The reaction of cis-[PtMe₂L(SMe₂)] with 1/2 equiv. of the bidentate N-donor ligand NN = 4,4′-bipyridine yielded the binuclear complexes [PtMe₂L(μ-NN)PtMe₂L] in which L = P(OⁱPr)₃, 3a, or L = P(OPh)₃, 3b.The complexes were fully characterized using multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, and ¹⁹⁵Pt) spectroscopy.     

A facile sulfonylation method enabling direct syntheses of per(2-O-sulfonyl)-β-cyclodextrins

Cs₂CO₃ was found to efficiently catalyze the reaction of β-cyclodextrin and N-tosylimidazole. Stirring β-cyclodextrin and N-tosylimidazole in 1/1.2 molar ratio in DMF in the presence of catalytic amount of Cs₂CO₃ at rt for 1.5 h afforded 2^A-mono(O-tosyl)-β-cyclodextrin in 32% yield. The 2^A,2^B-, 2^A,2^C- and 2^A,2^D-ditosylates were isolated in ca. 6-7% yields, respectively, when β-cyclodextrin and N-tosylimidazole were used in 1/2.5 molar ratio. The charge of excess (10 equiv) of N-tosylimidazole ensured a one-step direct (protection-free) synthesis of the per(2-O-tosyl)-β-cyclodextrin in 5% isolated yield. N-(m-Nitrobenzenesulfonyl)imidazole even allowed a much faster access to the corresponding persulfonate in only 1 h reaction.     

Syntheses and characterization of mixed-chelate copper(II) complexes containing different counter ions; spectroscopic studies on solvatochromic properties

Solvatochromic mixed-chelate copper(II) complexes, [Cu(Cl-acac)(diamine)]X (where Cl-acac = 3-chloroacetylacetonate ion, diamine = N,N′-dimethyl,N′-benzyl-1,2-diaminoethane and X = B(Ph)₄⁻, PF₆⁻, BF₄⁻ and ClO₄⁻), have been prepared. The complexes were characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, molar conductance, UV-Vis and IR spectroscopies. Single crystals of [Cu(Cl-acac)(diamine)(H₂O)]PF₆, complex 2, were also characterized by X-ray diffraction. The influence of the solvent polarity and counter ions on the ν_max values of the d-d bands of the complexes have been investigated by means of visible spectroscopy. All the complexes demonstrated negative solvatochromism. A multi-parametric equation has been utilized to explain the solvent effect on the d-d transition of the complexes using SPSS/PC software. The stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) method demonstrated that the donor power of the solvent plays the most important role in the solvatochromism of the compounds. The relative donor power of the anions X was determined by visible spectra in the solvent dichloromethane.     

Reductive allylation of 1H-pyridine-2-(thio)ones by means of the novel lithium allyldibutylmagnesate reagent

A new, highly efficient allylation reagent—lithium allyldibutylmagnesate (allylBu₂MgLi)—was obtained by mixing allyl-magnesium chloride (1 equiv) and n-BuLi (2 equiv). N-Lithiated and N-methyl substituted 1H-pyridine-2-thiones and -ones were successfully and regioselectively allylated by treatment with allylBu₂MgLi yielding 6-allyl-3,6-dihydro-1H-pyridine-2-(thio)ones and 4-allyl-3,4-di-hydro-1H-pyridine-2-(thio)ones. The latter were formed by a 3,3-sigmatropic Cope rearrangement of the former.     

Highly efficient substitution of allylic picolinates with copper reagents derived from aryl-, alkenyl-, furyl-, and thienyl-lithiums

Substitution of optically active allylic picolinate, cis R¹-CH(OC(O)(2-Py))CHCHR² (R¹=(CH₂)₂Ph, R²=CH₂OTBS), with phenylcopper reagents derived from salt free PhLi (2 equiv) and CuBr·Me₂S (2 and 1 equiv, respectively) was highly promoted by MgBr₂ (3 equiv), producing anti S_N2′ product regio- and stereoselectively. This reagent system was proven to be general with several picolinates (R¹, R²: Ph(CH₂)₂, PMBO(CH₂)₃, Me, TBSOCH₂, PMBOCH₂, c-Hex). Furthermore, aryl copper reagents prepared from ArLi, which was in turn prepared by Li-halogen exchange, was proven to be compatible with the substitution in the presence of larger quantity of MgBr₂ than that of LiX coproduced by the exchange. Substitution was not interfered with the steric hindrance on aryl coppers (Ar: 2-MeOC₆H₄, 2,6-(MOMO)₂-4-MeC₆H₂, 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃, etc.). Similarly, stereodefined cis and trans alkenyl, furyl, and thienyl reagents gave the corresponding anti S_N2′ products efficiently.     

Synthesis and characterisation of titanium pyridine- and pyrimidine-thiolates and their application as precursors to titanium disulfide

The reaction of TiCl₄ with pyridine- and pyrimidine-thiol has been investigated. Reaction of TiCl₄ with 3 equiv. of 2-mercaptopyridine and 3 equiv. of tert-butylpyridine in toluene at room temperature resulted in the formation of the tris(pyridine-2-thiolate) complex [TiCl(SC₅H₄N)₃] (1). The related reaction between TiCl₄ with 3 equiv. of 2-mercaptopyrimidine and 3 equiv. of tert-butylpyridine in toluene at room temperature resulted in the isolation of the complex [TiCl(SC₄H₃N₂)₃] (2). Compound 2 has been characterised by X-ray crystallography. Low pressure CVD of 1 and 2 produced brown/gold films of TiS₂/TiO₂ on glass substrates at 550 and 600 °C.     

Synthesis and X-ray structures of new chiral Ag(I) complexes with biaryl-based N4-donor ligands

Condensation of (R)-2,2′-diamino-1,1′-binaphthyl or (R)-6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl-2,2′-diamine with 2 equiv of 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde in toluene in the presence of molecular sieves at 70 °C gives (R)-N,N′-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diimine (1), and (R)-N,N′-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)-6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl-2,2′-diimine (3), respectively, in good yields. Reduction of 1 with an excess of NaBH₄ in a solvent mixture of MeOH and toluene (1:1) at 50 °C gives (R)-N,N′-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine (2) in 95% yield. Rigidity plays an important role in the formation of helicate silver(I) complexes. Treatment of 1, or 3 with 1 equiv of AgNO₃ in mixed solvents of MeOH and CH₂Cl₂ (1:4) gives the chiral, dinuclear double helicate Ag(I) complexes [Ag₂(1)₂][NO₃]₂ (4) and [Ag₂(3)₂][NO₃]₂ · 2H₂O (6), respectively, in good yields. While under the similar reaction conditions, reaction of 2 with 1 equiv of AgNO₃ affords the chiral, mononuclear single helicate Ag(I) complex [Ag(2)][NO₃] (5) in 90% yield. [Ag₂(1)₂][NO₃]₂ (4) can further react with excess AgNO₃ to give [Ag₂(1)₂]₃[NO₃]₂[Ag(CH₃OH)(NO₃)₃]₂ · 2CH₃OH (7) in 75% yield. All compounds have been fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and elemental analyses. Compounds 1 and 5-7 have been further subjected to single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.     

An improved procedure for the diastereoselective addition of triorganozincates to N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines: use of catalytic dialkylzinc

The addition of triorganozincates to (R)-N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)benzaldimine has been performed with very good results by using a catalytic amount of Me₂Zn (0.15 equiv) to generate the organozincate. Yields and/or diastereoselectivities of the formed α-branched sulfinamides improve in comparison with the values obtained in the same reactions carried out with an excess of a previously formed triorganozincate. On the other hand, the transfer of the two alkyl groups of a dialkylzinc reagent to the imine has been achieved by using 0.5 equiv of dialkylzinc and 1.5 equiv of MeMgBr to generate the trialkylzincate. In both methods, good to excellent yields and diastereomeric ratios (up to 98:2) have been obtained.     

Uranyl(VI) complexes of [O,N,O,N′]-type diaminobis(phenolate) ligands: Syntheses,structures and extraction studies

The syntheses and crystal structures of four new uranyl complexes with [O,N,O,N′]-type ligands are described. The reaction between uranyl nitrate hexahydrate and the phenolic ligand [(N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzyl)-N′,N′-dimethylethylenediamine)], H₂L1 in a 1:2 molar ratio (M to L), yields a uranyl complex with the formula [UO₂(HL1)(NO₃)] · CH₃CN (1). In the presence of a base (triethylamine, one mole per ligand mole) with the same molar ratio, the uranyl complex [UO₂(HL1)₂] (2) is formed. The reaction between uranyl nitrate hexahydrate and the ligand [(N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-t-butylbenzyl)-N′,N′-dimethylethylenediamine)], H₂L2, yields a uranyl complex with the formula [UO₂(HL2)(NO₃)] · 2CH₃CN (3) and the ligand [N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzyl)amine], H₂L3, in the presence of a base yields a uranyl complex with the formula [UO₂(HL3)₂] · 2CH₃CN (4). The molecular structures of 1–4 were verified by X-ray crystallography. The complexes 1–4 are zwitter ions with a neutral net charge. Compounds 1 and 3 are rare neutral mononuclear [UO₂(HLn)(NO₃)] complexes with the nitrate bonded in η²-fashion to the uranyl ion. Furthermore, the ability of the ligands H₂L1–H₂L4 to extract the uranyl ion from water to dichloromethane, and the selectivity of extraction with ligands H₂L1, H₃L5 (N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzyl)-3-amino-1-propanol), H₂L6 · HCl (N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-5-tert-butyl-3-methylbenzyl)-1-aminobutane · HCl) and H₃L7 · HCl (N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-5-tert-butyl-3-methylbenzyl)-6-amino-1-hexanol · HCl) under varied chemical conditions were studied. As a result, the most efficient and selective ligand for uranyl ion extraction proved to be H₃L7 · HCl.     

Chelation-controlled asymmetric aminohalogenation reaction

The chelation-controlled asymmetric aminohalogenation of α,β-unsaturated 3-aryl-N-acyl-N-4-phenyl-2-oxazolidinones have been established by using palladium(II) acetate as the catalyst and as the chelation metal. The reaction is very convenient to perform by simply mixing the three reactants, cinnamates, N,N-dichloro-p-toluenesulfonamide and catalyst together with 4 Å molecular sieves at rt in any convenient vial of appropriate size without special protection from inert gases. Unlike the previous asymmetric aminohalogenation, the ionic liquid, [BMIM][NTf₂], was found to be superior to [BMIM][BF₄] as the reaction media. It was also found that palladium(II) acetate has to be used together with 1 equiv of MeCN to achieve the opposite chelation control. The resulting absolute stereochemistry of the product was unambiguously determined by X-ray structural analysis.     

Uranyl ion complexes with long chain aminoalcoholbis(phenolate) [O,N,O,O′] donor ligands

The reaction between uranyl nitrate hexahydrate and phenolic ligand precursor [(N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzyl)-4-amino-1-butanol) · HCl], H₃L1 · HCl, leads to a uranyl complex [UO₂(H₂L1)₂] (1a) and [UO₂(H₂L1)₂] · 2CH₃CN (1b). The ligand [(N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-5-tert-butyl-3-methylbenzyl)-4-amino-1-butanol)H₃L2 · HCl], H₃L2 · HCl, yields a uranyl complex with a formula [UO₂(H₂L2)₂] · CH₃CN (2). The ligand [(N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzyl)-5-amino-1-pentanol) · HCl], H₃L3 · HCl, produces a uranyl complex with a formula [UO₂(H₂L3)₂] · 2CH₃CN (3) and the ligand [(N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-5-tert-butyl-3-methylbenzyl)-5-amino-1-pentanol) · HCl], H₃L4 · HCl, leads to a uranyl complex with a formula [UO₂(H₂L4)₂] · 2CH₃CN (4). The ligand [(N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-5-tert-butyl-3-methylbenzyl)-6-amino-1-hexanol) · HCl], H₃L5 · HCl, leads to a uranyl complex with a formula [UO₂(H₂L5)₂] · 4toluene (5). The complexes 1–5 are obtained using a molar ratio of 1:2 (U to L) in the presence of a base (triethylamine). The molecular structures of 1a, 1b, 3, 4 and 5 were verified by X-ray crystallography. All complexes are neutral zwitterions and have similar centrosymmetric, mononuclear, distorted octahedral uranyl structures with the four coordinating phenoxo ligands in an equatorial plane. In uranyl ion extraction studies from water to dichloromethane with ligands H₃L1 · HCl–H₃L5 · HCl, ligands H₃L1 · HCl, H₃L4 · HCl and H₃L5 · HCl are the most effective ones.     

Magnesium complexes based on an amido-bis(pyrazolyl) ligand: Synthesis,crystal structures,and use in lactide polymerization

The coordination chemistry of the tridentate N,N,N pro-ligand bis[2-(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)ethyl]amine (1, LH) with dialkylmagnesium and monoalkyl magnesium halides has been studied. Reaction of 2 equiv of 1 with Mg(nBu)₂ gave bis(amido) complex [L]₂Mg (3), which is monomeric in the solid state. Alkane elimination reactions from iPrMgCl and MeMgI with 1 equiv of 1 afforded the corresponding halide complexes {[L]MgCl}₂ (4) and {[L]MgI}₂ (5), which both feature dimeric structures in the solid state, with a chelating and spanned coordination mode of the tridentate ligand, respectively. Additionally, bis(amido) complex 3 was shown to be active for the ring-opening polymerization of racemic lactide at room temperature to yield atactic polylactides with high initiation efficiencies and relatively narrow polydispersities (M_w/M_n = 1.28–1.34).     

Novel hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate ruthenium(II) complexes containing the water-soluble phosphane 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane: Synthesis and evaluation of DNA binding properties

A series of half-sandwich ruthenium(II) complexes containing κ³(N,N,N)-hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate (κ³(N,N,N)-Tp) and the water-soluble phosphane 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) [RuX{κ³(N,N,N)-Tp}(PPh₃)_2−n(PTA)_n] (n = 2, X = Cl (1), n = 1, X = Cl (2), I (3), NCS (4), H (5)) and [Ru{κ³(N,N,N)-Tp}(PPh₃)(PTA)L][PF₆] (L = NCMe (6), PTA (7)) have been synthesized. Complexes containing 1-methyl-3,5-diaza-1-azonia-7-phosphaadamantane(m-PTA) triflate [RuCl{κ³(N,N,N)-Tp}(m-PTA)₂][CF₃SO₃]₂ (8) and [RuX{κ³(N,N,N)-Tp}(PPh₃)(m-PTA)][CF₃SO₃] (X = Cl (9), H (10)) have been obtained by treatment, respectively, of complexes 1, 2 and 5 with methyl triflate. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis for complexes 1, 2 and 4 have been carried out. DNA binding properties by using a mobility shift assay and antimicrobial activity of selected complexes have been evaluated.     

Trihaloacetaldehyde N,O-acetals: useful building blocks for dihalomethylene compounds

The reaction of trifluoroacetaldehyde N,O-acetals with more than 2 equiv of alkyllithiums at −78 °C resulted in regiospecific defluorinative alkylation with unusual regioselectivity to give α,α-difluoroketone N,O-acetals in excellent yield. In contrast, under similar conditions, trichloroacetaldehyde N,O-acetals gave simple mono-dechlorinated product without the alkyl transfer reaction from alkyllithiums to the generated intermediates.     

Synthesis, characterization, and ethylene polymerization behavior of [(RR′-admpzp)2Ti(OPr)2] complexes (RR′-admpzp = 1-dialkylamino-3-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)-propan-2-olate)

[(RR′-admpzp)₂Ti(OPrⁱ)₂] complexes (2a-c), synthesized from reaction of Ti(OPrⁱ)₃Cl (0.5 equiv) with 1-dialkylamino-3-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)-propan-2-ol compounds in the presence of triethylamine (0.5 equiv), are pseudo-octahedral with each RR′-admpzp ligand κ²-O,N(pyrazolyl) coordinated to the titanium center. In solution, 2a-c adopt isomeric structures that are in dynamic equilibrium. At 23 °C, 2a-c/1000 MAO catalyst systems furnished high molecular weight polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n = 2.7-2.8). At 100 °C, 2a-c/MAO catalyst systems exhibited increased polymerization activity and 2c/1000 MAO system furnished high molecular weight polyethylene with a molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 2.1) that is close to that found for single-site catalysts.