Selective arylation of aldehydes with di-rhodium(II)/NHC catalysts

Here is described the preparation of four new rhodium(II) complexes bearing axial NHC ligands. The presence of electron-withdrawing bridging ligands resulted in an enhanced reactivity in the arylation of aldehydes with boronic acids when compared with the tetraacetate counterparts. Complex 15 (Rh₂tfa₄(IPr)₂) proved to be the most active catalyst for this transformation allowing the selective conversion of aromatic, aliphatic and vinyl aldehydes into the respective alcohols in excellent yields. It was demonstrated that the good group tolerance could be further extended to aromatic and conjugated ketones. DFT calculations carried out on this system showed the complementarily of the bridging ligands and axial ligand in these dinuclear complexes. It was also disclosed that Rh(II)/NHC catalytic system can promote the racemization of 1-phenyl ethanol.     

Dirhodium(II) tetrakis(perfluorobutyrate)-catalyzed 1,4-hydrosilylation of alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

The use of dirhodium(II) catalysts in the 1,4-hydrosilylation of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and aldehydes was explored. Dirhodium(II) tetrakis(perfluorobutyrate), Rh2(pfb)4, proved to be the catalyst of choice for this process, providing the corresponding silyl enol ethers in high yields.     

Ligand-induced control of C-H versus aliphatic C-C migration reactions of Rh carbenoids

The reaction of lithiated trimethylsilyldiazomethane (LTMSD) with aldehydes and subsequent quenching with TMSCl furnished relatively stable alpha-silylated diazocompounds. Upon treatment of the alpha-silylated diazocompounds with Rh2(OAc)4 in refluxing toluene, alpha-silyl silyl enol ethers were formed from unbranched and branched aliphatic aldehydes through predominantly 1,2-migration of the C-H bond. In contrast, treatment of the alpha-silylated diazocompounds with Rh2(tfa)4 at room temperature gave alpha-silyl silyl enol ethers through exclusive and unusual 1,2-migration of the C-C bond. The origin of the selectivity observed from the two catalysts is discussed in relation to early and late transition states.     

Well-defined,air-stable (NHC)Pd(Allyl)Cl (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) catalysts for the arylation of ketones

A number of palladium-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes were found to be active catalysts for the arylation of ketones. A large number of substrates, both aryl halides and ketones, are compatible with the reaction conditions. The ketone arylation reactions are achieved with low catalyst loading in short reaction times using aryl chlorides and triflates as reactive partners. [reaction: see text]     

Determination of equilibrium constants and computational interaction energies for adducts of [Rh2(RCO2)(4-n)(PC)n] (n = 0-2) with Lewis bases

Properties of dirhodium catalysts with cyclometalated aryl phosphine ligands have been studied. We report here the study of the acid-base reaction of Rh2(RCO2)2(PC)2(H2O)2 catalysts (PC = cyclometalated aryl phosphine) with different Lewis bases. The determination of the equilibrium constants of these reactions can be used to study to which extent the properties of the axial coordination site of the catalyst, considered the active site, are affected by modification of the metalated phosphines, the carboxylate ligands, or the incoming axial ligand. The trends in the computational density functional theory interaction energies show good agreement with the major trends in the equilibrium constants, thus enabling a further study of the influence of the modification of the ligand core.     

Unprecedented head-to-head conformers of d(GpG) bound to the antitumor active compound tetrakis (mu-carboxylato)dirhodium(II,II)

The N7/O6 equatorial binding interactions of the antitumor active complex Rh(2)(OAc)(4)(H(2)O)(2) (OAc(-) = CH(3)CO(2)(-)) with the DNA fragment d(GpG) have been unambiguously determined by NMR spectroscopy. Previous X-ray crystallographic determinations of the head-to-head (HH) and head-to-tail (HT) adducts of dirhodium tetraacetate with 9-ethylguanine (9-EtGH) revealed unprecedented bridging N7/O6 guanine nucleobases that span the Rh-Rh bond. The absence of N7 protonation at low pH and the notable increase in the acidity of N1-H (pK(a) approximately 5.7 as compared to 8.5 for N7 only bound platinum adducts), suggested by the pH dependence titrations of the purine H8 (1)H NMR resonances for Rh(2)(OAc)(2)(9-EtG)(2) and Rh(2)(OAc)(2-)[d(GpG)],are consistent with bidentate N7/O6 binding of the guanine nucleobases. The pK(a) values estimated for N1-H (de)protonation, from the pH dependence studies of the C6 and C2 (13)C NMR resonances for the Rh(2)(OAc)(2)(9-EtG)(2) isomers, concur with those derived from the H8 (1)H NMR resonance titrations. Comparison of the (13)C NMR resonances of C6 and C2 for the dirhodium adducts Rh(2)(OAc)(2)(9-EtG)(2) and Rh(2)(OAc)(2)[d(GpG)] with the corresponding resonances of the unbound ligands [at pH 7.0 for 9-EtGH and pH 8.0 for d(GpG)], shows substantial downfield shifts of Deltadelta approximately 11.0 and 6.0 ppm for C6 and C2, respectively; the latter shifts reflect the effect of O6 binding to the dirhodium centers and the ensuing enhancement in the acidity of N1-H. Intense H8/H8 ROE cross-peaks in the 2D ROESY NMR spectrum of Rh(2)(OAc)(2)[d(GpG)] indicate head-to-head arrangement of the guanine bases. The Rh(2)(OAc)(2)[d(GpG)] adduct exhibits two major right-handed conformers, HH1 R and HH2 R, with HH1 R being three times more abundant than the unusual HH2 R. Complete characterization of both adducts revealed repuckering of the 5'-G sugar rings to C3'-endo (N-type), retention of C2'-endo (S-type) conformation for the 3'-G sugar rings, and anti orientation with respect to the glycosyl bonds. The structural features obtained for Rh(2)(OAc)(2))[d(GpG)] by means of NMR spectroscopy are very similar to those for cis-[Pt(NH(3))(2))[d(GpG)]] and corroborate molecular modeling studies.     

N-Heterocyclic carbene–rhodium complexes as catalysts for hydroformylation and related reactions

Rhodium(I) complexes with N-heterocyclic carbenes (Rh–NHC) can be considered as important candidates for catalysts of hydroformylation of olefins. The high stability of Rh-C(NHC) bonding under reaction conditions allow to expect that NHC ligand will be present in coordination sphere of the catalytically active rhodium complex and therefore influences the reaction yield and regioselectivity. The potential applicability of Rh–NHC complexes containing chiral carbene ligand in asymmetric hydroformylation can be also considered. The excellent review articles relevant to application of Rh–NHC in hydroformylation have been published recently [1], [2], [3]. After that, important contributions to this subject, concerning theoretical and experimental studies, both structural and catalytic, have been reported. Therefore, the reactivity of Rh–NHC complexes can be discussed now in term of these new data. The up to now reported results indicate that the most promising and selective systems for hydroformylation can be composed from Rh–NHC complex and stoichiometric amount of electron-withdrawing phosphorus ligand.     

Expeditious and novel synthesis of α-hydroxyesters via rhodium–NHC catalyzed arylation of ethyl glyoxalate

The rhodium–NHC catalyzed arylation reaction of ethyl glyoxalate with aryl and alkyl boronic acids provides an efficient method for the synthesis of α-hydroxyesters. A wide range of α-hydroxyesters (up to 12) were prepared in good to excellent yields. KO^tBu was the base of choice, along with tert-amyl alcohol as the solvent. As far as we are aware, this is the first report of this catalytic arylation, using rhodium–NHC catalysts with this specific substrate type.     

Simple strategy for the immobilization of dirhodium tetraprolinate catalysts using a pyridine-linked solid support

Dirhodium tetracarboxylates are readily immobilized on agitation in the presence of highly cross-linked polystyrene resins with a pyridine attachment. A systematic study demonstrates that the polymer backbone, the linker, the terminal pyridine group, and the catalyst structure all contribute to the efficiency of dirhodium catalyst immobilization. The immobilization is considered to be due to the combination of ligand coordination and encapsulation. The dirhodium tetraprolinate catalysts, Rh2(S-DOSP)4 (1a), Rh2(S-TBSP)4 (1b), and Rh2(S-biTISP)2 (2), are all efficiently immobilized. The resulting heterogeneous complexes are very effective catalysts for asymmetric cyclopropanation between methyl phenyldiazoacetate and styrene, and under optimized conditions they can be recycled five times with virtually no loss in enantioselectivity. The three-phase test studies indicated that a very slow reaction occurs when both the catalyst and the diazo compound were immobilized, but the slow rate precluded the likelihood that the cyclopropanation was predominately occurring by a release-and-capture mechanism.     

Rh(NHC)-catalyzed direct and selective arylation of quinolines at the 8-position

A new catalytic protocol for the regioselective direct arylation of quinoline derivatives at the 8-position has been developed. The reaction is catalyzed by a Rh(NHC) system, and the choice of the NHC ligand was most important for achieving high reactivity and selectivity.     

Enantio- and diastereoselective hetero-Diels-Alder reactions between 2-aza-3-silyloxy-1,3-butadienes and aldehydes catalyzed by chiral dirhodium(II) carboxamidates

The first catalytic asymmetric hetero-Diels-Alder reaction between 2-aza-3-silyloxy-1,3-butadienes and aldehydes is described. With dirhodium(II) tetrakis[N-benzene-fused-phthaloyl-(S)-piperidinonate], Rh(2)(S-BPTPI)(4), the cycloaddition reaction proceeded exclusively in an endo mode to give all-cis-substituted 1,3-oxazinan-4-ones in high yields with up to 98% ee.     

Synthesis of novel planar chiral Ag and Rh N-heterocyclic carbene complexes derived from [2.2]paracyclophane and their application in ultrasound assisted asymmetric addition reactions of organoboronic acids to aldehydes

Three novel planar chiral N-heterocyclic carbene silver and rhodium complexes based on [2.2]paracyclophane have been prepared. These could be used as catalysts/precatalysts for the asymmetric 1,2-addition of organoboronic acids to aldehydes. We optimized the reaction conditions and have applied ultrasonic irradiation in the asymmetric arylation for the first time. Under ultrasound irradiation, the combination of planar chiral NHC–Ag complex 5 and RhCl₃ can achieve higher catalytic activities in the asymmetric addition of organoboronic acids to aldehydes.     

Imidazolium carboxylates as versatile and selective N-heterocyclic carbene transfer agents: synthesis, mechanism, and applications

N,N'-Disubstituted imidazolium carboxylates, readily synthetically available, isolable, air- and water-stable reagents, efficiently transfer N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) groups to Rh, Ir, Ru, Pt, and Pd, to give novel NHC complexes, e.g., [Pd(NHC)3OAc]OAc and [Pt(NHC)3Cl]Cl (NHC = 1,3-dimethyl imidazol-2-ylidene). The NHC esters are also effective. Tuning the reaction conditions for NHC transfer can give either mono- or bis-NHCs, or bis- and tris-NHCs. A net N to C rearrangement of the N-alkyl imidazole complex to the corresponding NHC complex was seen with (MeO)2CO (DMC). DFT calculations identify the steps needed to form the carboxylate from imidazole and DMC: SN2 methyl transfer from DMC to imidazole, followed by proton transfer from the imidazolium CH to the carboxylate counterion, produces the free NHC H-bonded to MeOH with a weakly associated CO2. The nucleophilic NHC attacks CO2 to form NHC-CO2. NHC transfer to the metal with loss of CO2 has been calculated for Rh(cod)Cl. A proposed two-cis-site reactivity model rationalizes the experimental data: two such vacant sites at the metal are needed to allow coordination of the NHC-CO2 carboxylate and subsequent CC cleavage with NHC transfer. Partial cod decoordination or chloride loss is thus required for Rh(cod)Cl. Chloride dissociation, calculated to be easier in polar solvent, is confirmed experimentally from the retarding effect of excess chloride.     

Sterically demanding diporphyrin ligands and rhodium(II) porphyrin bimetalloradical complexes

A series of sterically demanding diporphyrins H2(por)-X-(por)H2 ligands that contain spacers (X) with different degrees of flexibility were synthesized from the trimesitylporphyrin derivatives 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20-trimesitylporphyrin (TMP-OH)H2 (1a) and 5-(2,6-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20-trimesityl-porphyrin, (DMTMP-OH)H2 (1b). The monomeric porphyrins 1a,b, which have steric demands similar to that of tetramesitylporphyrin, (TMP)H2, and carry a hydroxyl functional group at the para position of one of the mesophenyl substituents, were constructed from reaction of pyrrole with two aromatic aldehydes by a mixed aldehyde condensation approach. The diporphyrins with alkyl diether tethers were obtained stepwise from reactions of the hydroxy functionalized porphyrins 1a,b with dibromides Br(CH2)nBr. The diporphyrin which contains a more rigid m-xylylene spacer, was made directly from reaction of 1b with alpha,alpha'-dibromo-m-xylene. Rhodium was inserted into the porphyrins using Rh2(CO)2Cl2 and converted to dimethyl complexes Me-Rh(Por)-X-(Por)Rh-Me. The dirhodium(II) derivatives .Rh(por)-X-(por)Rh.) were generated by photolysis of the dimethyl complexes and observed to occur as stable bimetalloradicals because the ligand steric demands prohibit Rh(II)-Rh(II) bonding. EPR spectra of the dirhodium(II) derivatives, triphenyl phospine adducts, and dioxygen complexes are reported. The kinetic advantage of bimetalloradical complexes for substrate reactions that have two metal-centered radicals in the transition state is demonstrated by reactions of dihydrogen with dirhodium(II) bimetalloradical complexes.     

Enantiomer recognition of amides by dirhodium(II) tetrakis[methyl 2-oxopyrrolidine-5(S)-carboxylate

Association constants of the chiral dirhodium(II) carboxamidate Rh(2)(5S-MEPY)(4) with Lewis bases including acetonitrile and amides have been determined by UV-vis titration experiments. With chiral lactams and acyclic acetamides in their R- and S-configurations equilibrium constants with chiral dirhodium carboxamidates are measures of chiral differentiation, and equilibrium constant ratios as high as three have been determined. From equilibrium associations with acetamide, N-methylacetamide, and N,N-dimethylacetamide, as well as equilibrium constants for lactams and acyclic amides, higher values occur when both the amide carbonyl oxygen and N-H are bound to Rh(2)(5S-MEPY)(4). This cooperative bonding mode is confirmed by NMR measurements that show a distinctive shift of a N-H absorption, as well as perturbation of the ligands on dirhodium compound, and they suggest N-H association with a ligated oxygen of Rh(2)(5S-MEPY)(4). Measurements were made on the dirhodium(II) compound from which protective axial ligands have been removed to enhance their reliability.     

Isolation of the novel dirhodium(II/II) thiolate compound Rh(2)(eta(1)-C(6)H(5)S)(2)(mu-C(6)H(5)S)(2)(bpy)(2)

The reaction of the anticancer active compound [Rh(2)(mu-O(2)CCH(3))(2)(bpy)(2)(CH(3)CN)(2)][BF(4)](2) (1) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) with NaC(6)H(5)S under anaerobic conditions yields Rh(2)(eta(1)-C(6)H(5)S)(2)(mu-C(6)H(5)S)(2)(bpy)(2).CH(3)OH (2), which was characterized by UV-visible, IR, and (1)H NMR spectroscopies as well as single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Compound 2 crystallizes as dark red platelets in the monoclinic space group C2/c with cell parameters a = 20.398(4) A, b = 11.861(2) A, c = 17.417(4) A, beta = 108.98 degrees, V = 3984.9(14) A(3), Z = 4. The main structural features are the presence of a [Rh(2)](4+) core with a Rh-Rh distance of 2.549(2) A bridged by two benzene thiolate ligands in a butterfly-type arrangement. The axial positions of the [Rh(2)](4+) core are occupied by two terminal benzene thiolates. Cyclic voltammetric studies of 2 reveal that the compound exhibits an irreversible oxidation at +0.046 V in CH(3)CN, which is in accord with the fact that the compound readily oxidizes in the presence of O(2). The fact that this unusual dirhodium(II/II) thiolate compound is formed under these conditions is an important first step in understanding the metabolism of dirhodium anticancer active compounds with thiol-containing peptides and proteins.     

Dirhodium paddlewheel with functionalized carboxylate bridges: new building block for self-assembly and immobilization on solid support

A new dirhodium(II,II) paddlewheel complex, [Rh(2)(O(2)CC(6)H(4)COOC(2)H(5))(4)] (1), has been synthesized using a predesigned functionalized carboxylate, namely, 4-(ethoxycarbonyl)benzoate. The target product has been crystallized from the acetone solution and structurally characterized as a bis-acetone adduct, [Rh(2)(O(2)CC(6)H(4)COOC(2)H(5))(4)(OCMe(2))(2)]·C(6)H(14) (2). By utilizing the ability of dangling ester groups to coordinate to open axial ends of neighboring dirhodium units, 1 can self-assemble to form 2D networks upon crystallization from solutions of noncoordinating solvents such as chlorobenzene and chloroform. The resulting [Rh(2)(O(2)CC(6)H(4)COOC(2)H(5))(4)]·2C(6)H(5)Cl (3) and [Rh(2)(O(2)CC(6)H(4)COOC(2)H(5))(4)]·2CHCl(3) (4) products have microporous solid state structures with the pores filled with the corresponding disordered solvent molecules. Notably, 3 and 4 represent unique examples of 2D extended frameworks based on dirhodium tetracarboxylate paddlewheel units devoid of any exogenous ligands. In solution, the dangling ends of carboxylate bridges of 1 have been successfully utilized for condensation reaction with the selected solid support, benzylamine-functionalized polystyrene, allowing successful heterogenization of dirhodium units through the equatorial covalent attachment to the substrate. The resulting solid product was tested as a catalyst in the cyclopropanation reaction of styrene with methyl phenyldiazoacetate to show good yields and diastereoselectivity.     

Transition-metal-catalyzed formation of trans alkenes via coupling of aldehydes

[reaction: see text] Rh(2)(OAc)(4) catalyzed the formation of exclusively trans fluorinated alkenes from aldehydes and pentafluorobenzaldehyde tosylhydrazone salts, which were readily prepared from pentafluorobenzaldehyde using the Bamford-Stevens reaction. A series of pentafluorophenyl-containing alkenes were synthesized from aldehydes in moderate to good yields under mild reaction conditions in a one-pot reaction. It is the first report of coupling two different aldehydes to form exclusively trans alkenes.     

Novel C-C bond formation through addition of ammonium ylides to arylaldehydes: a facile approach to beta-aryl-beta-hydroxy alpha-amino acid frameworks

Ammonium ylides generated in situ from [small alpha]-diazo esters and amines in the presence of catalytic Rh2(OAc)4, undergo an aldol-type reaction with aldehydes affording highly substituted amino acid frameworks in a convergent, three-component reaction.