Olefin metathesis featuring ruthenium indenylidene complexes with a sterically demanding NHC ligand

The synthesis and characterization of two new ruthenium indenylidene complexes [RuCl(2)(SIPr)(Py)(Ind)] 6 and [RuCl(2)(SIPr)(3-BrPy)(Ind)] 7 featuring the sterically demanding N-heterocyclic carbene 1,3-bis(2,6-di isopropylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene (SIPr) are reported. Remarkable activity was observed with these complexes in ring closing, enyne, and cross metathesis of olefins at low catalyst loadings. The performance of SIPr-bearing complexes 6 and 7 as well as [RuCl(2)(SIPr)(PCy(3))(Ind)] 5 in ring opening metathesis polymerization is also disclosed. This work highlights the enormous influence of the neutral "spectator" ligands on catalyst activity and stability.     

Screening of a modular sugar-based phosphite-oxazoline ligand library in asymmetric Pd-catalyzed heck reactions

We have synthesised a library of phosphite-oxazoline ligands derived from readily available D-glucosamine. These ligands have been successfully screened in the palladium-catalysed Heck reaction of several substrates with high regio- (up to 99 %) and enantioselectivities (ee's up to 99 %) as well as with improved activities under standard thermal conditions. The results indicate that the catalytic performance is highly affected by the oxazoline and biarylphosphite substituents and the axial chirality of the biaryl moiety of the ligand. The Heck reactions were also performed under microwave irradiation conditions, allowing a considerably shorter reaction time (full conversion in minutes) maintaining the excellent regio- and enantioselectivities.     

Di(benzothiazol-2-yl)phosphanide as a Janus-head ligand to caesium

Starting from tris(benzothiazol-2-yl)phosphane (1) an advanced Janus-head ligand, di(benzothiazol-2-yl)phosphane (2), was synthesised and structurally characterised. The heteroaryl substituents of this ligand provide both hard and soft donor sites. Surprisingly, the phosphorus atom in 2 is divalent and the hydrogen atom is directly bonded to one ring nitrogen atom and hydrogen bonded to the second. Compound 2 decomposes in any common solvent other than diethyl ether and a new preparation to improve the yields of 2 is presented. A coordination polymer, [{Cs(bth)(2)P}8] (3) (bth=benzothiazol-2-yl), was obtained when the sec-phosphane 2 was allowed to react with elemental caesium in a 1:1 ratio in diethyl ether at -78 degrees C. In 3 each anion is coordinated to four caesium cations and vice versa. The central phosphorus atom is coordinated to two metal atoms above and below the mean plane of the anion in positions in which the two lone pairs of a four-electron donor are anticipated. Two additional cations micro-bridge both ring nitrogen atoms. Hence both faces of the Janus-head ligand are coordinated to the same number of metal cations but in a different way.     

Alkyne oligomerization mediated by rhodium complexes with a phosphinosulfonamido ligand and isolation and characterization of a rhodacyclopentadiene complex

Treatment of N-tosyl aziridine with KPPh₂ in THF produces Ph₂PCH₂CH₂NTsK (Ts = p-CH₃C₆H₄SO₂). Reaction of Ph₂PCH₂CH₂NTsK with [Rh₂(μ₂-Cl)₂(NBD)₂] (NBD = norbornadiene) and [Rh₂(μ₂-Cl)₂(COD)₂] (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) produces [Rh(NBD)(Ph₂PCH₂CH₂NTs)] and [Rh(COD)(Ph₂PCH₂CH₂NTs)] (4), respectively. Reaction of Ph₂PCH₂CH₂NTsK with [Ir₂(μ₂-Cl)₂(COD)₂] gives [Ir(COD)(Ph₂PCH₂CH₂NTs)]. Complex 4 is catalytically active for polymerization of arylalkynes and for cyclotrimerization of HCCCOR (R = OEt, Me). The novel metallacycle [Rh(C(CO₂Et)CHC(CO₂Et)CH)(CH(CO₂Et)CCCCO₂Et)(Ph₂PCH₂CH₂NHTs)₂] was isolated from the reaction of 4 with ethyl propiolate. The metallacycle is catalytically active for cyclotrimerization of ethyl propiolate.     

Structure and bonding of proximity-enforced main-group dimers stabilized by a rigid naphthyridine diimine ligand

The development of ligands capable of effectively stabilizing highly reactive main-group species has led to the experimental realization of a variety of systems with fascinating properties. In this work, we computationally investigate the electronic, structural, energetic, and bonding features of proximity-enforced group 13–15 homodimers stabilized by a rigid expanded pincer ligand based on the 1,8-naphthyridine (napy) core. We show that the redox-active naphthyridine diimine (NDI) ligand enables a wide variety of structural motifs and element-element interaction modes, the latter ranging from isolated, element-centered lone pairs (e.g., E = Si, Ge) to cases where through-space π bonds (E = Pb), element-element multiple bonds (E = P, As) and biradical ground states (E = N) are observed. Our results hint at the feasibility of NDI-E₂ species as viable synthetic targets, highlighting the versatility and potential applications of napy-based ligands in main-group chemistry.     

Oxidation by oxygen and sulfur of Tin(IV) derivatives containing a redox-active o-amidophenolate ligand

Oxidation of tin(IV) o-amidophenolate complexes [Sn(ap)Ph(2)] (1) and [Sn(ap)Et(2)(thf)] (2) (ap=dianion of 4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-o-iminobenzoquinone (ImQ)) with molecular oxygen and sulfur in toluene solutions was investigated. The reaction of oxygen with 1 at room temperature forms a paramagnetic derivative [Sn(isq)(2)Ph(2)] (3) (isq=radical anion of ImQ) and diphenyltin(IV) oxide [{Ph(2)SnO}(n)]. Interaction of 1 with sulfur gives another monophenyl-substituted paramagnetic tin(IV) complex, [Sn(ap)(isq)Ph] (4), and the sulfide, [Ph(3)Sn](2)S. The oxidation of 2 with oxygen and with sulfur proceeds through the derivative [Sn(isq)(2)Et(2)] (7), which undergoes alkyl elimination to give two new tin(IV) compounds, [Sn(ap)(isq)Et] (5) and [Sn(ap)(EtImQ)Et] (6) (EtImQ=2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)-3-ethylcyclohexa-1,4-dienolate ligand), respectively, along with the corresponding alkyltin(IV) oxide and sulfide. Complexes 3-5 and 7 were studied by EPR spectroscopy. The structures of 3, 4 and 6 were investigated by X-ray analysis.     

Square-planar iridium(II) and iridium(III) amido complexes stabilized by a PNP pincer ligand

Squaring the circle: the novel dienamido pincer ligand N(CHCHPtBu(2))(2)(-) affords the isolation of the unusual square-planar iridium(II) and iridium(III) amido complexes [IrCl{N(CHCHPtBu(2))(2)}](n) (n=0 (1), +1 (2)). In contrast, the corresponding iridium(I) complex of the redox series (n=-1) is surprisingly unstable. The diamagnetism of 2 is attributed to strong N→Ir π donation.     

First use of a palladium complex with a thiosemicarbazone ligand as catalyst precursor for the Heck reaction

A novel palladium complex with salicylaldehyde N(4)-ethylthiosemicarbazone has been synthesized and according to its crystal structure the ligand is bound to the metal in an O, N, S-terdentate coordination mode. This phosphorus-free system efficiently catalyzes the Heck reaction of aryl bromides (from electron-rich to electron-poor) with styrene under argon, with turnover numbers of up to 43,000, at 150 °C after 24 h, and with a selectivity toward trans-stilbenes ranging from 92 to 96%. In air, for activated aryl bromides and for a palladium concentration of 1 mM, the yields are essentially the same as those obtained when the reaction was performed under argon.     

Amorphous silica as a versatile supermolecular ligand for Ni(II) amine complexes: toward interfacial molecular recognition.

Selective adsorption of Ni(II) amine complexes used as precursors for supported catalysts was studied on amorphous silica surfaces. The nature of the adsorption sites was probed by [Ni(en)(dien) (H2O)]2+, [Ni(en)2(H2O)2]2+, and [Ni(dien)(H2O)3]2+ (en = ethylenediamine, dien = diethylenetriamine), which respectively contain one, two, and three labile aqua ligands. The silica surface acts as a mono- or polydentate ligand that can substitute the aqua ligands of the Ni(II) complexes in an inner-sphere adsorption mechanism. Room-temperature adsorption isotherms indicate that each nickel complex selects a limited number of adsorption sites; different sites are recognised by the three complexes, even though they have the same charge and comparable sizes. Several spectroscopic techniques (UV/Vis/NIR, EXAFS, and 29Si NMR) were used to confirm the selective character of the interaction of Ni(II) amine complexes with the silica surface. The specific sites include both silanol/silanolate groups in the same number as the original labile ligands and other surface groups that probably act as hydrogen-bond acceptors. These two types of groups cooperate to result in interfacial molecular-recognition phenomena with interactional complementarity.