Synthesis of novel (NHC)Pd(acac)Cl complexes (acac=acetylacetonate) and their activity in cross-coupling reactions

The synthesis and characterization of two new complexes (IPr)Pd(acac)₂ (1) and (IPr)Pd(acac)Cl (2) (IPr=(N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol)-2-ylidene, acac=acetylacetonate) are described. Complex 2 can be prepared in a one-pot protocol in high yield. A study detailing the versatility of 2 to effectively catalyze a series of cross-coupling reactions is discussed.     

Modified [(IPr)Pd(R‐acac)Cl] Complexes: Influence of the acac Substitution on the Catalytic Activity in Aryl Amination

The synthesis of a series of [(IPr)Pd(R‐acac)Cl] precatalysts (acac=acetylacetonato; IPr=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene), where the acac ligand on palladium has been systematically modified through terminal substitution, is reported. The following substituted acac ligands are employed in this study: dibenzoylmethanato (dbm), benzoylacetonato (bac), tetramethylheptanedionato (tmhd), and hexafluoroacetylacetonato (hfac). Full spectroscopic characterization of the new complexes is provided along with X‐ray studies for three of these. Investigation of their catalytic activity in cross‐coupling is also presented through a comparative study in an aryl amination reaction. The catalytic results show a strong correlation between the increased steric bulk of the acac substituents and an increased activation rate of the precatalyst, going from the acac to the tmhd ligand. This observation, along with the inertness of the hfac compound, seems to support our previous proposal for the activation mechanism of these complexes under cross‐coupling conditions.     

Generation of [(IPr)Pd(PR2Cl)] complexes via P-Cl reductive elimination

Treatment of [(IPr)Pd(Cl)(2)(PR(2)H)] (IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene; R = Cy, tBu, or 1-Ad) with NaN(SiMe(3))(2) generated isolable [(IPr)Pd(PR(2)Cl)] complexes (68-75%) that have been crystallographically characterized. The formation of these mixed-ligand Pd(0) species in this manner corresponds to an unusual net dehydrohalogenation/P-Cl reductive elimination sequence.     

Room-temperature activation of aryl chlorides in Suzuki-Miyaura coupling using a [Pd(micro-Cl)Cl(NHC)]2 complex (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene)

A straightforwardly synthesised complex, [Pd(micro-Cl)Cl(NHC)](2) (NHC = bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene, IPr), has been employed to mediate Suzuki-Miyaura reactions involving aryl chlorides at very low catalyst loadings and at room temperature.     

Well‐defined NHC?Pd complex‐mediated intermolecular direct annulations for synthesis of functionalized indoles (NHC = N‐hetero‐cyclic carbene)

As alternatives to the common tertiary phosphine/Pd systems, well‐defined N‐heterocyclic carbene–Pd complexes have been proven to be highly efficient precatalysts for intermolecular direct annalution of o‐haloanilines and ketones at lower catalyst loadings. A highly efficient and practical protocol for synthesis of functionalized indoles was developed using (IPr)Pd(acac)Cl as catalyst. Both o‐bromoanilines and o‐chloroanilines gave rise to efficient coupling under the reaction conditions. Related to acyclic ones, cyclic ketones coupled more effectively with o‐haloanilines. With [Pd(IPr)₂] as catalyst, the base‐sensitive groups including OH and CO₂H groups could be tolerated. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cross-coupling and dehalogenation reactions catalyzed by (N-heterocyclic carbene)Pd(allyl)Cl complexes

A series of well-defined, air- and moisture-stable (NHC)Pd(allyl)Cl (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes has been used in several catalytic reactions: Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling, catalytic dehalogenation of aryl halides, and aryl amination. The scope of the three processes using various substrates was examined. A general system involving the use of (IPr)Pd(allyl)Cl as catalyst and NaO(t)Bu as base has proven to be highly active for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of activated and unactivated aryl chlorides and bromides, for the catalytic dehalogenation of aryl chlorides, and for the catalytic aryl amination of aryl triflates. All reactions proceed in short reaction times and at mild temperatures. The system has also proven to be compatible with the microwave-assisted Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling and catalytic dehalogenation processes, affording yields similar to those of the conventionally heated analogous reactions.     

Modified (NHC)Pd(allyl)Cl (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes for room-temperature Suzuki-Miyaura and Buchwald-Hartwig reactions

A series of (NHC)Pd(R-allyl)Cl complexes [NHC: IPr = N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene, SIPr = N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene; R = H, Me, gem-Me2, Ph] have been synthesized and fully characterized. When compared to (NHC)Pd(allyl)Cl, substitution at the terminal position of the allyl scaffold favors a more facile activation step. This translates into higher catalytic activity in the Suzuki-Miyaura and Buchwald-Hartwig reactions, allowing for the coupling of unactivated aryl chlorides at room temperature in minutes. In the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction, aryl triflates, bromides, and chlorides react with boronic acids using very low catalyst loading. In the N-aryl amination reaction, a wide range of substrates has been coupled efficiently; primary-, secondary-, alkyl-, or aryl-amines react in high yields with unactivated, neutral, and activated aryl chlorides and bromides. In both reactions, extremely hindered substrates such as tri-ortho-substituted biaryls and tetra-ortho-substituted diarylamines can be produced without loss of activity. Finally, the present catalytic system has proven to be efficient with as low as 10 parts-per-million (ppm) of precatalyst in the Buchwald-Hartwig reaction and 50 ppm in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction.     

Pd(IPr*)(cinnamyl)Cl]: an efficient pre-catalyst for the preparation of tetra-ortho-substituted biaryls by Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling

The bigger the better: The new well-defined [Pd(IPr*)(cin)Cl] pre-catalyst is described. This complex proves to be highly active in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling for the synthesis of tetra-ortho-substituted biaryls under mild conditions. IPr* is reported as the largest N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) to date for [Pd(NHC)(cin)Cl] complexes, explaining the high reactivity observed for this complex in this challenging transformation.     

Oxygen binding to [Pd(L)(L')] (L= NHC, L' = NHC or PR3, NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene). synthesis and structure of a paramagnetic trans-[Pd(NHC)2(η(1)-O2)2] complex

The reactivity of a number of two-coordinate [Pd(L)(L')] (L = N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and L' = NHC or PR(3)) complexes with O(2) has been examined. Stopped-flow kinetic studies show that O(2) binding to [Pd(IPr)(P(p-tolyl)(3))] to form cis-[Pd(IPr)(P(p-tolyl)(3))(η(2)-O(2))] occurs in a rapid, second-order process. The enthalpy of O(2) binding to the Pd(0) center has been determined by solution calorimetry to be -26.2(1.9) kcal/mol. Extension of this work to the bis-NHC complex [Pd(IPr)(2)], however, did not lead to the formation of the expected diamagnetic complex cis-[Pd(IPr)(2)(η(2)-O(2))] but to paramagnetic trans-[(Pd(IPr)(2)(η(1)-O(2))(2)], which has been fully characterized. Computational studies addressing the energetics of O(2) binding have been performed and provide insight into reactivity changes as steric pressure is increased.     

Interaction of carbene and olefin donors with [Cl2PN]3: exploration of a reductive pathway toward (PN)3

The iminophosphine-phosphazene [P(III)-P(V)] heterocyclic adduct [IPr·PN(PCl(2)N)(2)] was prepared via reduction of the cyclic phosphazene [Cl(2)PN](3) in the presence of the carbene donor IPr {IPr = [(HCNDipp)(2)C:], where Dipp = 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3)}. By contrast, the treatment of [Cl(2)PN](3) with the N-heterocyclic olefin IPr═CH(2) yielded the olefin-grafted phosphazene ring [(IPr═CH)P(Cl)N(PCl(2)N)(2)].     

Stable N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-palladium(0) complexes as active catalysts for olefin cyclopropanation reactions with ethyl diazoacetate

The Pd(0) complexes [(NHC)PdL(n)] (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene ligand; L=styrene for n=2 or PR(3) for n=1) efficiently catalyse olefin cyclopropanation by using ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) as the carbene source with activities that improve on previously described catalytic systems based on this metal. Mechanistic studies have shown that all of these catalyst precursors deliver the same catalytic species in solution, that is, [(IPr)Pd(sty)], a 14e(-) unsaturated intermediate that further reacts with EDA to afford [(IPr)Pd(=CHCO(2)Et)(sty)], from which the cyclopropane is formed.     

Reactions of benzylchlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate

Benzylchlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) reacted with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to give [Pd[C(CO₂Me)=C(CH₂Ph)(CO₂Me)]Cl(PPh₃)₂] (II) and [(Ph₃P)ClPdμ-C(CO₂Me)=C(CO₂Me)PdCl(PPh₃) (III). Complexes II and III reacted with Tl(acac) to afford [PdC(CO₂Me=C(CH₂Ph)(CO₂Me)-(acac)(PPh₃)] and [(Ph₃P)(acac)Pdμ-C(CO₂Me)=C(CO₂Me)Pd(acac)(PPh₃)], respectively.     

Metal-metal d-d interaction through the discrete stacking of mononuclear M(II) complexes (M = Pt, Pd, and Cu) within an organic-pillared coordination cage

Two molecules of planar MII(acac)2 complexes (M = Pt, Pd, and, Cu; acac = acetylacetonato) are efficiently stacked within an organic-pillared coordination cage, exhibiting characteristic spectroscopies (for M = Pt and Pd) and electron spin-spin coupling (for M = Cu) attributable to metal-metal interaction.     

Responses to unsaturation in iridium mono(N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes: synthesis and oligomerization of [LIr(H)2Cl] and [LIr(H)2]+

Highly unsaturated mono(N-heterocyclic carbene) Ir(iii) systems have been targeted via ligand abstraction protocols. Hydrogenation of Ir(IPr)(cod)Cl (1a) leads to the formation of the highly reactive (fluxional) trimer [Ir(IPr)(H)(2)Cl](3), while the related IMes system undergoes further C-H bond activation. Chloride abstraction from 1a prior to hydrogenation allows access to sources of the 12-electron [Ir(IPr)(H)(2)](+) fragment, which, in the absence of a suitable donor, dimerizes to give [{Ir(IPr)(H)(μ-H)}(2)](2+).     

Thermal and electrochemical C-X activation (X = Cl,Br, I) by the strong Lewis acid Pd3(dppm)3(CO)2+ cluster and its catalytic applications

The stoichiometric and catalytic activations of alkyl halides and acid chlorides by the unsatured Pd(3)(dppm)(3)(CO)(2+) cluster (Pd(3)(2+)) are investigated in detail. A series of alkyl halides (R-X; R = t-Bu, Et, Pr, Bu, allyl; X = Cl, Br, I) react slowly with Pd(3)(2+) to form the corresponding Pd(3)(X)(+) adduct and "R(+)". This activation can proceed much faster if it is electrochemically induced via the formation of the paramagnetic species Pd(3)(+). The latter is the first confidently identified paramagnetic Pd cluster. The kinetic constants extracted from the evolution of the UV-vis spectra for the thermal activation, as well as the amount of electricity to bring the activation to completion for the electrochemically induced reactions, correlate the relative C-X bond strength and the steric factors. The highly reactive "R(+)" species has been trapped using phenol to afford the corresponding ether. On the other hand, the acid chlorides react rapidly with Pd(3)(2+) where no induction is necessary. The analysis of the cyclic voltammograms (CV) establishes that a dissociative mechanism operates (RCOCl --> RCO(+) + Cl(-); R = t-Bu, Ph) prior to Cl(-) scavenging by the Pd(3)(2+) species. For the other acid chlorides (R = n-C(6)H(13), Me(2)CH, Et, Me, Pr), a second associative process (Pd(3)(2+) + RCOCl --> Pd(3)(2+.....)Cl(CO)(R)) is seen. Addition of Cu(NCMe)(4)(+) or Ag(+) leads to the abstraction of Cl(-) from Pd(3)(Cl)(+) to form Pd(3)(2+) and the insoluble MCl materials (M = Cu, Ag) allowing to regenerate the starting unsaturated cluster, where the precipitation of MX drives the reaction. By using a copper anode, the quasi-quantitative catalytic generation of the acylium ion ("RCO(+)") operates cleanly and rapidly. The trapping of "RCO(+)" with PF(6)(-) or BF(4)(-) leads to the corresponding acid fluorides and, with an alcohol (R'OH), to the corresponding ester catalytically, under mild conditions. Attempts were made to trap the key intermediates "Pd(3)(Cl)(+)...M(+)" (M(+) = Cu(+), Ag(+)), which was successfully performed for Pd(3)(ClAg)(2+), as characterized by (31)P NMR, IR, and FAB mass spectrometry. During the course of this investigation, the rare case of PF(6)(-) hydrolysis has been observed, where the product PF(2)O(2)(-) anion is observed in the complex Pd(3)(PF(2)O(2))(+), where the substrate is well-located inside the cavity formed by the dppm-Ph groups above the unsatured face of the Pd(3)(2+) center. This work shows that Pd(3)(2+) is a stronger Lewis acid in CH(2)Cl(2) and THF than AlCl(3), Ag(+), Cu(+), and Tl(+).     

The coordination chemistry of the hydrotris(3-diphenylmethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate (Tp(CHPh2)) ligand

The new ligand, hydrotris[3-(diphenylmethyl)pyrazol-1-yl]borate, Tp(CHPh2), has been synthesized and its coordination chemistry was compared with that of the analogous Tp(iPr). The new ligand was converted to a variety of complexes, such as M[Tp(CHPh2)]X (M = Co, Ni, Zn; X = Cl, NCO, NCS), Pd[Tp(CHPh2)][eta3-methallyl], Co[Tp(CHPh2)](acac), and Co[Tp(CHPh2)](scorpionate ligand). Compounds Tl[Tp(CHPh2)], 1, Co[Tp(CHPh2)]Cl, 2, Co[Tp(CHPh2)](NCS)(DMF), 3, Ni[Tp(CHPh2)](NCS)(DMF)2, 4, Co[Tp(CHPh2)](acac), 5, Co[Tp(CHPh2)][Ph2Bp], 6, Co[Tp(CHPh2)][Bp(Ph)], 7, Co[Tp(CHPh2)][Tp], 8, and (Ni[Tp(CHPh2)])2[C2O4](H2O)2, 9, were structurally characterized.     

Kumada-Tamao-Corriu Coupling of Heteroaromatic Chlorides and Aryl Ethers Catalyzed by (IPr)Ni(allyl)Cl

The complex (IPr)Ni(allyl)Cl (IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolidene) catalyzes the cross-coupling reactions of heteroaromatic chlorides with aryl Grignard reagents. Catalyst loadings as low as 0.1 mol % have been used to afford the products in excellent yields. This nickel-based catalytic system also promotes the activation of the C(Ar)-O bond of anisoles in the Kumada-Tamao-Corriu reaction under fairly mild conditions.     

A systematic study on the synthesis, reactivity and structure of ortho-palladated aryloximes, including the first cyclopalladated aryloximato and iminoaryloxime complexes

Complexes [Pd{C,N-Ar{C(Me)=NOH}-2}(μ-Cl)](2) (1) with Ar = C(6)H(4), C(6)H(3)NO(2)-5 or C(6)H(OMe)(3)-4,5,6, were obtained from the appropriate oxime, Li(2)[PdCl(4)] and NaOAc. They reacted with neutral monodentate C-, P- or N-donor ligands (L), with [PPN]Cl ([PPN] = Ph(3)P=N=PPh(3)), with Tl(acac) (acacH = acetylacetone), or with neutral bidentate ligands N^N (tetramethylethylenediamine (tmeda), 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine ((t)Bubpy)) in the presence of AgOTf or AgClO(4) to afford complexes of the types [Pd{C,N-Ar{C(Me)=NOH}-2}Cl(L)] (2), [PPN][Pd{C,N-Ar{C(Me)=NOH}-2}Cl(2)] (3), [Pd{C,N-Ar{C(Me)=NOH}-2}(acac)] (4) or [Pd{C,N-Ar{C(Me)=NOH}-2}(N^N)]X (X = OTf, ClO(4)) (5), respectively. Complexes 1 reacted with bidentate N^N ligands in the presence of a base to afford mononuclear zwitterionic oximato complexes [Pd{C,N-Ar{C(Me)=NO}-2}(N^N)] (6). Dehydrochlorination of complexes 2 by a base yielded dimeric oximato complexes of the type [Pd{μ-C,N,O-Ar{C(Me)[double bond, length as m-dash]NO}-2}L](2) (7). The insertion of XyNC into the Pd-C(aryl) bond of complex 2 produced the mononuclear iminoaryloxime derivative [Pd{C,N-C(=NXy)Ar{C(Me)=NOH}-2}Cl(CNXy)] (8) which, in turn, reacted with [AuCl(SMe(2))] to give [Pd{μ-N,C,N-C(=NXy)Ar{C(Me)=NOH}-2}Cl](2) (9) with loss of XyNC. Some of these complexes are, for any metal, the first containing cyclometalated aryloximato (6, 7) or iminoaryloxime (8, 9) ligands. Various crystal structures of complexes of the types 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9 have been determined.     

New palladium(II)-(eta(3/5)- or eta1-indenyl) and dipalladium(I)-(mu,eta3-indenyl) complexes

Reaction of the dimeric species [(eta3-Ind)Pd(mu-Cl)]2 (1) (Ind = indenyl) with NEt3 gives the complex (eta(3-5)-Ind)Pd(NEt3)Cl (3), whereas the analogous reactions with BnNH2 (Bn = PhCH2) or pyridine (py) afford the complexes trans-L2Pd(eta1-Ind)Cl (L = BnNH2 (4), py (5)). Similarly, the one-pot reaction of 1 with a mixture of BnNH2 and the phosphine ligands PR3 gives the mixed-ligand, amino and phosphine species (PR3)(BnNH2)Pd(eta1-Ind)Cl (R = Cy (6a), Ph (6b)); the latter complexes can also be prepared by addition of BnNH2 to (eta(3-5)-Ind)Pd(PR3)Cl (R = Cy (2a), Ph (2b)). Complexes 6 undergo a gradual decomposition in solution to generate the dinuclear Pd(I) compounds (mu,eta3-Ind)(mu-Cl)Pd2(PR3)2 (R = Cy (7a), Ph (7b)) and the Pd(II) compounds (BnNH2)(PR3)PdCl2 (R = Cy (8a), Ph (8b)), along with 1,1'-biindene. The formation of 7 is proposed to proceed by a comproportionation reaction between in situ-generated Pd(II) and Pd0 intermediates. Interestingly, the reverse of this reaction, disproportionation, also occurs spontaneously to give 2. All new compounds have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy and, in the case of 3, 4, 5, 6a, 7a, 7b, and 8a, by X-ray crystallography.     

Palladium(0) NHC complexes: a new avenue to highly efficient phosphorescence

We report the first examples of highly luminescent di-coordinated Pd(0) complexes. Five complexes of the form [Pd(L)(L′)] were synthesized, where L = IPr, SIPr or IPr* NHC ligands and L′ = PCy₃, or IPr and SIPr NHC ligands. The photophysical properties of these complexes were determined in degassed toluene solution and in the solid state and contrasted to the poorly luminescent reference complex [Pd(IPr)(PPh₃)]. Organic light-emitting diodes were successfully fabricated but attained external quantum efficiencies of between 0.3 and 0.7%.