Theoretical investigations of the reactivities of four-membered N-heterocyclic carbene analogues of the group 13 elements

The potential energy surfaces for the chemical reactions of four‐membered N‐heterocyclic group 13 heavy carbeneoid species have been studied using density functional theory (Becke, 3‐parameter, Lee‐Yang‐Parr (B3LYP)/Los Alamos National Laboratory 2‐Double‐Zeta (LANL2DZ)). Five four‐membered group 13 heavy carbeneoid species, iPr₂NC(NAr)₂E:, where E = B, Al, Ga, In, and Tl, have been chosen as model reactants in this work. Also, three kinds of chemical reactions, C? H bond insertion, alkene cycloaddition, and dimerization, have been used to study the chemical reactivities of these group 13 four‐membered N‐heterocyclic carbeneoid species. In principle, our present theoretical work predicts that the larger the ∠NEN bond angle of the four‐membered group 13 iPr₂NC(NAr)₂E: species, the smaller the singlet–triplet splitting, the lower the activation barrier, and, in turn, the more rapid its chemical reactions to various chemical species. Moreover, our theoretical investigations suggest that the relative carbenic reactivity decreases in the following order: B > Al > Ga > In > Tl. That is, the heavier the group 13 atom (E), the more stable its four‐membered carbeneoid toward chemical reactions is. As a result, our computations predict that the four‐membered heavy group 13 iPr₂NC(NAr)₂E: species (E = Al, Ga, In, and Tl) should be both kinetically and thermodynamically stable, and can be readily synthesized and isolated at room temperature. Furthermore, the singlet–triplet energy splitting of the four‐membered group 13 iPr₂NC(NAr)₂E: species, as described in the configuration mixing model attributed to the work of Pross and Shaik, can be used as a diagnostic tool to predict their reactivities. The results obtained allow a number of predictions to be made. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2011     

Neutral carbene analogues of group 13 elements: the dimerization reaction to a biradicaloid

The dimerization reactions of the neutral carbene analogues with the group 13 elements boron, aluminum, gallium, and indium are studied. Besides boron, all monomeric species possess singlet ground states. For Al, bulky substituted cases were investigated; they reveal no essential changes in the singlet-triplet energy separations compared with the parent species. The dimerization energies increase with an increase in the bulk of the substituents; this is a consequence of an enhancement of van der Waals forces for association. The latter is opposed by entropic forces, which facilitate dissociation. An equilibrium between monomeric and dimeric structures is predicted because of enthalpy versus entropy control. The low-temperature domain association should prevail in the formation of a dimer with Al (Ga) within the formal oxidation state I+. The Al-Al bond refers to a chelated biradicaloid species with an energetically low-lying triplet state. It emerges from the metal-metal contacts in the dimer. The biradical character of the dimer decreases in the order E = Al ? Ga > In. The carbene analogue of In forms upon dimerization of only weak coordinative metal-metal interactions.     

Theoretical investigations of the reactivities of cationic six-membered carbene analogues of group 14 elements

The potential energy surfaces for the chemical reactions of cationic six-membered group 14 heavy carbene species have been studied using density functional theory (B3LYP/LANL2DZ) and CCSD (CCSD/LANL2DZ//B3LYP/LANL2DZ) methods. Five six-membered group 14 cationic heavy carbene species, [HC(CMeNPh)2E:](+), where E = C, Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb, have been chosen as model reactants in this work. Also, four kinds of chemical reaction, C-H bond insertion, multiple bond cycloaddition, dimerization, and O-H bond insertion, have been used to study the chemical reactivities of these group 14 cationic carbene species. Basically, our present theoretical work predicts that the larger the angle NEN bond angle and the smaller the singlet-triplet splitting of the carbene, the lower its activation barriers will be and, in turn, the more rapid are its chemical reactions with other species. Moreover, the theoretical investigations suggest that the relative carbenic reactivity decreases in the order C > Si > Ge > Sn > Pb. That is, the heavier the group 14 atom (E), the more stable is its cationic carbene toward chemical reaction. As a result, we predict that the cationic six-membered group 14 carbene species (E = C, Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb) should be stable, readily synthesized, and isolated at room temperature. Our computational results are in good agreement with the available experimental observations. Furthermore, the singlet-triplet energy splitting of the carbene, as described in the configuration mixing model attributed to the work of Pross and Shaik, can be used as a diagnostic tool to predict its reactivities. The results obtained allow a number of predictions to be made.     

Four-membered group 13 metal(I) N-heterocyclic carbene analogues: synthesis, characterization, and theoretical studies

The synthesis, spectroscopic and structural characterization of the monomeric, four-membered group 13 metal(I) heterocycles ([:M{eta2-N,N'-(Ar)NC(NCy2)N(Ar)}], M = Ga or In, Ar = C6H3Pri2-2,6) and an isomeric thallium complex are reported. Theoretical studies on these complexes, which are analogues of four-membered N-heterocyclic carbenes, suggest they should act as good sigma-donor ligands.     

Design of neutral Lewis superacids of group 13 elements

A general approach toward superstrong neutral Lewis acids, featuring both the pyramidalization of acceptor molecules and the introduction of electron-withdrawing substituents, is proposed and examined theoretically. Complexes of group 13 element derivatives with ammonia at the B3LYP and MP2 levels of theory with def2-TZVPP basis set are considered as examples. Pyramidalization of the acceptor molecule significantly increases its Lewis acidity (by 50-60 kJ mol(-1) for aluminum and gallium compounds and by 120-130 kJ mol(-1) for boron compounds). An additional increase of the complex stability of 55-75 kJ mol(-1) may be achieved by fluorination. The combined increase of the bond dissociation energy amounts to 110-190 kJ mol(-1), which is equivalent to 19-33 orders of magnitude in Lewis acidity.     

Theoretical designs for planar tetracoordinated carbon in Cu, Ag, and Au organometallic chemistry: a new target for synthesis

In the past 30 years, substantial efforts and progress have been made in the design and synthesis of molecules containing tetracoordinated planar carbon, by overcoming the inherent preference for tetrahedral bonding. As a result, we have studied 12 organometallic molecules containing group 11 elements (i.e., M-X; M = Cu, Ag, and Au and X = I, II, III, and IV) using density functional theory to determine whether the central carbon atom exists in a planar geometry. Our theoretical findings suggest that in such M-X species, bonding interactions between the central carbon and the coinage metal ligands and between the metal ligands (i.e., metallophilic attractions) are both important in favoring planar-tetracoordinated carbon compounds over the corresponding tetrahedral structures. The compounds studied in this work are seen as excellent targets for chemical synthesis.     

Quantum mechanical designs toward planar delocalized cyclooctatetraene: a new target for synthesis.

Ab initio and hybrid density functional quantum mechanical computation are applied to the structure and energetics of a series of annelated cyclooctatetraenes. Tetrakis-cyclobuteno, perfluorocyclobuteno or bicyclo[2.1.1]hexeno annelations result in planar structures with distinct exo and endo valence tautomers of the double bonded cycle. The contribution of each basic annelation to the exo/endo relative energy is estimated. An additivity scheme for approximating the energy of a mixed system is developed and compared to the quantum mechanical prediction. Bis bicyclic annelation to the a and d positions creates "valence tautomeric frustration" and strongly perturbs the molecular structure. This phenomenon leads to a general design for a planar cyclooctatetraenes where the "delocalized" diradicaloid state is the minimum energy form. These compounds are seen as excellent targets for chemical synthesis.     

A new strategy for the synthesis of optically active benzylic fluorides and corresponding five-membered heteroaromatic analogues

Benzylic fluorides, as well as five-membered heterocycles, have been obtained in high ee’s through cycloaddition reactions starting from easily accessible optically active propargylic fluorides.     

Theoretical investigations of the reactivities of saturated five-membered ring N-heterocyclic carbenes with heavier group 14 elements

The potential energy surfaces for the chemical reactions of group 14 carbenes have been studied using density functional theory (B3LYP/LANL2DZ). Five saturated five-membered-ring N-heterocyclic carbene Dipp[upper bond 1 start]N(CH(2))(2)N(Dipp)E[upper bond 1 end]: (five-ring-E:) species, where E = C, Si, Ge, Sn and Pb, have been chosen as model reactants in this work. Also, four kinds of chemical reactions; addition of water, methane insertion, alkene cycloaddition and dimerization, have been used to study the chemical reactivities of these group 14 carbenes. The present theoretical investigations suggest that the relative carbenic reactivity decreases in the order: C > Si > Ge > Sn > Pb. That is, the heavier the group 14 atom (E), the more stable is the carbene towards chemical reactions. This may be the reason that there have been many instances reported of the synthesis and characterization of stable group 14 five-membered-ring N-heterocyclic carbene species with various alkyl protecting substituents at room temperature. Furthermore, the singlet-triplet energy splitting of the five-ring-E:, as described in the configuration mixing model attributed to the work of Pross and Shaik, can be used as a diagnostic tool to predict their reactivities. The results obtained allow a number of predictions to be made.     

Neutral carbene analogues of the heaviest Group 13 elements: consideration of electronic and steric effects on structure and stability

The neutral monovalent Group 13 beta-diketiminato complexes [CH{(CF3)2CN-2,6-iPr2C6H3}2In] and [CH{(Me)2CN-2,6-iPr2C6H3}2Tl] have been synthesised by analogous 'one-pot' procedures involving reaction of [KN(SiMe3)2] with the appropriate beta-imino-enamine and Group 13 iodide. The structure of the indium complex reveals that replacement of the ligand backbone methyl groups of the previously reported complex [CH{(Me)2CN-2,6-iPr2C6H3}2In] with trifluoromethyl substituents results in only minor modifications to the dimensions of the NCCCNIn metallacycle. The electronic structures of both indium species were interrogated by DFT calculations to reveal similar frontier molecular orbital schemes. In agreement with calculations performed previously on the aluminium and gallium complexes, [CH{(Me)2CN-2,6-iPr2C6H3}2Al] and [CH{(Me)2CN-2,6-iPr2C6H3}2Ga], the HOMO in both indium species comprises a metal-based sp-hybrid while the LUMO is a ligand-based orbital of pi symmetry. The vacant indium p-orbital is represented by the LUMO + 1. Although incorporation of the fluorinated substituents results in a stabilisation of the system overall, the stabilities and observed structural features of the complexes are reasoned to be primarily a result of the steric profile of the very bulky ligands and not through any redistribution of the electron density within the cyclic species. The thallium complex is isostructural to the analogous and previously reported aluminium, gallium and indium species. The greater stability of the monovalent state however is reflected in a reordering of the orbital energies and a stabilisation of the metal-based orbitals in the frontier region of the MO scheme.     

Theoretical studies of the [2 + 4] Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions of alkene analogues of the group 13 elements with toluene

The potential energy surfaces for the cycloaddition reactions of formally double-bonded molecules containing group 13 elements have been studied using density functional theory (B3LYP/LANL2DZ). Five group 13 alkene analogues, ArX=XAr, where X = B, Al, Ga, In, and Tl, have been chosen as model reactants in this work. Our present theoretical work predicts that the smaller the singlet-triplet splitting in ArX=XAr, the lower the activation barrier and, in turn, the more rapid are its [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions. Moreover, the theoretical investigations suggest that the relative dimeric reactivity decreases in the order B > Al > Ga > In > Tl. That is, the heavier the group 13 atom (X), the more stable is its dimetallene toward chemical reactions. In consequence, our results predict that the dimetallenes containing heavier group 13 elements (in particular, X = Ga, In, and Tl) should be stable and should be readily synthesized and isolated at room temperature. This is in good agreement with available experimental observations. Besides this, the singlet-triplet energy splitting of a dimetallene, as described in the configuration mixing model attributed to the work of Pross and Shaik, can be used as a diagnostic tool to predict its reactivity. The results obtained allow a number of predictions to be made.     

Synthesis, characterisation and theoretical studies of amidinato-indium(I) and thallium(I) complexes: isomers of neutral group 13 metal(I) carbene analogues

The synthesis and characterisation of the monomeric amidinato-indium(I) and thallium(I) complexes, [M(Piso)].PisoH, M = In or Tl, Piso- = [ArNC(Bu(t))NAr]-, Ar = C6H3Pr(i)2-2,6, are reported. These complexes, in which the metal centre is chelated by the amidinate ligand in an N,eta3-arene-fashion, can be considered as isomers of four-membered group 13 metal(I) carbene analogues. Theoretical studies have compared the relative energies of both isomeric forms of a model complex, [In{PhNC(H)NPh}].     

Homo- and heteroleptic complexes of four-membered group 13 metal(I) N-heterocyclic carbene analogues with group 10 metal(0) fragments

A series of complexes between recently developed four-membered group 13 metal(I) heterocycles and group 10 metal(0) fragments have been prepared and structurally characterized. One prepared complex, [Pt{Ga[N(Ar)]2CNCy2}3] (Ar = C6H3Pri2-2,6; Cy = cyclohexyl), possesses the shortest Pt-Ga bonds yet reported, the covalent components of which are suggested by theoretical studies to have significant pi character.     

Squaryl group as a new mimic of phosphate group in modified oligodeoxynucleotides: synthesis and properties of new oligodeoxynucleotide analogues containing an internucleotidic squaryldiamide linkage

This paper describes the synthesis and properties of a new type of modified oligodeoxynucleotide containing a neutral but highly polarized squaryl group as a novel mimic of the phosphate group. A modified thymidine dimer derivative (TsqT) having a squaryldiamide linkage was synthesized in almost quantitative yield by a two-step substitution of diethyl squarate with 3'-amino-5'-O-(4,4'-dimethoxytrityl)-3'-deoxythymidine and 5'-amino-5'-deoxythymidine. The CD and UV studies of TsqT suggest that this dimer has basically a structure similar to that of TpT. The NMR studies of TsqT show a unique property, namely, that the squaryl group of TsqT is influenced by Mg2+ concentration. The ab initio calculations of TsqT showed a highly polarized structure resembling that of a phosphate group. This dimer structural motif was finally incorporated into oligodeoxynucleotides by use of the phosphoramidite approach. The hybridization affinity of these modified oligodeoxynucleotides for the complementary and mismatched oligodeoxynucleotides was studied in detail by using Tm experiments. Consequently, it turned out that in a matched duplex of 5'-d(CGCATsqTAGCC)-3'/5'-d(GGCTAATGCG)-3' the A-T base pairs at the modified site can be preserved, but instead thermal destabilization of the overall structure was observed. To estimate the structure of the duplex, two kinds of fluorescein chromophores (fluorescein (FL) and cyanine 3 (Cy3)) were introduced into the 5'-terminal site of 5'-d(GACGCATsqTAGCCGAT)-3' and 5'-d(ATCGGCTAATGCGTC)-3', respectively. The fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments using these functionalized oligodeoxynucleotides suggest that the matched duplexes have a bent structure at the modified site. This conclusion was also strongly supported by computational MM and MD simulations.     

Coupling of propargylsilanes with Fischer carbene chromium complexes: a new synthesis of conjugated dienes

The reaction of propargylsilanes with Fischer carbene complexes has been examined. If the silane-containing carbon is secondary the predominant pathway involves formation of conjugated dienes through a 1,2-silicon shift process of the initially formed vinylcarbene complex intermediate. If a primary propargylsilane is employed, the silicon does not shift and normal alkyne-Fischer carbene coupling processes are observed. The process is moderately stereoselective, resulting in the E enol ether and Z alkenylsilane.     

Reactivity for boryl(phosphino)carbenyl carbene analogues with group 14 elements (C, Si, Ge, Sb, and Pb) as a heteroatom: a theoretical study

The potential energy surfaces for the chemical reactions of group 14 carbenes have been studied using density functional theory (B3LYP/LANL2DZ). Five boryl(phosphino)-based carbene (B-?-P) species, where ? = C, Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb, have been chosen as model reactants in this work. Also, four kinds of chemical reactions; intramolecular 1,2-migration, water insertion, alkene cycloaddition, and intermolecular dimerization, have been used to study the chemical reactivities of these group 14 carbenes. The present theoretical investigations suggest that the relative carbenic reactivity decreases in the order C > Si > Ge > Sn > Pb. That is, the heavier the group 14 atom (E), the more stable is the boryl(phosphino)-based B-?-P species towards chemical reactions. Our theoretical findings thus demonstrate that all boryl(phosphino)-based carbenes are isolable at room temperature because they are quite inert to chemical reactions, except that they are also moisture-sensitive molecules. Furthermore, the singlet-triplet energy splitting of the B-?-P, as described in the configuration mixing model attributed to the work of Pross and Shaik, can serve as a diagnostic tool for a better understanding and predicting of their chemical reactivities, kinetically and thermodynamically. The results obtained allow a number of predictions to be made.     

A new convergent strategy for the synthesis of calixarenes via a triple annulation of Fischer carbene complexes

A new method for the synthesis of unsymmetrical calix[4]arenes is described which involves the reaction of a diyne with a bis-carbene complex of chromium. This synthesis of calixarenes is unique in that it involves the formation of two of the four benzene rings of the calixarene and the macrocyclic ring of the calixarene in the same step. Thus, two of the four benzene rings of the calixarene are identical, but the other two rings may each be different, giving a general method for the synthesis of calixarenes in which there are either two or three differently substituted benzene rings. This protocol gives access to a large family of unsymmetrical calixarenes by the proper choice of arene substitution in the starting diyne and the starting carbene complex. Nine examples are presented in which the yields in the key triple annulation step range from 22 to 41%. The overall yields of calixarenes from commercially available starting materials compare favorably with those from existing methods for the synthesis of unsymmetrical calix[4]arenes.     

Phthaloyl group : a new amino protecting group of deoxyadenosine in oligonucleotide synthesis

A phthaloyl group has been introduced into the N⁶-amino group of deoxyadenosine $\text{via}$ silylation followed by acylation. The phthaloyl group resulted in remarkable retarding effects on depurination, while it could be removed under milder conditions than the benzoyl group. Thus, a tetradeoxyadenylate has been successfully synthesized in high yield.     

Froc: a new fluorous protective group for peptide and oligosaccharide synthesis

[STRUCTURE: SEE TEXT] The synthesis of a new fluorous protecting group, Froc, is described. This new fluorous tag has been used in peptide and carbohydrate synthesis by our group and readily allows us to fully characterize each product (NMR, MS) and monitor each synthetic step by TLC. Purification of the products is generally performed by standard fluorous solid-phase extraction techniques (e.g., F-SPE), but standard chromatographic purifications are also possible if required.