Reductions of challenging organic substrates by a nickel complex of a noninnocent crown carbene ligand

The first crown-tetracarbene complex of Ni(II) has been prepared, and its crystal structure determined. The complex can be reduced by Na/Hg, with an uptake of two electrons. The reduced complex reductively cleaves arenesulfonamides, including those derived from secondary aliphatic amines, and effects Birch reduction of anthracenes as well as reductive cleavage of stilbene oxides. Computational studies show that the orbital that receives electrons upon reduction of the complex 2 is predominantly based on the crown carbene ligand and also that the HOMO of the parent complex 2 is based on the ligand.     

Dioxygen activation by a low-valent cobalt complex employing a flexible tripodal N-heterocyclic carbene ligand

The novel versatile cobalt(I) tris-carbene complex [(TIMEN(xyl))Co]Cl (1) (where TIMEN = (tris[2-(3-arylimidazol-2-ylidene)ethyl]amine) reacts with CO, one-electron oxidizers such as CH(2)Cl(2), and O(2) to yield the cobalt complexes [(TIMEN(xyl))Co(CO)]Cl (2), [(TIMEN(xyl))Co(Cl)]Cl (3), and peroxo species [(TIMEN(xyl))Co(O(2))](BPh(4)) (5). All new complexes were fully characterized by (1)H NMR, UV/vis, and IR spectroscopy as well as superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetization measurements and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The nucleophilic character of the eta(2)-bound dioxygen ligand in 5 was confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) studies and allows for oxygen-transfer reactions with electron-deficient organic substrates, such as benzoyl chloride.     

Iridium complex bearing a chiral hydroxy-amide functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene: a catalyst precursor for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

A new monodentate iridium(III) complex bearing a readily accessible and tunable chiral hydroxy-amide functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene ligand, Cp^∗Ir(NHC)Cl₂, has been synthesized and characterized by crystallographic methods. The monodentate Cp^∗Ir(NHC)Cl₂ complex was found to act as a catalyst precursor for the stereoselective transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone in the presence of KOH even at room temperature. Moderate enantioselectivity was observed in the initial screening of the chiral ligands.     

CCC-N-heterocyclic carbene pincer complexes: Synthesis, characterization and hydroamination activity of a hafnium complex

Our methodology for the stoichiometric preparation of CCC-NHC pincer complexes of Zr has been extended to Hf. The CCC^Bu-NHC pincer Hf complex has been characterized by X-ray crystal structure analysis. Catalytic activity in the intramolecular hydroamination/cyclization of unactivated alkenes is reported and compared to the recently reported Zr analog. An improved, scaled-up CuO-catalyzed aryl amination of 1,3-dibromobenzene and an improved salt formation methodology for preparation of bis(butyl-imidazolium)benzene are reported also.     

Gas-phase synthesis and reactivity of a gold carbene complex

Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry of a phosphonium ylid complex of gold produces an ion whose mass and gas-phase chemical reactivity indicate that it is a gold benzylidene complex. The complex, with a supporting NHC ligand, corresponds to a type of reactive intermediates which have been presumed to act in gold-catalyzed cyclopropanation reactions, but which have not been observed to date in solution or gas-phase experiments. A threshold CID experiment also yields thermochemical information on the formation of the gold carbene from the ylid complex precursor.     

Carbon monoxide-promoted carbene insertion into the aryl substituent of an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand: Buchner reaction in a ruthenium carbene complex

In the presence of carbon monoxide, ruthenium carbenes give a net insertion/ring expansion (Buchner reaction) into one of the aromatic rings of the N-heterocyclic carbene ligand. In alkene metathesis applications, the N-heterocyclic carbene ligand is both robust and typically inert to reactions with the metal-bound carbene. This unique reaction is completely regioselective. The complexes obtained through ring expansion were fully characterized in the solid state using X-ray crystallography and in solution using NMR and IR spectroscopy.     

Catalytic activity of a half-sandwich Ru(II)-N-heterocyclic carbene complex in the oligomerization of alkynes

The ruthenium(II)-N-heterocyclic carbene complex, [RuCl₂(1-butyl-3-methylimidazol-2-ylidene)(p-cymene)] selectively catalyzes oligomerization of phenylacetylene (PA) and its derivatives to linear oligomers, containing positively charged imidazolium end-group and uncharged ones. The charged oligomer chain consists of maximum 9-11 PA monomer units after 36 h reaction at 80 °C whereas mainly pentamers are formed as other products. The H₂ atmosphere retards oligomerization of PA and hydrogenation to vinylbenzene and ethylbenzene is observed instead.     

Structure of a new schiff base cobalt(III) complex with antibacterial activity

A new Schiff base cobalt(III) complex with the formula [CoL¹L²(N₃)]·NO₃ (L¹ is 2-[1-(2-phenylaminoethylimino)ethyl]phenolate, L² is N-phenylethane-1,2-diamine) is prepared and characterized by physicochemical methods and single crystal X-ray determination. The complex crystallizes in the triclinic system space group P-1, with a = 8.504(2) Å, b = 14.973(3) Å, c = 20.676(4) Å, α = 100.021(3)°, β = 90.005(3)°, γ = 103.084(2)°, V = 2523.0(9) ų, Z = 4, R ₁ = 0.0732, and wR ₂ = 0.1182. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the complex contains two mononuclear [CoL¹L²(N₃)]⁺ cations and two nitrate anions. The Co atom is six-coordinated in an octahedral geometry. The ligands and the cobalt(III) complex are screened in vitro for their antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtillis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aereuguinosa.     

Electron transfer. 153. Internal electron transfer to bound cobalt(III) induced by hydroxyl radical

Hydroxyl radicals, generated in aqueous solution from Fe²⁺ and H₂O₂, react with the formato, glycolato, lactato and mandelato complexes of (NH₃)₅Co^III, extracting H·, releasing CO₂ and inducing the internal reduction of Co^III to Co²⁺; decomposition of peroxynitrous acid (O=N—OOH) in the presence of these complexes also yields Co²⁺, indicating partial utilization (15% at 22°C and pH 1) of a path involving OH·.     

A bimetallic N-heterocyclic carbene complex featuring a short Cr-Cr distance

The alkylation of a chelating bis(carbene) complex of CrCl(2) yields an unusual bimetallic complex featuring a short Cr-Cr distance, novel ligand coordination, and CH(3) ligand exchange.     

A platinum Chugaev carbene complex as a potent anticancer agent

A platinum Chugaev complex was synthesised and fully characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. This cis bis acyclic diamino carbene complex acts as a cytotoxic compound and behaves as a cisplatin equivalent by interacting with supercoiled DNA and thiols. Stability of the ligand is also discussed.     

Synthesis,characterization, and catalytic activity of a ruthenium carbene complex coordinated with bidentate 2-pyridine-carboxylato ligands

The halide and phosphine free complex [(sIMes)(C₅H₄N-2-CO₂)₂RuCHPh] (7) (sIMes = 1,3-dimesitylimidazolidin-2-ylidene) bearing two bidentate 2-pyridinecarboxylato ligands was synthesized from the carbene complex [(sIMes)(PCy₃)(Cl)₂RuCHPh] (4) and the silver 2-pyridine-carboxylate (8). The molecular structure of the octahedral complex 7 reveals that the two carboxylato functions are coordinated in cis geometry to the ruthenium center. Catalyst 7 exhibits activity in ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reactions after addition of a cocatalyst (HCl) in dichloromethane as well as in methanol solution.     

Enantioselective conjugate addition of alkylboranes catalyzed by a copper-N-heterocyclic carbene complex

The first catalytic enantioselective conjugate addition of alkylboron compounds has been achieved. Reactions between alkylboranes and imidazol-2-yl α,β-unsaturated ketones proceeded with high enantioselectivity under the influence of a Cu(I) catalyst system, prepared in situ from CuCl, a new chiral imidazolium salt as a precursor for the N-heterocyclic carbene ligand, and PhOK. Alkylboranes are widely obtained via alkene hydroboration. A variety of functional groups are tolerated in alkylboranes and α,β-unsaturated ketones.     

Abnormal binding in a carbene complex formed from an imidazolium salt and a metal hydride complex

2-Pyridylmethylimidazolium salts and IrH5(PPh3)2 give an [(N-C)IrH2(PPh3)2]+ species with the imidazole ring bound in the 'wrong way': at C-5, not at the expected C-2.     

Electron transfer at tetrahedral cobalt(II). Part 1. Kinetics of bromate ion reduction

Summary The bromate ion reduction by 12-tungstocobaltate(II) anion has been investigated. The reaction obeys the empirical rate law:-d[reductant]/dt=5(a+b[H⁺]²)[BrO ₃ ^– ][reductant]: where a=(2.49±0.18)×10^–4M^–1 s^–1, b=(4.65±0.20)×10^–5M^–3s^–1 at 24.5±0.1°C [H⁺]=0.05–1.50M and I=2.0M (NaClO₄). This rate law is interpreted in terms of parallel reactions of BrO ₃ ^– and H₂BrO ₃ ⁺ . On the basis of the observed anion catalysis, substitution intertness of the reductant and Marcus type linear free energy relations, the outer sphere mechanism is proposed for both pathways.