CO2‐Cross‐Linked Frustrated Lewis Networks as Gas‐Regulated Dynamic Covalent Materials

The design of structurally dynamic molecular networks can offer strategies for fabricating stimuli‐responsive adaptive materials. Herein we first report a gas‐responsive dynamic gel system based on frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) chemistry. Two trefoil‐like molecules with bulky triphenylborane and triphenylphosphine groups are synthesized as complementary Lewis acid and base with trivalent sites. They can together bind CO₂ gas molecules and further form a cross‐linked network via the bonding interactions between FLPs and CO₂. Such CO₂‐bridged dative linkages are shown to be dynamic covalent bonds, which endow the frustrated Lewis network with adaptable behaviors and unprecedented gas‐regulated viscoelastic, mechanical, and self‐healing performance. This study is an initial attempt to apply the FLP concept in materials chemistry, but we believe that this strategy will open a promising future for gas‐sensitive smart materials.     

Effect of Sodium Cation on Metallacycle β‐Hydride Elimination in CO2–Ethylene Coupling to Acrylates

The catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide and olefins into acrylates has been a long standing target, because society attempts to synthesize commodity chemicals in a more economical and sustainable fashion. Although nickel complexes have been known to successfully couple CO₂ and ethylene for decades, a key β‐hydride elimination step has proven a major obstacle to the development of a catalytic process. Recent studies have shown that Lewis acid additives can be used to create a lower‐energy pathway for β‐hydride elimination and facilitate a low number of catalytic turnovers. However, the exact manner, in which the Lewis acid promotes β‐hydride elimination remains to be elucidated. Herein, we describe the kinetic and thermodynamic role that commercially relevant and weakly Lewis acidic sodium salts play in promoting β‐hydride elimination from nickelalactones synthesized from CO₂ and ethylene. This process is compared to a non‐Lewis acid promoted pathway, and DFT calculations were used to identify differences between the two systems. The sodium‐free isomerization reaction gave a rare CO₂‐derived β‐nickelalactone complex, which was structurally characterized.     

Adsorption of Carbon Dioxide on Unsaturated Metal Sites in M2(dobpdc) Frameworks with Exceptional Structural Stability and Relation between Lewis Acidity and Adsorption Enthalpy

A series of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) M₂(dobpdc) (M=Mn, Co, Ni, Zn; H₄dobpdc=4,4′‐dihydroxy‐1,1′‐biphenyl‐3,3′‐dicarboxylic acid), with a highly dense arrangement of open metal sites along hexagonal channels were prepared by microwave‐assisted or simple solvothermal reactions. The activated materials were structurally expanded when guest molecules including CO₂ were introduced into the pores. The Lewis acidity of the open metal sites varied in the order Mn<Co<Ni>Zn, as confirmed by C=O stretching bands in the IR spectra, which are related to the CO₂ adsorption enthalpy. DFT calculations revealed that the high CO₂ binding affinity of transition‐metal‐based M₂(dobpdc) is primarily attributable to the favorable charge transfer from CO₂ (oxygen lone pair acting as a Lewis base) to the open metal sites (Lewis acid), while electrostatic effects, the underlying factor responsible for the particular order of binding strength observed across different transition metals, also play a role. The framework stability against water coincides with the order of Lewis acidity. In this series of MOFs, the structural stability of Ni₂(dobpdc) is exceptional; it endured in water vapor, liquid water, and in refluxing water for one month, and the solid remained intact on exposure to solutions of pH 2–13. The DFT calculations also support the experimental finding that Ni₂(dobpdc) has higher chemical stability than the other frameworks.     

Carbopyronine荧光染料中间体的有效合成方法

在非质子路易斯酸的辅助下高收率的合成了Carbopyronine荧光染料中间体2,7-双二甲氨基-9,10-二氢-9,9-二甲基蒽环。反应关键步骤是路易斯酸辅助下的环化反应,考查了几种路易斯酸的效果。确立了环化反应的最佳条件为： 2.5mol的路易斯酸与1mol的叔醇2在0 ˚C反应6 h,再于室温下反应10 h。     

Lewis Acid Catalyzed Enantioselective Desymmetrization of Donor–Acceptor meso‐Diaminocyclopropanes

The first Lewis acid catalyzed enantioselective ring‐opening desymmetrization of a donor–acceptor meso‐diaminocyclopropane is reported. The copper(II)‐catalyzed Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indoles and one pyrrole with an unprecedented meso‐diaminocyclopropane delivered enantioenriched, diastereomerically pure urea products, which are structurally related to natural and synthetic bioactive compounds. The development of a new ligand through the investigation of an underexplored subclass of bis(oxazoline) ligands was essential for achieving high enantioselectivities.     

Frustrated Lewis Pair Mediated 1,2‐Hydrocarbation of Alkynes

Frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) chemistry enables a rare example of alkyne 1,2‐hydrocarbation with N‐methylacridinium salts as the carbon Lewis acid. This 1,2‐hydrocarbation process does not proceed through a concerted mechanism as in alkyne syn‐hydroboration, or through an intramolecular 1,3‐hydride migration as operates in the only other reported alkyne 1,2‐hydrocarbation reaction. Instead, in this study, alkyne 1,2‐hydrocarbation proceeds by a novel mechanism involving alkyne dehydrocarbation with a carbon Lewis acid based FLP to form the new C−C bond. Subsequently, intermolecular hydride transfer occurs, with the Lewis acid component of the FLP acting as a hydride shuttle that enables alkyne 1,2‐hydrocarbation.     

Self‐Assembled Nanocomposite Organic Polymers with Aluminum and Scandium as Heterogeneous Water‐Compatible Lewis Acid Catalysts

While water‐compatible Lewis acids have great potential as accessible and environmentally benign catalysts for various organic transformations, efficient immobilization of such Lewis acids while keeping high activity and without leaching of metals even under aqueous conditions is a challenging task. Self‐assembled nanocomposite catalysts of organic polymers, carbon black, aluminum reductants, and scandium salts as heterogeneous water‐compatible Lewis acid catalysts are described. These catalysts could be successfully applied to various C? C bond‐forming reactions without leaching of metals. Scanning transmission electron microscopy analyses revealed that the nanocomposite structure of Al and Sc was fabricated in these heterogeneous catalysts. It is noted that Al species, which are usually decomposed rapidly in the presence of water, are stabilized under aqueous conditions.     

Enantioselective Crossed Photocycloadditions of Styrenic Olefins by Lewis Acid Catalyzed Triplet Sensitization

The synthesis of unsymmetrical cyclobutanes by controlled heterodimerization of olefins remains a substantial challenge, particularly in an enantiocontrolled fashion. Shown herein is that chiral Lewis acid catalyzed triplet sensitization enables the synthesis of highly enantioenriched diarylcyclobutanes by photocycloaddition of structurally varied 2′‐hydroxychalcones with a range of styrene coupling partners. The utility of this reaction is demonstrated through the direct synthesis of a representative norlignan cyclobutane natural product.     

Organophosphine syntheses via activation of the phosphorus‐silicon bond of silylphosphines

This paper describes the recent advances in the syntheses of organophosphines by forming several types of phosphorus‐carbon bonds via activation of the phosphorus‐silicon bond of silylphosphines. In this account, the activation methods are classified into three types: nucleophile‐induced activations, reactions with Lewis acid‐activated electrophiles, and transition metal catalyzed reactions. Nucleophile‐induced activations of silylphosphines, especially by a fluoride, generated a reactive phosphide equivalent for selective formation of a P‐C bond. Silylphosphines also reacted selectively with Lewis acid‐activated electrophiles. The Lewis acid mediated/catalyzed additions and substitutions, to form sp³‐carbon‐phosphorus bonds including an asymmetric reaction, are described. Several important types of transition metal catalyzed reactions of silylphosphines are also mentioned in this account. Selective formation of a P‐C bond is achieved through these activations to produce a variety of functional organophosphines including optically active ones. © 2009 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 9: 236–245; 2009: Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ) DOI 10.1002/tcr.200900011     

An axially chiral, electron-deficient borane: synthesis, coordination chemistry, Lewis acidity, and reactivity

An axially chiral dihydroborepine with a binaphthyl backbone and a C(6)F(5) substituent at the boron atom was prepared by transmetalation from the corresponding tin precursor. This novel motif was structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis as its THF and its PhCN Lewis acid/base complex. (1)H NMR measurements at variable temperatures of the former adduct revealed a remarkable dynamic behavior in solution. Several more Lewis pairs with oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus σ-donors were synthesized and analyzed by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The determination of the borane's Lewis acidity with the Gutmann-Beckett method attests its substantial Lewis acidity [85% with Et(3) PO as well as 74% with Ph(3) PO relative to the parent B(C(6)F(5))(3)]. Representative examples of Si-H bond activation (carbonyl reduction and dehydrogenative Si-O coupling) are included, demonstrating the chemical stability and the synthetic potential of the new chiral boron-based Lewis acid.     

Diastereoselective Cyanation of α‐Keto Amides Derived from N‐Phenyl Camphorpyrazolidinone and Camphorsultam

The diastereoselective cyanation of α‐keto amides using trimethylsilyl cyanide in the presence of a Lewis acid is described. The corresponding O‐acetylated cyanohydrins are obtained in good to high levels of stereoselectivities. The predominance of products with the S absolute configuration at the newly generated stereogenic center was deduced from single crystal X‐ray analysis. ¹³C NMR data suggest that a preferential s‐cis conformation was formed by the chelation of a Lewis acid to the dicarbonyl oxygen atoms.     

Palladium–Borane Cooperation: Evidence for an Anionic Pathway and Its Application to Catalytic Hydro‐/Deutero‐dechlorination

Metal–Lewis acid cooperation provides new opportunities in catalysis. In this work, we report a new type of palladium–borane cooperation involving anionic Pd⁰ species. The air‐stable DPB palladium complex 1 (DPB=diphosphine‐borane) was prepared and reacted with KH to give the Pd⁰ borohydride 2 , the first monomeric anionic Pd⁰ species to be structurally characterized. The boron moiety acts as an acceptor towards Pd in 1 via Pd→B interaction, but as a donor in 2 thanks to B‐H‐Pd bridging. This enables the activation of C?Cl bonds and the system is amenable to catalysis, as demonstrated by the hydro‐/deutero‐dehalogenation of a variety of (hetero)aryl chlorides (20 examples, average yield 85 %).     

Dioxygen Reactivity with a Ferrocene–Lewis Acid Pairing: Reduction to a Boron Peroxide in the Presence of Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane

Ferrocenes, which are typically air‐stable outer‐sphere single‐electron transfer reagents, were found to react with dioxygen in the presence of B(C₆F₅)₃, a Lewis acid unreactive to O₂, to generate bis(borane) peroxide. Although several Group 13 peroxides have been reported, boron‐supported peroxides are rare, with no structurally characterized examples of the BO₂B moiety. The synthesis of a bis(borane)‐supported peroxide anion and its structural and electrochemical characterization are described.     

Fluoride Anion Complexation by a Triptycene‐Based Distiborane: Taking Advantage of a Weak but Observable C−H⋅⋅⋅F Interaction

Fluoride anion complexation impacts a number of areas ranging from sensing to nucleophilic fluorination chemistry. Described here is a new bidentate Lewis acid consisting of two stiborane units connected by a 1,8‐triptycenediyl backbone. This neutral derivative captures fluoride with an unprecedented affinity for a neutral, water‐compatible Lewis acid. Structural, spectroscopic and computational studies demonstrate that fluoride anion binding is assisted by the formation of a C−H⋅⋅⋅F hydrogen bond which involves a methine group of the 1,8‐triptycenediyl backbone.     

Bis[N,N′‐diisopropylbenzamidinato(−)]silicon(II): Lewis Acid/Base Reactions with Triorganylboranes

Reaction of the donor‐stabilized silylene 1 (which is three‐coordinate in the solid state and four‐coordinate in solution) with BEt₃ and BPh₃ leads to the formation of the Lewis acid/base complexes 2 and 3 , respectively, which are the first five‐coordinate silicon compounds with an Si?B bond. These compounds were structurally characterized by crystal structure analyses and by multinuclear NMR spectroscopic studies in the solid state and in solution. Additionally, the bonding situation in 2 and 3 was analyzed by quantum chemical studies.     

Dative Bonding between Group 13 Elements Using a Boron‐Centered Lewis Base

An electron‐rich monovalent boron compound is used as a Lewis base to prepare adducts with Group 13 Lewis acids using both its boron and nitrogen sites. The hard Lewis acid AlCl₃ binds through a nitrogen atom of the Lewis base, while softer Lewis acids GaX₃ (Cl, Br, I) bind at the boron atom. The latter are the first noncluster Lewis adducts between a boron‐centered Lewis base and a main‐group Lewis acid.     

A Neutral “Aluminocene” Sandwich Complex: η1‐ versus η5‐Coordination Modes of a Pentaarylborole with ECp* (E=Al,Ga; Cp*=C5Me5)

The pentaaryl borole (Ph*C)₄BXyl^F [Ph*=3,5‐tBu₂(C₆H₃); Xyl^F=3,5‐(CF₃)₂(C₆H₃)] reacts with low‐valent Group 13 precursors AlCp* and GaCp* by two divergent routes. In the case of [AlCp*]₄, the borole reacts as an oxidising agent and accepts two electrons. Structural, spectroscopic, and computational analysis of the resulting unprecedented neutral η⁵‐Cp*,η⁵‐[(Ph*C)₄BXyl^F] complex of Al^III revealed a strong, ionic bonding interaction. The formation of the heteroleptic borole‐cyclopentadienyl “aluminocene” leads to significant changes in the ¹³C NMR chemical shifts within the borole unit. In the case of the less‐reductive GaCp*, borole (Ph*C)₄BXyl^F reacts as a Lewis acid to form a dynamic adduct with a dative 2‐center‐2‐electron Ga?B bond. The Lewis adduct was also studied structurally, spectroscopically, and computationally.     

Lewis Acid–Base Interaction‐Controlled ortho‐Selective C−H Borylation of Aryl Sulfides

An iridium/bipyridine‐catalyzed ortho ‐selective C−H borylation of aryl sulfides was developed. High ortho ‐selectivity was achieved by a Lewis acid–base interaction between a boryl group of the ligand and a sulfur atom of the substrate. This is the first example of a catalytic and regioselective C−H transformation controlled by a Lewis acid–base interaction between a ligand and a substrate. The C−H borylation reaction could be conducted on a gram scale, and with a bioactive molecule as a substrate, demonstrating its applicability to late‐stage regioselective C−H borylation. A bioactive molecule was synthesized from an ortho ‐borylated product by converting the boryl and methylthio groups of the product.     

Conceptual Quantum Chemical Analysis of Bonding and Noncovalent Interactions in the Formation of Frustrated Lewis Pairs

The contributions of covalent and noncovalent interactions to the formation of classical adducts of bulky Lewis acids and bases and frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) were scrutinized by using various conceptual quantum chemical techniques. Significantly negative complexation energies were calculated for fourteen investigated Lewis pairs containing bases and acids with substituents of various sizes. A Ziegler–Rauk‐type energy decomposition analysis confirmed that two types of Lewis pairs can be distinguished on the basis of the nature of the primary interactions between reactants; dative‐bond formation and concomitant charge transfer from the Lewis base to the acid is the dominant and most stabilizing factor in the formation of Lewis acid–base adducts, whereas weak interactions are the main thermodynamic driving force (>50 %) for FLPs. Moreover, the ease and extent of structural deformation of the monomers appears to be a key component in the formation of the former type of Lewis pairs. A Natural Orbital for Chemical Valence (NOCV) analysis, which was used to visualize and quantify the charge transfer between the base and the acid, clearly showed the importance and lack of this type of interaction for adducts and FLPs, respectively. The Noncovalent Interaction (NCI) method revealed several kinds of weak interactions between the acid and base components, such as dispersion, π–π stacking, C?H ??? π interaction, weak hydrogen bonding, halogen bonding, and weak acid–base interactions, whereas the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM) provided further conceptual insight into strong acid–base interactions.     

Metalloenzyme‐Like Zeolites as Lewis Acid Catalysts for CC Bond Formation

The use of metalloenzyme‐like zeolites as Lewis acid catalysts for C? C bond formation reactions has received increasing attention over the past few years. In particular, the observation of direct aldol condensation reactions enabled by hydrophobic zeolites with isolated framework metal sites has encouraged the development of catalytic approaches for producing chemicals from biomass‐derived compounds. The discovery of new Diels–Alder cycloaddition/dehydration routes and experimental and computational studies of Lewis acid catalyzed carbonyl–ene reactions have given a further boost to this rapidly evolving field.