NCN pincer palladium complexes: their preparation via a ligand introduction route and their catalytic properties

A wide range of NCN pincer palladium complexes, [4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis(N-alkylimino)phenyl]chloropalladium (alkyl = n-butyl, benzyl, cyclohexyl, tert-butyl, adamantyl, phenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl), were readily prepared from trans-(4-tert-butyl-2,6-diformylphenyl)chlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium via dehydrative introduction of the corresponding alkylimino ligand groups (ligand introduction route) in excellent yields (71-98%). NMR studies on this route for forming pincer complexes revealed the intermediacy of [4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis(N-alkylimino)phenyl]chlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium which is in equilibrium with the corresponding NCN pincer complexes via coordination/dissociation of the intramolecular imino groups and triphenylphosphine ligands. A series of chiral NCN pincer complexes bearing pyrroloimidazolone units as the trans-chelating donor groups, [4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis{(3R,7aS)-2-phenylhexahydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazol-1-on-3-yl}phenyl]chloropalladium, were also prepared from the same precursor via condensation with proline anilides in high yields. The catalytic properties of the NCN imino and the NCN pyrroloimidazolone pincer palladium complexes were examined in the Heck reaction and the asymmetric Michael reaction to demonstrate their high catalytic activity and high enantioselectivity.     

A novel amphiphilic pincer palladium complex: design, preparation and self-assembling behavior

Amphiphilic pincer palladium complexes bearing hydrophilic and hydrophobic side chains on the planar NCN palladium pincer backbone were designed and prepared via the ligand introduction route. The complexes self-assembled under aqueous conditions to form vesicles with bilayer membranes containing palladium species. The catalytic activity of the vesicles in the Miyaura-Michael reaction in water was investigated.     

Direct Arylation in the Presence of Palladium Pincer Complexes

Direct arylation is an atom-economical alternative to more established procedures such as Stille, Suzuki or Negishi arylation reactions. In comparison with other palladium sources and ligands, the use of palladium pincer complexes as catalysts or pre-catalysts for direct arylation has resulted in improved efficiency, higher reaction yields, and advantageous reaction conditions. In addition to a revision of the literature concerning intra- and intermolecular direct arylation reactions performed in the presence of palladium pincer complexes, the role of these remarkably active catalysts will also be discussed.     

A joint experimental and theoretical study of the palladium-catalyzed electrophilic allylation of aldehydes

Palladium-catalyzed electrophilic allylation of aldehydes with allylstannanes has been proposed in the literature as a model reaction illustrating the potential of nucleophilic eta(1)-allyl palladium pincer complexes to promote new catalytic processes. This reaction was studied by a joint experimental and theoretical approach. It was shown that pincer palladium complexes featuring a S approximately P approximately S and a S approximately C approximately S tridentate ligand are efficient catalysts for this reaction. The full mechanism of this transformation was studied in detail by means of DFT calculations. Two pathways were explored: the commonly proposed mechanism involving eta(1)-allyl palladium intermediates and a Lewis acid promoted mechanism. Both of these mechanisms were compared to the direct transformation that was shown experimentally to occur under mild conditions. The mechanism involving an eta(1)-allyl palladium intermediate has been discarded on energetic grounds, the nucleophilic attack and the transmetalation step being more energetically demanding than the direct reaction between allyltin and the aldehyde. On the other hand, a mechanism where the palladium acts as a Lewis acid proved to be fully consistent with all experimental and theoretical results. This mechanism involves (L approximately X approximately L)Pd(+) species which activate the aldehyde moiety toward nucleophilic attack.     

Pincer complex-catalyzed allylation of aldehyde and imine substrates via nucleophilic eta1-allyl palladium intermediates

Electrophilic allylic substitution of allylstannanes with aldehyde and imine substrates could be achieved by employment of palladium pincer complex catalysts. It was found that the catalytic activity of the pincer complexes is highly dependent on the ligand effects. The best results were obtained by employment of PCP pincer complexes with weakly coordinating counterions. In contrast to previous applications for electrophilic allylic substitutions via bisallylpalladium complexes, the presented reactions involve monoallylpalladium intermediates. Thus, employment of pincer complex catalysts extends the synthetic scope of the palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions. Moreover, use of these catalysts eliminates the side reactions occurring in transformations via bisallylpalladium intermediates. The key intermediate of the electrophilic substitution reaction was observed by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. This intermediate was characterized as an eta(1)-allyl-coordinated pincer complex. Density functional theory (DFT) modeling shows that the electrophilic attack can be accomplished with a low activation barrier at the gamma-position of the eta(1)-allyl moiety. According to the DFT calculations, this reaction takes place via a six-membered cyclic transition-state (TS) structure, in which the tridentate coordination state of the pincer ligand is preserved. The stereoselectivity of the reaction could be explained on the basis of the six-membered cyclic TS model.     

Palladium pincer complex-catalyzed trimethyltin substitution of functionalized propargylic substrates. An efficient route to propargyl- and allenyl-stannanes

Palladium pincer complex-catalyzed reaction of functionalized propargyl chloride (and mesylate) derivatives with hexamethylditin gives allenyl- and propargyl-stannane products. This catalytic activity is in sharp contrast with the reactivity of commonly used palladium(0) catalysts inducing addition of hexamethylditin to the triple bond. The product distribution of the pincer complex-catalyzed reaction is controlled by the substituent effects of the propargylic substrate: electron-withdrawing functionalities give mainly allenyl stannane products, while with electron-donating groups the main product is propargyl stannane. The catalytic reaction proceeds under very mild conditions tolerating many functionalities such as OH, OAc, NR3, and NR2Ac groups. Our mechanistic studies indicate that the key intermediate of the reaction is a monotrimethylstannane palladium pincer complex. A remarkable feature of the studied catalytic process is that the palladium catalyst does not undergo redox reactions, but its oxidation state is restricted to palladium(II). Since palladium(0) intermediates does not occur in this process, the catalyst is very stable and highly chemoselective.     

Palladium complexes with abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene ligands derived from 1,2,3-triazolium ions and their application in Suzuki coupling

Chiral and achiral pincer type palladium complexes bearing abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene ligands derived from 1,2,3-triazole are reported. Both complexes are effective as catalysts for non-asymmetric Suzuki coupling reaction for the synthesis of biphenyl derivatives. However, both the complexes failed to catalyze the formation of binaphthyl derivatives, by the asymmetric Suzuki coupling in case of the chiral complex and the non-asymmetric version in case of the achiral pincer complex. Instead deboronation of arylboronic acid occurred very efficiently leaving the aryl bromide intact.     

Palladium pincer complex-catalyzed allylic stannylation with hexaalkylditin reagents

Palladium pincer complex (1)-catalyzed stannylation of allyl chloride, phosphonate, and epoxide substrates (4a-h) could be performed with hexaalkylditin reagents (3) under mild neutral reaction conditions. This catalytic reaction proceeds via palladium(II) intermediates without involvement of allyl-palladium complexes, and therefore the allylstannane product does not interfere with the palladium catalyst. Use of a combined catalytic system (1 + 2) allowed the development of an effective one-pot procedure for allylation of aldehyde and imine electrophiles. [reaction: see text]     

Development of chiral pincer palladium complexes bearing a pyrroloimidazolone unit. Catalytic use for asymmetric Michael addition

Novel pincer palladium complexes having chiral hexahydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazolone groups were designed and prepared. Catalytic asymmetric Michael addition of isopropyl 2-cyanopropionate to ethyl vinyl ketone was catalyzed by the chiral pincer palladium complex to give isopropyl 2-cyano-2-methyl-5-oxoheptanoate with high enantioselectivity (up to 83% ee). [structure: see text]     

Synthesis and Catalytic Properties of Di- and Trinuclear Palladium Complexes with PCP-Pincer Ligands

Linear and branched conjugated pincer ligands having Ph₂P groups were synthesized: 3,3',5,5'- tetrakis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)diphenylacetylene, 3,3',5,5'-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)diphenyldi- acetylene, 1,3,5-tris[3,5-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylethynyl]benzene, and hexakis[3,5-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylethynyl]benzene. Palladation of these ligands by heating with Pd(BF₄)₂(MeCN)₄ in boiling acetonitrile gave the corresponding di- and trinuclear ionic pincer palladium complexes. No individual complex was obtained from hexakis[3,5-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylethynyl]benzene. The ionic com- plexes were converted into the corresponding chloride complexes by treatment with sodium chloride in a mixture of water with methylene chloride. The structure of the ionic palladium complex with 3,3',5,5'-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)diphenylacetylene was established by X-ray analysis. The obtained palladium complexes exhibited a considerable catalytic activity in the Heck reaction of iodobenzene with ethyl acrylate and in the Michael addition of ethyl cyanoacetate with methyl vinyl ketone. The catalytic activity per palladium atom decreases as the number of palladium atoms in the complex increases.     

Stereoselective Pincer-complex catalyzed C-H functionalization of benzyl nitriles under mild conditions. An efficient route to beta-aminonitriles

An efficient palladium pincer-complex catalyzed reaction has been developed for alpha-C-H bond functionalization of benzyl nitriles. The studied coupling reaction with sulfonylimines affords beta-aminonitriles with usually high levels of stereoselectivity. The stereoselectivity of the process is highly dependent on the electronic effects of the ortho substituents of the benzyl moiety. Promising levels of enantiomeric excess are obtained using chiral pincer complexes as catalysts.     

Palladium pincer complex catalyzed stannyl and silyl transfer to propargylic substrates: synthetic scope and mechanism

Pincer complex catalyzed substitution of various propargylic substrates could be achieved using tin- and silicon-based dimetallic reagents to obtain propargyl- and allenylstannanes and silanes. These reactions involving chloride, mesylate, and epoxide substrates could be carried out under mild conditions, and therefore many functionalities (such as COOEt, OR, OH, NR, and NAc) are tolerated. It was shown that pincer catalysts with electron-supplying ligands, such as NCN, SCS, and SeCSe complexes, display the highest catalytic activity. The catalytic substitution of secondary propargyl chlorides and primary propargyl chlorides with electron-withdrawing substituents proceeds with high regioselectivity providing the allenyl product. Opening of the propargyl epoxides takes place with an excellent stereo- and regioselectivity to give stereodefined allenylstannanes. Silylstannanes as dimetallic reagents undergo an exclusive silyl transfer to the propargylic substrate affording allenylsilanes with high regioselectivity. According to our mechanistic studies, the key intermediate of the reaction is an organostannane (or silane)-coordinated pincer complex, which is formed from the dimetallic reagent and the corresponding pincer complex catalyst. DFT modeling studies have shown that the trimethylstannyl functionality is transferred to the propargylic substrate in a single reaction step with high allenyl selectivity. Inspection of the TS structures reveals that the trimethylstannyl group transfer is initiated by the attack of the palladium-tin sigma-bond electrons on the propargylic substrate. This is a novel mechanism in palladium chemistry, which is based on the unique topology of the pincer complex catalysts.     

Molecular thioamide ↔ iminothiolate switches for sulfur mustards

SNS platinum(II) pincer complexes reversibly bind and release the surrogate half sulfur mustard, 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES). The switch-like behavior of the pincers is attributed to a reversible transformation between the thioamide and iminothiolate forms of the pincer skeleton under slightly acidic and basic conditions, respectively. An amide-based palladium(II) pincer complex also binds CEES, as confirmed crystallographically and by NMR.     

Macrocyclic Metal Complexes Bearing Rigid Polyaromatic Ligands: Synthesis and Catalytic Activity

We synthesised palladium and platinum complexes possessing cyclic and acyclic pincer‐type polyaromatic ligands and investigated their structural effect on the catalysis. The pincer‐type bis(6‐arylpyridin‐2‐yl)benzene skeleton was constructed via Kröhnke pyridine synthesis under transition metal‐free conditions on gram‐scale quantity. Ligand structure significantly influenced catalytic activity toward the platinum‐catalysed hydrosilylation of diphenyl acetylenes, despite the ligand‐independence of the conformations and electronic properties of these complexes.     

Synthesis of achiral NCN pincer Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes and catalytic application in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction

A series of platinum and palladium pincer complexes supported by achiral 1,3-bis(2′-imidazolinyl)benzene-based NCN ligands have been prepared via direct C2 metalation. Meanwhile, ligand precursor 3b and Pt(II) complex 4b were characterized by crystallographic studies, which reveals that the platinum atom in 4b adopts a distorted-square-planar geometry. The Pd(II) pincer complexes 5b was found to be an efficient catalyst for Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of aryl bromides and phenylboronic acid under air. In the presence of 0.5?mol% of Pd(II) 5b in DMF/K₃PO₄·3H₂O for 8?h, the corresponding biaryl products could be obtained in 24–99% yields.     

Chiral palladium bis(phosphite)PCP-pincer complexes via ligand C-H activation

The synthesis of a range of chiral palladium bis(phosphite) pincer complexes has been achieved via C-H activation of the parent ligands and one of the complexes formed shows good activity in the catalytic allylation of aldehydes.     

ONO pincer palladium (II) complexes featuring furoylhydrazone ligands: Synthesis,characterization and catalytic activity towards Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction

Four new palladium pincer complexes incorporating ONO type furoylhydrazone ligands have been prepared in good yields. These palladium complexes were structurally characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectra. X‐ray single crystal analyses of Pd1–Pd4 revealed that the metal center adopted a slightly distorted square planar geometry in which the hydrazone bound the metal ion via the phenolic‐O, azomethine‐N and imidolate‐O atoms. Using these ONO pincer complexes as catalyst, excellent yields of biaryls could be obtained for coupling of arylboronic acids with aryl bromides at a low catalyst loading (0.01 mol%).     

Classification and synthesis of nickel pincer complexes

Over the past decades, the pincer ligands have attracted an increasing interest due to the unique properties of the coordination compounds they form. These monoanionic tridentate ligands are of great importance in organometallic and coordination chemistry. Their complexes with transition metals are used as homogeneous catalysts for various processes and also as functional materials with specified properties. The metal complexes formed by the pincer ligands provide an efficient alternative to the existing catalysts based on noble metals and, hence, the use of these complexes is a promising task of the modern chemical science. Therefore, nickel as the most accessible and inexpensive analog of palladium and platinum is of great practical interest. In this review, we consider the diversity of nickel complexes with pincer ligands, as well as the existing methods for their preparation and practical application.     

Palladium-pincer complex catalyzed C-C coupling of allyl nitriles with tosyl imines via regioselective allylic C-H bond functionalization

A mechanistically new palladium-pincer complex catalyzed allylation of sulfonimines is presented. This reaction involves C-H bond functionalization of allyl nitriles under mild conditions. The reaction proceeds with a high regioselectivity, without allyl rearrangement of the product. Modeling studies indicate that the carbon-carbon bond formation process proceeds via (eta (1)-allyl)palladium pincer complex intermediates.     

Tandem catalysis and self-assembly: a one-pot approach to functionalized polymers

[reaction: see text] Side-chain functionalized polymers possessing terminal palladated SCS pincer complexes at each repeat unit were synthesized via ring-opening metathesis polymerization. These palladium centers function as both well-defined Heck catalysts and recognition units capable of quantitative self-assembly of pyridine-containing molecules. Exploitation of both the catalytic and self-assembly properties has led to the development of a controlled, one-pot tandem catalysis/self-assembly sequence for the synthesis of functionalized polymers.