A catalytic and mechanistic investigation of a PCP pincer palladium complex in the Stille reaction

In an improved procedure, the complex {2,6-bis[(diphenylphosphino)methyl]benzene}chloropalladium(II) (1) was synthesised as its THF adduct and the structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. The catalytic properties of the derivative {2,6-bis[(diphenylphosphino)methyl]benzene}(trifluoroacetato)palladium(II) (2) was investigated in the Stille reaction. Complex 2 proves to be an excellent catalyst for the C-C cross-coupling between trimethyl phenyl stannane and aryl bromides using a very low catalyst loading (0.1-0.0001%), giving high turnover numbers (TONs) up to 6.9 x 10(5). A kinetic investigation of the catalytic reaction suggests a heterogeneous colloidal palladium catalyst formed from the PCP Pd(II) pre-catalyst.     

Coordination chemistry of dinucleating P2N2S ligands: preparation and characterization of cationic palladium complexes

The thioethers (4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis((2-(diphenylphosphino)ethylimino)methyl)phenyl)(tert-butyl)sulfane (tBuL3) and (4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis((2-(diphenylphosphino)ethylamino)methyl)phenyl)(tert-butyl)sulfane (tBuL4) react readily with [Pd(NCMe)2Cl2] to give the dinuclear palladium thiophenolate complexes [(L3)Pd2(Cl)2]+ and [(L4)Pd2(micro-Cl)]2+ (HL3=2,6-bis((2-(diphenylphosphino)ethylimino)methyl)-4-tert-butylbenzenethiol, HL4=2,6-bis((2-(diphenylphosphino)ethylamino)methyl)-4-tert-butylbenzenethiol). The chlorides in could be replaced by neutral (MeCN) and anionic ligands (NCS-, N3-, I-, CN-) to give the dinuclear PdII complexes [(L3)Pd2(NCMe)2]3+, [(L3)Pd2(SCN)2]+, [(L3)Pd2(N3)2]+, [(L3)Pd2(I)2]+, and [(L3)Pd2(CN)2]+. The acetonitrile ligands in are readily hydrated to give the corresponding amidato complex [(L3)Pd2(NHCOMe)]2+. All complexes were isolated as perchlorate salts and studied by infrared, 1H, and 31P NMR spectroscopy. In addition, complexes [ClO4].EtOH, [ClO4]2, [ClO4], [ClO4].EtOH, and [ClO4]2.MeCN.MeOH have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. The dipalladium complex was found to catalyse the vinyl-addition polymerization of norbornene in the presence of MAO (methylalumoxane) and B(C6F5)3/AlEt3.     

Preparation and characterization of dinuclear Pd(II) complexes of binucleating tetraaza-thiophenolate ligands

The thioethers 4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis((2-(dimethylamino)ethylimino)methyl)phenyl(tert-butyl)sulfane (tBu-L3) and 4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis((2-(dimethylamino)ethylimino)methyl)phenyl(tert-butyl)sulfane (tBu-L4) react with PdCl2(NCMe)2 to give the dinuclear palladium thiophenolate complexes [(L3)Pd2Cl2]+ (2) and [(L4Pd2(mu-Cl)]2+ (3) (HL3= 2,6-bis((2-(dimethylamino)ethylimino)methyl)-4-tert-butylbenzenethiol, HL4 = 2,6-bis((2-(dimethylamino)ethylamino)methyl)-4-tert-butylbenzenethiol). The chloride ligands in could be replaced by neutral (NCMe) and anionic ligands (NCS-, N3-, CN-, OAc-) to give the diamagnetic Pd(II) complexes [(L3)Pd2(NCMe)2]3+ (4), [(L3)Pd2(NCS)2]+ (5), [(L3)Pd2(N3)2]+ (6), [{(L3)Pd2(mu-CN)}2]4+ (7) and [(L3)Pd2(OAc)]2+ (9). The nitrile ligands in and in [(L3)Pd2(NCCH2Cl)2]3+ are readily hydrated to give the corresponding amidato complexes [(L3)Pd2(CH3CONH)]2+ (8) and [(L3)Pd2(CH2ClCONH)]2+ (10). The reaction of [(L3)Pd2(NCMe)2]3+ with NaBPh4 gave the diphenyl complex [(L3)Pd2(Ph)2]+ (11). All complexes were either isolated as perchlorate or tetraphenylborate salts and studied by IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. In addition, complexes 2[ClO4], 3[ClO4]2, 5[BPh4], 6[BPh4], 7[ClO4]4, 9[ClO4]2, 10[ClO4]2 and 11[BPh4] have been characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

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.     

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.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of the first C2-symmetric bis-aldimine NCN-pincer complexes of platinum and palladium

(S,S)-2,6-bis[(N-α-methylbenzyl)imino]phenylpalladium bromide was synthesised by oxidative addition of palladium(0) to (S,S)-1-bromo-2,6-bis[(N-α-methylbenzyl)imino]benzene. In contrast, (S,S)-2,6-bis[(N-α-methylbenzyl)imino]phenylplatinum chloride was synthesised by direct C-H activation from the reaction of potassium tetrachloroplatinate with (S,S)-1,3-bis[(N-α-methylbenzyl)imino]benzene. The X-ray crystal structures of both pincer complexes were obtained. Treatment of both complexes with silver hexafluoroanimonate gave effective but not stereoselective catalysts for a Michael reaction between methyl vinyl ketone and methyl 2-cyanopropanoate.     

From a cycloheptatrienylzirconium allyl complex to a cycloheptatrienylzirconium imidazolin-2-iminato "pogo stick" complex with imido-type reactivity

The reaction of the cycloheptatrienylzirconium half-sandwich complex [(η(7)-C(7)H(7))ZrCl(tmeda)] (1) (tmeda = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) with Li(Im(Dipp)N), generated from bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-imine (Im(Dipp)NH) with methyllithium, yields the imidazolin-2-iminato complex [(η(7)-C(7)H(7))Zr(Im(Dipp)N)(tmeda)] (2). The corresponding tmeda-free complex [(η(7)-C(7)H(7))Zr(Im(Dipp)N)] (5) can be synthesized via the 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)allyl complex [(η(7)-C(7)H(7))Zr{η(3)-C(3)H(3)(TMS)(2)}(THF)] (3; TMS = SiMe(3)), which undergoes an acid-base reaction with Im(Dipp)NH to form 5 and 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)propene. 5 exhibits an unusual one-legged piano stool ("pogo stick") geometry with a particularly short Zr-N bond of 1.997(2) ?. Addition of 2,6-dimethylphenyl or tert-butyl isocyanide affords the complexes [(η(7)-C(7)H(7))Zr(Im(Dipp)N)(CNR)] (R = o-Xy, 6; R = t-Bu, 7), while the reaction with 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanate results in a [2 + 2] cycloaddition to form the ureato(1-) complex [(η(7)-C(7)H(7))Zr{Im(Dipp)N(C═O)N-o-Xy}] (8). 5 can also act as an initiator for the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone. These reactivity patterns together with density functional theory calculations reveal a marked similarity of the bonding in imidazolin-2-iminato and conventional imido transition-metal complexes.     

Palladium-catalyzed electrophilic allylation reactions via bis(allyl)palladium complexes and related intermediates

The synthetic scope of the allyl-palladium chemistry can be extended to involve electrophilic reagents. The greatest challenge in these reactions is the catalytic generation of an allyl-palladium intermediate incorporating a nucleophilic allyl moiety. A vast majority of the published reactions that involve palladium-catalyzed allylation of electrophiles proceed via bis(allyl)palladium intermediates. The eta(1)-moiety of the bis(allyl)palladium intermediates reacts with electrophiles, including aldehydes, imines, or Michael acceptors. Recently, catalytic electrophilic allylations via mono-allylpalladium complexes were also presented by employment of so-called "pincer complex" catalysts.     

Palladium(I)-bridging allyl dimers for the catalytic functionalization of CO2

In general, the chemistry of both η(1)-allyl and η(3)-allyl Pd complexes is extremely well understood; η(1)-allyls are nucleophilic and react with electrophiles, whereas η(3)-allyls are electrophilic and react with nucleophiles. In contrast, relatively little is known about the chemistry of metal complexes with bridging allyl ligands. In this work, we describe a more efficient synthetic methodology for the preparation of Pd(I)-bridging allyl dimers and report the first studies of their stoichiometric reactivity. Furthermore, we show that these compounds can activate CO(2) and that an N-heterocyclic carbene-supported dimer is one of the most active and stable catalysts reported to date for the carboxylation of allylstannanes and allylboranes with CO(2).     

Suzuki reaction catalysed by a PCsp3P pincer Pd(II) complex: Evidence for a mechanism involving molecular species

{Cis-1,3-bis[(di-tert-butylphosphino)methyl]cyclohexyl}palladium(II)trifluoroacetate (1) acts as a precatalyst for the Suzuki reaction of aryl halides with phenylboronic acid in the absence or presence of mercury to give the product in modest to reasonably good yields. The reaction was monitored by ³¹P- and ¹H NMR spectroscopy in a stepwise fashion, concluding that complex 1 reacts with activated boronic acids in the first reaction step to yield the corresponding phenyl complex 2. Complex 2 thereafter generates the Suzuki cross-coupling product upon addition of aryl halide. This shows that (PCP)Pd complexes, in addition to the previously demonstrated Pd(0)/Pd(II) mechanism, can mediate cross-coupling reactions using molecular species in a non-zero oxidation state.     

Synthesis of novel allyl palladium complexes bearing purine based NHC and a water soluble phosphine and their catalytic activity in the Suzuki‐Miyaura coupling in water

We have synthesized and fully characterized some novel allyl palladium complexes stabilized by mixed spectator ligands, namely the water soluble sodium 3,3′,3″‐phosphinetriyltribenzenesulfonate, (TPPTS) and three carbenes derived from differently alkylated natural xanthines. In order to explore their potential applications we have tested their catalytic activity in the Suzuki‐Miyaura coupling of para‐bromoacetophenone with phenyl boronic acid, chosen as standard reaction. Only one of the complexes under study displays a remarkable stability in water and catalytic activity. We have therefore undertaken a catalytic investigation. These results are reported in the present paper together with the solid state structural characterization of a silver precursor of the palladium allyl complexes.     

β‐Hydrogen Elimination Reactions of Nickel and Palladium Methoxides Stabilised by PCP Pincer Ligands

Nickel and palladium methoxides [(^iPrPCP)M‐OMe], which contain the ^iPrPCP pincer ligand, decompose upon heating to give products of different kinds. The palladium derivative cleanly gives the dimeric Pd⁰ complex [Pd(μ‐^iPrPCHP)]₂ (^iPrPCHP=2,6‐bis(diisopropylphosphinomethyl)phenyl) and formaldehyde. In contrast, decomposition of [(^iPrPCP)Ni‐OMe] affords polynuclear carbonyl phosphine complexes. Both decomposition processes are initiated by β‐hydrogen elimination (BHE), but the resulting [(^iPrPCP)M‐H] hydrides undergo divergent reaction sequences that ultimately lead to the irreversible breakdown of the pincer units. Whereas the Pd hydride spontaneously experiences reductive C?H coupling, the decay of its Ni analogue is brought about by its reaction with formaldehyde released in the BHE step. Kinetic measurements showed that the BHE reaction is reversible and less favourable for Ni than for Pd for both kinetic and thermodynamic reasons. DFT calculations confirmed the main conclusions of the kinetic studies and provided further insight into the mechanisms of the decomposition reactions.     

Synthesis of allyl cyanamides and N-cyanoindoles via the palladium-catalyzed three-component coupling reaction

The palladium-catalyzed three-component coupling reaction (TCCR) of aryl isocyanides, allyl methyl carbonate, and trimethylsilyl azide was conducted in the presence of Pd(2)(dba)(3).CHCl(3) (2.5 mol %) and dppe (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) (10 mol %). Allyl aryl cyanamides with a wide variety of functional groups were obtained in excellent yields. This palladium-catalyzed TCCR was further utilized for the synthesis of N-cyanoindoles. The reaction of 2-alkynylisocyanobenzenes, allyl methyl carbonate, and trimethylsilyl azide in the presence of Pd(2)(dba)(3).CHCl(3) (2.5 mol %) and tri(2-furyl)phosphine (10 mol %) at higher temperatures afforded N-cyanoindoles in good to allowable yields. (eta(3)-Allyl)(eta(3)-cyanamido)palladium complex, an analogue of the bis-pi-allylpalladium complex, is a key intermediate in the TCCR, and a pi-allylpalladium mimic of the Curtius rearrangement is involved to generate the (eta(3)-allyl)(eta(3)-cyanamido)palladium intermediate.     

Synthesis and characterisation of PC(sp3)P phosphine and phosphinite platinum(II) complexes. Cyclometallation and simple coordination

New and improved preparative routes to the previously known PCP ligands cis-1,3-bis(di-isopropylphosphinito)cyclohexane and cis-1,3-bis[(di-tert-butylphosphino)methyl]cyclohexane are reported. They react with 1 equivalent of dichloro(1,5-cyclooctadiene)platinum(II) [(COD)PtCl2] to give the cis coordinated complex cis-[PtCl2{cis-1,3-bis(di-isopropylphosphinito)}cyclohexane] and the C(sp3)-H activated complex trans-[PtCl{cis-1,3-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)}cyclohexane]. The new PCP ligand cis-1,3-bis(di-tert-butylphosphinito)cyclohexane was synthesised and reacts with [(COD)PtCl2] giving the di-nuclear trans-[PtCl2{cis-1,3-bis(di-tert-butylphosphinito)cyclohexane}]2, which is highly insoluble. All metal complexes were characterised with X-ray crystallography. DFT calculations indicate that the inability of the phosphinite ligands to cyclometallate is due to a kinetic barrier, possibly involving an axial-equatorial conformational change necessary for the C-H activation process.     

Unusual reactivity of a sterically hindered diphosphazane ligand, EtN{P(OR)(2)}(2), (R = C(6)H(3)(Pr(I))(2)-2,6) towards (eta(3)-allyl)palladium precursors

The reactivity of (eta(3)-allyl)palladium chloro dimers [(1-R-eta(3)-C(3)H(4))PdCl](2) (R = H or Me) towards a sterically hindered diphosphazane ligand [EtN{P(OR)(2)}(2)] (R = C(6)H(3)(Pr(i))(2)-2,6), has been investigated under different reaction conditions. When the reaction is carried out using NH(4)PF(6) as the halide scavenger, the cationic complex [(1-R-eta(3)-C(3)H(4))Pd{EtN(P(OR)(2))(2)}]PF(6) (R = H or Me) is formed as the sole product. In the absence of NH(4)PF(6), the initially formed cationic complex, [(eta(3)-C(3)H(5))Pd{EtN(P(OR)(2))(2)}]Cl, is transformed into a mixture of chloro bridged complexes over a period of 4 days. The dinuclear complexes, [(eta(3)-C(3)H(5))Pd(2)(mu-Cl)(2){P(O)(OR)(2)}{P(OR)(2)(NHEt)}] and [Pd(mu-Cl){P(O)(OR)(2)}{P(OR)(2)(NHEt)}](2) are formed by P-N bond hydrolysis, whereas the octa-palladium complex [(eta(3)-C(3)H(5))(2-Cl-eta(3)-C(3)H(4))Pd(4)(mu-Cl)(4)(mu-EtN{P(OR)(2)}(2))](2), is formed as a result of nucleophilic substitution by a chloride ligand at the central carbon of an allyl fragment. The reaction of [EtN{P(OR)(2)}(2)] with [(eta(3)-C(3)H(5))PdCl](2) in the presence of K(2)CO(3) yields a stable dinuclear (eta(3)-allyl)palladium(I) diphosphazane complex, [(eta(3)-C(3)H(5))[mu-EtN{P(OR)(2)}(2)Pd(2)Cl] which contains a coordinatively unsaturated T-shaped palladium center. This complex exhibits high catalytic activity and high TON's in the catalytic hydrophenylation of norbornene.     

A highly active two six-membered phosphinite palladium PCP pincer complex [PdCl{C6H3(CH2OPPr)2-2,6}]

The diphosphinite 1,3-bis[(di-isopropylphosphinite)methyl]benzene (2) has been synthesized and its complexation in palladium chemistry investigated. Complex 3 represents the first example of a two six-member PCP pincer bis(phosphinite) species. A catalytic study of 3 in the Heck reaction, revealed this specie to have an outstanding activity in the olefination of iodo-, bromo- and chloro-benzenes. When compared with other PCP pincer complexes, the results show that both by increasing the ring size from five to six-membered and using phosphinite instead of phosphine groups lead to a more active catalyst.     

Allyl stannanes as electrophiles or nucleophiles in the palladium-catalyzed reactions with alkynes

The reactivity of the allyl stannanes can be inverted by changing the oxidation state of the catalyst from Pd(II) to Pd(0). Whereas with Pd(II) an anti nucleophilic attack of the allyl stannane on the alkyne takes place, the reaction with Pd(0) proceeds by oxidative addition to form (η³-allyl)palladium complexes leading to a formal syn addition to the alkyne. This mechanistic proposal is supported by DFT calculations.     

Catalytic hydroallylation of norbornadiene with allyl formate

Norbornadiene (NBD) reacts with allyl esters All—OC(O)R (R = Me, Bu^t, Ph, CCl₃, CF₃) in acetonitrile solutions of palladium(0) complexes to give a mixture of four isomeric nontraditional allylation products and the corresponding carboxylic acids. Under similar conditions, the reaction of NBD with allyl formate in solutions of Pd⁰ and Pd^II complexes occurs selectively, resulting in the product of addition of the allyl fragment and the H atom to an NBD double bond, 5-allylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, and CO₂. The hydroallylation of NBD is accompanied by catalytic addition of formic and acetic acids to one double bond of the diene to give bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-en-5-ol and nortricyclan-3-ol acetates and formates. Unlike most known palladium-based catalyst systems, these complexes exhibit catalytic activity also in the absence of phosphines. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 309–313, February, 2007.     

The synthesis and characterisation of immobilised palladium carbene complexes and their application to heterogeneous catalysis

Silica supported palladium NHC complexes have been prepared by two different routes: one involving the reaction of silica-supported imidazolium salts with palladium acetate and a direct immobilisation of a pre-formed complex by reacting a (trimethoxysilylpropyl)-N-aryl-imidazolylidene palladium complex with surface hydroxyl groups. A small range of catalysts of varying steric bulk were prepared in order to evaluate the effect on catalytic conversion. The activity of the palladium catalysts in Suzuki cross-coupling reactions has been established. The catalysts prepared by immobilising pre-formed palladium complexes gave superior results for the conversion of aryl bromides and aryl chlorides. In addition, use of sterically bulky NHCs (such as the N-2,6-(diisopropyl)phenyl-substituted ligand) resulted in increased catalytic activity, which is analogous to the trends noted in homogeneous catalysis.     

Origin of the regio- and stereoselectivity in palladium-catalyzed electrophilic substitution via bis(allyl)palladium complexes

Palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution of aryl allyl chlorides with aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes was performed in the presence of hexamethylditin. This procedure involves palladium-catalyzed formation of transient allylstannanes followed by generation of a bis(allyl)palladium intermediate, which subsequently reacts with the aldehyde electrophile. The catalytic substitution reaction proceeds with high regio- and stereoselectivity. The stereoselectivity is affected by the steric and electronic properties of the allylic substituents. Various functionalities including NO(2), COCH(3), Br, and F groups are tolerated under the applied catalytic conditions. Density functional calculations at the B3PW91/DZ+P level of theory were applied to study the steric and electronic effects controlling the regio- and stereoselectivity of the electrophilic addition. The development of the selectivity was studied by modeling the various bis(allyl)palladium species occurring in the palladium-catalyzed substitution of cinnamyl chloride with benzaldehyde. It was found that the electrophilic attack proceeds via a six-membered cyclic transition state, which has a pronounced chair conformation. The regioselectivity of the reaction is controlled by the location of the phenyl group on the eta(1)-allyl moiety of the complex. The stereoselectivity of the addition process is determined by the relative configuration of the phenyl substituents across the developing carbon-carbon bond. The lowest energy path corresponds to the formation of the branched allylic isomer with the phenyl groups in anti configuration, which is in excellent agreement with the experimental findings.