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.     

Palladium Catalysis Enables Benzylation of α,α‐Difluoroketone Enolates

A palladium‐catalyzed decarboxylative benzylation reaction of α,α‐difluoroketone enolates is reported, in which the key C(α)?C(sp³) bond is generated by reductive elimination from a palladium intermediate. The transformation provides convergent access to α‐benzyl‐α,α‐difluoroketone‐based products, and should be useful for accessing biological probes.     

Transfer of Aryl Halide to Alkyl Halide: Reductive Elimination of Alkylhalide from Alkylpalladium Halides Containing syn‐β‐Hydrogen Atoms

β‐Hydride abstraction is a well‐accepted elementary step for catalytic cycles in organometallic chemistry. It is usually anticipated that alkylpalladium halides containing syn‐β‐hydrogen atoms will undergo β‐hydride abstraction to afford the Heck‐type products. However, this study discloses that the above general knowledge is only conditionally correct. Our experimental results demonstrate that the reductive elimination of alkylhalides from alkylpalladium halides containing syn‐β‐hydrogen atoms may surpass the β‐hydride abstraction or even become exclusive in certain cases.     

Enantioselective Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxidative β,β‐Fluoroarylation of α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Derivatives

The site‐selective palladium‐catalyzed three‐component coupling of deactivated alkenes, arylboronic acids, and N‐fluorobenzenesulfonimide is disclosed herein. The developed methodology establishes a general, modular, and step‐economical approach to the stereoselective β‐fluorination of α,β‐unsaturated systems.     

Controlled Heterocyclization/Cross‐Coupling Domino Reaction of β,γ‐Allendiols and α‐Allenic Esters: Method and Mechanistic Insight for the Preparation of Functionalized Buta‐1,3‐dienyl Dihydropyrans

Starting from β,γ‐allendiols and α‐allenic acetates, a chemo‐ and regiocontrolled palladium‐catalyzed methodology has provided access to enantiopure 3,6‐dihydropyrans that bear a buta‐1,3‐dienyl moiety. Thus, it has been demonstrated for the first time that the preparation of six‐membered heterocycles through cross‐coupling reactions of two different allenes can be accomplished. These heterocyclization/cross‐coupling reactions have been developed experimentally and their mechanisms have additionally been investigated by a computational study.     

Imidazolin‐2‐ylidenaminophosphines as Highly Electron‐Rich Ligands for Transition‐Metal Catalysts

A variety of chemical transformations benefit from the use of strong electron‐donating ancillary ligands, such as alkylphosphines or N‐heterocyclic carbenes when electron‐rich metal centers are required. Herein, we describe a facile and highly modular access to monodentate and bidentate imidazolin‐2‐ylidenamino‐substituted phosphines. Evaluation of the phosphine’s electronic properties substantiate that the formal replacement of alkyl or aryl groups by imidazolin‐2‐ylidenamino groups dramatically enhance their donor ability beyond that of alkylphosphines and even N‐heterocyclic carbenes. The new phosphines have been coordinated onto palladium(II) centers, and the beneficial effect of the novel substitution patterns has been explored by using the corresponding complexes in the palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction of non‐activated aryl chloride substrates.     

Tandem β‐Boration/Arylation of α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds by Using a Single Palladium Complex To Catalyse Both Steps

Diphenyl(3‐methyl‐2‐indolyl)phosphine (C₉H₈NPPh₂, 1 ) gives stable dimeric palladium(II) complexes that contain the phosphine in P,N‐bridging coordination mode. On treating 1 with [Pd(O₂CCH₃)₂], the new complexes [Pd(μ‐C₉H₇NPPh₂)(NCCH₃)]₂ ( 2 ) or [Pd(μ‐C₉H₇NPPh₂)(μ‐O₂CCH₃)]₂ ( 3 ) were isolated, depending on the solvent used, acetonitrile or toluene, respectively. Further reaction of 3 with the ammonium salt of 1 led to the substitution of one carboxylate ligand to afford [Pd(μ‐C₉H₇NPPh₂)₃(μ‐O₂CCH₃)] ( 4 ), in which the bimetallic unit is bonded by three C₉H₇NPPh₂^? moieties and one carboxylate group. Using this methodology, [Pd₂(μ‐C₆H₄PPh₂)₂(μ‐C₉H₇NPPh₂)(μ‐O₂CCX₃)] (X=H ( 7 ); X=F ( 8 )) were synthesised from the ortho‐metalated compounds [Pd(C₆H₄PPh₂)(μ‐O₂CCX₃)]₂ (X=H ( 5 ); X=F ( 6 )). Complexes 3 , 4 , 7 , and 8 have been found to be active in the catalytic β‐boration of α,β‐unsaturated esters and ketones under mild reaction conditions. Hindrance of the carbonyl moiety has an influence on the reaction rate, but quantitative conversion was achieved in many cases. More remarkably, when aryl bromides were added to the reaction media, complex 7 induced a highly successful consecutive β‐boration/cross‐coupling reaction with dimethyl acrylamide as the substrate (99 % conversion, 89 % isolated yield).     

Metal‐Catalyzed Cyclization of β‐ and γ‐Allenols Derived from D‐Glyceraldehyde—Synthesis of Enantiopure Dihydropyrans and Tetrahydrooxepines: An Experimental and Theoretical Study

Regiocontrolled metal‐catalyzed preparations of enantiopure dihydropyrans and tetrahydrooxepines have been synthesized starting from β‐ and γ‐allenols derived from D ‐glyceraldehyde. The Pd^II‐catalyzed cyclizative coupling reactions of β‐allenols 1 a and 1 b with allyl bromide effectively afforded enantiopure tetrafunctionalized dihydropyrans through a 6‐endo oxycyclization protocol, whereas the gold‐, platinum‐, and palladium‐mediated heterocyclization of γ‐allenol 2 furnished tetrahydrooxepines 13 – 16 through regioselective 7‐endo‐trig oxycyclization reactions. Moreover, density functional calculations were performed to predict the regioselectivity of the γ‐allenol cycloetherification to tetrahydrooxepines on the basis of both the tether nature and characteristics of the metals, and to gain an insight into the mechanism of the oxycyclization reactions.     

Hybrid Palladium Catalyst Assembled from Chiral Phosphoric Acid and Thioamide for Enantioselective β‐C(sp3)−H Arylation

A hybrid palladium catalyst assembled from a chiral phosphoric acid (CPA) and thioamide enables a highly efficient and enantioselective β‐C(sp³)?H functionalization of thioamides (up to 99 % yield, 97 % ee). A kinetic resolution of unsymmetrical thioamides by intermolecular C(sp³)?H arylation can be achieved with high s‐factors. Mechanistic investigations have revealed that stereocontrol is achieved by embedding the substrate in a robust chiral cavity defined by the bulky CPA and a neutral thioamide ligand.     

The Striking Stabilization of Ni0(η6‐Arene) Complexes by an Ylide‐Like Silylene Ligand

The right mix does the trick : Elusive {Ni⁰(η⁶‐arene)} moieties can be dramatically stabilized by the N‐heterocyclic silylene ligand 1 , which has a zwitterionic mesomeric structure. The σ, π‐acid–base synergism between nickel and 1 explains the unexpectedly high stability of the new silylene complexes 2 , which enables arene exchange studies at a Ni⁰ center. Addition of B(C₆F₅)₃ to 2 affords the zwitterionic silylene complex 3 (see scheme, R=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃).

     

Direct Palladium‐Catalyzed β‐Arylation of Lactams

A direct and catalytic method is reported here for β‐arylation of N‐protected lactams with simple aryl iodides. The transformation is enabled by merging soft enolization of lactams, palladium‐catalyzed desaturation, Ar?X bond activation, and aryl conjugate addition. The reaction is operated under mild reaction conditions, is scalable, and is chemoselective. Application of this method to concise syntheses of pharmaceutically relevant compounds is demonstrated.     

Selective Reductive Elimination at Alkyl Palladium(IV) by Dissociative Ligand Ionization: Catalytic C(sp3)−H Amination to Azetidines

A palladium(II)‐catalyzed γ‐C?H amination of cyclic alkyl amines to deliver highly substituted azetidines is reported. The use of a benziodoxole tosylate oxidant in combination with AgOAc was found to be crucial for controlling a selective reductive elimination pathway to the azetidines. The process is tolerant of a range of functional groups, including structural features derived from chiral α‐amino alcohols, and leads to the diastereoselective formation of enantiopure azetidines.     

Localized Mixed‐Valence and Redox Activity within a Triazole‐Bridged Dinucleating Ligand upon Coordination to Palladium

The new dinucleating redox‐active ligand ( L^H4 ), bearing two redox‐active NNO‐binding pockets linked by a 1,2,3‐triazole unit, is synthetically readily accessible. Coordination to two equivalents of Pd^II resulted in the formation of paramagnetic (S= ) dinuclear Pd complexes with a κ²‐N,N′‐bridging triazole and a single bridging chlorido or azido ligand. A combined spectroscopic, spectroelectrochemical, and computational study confirmed Robin–Day Class II mixed‐valence within the redox‐active ligand, with little influence of the secondary bridging anionic ligand. Intervalence charge transfer was observed between the two ligand binding pockets. Selective one‐electron oxidation allowed for isolation of the corresponding cationic ligand‐based diradical species. SQUID (super‐conducting quantum interference device) measurements of these compounds revealed weak anti‐ferromagnetic spin coupling between the two ligand‐centered radicals and an overall singlet ground state in the solid state, which is supported by DFT calculations. The rigid and conjugated dinucleating redox‐active ligand framework thus allows for efficient electronic communication between the two binding pockets.     

A Density Functional Theory Investigation of the Cobalt‐Mediated η5‐Pentadienyl/Alkyne [5+2] Cycloaddition Reaction: Mechanistic Insight and Substituent Effects

Alkyl‐substituted η⁵‐pentadienyl half‐sandwich complexes of cobalt have been reported to undergo [5+2] cycloaddition reactions with alkynes to provide η²,η³‐cycloheptadienyl complexes under kinetic control. DFT studies have been used to elucidate the mechanism of the cyclization reaction as well as that of the subsequent isomerization to the final η⁵‐cycloheptadienyl product. The initial cyclization is a stepwise process of olefin decoordination/alkyne capture, C? C bond formation, olefin arm capture, and a second C? C bond formation; the initial decoordination/capture step is rate‐limiting. Once the η²,η³‐cycloheptadienyl complex has been formed, isomerization to η⁵‐cycloheptadienyl again involves several steps: olefin decoordination, β‐hydride elimination, reinsertion, and olefin coordination; also here the initial decoordination step is rate limiting. Substituents strongly affect the ease of reaction. Pentadienyl substituents in the 1‐ and 5‐positions assist pentadienyl opening and hence accelerate the reaction, while substituents at the 3‐position have a strongly retarding effect on the same step. Substituents at the alkyne (2‐butyne vs. ethyne) result in much faster isomerization due to easier olefin decoordination. Paths involving triplet states do not appear to be competitive.     

Formal Gold‐to‐Gold Transmetalation of an Alkynyl Group Mediated by Palladium: A Bisalkynyl Gold Complex as a Ligand to Palladium

The reaction of [Au(C?C?n‐Bu)]_n with [Pd(η³‐allyl)Cl(PPh₃)] results in a ligand and alkynyl rearrangement, and leads to the heterometallic complex [Pd(η³‐allyl){Au(C?C?n‐Bu)₂}]₂ ( 3 ) with an unprecedented bridging bisalkynyl–gold ligand coordinated to palladium. This is a formal gold‐to‐gold transmetalation that occurs through reversible alkynyl transmetalations between gold and palladium.     

Electronic and Steric Ligand Effects in the Radical Polymerization of Vinyl Acetate Mediated by β‐Ketoiminate Complexes of Cobalt(II)

Complexes Co[OC(Ph)CHC(Me)NAr]₂ [Ar=Ph, 1 ; o,o′‐C₆H₃Me₂ (Xyl), 2 ; p‐C₆H₄CF₃, 3 ] are tested in the polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) initiated by V‐70 (0.8 equiv) at 30 °C. Polymerization occurs without any notable induction time yielding PVAc with relatively low polydispersity, but with higher than expected M_n values, which indicates inefficient trapping processes. The apparent polymerization rate constant varies in the order 2 > 1 > 3 . Controlled polymer growth is also observed when the polymerization is conducted in the presence of a much higher V‐70/ 1 ratio, demonstrating that this system can also function as a transfer agent in a degenerative transfer process. Competition between chain growth and catalyzed chain transfer (CCT) is also observed, the latter prevailing at higher temperatures. Comparison of these results with previous reports on bis(β‐diketonato) complexes allows a separate assessment of ligand electronic and steric effects in the ability to control polymerization.     

Modulation of Benzene or Naphthalene Binding to Palladium Cluster Sites by the Backside‐Ligand Effect

The backside‐ligand modulation strategy to enhance the substrate binding property of Pd clusters is reported. The benzene or naphthalene binding ability of Pd₃ or Pd₄ clusters is enhanced significantly by the backside cyclooctatetraene ligand, leading to the formation of the first solution‐stable benzene‐ or naphthalene Pd clusters. The present results imply that the ligand design of the metal clusters, especially for the backside ligand of the metal cluster site, is crucial to acquire a desired reactivity of metal clusters.