Design and Synthesis of Isocyanide Ligands for Catalysis: Application to Rh‐Catalyzed Hydrosilylation of Ketones

New isocyanide ligands with meta‐terphenyl backbones were synthesized. 2,6‐Bis[3,5‐bis(trimethylsilyl)phenyl]‐4‐methylphenyl isocyanide exhibited the highest rate acceleration in rhodium‐catalyzed hydrosilylation among other isocyanide and phosphine ligands tested in this study. ¹H NMR spectroscopic studies on the coordination behavior of the new ligands to [Rh(cod)₂]BF₄ indicated that 2,6‐bis[3,5‐bis(trimethylsilyl)phenyl]‐4‐methylphenyl isocyanide exclusively forms the biscoordinated rhodium–isocyanide complex, whereas less sterically demanding isocyanide ligands predominantly form tetracoordinated rhodium–isocyanide complexes. FTIR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic studies on the hydrosilylation reaction mixture with the rhodium–isocyanide catalyst showed that the major catalytic species responsible for the hydrosilylation activity is the Rh complex coordinated with the isocyanide ligand. DFT calculations of model compounds revealed the higher affinity of isocyanides for rhodium relative to phosphines. The combined effect of high ligand affinity for the rhodium atom and the bulkiness of the ligand, which facilitates the formation of a catalytically active, monoisocyanide–rhodium species, is proposed to account for the catalytic efficiency of the rhodium–bulky isocyanide system in hydrosilylation.     

Gold carbene complexes as intermediates in the α-addition of amines to isocyanides

The reaction of amines and isocyanides with tetrachloroaurate(III) yields carbene complexes of the type Au {C(NHR)NR′R″}₂⁺. Under thermal decomposition or treatment with added ligands (cyanide ion or methyl isocyanide) the carbene ligands are liberated to yield formamidines.     

Homoleptic Isocyanide Metalates

Novelties and surprises in the chemistry of metal isocyanides : The synthesis and structure determination of homoleptic isocyanide metalates [M(CNXyl)_m]⁻ (M=Co, m=4; M=Mn, m=5; Xyl=2,6-Me₂C₆H₃) indicate that we need to revise our understanding of transition metal–isocyanide interactions. Further investigations will be required to determine whether these salts with isocyanide metalate ions display a chemistry as rich as that of the analogous carbonyl metalates.     

Addition of Isocyanides to Tetramesityldigermene: A Comparison of the Reactivity between Surface and Molecular Digermenes

The reaction of benzyl isocyanide, tert‐butyl isocyanide, and 2,6‐dimethylphenyl isocyanide with tetramesityldigermene (Mes₂Ge=GeMes₂) was examined. Whereas the addition of benzyl isocyanide gave the C?NC activation product, Mes₂Ge(CH₂Ph)Ge(CN)Mes₂, tert‐butyl isocyanide, and 2,6‐dimethylphenyl isocyanide did not give stable adducts, rather the rate of conversion of the digermene to the corresponding cyclotrigermane was accelerated. A comparison between the reactivity of the isocyanides with Mes₂Ge=GeMes₂ and the Ge(100)‐2×1 surface was made and some insights into the surface chemistry are offered.     

Nonbenzenoid aromatic isocyanides: New coordination building blocks for organometallic and surface chemistry

This review is focused on the emerging chemistry of nonbenzenoid aromatic isocyanides, a relatively new family of aryl isocyanide molecules. Two types of systems are discussed: (1) isocyanoazulenes, for which five archetypal isomeric structures may be envisioned, and (2) η⁵-stabilized isocyanocyclopentadienides. So far, the latter are represented by isocyanoferrocene, 1,1′-diisocyanoferrocene, and isocyanocymantrene. In addition, the synthesis and chemistry of the linear 2,6-diisocyanoazulene motif, including regioselective installation and complexation of its –NC termini with controlled orientation of the azulenic dipole, are described. Self-assembly of nonbenzenoid aryl isocyanides and diisocyanides on gold(1 1 1) surfaces is reviewed as well.     

Cyclic polycarbene ligands with crown ether structure

The cyclization reaction of coordinated β‐functional phenyl isocyanides was used to generate coordinated anellated N‐heterocyclic carbenes. Coordinated 2‐trimethylsiloxyphenyl isocyanide reacts, after Si O bond cleavage, to yield a complex with a coordinated benzoxazol‐2‐ylidene ligand. The cyclization reaction of coordinated 2‐aminophenyl isocyanide, obtained in situ from 2‐azidophenyl isocyanide, yields the coordinated benzimidazol‐2‐ylidene. Both ylidenes can be alkylated at the nitrogen atoms. Attempts to generate four benzimidazol‐2‐ylidenes at Pt^II and to bridge them by N‐alkylation leading to a crown ether‐like ligand with carbene donors are presented here. Free N‐heterocyclic carbenes derived from benzimidazole with large N‐substituents exist as monomers while they dimerize to dibenzotetraazafulvalenes when substituted with sterically less‐demanding substituents at the ring nitrogen atoms. A chemical equilibrium between the monomeric carbene and its dimerized enetetraamine exists for the N,N′‐isopropyl substituted derivative. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 13:540–549, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10099     

Studies on vinyl isocyanides

The vinyl Isocyanides 2,4,6-(CH₃)₃C₆H₂CHCHNC and (CH₃)₃CCHCHNC and the new 1,3-dienyl isocyanide CH₃CHCH(CH₃)-CHCHNC have been prepared from the corresponding aldehydes and methyl isocyanide using a method first developed by Schöllkopf, Stafforst, and Jentsch. ⁵ The new vinyl isocyanides (CH₃)₂CCHNC and CH₃CHC(CH₃)NC have been prepared by the Cu₂O-catalyzed isomerization of the corresponding allyl isocyanides The liquid vinyl isocyanides may be characterized by the formation of solid cis-(RNC)₂Mo(CO)₄ derivatives through reaction with norbornadienetetracarbonylmolybdenum in hexane solution at ambient temperature. Examination of these molybdenum carbonyl complexes by proton and carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy Indicates that the isocyanide carbon atom but not the carbon-carbon double bond of the vinyl 1socyanide ligands is bonded to the molybdenum atom. The proton-decoupled carbon-13 NMR spectra of the vinyl isocyanides, but not their molybdenum carbonyl complexes, indicate coupling of the isocyanide nitrogen to both the isocyanide carbon (¹J(C-N)6 Hz. ) and the vinyl carbon bearing the isocyanide group (¹J(C-N)11-13 Hz. ) leading to 1:1:1 triplets for these resonances. These vinyl carbonyl resonances are used to estimate the cis-trans isomer ratios in vinyl isocyanides of the type RCHCHNC. Such studies suggest that the formation of vinyl isocyanides by the copper(I) catalyzed isomerization of the corresponding allylic isocyanides is more nearly stereospecific than the formation of vinyl isocyanides by the elimination reaction of the Schollkopf/Stafforst/Jentsch synthetic method.     

Chelating N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands Enable Tuning of Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction to Formate and Carbon Monoxide: Surface Organometallic Chemistry

Reported here is the chelate effect as a design principle for tuning heterogeneous catalysts for electrochemical CO₂ reduction. Palladium functionalized with a chelating tris‐N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand (Pd‐timtmb^Me) exhibits a 32‐fold increase in activity for electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to C1 products with high Faradaic efficiency (FE_C1=86 %) compared to the parent unfunctionalized Pd foil (FE=23 %), and with sustained activity relative to a monodentate NHC‐ligated Pd electrode (Pd‐mimtmb^Me). The results highlight the contributions of the chelate effect for tailoring and maintaining reactivity at molecular‐materials interfaces enabled by surface organometallic chemistry.     

Electronic structure and electrophilic reactivity of discrete copper diphenylcarbenes

The β-diketiminato Cu(I) arene adduct {[Me₃NN]Cu}₂(μ-toluene) (3) is prepared in 62% isolated yield by addition of the neutral β-diketimine H[Me₃NN] to copper t-butoxide in toluene. An X-ray structure of 3 shows that the bridging toluene ligand exhibits η²-bonding to each Cu center via four contiguous C atoms. Reaction of the dicopper 3 with 1 equiv. N₂CPh₂ provides {[Me₃NN]Cu}₂(μ-CPh₂) (4) as purple crystals in 70% isolated yield. Dicopper carbene 4 possesses a Cu–Cu distance of 2.485(1) Å in the solid state and dissociates a [Me₃NN]Cu fragment in arene solvents to provide low concentrations of [Me₃NN]CuCPh₂ (2) and [Me₃NN]Cu(arene). DFT calculations performed on terminal carbene 2 and dicopper carbene 4 illustrate relationships between these two bonding modes and suggest electrophilic reactivity at the carbene carbon atom bound to Cu. Dicopper carbene 4 undergoes efficient carbene transfer to HCCPh and PPh₃ resulting in the formation of 1,3,3-triphenylcyclopropene and Ph₃PCPh₂ while reaction with the isocyanide CNAr (Ar = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃) results in loss of the carbene as Ph₂CCPh₂. In each case, the [Me₃NN]Cu fragment is trapped by the incoming nucleophile as the three-coordinate [Me₃NN]Cu(L). Reaction of 4 with O₂ rapidly generates benzophenone and {[Me₃NN]Cu}₂(μ-OH)₂.     

Oxidorhenium(V) and Rhenium(III) Complexes with m-Terphenyl Isocyanides

Reactions of the sterically encumbered m-terphenyl isocyanides CNAr^Dipp2 (Dipp = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) and CNAr^Mes2 (Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) with (NBu₄)[ReOCl₄] in CH₂Cl₂ form stable complexes of the composition (NBu₄)[ReOCl₃(CNAr^R)] or [ReOCl₃(CNAr^R)₂] depending on the amount of isocyanide added. In the [ReOCl₃(CNAr^R)₂] complexes, cis coordination of the two isocyanides is observed for CNAr^Mes2, while the sterically more demanding CNAr^DIPP2 ligands are found in trans positions. The rhenium(III) species [ReCl₃(PPh₃)(CNAr^Mes2)₂] was obtained from the reaction of [ReOCl₃(PPh₃)₂] and CNAr^Mes2. The ν(CN) IR frequencies measured for the Re^V complexes appear at higher wavenumbers than for the uncoordinated isocyanides, which suggests a low degree of backdonation into anti-bonding orbitals of these ligands.     

Formation of Short Zn−Zn Bonds Stabilized by Simple Cyanide and Isocyanide Ligands

Cyanogen diluted in argon was reacted with laser ablated Zn atoms to produce the NCZnCN and NCZnZnCN cyanides and higher energy isocyanides ZnNC, CNZnNC, and CNZnZnNC, which were isolated in excess argon at 4 K. These reaction products, identified from the matrix infrared spectra of their ‐CN and ‐NC chromophore ligand stretching modes, were confirmed by ¹³C and ¹⁵N isotopic substitution and comparison with frequencies calculated by the B3LYP and CCSD(T) methods using the all electron aug‐cc‐pVTZ basis sets. The cyanide and isocyanide products were increased markedly by mercury arc UV photolysis, which covers the zinc atomic absorption. The above electronic structure calculations that produce appropriate ligand frequencies for these dizinc products also provide their Zn?Zn bond lengths: CCSD(T) calculations find a short 2.367 Å Zn?Zn bond in the NCZnZnCN cyanide, a shorter 2.347 Å Zn?Zn bond in the 37.4 kJ mol^?1 higher energy isocyanide CNZnZnNC, and a longer 4.024 Å bond in the dizinc van der Waals dimer. Thus, the diatomic cyanide (‐CN) and isocyanide (‐NC) ligands are as capable of stabilizing the Zn?Zn bond as many much larger ligands based on their measured and our calculated Zn?Zn bond lengths. This is the first example of dizinc complexes stabilized by different ligand isomers. Additional weaker bands in this region can be assigned to the analogous trizinc molecules NCZnZnZnCN and CNZnZnZnNC.     

Fluorinated Isocyanides—More than Ligands with Unusual Properties

The substitution of hydrogen by fluorine in organic compounds usually results in drastic changes in their properties. For isocyanides, for which fluorinated examples have only recently become available in preparative quantities, this substitution leads to a significantly increased reactivity and a tendency to polymerize, which, on one hand, makes their handling more difficult. On the other hand, this high reactivity makes the fluorinated isocyanides useful building blocks for the synthesis of compounds like N-trimethylformamide. Energetically favorable π^* orbitals bestow excellent π-acceptor properties towards low-valent transition metal complexes, especially on the ligand trifluoromethyl isocyanide. The pronounced tendency of this ligand to bridge two metal atoms enables the formation of structural types that are not accessible with other π-acceptor ligands. Thus it was possible to prepare [(Os₃(CO)₁₁(μ₂-CNCF₃)₂] (a) derivative of the hypothetical [Os(CO)₁₃]) which may be considered as a model for an associative mechanism of ligand substitution at carbonyl clusters. In contrast to the well-studied chemistry of trifluoromethyl isocyanide, that of the few other known fluorinated isocyanides is only now receiving attention. In particular the only recently synthesized trifluorovinyl isocyanide promises a rich chemistry as a result of its difunctionality.     

Bis(isothiocyanato)bis(phosphine) complexes of group 10 metals: reactivity toward organic isocyanides

Treatment of Ni(NCS)2(PMe2Ph)2 with organic isocyanides CN-R gave five-coordinate isocyanide Ni(II) complexes, Ni(CN-R)(NCS)2(PMe2Ph)2 (R = C6H3-2,6-Me2 (1), t-Bu (2)). Interestingly, the corresponding reaction of Ni(NCS)2(P(n-Pr)3)2 with 2 equiv. of CN-t-Bu gave an unusual compound, which exists as an ion pair of the trigonal bipyramidal cation [Ni(P(n-Pr)3)2(CN-t-Bu)3]2+ (3) and the dinuclear NCS-bridged anion [Ni(1,3-micro-NCS)(NCS)3]2(2-) (4). In contrast, Pd(NCS)2(P(n-Pr)3)2 underwent substitution with 2 equiv. of CN-t-Bu to give the four-coordinate mono(isocyanide) Pd(II) complex Pd(NCS)(SCN)(CN-t-Bu)(P(n-Pr)3) (5) via phosphine dissociation. Reactions of M(NCS)2L2 (M = Pd, Pt; L = PMe3, PEt3, PMePh2, P(n-Pr)3) with two equiv. of CN-R (R = t-Bu, i-Pr, C6H3-2,6-Me2) gave the corresponding bis(isocyanide) complexes [M(CN-R)2(PR3)2](SCN)2 (7-13), except for Pd(NCS)2(PEt3)2 that reacted with CN-R' (R' = i-Pr, C6H3-2,6-Me2) and produced the mono(isocyanide) Pd(II) complexes [Pd(CN-R')(SCN)(PEt3)2](SCN) (14 and 15). Finally, treatment of M(NCS)2(PMe3)2 (M = Ni, Pd, Pt) with sterically bulky isocyanide CN-C6H3-2,6-i-Pr2 gave various products, (16-18) depending on the identity of the metal.     

Formation of Short Zn−Zn Bonds Stabilized by Simple Cyanide and Isocyanide Ligands

Cyanogen diluted in argon was reacted with laser ablated Zn atoms to produce the NCZnCN and NCZnZnCN cyanides and higher energy isocyanides ZnNC, CNZnNC, and CNZnZnNC, which were isolated in excess argon at 4 K. These reaction products, identified from the matrix infrared spectra of their -CN and -NC chromophore ligand stretching modes, were confirmed by ¹³C and ¹⁵N isotopic substitution and comparison with frequencies calculated by the B3LYP and CCSD(T) methods using the all electron aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets. The cyanide and isocyanide products were increased markedly by mercury arc UV photolysis, which covers the zinc atomic absorption. The above electronic structure calculations that produce appropriate ligand frequencies for these dizinc products also provide their Zn−Zn bond lengths: CCSD(T) calculations find a short 2.367 Å Zn−Zn bond in the NCZnZnCN cyanide, a shorter 2.347 Å Zn−Zn bond in the 37.4 kJ mol⁻¹ higher energy isocyanide CNZnZnNC, and a longer 4.024 Å bond in the dizinc van der Waals dimer. Thus, the diatomic cyanide (-CN) and isocyanide (-NC) ligands are as capable of stabilizing the Zn−Zn bond as many much larger ligands based on their measured and our calculated Zn−Zn bond lengths. This is the first example of dizinc complexes stabilized by different ligand isomers. Additional weaker bands in this region can be assigned to the analogous trizinc molecules NCZnZnZnCN and CNZnZnZnNC.     

Well-Defined Ni(0) and Ni(II) Complexes of Bicyclic (Alkyl)(Amino)Carbene (MeBICAAC): Catalytic Activity and Mechanistic Insights in Negishi Cross-Coupling Reaction

Negishi cross-coupling reaction of organozinc compounds as nucleophiles with aryl halides has drawn immense focus for C−C bond formation reactions. In comparison to the well-established library of Pd complexes, the C−C cross-coupling of this particular approach is largely primitive with nickel-complexes. Herein, we describe the syntheses of Ni(II) complexes, [(^MeBICAAC)₂NiX₂] (X=Cl ( 1 ), Br ( 2 ), and I ( 3 )) by employing the bicyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (^MeBICAAC) ligand. The reduction of complexes 1 – 3 using KC₈ afforded the two coordinate low valent, Ni(0) complex, [(^MeBICAAC)₂Ni(0)] ( 4 ). Complexes 1 – 4 have been characterized by spectroscopic techniques and their solid-state structures were also confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Furthermore, complexes 1 – 4 have been applied in a direct and convenient method to catalyze the Negishi cross-coupling reaction of various aryl halides with 2,6-difluorophenylzinc bromide or phenylzinc bromide as the coupling partner in the presence of 3 mol % catalyst. Comparatively, among all-pristine complexes, 1 exhibit high catalytic potential to afford value-added C−C coupled products without the use of any additive. The UV-vis studies and HRMS measurements of controlled stochiometric reactions vindicate the involvement of Ni(I)−NI(III) cycle featured with a penta-coordinated Ni(III)-aryl species as the key intermediate for 1 whereas Ni(0)/Ni(II) species are potentially involved in the catalytic cycle of 4 .     

One-step synthesis of N-alkyl-2-aryl-2-oxoacetamides and N,N-dialkyl-2-aryl-4H-1,3-benzodioxine-2,4-dicarboxamides

Alkyl isocyanides react with 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde or 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde to afford N-alkyl-2-aryl-2-oxoacetamides and N²,N⁴-dialkyl-2-aryl-4H-1,3-benzodioxine-2,4-dicarboxamides in nearly 1:1 ratios. Treatment of 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde affords only the 2-oxoacetamide derivative.     

Reaction Between Alkyl Isocyanides and Cyclic 1,3-Diketones: A Convenient Synthesis of Functionalized 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-Pyrans

Summary. Alkyl isocyanides react with dialkyl acetylendicarboxylates in the presence of CH-acids such as cyclopentane-1,3-dione, cyclohexane-1,3-dione, or 5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione to afford highly functionalized 4H-pyrans in fairly high yields. In the case of reaction between dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and 5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione in the presence of cyclohexyl isocyanide or benzyl isocyanide tetrahydro-cyclopenta[b]pyran derivatives were isolated in addition to the 4H-pyran system. The free energy barrier (96.9kJmol^–1) for restricted rotation around the polarized double bond of the enaminone moiety in dimethyl 2-[cyclohexylamino-(4,4-dimethyl-2,6-dioxocyclohexylidene)methyl]but-2-enedioate was determined by dynamic NMR spectroscopy.     

Reaction Between Alkyl Isocyanides and Cyclic 1,3-Diketones: A Convenient Synthesis of Functionalized 4 H-Pyrans

Alkyl isocyanides react with dialkyl acetylendicarboxylates in the presence of CH-acids such as cyclopentane-1,3-dione, cyclohexane-1,3-dione, or 5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione to afford highly functionalized 4H-pyrans in fairly high yields. In the case of reaction between dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and 5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione in the presence of cyclohexyl isocyanide or benzyl isocyanide tetrahydro-cyclopenta[b]pyran derivatives were isolated in addition to the 4H-pyran system. The free energy barrier (96.9kJmol^–1) for restricted rotation around the polarized double bond of the enaminone moiety in dimethyl 2-[cyclohexylamino-(4,4-dimethyl-2,6-dioxocyclohexylidene)methyl]but-2-enedioate was determined by dynamic NMR spectroscopy.     

Oxidative Cleavage of C=S and P=S Bonds at an AlI Center: Preparation of Terminally Bound Aluminum Sulfides

The treatment of cyclic thioureas with the aluminum(I) compound NacNacAl ( 1 ; NacNac=[ArNC(Me)CHC(Me)NAr]^?, Ar=2,6‐Prⁱ₂C₆H₃) resulted in oxidative cleavage of the C=S bond and the formation of 3 and 5 , the first monomeric aluminum complexes with an Al=S double bond stabilized by N‐heterocyclic carbenes. Compound 1 also reacted with triphenylphosphine sulfide in a similar manner, which resulted in cleavage of the P=S bond and production of the adduct [NacNacAl=S(S=PPh₃)] ( 8 ). The Al=S double bond in 3 can react with phenyl isothiocyanate to furnish the cycloaddition product 9 and zwitterion 10 as a result of coupling between the liberated carbene and PhN=C=S. All novel complexes were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and the structures of 5 , 9 , and 10 were confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The nature of the Al=S bond in 5 was also probed by DFT calculations.     

Concurrent Stabilization of π‐Donor and π‐Acceptor Ligands in Aromatized and Dearomatized Pincer [(PNN)Re(CO)(O)2] Complexes

Aromatized cationic [(PNN)Re(π acid)(O)₂]⁺ ( 1 ) and dearomatized neutral [(PNN*)Re(π acid)(O)₂] ( 2 ) complexes (where π acid=CO ( a ), tBuNC ( b ), or (2,6‐Me₂)PhNC ( c )), possessing both π‐donor and π‐acceptor ligands, have been synthesized and fully characterized. Reaction of [(PNN)Re(O)₂]⁺ ( 4 ) with lithiumhexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS) yield the dearomatized [(PNN*)Re(O)₂] ( 3 ). Complexes 1 and 2 are prepared from the reaction of 4 and 3 , respectively, with CO or isocyanides. Single‐crystal X‐ray structures of 1 a and 1 b show the expected trans‐dioxo structure, in which the oxo ligands occupy the axial positions and the π‐acidic ligand occupies the equatorial plane in an overall octahedral geometry about the rhenium(V) center. DFT studies revealed the stability of complexes 1 and 2 arises from a π‐backbonding interaction between the d_xy orbital of rhenium, the π orbital of the oxo ligands, and the π* orbital of CO/isocyanide.