Ethanol‐promoted reductive homocoupling reactions of aryl halides catalyzed by palladium on carbon (Pd/C)

Homocoupling reactions of aryl bromides or iodides proceeded smoothly with palladium on carbon (Pd/C) catalyst, ethanol and base in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to afford exclusively symmetric biaryls in good to excellent yields. Ethanol was first used as a reducing agent in situ to reduce the Pd²⁺/C species into Pd⁰/C active species to complete the catalytic redox cycle. It was found that ethanol can promote the Pd/C‐catalyzed reductive homocoupling of aryl iodides and bromides efficiently in the presence of base. A reaction mechanism has been put forward and discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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%).     

Manganese(I)‐Catalyzed β‐Methylation of Alcohols Using Methanol as C1 Source

Highly selective β‐methylation of alcohols was achieved using an earth‐abundant first row transition metal in the air stable molecular manganese complex [Mn(CO)₂Br[HN(C₂H₄PⁱPr₂)₂]] 1 ([HN(C₂H₄PⁱPr₂)₂]=MACHO‐ⁱPr). The reaction requires only low loadings of 1 (0.5 mol %), methanolate as base and MeOH as methylation reagent as well as solvent. Various alcohols were β‐methylated with very good selectivity (>99 %) and excellent yield (up to 94 %). Biomass derived aliphatic alcohols and diols were also selectively methylated on the β‐position, opening a pathway to “biohybrid” molecules constructed entirely from non‐fossil carbon. Mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction proceeds through a borrowing hydrogen pathway involving metal–ligand cooperation at the Mn‐pincer complex. This transformation provides a convenient, economical, and environmentally benign pathway for the selective C?C bond formation with potential applications for the preparation of advanced biofuels, fine chemicals, and biologically active molecules     

Lithium aminoborohydrides 17. Palladium catalyzed borylation of aryl iodides, bromides, and triflates with diisopropylaminoborane prepared from lithium diisopropylaminoborohydride

The Alcaraz-Vaultier borylation of aryl halides and triflates is reported utilizing diisopropylaminoborane (BH₂N(ⁱPr)₂) prepared from the corresponding lithium aminoborohydride (LAB reagent). BH₂N(ⁱPr)₂, prepared by reacting lithium diisopropylaminoborohydride with trimethylsilyl chloride, provided the most consistent isolated yields from this reaction. Catalytic amounts of palladium dichloride produced the highest yields from aryl iodides, while catalytic tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(chloroform) provided the best yields for aryl bromides and triflates. This route to boronic acids is mild enough to tolerate various functionalities and for the first time employs aryl triflates as substrates for the Alcaraz-Vaultier borylation. In addition, it was found that both boronic acid and ester compounds could be isolated from the reaction mixture utilizing simple work-up procedures. Treatment of the reaction intermediate with an acid/base work-up provided the corresponding boronic acid, while treating the same intermediate with a diol, such as neopentyl glycol, afforded the corresponding boronic ester.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Benzylic C(sp3)−H Carbonylative Arylation with Aryl Bromides

A novel, selective and high-yielding palladium-catalyzed carbonylative arylation of a variety of weakly acidic (pK_a 25–35 in DMSO) benzylic and heterobenzylic C(sp³)−H bonds with aryl bromides has been achieved. This system is applicable to a range of pro-nucleophiles for access to sterically and electronically diverse α-aryl or α,α-diaryl ketones, which are ubiquitous substructures in biologically active compounds. The Josiphos SL-J001-1-based palladium catalyst was identified as the most efficient and selective, enabling carbonylative arylation with aryl bromides under 1 atm CO to provide the ketone products without the formation of direct coupling byproducts. Additionally, (Josiphos)Pd(CO)₂ was identified as the catalyst resting state. A kinetic study suggests that the oxidative addition of aryl bromides is the turnover-limiting step. Key catalytic intermediates were also isolated.     

Reactivity of the Latent 12‐Electron Fragment [Rh(PiBu3)2]+ with Aryl Bromides: Aryl?Br and Phosphine Ligand C?H Activation

Oxidative addition of aryl bromides to 12‐electron [Rh(PiBu₃)₂][BAr^F₄] (Ar^F=3,5‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃) forms a variety of products. With p‐tolyl bromides, Rh^III dimeric complexes result [Rh(PiBu₃)₂(o/p‐MeC₆H₄)(μ‐Br)]₂[BAr^F₄]₂. Similarly, reaction with p‐ClC₆H₄Br gives [Rh(PiBu₃)₂(p‐ClC₆H₄)(μ‐Br)]₂[BAr^F₄]₂. In contrast, the use of o‐BrC₆H₄Me leads to a product in which toluene has been eliminated and an isobutyl phosphine has undergone C? H activation: [Rh{PiBu₂(CH₂CHCH₃C H₂)}(PiBu₃)(μ‐Br)]₂[BAr^F₄]₂. Trapping experiments with ortho‐bromo anisole or ortho‐bromo thioanisole indicate that a possible intermediate for this process is a low‐coordinate Rh^III complex that then undergoes C? H activation. The anisole and thioanisole complexes have been isolated and their structures show OMe or SMe interactions with the metal centre alongside supporting agostic interactions, [Rh(PiBu₃)₂(C₆H₄O Me)Br][BAr^F₄] (the solid‐state structure of the 5‐methyl substituted analogue is reported) and [Rh(PiBu₃)₂(C₆H₄S Me)Br][BAr^F₄]. The anisole‐derived complex proceeds to give [Rh{PiBu₂(CH₂CHCH₃C H₂)}(PiBu₃)(μ‐Br)]₂[BAr^F₄]₂, whereas the thioanisole complex is unreactive. The isolation of [Rh(PiBu₃)₂(C₆H₄O Me)Br][BAr^F₄] and its onward reactivity to give the products of C? H activation and aryl elimination suggest that it is implicated on the pathway of a σ‐bond metathesis reaction, a hypothesis strengthened by DFT calculations. Calculations also suggest that C? H bond cleavage through phosphine‐assisted deprotonation of a non‐agostic bond is also competitive, although the subsequent protonation of the aryl ligand is too high in energy to account for product formation. C? H activation through oxidative addition is also ruled out on the basis of these calculations. These new complexes have been characterised by solution NMR/ESIMS techniques and in the solid‐state by X‐ray crystallography.     

Novel P‐Stereogenic PCP Pincer‐Aryl Ruthenium(II) Complexes and Their Use in the Asymmetric Hydrogen Transfer Reaction of Acetophenone

Achiral P‐donor pincer‐aryl ruthenium complexes ([RuCl(PCP)(PPh₃)]) 4c , d were synthesized via transcyclometalation reactions by mixing equivalent amounts of [1,3‐phenylenebis(methylene)]bis[diisopropylphosphine] ( 2c ) or [1,3‐phenylenebis(methylene)]bis[diphenylphosphine] ( 2d ) and the N‐donor pincer‐aryl complex [RuCl{2,6‐(Me₂NCH₂)₂C₆H₃}(PPh₃)], ( 3 ; Scheme 2). The same synthetic procedure was successfully applied for the preparation of novel chiral P‐donor pincer‐aryl ruthenium complexes [RuCl(P*CP*)(PPh₃)] 4a , b by reacting P‐stereogenic pincer‐arenes (S,S)‐[1,3‐phenylenebis(methylene)]bis[(alkyl)(phenyl)phosphines] 2a , b (alkyl=ⁱPr or ^tBu, P*CHP*) and the complex [RuCl{2,6‐(Me₂NCH₂)₂C₆H₃}(PPh₃)], ( 3 ; Scheme 3). The crystal structures of achiral [RuCl(equation/tex2gif-sup-3.gifPCP)(PPh₃)] 4c and of chiral (S,S)‐[RuCl(equation/tex2gif-sup-6.gifPCP)(PPh₃)] 4a were determined by X‐ray diffraction (Fig. 3). Achiral [RuCl(PCP)(PPh₃)] complexes and chiral [RuCl(P*CP*)(PPh₃)] complexes were tested as catalyst in the H‐transfer reduction of acetophenone with propan‐2‐ol. With the chiral complexes, a modest enantioselectivity was obtained.     

A Convenient and Facile Hantzsch Synthesis of Aryl Imidazo[1,2‐b]Isoxazolyl‐N‐aryl Thiazol Amines

The Hantzsch synthesis of novel aryl imidazo[1,2‐b]isoxazolyl‐N‐aryl thiazol amines 5 analogues were described. Reaction of 3‐aminoisoxazole 1 with substituted phenacyl bromides 2 in dry ethanol afforded the corresponding 6‐methyl‐3‐arylimidazo[1,2‐b]isoxazoles 3 in good yields. Compounds 3 on reaction with chloroacetyl chloride in 1,4‐dioxane furnished the corresponding 2‐chloro‐1‐(6‐methyl‐3‐arylimidazo[1,2‐b]isoxazol‐2‐yl)ethanones 4 . Compounds 4 on heating with N‐aryl thioureas in an oil bath underwent cyclization to afford the title compounds viz., imidazo[1,2‐b]isoxazolyl‐N‐aryl thiazol amines 5 in moderate to good yields by Hantzsch synthesis.     

INTERMEDIATES IN THE PHOTOCONVERSION OF FUNCTIONAL PHYTOCHROME IN FERN SPORES OF Dryopteris-I DEMONSTRATION AND QUANTITATIVE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PHOTOCHROMIC SYSTEM Pr⇔ Ii700USING NANOSECOND-LASER PULSES*,†

Abstract— Spores of Dryopteris paleacea and D. filix-mas are positively photoblastic with an optimum in the action spectrum around 665 nm. Light is perceived by phytochrome and the relationship between germination and mole fraction of the far-red-absorbing form of this pigment, P_fr, was investigated with saturating irradiations between 662 and 747 nm under low-fluence-rate conditions. These control irradiations establish a proportion of the total phytochrome, P,_tot, as P_fr with P_fr/P_tot–φ at equilibrium. These φ -values were calculated according to data for native oat phytochrome (Kelly and Lagarias, 1985, Biochemistry 24, 6003) and the spectral characteristics of the interference filters. With this method a linear relationship could be found between φ and germination from 2 to 70% for D. paleacea and from 2 to 90% for D. filix-mas, if probit germination was plotted vs probit φ This correlation formed the basis of investigating the phytochrome photoconversion by dye-laser pulses of 380 ± 30 ns under high-fluence-rate conditions, and thus to test quantitatively the impact of the photoreversibility of intermediate reactions of the photoconversion and the red-absorbing form of phytochrome, P_fr on the final P_fr-level. Spore germination was initiated by a single-laser pulse in the range from 592 to 700 nm. The most effective wavelengths were 649 and 660 nm in both species, and at saturation maximal germination (ca. 50%) was obtained from 592 to 665 nm for D. paleacea or ca. 60% germination from 592 to 670 nm for D. filix-mas. Both saturation levels correspond to a ø-value between 0.40 and 0.45. This significantly diminished photoconversion is a consequence of the high-fluence-rate conditions during the laser pulse which establishes the photochromic system between P_r and a set of very early intermediates, Iⁱ_700, (= P_r? Iⁱ₇₀₀). This system can be described by the extinction coefficients of P_r and the intermediates Iⁱ₇₀₀, and by the quantum yields, 4,φ for the forward and reverse reactions as φ If φ is calculated, assuming a quantum yield of 1:1 for both reactions and with the extinction coefficients of P_r and Iⁱ_7(l() (= lumi-R) given by Eilfeld and Riidiger (1985, Z. Naturforsch. 40c , 109), significantly higher values are calculated for / as compared to φ found in the control experiments. These results can be explained either: (i) with a quantum yield ratio φ_pr-φ1700: φ_1700φpr=1:1 and an assumed additional dark reaction leading from Iⁱ₇₀₀ or later intermediates back to P_r: or (ii) with a quantum yield ratio φ_{pr φ 1700}: φ_{1700 φpr}=1:2. In this case all Iⁱ₇₀₀ have to relax to P_fr. In this case all Iⁱ₇₀₀ have to relax to P_fr.     

Design,Synthesis, and Characterization of (2‐Alkyl/aryl‐3H‐imidazo[2,1‐c][1,2,4]triazol‐3‐yl)(aryl)methanone

The important therapeutic properties of imidazole‐related drugs have encouraged the medicinal chemists to synthesize and test a large number of novel molecules. In this investigation, it was of interest to synthesize (2‐alkyl/aryl‐3H‐imidazo[2,1‐c][1,2,4]triazol‐3‐yl)(aryl)methanone by short reaction times of N‐triazol‐3‐yl imidate with phenacyl bromides under basic conditions. All compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, elemental analyses, and mass spectral analysis.     

Highly Productive CNN Pincer Ruthenium Catalysts for the Asymmetric Reduction of Alkyl Aryl Ketones

Chiral pincer ruthenium complexes of formula [RuCl(CNN)(Josiphos)] ( 2 – 7 ; Josiphos=1‐[1‐(dicyclohexylphosphano)ethyl]‐2‐(diarylphosphano)ferrocene) have been prepared by treating [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃] with (S,R)‐Josiphos diphosphanes and 1‐substituted‐1‐(6‐arylpyridin‐2‐yl)methanamines (HCNN; substituent=H ( 1 a ), Me ( 1 b ), and tBu ( 1 c )) with NEt₃. By using 1 b and 1 c as a racemic mixture, complexes 4 – 7 were obtained through a diastereoselective synthesis promoted by acetic acid. These pincer complexes, which display correctly matched chiral PP and CNN ligands, are remarkably active catalysts for the asymmetric reduction of alkyl aryl ketones in basic alcohol media by both transfer hydrogenation (TH) and hydrogenation (HY), achieving enantioselectivities of up to 99 %. In 2‐propanol, the enantioselective TH of ketones was accomplished by using a catalyst loading as low as 0.002 mol % and afforded a turnover frequency (TOF) of 10⁵–10⁶ h^?1 (60 and 82 °C). In methanol/ethanol mixtures, the CNN pincer complexes catalyzed the asymmetric HY of ketones with H₂ (5 atm) at 0.01 mol % relative to the complex with a TOF of ≈10⁴ h^?1 at 40 °C.     

Heck reactions of aryl halides with alk‐1‐en‐3‐ol derivatives catalysed by a tetraphosphine–palladium complex

cis,cis,cis‐1,2,3,4‐Tetrakis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)cyclopentane–[PdCl(C₃H₅)]₂ efficiently catalyses the Heck reaction of alk‐1‐en‐3‐ol with a variety of aryl halides. In the presence of hex‐1‐en‐3‐ol or oct‐1‐en‐3‐ol, the β‐arylated carbonyl compounds were selectively obtained. Turnover numbers up to 84 000 can be obtained for this reaction. Linalool and 2‐methylbut‐3‐en‐2‐ol led regio‐ and stereoselectively to the corresponding (E)‐1‐arylalk‐1‐en‐3‐ol derivatives. A minor electronic effect of the substituents of the aryl bromide was observed. Quite similar reaction rates were generally observed in the presence of activated aryl bromides such as bromoacetophenone and deactivated aryl bromides such as bromoanisole, indicating that, with these alkenols and this catalyst, the oxidative addition of aryl bromides to palladium is not the rate‐limiting step. It should be noted that this reaction also proceeds with sterically very congested aryl bromides such as 9‐bromoanthracene or 2,4,6‐triisopropylbromobenzene or with a vinyl bromide. On the other hand, low yields were obtained with aryl chlorides. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

On the Stability of a POCsp3OP‐Type Pincer Ligand in Nickel(II) Complexes

We describe the results of a study on the stabilities of pincer‐type nickel complexes relevant to catalytic hydroalkoxylation and hydroamination of olefins, C? C and C? X couplings, and fluorination of alkyl halides. Complexes [(POC_sp3OP)NiX] are stable for X=OSiMe₃, OMes (Mes=1,3,5‐Me₃C₆H₂), NPh₂, and CC? H, whereas the O(tBu) and N(SiMe₃)₂ derivatives decompose readily. The phenylacetylide derivative transforms gradually into the zero‐valent species cis‐[{κ^P,κ^C,κ^C′‐(iPr₂POCH₂CHCH₂)}Ni{η²,κ^C,κ^C′‐(iPr₂P(O)CCPh)}]. Likewise, attempts to prepare [(POC_sp3OP)NiF] gave instead the zwitterionic trinuclear species [{(η³‐allyl)Ni}₂‐{μ,κ^P,κ^O‐(iPr₂PO)₄Ni}]. Characterization of these two complexes provides concrete examples of decomposition processes that can dismantle POC_sp3OP‐type pincer ligands by facile C? O bond rupture. These results serve as a cautionary tale for the inherent structural fragility of pincer systems bearing phosphinite donor moieties, and provide guidelines on how to design more robust analogues.     

Highly efficient orthopalladated complexes of second and third benzyl amine for catalyzing the Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction

In this work, ortho‐palladated complexes [Pd(µ‐Cl)(C₆H₄CH₂ NRR′‐κ²‐C,N)]₂ and [Pd(C₆H₄CH₂NH₂‐2‐C,N)Cl(Y)] were tested in the Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction. Cyclopalladated Pd(II) complexes as thermally stable catalysts can activate aryl bromides and chlorides. These complexes were active and efficient catalysts for the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction of aryl bromides and even less reactive aryl chlorides. The cross‐coupled products of a variety of aryl bromides and aryl chloride with phenylboronic acid in methanol as solvent at 60 °C were produced in excellent yields. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Synthesis of New Benzo[h]thieno[2,3‐b]quinoline‐9‐yl(aryl)methanone Derivatives

Novel derivatives of benzo[h ]thieno[2,3‐b ]quinoline‐9‐yl(aryl)methanone were synthesized in good yield and short reaction times by reaction of 2‐mercaptobenzo[h ]quinoline‐3‐carbaldehyde with phenacyl bromides under basic conditions. All compounds were characterized using Fourier transform infrared, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance, spectral data, and elemental analysis.     

Practical one-pot conversion of aryl bromides and β-bromostyrenes into aromatic nitriles and cinnamonitriles

Various aryl bromides were efficiently converted into the corresponding aromatic nitriles in good yields by the treatment with Mg turnings and subsequently DMF, followed by treatment with molecular iodine and aq NH₃. The same treatment of aryl bromides, which are weakly reactive to Mg turnings, with ⁱPrMgCl·LiCl and subsequently DMF, followed by the treatment with molecular iodine and aq NH₃ also afforded the corresponding aromatic nitriles in good yields. On the other hand, when N-formylpiperidine was used instead of DMF, p-substituted β-bromostyrenes were converted into the corresponding p-substituted cinnamonitriles, i.e., α,β-unsaturated nitriles, in good to moderate yields by the same procedure. The reactions were carried out by means of a simple experimental procedure and did not require any toxic metal cyanides or expensive rare metals. Therefore, the present reactions are practical and environmentally benign one-pot methods for the preparation of aromatic nitriles, cinnamonitriles, and aliphatic nitriles from aryl bromides, β-bromostyrenes, and alkyl bromides, respectively, through the formation of Grignard reagents and their DMF or N-formylpiperidine adducts.     

Palladium complex containing two sterically hindered ligands as highly efficient catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura reaction

A new palladium(II) complex containing two sterically hindered ligands, a P,P‐bonded diphosphine and N,N‐bonded Schiff base, within the same coordination sphere has been synthesized and investigated as a catalyst for the Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reactions of aryl halides with arylboronic acids. The reaction was highly efficient with aryl bromides in water at room temperature and aryl chlorides in dimethylformamide under relatively mild conditions. Excellent yields of coupling products were obtained for a wide range of aryl halides including heteroaryl halides with a low loading of catalyst. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Transfer hydrogenation of ketones catalyzed by nickel complexes bearing an NHC [CNN] pincer ligand

Four NHC [CNN] pincer nickel (II) complexes, [^iPrCNN (CH₂)₄‐Ni‐Br] ( 5a ), [^nBuCNN (CH₂)₄‐Ni‐Br] ( 5b ), [^iPrCNN (Me)₂‐Ni‐Br] ( 6a ) and [^nBuCNN (Me)₂‐Ni‐Br] ( 6b ), bearing unsymmetrical [C (carbene)N (amino)N (amine)] ligands were synthesized by the reactions of [CNN] pincer ligand precursors 4 with Ni (DME)Cl₂ in the presence of Et₃N. Complexes 5a and 5b are new and were completely characterized. The transfer hydrogenation of ketones catalyzed by the four pincer nickel complexes were explored. Complexes 5a and 6a have better catalytic activity than 5b and 6b . With a combination of NaO^tBu/ⁱPrOH/80 °C and 2% catalyst loading of 5a , 77–98% yields of aromatic alcohols could be obtained.     

Manganese(IV) Corroles with σ‐Aryl Ligands

Different pathways for the preparation of organometallic manganese(IV) corroles with σ‐aryl ligands have been evaluated. The treatment of a manganese(III) corrole with Grignard reagents PhMgX (X = Cl, Br), followed by aerial oxidation yields oxidized halogenido complexes [(cor)Mn^IVX] instead of the anticipated organometallic compounds. Reaction of these halogenido species, especially the bromido compound, with excess Grignard reagents or with lithium aryls results in the formation of the desired σ‐aryl compounds via salt metatheses. Three examples of this class of rare complexes have been characterized by means of optical and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and in two cases single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies have been carried out. In the crystal, the molecular structures of the σ‐phenyl‐ and the σ‐(p‐bromophenyl) derivatives were observed to be very similar, albeit both species pack in different pattern.