Theoretical study of reactant activation in 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of cyclic nitrones to free and Pt-bound nitriles

[reaction: see text] 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of the cyclic nitrones CH2(CH2)2CH=NO (N1), CH2CH2OCH=NO (N2), CH2-OCH2CH=NO (N3), and O(CH2)2CH=NO (N4) to organonitriles, RCN-both free (R = CH(3), CF(3)) and ligated to Pt(II) and Pt(IV) (in the complexes trans-[PtCl(2)(NCCH(3))(2)] (1) and trans-[PtCl(4)(NCCH(3))(2)] (2))-was investigated extensively by theoretical methods at different levels of theory. The effectiveness of two types of dipolarophile activation (by introducing a strong electron-acceptor group R and by coordination to a metal center) was analyzed and compared. The influence of factors such as the nature of the cyclic nitrone and the nature of the solvent on the reactions was also studied. The reactivity of dipoles and dipolarophiles increases along the series N4 < N1 approximately N3 < N2 and CH(3)CN < CF(3)CN < 1 < 2; the latter demonstrates that the coordination of RCN to a Pt center provides an even higher activation effect upon cycloaddition in comparison with the introduction of a strong electron-acceptor group R such as CF(3). A higher reactivity of the cyclic dipole N1 in comparison with acyclic nitrones (e.g., CH(3)CH=N(CH(3))O) is interpreted to be a result of its exclusive existence in a more strained and hence more reactive E- rather than Z-configuration. The activation and reaction energies have been calculated at different basis sets and levels of theory, up to MP4(SDTQ), CCSD(T), and CBS-Q. The activation energies are weakly sensitive to a change of the correlated methods. The consideration of the solvent effects results in the increase of the activation barriers, and such enhancement is less pronounced for the nonpolar or low polar solvents. The cycloadditions to CH(3)CN and CF(3)CN were found to be nearly synchronous, but these reactions involving 1 and 2 are clearly asynchronous. Moreover, the reaction of N2 with 2 proceeds via a very early acyclic transition state, while for all other reactions the transition states have a cyclic nature.     

Chemo- and periselectivity in the addition of [OsO2(CH2)2] to ethylene: a theoretical study

Quantum chemical calculations by using density functional theory at the B3LYP level have been carried out to elucidate the reaction course for the addition of ethylene to [OsO2(CH2)2] (1). The calculations predict that the kinetically most favorable reaction proceeds with an activation barrier of 8.1 kcal mol(-1) via [3+2] addition across the O=Os=CH2 moiety. This reaction is -42.4 kcal mol(-1) exothermic. Alternatively, the [3+2] addition to the H2C=Os=CH2 fragment of 1 leads to the most stable addition product 4 (-72.7 kcal mol(-1)), yet this process has a higher activation barrier (13.0 kcal mol(-1)). The [3+2] addition to the O=Os=O fragment yielding 2 is kinetically (27.5 kcal mol(-1)) and thermodynamically (-7.0 kcal mol(-1)) the least favorable [3+2] reaction. The formal [2+2] addition to the Os=O and Os=CH2 double bonds proceeds by initial rearrangement of 1 to the metallaoxirane 1 a. The rearrangement 1-->1 a and the following [2+2] additions have significantly higher activation barriers (>30 kcal mol(-1)) than the [3+2] reactions. Another isomer of 1 is the dioxoosmacyclopropane 1 b, which is 56.2 kcal mol(-1) lower in energy than 1. The activation barrier for the 1-->1 b isomerization is 15.7 kcal mol(-1). The calculations predict that there are no energetically favorable addition reactions of ethylene with 1 b. The isomeric form 1 c containing a peroxo group is too high in energy to be relevant for the reaction course. The accuracy of the B3LYP results is corroborated by high level post-HF CCSD(T) calculations for a subset of species.     

G2(+) investigation on the alpha-effect in the SN2 reactions at saturated carbon

As a continuing theoretical study on the alpha-effect in the S(N)2 reactions at saturated carbon centers, 28 gas-phase reactions have been examined computationally by using the high-level G2(+) method. The reactions include: Nu(-)+CH(3)X-->CH(3)Nu+X(-) (X=F and Cl; Nu(-)=HO(-), HS(-), CH(3)O(-), Cl(-), Br(-), HOO(-), HSO(-), FO(-), ClO(-), BrO(-), NH(2)O(-), and HC(==O)OO(-)). It was found that all alpha-nucleophiles examined exhibit downward deviations from the correlation line between the overall barriers and proton affinities for normal nucleophiles, indicating the existence of the alpha-effect in the gas phase. The transition states (TS) for the alpha-nucleophiles are characterized by less advanced C--X bond cleavages than the normal nucleophiles, leading to smaller deformation energies and overall barriers. The size of the alpha-effect is related to the electron density on the alpha-atom, and increases when the position of alpha-atom is changed from left to right and from bottom to top in the periodic table. The reaction with CH(3)F exhibits a larger alpha-effect than that with CH(3)Cl, which can be explained by a later TS and a more positively charged methyl group at the TS for CH(3)F, [NuCH(3)F](- not equal). Thus, a higher electron density on the alpha-atom and a more positive methyl moiety at the TS result in a larger alpha-effect.     

Molybdenum(VI) dioxo and oxo-imido complexes of fluorinated β-ketiminato ligands and their use in OAT reactions

Substitution of a methyl by a trifluoromethyl moiety in well-known β-ketimines afforded the ligands (Ar)NC(Me)CH(2)CO(CF(3)) (HL(H), Ar = C(6)H(5); HL(Me), A r= 2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3); HL(iPr), Ar = 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3)). Subsequent complexation to the [MoO(2)](2+) core leads to the formation of novel complexes of general formula [MoO(2)(L(R))(2)] (R = H, 1; R = Me, 2; R = iPr, 3). For reasons of comparison the oxo-imido complex [MoO(N(t)Bu)(L(Me))(2)] (4) has also been synthesized. Complexes 1-4 were investigated in oxygen atom transfer (OAT) reactions using the substrate trimethylphosphine. The respective products after OAT, the reduced Mo(IV) complexes [MoO(PMe(3))(L(R))(2)] (R = H, 5; R = Me, 6; R = iPr, 7) and [Mo(N(t)Bu)(PMe(3))(L(Me))(2)] (8), were isolated. All complexes have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy, and 1-4 also by cyclic voltammetry. A positive shift of the Mo(VI)-Mo(V) reduction wave upon fluorination was observed. Furthermore, molecular structures of complexes 2, 4, 5, and 8 have been determined via single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Complex 8 represents a rare example of a Mo(IV) phosphino-imido complex. Kinetic measurements by UV-vis spectroscopy of the OAT reactions from complexes 1-4 to PMe(3) showed them to be more efficient than previously reported nonfluorinated ones, with ligand L' = (Ar)NC(Me)CH(2)CO(CH(3)) [MoO(2)(L')(2)] (9) and [MoO(N(t)Bu)(L')(2)] (10), respectively. Thermodynamic activation parameters ΔH(?) and ΔS(?) of the OAT reactions for complexes 2 and 4 have been determined. The activation enthalpy for the reaction employing 2 is significantly smaller (12.3 kJ/mol) compared to the reaction with the nonfluorinated complex 9 (60.8 kJ/mol). The change of the entropic term ΔS(?) is small. The reaction of the oxo-imido complex 4 to 8 revealed a significant electron-donating contribution of the imido substituent.     

Heterolytic activation of H-X (X = H, Si, B, and C) bonds: an experimental and theoretical investigation

The highly electrophilic, coordinatively unsaturated, 16-electron [Ru(P(OH)3)(dppe)2][OTf]2 (dppe = Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2) complex 1 activates the H-H, the Si-H, and the B-H bonds, in H2(g), EtMe2SiH and Et3SiH, and H3B.L (L = PMe3, PPh3), respectively, in a heterolytic fashion. The heterolysis of H2 involves an eta2-H2 complex (observable at low temperatures), whereas the computations indicate that those of the Si-H and the B-H bonds proceed through unobserved eta1-species. The common ruthenium-containing product in these reactions is trans-[Ru(H)(P(OH)3)(dppe)2][OTf], 2. The [Ru(P(OH)3)(dppe)2][OTf]2 complex is unique with regard to activating the H-H, the Si-H, and the B-H bonds in a heterolytic manner. These reactions and the heterolytic activation of the C-H bond in methane by the model complex [Ru(POH)3)(H2PCH2CH2PH2)2][Cl][OTf], 4, have been investigated using computational methods as well, at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ level. While the model complex activates the H-H, the Si-H, and the B-H bonds in H2, SiH4, and H3B.L (L = PMe3, PPh3), respectively, with a low barrier, activation of the C-H bond in CH4 involves a transition state of 57.5 kcal/mol high in energy. The inability of the ruthenium complex to activate CH4 is due to the undue stretching of the C-H bond needed at the transition state, in comparison to the other substrates.     

The role of group 14 element hydrides in the activation of C-h bonds in cyclic olefins

Formally, triple-bonded dimetallynes ArEEAr [E = Ge (1), Sn (2); Ar = C(6)H(3)-2,6-(C(6)H(3)-2,6-(i)Pr(2))(2)] have been previously shown to activate aliphatic, allylic C-H bonds in cyclic olefins, cyclopentadiene (CpH), cyclopentene (c-C(5)H(8)) and 1,4-cyclohexadiene, with intriguing selectivity. In the case of the five-membered carbocycles, cyclopentadienyl species ArECp [E = Ge (3), Sn (4)] are formed. In this study, we examine the mechanisms for activation of CpH and c-C(5)H(8) using experimental methods and describe a new product found from the reaction between 1 and c-C(5)H(8), an asymmetrically substituted digermene ArGe(H)Ge(c-C(5)H(9))Ar (5), crystallized in 46% yield. This compound contains a hydrogenated cyclopentyl moiety and is found to be produced in a 3:2 ratio with 3, explaining the fate of the liberated H atoms following triple C-H activation. We show that when these C-H activation reactions are carried out in the presence of tert-butyl ethylene (excess), compounds {ArE(CH(2)CH(2)tBu)}(2) [E = Ge(8), Sn(9)] are obtained in addition to ArECp; in the case of CpH, the neohexyl complexes replace the production of H(2) gas, and for c-C(5)H(8) they displace cyclopentyl product 5 and account for all the hydrogen removed in the dehydroaromatization reactions. To confirm the source of 8 and 9, it was demonstrated that these molecules are formed cleanly between the reaction of (ArEH)(2) [E = Ge(6), Sn(7)] and tert-butyl ethylene, new examples of noncatalyzed hydro-germylation and -stannylation. Therefore, the presence of transient hydrides of the type 6 and 7 can be surmised to be reactive intermediates in the production of 3 and 4, along with H(2), from 1 and 2 and CpH (respectively), or the formation of 3 and 5 from 1. The reaction of 6 or 7 with CpH gave 3 or 4, respectively, with concomitant H(2) evolution, demonstrating the basic nature of these low-valent group 14 element hydrides and their key role in the 'cascade' of C-H activation steps. Additionally, during the course of these studies a new polycyclic compound (ArGe)(2)(C(7)H(12)) (10) was obtained in 60% yield from the reaction of 1,6-heptadiene and 1 via double [2 + 2] cycloaddition and gives evidence for a nonradical mechanism for these types of reactions.     

Steric nature of the bite angle. A closer and a broader look

The bite angle (ligand-metal-ligand angle) is known to greatly influence the activity of catalytically active transition-metal complexes towards bond activation. Here, we have computationally explored how and why the bite angle has such effects in a wide range of prototypical C-X bonds and palladium complexes, using relativistic density functional theory at ZORA-BLYP/TZ2P. Our model reactions cover the substrates H(3)C-X (with X = H, CH(3), Cl) and, among others, the model catalysts, Pd[PH(2)(CH(2))(n)PH(2)] (with n = 2-6) and Pd[PR(2)(CH(2))(n)PR(2)] (n = 2-4 and R = Me, Ph, t-Bu, Cl), Pd(PH(3))X(-) (X = Cl, Br, I), as well as palladium complexes of chelating and non-chelating N-heterocyclic carbenes. The purpose is to elaborate on an earlier finding that bite-angle effects have a predominantly (although not exclusively) steric nature: a smaller bite angle makes more room for coordinating a substrate by bending away the ligands. Indeed, the present results further consolidate this steric picture by revealing its occurrence in this broader range of model reactions and by identifying and quantifying the exact working mechanism through activation strain analyses.     

Mechanistic studies on direct arylation of pyridine N-oxide: evidence for cooperative catalysis between two distinct palladium centers

Direct arylations of pyridine N-oxide (PyO), a convenient method to prepare 2-arylpyridines, catalyzed by Pd(OAc)(2) and PtBu(3) have been proposed to occur by the generation of a PtBu(3)-ligated arylpalladium acetate complex, (PtBu(3))Pd(Ar)(OAc) (1), and the reaction of this complex with PyO. We provide strong evidence that 1 does not react directly with PyO. Instead, our data imply that the cyclometalated complex [Pd(OAc)(tBu(2)PCMe(2)CH(2))](2), which is generated from the decomposition of 1, reacts with PyO and serves as a catalyst for the reaction of PyO with 1. The reaction of PyO with 1 occurs with an induction period, and the reaction of 1 with excess PyO in the presence of [Pd(OAc)(tBu(2)PCMe(2)CH(2))](2) is zeroth-order in 1. Moreover, the rates of reactions of PyO with bromobenzene catalyzed by [Pd(OAc)(tBu(2)PCMe(2)CH(2))](2) and [Pd(PtBu(3))(2)] depend on the concentration of [Pd(OAc)(tBu(2)PCMe(2)CH(2))](2) but not on the concentration of [Pd(PtBu(3))(2)]. Finally, the reaction of 1 with a model heteroarylpalladium complex containing a cyclometalated phosphine, [(PEt(3))Pd(2-benzothienyl)(tBu(2)PCMe(2)CH(2))], rapidly formed the arylated heterocycle. Together, these data imply that the rate-determining C-H bond cleavage occurs between PyO and the cyclometalated [Pd(OAc)(tBu(2)PCMe(2)CH(2))](2) rather than between PyO and 1. In this case, the resulting heteroarylpalladium complex transfers the heteroaryl group to 1, and C-C bond-formation occurs from (PtBu(3))Pd(Ar)(2-pyridyl oxide). This mechanism proposed for the direct arylation of PyO constitutes an example of C-H bond functionalization in which C-H activation occurs at one metal center and the activated moiety undergoes functionalization after transfer to a second metal center.     

Synthesis of ketonylplatinum(III) dinuclear complexes: observation of the competitive radical vs electrophilic displacement in Pt(III)-promoted C-H bond activation of ketones.

New ketonylplatinum(III) dinuclear complexes [Pt(2)((CH(3))(3)CCONH)(2)(NH(3))(4)(CH(2)COPh)](NO(3))(3) (4), [Pt(2)((CH(3))(3)CCONH)(2)(NH(3))(4)(CH(CH(3))COC(2)H(5))](NO(3))(3) (5), and [Pt(2)((CH(3))(3)CCONH)(2)(NH(3))(4)(CH(2)COCH(2)COCH(3))](NO(3))(3) (6) were prepared by treatment of platinum blue complex [Pt(4)(NH(3))(8)((CH(3))(3)CCONH)(4)](NO(3))(5) (2) with acetophenone, 3-pentanone, and acetylacetone, respectively, in the presence of concentrated HNO(3). The structures of complexes 4 and 6 have been confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis, which revealed that the C-H bonds of the methyl groups in acetophenone and acetylacetone have been cleaved and Pt(III)-C bonds are formed. Formation of diketonylplatinum(III) complex 6 provides a novel example of the C-H bond activation not at the central alpha-C-H but at the terminal methyl of acetylacetone. Reaction with butanone having unsymmetrical alpha-H atoms led to two types of ketonylplatinum(III) complexes [Pt(2)((CH(3))(3)CCONH)(2)(NH(3))(4)(CH(CH(3))COCH(3))](NO(3))(3) (7a) and [Pt(2)((CH(3))(3)CCONH)(2)(NH(3))(4)(CH(2)COCH(2)CH(3))](NO(3))(3) (7b) at a molar ratio of 1.7 to 1 corresponding to the C-H bond activation of methylene and methyl groups, respectively. Use of 3-methyl-2-butanone instead of butanone gave complex [Pt(2)((CH(3))(3)CCONH)(2)(NH(3))(4)(CH(2)COCH(CH(3))(2))](NO(3))(3) (8) as a sole product via C-H bond activation in the alpha-methyl group. The reactivity of the ketonylplatinum(III) dinuclear complexes toward nucleophiles, such as H(2)O and HNEt(2), was examined. The alpha-hydroxyl- and alpha-amino-substituted ketones were generated in the reactions of [Pt(2)((CH(3))(3)CCONH)(2)(NH(3))(4)(CH(2)COCH(3))](NO(3))(3) (1), 5, and a mixture of 7a and 7b with water and amine, which indicates that the carbon atom in the ketonyl group bound to the Pt(III) atom can receive a nucleophilic attack. The high electrophilicity of the ketonylplatinum(III) complexes can be accounted for by the high electron-withdrawing ability of the platinum(III) atom. A competition between the radical and electrophilic displacement pathways was observed directly in the C-H bond activation reaction with butanone giving complexes 7a and 7b. Addition of a radical trapping agent suppressed the radical pathway and gave complex 7b as the predominant product. On the contrary, 7a was formed as the main product when the reaction solution was irradiated by mercury lamp light. These results together with other mechanistic studies demonstrate that complex 7a was produced via a radical process, whereas complex 7b is produced via electrophilic displacement of a proton by the Pt(III) atom. The competitive processes were further observed in the reactions of platinum blue complex 2 with a mixture of acetone and 3-pentanone in the presence of HNO(3). The relative molar ratio of acetonyl complex 1 to pentanoyl complex 5 was 3 to 1 under room light, whereas formation of complex 5 was almost suppressed when the reaction was carried out in the dark with the addition of a radical trapping agent.     

Bimetallic-induced tail-to-tail dimerization and C-H activation of methyl acrylate

An organometallic complex resulting from tail-to-tail dimerization and C-H activation of methyl acrylate (MA), [Mo(CO2Cp(eta 3-(MeO2C)CH[symbol: see text]CH[symbol: see text]CHCH2(CO2Me)] 2, has been fully characterized from the reaction of the heterobimetallic complex [Cp*Ni=Mo(mu-CO)(CO)2Cp] with MA and an exclusively eta 3-allyl bonding mode of the coupled ligand was established for the first time by X-ray diffraction; formation of 2 is accompanied by that of the mu 3-alkylidyne-capped cluster [NiMo2(mu 3-CCH2CO2Me)(CO)4Cp*Cp2] 3 which results from a double C-H activation of the CH2 group of MA; none of these reactions occur with the corresponding homodinuclear complexes.     

Synthesis and characterization of ethylbis(2-pyridylethyl)amineruthenium complexes and two different types of C-H bond cleavage at an ethylene arm

Ruthenium complexes bearing ethylbis(2-pyridylethyl)amine (ebpea), which has flexible -C(2)H(4)- arms between the amine and the pyridyl groups and coordinates to a metal center in facial and meridional modes, have been synthesized and characterized. Three trichloro complexes, fac-[Ru(III)Cl(3)(ebpea)] (fac-[1]), mer-[Ru(III)Cl(3)(ebpea)] (mer-[1]), and mer-[Ru(II)Cl(3){η(2)-N(C(2)H(5))(C(2)H(4)py)═CH-CH(2)py}] (mer-[2]), were synthesized using the Ru blue solution. Formation of mer-[2] proceeded via a C-H activation of the CH(2) group next to the amine nitrogen atom of the ethylene arm. Reduction reactions of fac- and mer-[1] afforded a triacetonitrile complex mer-[Ru(II)(CH(3)CN)(3)(ebpea)](PF(6))(2) (mer-[3](PF(6))(2)). Five nitrosyl complexes fac-[RuX(2)(NO)(ebpea)]PF(6) (X = Cl for fac-[4]PF(6); X = ONO(2) for fac-[5]PF(6)) and mer-[RuXY(NO)(ebpea)]PF(6) (X = Cl, Y = Cl for mer-[4]PF(6); X = Cl, Y = CH(3)O for mer-[6]PF(6); X = Cl, Y = OH for mer-[7]PF(6)) were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. A reaction of mer-[2] in H(2)O-C(2)H(5)OH at room temperature afforded mer-[1]. Oxidation of C(2)H(5)OH in H(2)O-C(2)H(5)OH and i-C(3)H(7)OH in H(2)O-i-C(3)H(7)OH to acetaldehyde and acetone by mer-[2] under stirring at room temperature occurred with formation of mer-[1]. Alternative C-H activation of the CH(2) group occurred next to the pyridyl group, and formation of a C-N bond between the CH moiety and the nitrosyl ligand afforded a nitroso complex [Ru(II)(N(3))(2){N(O)CH(py)CH(2)N(C(2)H(5))C(2)H(4)py}] ([8]) in reactions of nitrosyl complexes with sodium azide in methanol, and reaction of [8] with hydrochloric acid afforded a corresponding chloronitroso complex [Ru(II)Cl(2){N(O)CH(py)CH(2)N(C(2)H(5))C(2)H(4)py}] ([9]).     

Fragmentation reactions of phenoxide anions: deprotonated Dinoterb and related structures

Dinoterb (6-t-butyl-2,4-dinitrophenol), 1, Dinoseb (6-secbutyl-2,4-dinitrophenol), 2, TBP (2-t-butylphenol), 3, and DNP (2,4-dinitrophenol), 4, have been analyzed by electrospray ionization in the negative mode (ESI-N) - tandem mass spectrometry. Nominal laboratory collision energy was varied from zero to 60 eV during the experiments. Apparent fragmentation energies were estimated from a parametric fitting of the collision efficiency curves. In parallel, fragmentation mechanisms of the deprotonated molecules [M-H](-) were explored using quantum chemistry modeling at the B3LYP/6-31 + G(d,p) level. A major fragmentation of the [M-H](-) ions of Dinoterb and Dinoseb is elimination of an alcohol molecule. This reaction is shown to involve one oxygen atom originating from a nitro group rather than the phenoxide moiety. Eliminations of NO, C(4) and CH(2) = C(CH(3))(2), i.e. reactions involving significant rearrangements, constitute the major part of the other fragmentation pathways observed from [3-H](-) and [4-H](-) ions.     

C-H activation of ethers and alkanes by germylene-aryl halide complexes

Regioselective, room-temperature C-H activation of alkanes and ethers by stable germylenes and aryl halides is reported. Germylenes, Ge[CH(SiMe3)2]2 and Ge[N(SiMe3)2]2, and aryl halides, PhI, PhBr, and PhCl, have been employed. High yields of C-H activation products can be obtained through the use of high-dilution techniques.     

Unusual reactivity of methylene group adjacent to pyridine-2-carboxamido moiety in iron(III) and cobalt(III) complexes

The Fe(III) and Co(III) complexes of the ligand N-(2-picolyl)picolinamide (pmpH; H represents the dissociable amide hydrogen), namely, [Fe(pmp)(2)]BF(4) (1) and [Co(pmp)(2)]ClO(4) (2), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The [bond]CH(2)[bond] moiety of pmp(-) in [M(pmp)(2)](+) (M = Fe, Co) is very reactive and is readily converted to carbonyl (C[double bond]O) group upon exposure to dioxygen. Such conversion results in [M(bpca)(2)]ClO(4) complexes (M = Fe (3), Co (5); bpcaH = bis(2-pyridylcarbonyl)amine) which have been characterized by spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The structure of 5 is reported here for the first time. The reactivity of the [bond]CH(2)[bond] moiety of pmp(-) has so far precluded the isolation of 1 although other metal complexes of pmp(-) have been reported years ago. The CH(2) --> C[double bond]O transformation arises from the tendency of the coordinated pmp(-) ligand to achieve further conjugation in the ligand framework and provides a better way to synthesize the metal complexes of bpcaH ligand. Reaction of 3 with NaH affords Fe(II) complex [Fe(bpca)(2)] (4) without any reduction of the ligand frame.     

Sequential and selective hydrogenation of the C(alpha)-C(beta) and M-C(alpha) double bonds of an allenylidene ligand coordinated to osmium: new reaction patterns between an allenylidene complex and alcohols

Complex [OsH(=C=C=CPh2)(CH3CN)2(PiPr3)2]BF4 (1) reacts with primary and secondary alcohols to give the corresponding dehydrogenated alcohols and the hydride-carbene derivative [OsH(=CHCH=CPh2)(CH3CN)2(PiPr3)2]BF4 (2), as a result of hydrogen transfer reactions from the alcohols to the Calpha-Cbeta double bond of the allenylidene ligand of 1. The reactions with phenol and t-butanol, which do not contain any beta-hydrogen, afford the alkoxy-hydride-carbyne complexes [OsH(OR)(CCH=CPh2)(CH3CN)(PiPr3)2]BF4 (R = Ph (3), tBu (4)), as a consequence of the 1,3-addition of the O-H bond of the alcohols to the metallic center and the Cbeta atom of the allenylidene of 1. On the basis of the reactions of 1 with these tertiary alcohols, deuterium labeling experiments, and DFT calculations, the mechanism of the hydrogenation is proposed. In acetonitrile under reflux, the Os-C double bond of 2 undergoes hydrogenation to give 1,1-diphenylpropene and [Os{CH2CH(CH3)PiPr2(CH3CN)3(PiPr3)]BF4 (11), containing a metalated phosphine ligand. This reaction is a first-order process with activation parameters of DeltaH = 89.0 +/- 6.3 kJ mol-1 and DeltaS = -43.5 +/- 9.6 J mol-1 K-1. The X-ray structures of 2 and 3 are also reported.     

Thermochemistry of N-N containing ions: a threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy study of ionized methyl- and tetramethylhydrazine

The unimolecular dissociation reactions of the methylhydrazine (MH) and tetramethylhydrazine (TMH) radical cations have been investigated using tandem mass spectrometry and threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy in the photon energy ranges 9.60-31.95 eV (for the MH ion) and 7.74-29.94 eV (for the TMH ion). Methylhydrazine ions (CH3NHNH2(+*)) have three low-energy dissociation channels: hydrogen atom loss to form CH2NHNH2(+) (m/z 45), loss of a methyl radical to form NHNH2(+) (m/z 31), and loss of methane to form the fragment ion m/z 30, N2H2(+*). Tetramethylhydrazine ions only exhibit two dissociation reactions near threshold: that of methyl radical loss to form (CH3)2NNCH3(+) (m/z 73) and of methane loss to form the fragment ion m/z 72 with the empirical formula C3H8N2(+*). The experimental breakdown curves were modeled with Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus theory, and it was found that, particularly for methyl radical loss, variational transition state theory was needed to obtain satisfactory fits to the data. The 0 K enthalpies of formation (delta(f)H0) for all fragment ions (m/z 73, m/z 72, m/z 45, m/z 31, and m/z 30) have been determined from the 0 K activation energies (E0) obtained from the fitting procedure: delta(f)H0[(CH3)2NNCH3(+)] = 833 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1), delta(f)H0 [C3H8N2(+*)] = 1064 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1), delta(f)H0[CH2NHNH2(+)] = 862 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1), delta(f)H0[NHNH2(+)] = 959 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1), and delta(f)H0[N2H2(+*)] = 1155 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1). The breakdown curves have been measured from threshold up to h nu approximately 32 eV for both hydrazine ions. As the photon energy increases, other dissociation products are observed and their appearance energies are reported.     

Stoichiometric reactivity of dialkylamine boranes with alkaline earth silylamides

Reactions of β-diketiminato group 2 silylamides, [HC{(Me)CN(2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3))}(2)M(THF)(n){N(SiMe(3))(2)}] (M = Mg, n = 0; M = Ca, Sr, n = 1), and an equimolar quantity of pyrrolidine borane, (CH(2))(4)NH·BH(3), were found to produce amidoborane derivatives of the form [HC{(Me)CN(2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3))}(2)MN(CH(2))(4)·BH(3)]. In reactivity reminiscent of analogous reactions performed with dimethylamine borane, addition of a second equivalent of (CH(2))(4)NH·BH(3) to the Mg derivative induced the formation of a species, [HC{(Me)CN(2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3))}(2)Mg{N(CH(2))(4) BH(2)NMe(2)BH(3)}], containing an anion in which two molecules of the amine borane substrate have been coupled together through the elimination of one molecule of H(2). Both this species and a calcium amidoborane derivative have been characterised by X-ray diffraction techniques and the coupled species is proposed as a key intermediate in catalytic amine borane dehydrocoupling, in reactivity dictated by the charge density of the group 2 centre involved. On the basis of further stoichiometric reactions of the homoleptic group 2 silylamides, [M{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(2)] (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba), with (CH(3))(2)NH·BH(3) and (i)Pr(2)NH·BH(3) reactivity consistent with successive amidoborane β-hydride elimination and [R(2)N[double bond, length as m-dash]BH(2)] insertion is described as a means to induce the B-N dehydrocoupling between amine borane substrates.     

Stereo-selectivity in a cyclotriphosphazene derivative bearing an exocyclic P-O moiety

Nucleophilic substitution reactions of N(3)P(3)Cl(4)[O(CH(2))(2)NCH(3)], (1) with the sodium salts of mono- and di-functional alcohols [methanol (2), phenol (3), tetraethyleneglycol (4) and 1,3-propanediol (5)] were carried out in order to investigate a possible directing effect of the spiro O-moiety on the formation of mono-substituted (2a, 3a), non-geminal di-substituted (2c, 3c) and ansa (4a, 5a) derivatives. Compounds isolated from the reactions were characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, (1)H and (31)P NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallographic analysis showed that the substituent OR in compounds (2a, 3a and 2c, 3c) and the ansa-ring in compounds (4a, 5a) formed cis to the P-O moiety of the exocyclic [O(CH(2))(2)NCH(3)] spiro ring. The formation of products (2a-d, 3a-d, 4a, 5a and 5b) was quantified from the (31)P NMR spectra of the reaction mixtures, which showed an overwhelming preference for derivatives (2a, 3a, 2c, 3c, 4a, 5a) with the substituent cis to the P-O moiety of the exocyclic spiro ring (2a, 3a, 2c, 3c, 4a, 5a), except for reaction with 1,3-propanediol where the six-membered ring spiro derivative (5b) was about three times more abundant than the eight-membered ring ansa-derivative (5a). Overwhelming formation of products with the substituent cis to the exocyclic P-O moiety is proof that the cation-assisted mechanism is responsible for the stereo-selectivity in the reactions with alkoxides.     

Synthesis and characterization of methylammonium borohydride

A new borohydride, [CH(3)NH(3)](+)[BH(4)](-), has been synthesized through the metathesis of CH(3)NH(3)F and NaBH(4) in methylamine. Room-temperature X-ray diffraction studies have shown that [CH(3)NH(3)](+)[BH(4)](-) adopts a tetragonal unit cell with considerable hydrogen mobility similar to that observed in NH(3)BH(3). The kinetics and thermodynamics of hydrogen release have been investigated and were found to follow a similar pathway to that of [NH(4)](+)[BH(4)](-). Decomposition of [CH(3)NH(3)](+)[BH(4)](-) occurred slowly at room temperature and rapidly at ca. 40 °C to form [BH(2)(CH(3)NH(2))(2)](+)[BH(4)](-), the methylated analogue of the diammoniate of diborane. The decomposition has been investigated by means of in situ X-ray diffraction and solid state (11)B NMR spectroscopy and occurred in the absence of any detectable intermediates to form crystalline [BH(2)(CH(3)NH(2))(2)](+)[BH(4)](-). [(CH(3))(2)NH(2)](+)[BH(4)](-) and [BH(2){(CH(3))(2)NH}(2)](+)[BH(4)](-) have also been synthesized through analogous routes, indicating a more general applicability of the synthetic method.     

Unexpected reactions of [60]fullerene involving tertiary amines and insight into the reaction mechanisms

Thermal reactions of [60]fullerene with amino acid ester hydrochlorides and triethylamine in o-dichlorobenzene at reflux afforded pyrrolidinofullerene derivatives containing the CH(3)CH moiety and originating from triethylamine through an unusual C-N bond cleavage. Detailed investigation of these thermal reactions resulted in the discovery of unprecedented reactions between C(60) and tertiary amines and of reactions of C(60) with tertiary amines and aldehydes, giving cyclopentafullerene derivatives with high stereoselectivity. Plausible reaction mechanisms for the product formation involving the uncommon C-N bond cleavage of tertiary amines were proposed on the basis of extensive experimental results.