The i.r. spectra of 3-methyl-2-butenenitrile and 3-methyl-3-butenenitrile

A commercial sample of supposedly 3-methyl-3-butenenitrile was separated by gas chromatography into two components. Analysis of the i.r. and NMR spectra of these two components showed that the original mixture contained 25% 3-methyl-3-butenenitrile and 75% 3-methyl-2-butenenitrile, and that an i.r. spectrum recently reported in this journal [1] for 3-methyl-3-butenenitrile was actually that of 3-methyl-2-butenenitrile. Thus, the spectral data reported for 3-methyl-3-butenenitrile [1] and the resulting conclusions regarding the nature of the conformational equilibrium in this molecule should be disregarded.     

Kinetics, thermodynamics, and effect of BPh3 on competitive C-C and C-H bond activation reactions in the interconversion of allyl cyanide by [Ni(dippe)

Reaction of [(dippe)Ni(micro-H)](2) with allyl cyanide at low temperature quantitatively generates the eta(2)-olefin complex (dippe)Ni(CH(2)=CHCH(2)CN) (1). At ambient temperature or above, the olefin complex is converted to a mixture of C-CN cleavage product (dippe)Ni(eta(3)-allyl)(CN) (3) and the olefin-isomerization products (dippe)Ni(eta(2)-crotonitrile) (cis- and trans-2), which form via C-H activation. The latter are the exclusive products at longer reaction times, indicating that C-CN cleavage is reversible and the crotononitrile complexes 2 are more thermodynamically stable than eta(3)-allyl species 3. The kinetics of this reaction have been followed as a function of temperature, and rate constants have been extracted by modeling of the reaction. The rate constants for C-CN bond formation (the reverse of C-CN cleavage) show a stronger temperature dependence than those for C-CN and C-H activation, making the observed distribution of C-H versus C-CN cleavage products strongly temperature-dependent. The activation parameters for the C-CN formation step are also quite distinct from those of the C-CN and C-H cleavage steps (larger DeltaH(++) and positive DeltaS(++)). Addition of the Lewis acid BPh(3) to 1 at low temperature yields exclusively the C-CN activation product (dippe)Ni(eta(3)-allyl)(CNBPh(3)) (4). Independently prepared (dippe)Ni(crotononitrile-BPh(3)) (cis- and trans-7) does not interconvert with 4, indicating that 4 is the kinetic product of the BPh(3)-mediated reaction. On standing in solution at ambient temperature, 4 decomposes slowly to complex 5, with structure [(dippe)Ni(eta(3)-allyl)(N triple bond C-BPh(3)), while addition of a second equivalent of BPh(3) immediately produces [(dippe)Ni(eta(3)-allyl)](+)[Ph(3)BC triple bond NBPh(3)](-) (6). Comparison of the barriers to pi-sigma allyl interconversion (determined via dynamic (1)H NMR spectroscopy) for all of the eta(3)-allyl complexes reveals that axial cyanide ligands facilitate pi-sigma interconversion by moving into the P(2)Ni square plane when the allyl group is sigma-bound.     

Oxidation of C-H bonds by [(bpy)2(py)RuIVO]2+ occurs by hydrogen atom abstraction

Anaerobic oxidations of 9,10-dihydroanthracene (DHA), xanthene, and fluorene by [(bpy)(2)(py)Ru(IV)O](2+) in acetonitrile solution give mixtures of products including oxygenated and non-oxygenated compounds. The products include those formed by organic radical dimerization, such as 9,9'-bixanthene, as well as by oxygen-atom transfer (e.g., xanthone). The kinetics of these reactions have been measured. The kinetic isotope effect for oxidation of DHA vs DHA-d(4) gives k(H)/k(D) > or = 35 +/- 1. The data indicate a mechanism of initial hydrogen-atom abstraction forming radicals that dimerize, disproportionate and are trapped by the oxidant. This mechanism also appears to apply to the oxidations of toluene, ethylbenzene, cumene, indene, and cyclohexene. The rate constants for H-atom abstraction from these substrates correlate well with the strength of the C-H bond that is cleaved. Rate constants for abstraction from DHA and toluene also correlate with those for oxygen radicals and other oxidants. The rate constant for H-atom transfer from toluene to [(bpy)(2)(py)Ru(IV)O](2+) appears to be close to that predicted by the Marcus cross relation, using a tentative rate constant for hydrogen atom self-exchange between [(bpy)(2)(py)Ru(III)OH](2+) and [(bpy)(2)(py)Ru(IV)O](2+).     

Role of metal-oxo complexes in the cleavage of C-H bonds

The functionalization of C-H bonds has yet to achieve widespread use in synthetic chemistry in part because of the lack of synthetic reagents that function in the presence of other functional groups. These problems have been overcome in enzymes, which have metal-oxo active sites that efficiently and selectively cleave C-H bonds. How high-energy metal-oxo transient species can perform such difficult transformations with high fidelity is discussed in this tutorial review. Highlighted are the relationships between redox potentials and metal-oxo basicity on C-H bond activation, as seen in a series of bioinspired manganese-oxo complexes.     

Ru3(CO)12-catalyzed silylation of benzylic C-H bonds in arylpyridines and arylpyrazoles with hydrosilanes via C-H bond cleavage

Ruthenium-catalyzed silylation of sp3 C-H bonds at a benzylic position with hydrosilanes gave benzylsilanes. For this silylation reaction, Ru3(CO)12 complex showed high catalytic activity. This silylation proceeded at the methyl C-H bond selectively. For this silylation reaction, pyridyl and pyrazolyl groups, and the imino group in hydrazones, can function as a directing group. Several hydrosilanes involving triethyl-, dimethylphenyl-, tert-butyldimethyl-, and triphenylsilanes can be used as a silylating reagent. Coordination of an sp2 nitrogen atom to the ruthenium complex is important for achieving this silylation reaction.     

2-氯甲基-3-甲基-4-[(3-甲氧基)丙氧基]-吡啶盐酸盐的合成

以2,3-二甲基吡啶为原料,经6步反应合成了雷贝拉唑的关键中间体--2-氯甲基-3-甲基-4-[(3-甲氧基)丙氧基]-吡啶盐酸盐,总收率14.1%.     

Isomerization of 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile with (bis-diphenylphosphinoferrocene)nickel compounds: Catalytic and structural studies

The catalytic isomerization of 2-metyl-3-butenenitrile to 3-pentenenitrile was carried out by (dppf)Ni species (dppf = bis-diphenylphosphinoferrocene) in the absence and the presence of Lewis acids. Studies in solution reveal the intermediacy of Ni(II) allyl complexes. Addition of Lewis acids such as BEt₃ allow the crystallization and full characterization of the latter by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Palladium-catalyzed alkylation of sp2 and sp3 C-H bonds with methylboroxine and alkylboronic acids: two distinct C-H activation pathways

Palladium-catalyzed alkylations of sp2 and sp3 C-H bonds with either methylboroxine or alkylboronic acids were developed. Ag2O or AgCO3 is used as a crucial oxidant and promoter for the transmetalation step. Ether, ester, alcohol, and alkene functional groups are tolerated. A new C-H activation pathway differing from the cyclometalation process is elucidated using methylboroxine as the coupling partner.     

Intermolecular amidation of unactivated sp2 and sp2 C-H bonds via palladium-catalyzed cascade C-H activation/nitrene insertion

This communication describes the Pd(OAc)2-catalyzed intermolecular amidation reactions of unactivated sp2 and sp3 C-H bonds using primary amides and potassium persulfate. The substrates containing a pendent oxime or pyridine group were amidated with excellent chemo- and regioselectivities. It is noteworthy that reactive C-X bonds were well-tolerated and a variety of primary amides can be effective nucleophiles for the Pd-catalyzed C-H amidation reactions. For the reaction of unactivated sp3 C-H bonds, beta-amidation of 1 degrees sp3 C-H bonds versus 2 degrees C-H bonds is preferred. The catalytic reaction is initiated by chelation-assisted cyclopalladation involving C-H bond activation. Preliminary mechanistic study suggested that the persulfate oxidation of primary amides should generate reactive nitrene species, which then reacted with the cyclopalladated complex.     

Anilide activation of adjacent C-H bonds in the palladium-catalysed Fujiwara-Moritani reaction

The Pd(II)-catalysed oxidative counterpart of the Heck reaction, originally described by Fujiwara and Moritani, has been studied in detail by a combination of NMR, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and substrate variation. The process involves a palladacycle that is a true intermediate in catalysis. Pd(OAc)(2) is first converted into a more electrophilic palladium species for effective catalysis, defining the main role of added acid. In the course of these studies, three palladacyclic intermediates have been characterised by X-ray diffraction, firstly the directly produced acetate complex 1, the camphorsulfonate complex 2, and additionally tosylate 3, isolated from a reacting system, demonstrating the accessibility of a cationic or comparably electrophilic palladium entity under turnover conditions. The isolated palladacycle 3 is also an effective catalyst. The reaction rate shows a first-order dependency on [anilide] and [Pd], but not on benzoquinone, alkene or p-TsOH. Acid, in the form of p-TsOH, is an essential component, whereas acetate is dispensable. A crossover experiment involving distinct substitution in reactant and palladacycle demonstrates that the palladacycle is directly involved in the catalysis.     

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation of benzylic C-H bonds via nondirected C(sp3)-H activation

A new strategy for generating benzylpalladium reactive species from toluenes via nondirected C(sp(3))-H activation has been developed. This led to construction of an efficient Pd-catalyzed reaction protocol for the oxidative carboxylation of benzylic C-H bonds to form substituted 2-phenylacetic acid esters and derivatives from inexpensive, commercially available starting materials.     

Isopropylammonium Layered Uranyl Chromates: Syntheses and Crystal Structures of [(CH3)2CHNH3]3[(UO2)3(CrO4)2O(OH)3] and[(CH3)2CHNH3]2[(UO2)2(CrO4)3(H2O)]

Two novel isopropylamine‐templated uranyl chromates, [(CH₃)₂CHNH₃]₃[(UO₂)₃(CrO₄)₂O(OH)₃] ( 1 ) and [(CH₃)₂CHNH₃]₂[(UO₂)₂(CrO₄)₃(H₂O)] ( 2 ) were prepared by hydrothermal method at 100 °C. The compounds were characterized by electron microprobe analysis and X‐ray diffraction crystal structure analysis [ 1 : trigonal, P31m, a = 9.646(4), c = 8.469(4) Å, V = 682.4(5) ų; 2 : monoclinic, P2₁/c, a = 11.309(3), b = 11.465(3), c = 17.055(5) Å, β = 99.150(6)°, V = 2183.2(11) ų]. The structure of 1 is based upon trimers of uranyl bipyramids interlinked by CrO₄ tetrahedra to form [(UO₂)₃(CrO₄)₂O(OH)₃]^3– layers, whereas, in the structure of 2 , UO₇ and UO₆(H₂O) pentagonal bipyramids are linked through CrO₄ tetrahedra into the [(UO₂)₂(CrO₄)₃(H₂O)]^2– layers. The structures show many similarities to related uranyl selenate compounds, thus providing additional data on similarities and differences between uranyl sulfates, chromates, selenates, and molybdates.     

Palladium-catalyzed selective 2,3-diarylation of alpha,alpha-disubstituted 3-thiophenemethanols via cleavage of C-H and C-C bonds

Alpha,alpha-disubstituted 3-thiophenemethanols undergo selective diarylation accompanied by cleavage of the C-H and C-C bonds of the 2- and 3-positions, respectively, upon treatment with aryl bromides in the presence of a palladium catalyst to give the corresponding 2,3-diarylthiophenes in good yields.     

Ring cleavage and successive aldol reaction of 3-[(trialkylsilyl)methyl]cyclobutanones

3-[(Trialkylsilyl)methyl]cyclobutanones reacted with aldehydes by activation with titanium(IV) chloride to give acyclic β,γ-unsaturated β'-hydroxyketones.     

Insight into the photoexcitation effect on the catalytic activation of H2 and C-H bonds on TiO2(110) surface

Semiconductor photocatalysis holds great promise for breaking the inert chemical bonds under mild condition; however, the photoexcitation-induced modulation mechanism has not been well understood at the atomic level. Herein, by performing the DFT+U calculations, we quantitatively compare H₂ activation on rutile TiO₂(110) under thermo- versus photo-catalytic condition. It is found that H₂ dissociation prefers to occur via the heterolytic cleavage mode in thermocatalysis, but changes to the homolytic cleavage mode and gets evidently promoted in the presence of photoexcited hole (h⁺). The origin can be ascribed to the generation of highly oxidative lattice O-radical (O_br^??) with a localized unoccupied O-2p state. More importantly, we identify that this photo-induced promotion effect can be practicable to another kind of important chemical bond, i.e., C–H bond in light hydrocarbons including alkane, alkene and aromatics; an exception is the C(sp¹)-H in alkyne (HCCH), which encounters inhibition effect from photoexcitation. By quantitative analysis, the origins behind these results are attributed to the interplay between two factors: C-H bond energy (E_bond) and the acidity. Owing to the relatively high E_bond and acidity, it favors the C(sp¹)-H bond to proceed with the heterolytic cleavage mode in both thermo- and photo-catalysis, and the photoexcited O_br^?? is adverse to receiving the transferred proton. By contrast, for the other hydrocarbons with moderate/low E_bond, the O_br^?? would enable to change their activation mode to a more favored homolytic one and evidently decrease the C–H activation barrier. This work may provide a general picture for understanding the photocatalytic R–H (R = H, C) bond activation over the semiconductor catalyst.     

Synthetic utility of [(C5Me5)2Ln][(mu-Ph)2BPh] in accessing [(C5Me5)2LnR]x unsolvated alkyl lanthanide metallocenes, complexes with high C-H activation reactivity

The loosely ligated [BPh4]1- ion in [(C5Me5)2Ln][(mu-Ph)2BPh2] can be readily displaced by alkyllithium or potassium reagents to provide access to unsolvated alkyl lanthanide metallocenes, [(C5Me5)2LnR]x, which display high C-H activation reactivity. [(C5Me5)2SmMe]3, [(C5Me5)2LuMe]2, [(C5Me5)2LaMe]x, (C5Me5)2Sm(CH2Ph), [(C5Me5)2Sm(CH2SiMe3)]x, and [(C5Me5)2SmPh]2 were prepared in this way. [(C5Me5)2SmMe]3 metalates toluene, benzene, SiMe4, and (C5Me5)1- ligands to make (C5Me5)2Sm(CH2Ph), [(C5Me5)2SmPh]2, [(C5Me5)2Sm(CH2SiMe3)]x, and (C5Me5)6Sm4[C5Me3(CH2)2]2, respectively. These C-H activation reactions can be done using an in situ synthesis of [(C5Me5)2LnMe]x such that the [(C5Me5)2Ln][(mu-Ph)2BPh2]/LiMe/RH combination provides a facile route to a variety of unsolvated [(C5Me5)2LnR]x products.