Theoretical Study on the Mechanism of Sonogashira Coupling Reaction

The mechanism of palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction has been studied theoretically by DFT （density functional theory） calculations. The model system studied consists of Pd（PH3）2 as the starting catalyst complex, phenyl bromide as the substrate and acetylene as the terminal alkyne, without regarding to the co-catalyst and base. Mechanistically and energetically plausible catalytic cycles for the cross-coupling have been identified. The DFT analysis shows that the catalytic cycle occurs in three stages： oxidative addition of phenyl bromide to the palladium center, alkynylation of palladium（Ⅱ） intermediate, and reductive elimination to phenylacetylene. In the oxidative addition, the neutral and anionic pathways have been investigated, which could both give rise to cis-configured palladium（Ⅱ） diphosphine intermediate. Starting from the palladium（Ⅱ） diphosphine intermediate, the only identifiable pathway in alkynylation involves the dissociation of Br group and the formation of square-planar palladium（Ⅱ） intermediate, in which the phenyl and alkynyl groups are oriented cis to each other. Due to the close proximity of phenyl and alkynyl groups, the reductive elimination of phenylacetylene proceeds smoothly.     

The mechanism of the Stille reaction investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

On-line monitoring of Stille reactions was performed via direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and its tandem version (ESI-MS/MS). When operated in the positive ion mode, ESI(+)-MS was able to transfer, directly from solution to the gas phase, the species involved in all main steps of a Stille reaction, that is, the catalytically active palladium species Pd(PPh3)2, in its molecular ion form as well as the key cationic Pd(II) intermediates, including cyclic IPd-(CH2CH)Sn species. When searching for anionic species, ESI(-)-MS monitoring showed I- as the only anion detectable in the reaction medium. A detailed catalytic cycle for a Stille reaction was elaborated in which reaction intermediates and the previously elusive catalytically active Pd(0) species are shown in association with the respective ionic species intercepted by ESI-MS and further characterized by ESI-MS/MS.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, and catalytic behaviour in Heck coupling of palladium(II) complexes containing pyrimidine-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes

[Pd(L1)2(CH3CN)](PF6)2 (L1 = 1-n-butyl-3-(2-pyrimidyl)imidazolylidene, 3) and [Pd(L2)2](PF6)2 (L2 = 1-(2-picolyl)-3-(2-pyrimidyl)imidazolylidene 4), prepared via carbene transfer reactions of [Ag(L1)2]PF6 (1) and [Ag2(L2)2](PF6)2 (2) with palladium salts, respectively, have been fully characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The X-ray crystal structures of complexes 1-4 are reported. Complex 3 is an unusual pentacoordinated palladium complex, in which the palladium is coordinated by two imidazolylidene, two pyridine, and one acetonitrile molecule in a square-pyramidal geometry. The apical position is occupied by a pyrimidine nitrogen atom with a relatively long Pd-N distance (2.762(6) angstroms). Complex is a typical square-planar palladium complex with palladium surrounded by two pairs of cis-arranged pyridine and imidazolylidene ligands. The complexes exhibit good catalytic activities in the Heck coupling reaction of aryl bromides and activated aryl chlorides under mild conditions.     

Active anionic zero-valent palladium catalysts: characterization by density functional calculations

This works uses DFT (B3LYP/LACVP*(+)//B3LYP/LACVP* level) to ascertain the existence of the tricoordinate, anionic zero-valent palladium complexes that were postulated as the active species in the catalytic cycles of Pd-catalyzed Heck and cross-coupling reactions. The variety of complexes studied (1 and 2), include [Pd(PR(3))(2)X](-) species, in which R=H, Me, vinyl, and phenyl, and X=Cl, Br, I, AcO, and TFA, as well as bidentate complexes, [Pd[Ph(2)P(CH(2))(n)Ph(2)P]X](-), in which X=Cl, AcO and n=3-6. The study shows that these complexes exist as distinct minima in the gas phase as well as in THF. In addition, it provides geometric features and Pd--X(-) dissociation energies for all these complexes as well as some NMR and IR data, which show a clear distinction in these features between the tri- and dicoordinate Pd(0) species. An orbital interaction model and perturbation theory arguments account for the bonding mechanism and rationalize all the trends in the stability of the Pd--X bond. These trends include the effects of variation of X, R, and the length of the linker in the bidentate ligands.     

DFT Investigation on the Mechanism of Pd（0） Catalyzed Sonogashira Coupling Reaction

Based on DFT calculations, the catalytic mechanism of palladium(0) atom, commonly considered as the catalytic center for Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions, has been analyzed in this study. In the cross-coupling reaction of iodobenzene with phenylacetylene without co-catalysts and bases involved, mechanistically plausible catalytic cycles have been computationally identified. These catalytic cycles typically occur in three stages: 1) oxidative addition of an iodobenzene to the Pd(0) atom, 2) reaction of the product of oxidative addition with phenylacetylene to generate an intermediate with the Csp bound to palladium, and 3) reductive elimination to couple the phenyl group with the phenylethynyl group and to regenerate the Pd(0) atom. The calculations show that the first stage gives rise to a two-coordinate palladium (Ⅱ) intermediate (ArPdI). Starting from this intermediate, the second oxidative stage, in which the C–H bond of acetylene adds to Pd(Ⅱ) without co-catalyst involved, is called alkynylation instead of transmetalation and proceeds in two steps. Stage 3 of reductive elimination of diphenylacetylene is energetically favorable. The results demonstrate that stage 2 requires the highest activation energy in the whole catalysis cycle and is the most difficult to happen, where co-catalysts help to carry out Sonogashira coupling reaction smoothly.     

Rationally designed pincer-type heck catalysts bearing aminophosphine substituents: Pd IV intermediates and palladium nanoparticles

The aminophosphine-based pincer complexes [C6H3-2,6-(XP(piperidinyl)2)2Pd(Cl)] (X=NH 1; X=O 2) are readily prepared from cheap starting materials by sequential addition of 1,1',1'-phosphinetriyltripiperidine and 1,3-diaminobenzene or resorcinol to solutions of [Pd(cod)(Cl)2] (cod=cyclooctadiene) in toluene under N2 in "one pot". Compounds 1 and 2 proved to be excellent Heck catalysts and allow the quantitative coupling of several electronically deactivated and sterically hindered aryl bromides with various olefins as coupling partners at 140 degrees C within very short reaction times and low catalyst loadings. Increased reaction temperatures also enable the efficient coupling of olefins with electronically deactivated and sterically hindered aryl chlorides in the presence of only 0.01 mol % of catalyst. The mechanistic studies performed rule out that homogeneous Pd 0 complexes are the catalytically active forms of 1 and 2. On the other hand, the involvement of palladium nanoparticles in the catalytic cycle received strong experimental support. Even though pincer-type Pd IV intermediates derived from 1 (and 2) are not involved in the catalytic cycle of the Heck reaction, their general existence as reactive intermediates (for example, in other reactions) cannot be excluded. On the contrary, they were shown to be thermally accessible. Compounds 1 and 2 show a smooth halide exchange with bromobenzene to yield their bromo derivatives in DMF at 100 degrees C. Experimental observations revealed that the halide exchange most probably proceeded via pincer-type Pd IV intermediates. DFT calculations support this hypothesis and indicated that aminophosphine-based pincer-type Pd IV intermediates are generally to be considered as reactive intermediates in reactions with aryl halides performed at elevated temperatures.     

Second Comes First: Switching Elementary Steps in Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions

The electron-poor palladium(0) complex L₃Pd (L=tris[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]phosphine) reacts with Grignard reagents RMgX and organolithium compounds RLi via transmetalation to furnish the anionic organopalladates [L₂PdR]⁻, as shown by negative-ion mode electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry. These palladates undergo oxidative additions of organyl halides R′X (or related S_N2-type reactions) followed by further transmetalation. Gas-phase fragmentation of the resulting heteroleptic palladate(II) complexes results in the reductive elimination of the cross-coupling products RR′. This reaction sequence corresponds to a catalytic cycle, in which the order of the elementary steps of transmetalation and oxidative addition is switched relative to that of palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions proceeding via neutral intermediates. An attractive feature of the palladate-based catalytic system is its ability to mediate challenging alkyl–alkyl coupling reactions. However, the poor stability of the phosphine ligand L against decomposition reactions has so far prevented its successful use in practical applications.     

Palladium(II)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of substituted 1,5-hexadienes: a combined experimental and computational study on an open and an interrupted hydropalladation/carbopalladation/β-hydride elimination (HCHe) catalytic cycle

The Pd(II)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of 3-alkoxycarbonyl-3-hydroxy-substituted 1,5-hexadienes has been studied experimentally and computationally. Experimentally, the reaction is characterized by a rapid room temperature formation of monomeric as well as dimeric cycloisomerization products using the commercially available precatalyst [(CH(3)CN)(4)Pd](BF(4))(2). In situ NMR measurements indicate the initial kinetic advantage of the desired cycloisomerization pathway to methylene cyclopentanes; however, double bond isomerization, elimination, and dimer formation are competitive undesired pathways. Evaluation of the obtained product structures by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography indicates that the sole determinant for the monomer/dimer ratio is the regioselectivity of the initial hydropalladation in favor of the allylic (monomer formation) or the homoallylic double bond (dimer formation). In order to account for the experimental results, we propose the coexistence of two product-forming catalytic cycles, an open, monomer generating, as well as an interrupted and redirected, dimer generating, hydropalladation/carbopalladation/β-hydride elimination (HCHe) process. Results from computational studies of the proposed competing catalytic cycles are supportive to our mechanistic hypothesis and pinpoint the pivotal importance of Pd(II)-hydroxo-chelate complexes for the reactivity-stability interplay of on- and off-pathway intermediates.     

Asymmetric allylation of unsymmetrical 1,3-diketones using a BINAP-palladium catalyst

[reaction: see text] The chiral palladium complex generated in situ from [Pd(eta(3)-allyl)Cl](2) and (R)-BINAP is a good catalyst for the catalytic asymmetric allylation of 1,3-diketones. The reaction provided chiral 2,2-dialkyl-1,3-diketones with 64-89% ee in high yields (13 examples). Enantiomeric excesses are strongly affected by the gamma-substituent of the allylic substrates. A variety of unsymmetrical 1,3-diketones were alkylated with cinnamyl acetate in good enantioselectivities via use of the BINAP-palladium catalyst (77-89% ee).     

Synthesis and characterisation of macrocyclic palladium(II)-sodium(I) complexes: generation of an unusual metal-mediated electron delocalisation

Reaction of sodium perchlorate-crown ether derivative (LH2) complex [Na2LH2](ClO4)2 (1) with palladium acetate afforded two related compounds of macrocyclic palladium(II)-sodium(I) dimeric tetranuclear complexes, [Pd2Na2L2(mu-OH2)2](ClO4)2(CH2Cl2)3 (2) and [Pd2Na2(L-)2](CH3CN)2(C3H6O)2 (3) and their structures were characterised by IR, NMR, mass and X-ray analysis; the latter was revealed as an unusual metal-mediated electron delocalised complex.     

Cyclometallated Pd(II) azido complexes containing 6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridyl or 2-phenylpyridyl derivatives: synthesis and reactivity toward organic isocyanides and isothiocyanates

Cyclometallated palladium(II) azido complexes containing C,N,N- or C,N-donor ligands, [Pd(N(3))L](HL = 6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine or 2-phenylpyridyl derivatives), showed different reactivities toward organic isocyanides and isothiocyanates. In particular, aryl isocyanides (CN-Ar) underwent insertion into the orthometallated Pd-C bond on the phenyl moiety of the supporting ligand (L) in [Pd(N(3))L] or [Pd(N(3))(PR(3))L] to selectively give carbodiimido [[Pd(N=C=N-Ar)L]], imidoyl [[Pd(N(3))(-C=N-Ar)(PR(3))L]], or imidoyl carbodiimido complexes [[Pd(N=C=N-Ar)(-C=N-Ar)L] or [Pd(N=C=N-Ar)(-C=N-Ar)(PR(3))L]], depending on reaction conditions. Interestingly, reactions of [Pd(N(3))(PR(3))L] with organic isothiocyanates gave unusual dinuclear complexes [(micro-SCN(4)-R)PdL](2), exhibiting the concurrent S- and N-coordinating thio-tetrazole bridge.     

Architectural formation of a conjugated bimetallic Pd(II) complex via oxidative complexation and a tetracyclic Pd(II) complex via self-assembling complexation

The conjugated homobimetallic palladium(II) complex [(L1)Pd(qd)Pd(L1)] (qd = quinonediimine) was obtained in a one-pot reaction by the in-situ oxidative complexation of 1,4-phenylenediamine with the palladium(II) complex [(L1)Pd(MeCN)] (H2L1 = N,N'-bis(2-phenylethyl)-2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide) while in the absence of an additional ligand [(L1)Pd(MeCN)] was converted to the amide-bridged macrocyclic tetramer [Pd(L1)]4.     

Palladium catalyzed oxidation of monoterpenes: NMR study of palladium(II)-monoterpene interactions

Reactions of the monoterpenes β-pinene, limonene and myrcene with Pd(II) complexes in acetic acid solutions were studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Various π-allyl palladium complexes were detected in situ and their interaction with CuCl₂ has been investigated. The results clarify the mechanism of allylic oxidation of these substrates mediated by Pd(II)/Cu(II)-based catalytic systems. Originally introduced to regenerate reduced palladium species, CuCl₂ has been shown to play an important role in the formation and/or decomposition of key reaction intermediates - π-allyl palladium complexes. β-Pinene and myrcene readily react with Pd(OAc)₂ giving corresponding π-allyls, with two complexes acyclic and cyclic being formed from myrcene. On the other hand, the formation of π-allyl complexes from limonene occurs at a significant rate only in the presence of CuCl₂. NMR observations, including selective paramagnetic enhancement of spin-lattice relaxation, indicate that π-allyl palladium intermediates specifically interact with Cu(II) ions in the reaction solutions. Such interaction probably involves Cu(II) bonding to Pd(II) via bridging ligands, and seems to be responsible for the accelerative effect of CuCl₂ in the palladium catalyzed oxidation of the monoterpenes. Indeed, most of these reactions do not occur at all in the absence of CuCl₂.     

Factors Governing the Catalytic Insertion of CO2 into Arenes – A DFT Case Study for Pd and Pt Phosphane Sulfonamido Complexes

The potential of Pd/Pt complexes for catalytic carboxylation of arenes with CO₂ is investigated by means of computational chemistry. Recently we reported that the bis[(2-methoxyphenyl)phosphino]-benzenesulfonamido palladium complex 1 inserts CO₂ reversibly in its Pd−C(aryl) bond generating carboxylato complex 2 . In the present work we study how geometric and electronic factors of various ligands and substrates influence the overall activation barrier (energy span, ES) of a potential catalytic cycle for arene carboxylation comprising this elementary step. The tendency of the key intermediates to dimerize and thus deactivating the potential catalysts is examined as well as the role of the base, which inevitably is needed to stabilize the reaction product. We show that Pd and Pt complexes I(Pd) - L16 - S1 and I(Pt) - L16 - S1 do not dimerize, enable the computation of complete catalytic cycles, and show interestingly low ES values of 26.8 and 24.5 kcal/mol, respectively.     

A mechanistic study on modern palladium catalyst precursors as new gateways to Pd(0) in cationic Heck reactions

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used as a means to directly identify catalytic cationic organopalladium species in ligand-controlled Heck reactions involving electron-rich olefins and different Pd-sources. In these high-temperature Heck arylations, the oxidative addition intermediates were observed as bidentate ligand chelated cationic aryl palladium species, suggesting that the used ligand attaches to the metal center at the very beginning of the catalytic cycle. This was also in agreement with the obtained regioisomeric profile of the isolated products. The investigation supports the standard Pd(0)/Pd(II) Heck mechanism and provides further insight regarding the conceivable composition of fundamental Pd(II) intermediates in an ongoing Heck reaction.     

Synthetic, structural, and mechanistic aspects of an amine activation process mediated at a zwitterionic Pd(II) center

A zwitterionic palladium complex [[Ph(2)BP(2)]Pd(THF)(2)][OTf] (1) (where [Ph(2)BP(2)] = [Ph(2)B(CH(2)PPh(2))(2)](-)) reacts with trialkylamines to activate a C-H bond adjacent to the amine N atom, thereby producing iminium adduct complexes [Ph(2)BP(2)]Pd(N,C:eta(2)-NR(2)CHR'). In all cases examined the amine activation process is selective for the secondary C-H bond position adjacent to the N atom. These palladacycles undergo facile beta-hydride elimination/olefin reinsertion processes as evident from deuterium scrambling studies and chemical trap studies. The kinetics of the amine activation process was explored, and beta-hydride elimination appears to be the rate-limiting step. A large kinetic deuterium isotope effect for the amine activation process is evident. The reaction profile in less polar solvents such as benzene and toluene is different at room temperature and leads to dimeric [[Ph(2)BP(2)]Pd](2) (4) as the dominant palladium product. Low-temperature toluene-d(8) experiments proceed more cleanly, and intermediates assigned as [Ph(2)BP(2)]Pd(NEt(3))(OTf) and the iminium hydride species [[Ph(2)BP(2)]Pd(H)(Et(2)N=CHCH(3))][OTf] are directly observed. The complex (Ph(2)SiP(2))Pd(OTf)(2) (14) was also studied for amine activation and generates dimeric [(Ph(2)SiP(2))Pd](2)[OTf](2) (16) as the dominant palladium product. These collective data are discussed with respect to the mechanism of the amine activation and, in particular, the influence that solvent polarity and charge have on the overall reaction profile.     

Heterobimetallic complexes containing an N-heterocyclic carbene based multidentate ligand and catalyzed tandem click/Sonogashira reactions

Mono- and polynuclear complexes containing 3-(1,10-phenanthrolin-2-yl)-1-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)imidazolylidene (L), [NiL(2)](PF(6))(2) (2), [CoL(2)](PF(6))(3) (3), [PtLCl](PF(6)) (4), [PdAgL(2)](PF(6))(3) (5), [PdCuL(2)](PF(6))(3) (6), [Pd(2)L(2)Cl(2)](PF(6))(2) (7), and [Pd(3)L(2)Cl(4)](PF(6))(2) (8) have been prepared and fully characterized by NMR, ESI-MS spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. In complexes 2-4, the ligand binds to metals in a pincer NNC fashion with the pyridine group uncoordinated. Complexes 5 and 6 are isostructural to each other in which the palladium ions are surrounded by two pyridines and two imidazolylidenes and Ag(I) or Cu(I) is coordinated by two 1,10-phenanthroline moieties. In the trinuclear palladium complex 8, one palladium ion has an identical coordination mode as in 5 and 6, and the other two palladium ions are bonded to the 1,10-phenanthroline. Complex 6 exhibits excellent catalytic activity for the tandem click/Sonogashira reaction of 1-(bromomethyl)-4-iodobenzene, NaN(3), and ethynylbenzene in which three C-N bonds and one C-C bond are formed in a single flask.     

Transformation of carbonates into sulfones at the benzylic position via palladium-catalyzed benzylic substitution

[reaction: see text] The nucleophilic substitution of benzylic carbonates with sodium arenesulfinates was catalyzed by the palladium complex generated in situ from [Pd(eta(3)-C(3)H(5))Cl](2) and DPEphos [bis(2-diphenylphosphinophenyl)ether]. The catalytic reaction proceeded in DMSO at 80 degrees C and gave a variety of benzylic sulfones in high yields.     

Synthesis of aza-heterocycles from oximes by amino-Heck reaction

Oxidative addition of oximes to palladium(0) complexes generates alkylideneaminopalladium(II) species, which are utilized as key intermediates for carbon-nitrogen bond formation. Various aza-heterocycles, such as pyrrole, pyridine, isoquinoline, spiroimine, and azaazulene, can be synthesized from O-pentafluorobenzoyloximes having an olefinic moiety via an intramolecular Heck-type reaction (amino-Heck reaction) by treatment with a catalytic amount of a Pd(0) complex.     

Genesis of coordinatively unsaturated palladium complexes dissolved from solid precursors during Heck coupling reactions and their role as catalytically active species

The Forum Article critically summarizes investigations and discussions on the nature and role of potential active species in C-C coupling reactions of the Heck type using catalyst systems with "ligand-free" inorganic salts, simple inorganic complexes, and supported and nonsupported (colloidal) Pd particles. From a series of experiments and reports, it can be concluded that the "active species" is generated in situ in catalytic systems at higher temperature conditions (>100 degrees C). In all heterogeneous systems with solid Pd catalysts, Pd is dissolved from the solid catalyst surface under reaction conditions by a chemical reaction (complex formation and/or oxidative addition of the aryl halide), forming extremely active coordinatively unsaturated Pd species. Pd is partially or completely redeposited onto the support at the end of the reaction when the aryl halide is used up. The Pd dissolution-redeposition processes correlate with the reaction rate and are strongly influenced by the reaction conditions. Skilled preparation of the catalyst and careful adjustment of the reaction conditions allowed the development of highly active heterogeneous catalysts (Pd/C, Pd/metal oxide, and Pd/zeolite), converting aryl bromides and aryl chlorides in high yields and short reaction times. Reaction conditions have been developed allowing the conversion of bromobenzene with turnover numbers (TONs) of 10(7) and even of unreactive aryl chlorides (chlorobenzene and chlorotoluene) in high yields with simple "ligand-free" Pd catalyst systems like PdCl2 or Pd(OH)2 in the absence of any organic ligand. Simple coordinatively unsaturated anionic palladium halide (in particular, bromo) complexes [PdXn](m-) play a crucial role as precursor and active species in all ligand-free and heterogeneous catalyst systems and possibly in Heck reactions at all.