F-block N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) can bind as two-electron sigma-donor ligands to lanthanide and actinide metal cations. In this review we summarise how the incorporation of an anionic group (alkoxide or amido), to form heterobidentate NHC ligands, allows the synthesis of a range of f-block NHC adducts. The tethering group also allows the lability of the NHC group, and its subsequent reactivity, to be studied. We include a brief survey of the known, structurally characterised f-element-NHC bond distances, and a range of substrates that react to displace the metal-bound NHC group.     

Carbohydrate-containing N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

Novel carbohydrate bearing imidazolium salts have been synthesized and used for the in situ generation of the corresponding N-heterocyclic carbenes. These compounds were successfully used as catalysts of the conjugate umpolung of cinnamaldehyde to form γ-butyrolactones. In addition, silver and palladium complexes of these N-heterocyclic carbenes were synthesized and structurally characterized.     

N-heterocyclic carbene catalysed aerobic oxidation of aromatic aldehydes to aryl esters using boronic acids

The organocatalytic behavior of N-heterocyclic carbenes in the aerobic oxidation of aromatic aldehydes to esters with boronic acids has been explored. This transition metal-free protocol allows access to a wide variety of aromatic esters in good to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions.     

Magnesium amido N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

Magnesium dications bind strongly to a tridentate anionic dicarbene ligand L = [N{CH(2)CH(2)(CNCHCHNMes)}(2)] forming dinuclear and trinuclear Mg complexes with some particularly short Mg-C bonds. Treatment of the proligand H(4)LCl(3) with three equivalents of methyl magnesium chloride or benzyl magnesium chloride affords Mg(3)(HL)Cl(6) in high yield. A suspension of in thf was heated to 80 degrees C for 2 h to afford Mg(2)(L)Cl(3), consistent with the loss of one equivalent of MgCl(2), and the deprotonation of the remaining acidic NH, lost as HCl gas. Treatment of Mg(3)(HL)Cl(6) with one equivalent of KC(8) results in deprotonation of the ligand amine NH to afford Mg(3)(L)Cl(5); treatment with a second equivalent forms the radical anion of the complex, K[Mg(3)(L)Cl(5)], which decomposes upon storage, precluding its structural characterisation. The acidic NH proton of the ligand in Mg(3)(HL)Cl(6) can also be removed by deprotonation with Li{N(SiMe(3))(2)}; additional equivalents of which also exchange the magnesium-bound chlorides for silylamido ligands, affording Mg(2)(L)Cl(2)N' and Mg(2)(L)Cl(N')(2), which have both been characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Bent metal carbene geometries in amido N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

Lithium(I) and uranium(VI) amido-tethered Bu(t)-substituted N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes exhibit very distorted metal-carbene bonds; the corresponding magnesium(II) and mesityl-substituted NHC uranium(VI) complexes are undistorted; the distortion does not affect the ligand binding strength, suggesting a dominance of electrostatic character in closed-shell electropositive metal-carbene bonds.     

Preparation of Ti(IV) fluoride N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

1,3,4,5-Tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene (L(Me)) and 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene (L(iPr )) readily form complexes of trans-TiF4(L(Me))2 (1) and of trans-TiF4(L(iPr))2 (4) with TiF4 in THF, respectively. Complex 1 has been used as a precursor for preparing the Ti(IV) fluoride carbene complexes [{TiF2(L(Me))(NEt 2)}2(mu-F)2] (2) and (TiF4(L(Me))2)(NacNacLi) (3) (NacNac = HC(CMeN(2,6- iPr2C6H3))2). Complex 2 was prepared from the reaction of 1-3 equiv of 1 and 1 equiv of Ti(NEt2)4 or by reacting TiF4 with Ti(NEt2)4 and L(Me) in toluene. Complex 3 has been prepared from 1 and NacNacLi in toluene. Reaction of 1 and AlMe3 in toluene results in ligand transfer and formation of AlMe3(L(Me)). Complex 4 is unstable in solution at room temperature and degrades with formation of [HL(iPr)][TiF5(L(iPr))] (5). Complexes 1, 2.2CH2Cl2, 4, and 5 were characterized by single crystal X-ray structural analysis, elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The relative basicities of L(Me), L (iPr), and the donor ligands THF, pyridine, DMSO, and H2O as well as [Cl](-) and [F](-) toward the Ti(IV) pentafluoride anion were established by NMR and confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. L(Me) and L(iPr ) are more basic than the mentioned molecular donors and more basic than chloride, however less basic than fluoride.     

Synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene rhenium(I) carbonyl complexes

Reaction of aminophosphinimine [RHN(CH(2))(2)N[double bond, length as m-dash]PPh(3)] (R = H, Et) with Re(2)(CO)(10) provided the NH-functionalized carbene rhenium complex [Re(2)(CNHCH(2)CH(2)NR)(CO)(9)] (3a, R = H, 3b, R = Et). Treatment of 3 with Br(2) provided the mono nuclear [Re(CNHCH(2)CH(2)NR)(CO)(4)Br] (1, R = H, 2, R = Et). However, NH-functionalized carbene complexes 1-3 did not undergo N-alkylation with alkyl halides to yield the N-substituted NHC complexes. The direct ligand substitution of [Re(CO)(5)Br] with a carbene donor was employed to prepare [Re(IMes(2))(CO)(4)Br] (6a, IMes(2) = 1,3-di-mesitylimidazol-2-ylidene; 6b, IMes(2) = 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene). Analyses of spectroscopic and crystal data of 6a and 6b show similar corresponding data among these complexes, suggesting the saturated and unsaturated NHCs have similar bonding with Re(I) metal centers. Reduction of 6a and 6b with LiEt(3)BH yielded the corresponding hydrido complexes 7a-b [ReH(CO)(4)(IMes(2))], but not 1 and 2. Ligand substitution of 1, 6a and 6b toward 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) was investigated. Crystal structures of 1, 3a-b, 6a-b and 7b were determined for characterization and comparison.     

Facile synthesis of metal N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

A novel electrochemical procedure for the preparation of metal complexes of N-heterocyclic carbenes using imidazolium salts or corresponding silver-NHC complexes as carbene sources and electrolytes, and metal plates as the sacrificial anodes is described. The procedure is simple and good yielding without the use of expensive or air-sensitive reagents.     

4-Vinylbenzyl-substituted silver(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes and ruthenium(II) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: synthesis and transfer hydrogenation of ketones

4-Vinylbenzyl-substituted Ag(I) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes and Ru(II) NHC complexes have been synthesized. The Ag(I) complexes were synthesized from the imidazolium salts and Ag₂O in dichloromethane at room temperature. The Ru(II) complexes were prepared from Ag(I) NHC complexes by transmetallation. The six 4-Vinylbenzyl-substituted Ag(I) NHC complexes and six 4-Vinylbenzyl-substituted Ru(II) NHC complexes have been characterized by spectroscopic techniques and elemental analyses. The Ru(II) NHC complexes show catalytic activity for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones.     

Mixed N-heterocycles/N-heterocyclic carbene palladium(II) allyl complexes as precatalysts for direct arylation of azoles with aryl bromides

A series of mixed N-heterocycles/N-heterocyclic carbene palladium(II) allyl complexes with general formula [(NHC)Pd(η³-allyl)]₂(μ₂-N-heterocycles)(BF₄)₂ were prepared in one pot based on anion metathesis of (NHC)Pd(η³-allyl)Cl complexes and then ligand replacement with N-heterocycles [N-heterocycles?=?pyrazine (pyz), 4,4′-bipyridine (bpy) and trans-4,4′-bipyridylethylene (bpe)]. The solid-state structures shown dinuclear structures with two palladium(II) centers holding together by bridged N-heterocycles. Initially investigation of the obtained complexes as precatalysts for direct CH bond arylation of azoles with aryl bromides was carried out.     

Copper complexes of nitrogen-anchored tripodal N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

Incorporation of a nitrogen functionality into a tripodal N-heterocyclic carbene ligand system affords the first N-anchored tetradentate tris-carbene ligands TIMEN(R) (R = Me (5a), t-Bu (5b), Bz (5c)). Treatment of the methyl derivatized [H(3)TIMEN(Me)](PF(6))(3) imidazolium salt (H(3)5a) with silver oxide yields the silver complex [(TIMEN(Me))(2)Ag(3)](PF(6))(3) (9), which, in a ligand transfer reaction, reacts with copper(I) bromide to give the trinuclear copper(I) complex [(TIMEN(Me))(2)Cu(3)](PF(6))(3) (10). Deprotonation of the tert-butyl and benzyl derivatives [H(3)TIMEN(t-Bu)](PF(6))(3) and [H(3)TIMEN(Bz)](PF(6))(3) yields the free tris-carbenes TIMEN(t-Bu) (5b) and TIMEN(Bz) (5c), which react readily with copper(I) salts to give mononuclear complexes [(TIMEN(t-Bu))Cu](PF(6)) (11b) and [(TIMEN(Bz))Cu]Br (11c). The solid-state structures of 10, 11b, and 11c were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. While the TIMEN(Me) ligand yields trinuclear complex 10, with both T-shaped three-coordinate and linear two-coordinate copper(I) centers, the TIMEN(t-Bu) and TIMEN(Bz) ligands induce mononuclear complexes 11b and 11c, rendering the cuprous ion in a trigonal planar ligand environment of three carbenoid carbon centers and an additional, weak axial nitrogen interaction. Complexes 11b and 11c exhibit reversible one-electron redox events at half-wave potentials of 110 and -100 mV vs Fc/Fc(+), respectively, indicating sufficient electronic and structural flexibility of both TIMEN(R) ligands (R = t-Bu, Bz) to stabilize copper(I) and copper(II) oxidation states. Accordingly, a copper(II) NHC complex, [(TIMEN(Bz))Cu](OTf)(2) (12), was synthesized. Paramagnetic complex 12 was characterized by elemental analysis, EPR spectroscopy, and SQUID magnetization measurements.     

Synthesis and reactivity of alkyl-palladium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

The transamination of alkyl-palladium halide N-heterocyclic carbene complexes has enabled the isolation of products that reveal interesting insights into the factors which might be barriers to the development of a palladium-catalysed alkyl-amination reaction.     

Stable nitridorhenium(V) complexes with an N-heterocyclic carbene

Nitridorhenium(V) complexes with the nucleophilic cyclocarbene 1,3,4-triphenyl-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene have been synthesised and are the first representatives of a new class of high-valent metallocarbenes.     

Vanadium(II) complexes of aromatic diamines

The new vanadium(II) complexes [V(opd)₄]X₂ and [V(mopd)₄]X₂, where opd = o-phenylenediamine, mopd = 4-methyl-o-phenylenediamine, and X = Cl or Br, have been prepared by reaction of the aromatic diamine with the vanadium(II) halide in EtOH. Magnetic measurements suggest that these contain octahedral vanadium(II) complex cations, and this is confirmed by the diffuse reflectance spectra. I.r. spectra suggest that the [V(opd)₄]²⁺ cations contain two bidentate and two monodentate diamine ligands.     

Efficient synthesis of benzofuranones: N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)/base-catalyzed hydroacylation-Stetter-rearrangement cascade

A N-heterocyclic carbene/base-catalyzed cascade reaction leading to the formation of functionalized benzofuranones is reported. The reaction proceeds via an intramolecular hydroacylation of unactivated alkynes followed by an intermolecular Stetter reaction and a base-catalyzed chromanone to benzofuranone rearrangement.     

Titanium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes incorporating an imidazolium-linked bis(phenol)

The synthesis and characterization of titanium complexes of the aryloxido-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene ligand (L) is reported, in which the tridentate L ligand meridionally coordinates to the metal center.     

A general synthetic route to mixed NHC-phosphane palladium(0) complexes (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene)

Mixed NHC-phosphane palladium(0) complexes [(NHC)Pd(PR(3))] (NHC: N-heterocyclic carbene) are synthesized directly from commercially available reagents, with the possibility to tune the nature of both the NHC and the phosphane. Reaction of [(NHC)Pd(allyl)Cl] (palladium source) and PR(3), in the presence of a base afforded, in isopropanol, [(NHC)Pd(PR(3))] in good yields. We found that the nature of the solvent played a key role in the efficient reduction of the Pd(II) precursor to Pd(0). Supported by experimental evidence we propose that the reduction step is driven by the isopropoxide anion formed in situ from isopropanol and a base. Detection of acetone in the reaction mixture confirms that the isopropoxide anion acts as the reducing agent. Moreover, different bases proved efficient for the reaction. The structures of the complexes were unambiguously confirmed by X-ray analysis. Exposure of these complexes to air does not lead to decomposition, but to the oxo-complex [(NHC)Pd(PR(3))(O(2))], which is stable both in the solid state and in solution.     

Synthesis and reactivity of triethylborane adduct of N-heterocyclic carbene: versatile synthons for synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

The reaction of an imidazolium salt with LiBEt(3)H afforded triethylborane adduct of imidazol-2-ylidene, which can act as a carbene precursor for the synthesis of a transition metal complex as well as a main group element complex.