Recent Advances in the Development of Chiral Gold Complexes for Catalytic Asymmetric Catalysis

Asymmetric gold catalysis has been rapidly developed in the past ten years. Breakthroughs have been made by rational design and meticulous selection of chiral ligands. This review summarizes newly developed gold-catalyzed enantioselective organic transformations and recent progress in ligand design (since 2016), organized according to different types of chiral ligands, including bisphosphine ligands, monophosphine ligands, phosphite-derived ligands, and N-heterocyclic carbene ligands for asymmetric gold(I) catalysis as well as heterocyclic carbene ligands and oxazoline ligands for asymmetric gold(III) catalysis.     

New macrocycles derived from biphenyl for pH-switched solvent extraction

Four new fluorescent macrocyclic ligands derived from biphenyl are described. The new compounds have been used in liquid-liquid extraction experiments and the influence of pH has been studied in those ligands containing carboxylic groups. The results obtained for the latter ligands have been compared with those observed in the presence of an external acid.     

Recent advances with π-conjugated salen systems

Schiff base ligands have long been successfully employed as ligands in combination with various metals to give catalysts capable of realizing a variety of synthetic transformations. One of the most widely used Schiff base ligands, the "salen" ligand, has been extensively researched. Recently, there has been increased interest in π-conjugated salen systems, known as "salphen" ligands, as a result of the differences in reactivity of the complexes in catalytic applications compared with the salen analogues. Complexes of salphen ligands display interesting photophysical and supramolecular properties which are not always observed with salen systems as a result of their π-conjugation. This tutorial review therefore describes the most significant advances recently made with salphen and related π-conjugated ligand systems.     

σ-Acceptor, Z-type ligands for transition metals

The ability of Lewis acids to coordinate to transition metals as σ-acceptor ligands was recognized as early as in the 1970's, but so-called Z-type ligands remained curiosities until the early 2000's. Over the last decade, significant progress has been made in this area, especially via the incorporation of Lewis acid moieties into multidentate, ambiphilic ligands. Our understanding of the nature and influence of TM → Z interactions has considerably improved and the scope of Lewis acids susceptible to behave as σ-acceptor ligands has been significantly extended. This feature article summarizes these recent achievements.     

Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Featuring N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands Tagged with Isonicotinic and 4-(Dimethylamino)benzoic Acid Rests: Evaluation of a Modular Synthetic Strategy

A modular and flexible strategy towards the synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands bearing Brønsted base tags has been proposed and then adopted in the preparation of two tagged NHC ligands bearing rests of isonicotinic and 4-(dimethylamino)benzoic acids. Such tagged NHC ligands represent an attractive starting point for the synthesis of olefin metathesis ruthenium catalysts tagged in non-dissociating ligands. The influence of the Brønsted basic tags on the activity of such obtained olefin metathesis catalysts has been studied.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of the structure of mixed ligand shells stabilizing cadmium selenide nanoparticle surfaces with different curvatures

A full-atomic molecular dynamics simulation has been performed for a ligand shell of colloidal cadmium selenide quantum dots. Trioctylphosphine, trioctylphosphine oxide, octadecylphosphonic acid, and hexadecylamine have been used as ligands. For a mixture of the two former ligands, the effect of surface curvature on the fraction of surface ions of quantum dots bonded to ligands has been studied. It has been shown that, for particles with radii of 1.9 and 4.5 nm, every second and approximately third cadmium atom, respectively, is bonded to trioctylphosphine oxide. Partial introduction of octadecylphosphonic acid and hexadecylamine may increase the fraction of bonded surface atoms by more than two times.     

Azacrownlactams Derived from Biphenyl. Study of Their Conformations, Complexation Ability and Electrochemical Behavior

Several macrolactams containing in their structure biphenyl and pyridine moieties have been synthesized. The complexation ability of these compounds has been evaluated and the results have been explained considering the existence of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Conformational studies have been developed in some cases. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies have been carried out with one of the ligands. The electrochemical response of ligands 1 and 3 has been studied using cyclic and square wave voltammetry. The interaction of these ligands with Cu²⁺ ions in CH₃CN has been investigated by electrochemical techniques.     

Studies on Biologically Potent Tetraazamacrocyclic Complexes of Bivalent Tin

Fourteen- to eighteen-membered tetraamide macrocyclic ligands N 4 L 1 -N 4 L 4 have been prepared by the condensation of 1,2-diaminoethane or 1,3-diaminopropane with malonic or succinic acid in the presence of condensing reagents dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and 4-dimethylaminopyridine. On reduction, these macrocyclic ligands give a new series of tetraazamacrocycles MacL 1 -MacL 4 which form complexes with tin(II) chloride. The ligands and their complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight determinations, infrared and 1 H NMR spectral studies. The hexacoordinated state for tin has been confirmed by spectral studies. An octahedral geometry for these complexes has been proposed as the binding sites are the nitrogen atoms of the macrocycles. On the basis of the chemical composition the representation of the complexes as [Sn(MacL n )Cl 2 ] (n = 1-4) has been established. The ligands and their complexes also have been screened for their antifungal and antibacterial activities and the findings have been reported and explained.     

On Stabilization of Colloidal Quantum Dots of Cadmium Selenide in the Presence of Octadecylphosphonic Acid

Classical molecular dynamics has been used to study the stabilization of colloidal quantum dots of CdSe with n-octadecylphosphonic acid molecules in combination with different auxiliary ligands, such as trioctylphosphine, trioctylphosphine oxide, and hexadecylamine. The effects of different ligands that may be formed due to interactions of n-octadecylphosphonic acid with CdO and Se in an initial mixture have been considered. It has been shown that, among these ligands, the stabilizing effect increases with a rise in the charge of a ligand per n-octadecyl chain. The role of the auxiliary ligands, e.g. octadecene that devoid of functional groups, has been studied.     

4,4′-Substituted biphenyl coronands. Preparation of a new selective fluorescent sensor for mercury salts

Six new 4,4′-substituted biphenyl coronands have been prepared. The ligands containing dimethylamino groups in the biphenyl moiety have been used in transition metal cations’ complexation and one of them (3) has demonstrated to be a selective fluorescent sensor for mercury. Stoichiometries of the formed complexes and complexation constants have been determined by titration experiments. In addition, the extractant ability of some ligands has also been studied. Finally, the electrochemical properties of some of these ligands are also described.     

Copper complexes of thiosemicarbazone-pyridylhydrazine (THYNIC) hybrid ligands: a new versatile potential bifunctional chelator for copper radiopharmaceuticals

Two new thiosemicarbazone-pyridylhydrazine (THYNIC) hybrid ligands have been synthesized. Copper(II) and copper(I) complexes of the ligands have been prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Cyclic voltammetry measurements show that the copper(II) complexes undergo quasi-reversible reductions at biologically accessible potentials. One of the ligands, bearing a pendant carboxylate arm, has been conjugated to N-alpha-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-L-lysine.     

Amino thiols versus amino alcohols in the asymmetric alkynylzinc addition to aldehydes

A series of modular amino thiol and amino alcohol ligands have been synthesized in enantiopure form from common enantiopure precursors. Their structures have been optimized for performance in the asymmetric alkynylzinc addition to aldehydes, and a direct comparison of the effect of the S and O coordinating atoms on the catalytic outcome of these ligands has been performed. Amino thiols have shown to be superior as ligands for this type of chemistry.     

Tetrathiafulvalene crowns: redox-switchable ligands

A series of redox-responsive ligands that associate the electroactive tetrathiafulvalene core with polyether subunits of various lengths has been synthesized. X-ray structures are provided for each of the free ligands. The requisite structural criteria for reaching switchable ligands are satisfied for the largest macrocycles, that is, planarity of the 1,1',3,3'-tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) pi system and correctly oriented coordinating atoms. The ability of these ligands to recognize various metal cations as a function of the cavity size has been investigated by various techniques (LSIMS, 1H NMR, and UV/Vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry). These systems exhibit an unprecedented high coordination ability among TTF crown ethers. Their switchable ligating properties have been confirmed by cyclic voltammetry, and metal-cation complexation has been illustrated by X-ray structures of three of the corresponding metal complexes (Pb2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+). Solid-state structures of these complexes display original packing modes with channel-like arrangements.     

Synthesis of chiral sulfinamido-sulfonamides and their evaluation as ligands for the enantioselective ethylation of aldehydes

A family of chiral sulfinamido-sulfonamide ligands have been synthesized from sulfinimines and has been evaluated as ligands for the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes with Ti(OⁱPr)₄. The structure of these diamino compounds has been systematically modified to optimize the results.     

Enantioselective sensing of dicarboxylates. Influence of the stoichiometry of the complexes on the sensing mechanism

Two new cyclohexane-based thiourea chiral ligands have been synthesized in their enantiomerically pure forms. Both the ability of these ligands in the complexation of chiral dicarboxylates and their sensing properties have been studied. The influence of the stoichiometry of the formed complexes on the fluorescent properties of the systems has been established. The effect of additional substitution in the cyclohexyl moiety was considered by comparing the properties of the newly prepared ligands with those of similar compounds previously described.     

Synthesis and characterization of new chiral palladium β-diimine complexes

The synthesis and characterization of a range of chiral β-diimine ligands and their complexes with palladium(II) has been investigated. The introduction of chirality can be easily achieved through a combination of both achiral and chiral building blocks. The absolute configuration of the stereochemical centers has been determined. In addition, representative X-ray structures of both ligands and complexes have been determined.     

Systematic enumeration of nonrigid isomers with given ligand symmetries

A new method for enumerating nonrigid isomers with rotatable ligands has been developed so as to take the symmetries of the ligands into consideration. The method has been based on extended partial cycle indices and has been applied to the enumeration of methyl ether derivatives, tetramethylallene derivatives, and 2,2-dimethylpropane derivatives. These results have been compared with the enumeration results of the corresponding promolecules. The factorization of terms in generating functions has been discussed so that the new method is capable of examining the relationship between promolecules and molecules quantitatively.     

Niobium (V) peroxocomplexes as a catalyst of oxidation of methylphenylsulphide by hydroperoxide

The electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) method has been used for determination of the structure of niobium peroxocomplexes. The formation of mono- and bisperoxocomplexes has been established. These complexes contain Schiff bases and 8-quinolinol as ligands. Trisperoxocomplexes are formed when pyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline are used. Peroxocomplexes with Schiff bases as ligands has shown a high activity as catalysts in the methylphenylsulphide oxidation.     

The design and synthesis of novel IBiox N-heterocyclic carbene ligands derived from substituted amino-indanols

A synthetic route towards a number of novel IBiox N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands has been developed. The resulting ligands have restricted flexibility and high steric demand. Preliminary studies have shown these ligands to give high levels of asymmetric induction in the copper-free allylic alkylation of cinnamyl bromide.     

d9配合物MOSE曲面和几何构型的研究

d~9电子构型的金属离子所形成的配合物几何构型一般为拉长八面体或平面正方形,晶体场理论和角重叠模型都对此作出了较满意的描述,但就该电子构型的中心离子与指定配体配位时易形成配合物的配位数、配体所处的位置等问题,至今尚无满意解释.本文通过分子轨道稳定化能(MOSE)的计算及其曲面的绘制,形象地解释了上述问题.