Pivaloylmetals (tBu-COM: M = Li, MgX, K) as equilibrium components

Short-lived pivaloylmetals, (H(3)C)(3)C-COM, were established as the reactive intermediates arising through thermal heterolytic expulsion of O=CtBu(2) from the overcrowded metal alkoxides tBuC(=O)-C(-OM)tBu(2) (M = MgX, Li, K). In all three cases, this fission step is counteracted by a faster return process, as shown through the trapping of tBu-COM by O=C(tBu)-C(CD(3))(3) with formation of the deuterated starting alkoxides. If generated in the absence of trapping agents, all three tBu-COM species "dimerize" to give the enediolates MO-C(tBu)=C(tBu)-OM along with O=CtBu(2) (2?equiv). A common-component rate depression by surplus O=CtBu(2) proves the existence of some free tBu-COM (separated from O=CtBu(2)); but companion intermediates with the traits of an undissociated complex such as tBu-COM & O=CtBu(2) had to be postulated. The slow fission step generating tBu-COMgX in THF levels the overall rates of dimerization, ketone addition, and deuterium incorporation. Formed by much faster fission steps, both tBu-COLi and tBu-COK add very rapidly to ketones and dimerize somewhat slower (but still fairly fast, as shown through trapping of the emerging O=CtBu(2) by H(3)CLi or PhCH(2)K, respectively). At first sight surprisingly, the rapid fission, return, and dimerization steps combine to very slow overall decay rates of the precursor Li and K alkoxides in the absence of trapping agents: A detailed study revealed that the fast fission step, generating tBu-COLi in THF, is followed by a kinetic partitioning that is heavily biased toward return and against the product-forming dimerization. Both tBu-COLi and tBu-COK form tBu-CH=O with HN(SiMe(3))(3), but only tBu-COK is basic enough for being protonated by the precursor acyloin tBuC(=O)-C(-OH)tBu(2) .     

Synthesis and Ligand Properties of a Persistent,All‐Carbon Four‐Membered‐Ring Allene

A single donor substituent at each terminus is sufficient to make the CCC skeleton of allenes very flexible and give carbon(0) character to the central carbon atom. This allows the synthesis of a four‐membered carbocyclic allene, which can be doubly protonated and behaves as a very strong η¹‐donor ligand for transition metals (see scheme).

     

Introducing a Hydrogen‐Bond Donor into a Weakly Nucleophilic Brønsted Base: Alkali Metal Hexamethyldisilazides (MHMDS,M=Li,Na, K,Rb and Cs) with Ammonia

Alkali metal 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexamethyldisilazide (MHMDSs) are one of the most utilised weakly nucleophilic Brønsted bases in synthetic chemistry and especially in natural product synthesis. Like lithium organics, they aggregate depending on the employed donor solvents. Thus, they show different reactivity and selectivity as a function of their aggregation and solvation state. To date, monomeric LiHMDS with monodentate donor bases was only characterised in solution. Since the first preparation of LiHMDS in 1959 by Wannagat and Niederprüm, all efforts to crystallise monomeric LiHMDS in the absence of chelating ligands failed. Herein, we present ammonia adducts of LiHMDS, NaHMDS, KHMDS, RbHMDS and CsHMDS with unprecedented aggregation motifs: 1) The hitherto missing monomeric key compound in the LiHMDS aggregation architectures. Monomeric crystal structures of trisolvated LiHMDS ( 1 ) and NaHMDS ( 2 ), showing unique intermolecular hydrogen bonds, 2) the unprecedented tetrasolvated KHMDS ( 3 ) and RbHMDS ( 4 ) dimers and 3) the disolvated CsHMDS ( 5 ) dimer with very close intermolecular Si?CH₃???Cs s‐block “agostic” interactions have been prepared and characterised by single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis.     

Electrons Mediate the Gas‐Phase Oxidation of Formic Acid with Ozone

Gas‐phase reactions of CO₃^.? with formic acid are studied using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT‐ICR) mass spectrometry. Signal loss indicates the release of a free electron, with the formation of neutral reaction products. This is corroborated by adding traces of SF₆ to the reaction gas, which scavenges 38 % of the electrons. Quantum chemical calculations of the reaction potential energy surface provide a reaction path for the formation of neutral carbon dioxide and water as the thermochemically favored products. From the literature, it is known that free electrons in the troposphere attach to O₂, which in turn transfer the electron to O₃. O₃^.? reacts with CO₂ to form CO₃^.?. The reaction reported here formally closes the catalytic cycle for the oxidation of formic acid with ozone, catalyzed by free electrons.     

Stability and Unimolecular Reactivity of Palladate(II) Complexes [LnPdR3]− (L=Phosphine,R=Organyl,n=0 and 1)

The reduction of Pd^II precatalysts to catalytically active Pd⁰ species is a key step in many palladium‐mediated cross‐coupling reactions. Besides phosphines, the stoichiometrically used organometallic reagents can afford this reduction, but do so in a poorly understood way. To elucidate the mechanism of this reaction, we have treated solutions of Pd(OAc)₂ and a phosphine ligand L in tetrahydrofuran with RMgCl (R=Ph, Bn, Bu) as well as other organometallic reagents. Analysis of these model systems by electrospray‐ ionization mass spectrometry found palladate(II) complexes [L_nPdR₃]^? (n=0 and 1), thus pointing to the occurrence of transmetallation reactions. Upon gas‐phase fragmentation, the [L_nPdR₃]^? anions preferentially underwent a reductive elimination to yield Pd⁰ species. The sequence of the transmetallation and reductive elimination, thus, constitutes a feasible mechanism for the reduction of the Pd(OAc)₂ precatalyst. Other species of interest observed include the Pd^IV complex [PdBn₅]^?, which did not fragment via a reductive elimination but lost BnH instead.     

Lessons in Strain and Stability: Enantioselective Synthesis of (+)‐[5]‐Ladderanoic Acid

The synthesis of structurally complex and highly strained natural products provides unique challenges and unexpected opportunities for the development of new reactions and strategies. Herein, the synthesis of (+)‐[5]‐ladderanoic acid is reported. En route to the target, unusual and unexpected strain release driven transformations were uncovered. This occurrence required a drastic revision of the synthetic design that ultimately led to the development of a novel stepwise cyclobutane assembly by an allylboration/Zweifel olefination sequence.     

Formation and Evolution of Chain‐Propagating Species Upon Ethylene Polymerization with Neutral Salicylaldiminato Nickel(II) Catalysts

Formation of Ni–polymeryl propagating species upon the interaction of three salicylaldiminato nickel(II) complexes of the type [(N,O)Ni(CH₃)(Py)] (where (N,O)=salicylaldimine ligands, Py=pyridine) with ethylene (C₂H₄/Ni=10:30) has been studied by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Typically, the ethylene/catalyst mixtures in [D₈]toluene were stored for short periods of time at +60 °C to generate the [(N,O)Ni(polymeryl)] species, then quickly cooled, and the NMR measurements were conducted at ?20 °C. At that temperature, the [(N,O)Ni(polymeryl)] species are stable for days; diffusion ¹H NMR measurements provide an estimate of the average length of polymeryl chain (polymeryl=(C₂H₄)_nH, n=6–18). At high ethylene consumptions, the [(N,O)Ni(polymeryl)] intermediates decline, releasing free polymer chains and yielding [(N,O)Ni(Et)(Py)] species, which also further decompose to form the ultimate catalyst degradation product, a paramagnetic [(N,O)₂Ni(Py)] complex. In [(N,O)₂Ni(Py)], the pyridine ligand is labile (with activation energy for its dissociation of (12.3±0.5) kcal mol^?1, ΔH^≠₂₉₈=(11.7±0.5) kcal mol^?1, ΔS^≠₂₉₈ =(?7±1) cal K^?1 mol^?1). Upon the addition of nonpolar solvent (pentane), the pyridine ligand is lost completely to yield the crystals of diamagnetic [(N,O)₂Ni] complex. NMR spectroscopic analysis of the polyethylenes formed suggests that the evolution of chain‐propagating species ends up with formation of polyethylene with predominately internal and terminal vinylene groups rather than vinyl groups.     

MAlH4(M=Li,Na)储氢材料*

氢能是一种新型的清洁能源,有望替代碳经济,而氢的储存是氢能应用的关键。近年来,研究集中在具有储氢容量高和可逆性好等优点的固态储氢材料上。许多新型储氢材料不断出现,其中以MAlH₄(M=Li, Na)为代表的金属复合氢化物体系被认为是最有前景的储氢材料之一。本文综述了MAlH₄(M=Li, Na)作为可逆储氢材料的研究现状,主要从吸放氢反应、储氢性能、反应机理、理论计算和存在的问题等方面进行了讨论,并指出其相关发展趋势。     

Breslow Intermediates from Aromatic N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes (Benzimidazolin‐2‐ylidenes,Thiazolin‐2‐ylidenes)

We report the first generation and characterization of elusive Breslow intermediates derived from aromatic N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), namely benzimidazolin‐2‐ylidenes (NMR, X‐ray analysis) and thiazolin‐2‐ylidenes (NMR). In the former case, the diamino enols were generated by reaction of the free N,N‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐ and N,N‐bis(mesityl)‐substituted benzimidazolin‐2‐ylidenes with aldehydes while the dimer of 3,4,5‐trimethylthiazolin‐2‐ylidene served as the starting material in the latter case. The unambiguous NMR identification of the first thiazolin‐2‐ylidene‐based Breslow intermediate rests on double ¹³C labeling of both the NHC and the aldehyde component. The acyl anion reactivity was confirmed by benzoin formation with excess aldehyde.     

Long‐Lived Trifluoromethanide Anion: A Key Intermediate in Nucleophilic Trifluoromethylations

The trifluoromethanide anion is the postulated key intermediate in nucleophilic trifluoromethylation reactions. However, for more than six decades, the trifluoromethanide anion was widely believed to exist only as a short‐lived transient species in the condensed phase. It has now been prepared in bulk for the first time in THF solution. The trifluoromethanide anion with the [K(18‐crown‐6)]⁺ cation was unequivocally characterized by low‐temperature ¹⁹F and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Its intermediacy in nucleophilic trifluoromethylation reactions was directly evident by its reaction chemistry with various electrophilic substrates. Variable‐temperature NMR spectroscopy, along with quantum mechanical calculations, support the persistence of the trifluoromethanide anion.     

Hydroxyl Radical Generation and DNA Nuclease Activity: A Mechanistic Study Based on a Surface‐Immobilized Copper Thioether Clip‐Phen Derivative

Coordination compounds of copper have been invoked as major actors in processes involving the reduction of molecular oxygen, mostly with the generation of radical species the assignment for which has, so far, not been fully addressed. In the present work, we have carried out studies in solution and on surfaces to gain insights into the nature of the radical oxygen species (ROS) generated by a copper(II) coordination compound containing a thioether clip‐phen derivative, 1,3‐bis(1,10‐phenanthrolin‐2‐yloxy)‐N‐(4‐(methylthio)benzylidene)propan‐2‐amine (2CP‐Bz‐SMe), enabling its adsorption/immobilization to gold surfaces. Whereas surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and electrochemistry of the adsorbed complex indicated the formation of a dimeric Cu^I intermediate containing molecular oxygen as a bridging ligand, scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and nuclease assays pointed to the generation of a ROS species. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) data reinforced such conclusions, indicating that radical production was dependent on the amount of oxygen and H₂O₂, thus pointing to a mechanism involving a Fenton‐like reaction that results in the production of OH^..     

Synthesis of Aminopyridines and Aminopyridones by Cobalt‐Catalyzed [2+2+2] Cycloadditions Involving Yne‐Ynamides: Scope,Limitations, and Mechanistic Insights

An in‐depth study of the cobalt‐catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition between yne‐ynamides and nitriles to afford aminopyridines has been carried out. About 30 nitriles exhibiting a broad range of steric demand and electronic properties have been evaluated, some of which open new perspectives in metal‐catalyzed arene formation. In particular, the use of [CpCo(CO)(dmfu)] (dmfu=dimethyl fumarate) as a precatalyst made possible the incorporation of electron‐deficient nitriles into the pyridine core. Modification of the substitution pattern at the yne‐ynamide allows the regioselectivity to be switched toward 3‐ or 4‐aminopyridines. Application of this synthetic methodology to the construction of the aminopyridone framework using a yne‐ynamide and an isocyanate was also briefly examined. DFT computations suggest that 3‐aminopyridines are formed by formal [4+2] cycloaddition between the nitrile and the intermediate cobaltacyclopentadiene, whereas 4‐aminopyridines arise from an insertion pathway.     

Metal‐Promoted Nucleophilic Addition and Cyclization of Diamines with Dicyanonitrosomethanide, [C(CN)2(NO)]−

Additional cyclization : Dicyanonitrosomethanide, [C(CN)₂(NO)]^? undergoes nucleophilic addition and cyclization of 1,2‐diaminoethane and 1,3‐diaminopropane on the nitrile groups to form imidazolinyl and 1,4,5,6‐tetrahydropyrimidinyl groups, respectively. Ethanolamine has lower reactivity and fails to cyclize.

     

Differences and Commonalities in the Gas‐Phase Reactions of Closed‐Shell Metal Dioxide Clusters [MO2]+ (M=V,Nb, and Ta) with Methane

High‐level electronic structure calculations, in combination with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT‐ICR) mass spectrometric studies, permit the mechanism by which closed‐shell, “naked” [TaO₂]⁺ brings about C?H bond activation of methane to be revealed. These studies also help to understand why the lighter congeners of [MO₂]⁺ (M=V, Nb) are unreactive under ambient conditions.