Multiple Reaction Pathways in Rhodium‐Catalyzed Hydrosilylations of Ketones

A detailed density functional theory (DFT) computational study (using the BP86/SV(P) and B3LYP/TZVP//BP86/SV(P) level of theory) of the rhodium‐catalyzed hydrosilylation of ketones has shown three mechanistic pathways to be viable. They all involve the generation of a cationic complex [L_nRh^I]⁺ stabilized by the coordination of two ketone molecules and the subsequent oxidative addition of the silane, which results in the Rh–silyl intermediates [L_nRh^III(H)SiHMe₂]⁺. However, they differ in the following reaction steps: in two of them, insertion of the ketone into the Rh? Si bond occurs, as previously proposed by Ojima et al., or into the Si? H bond, as proposed by Chan et al. for dihydrosilanes. The latter in particular is characterized by a very high activation barrier associated with the insertion of the ketone into the Si? H bond, thereby making a new, third mechanistic pathway that involves the formation of a silylene intermediate more likely. This “silylene mechanism” was found to have the lowest activation barrier for the rate‐determining step, the migration of a rhodium‐bonded hydride to the ketone that is coordinated to the silylene ligand. This explains the previously reported rate enhancement for R₂SiH₂ compared to R₃SiH as well as the inverse kinetic isotope effect (KIE) observed experimentally for the overall catalytic cycle because deuterium prefers to be located in the stronger bond, that is, C? D versus M? D.     

Proton Order–Disorder Phenomena in a Hydrogen‐Bonded Rhodium–η5‐Semiquinone Complex: A Possible Dielectric Response Mechanism

A newly synthesized one‐dimensional (1D) hydrogen‐bonded (H‐bonded) rhodium(II)–η⁵‐semiquinone complex, [Cp*Rh(η⁵‐p‐HSQ‐Me₄)]PF₆ ([ 1 ]PF₆; Cp*=1,2,3,4,5‐pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; HSQ=semiquinone) exhibits a paraelectric–antiferroelectric second‐order phase transition at 237.1 K. Neutron and X‐ray crystal structure analyses reveal that the H‐bonded proton is disordered over two sites in the room‐temperature (RT) phase. The phase transition would arise from this proton disorder together with rotation or libration of the Cp* ring and PF₆^? ion. The relative permittivity ε_b′ along the H‐bonded chains reaches relatively high values (ca., 130) in the RT phase. The temperature dependence of ¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectra demonstrates that the proton is dynamically disordered in the RT phase and that the proton exchange has already occurred in the low‐temperature (LT) phase. Rate constants for the proton exchange are estimated to be 10^?4–10^?6 s in the temperature range of 240–270 K. DFT calculations predict that the protonation/deprotonation of [ 1 ]⁺ leads to interesting hapticity changes of the semiquinone ligand accompanied by reduction/oxidation by the π‐bonded rhodium fragment, producing the stable η⁶‐hydroquinone complex, [Cp*Rh³⁺(η⁶‐p‐H₂Q‐Me₄)]²⁺ ([ 2 ]²⁺), and η⁴‐benzoquinone complex, [Cp*Rh⁺(η⁴‐p‐BQ‐Me₄)] ([ 3 ]), respectively. Possible mechanisms leading to the dielectric response are discussed on the basis of the migration of the protonic solitons comprising of [ 2 ]²⁺ and [ 3 ], which would be generated in the H‐bonded chain.     

Mechanistic Insights into the Substrate‐Controlled Stereochemistry of Glycals in One‐Pot Rhodium‐Catalyzed Aziridination and Aziridine Ring Opening

We carried out a principle study on the reaction mechanism of rhodium‐catalyzed intramolecular aziridination and aziridine ring opening at a sugar template. A sulfamate ester group was introduced at different positions of glycal to act as a nitrene source and, moreover, to allow the study of the relative reactivity of the nitrene transfer from different sites of the glycal molecule. The structural optimization of each intermediate along the reaction pathway was extensively done by using BPW91 functional. The crucial step in the reaction is the Rh‐catalyzed nitrene transfer to the double bond of the glycal. We found that the reaction could proceed in a stepwise manner, whereby the N atom initially induced a single‐bond formation with C1 on the triplet surface or in a single step through intersystem crossing (ISC) of the triplet excited state of the rhodium–nitrene transition state to the singlet ground state of the aziridine complexes. The relative reactivity for the conversion of the nitrene species to the aziridine obtained from the computed potential energy surface (PES) agrees well with the reaction time gained from experimental observation. The aziridine ring opening is a spontaneous process because the energy barrier for the formation of the transition state is very small and disappears in the solution calculations. The regio‐ and stereoselectivity of the reaction product is controlled by the electronic property of the anomeric carbon as well as the facial preference for the nitrene insertion, and the nucleophilic addition.     

Mechanistic Study of the Rhodium‐Catalyzed [3+2+2] Carbocyclization of Alkenylidenecyclopropanes with Alkynes

A systematic theoretical study has been performed on the recently reported Rh^I‐catalyzed [3+2+2] carbocyclization reactions between alkenylidenecyclopropanes (ACPs) and alkynes. With the aid of theoretical calculations, two possible mechanisms, that is, alkene‐carbometalation‐first and alkyne‐carbometalation‐first mechanisms, are examined in this study. In the oxidative addition step, the possibility of reaction on either the distal or proximal C? C bond of the cyclopropane group has been evaluated. The calculations indicate that the alkene‐activation‐first mechanism is more favored for the overall catalytic cycle. This mechanism involves four steps, that is, oxidative addition of the distal (rather than the proximal) C? C bond of cyclopropane group, alkene carbometalation, alkyne carbometalation, and reductive elimination. The rate‐determining step in the overall catalytic cycle is the carbometalation of the alkyne (i.e., the alkyne‐insertion step) and this step also determines the regioselectivity. Finally, the origin of the regioselectivity is determined by the steric effect (i.e., the steric crowding between the electron‐withdrawing group on alkyne and other ligands on the rhodium center) in the alkyne‐insertion step.     

Less Is More: Three‐Coordinate C,N‐Chelated Distannynes and Digermynes

We report here the synthesis of new C,N‐chelated chlorostannylenes and germylenes L³MCl (M=Sn( 1 ), Ge ( 2 )) and L⁴MCl (M=Sn( 3 ), Ge ( 4 )) containing sterically demanding C,N‐chelating ligands L^{3, 4} (L³=[2,4‐di‐tBu‐6‐(Et₂NCH₂)C₆H₂]^?_; L⁴=[2,4‐di‐tBu‐6‐{(C₆H₃‐2′,6′‐iPr₂)N=CH}C₆H₂]^?). Reductions of 1 – 4 yielded three‐coordinate C,N‐chelated distannynes and digermynes [L^{3, 4}M ]₂ for the first time ( 5 : L³, M=Sn, 6 : L³, M=Ge, 7 : L⁴, M=Sn, 8 : L⁴, M=Ge). For comparison, the four‐coordinate distannyne [L⁵Sn]₂ ( 10 ) stabilized by N,C,N‐chelate L⁵ (L⁵=[2,6‐{(C₆H₃‐2′,6′‐Me₂)N?CH}₂C₆H₃]^?) was prepared by the reduction of chlorostannylene L⁵SnCl ( 9 ). Hence, we highlight the role of donor‐driven stabilization of tetrynes. Compounds 1 – 10 were characterized by means of elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy, and in the case of 1 , 2 , 5 – 7 , and 10 , also by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The bonding situation in either three‐ or four‐coordinate distannynes 5 , 7 , and 10 was evaluated by DFT calculations. DFT calculations were also used to compare the nature of the metal–metal bond in three‐coordinate C,N‐chelating distannyne [L³Sn]₂ ( 5 ) and related digermyme [L³Ge]₂ ( 6 ).     

Hydrosilylation Induced by N→Si Intramolecular Coordination: Spontaneous Transformation of Organosilanes into 1‐Aza‐Silole‐Type Molecules in the Absence of a Catalyst

Our attempts to synthesize the N→Si intramolecularly coordinated organosilanes Ph₂L¹SiH ( 1 a ), PhL¹SiH₂ ( 2 a ), Ph₂L²SiH ( 3 a ), and PhL²SiH₂ ( 4 a ) containing a CH?N imine group (in which L¹ is the C,N‐chelating ligand {2‐[CH?N(C₆H₃‐2,6‐iPr₂)]C₆H₄}^? and L² is {2‐[CH?N(tBu)]C₆H₄}^?) yielded 1‐[2,6‐bis(diisopropyl)phenyl]‐2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐aza‐silole ( 1 ), 1‐[2,6‐bis(diisopropyl)phenyl]‐2‐phenyl‐2‐hydrido‐1‐aza‐silole ( 2 ), 1‐tert‐butyl‐2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐aza‐silole ( 3 ), and 1‐tert‐butyl‐2‐phenyl‐2‐hydrido‐1‐aza‐silole ( 4 ), respectively. Isolated organosilicon amides 1 – 4 are an outcome of the spontaneous hydrosilylation of the CH?N imine moiety induced by N→Si intramolecular coordination. Compounds 1–4 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis. The geometries of organosilanes 1 a – 4 a and their corresponding hydrosilylated products 1 – 4 were optimized and fully characterized at the B3LYP/6‐31++G(d,p) level of theory. The molecular structure determination of 1 – 3 suggested the presence of a Si?N double bond. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, however, shows a very strong donor–acceptor interaction between the lone pair of the nitrogen atom and the formal empty p orbital on the silicon and therefore, the calculations show that the Si?N bond is highly polarized pointing to a predominantly zwitterionic Si⁺N^? bond in 1 – 4 . Since compounds 1 – 4 are hydrosilylated products of 1 a – 4 a , the free energies (ΔG₂₉₈), enthalpies (ΔH₂₉₈), and entropies (ΔH₂₉₈) were computed for the hydrosilylation reaction of 1 a – 4 a with both B3LYP and B3LYP‐D methods. On the basis of the very negative ΔG₂₉₈ values, the hydrosilylation reaction is highly exergonic and compounds 1 a – 4 a are spontaneously transformed into 1 – 4 in the absence of a catalyst.     

Exploring the Molecular Structure of Imidazolium–Silica‐Based Nanoparticle Networks by Combining Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopy and First‐Principles Calculations

A DFT‐based molecular model for imidazolium–silica‐based nanoparticle networks (INNs) is presented. The INNs were synthesized and characterized by using small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), NMR spectroscopy, and theoretical ab initio calculations. ¹¹B and ³¹P HETCOR CP MAS experiments were recorded. Calculated ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy results, combined with the calculated anion–imidazolium (IM) distances, predicted the IM chain density in the INN, which was also confirmed from thermogravimetric analysis/mass spectrometry results. The presence of water molecules trapped between the nanoparticles is also suggested. First considerations on possible π–π stacking between the IM rings are presented. The predicted electronic properties confirm the photoluminescence emissions in the correct spectral domain.     

A Cationic Phosphapyramidane

Pyramidanes C[C₄R₄] constitute a novel class of highly strained and reactive polyhedral clusters that attracted a great deal of attention of both theoreticians and experimentalists. Although well‐studied from the theoretical viewpoint, pyramidanes were synthetically inaccessible, and only very recently their very first isolable representatives have been described. In this Communication, we report on the synthesis and structural studies of the cationic pyramidane with the Group 15 element at the apex, namely, phosphapyramidane, an isoelectronic analogue of the neutral pyramidanes of the Group 14 elements.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Electro‐Optical Properties of ZnII Complexes with π‐Conjugated Terpyridine Ligands

Leading light : A series of zinc(II) bis‐terpyridine complexes (see picture) is investigated by means of DFT calculations combined with Bader's quantum theory of atoms in molecules. Raman spectroscopy experiments and studies of the electro‐optical properties of the complexes in solution and the solid state are also performed to examine their potential as new emissive materials in light‐emitting devices.

     

The Challenge of Linear (E)‐Enones in the Rh‐Catalyzed,Asymmetric 1,4‐Addition Reaction of Phenylboronic Acid: A DFT Computational Analysis

Why are linear (E)‐enones such challenging substrates in the Rh‐catalyzed asymmetric arylation with boronic acids, which is one of the most important asymmetric catalysis methods? DFT computations show that these substrates adopt a specific conformation in which the largest substituent is antiperiplanar to Rh^I π‐complexed with the C?C bond within the enantioselectivity‐determining carborhodation transition state. Additionally, for such structures, there is a strong, but not exclusive, preference for s‐cis enone conformation. This folding minimizes steric interactions between the substrate and the ligand, and hence reduces the enantioselectivity. This idea is further confirmed by investigating three computation‐only substrate “probes”, one of which is capable of double asymmetric induction, and a recent computationally designed 1,5‐diene ligand. On average, excellent agreement between predicted and experimental enantioselectivity was attained by a three‐pronged approach: 1) thorough conformational search within ligand and substrate subunits to locate the most preferred carborhodation transition state; 2) including dispersion interaction and long‐range corrections by SMD/ωB97xD/DGDZVP level of theory; and 3) full substrate and ligand modeling. Based on the results, a theory‐enhanced enantioselectivity model that is applicable to both chiral diene and diphosphane ligands is proposed.     

NMR Crystallography of an Oxovanadium(V) Complex by an Approach Combining Multinuclear Magic Angle Spinning NMR,DFT, and Spin Dynamics Simulations

Bioinorganic vanadium(V) solids are often challenging for structural analysis. Here, we explore an NMR crystallography approach involving multinuclear ¹³C/⁵¹V solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, density functional theory (DFT), and spin dynamics numerical simulations, for the spectral assignment and the 3D structural analysis of an isotopically unmodified oxovanadium(V) complex, containing 17 crystallographically inequivalent ¹³C sites. In particular, we report the first NMR determination of C–V distances. So far, the NMR observation of ¹³C–⁵¹V proximities has been precluded by the specification of commercial NMR probes, which cannot be tuned simultaneously to the close Larmor frequencies of these isotopes (100.6 and 105.2 MHz for ¹³C and ⁵¹V, respectively, at 9.4 T). By combining DFT calculations and ¹³C–⁵¹V NMR experiments, we propose a complete assignment of the ¹³C spectrum of this oxovanadium(V) complex. Furthermore, we show how ¹³C–⁵¹V distances can be quantitatively estimated.     

Fully Automated Quantum‐Chemistry‐Based Computation of Spin–Spin‐Coupled Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectra

We present a composite procedure for the quantum‐chemical computation of spin–spin‐coupled ¹H NMR spectra for general, flexible molecules in solution that is based on four main steps, namely conformer/rotamer ensemble (CRE) generation by the fast tight‐binding method GFN‐xTB and a newly developed search algorithm, computation of the relative free energies and NMR parameters, and solving the spin Hamiltonian. In this way the NMR‐specific nuclear permutation problem is solved, and the correct spin symmetries are obtained. Energies, shielding constants, and spin–spin couplings are computed at state‐of‐the‐art DFT levels with continuum solvation. A few (in)organic and transition‐metal complexes are presented, and very good, unprecedented agreement between the theoretical and experimental spectra was achieved. The approach is routinely applicable to systems with up to 100–150 atoms and may open new avenues for the detailed (conformational) structure elucidation of, for example, natural products or drug molecules.     

Redox‐Neutral Rhodium‐Catalyzed CH Functionalization of Arylamine N‐Oxides with Diazo Compounds: Primary C(sp3)H/C(sp2)H Activation and Oxygen‐Atom Transfer

An unprecedented rhodium(III)‐catalyzed regioselective redox‐neutral annulation reaction of 1‐naphthylamine N‐oxides with diazo compounds was developed to afford various biologically important 1H‐benzo[g]indolines. This coupling reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions and does not require external oxidants. The only by‐products are dinitrogen and water. More significantly, this reaction represents the first example of dual functiaonalization of unactivated a primary C(sp³)? H bond and C(sp²)? H bond with diazocarbonyl compounds. DFT calculations revealed that an intermediate iminium is most likely involved in the catalytic cycle. Moreover, a rhodium(III)‐catalyzed coupling of readily available tertiary aniline N‐oxides with α‐diazomalonates was also developed under external oxidant‐free conditions to access various aminomandelic acid derivatives by an O‐atom‐transfer reaction.     

Solid‐State 73Ge NMR Spectroscopy of Simple Organogermanes

Germanium‐73 is an extremely challenging nucleus to examine by NMR spectroscopy due to its unfavorable NMR properties. Through the use of an ultrahigh (21.1 T) magnetic field, a systematic study of a series of simple organogermanes was carried out. In those cases for which X‐ray structural data were available, correlations were drawn between the NMR parameters and structural metrics. These data were combined with DFT calculations to obtain insight into the structures of several compounds with unknown crystal structures.     

103Rh NMR chemical shifts in organometallic complexes: a combined experimental and density functional study

Experimental 103Rh NMR chemical shifts of mono- and binuclear rhodium(I) complexes containing s- or as-hydroindacenide and indacenediide bridging ligands with different ancillary ligands (1,5-cyclooctadiene, ethylene, carbonyl) are presented. A protocol, based on density functional theory calculations, was established to determine 103Rh NMR shielding constants in order to rationalise the effects of electronic and structural variations on the spectroscopic signal, and to gain insight into the efficiency of this computational method when applied to organometallic systems. Scalar and spin-orbit relativistic effects based on the ZORA (zeroth order regular approximation) level have been taken into account and discussed. A good agreement was found for model compounds over a wide range of chemical shifts of rhodium (approximately 10,000 ppm). This allowed us to discuss the experimental and calculated delta(103Rh) in larger complexes and to relate it to their electronic structure.