Bis(Cyclic Alkyl Amino Carbene) Ruthenium Complexes: A Versatile,Highly Efficient Tool for Olefin Metathesis

The state‐of‐the‐art in olefin metathesis is application of N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐containing ruthenium alkylidenes for the formation of internal C=C bonds and of cyclic alkyl amino carbene (CAAC)‐containing ruthenium benzylidenes in the production of terminal olefins. A straightforward synthesis of bis(CAAC)Ru indenylidene complexes, which are highly effective in the formation of both terminal and internal C=C bonds at loadings as low as 1 ppm, is now reported.     

Diborabutatriene: An Electron‐Deficient Cumulene

The complexation of two equivalents of a cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) to tetrabromodiborane, followed by reduction with four equivalents of sodium naphthalide, led to the formation of the CAAC‐stabilized linear diboracumulene (CAAC)₂B₂. The capacity of the CAAC ligand to facilitate B₂→CAAC donation of π‐electron density resulted in important differences between this species and a previously reported complex featuring a B?B triple bond stabilized by cyclic di(amino)carbenes, including a longer B? B bond and shorter B? C bonds. Frontier orbital analysis indicated sharing of valence electrons across the entire linear C‐B‐B‐C unit in (CAAC)₂B₂, which is supported by natural population analysis and cyclic voltammetry.     

Crystalline BP‐Doped Phenanthryne via Photolysis of The Elusive Boraphosphaketene

The synthesis and reactivity study of the first isolable boraphosphaketene, cyclic(alkyl)(amino) carbene (CAAC)‐borafluorene‐P=C=O ( 2 ), is described. Photolysis of compound 2 results in the formation of CAAC‐stabilized BP‐doped phenanthryne ( 3 ) through tandem decarbonylation, monoatomic phosphide insertion, and ring‐expansion. Notably, while BN‐doped phenanthryne was previously discussed as a reactive intermediate which could not be isolated, the heavier BP‐doped analogue exhibits remarkable solution and solid‐state stability. The reactivity of 2 with stable carbenes was also explored. Addition of CAAC to 2 led to migration of the original CAAC ligand from boron to phosphorus and coordination of the added CAAC to carbon, affording compound 4 . Reaction of 1,3‐diisopropyl‐4,5‐dimethylimidazol‐2‐ylidene (NHC) with 2 resulted in N?C bond activation to give the unusual spiro‐heterocyclic compound ( 5 ).     

Cyclic Alkyl Amino Carbene (CAAC) Ruthenium Complexes as Remarkably Active Catalysts for Ethenolysis

An expanded family of ruthenium‐based metathesis catalysts bearing cyclic alkyl amino carbene (CAAC) ligands was prepared. These catalysts exhibited exceptional activity in the ethenolysis of the seed‐oil derivative methyl oleate. In many cases, catalyst turnover numbers (TONs) of more than 100 000 were achieved, at a catalyst loading of only 3 ppm. Remarkably, the most active catalyst system was able to achieve a TON of 340 000, at a catalyst loading of only 1 ppm. This is the first time a series of metathesis catalysts has exhibited such high performance in cross‐metathesis reactions employing ethylene gas, with activities sufficient to render ethenolysis applicable to the industrial‐scale production of linear α‐olefins (LAOs) and other terminal‐olefin products.     

Chemically Non‐Innocent Cyclic (Alkyl)(Amino)Carbenes: Ligand Rearrangement,C−H and C−F Bond Activation

A cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) was found to undergo unprecedented rearrangements and transformations of its core structure in the presence of Group 1 and 2 metals. Although the carbene was also found to be prone to intramolecular C?H activation, it was competent for intermolecular activation of a variety of sp‐, sp²‐, and sp³‐hybridized C?H bonds. Double C?F activation of hexafluorobenzene was also observed in this work. These processes all hold relevance to the role of these carbenes in catalysis, as well as to their use in the synthesis of new and unusual main group or transition metal complexes.     

The Reactivities of Iminoboranes with Carbenes: BN Isosteres of Carbene–Alkyne Adducts

The first examples of adducts of cyclic alkyl(amino) carbenes (CAAC) and N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) with iminoboranes have been synthesized and isolated at low temperature (?45 °C). The adducts show short B?N bonds and planarity at boron, mimicking the structures of the isoelectronic imine functionality. When di‐tert‐butyliminoborane was reacted with 1,3‐bis(isopropyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene (IPr), the initially formed Lewis acid–base adduct quickly rearranged to form a new carbene substituted with an aminoborane at the 4‐position. Warming the iminoborane–CAAC adduct to room temperature resulted in an intramolecular cyclization to give a bicyclic 1,2‐azaborilidine compound.     

Crystalline BP-Doped Phenanthryne via Photolysis of The Elusive Boraphosphaketene

The synthesis and reactivity study of the first isolable boraphosphaketene, cyclic(alkyl)(amino) carbene (CAAC)-borafluorene-P=C=O ( 2 ), is described. Photolysis of compound 2 results in the formation of CAAC-stabilized BP-doped phenanthryne ( 3 ) through tandem decarbonylation, monoatomic phosphide insertion, and ring-expansion. Notably, while BN-doped phenanthryne was previously discussed as a reactive intermediate which could not be isolated, the heavier BP-doped analogue exhibits remarkable solution and solid-state stability. The reactivity of 2 with stable carbenes was also explored. Addition of CAAC to 2 led to migration of the original CAAC ligand from boron to phosphorus and coordination of the added CAAC to carbon, affording compound 4 . Reaction of 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene (NHC) with 2 resulted in N−C bond activation to give the unusual spiro-heterocyclic compound ( 5 ).     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Ruthenium 2‐Alkyl‐6‐mercaptophenolate Catalysts for Olefin Metathesis

A series of ruthenium carbene catalysts containing 2‐sulfidophenolate bidentate ligand with an ortho‐substituent next to the oxygen atom were synthesized. The molecular structure of ruthenium carbene complex containing 2‐isopropyl‐6‐sulfidophenolate ligand was confirmed through single crystal X‐ray diffraction. An oxygen atom can be found in the opposite position of the N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) based on the steric hindrance and strong trans‐effects of the NHC ligand. The ruthenium carbene catalyst can catalyze ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) reaction of norbornene with high activity and Z‐selectivity and cross metathesis (CM) reactions of terminal alkenes with (Z)‐but‐2‐ene‐1,4‐diol to give Z‐olefin products (Z/E ratios, 70:30–89:11) in low yields (13%–38%). When AlCl₃ was added into the CM reactions, yields (51%–88%) were considerably improved and process becomes highly selective for E‐olefin products (E/Z ratios, 79:21–96:4). Similar to other ruthenium carbene catalysts, these new complexes can tolerate different functional groups.     

Oxidative Addition of Water,Alcohols, and Amines in Palladium Catalysis

The homolytic cleavage of O−H and N−H or weak C−H bonds is a key elementary step in redox catalysis, but is thought to be unfeasible for palladium. In stark contrast, reported here is the room temperature and reversible oxidative addition of water, isopropanol, hexafluoroisopropanol, phenol, and aniline to a palladium(0) complex with a cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) and a labile pyridino ligand, as is also the case in popular N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) palladium(II) precatalysts. The oxidative addition of protic solvents or adventitious water switches the chemoselectivity in catalysis with alkynes through activation of the terminal C−H bond. Most salient, the homolytic activation of alcohols and amines allows atom-efficient, additive-free cross-coupling and transfer hydrogenation under mild reaction conditions with usually unreactive, yet desirable reagents, including esters and bis(pinacolato)diboron.     

Oxo-bridged metal carbene complexes. Synthesis,structure and reactivities of [[Os(Por)(CPh2)]2]O (Por = porphyrinato dianion)

Dinuclear mu-oxo osmium porphyrins containing terminal Os=CPh2 bonds with a linear C=Os-O-Os=C moiety were prepared, which are reactive toward pyridine to form [Os(Por)(CPh2)(py)] and are active catalysts for inter- and intra-molecular cyclopropanation of alkenes and for carbene insertion into saturated C-H bonds.     

Two‐Coordinate Fe0 and Co0 Complexes Supported by Cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes

The CAAC [CAAC=cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene] family of carbene ligands have shown promise in stabilizing unusually low‐coordination number transition‐metal complexes in low formal oxidation states. Here we extend this narrative by demonstrating their utility in affording access to the first examples of two‐coordinate formal Fe⁰ and Co⁰ [(CAAC)₂M] complexes, prepared by reduction of their corresponding two‐coordinate cationic Fe^I and Co^I precursors. The stability of these species arises from the strong σ‐donating and π‐accepting properties of the supporting CAAC ligands, in addition to steric protection.     

Facile Cleavage of the P=P Double Bond in Vinyl‐Substituted Diphosphenes

The reactions of the cyclic alkyl amino carbene (CAAC) 1 with phosphaalkynes generate the kinetically unstable CAAC‐derived phosphirenes 4 and 5 , which undergo rearrangement/dimerization reactions to give the vinyl‐substituted diphosphenes 2 , 3 , and 6 . The P=P double bond scission of 2 or 3 is unprecedentedly effected by S₈, [AuCl(tht)], or MeOTf at room temperature, which affords a dithiophosphorane 7 , a phosphepine Au complex 8 , or phosphepinium cations 9 and 10 , respectively. The cationic species feature little homoaromaticity while representing the first examples of the phosphorus‐containing analogue of the tropylium ion.     

Persistent Borafluorene Radicals

N‐Heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐ and cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC)‐stabilized borafluorene radicals have been isolated and characterized by elemental analysis, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, UV/Vis absorption, cyclic voltammetry (CV), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and theoretical studies. Both the CAAC–borafluorene radical ( 2 ) and the NHC–borafluorene radical ( 4 ) have a considerable amount of spin density localized on the boron atoms (0.322 for 2 and 0.369 for 4 ). In compound 2 , the unpaired electron is also partly delocalized over the CAAC ligand ^carbeneC and N atoms. However, the unpaired electron in compound 4 mainly resides throughout the borafluorene π‐system, with significantly less delocalization over the NHC ligand. These results highlight the Lewis base dependent electrostructural tuning of materials‐relevant radicals. Notably, this is the first report of crystalline borafluorene radicals, and these species exhibit remarkable solid‐state and solution stability.     

Methandiide as a Non‐Innocent Ligand in Carbene Complexes: From the Electronic Structure to Bond Activation Reactions and Cooperative Catalysis

The synthesis of a ruthenium carbene complex based on a sulfonyl‐substituted methandiide and its application in bond activation reactions and cooperative catalysis is reported. In the complex, the metal–carbon interaction can be tuned between a Ru?C single bond with additional electrostatic interactions and a Ru?C double bond, thus allowing the control of the stability and reactivity of the complex. Hence, activation of polar and non‐polar bonds (O?H, H?H) as well as dehydrogenation reactions become possible. In these reactions the carbene acts as a non‐innocent ligand supporting the bond activation as nucleophilic center in the 1,2‐addition across the metal–carbon double bond. This metal–ligand cooperativity can be applied in the catalytic transfer hydrogenation for the reduction of ketones. This concept opens new ways for the application of carbene complexes in catalysis.     

Oxidative Addition at a Carbene Center: Synthesis of an Iminoboryl–CAAC Adduct

The reaction of a cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) with dichloro‐ and dibromobis(trimethylsilyl)aminoborane results in the formation of haloiminoborane–CAAC adducts. When the iodo analogue is used, an oxidative addition at the carbene center affords a cationic iminoboryl–CAAC adduct, featuring a boron–nitrogen triple bond. Similar salts are also obtained by halide abstraction from the chloro‐ and bromoiminoborane–CAAC adducts. The reactivity of all of these compounds towards CO₂ is discussed.     

Intramolecular cyclization of ruthenium vinylidene complexes with a tethering vinyl group: facile cleavage and reconstruction of the C-C double bond

Protonation of ruthenium acetylide complexes [M]-*C*CCPh2CH2CH=CH2 (2a, [M] = (eta5-C5H5)(P(OPh)3)(PPh3)Ru; 2a', [M] = (eta5-C5H5)(dppp)Ru; *C = 13C-labeled carbon atom) with HBF4 in ether produces [[M]=*C=CHCH2CPh2*CH=CH2][BF4] (4, 4') exclusively via a metathesis process of the terminal vinyl group with the *C=*C of the resulting vinylidene group. For 4 in methanol, bond reconstruction of the two labeled *C atoms readily takes place via a retro-metathesis process followed by a cyclization of the resulting vinylidene ligand giving the cyclic carbene complex 5, which is fully characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The protonation of 2a in MeOH is followed by a cyclization, also giving 5. Deuterium-labeling study indicates that the C-C bond formation of this cyclization proceeds simultaneously with the formation of 4 consistent with facile cleavage and reconstruction of C=C bonds. For comparison, complex 4 in alcohol yields, besides 5, the corresponding alkoxycyclohexene 6. Formation of 6 from 4 also involves a skeletal rearrangement with reconstruction of the C=C bond. Interestingly, [[Ru']=*C=C(Me)CH2CPh2*CH=CH2][BF4] (8') originally from a complex with two connected labeled carbon atoms also undergoes reestablishment of the *C=*C bond yielding the cyclic allenyl complex 9'. 13C-labeling studies clearly reveal the reestablishment of two C=C double bonds in the transformation of both 4 to 5 and 8' to 9'. The proposed mechanism implicates a cyclobutylidene intermediate formed either via a regiospecific [2+2] cycloaddition of two double bonds in the ruthenium vinylidene 4 or via a cyclization of 4 giving a nonclassical ion intermediate followed by a 1,2-alkyl shift.     

Isolation of a Neutral Boron‐Containing Radical Stabilized by a Cyclic (Alkyl)(Amino)Carbene

Utilizing a cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) as a ligand, neutral CAAC‐stabilized radicals containing a boryl functionality could be prepared by reduction of the corresponding haloborane adducts. The radical species with a duryl substituent was fully characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray structural analysis, EPR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. Compared to known neutral boryl radicals, the isolated radical species showed larger spin density on the boron atom. Furthermore, the compound that was isolated is extraordinarily stable to high temperatures under inert conditions, both in solution and in the solid state. Electrochemical investigations of the radical suggest the possibility to generate a stable formal boryl anion species.     

Grubbs Metathesis Enabled by a Light-Driven gem-Hydrogenation of Internal Alkynes

[(NHC)(cymene)RuCl₂] (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes instigate a light-driven gem-hydrogenation of internal alkynes with concomitant formation of discrete Grubbs-type ruthenium carbene species. This unorthodox reactivity mode is harnessed in the form of a “hydrogenative metathesis” reaction, which converts an enyne substrate into a cyclic alkene. The intervention of ruthenium carbenes formed in the actual gem-hydrogenation step was proven by the isolation and crystallographic characterization of a rather unusual representative of this series carrying an unconfined alkyl group on a disubstituted carbene center.     

Synthesis and Catalytic Study of Ruthenium Carbene Catalyst Containing a Zn‐Porphyrin Ligand

A ruthenium carbene complex containing a Zn‐porphyrin ligand has been developed. The complex was characterized by ¹H NMR, IR, HRMS and elemental analysis. The catalytic activity of the ruthenium carbene complex for olefin metathesis reactions was also investigated. The complex exhibited excellent performance for both ring‐closing and cross metathesis reactions at 35°C.     

Oxygenation of Ruthenium Carbene Complexes Containing Naphthothiophene or Naphthofuran: Spectroscopic and DFT Studies

The aryl propargylic alcohol 1‐[2‐(thiophen‐3‐yl)phenyl]prop‐2‐yn‐1‐ol ( 1a ) is readily prepared from 2‐(thiophen‐3‐yl)benzaldehyde. In the presence of visible light, treatment of 1a with one‐half mole equivalent of [Ru]Cl ([Ru]?Cp(dppe)Ru) (dppe=1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) and NH₄PF₆ in O₂ affords the naphtha[2,1‐b]thiophene‐4‐carbaldehyde ( 4a ) in high yields. The cyclization reaction of 1a proceeds through the formation of the carbene complex 2a that contains the naphtha[2,1‐b]thiophene ring, which is isolated in a 1:1 stoichiometric reaction. The C? C bond formation between the inner carbon of the terminal triple bond and the heterocyclic ring is confirmed by structure determination of 2a using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Facile oxygenation of 2a by O₂ yields the aldehyde product 4a accompanied by the formation of phosphine oxide of dppe. Oxygen is most likely activated by coordination to the ruthenium center when one PPh₂ unit of the dppe ligand dissociates. This dissociated PPh₂ unit then reacts with the coordinated oxygen nearby to generate half‐oxidized dppe ligand and an unobserved oxo–carbene intermediate. Coupling of the oxo/carbene ligands followed by demetalation then yields 4a . Presumably the resulting complex with the half‐oxidized dppe ligand continuously promotes cyclization/oxygenation of 1a to yield the second aldehyde molecule. In alcohol such as MeOH or EtOH, the oxygenation reaction affords a mixture of 4a and the corresponding esters 5a or 5a' . Four other aryl propargylic alcohols 1b , 1c , 1d , 1e , which contain thiophen‐2‐yl, isopropenyl, fur‐3‐yl, and fur‐2‐yl, respectively, on the aryl ring are also prepared. Analogous aldehydes 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e are similarly prepared from 1b , 1c , 1d , 1e , respectively. For oxygenations of 1b , 1d , and 1e in alcohol, mixtures of aldehyde 4 , ester 5 , and acetal 8 are obtained. The carbene complex 2b obtained from 1b was also characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The UV/Vis spectra of 2a and 2b consist of absorption bands with a high extinction coefficient. From DFT calculations on 2a and 2b , the visible light is found to populate the LUMO antibonding orbital of mainly Ru?C bonds, thereby weakening the Ru?C bond and promoting the oxygenation/demetalation reactions of 2 .