Catalytic Activity of Cationic and Neutral Silver(I)–XPhos Complexes with Nitrogen Ligands or Tolylsulfonate for Mannich and Aza‐Diels–Alder Coupling Reactions

Cationic and neutral silver(I)–L complexes (L=Buchwald‐type biaryl phosphanes) with nitrogen co‐ligands or organosulfonate counter ions have been synthesised and characterised through their structural and spectroscopic properties. At room temperature, both cationic and neutral silver(I)–L complexes are extremely active catalysts in the promotion of the single and double A³ coupling of terminal (di)alkynes, pyrrolidine and formaldehyde. In addition, the aza‐Diels–Alder two‐ and three‐component coupling reactions of Danishefsky’s diene with an imine or amine and aldehyde are efficiently catalysed by these cationic or neutral silver(I)–L complexes. The solvent influences the catalytic performance due to limited complex solubility or solvent decomposition and reactivity. The isolation of new silver(I)–L complexes with reagents as ligands lends support to mechanistic proposals for such catalytic processes. The activity, stability and metal–distal arene interaction of these silver(I)–L catalysts have been compared with those of analogous cationic gold(I) and copper(I) complexes.     

Synthesis,Characterisation and Reactivity of Copper(I) Amide Complexes and Studies on Their Role in the Modified Ullmann Amination Reaction

A series of copper(I) alkylamide complexes have been synthesised; copper(I) dicyclohexylamide ( 1 ), copper(I) 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidide ( 2 ), copper(I) pyrrolidide ( 3 ), copper(I) piperidide ( 4 ), and copper(I) benzylamide ( 5 ). Their solid‐state structures and structures in [D₆]benzene solution are characterised, with the aggregation state in solution determined by a combination of DOSY NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Complexes 1 , 2 and 4 are shown to exist as tetramers in the solid state by X‐ray crystallography. In [D₆]benzene solution, complexes 1 , 2 and 5 were found by using ¹H DOSY NMR to exist in rapid equilibrium between aggregates with average aggregation numbers of 2.5, 2.4 and 3.3, respectively, at 0.05 M concentration. Conversely, distinct trimeric, tetrameric and pentameric forms of 3 and 4 were distinguishable by one‐dimensional ¹H and ¹H DOSY NMR spectroscopy. Complexes 3 – 5 are found to react stoichiometrically with iodobenzene, in the presence or absence of 1,10‐phenanthroline as an ancillary ligand, to give arylamine products indicative of their role as potential intermediates in the modified Ullmann reaction. The role of phenanthroline has also been explored both in the stoichiometric reaction and in the catalytic Ullmann protocol.     

Bioinspired Copper(I) Complexes that Exhibit Monooxygenase and Catechol Dioxygenase Activity

New tripodal ligand L2 featuring three different pyridyl/imidazolyl‐based N‐donor units at a bridgehead C atom, from which one of the imidazolyl units is separated by a phenylene linker, was synthesized and investigated with regards to copper(I) complexation. The resulting complex [( L2 )Cu]OTf ( 2^OTf ), the known complex [( L1 )Cu]OTf ( 1^OTf ; L1 differs from L2 in that it lacks the phenylene spacer) and [( L3 )Cu]OTf ( 3^OTf ), prepared from a known chiral, tripodal, N‐donor ligand featuring pyridyl, pyrazolyl, and imidazolyl donors, were tested as catalysts for the oxidation of sodium 2,4‐di‐tert‐butylphenolate ( NaDTBP ) with O₂. Indeed, they mediated NaDTBP oxidation to give mainly the corresponding catecholate and quinone ( Q ). None of the complexes 1^OTf , 2^OTf , and 3^OTf is superior to the others, as yields were comparable and, if the presence of protons is guaranteed by concomitant addition of the phenol DTBP , the oxidation can also be performed catalytically. For all complexes stoichiometric oxidations under certain conditions (concentrated solutions, high NaDTBP content) were found to also generate products typical for metal‐mediated intradiol cleavage of the catecholate with O₂. As shown representatively for 1^OTf this dioxygenation sets in at a later stage of the reaction. Initially a copper species responsible for the monooxygenation must form from 1^OTf / NaDTBP /O₂, and only thereafter is the copper species responsible for dioxygenation formed and consumes Q as substrate. Hence, under these circumstances complexes 1^OTf – 3^OTf show both monooxygenase and catechol dioxygenase activity.     

Synthesis and characterization of polymer linked copper(I) bis(N‐heterocyclic carbene) mechanocatalysts

In this paper, the synthesis and characterization of a series of latent polymeric bis(N‐heterocyclic carbene) (NHC) copper(I) complexes is reported, which can be activated for the copper(I)‐catalyzed azide/alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) via ultrasound. To prove the influence of chain length and nature of the polymer towards the activation, poly(isobutylene) (PIB), poly(styrene) (PS) and poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF) are synthesized via living polymerization techniques (LCCP, ATRP, CROP) obtaining different chain lengths (from 2500 to 9000 g/mol), followed by quaternization with N‐methylimidazole, generating the corresponding N‐methylimidazolium‐telechelic polymers. The deprotonation of these macroligands via strong bases like sodium tert‐butoxide (NaO^tBu) or potassium hexamethyldisilazide (KHMDS) yields the free N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), which are used to coordinate to tetrakis(acetonitrile)copper(I) hexafluorophosphate, forming the final polymer‐based mono‐ and bis(N‐methylimidazole‐2‐ylidene) copper(I)X complexes. The structural proof of these complexes is accomplished via ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy, MALDI‐TOF‐MS and GPC‐techniques. The activation of the copper(I) biscarbene catalysts by ultrasound is studied by GPC, revealing the cleavage of one shielding NHC‐ligand. The initial catalytic latency and the via ultrasound introduced catalytic activation is successfully demonstrated monitoring a CuAAC “click” reaction of benzyl azide and phenylacetylene by in situ ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy introducing thus “click” conversions up to 97%. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3893–3907     

Structural Diversity of Calcium Organocuprates(I): Synthesis of Mesityl Cuprates via Addition and Transmetalation Reactions of Mesityl Copper(I)

The addition of [(L)₄Ca(I)Mes] (Lewis base L=thf, Et₂O) to mesityl copper(I) and the transmetalation reaction of mesityl copper(I) with activated calcium are suitable pathways for the synthesis of dimesityl cuprates(I) of calcium. However, the structures of the calcium cuprates(I) depend on the preparative procedure. The transmetalation reaction leads to the formation of [Mes‐Cu‐Mes]^? anions whereas the addition yields dinuclear [(Mes‐Cu)₂(μ‐Mes)]^? anions. The solvent‐separated counterions are [Ca(thf)₆]²⁺ and [(thf)₅CaI]⁺, respectively. In contrast to these findings, the addition of [(L)₄Ca(I)Mes] to mesityl copper(I) in an Et₂O/toluene mixture led to formation of tetrameric solvent‐free iodocalcium dimesityl cuprate(I) [ICa(μ‐η¹,η⁶‐Mes₂Cu)]₄, representing a rare example of a heavy Normant‐type organocuprate.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Copper(I) Complexes Containing Tri(2‐Pyridylmethyl)Amine Ligand

Reaction of copper halides CuX (X=Cl, Br, I) with tri(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine) (TPMA) in THF under N₂ affords a series of monomeric copper(I) complexes CuX(TPMA) (X=Cl ( 1 ), Br ( 2 ) and I ( 3 )). Treatment of [CuCl(TPMA)] ( 1 ) with 0.5 equivalent of 1,4‐diisocyanobenzene following by equimolar amount of NaBF₄ affords a novel binuclear complex [(TPMA)Cu(μ‐1,4‐CNC₆H₄NC)Cu(TPMA)](BF₄)₂ ( 4 ). The copper(I) halide TPMA complexes show interesting fluxional behaviors in temperature dependence in the ¹H NMR spectrum that can be explained by the dissociation and reassociation of the pyridyl group and alkylamine nitrogen of TPMA ligand. The crystal structures of 1 , 3 and 4 are determined by an X‐ray diffractometer. Complexes 1 and 3 are distorted tetrahedral coordinates with strong bonding between three pyridyl N atoms and the corresponding halide donor. Crystallographic results of 4 clearly indicates two Cu(I) ions are bridged by 1,4‐diisocyanobenzene, forming a centro‐symmetrical homobinuclear complex with a “dangling” uncoordinated pyridyl group.     

Henry reaction catalyzed by copper(I) complexes of a new pyridine‐containing macrocyclic ligand

The synthesis and characterization of copper(I) complexes of the novel pyridine‐containing macrocyclic ligand (PC‐L) and their use as catalysts in the Henry reaction are reported. The pyridine‐based 12‐membered tetraaza macrocyclic (PC‐L) ligand 1 can be obtained in good overall yield (85%) from commercially available starting materials. The Cu(I) complexes showed good catalytic activities in the Henry reaction of different aldehydes and nitroalkanes. Remarkable diastereoselectivity was observed when isatine was reacted with nitroethane under catalytic conditions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New Cu(I) Coordination Complexes Based on Tetrathiafulvalene Substituted Triazol‐pyridine Ligand: Synthesis,Properties and Theoretical Studies

Two Cu(I) complexes based on the thioethyl‐bridged triazol‐pyridine ligand with tetrathiafulvalene unit (TTF‐TzPy, L ), [Cu(I)(Binap)(L)]BF₄ ( 5 , Binap=2,2’‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐1,1’‐binaphthyl) and [Cu(I)(Xantphos)(L)]BF₄ ( 6 , Xantphos=9,9‐dimethyl‐4,5‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐xanthene), have been synthesized. All new compounds are characterized by elemental analyses, ¹H NMR and mass spectroscopies. The complex 5 has been determined by X‐ray structure analyses which shows that the central copper (I) ion assumes distorted tetrahedral geometry. The photophysical, computational and electrochemical properties of L and 5 ‐ 6 have been investigated. The most representative molecular orbital energy‐level diagrams and the spin‐allowed singlet? singlet electronic transitions of the three compounds have been calculated with density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent DFT (TD‐DFT). The luminescence bands of Cu(I) complexes 5 ‐ 6 have been assigned as mixed intraligand and metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer ³(MLCT+π→π^*) transitions through analysis of the photophysical properties and DFT calculations. The electrochemical studies reveal that 5 ‐ 6 undergo reversible TTF/TTF^+?/TTF²⁺ redox processes and one irreversible Cu⁺→Cu²⁺ oxidation process.     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of two Novel Copper(I) Complexes with Oxygen Donor

Two novel copper(I) complexes with Cu‐O bonds, [Cu₂L₂(PPh₃)₂](BF₄)₂ ( 1 ) and [Cu(L)(dppeo)](BF₄) ( 2 ) ( L = 6‐(4‐diethylmethylphosphonatephenyl)‐2,2′‐bipyridine, dppeo = bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane monoxide), have been prepared and their structures characterized. In the binuclear complex 1 , the ligand L serves as tridentate donor with the N, N′ and O as coordination atoms, and the two Cu^I atoms are bridged through both P = O donor atoms in different ligand L with a triphenylphosphine molecule as auxiliary ligand. While in mononuclear complex 2 , both ligands L and dppeo behave as bidentate with N^∧N from L and P^∧O from dppeo chelating to Cu^I atom.     

Yellow Circularly Polarized Luminescence from C1‐Symmetrical Copper(I) Complexes

The synthesis of chiral C₁‐symmetrical copper(I) complexes supported by chiral carbene ligands is described. These complexes are yellow emitters with modest quantum yields. Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) spectra show a polarized emission band with dissymmetry factors |g_lum|=1.2×10^?3. These complexes are the first reported examples of molecular copper(I) complexes exhibiting circularly polarized luminescence. In contrast with most CPL‐emitting molecules, which possess either helical or axial chirality, the results presented show that simple chiral architectures are suitable for CPL emission and unlock new synthetic possibilities.     

A Photoreducible Copper(II)‐Tren Complex of Practical Value: Generation of a Highly Reactive Click Catalyst

A detailed study on the photoreduction of the copper(II) precatalyst 1 to generate a highly reactive cuprous species for the copper(I)‐catalyzed alkyne‐azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) click reaction is presented. For the photoactive catalyst described herein, the activation is driven by a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process harnessing a benzophenone‐like ketoprofenate chromophore as a photosensitizer, which is equally the counterion. The solvent is shown to play a major role in the Cu^II to Cu^I reduction process as the final electron source, and the influence of the solvent nature on the photoreduction efficiency has been studied. Particular attention was paid to the use of water as a potential solvent, aqueous media being particularly appealing for CuAAC processes. The ability to solubilize the copper‐tren complexes in water through the formation of inclusion complexes with β‐CDs is demonstrated. Data is also provided on the fate of the copper(I)‐tren catalytic species when reacting with O₂, O₂ being used to switch off the catalysis. These data show that partial oxidation of the secondary benzylamine groups of the ligand to benzylimines occurs. Preliminary results show that when prolonged irradiation times are employed a Cu^I to Cu⁰ over‐reduction process takes place, leading to the formation of copper nanoparticles (NPs). Finally, the main objective of this work being the development of photoactivable catalysts of practical value for the CuAAC, the catalytic, photolatent, and recycling properties of 1 in water and organic solvents are reported.     

Cover Picture: Coordination Algorithms Control Molecular Architecture: [CuI4(L2)4]4+ Grid Complex Versus [MII2(L2)2X4]y+ Side‐By‐Side Complexes (M=Mn,Co, Ni,Zn; X=Solvent or Anion) and [FeII(L2)3][Cl3FeIIIOFeIIICl3] (Chem. Eur. J. 16/2003)

The cover picture shows how differing coordination algorithms control the molecular architecture of complexes of the pyridazine‐containing, two‐armed, acyclic Schiff base ligand L2 (left, prepared from one equivalent of 3,6‐diformylpyridazine and two equivalents of d‐anisidine). Two very different complexes of L2 self‐assemble from tetrahedral copper(I ) versus octahedral zinc(II ), nickel(II ), and cobalt(II ) controlled 1 : 1 reactions with L2. In both cases the metal ions are bridged by the pyridazine moieties in L2, but in the case of the tetrahedral copper(II ) the result is a tetrametallic [2×2] grid complex ([Cu^I₄(L2)⁴]⁴⁺: top right), whilst in the case of the octahedral metal(II ) ions dimetallic side‐by‐side complexes, [M^II₂(L2)²(X)₄]^y+ (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Zn; X = solvent or anion), are formed (bottom right). The cover image was kindly generated by M. Crawford (University of Otago) with Strata Studio Pro (Strata). More details are given by S. Brooker and co‐workers on p. 3772 ff.     

Experimental Evidence for the Involvement of Dinuclear Alkynylcopper(I) Complexes in Alkyne–Azide Chemistry

Dinuclear alkynylcopper(I) ladderane complexes are prepared by a robust and simple protocol involving the reduction of Cu₂(OH)₃OAc or Cu(OAc)₂ by easily oxidised alcohols in the presence of terminal alkynes; they function as efficient catalysts in copper‐catalysed alkyne–azide cycloaddition reactions as predicted by the Ahlquist–Fokin calculations. The same copper(I) catalysts are formed during reactions by using the Sharpless–Fokin protocol. The experimental results also provide evidence that sodium ascorbate functions as a base to deprotonate terminal alkynes and additionally give a convincing alternative explanation for the fact that the Cu^I‐catalysed reactions of certain 1,3‐diazides with phenylacetylene give bis(triazoles) as the major products. The same dinuclear alkynylcopper(I) complexes also function as catalysts in cycloaddition reactions of azides with 1‐iodoalkynes.     

Quantum-Chemical Study of Electroreduction Mechanism of Copper(I) Cyanide Complexes

Mechanism of electroreduction of copper(I) cyanide complexes from aqueous electrolytic solutions is studied within a quantum-chemical method of a density functional and a quantum-mechanical theory of charge transfer in polar environment. The electrochemically active form directly participating in an elementary electroreduction act is shown to be the [Cu(CN)₂]^– complex. Modeling calculations of the activation energy for an elementary charge transfer act reveal for the first time that the transfer of heavy particles along an adiabatic potential energy curve is a more probable mechanism of electroreduction of copper(I) cyanocomplexes than an outer-sphere electron transfer.     

Electronic Structures of Copper(I) and Silver(I) beta-Diketonate Complexes

The valence electronic structures of [Cu(hfac)L] (hfac = CF(3)C(O)CHC(O)CF(3); L = PMe(3), CNMe), [Ag(hfac)(PMe(3))], and [Ag(fod)(PEt(3))] (fod = t-BuC(O)CHC(O)C(3)F(7)) have been studied by recording their photoelectron spectra and by performing Xalpha-SW calculations on the model compounds [M(dfm)(PH(3))] (dfm = HC(O)CHC(O)H; M = Cu, Ag) and [Cu(dfm)(CNH)]. For the copper complexes, the spectra were recorded between 21 and 160 eV using He I, He II and synchrotron radiation; while, for the silver complexes, He I and He II, spectra were recorded. Assignments were made by comparison of experimental and calculated values of band energies, and, for the copper complexes, by similar comparison of experimental and theoretical branching ratios as a function of photon energy. For the silver complexes, a more limited comparison of band intensities in the He I and He II spectra was made. In analogous compounds, it is shown that the binding energies follow the sequence Ag 4d > Cu 3d, with an energy difference of almost 2 eV.     

Electronic Effects on the rate of Oxidation of Substituted Phenanthroline Complexes of Copper(I) by Molecular Oxygen

Abstract

Reactions of molecular oxygen with copper(I) complexes are of interest partly as a result of the observation that certain marine life utilize a copper based oxygen transport system, hemocyanin, and that copper has been proposed as an active site for the disproportionation of superoxide by the enzyme superoxide dismutase.^2,3 Additional interest arises from a general study of the mechanism of autoxidation of transition metal complexes. A limited number of studies have been made on the kinetics of autoxidation of various cuprous complexes.^4–13 We wish to report here on the influence of electronic effects on the autoxidation kinetics of a series of substituted phenanthroline complexes of copper(I). The ligands investigated are 5,6-dimethyl-,5-chloro-, 5-nitro-, and unsubstituted 1,10-phenanthroline.¹⁴ Electron withdrawing or releasing substitutents were used at the 5 or the 5 and 6 positions to give maximum variation in electronic effects while keeping the ligand donor atom and stereochemistry constant. It is significant to note that the range of reactivity towards oxidation by molecular oxygen afforded by these substituted phenanthroline complexes is as wide as that reported in the literature for cuprous complexes with widely different ligand systems.     

Self‐Assembly of 3,6‐Bis(4‐triazolyl)pyridazine Ligands with Copper(I) and Silver(I) Ions: Time‐Dependant 2D‐NOESY and Ultracentrifuge Measurements

Two 3,6‐bis(R‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)pyridazines (R=mesityl, monodisperse (CH₂ CH₂O)₁₂CH₃) were synthesized by the copper(I)‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition and self‐assembled with tetrakis(acetonitrile)copper(I) hexafluorophosphate and silver(I) hexafluoroantimonate in dichloromethane. The obtained copper(I) complexes were characterized in detail by time‐dependent 1D [¹H, ¹³C] and 2D [¹H‐NOESY] NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, high‐resolution ESI‐TOF mass spectrometry, and analytical ultracentrifugation. The latter characterization methods, as well as the comparison to analog 3,6‐di(2‐pyridyl)pyridazine (dppn) systems and their corresponding copper(I) and silver(I) complexes indicated that the herein described 3,6‐bis(1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)pyridazine ligands form [2×2] supramolecular grids. However, in the case of the 3,6‐bis(1‐mesityl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)pyridazine ligand, the resultant red‐colored copper(I) complex turned out to be metastable in an acetone solution. This behavior in solution was studied by NMR spectroscopy, and it led to the conclusion that the copper(I) complex transforms irreversibly into at least one different metal complex species.     

Synthesis,Structure and Solvatochromism Studies on Copper(II) Complexes Containing Ethylenediamine,Pyridine and Imidazol Ligands

Two copper(II) complexes type [Cu(en)X₂](ClO₄)₂, where en = ethylenediamine and X = pyridine, 1 or imidazol, 2 have been synthesized and prepared on the bases of elemental analysis, spectroscopic and molar conductance measurements. The X‐ray crystal analysis of these complexes demonstrated that the copper(II) ions are in square planar environments through coordination by two nitrogen atoms of the ethylenediamine and two nitrogen atoms of two pyridine or imidazol molecules and the ClO₄^‐ ions are bound weakly above and below of the molecular plane. The complexes show three ions behavior in all solvents. The complexes are soluble in various solvents and are solvatochromic. The solvatochromism of the complexes were investigated by UV‐Vis spectroscopy with different solvent parameters such as DN, AN, α and β using multiple linear regression (MLR) method. The results suggested that the DN parameter of the solvent has the most contribution to the shift of the d‐d absorption band of the complex 1 but in complex 2 the DN and β have almost similar importance in the observed variation in the shift of the ν_max values with solvent nature.     

Synthesis of Various Water Soluble and Stable Copper Complexes Bearing N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands and Their Activity in DNA Alkylation

We report here the synthesis and catalytic evaluation in DNA alkylation of a series of water‐soluble copper complexes bearing N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. The NHC ligands were chosen to cover the gamut of commonly used scaffold variations, but in many cases, copper complexes could not be obtained or were unstable. Nevertheless, we identified several complexes that were both stable and catalytically active. Our studies provide guidance and starting scaffolds for any researchers interested in aqueous copper(I) catalysis. A key practical aspect of our findings is that azide‐bearing copper‐NHC complexes are excellent substrates for the azide‐alkyne cycloaddition, which allows late‐stage tailoring of the copper complexes.     

Yellow Circularly Polarized Luminescence from C1-Symmetrical Copper(I) Complexes

The synthesis of chiral C₁-symmetrical copper(I) complexes supported by chiral carbene ligands is described. These complexes are yellow emitters with modest quantum yields. Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) spectra show a polarized emission band with dissymmetry factors |g_lum|=1.2×10⁻³. These complexes are the first reported examples of molecular copper(I) complexes exhibiting circularly polarized luminescence. In contrast with most CPL-emitting molecules, which possess either helical or axial chirality, the results presented show that simple chiral architectures are suitable for CPL emission and unlock new synthetic possibilities.