Mechanism of the carbopalladation of alkynes by aryl-palladium complexes

The reaction between trans-PhPdI(PPh₃)₂ and EtO₂C-CCH has been investigated. This carbopalladation step involved in palladium-catalyzed multicomponent reactions with alkynes gives the unusual trans-adduct EtO₂C-C(PdIL₂)CHPh 1 as the major complex formed by isomerization of the primary cis-adduct EtO₂C-C(PdIL₂)CHPh 2. The carbopalladation was regiospecific. A multicarbopalladation was also observed by successive carbopalladation of EtO₂C-CCH by the vinyl-palladium complexes themselves generated in carbopalladation steps, leading to cationic complexes.     

Mechanism of Palladium‐Catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura Reactions: Multiple and Antagonistic Roles of Anionic “Bases” and Their Countercations

In Suzuki–Miyaura reactions, anionic bases F^? and OH^? (used as is or generated from CO₃^2? in water) play multiple antagonistic roles. Two are positive: 1) formation of trans‐[Pd(Ar)F(L)₂] or trans‐[Pd(Ar)‐ (L)₂(OH)] (L=PPh₃) that react with Ar′B(OH)₂ in the rate‐determining step (rds) transmetallation and 2) catalysis of the reductive elimination from intermediate trans‐[Pd(Ar)(Ar′)(L)₂]. Two roles are negative: 1) formation of unreactive arylborates (or fluoroborates) and 2) complexation of the OH group of [Pd(Ar)(L)₂(OH)] by the countercation of the base (Na⁺, Cs⁺, K⁺).     

Two Photon‐Induced Electron Injection From a Nanotrigger in Native Endothelial NO‐Synthase

We have recently designed a nanotrigger (NT), a photoactive molecule addressing the NADPH sites of proteins. This nanotrigger has a 10³ times larger two‐photon cross‐section compared to the ubiquitous NADPH cofactor. In this work, we tested whether two‐photon excitation of the bound NT to NADPH sites may be used to initiate enzymatic catalysis by appropriate electron injection. To establish proof of principle, we monitored the ultrafast absorption of NT bound to the fully active endothelial NO‐Synthase (eNOS) following excitation by one and two‐photons at 405 and 810 nm, respectively. Electron injection from NT* to FAD in eNOS initiated the catalytic cycle in 15±3 ps at both exciting wavelengths. The data proved for the first time that electron transfer can be promoted by two‐photon excitation. We also show that the nanotrigger decays faster in homogeneous solvents than in the NADPH site of proteins, suggesting that hindered environments modified the natural decay of NT. The nanotrigger provides a convenient way of synchronizing an ensemble of proteins in solution with a femtosecond laser pulse. The ability of NT to initiate NOS catalysis by two‐photon excitation may be exploited for controlled and localized release of free NO in cells with enhanced spatial and temporal resolution.     

Substitution nucleophile vinylique par le reactif de reformatsky catalysee par des complexes du nickel et du palladium zerovalents. Synthese d'esters β,γ-ethyleniques

Zerovalent complexes of palladium and nickel catalyse vinylic nucleophilic substitution by the Reformatsky reagent giving β,γ-ethylenic esters. Formation of a σ-vinylpalladium complex is the rate-determining step of the reaction.     

Iron-catalyzed reductive radical cyclization of organic halides in the presence of NaBH4: evidence of an active hydrido iron(I) catalyst

Iron made'em: iron(II) complexes such as FeCl(2) and [FeCl(2)(dppe)(2) ] (dppe=1,2-bisdiphenylphosphinoethane) are efficient precatalysts for the radical cyclization of unsaturated iodides and bromides in the presence of NaBH(4). Cyclic voltammetry studies suggests that the reaction occurs through a radical mechanism via an anionic hydrido iron(I) species as the key intermediate for the activation of the substrates by electron transfer.     

Mechanistic origin of antagonist effects of usual anionic bases (OH-, CO3(2-)) as modulated by their countercations (Na+, Cs+, K+) in palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura reactions

The mechanism of the reaction of trans-ArPdBrL(2) (Ar=p-Z-C(6)H(4), Z=CN, H; L=PPh(3)) with Ar'B(OH)(2) (Ar'=p-Z'-C(6)H(4), Z'=H, CN, MeO), which is a key step in the Suzuki-Miyaura process, has been established in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) with two bases, acetate (nBu(4)NOAc) or carbonate (Cs(2)CO(3)) and compared with that of hydroxide (nBu(4)NOH), reported in our previous work. As anionic bases are inevitably introduced with a countercation M(+) (e.g., M(+)OH(-)), the role of cations in the transmetalation/reductive elimination has been first investigated. Cations M(+) (Na(+), Cs(+), K(+)) are not innocent since they induce an unexpected decelerating effect in the transmetalation via their complexation to the OH ligand in the reactive ArPd(OH)L(2), partly inhibiting its transmetalation with Ar'B(OH)(2). A decreasing reactivity order is observed when M(+) is associated with OH(-): nBu(4)N(+) > K(+) > Cs(+) > Na(+). Acetates lead to the formation of trans-ArPd(OAc)L(2), which does not undergo transmetalation with Ar'B(OH)(2). This explains why acetates are not used as bases in Suzuki-Miyaura reactions that involve Ar'B(OH)(2). Carbonates (Cs(2)CO(3)) give rise to slower reactions than those performed from nBu(4)NOH at the same concentration, even if the reactions are accelerated in the presence of water due to the generation of OH(-). The mechanism of the reaction with carbonates is then similar to that established for nBu(4)NOH, involving ArPd(OH)L(2) in the transmetalation with Ar'B(OH)(2). Due to the low concentration of OH(-) generated from CO(3)(2-) in water, both transmetalation and reductive elimination result slower than those performed from nBu(4)NOH at equal concentrations as Cs(2)CO(3). Therefore, the overall reactivity is finely tuned by the concentration of the common base OH(-) and the ratio [OH(-)]/[Ar'B(OH)(2)]. Hence, the anionic base (pure OH(-) or OH(-) generated from CO(3)(2-)) associated with its countercation (Na(+), Cs(+), K(+)) plays four antagonist kinetic roles: acceleration of the transmetalation by formation of the reactive ArPd(OH)L(2), acceleration of the reductive elimination, deceleration of the transmetalation by formation of unreactive Ar'B(OH)(3)(-) and by complexation of ArPd(OH)L(2) by M(+).     

13C Hyperfine Interactions in t-(13CH)x Studied by Electron Spin echoes

Electron Spin Echo (ESE) experiments have been performed on 9956 ^l3C-enriched trans-(CH)x. Strong modulation 1s observed In the envelope traced by the decay of the spin echoes. This modulation arises from the interaction of the paramagnetic defect with ¹³C nuclei. The electron-nuclear hyperfine coupling may be determined by Fourier transformation of the time domain signal. At 6K we find a maximum hyperfine coupling of 1.75 Mhz.