Preorganized frustrated Lewis pairs

Geminal frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) are expected to exhibit increased reactivity when the donor and acceptor sites are perfectly aligned. This is shown for reactions of the nonfluorinated FLP tBu(2)PCH(2)BPh(2) with H(2), CO(2), and isocyanates and supported computationally.     

Nucleophilic or electrophilic phosphinidene complexes ML(n)=PH; what makes the difference?

Density functional studies, based on the local density approximation including nonlocal corrections for correlation and exchange self-consistently, have been carried out for the equilibrium structures of the phosphinidene transition metal complexes ML(n)=PH, with M = Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir and L = CO, PH(3), Cp. The chemical reactivity of the transition metal-stabilized phosphinidene P-R is influenced by its spectator ligands L. Ligands with strong sigma-donor capabilities on the metal increase the electron density on the phosphorus atom, raise the pi-orbital energy, and enhance its nucleophilicity. Spectator ligands with strong pi-acceptor capabilities lower the charge concentration on P and stabilize the pi-orbital, which results in a higher affinity for electron-rich species. The ML(n)=PH bond is investigated using a bond energy analysis in terms of electrostatic interaction, Pauli repulsion, and orbital interaction. A symmetry decomposition scheme affords a quantitative estimate of the sigma- and pi-bond strengths. It is shown that the investigated phosphinidenes are strong pi-acceptors and even stronger sigma-donors. The metal-phosphinidene interaction increases on going from the first to the second- and third-row transition metals.     

N-Heterocyclic carbene functionalized iridium phosphinidene complex [Cp*(NHC)Ir=PMes*]: comparison of phosphinidene,imido, and carbene complexes

The novel phosphinidene complex [Cp*(NHC)Ir=PMes*] (3; NHC=1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene) was prepared in high yield from [Cp*(NHC)IrCl(2)] (2) and [LiPHMes*].3 THF. It represents the first example of an NHC ligated transition metal phosphinidene complex. The X-ray crystal structure for 3 is also reported. DFT calculations on the N-heterocyclic carbene containing parent complexes [Cp(NHC)Ir=E] (E=PH, NH, CH(2)) show that the NHC ligand acts as good sigma-donor/weak pi-acceptor ligand and forms strong Ir-C(NHC) single bonds. The Ir=E double bonds result from strong triplet-triplet interactions between [Cp(NHC)Ir] and E.     

Protonation enthalpies in fluorosulfonic acid using ab initio self-consistent reaction field theory

Electrostatic solvation free energies were computed for several small neutral bases and their conjugate acids using a continuum solvation model called the self-consistent isodensity polarizable continuum model (SCIPCM). The solvation energies were computed at the restricted Hartree–Fock (RHF) and second-order Møller–Plesset (MP2) levels of theory, as well as with the Becke3–Lee–Yang–Parr (B3LYP) density functional theory, using the standard 6–31G** Gaussian basis set. The RHF solvation energies are similar to those computed at the correlated MP2 and B3LYP theoretical levels. A model for computing protonation enthalpies for neutral bases in fluorosulfonic acid solvent leads to the equation ΔH(B)=−PA(B)+ΔE_t(BH⁺)−ΔE_t(B)+β, where PA(B) is the gas phase proton affinity for base B, ΔE_t(BH⁺) is the SCIPCM solvation energy for the conjugate acid, and ΔE_t(B) is the solvation energy for the base. A fit to experimental values of ΔH(B) for 10 neutral bases (H₂O, MeOH, Me₂O, H₂S, MeSH, Me₂S, NH₃, MeNH₂, Me₂NH, and PH₃) gives β=238.4±2.9 kcal/mol when ΔΔE_t is computed using the 0.0004 e⋅bohr⁻³ isodensity surface for defining the solute cavity at the RHF/6–31G** level. The model predicts that for carbon monoxide ΔH(CO)=10 kcal/mol. Thus, protonation of CO is endothermic, and the conjugate acid HCO⁺ (formyl cation) behaves as a strong acid in fluorosulfonic acid. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 19: 250–257, 1998     

Dimeric aluminum-phosphorus compounds as masked frustrated Lewis pairs for small molecule activation

Hydroalumination of aryldialkynylphosphines RP(C≡C-(t)Bu)(2) (R = Ph, Mes) with equimolar quantities of diethylaluminum hydride afforded mixed alkenyl-alkynyl cyclic dimers in which the dative aluminum-phosphorus bonds are geminal to the exocyclic alkenyl groups. Addition of triethylaluminum to isolated 1 (R = Ph) or to the in situ generated species (R = Mes) caused diethylaluminum ethynide elimination to yield the arylethylphosphorus dimers 2 and 3. These possess a chair-like Al(2)C(2)P(2) heterocycle with intermolecular Al-P interactions. The boat conformation (4) was obtained by the reaction of (t)Bu-P(C≡C-(t)Bu)(2) with di(tert-butyl)aluminum hydride. Despite being dimeric, 2 behaves as a frustrated Lewis pair and activates small molecules. The reaction with carbon dioxide gave cis/trans isomeric AlPC(2)O heterocycles that differ only by the configuration of the exocyclic alkenyl unit. Four isomers resulted from the reaction with phenyl isocyanate. This is caused by cis/trans isomerization of the initial C=O adduct and subsequent rearrangement to the AlPC(2)N heterocycle, being the C=N adduct.     

Development and Validation of a RP-HPLC–PDA Method for Determination of Curcuminoids in Microemulsions

A sensitive, specific and rapid high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed in an effort to quantify extremely low curcuminoid levels for the future transdermal experiments where the curcuminoids are incorporated with excipients such as microemulsion, liposomes, and micelles. The chromatographic separation was performed using a Symmetry^® C₁₈, 250 × 4.6 mm, 5-μm column, with a mobile phase composed of 5 mM acetonitrile:phosphoric acid (45:55, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1, it was sensitive with a low limit of quantitation for curcuminoids (0.626 ng mL^?1 for curcumin) and good linearity (r ² ≥ 0.999) over the range 1–100 ng mL^?1. All the validation data, such as accuracy and precision, were within the required limits from the ICH guideline. The assay method was successfully applied during forced degradation of curcuminoid solutions. The method retained its accuracy and precision when the standard addition technique was applied.     

Functionalization of P4 Using a Lewis Acid Stabilized Bicyclo[1.1.0]tetraphosphabutane Anion

Reacting white phosphorus (P₄) with sterically encumbered aryl lithium reagents (aryl=2,6‐dimesitylphenyl or 2,4,6‐tBu₃C₆H₂) and B(C₆F₅)₃ gives the unique, isolable Lewis acid stabilized bicyclo[1.1.0]tetraphosphabutane anion. Subsequent alkylation of the nucleophilic site of the RP₄ anion gives access to non‐symmetrical disubstituted bicyclic tetraphosphorus compounds. This novel method enables P? C bond formation in a controlled fashion using white phosphorus as starting material.     

Dual Activation of Aromatic Diels–Alder Reactions

The unusually fast Diels–Alder reactions of [5]cyclophanes were analyzed by DFT at the BLYP-D3(BJ)/TZ2P level of theory. The computations were guided by an integrated activation-strain and Kohn–Sham molecular orbital analysis. It is revealed why both [5]metacyclophane and [5]paracyclophane exhibit a significant rate enhancement compared to their planar benzene analogue. The activation strain analyses revealed that the enhanced reactivity originates from 1) predistortion of the aromatic core resulting in a reduced activation strain of the aromatic diene, and/or 2) enhanced interaction with the dienophile through a distortion-controlled lowering of the HOMO–LUMO gap within the diene. Both of these physical mechanisms and thus the rate of Diels–Alder cycloaddition can be tuned through different modes of geometrical distortion (meta versus para bridging) and by heteroatom substitution in the aromatic ring. Judicious choice of the bridge and heteroatom in the aromatic core enables effective tuning of the aromatic Diels–Alder reactivity to achieve activation barriers as low as 2 kcal mol⁻¹, which is an impressive 35 kcal mol⁻¹ lower than that of benzene.