Synthesis and Electrochemical Behavior of Mixed Organoboron/Organomercury Compounds

As part of our ongoing interest in the synthesis and reduction chemistry of organoboron species, we have investigated the synthesis of mixed organoboron/organomercury complexes by reaction of the Li(THF)₄ salt of dimesityl‐1, 8‐naphthalenediylborate with 1, 2‐(HgCl)₂C₆F₄ and 1, 3‐(HgCl)₂C₆F₄, respectively. The resulting tetranuclear B₂Hg₂ complexes ( 2 and 3 , respectively) were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. The cyclic voltammogram of complex 2 , which features a B–Hg–Hg‐B core connected by an ortho‐phenylene (Hg–Hg connection) and two peri‐naphthalenediyl linkers (B–Hg connection), shows significant coupling of the two electroactive boryl units, presumably via a direct σ interaction of the vacant p orbitals of the four neighboring Lewis acids. This conclusion is supported by DFT calculations, which show that the LUMO of 2 spans the four Lewis acids, with a major in phase contribution from the boron 2p orbitals and the mercury 6p orbitals.     

Cyclic (Alkyl)(Amino)Carbene (CAAC) Gold(I) Complexes as Chemotherapeutic Agents

Cyclic (Alkyl)(Amino)Carbenes (CAACs) have become forceful ligands for gold due to their ability to form very strong ligand-metal bonds. Inspired by the success of Auranofin and other gold complexes as antitumor agents, we have studied the cytotoxicity of bis- and mono-CAAC-gold complexes on different cancer cell lines: HeLa (cervical cancer), A549 (lung cancer), HT1080 (fibrosarcoma) and Caov-3 (ovarian cancer). Further investigations aimed at elucidating their mechanism of action are described. This includes quantification of affinities for TrxR, evaluation of their bioavailability and determination of associated cell death process. Moreover, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was used to study morphological changes upon exposure. Noticeably, a significant reduction in non-specific binding to serum proteins was observed with CAAC complexes when compared to Auranofin. These results confirm the potential of CAAC-gold complexes in biological environments, which may result in more specific drug-target interactions and decreased side effects.     

Stable Cyclic Carbenes and Related Species beyond Diaminocarbenes

The success of homogeneous catalysis can be attributed largely to the development of a diverse range of ligand frameworks that have been used to tune the behavior of various systems. Spectacular results in this area have been achieved using cyclic diaminocarbenes (NHCs) as a result of their strong σ‐donor properties. Although it is possible to cursorily tune the structure of NHCs, any diversity is still far from matching their phosphorus‐based counterparts, which is one of the great strengths of the latter. A variety of stable acyclic carbenes are known, but they are either reluctant to bind metals or they give rise to fragile metal complexes. During the last five years, new types of stable cyclic carbenes, as well as related carbon‐based ligands (which are not NHCs), and which feature even stronger σ‐donor properties have been developed. Their synthesis and characterization as well as the stability, electronic properties, coordination behavior, and catalytic activity of the ensuing complexes are discussed, and comparisons with their NHC cousins are made.     

Synthesis and Ligand Properties of a Persistent,All‐Carbon Four‐Membered‐Ring Allene

A single donor substituent at each terminus is sufficient to make the CCC skeleton of allenes very flexible and give carbon(0) character to the central carbon atom. This allows the synthesis of a four‐membered carbocyclic allene, which can be doubly protonated and behaves as a very strong η¹‐donor ligand for transition metals (see scheme).

     

Vulcanization of polypropylene

Dynamic covalent crosslinking of commodity thermoplastics is a desirable target in material development, as it promises to combine the enhanced mechanical properties and thermal/solvent stability of thermosets with reprocessability and plastic flow under certain conditions activating the bond exchange. Many attempts of this development suffer from the same two problems: enhanced cost due to complex and often toxic chemicals, and the effective melt-flow index being too low for practical use. Here we return to the origins of polymer networks, and mimic the vulcanization of natural rubber in the commodity polypropylene using elemental sulfur initiated by peroxide. Forming sulfur bridges allows easy catalyst-free reprocessability based on the disulfide bond exchange. We study a broad range of compositions and reaction conditions, finding optimal balance between the crosslinking and chain scission in the melt compounder, and demonstrating much enhanced characteristics of the resulting materials. We specifically discuss and evaluate the balance between the rubber-elastic network response at high temperatures and the plastic flow enabled by disulfide exchange, responsible for the reprocessing of our vitrimers.     

An efficient synthesis of pyrimidines from beta-amino alcohols

[reaction: see text] Pyrimidinones 3 were chemoselectively reduced by using metal-catalyzed hydrogenation and stereoselectively substituted by various nucleophiles. Starting from beta-amino alcohols 1, the overall process allows efficient access to substituted pyrimidines 4 and 6.     

A Convenient One-Pot Synthesis of Cyclohexenic Primary Amines

The reaction between Grignard reagents prepared from allylic or propargylic halides and the N-phenylsulfenimine derived from the heptane-2,6-dione affords primary 1-alkenyl (or alkynyl)-3-methylcyclohex-2-enamines in good yields.     

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.     

Air‐Stable (CAAC)CuCl and (CAAC)CuBH4 Complexes as Catalysts for the Hydrolytic Dehydrogenation of BH3NH3

The first stable copper borohydride complex [(CAAC)CuBH₄] [CAAC=cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbene] bearing a single monodentate ligand was prepared by addition of NaBH₄ or BH₃NH₃ to the corresponding [(CAAC)CuCl] complex. Both complexes are air‐stable and promote the catalytic hydrolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia borane. The amount of hydrogen released reaches 2.8 H₂/BH₃NH₃ with a turnover frequency of 8400 mol mol_cat^?1 h^?1 at 25 °C. In a fifteen‐cycle experiment, the catalyst was reused without any loss of efficiency.