Hydrogen-bond-directing effect in the ionothermal synthesis of metal coordination polymers

Four new cobalt coordination polymers, (EMIm)[Co2(TMA-H)2(44bpy)3]Br 1, (EMIm)[Co(TMA-H)(44bpy)2](44bpy)Br 2, (EMIm)[Co(TMA)(Im-H)]3 and (EMIm)2[Co(TMA)2(TED-H2)] 4, were prepared from 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium bromide (EMIm-Br). All the compounds have similar two-dimensional cobalt trimesate (TMA) coordination layers but different three-dimensional supramolecular architectures that contain one of three potentially ditopic amines, 4,4'-bipyridine (44bpy), imidazole (Im-H) and triethylenediamine (TED). Two-fold interpenetration of hydrogen-bonding networks was found for 1, 2 and 4. The coordination layers of 1 and 2 are neutral while 3 and 4 have anionic molecular assemblies. The use of organic amines, that act as supramolecular bridging ligands, introduces hydrogen-bond-directing effects in the ionothermal synthesis of metal coordination polymers. Hydrogen bonding helps to align the packing between the coordination layers and control the formation of 3D supramolecular networks. In 1, hydrogen bonds between the ionic species within the channels direct the alignment of non-directional electrostatic interactions between EMIm+ and Br(-) ions, which is a rare case of a hydrogen-bond-templating effect of ionic liquids in ionothermal synthesis.     

Organocatalytic functionalization of carboxylic acids: isothiourea-catalyzed asymmetric intra- and intermolecular Michael addition--lactonizations

Tetramisole promotes the catalytic asymmetric intramolecular Michael addition-lactonization of a variety of enone acids, giving carbo- and heterocyclic products with high diastereo- and enantiocontrol (up to 99:1 dr, up to 99% ee) that are readily derivatized to afford functionalized indene and dihydrobenzofuran carboxylates. Chiral isothioureas also promote the catalytic asymmetric intermolecular Michael addition-lactonization of arylacetic acids and α-keto-β,γ-unsaturated esters, giving anti-dihydropyranones with high diastereo- and enantiocontrol (up to 98:2 dr, up to 99% ee).     

Organic base effects in NHC promoted O- to C-carboxyl transfer; chemoselectivity profiles, mechanistic studies and domino catalysis

The O- to C-carboxyl transfer of oxazolyl carbonates promoted by triazolinylidenes, generated in situ with NEt(3), shows a markedly different rate and chemoselectivity profile to the same reaction promoted by triazolinylidenes generated using KHMDS. The mechanism of these pathways has been probed through extensive crossover studies to understand this process. The use of NEt(3) as a base allows domino multi-step reaction sequences to be developed, although chiral NHCs only generate modest levels of asymmetric induction (<15% ee) in these domino reaction processes.     

Well-defined [Rh(NHC)(OH)] complexes enabling the conjugate addition of arylboronic acids to α,β-unsaturated ketones

The synthesis and catalytic activity of three well-defined monomeric rhodium(I) hydroxide complexes bearing N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands are reported. [Rh(cod)(ICy)(OH)] promoted the 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to cyclic enones, with TONs and TOFs of 100,000 and 6,600 h(-1), respectively, at 0.001 mol% catalyst loadings. Mechanistic studies permitted the isolation of a phenylrhodium intermediate.     

Synthesis of hybrid dendritic molecules with diazaphospholidine oxide grafted at the surface of octavinylsilsesquioxane (OVS)

A range of dendritic molecules was made using the monodentate SEMI-ESPHOS phosphine oxide ligand, which was derivatised with a series of functional groups including bromide, vinyl, allyl and terminal alkyne. Several methods to attach the resulting precursors onto octavinylsilsesquioxane (OVS), ranging from hydrosilylation, Suzuki, Heck, Grubbs or Sonogashira coupling reactions, have been investigated. Cross-metathesis of SEMI-ESPHOS oxide dendrons containing vinyl end groups with OVS catalyzed by Grubbs' catalyst was proven to be effective in the formation of precursors for dendritic molecules based on OVS.