Theoretical investigation into the mechanism of reductive elimination from bimetallic palladium complexes

Reductive elimination of C-Cl and C-C bonds from binuclear organopalladium complexes containing Pd-Pd bonds with overall formal oxidation state +III are explored by density functional theory for dichloromethane and acetonitrile solvent environments. An X-ray crystallographically authenticated neutral complex, [(L-C,N)ClPd(μ-O(2)CMe)](2) (L = benzo[h]quinolinyl) (I), is examined for C-Cl coupling, and the proposed cation, [(L-C,N)PhPd(1)(μ-O(2)CMe)(2)Pd(2)(L-C,N)](+) (II), examined for C-C coupling together with (L-C,N)PhPd(1)(μ-O(2)CMe)(2)Pd(2)Cl(L-C,N) (III) as a neutral analogue of II. In both polar and nonpolar solvents, reaction from III via chloride dissociation from Pd(2) to form II is predicted to be favored. Cation II undergoes Ph-C coupling at Pd(1) with concomitant Pd(1)-Pd(2) lengthening and shortening of the Pd(1)-O bond trans to the carbon atom of L; natural bond orbital analysis indicates that reductive coupling from II involves depopulation of the d(x(2)-y(2)) orbital of Pd(1) and population of the d(z(2)) orbitals of Pd(1) and Pd(2) as the Pd-Pd bond lengthens. Calculations for the symmetrical dichloro complex I indicate that a similar dissociative pathway for C-Cl coupling is competitive with a direct (nondissociative) pathway in acetonitrile, but the direct pathway is favored in dichloromethane. In contrast to the dissociative mechanism, direct coupling for I involves population of the d(x(2)-y(2)) orbital of Pd(1) with Pd(1)-O(1) lengthening, significantly less population occurs for the d(z(2)) orbital of Pd(1) than for the dissociative pathway, and d(z(2)) at Pd(2) is only marginally populated resulting in an intermediate that is formally a Pd(1)(I)-Pd(2)(III) species, (L-Cl-N,Cl)Pd(1)(μ-O(2)CMe)Pd(2)Cl(O(2)CMe)(L-C,N) that releases chloride from Pd(2) with loss of Pd(I)-Pd(III) bonding to form a Pd(II) species. A similar process is formulated for the less competitive direct pathway for C-C coupling from III, in this case involving decreased population of the d(z(2)) orbital of Pd(2) and strengthening of the Pd(I)-Pd(III) interaction in the analogous intermediate with η(2)-coordination at Pd(1) by L-Ph-N, C(1)-C(2).     

A dynamic open framework exhibiting guest- and/or temperature-induced bicycle-pedal motion in single-crystal to single-crystal transformation

A ligand bis(4-imidazol-1-yl-phenyl)diazene (azim) incorporating an azo moiety at the center and two imidazole groups at the terminals forms two coordination polymers {[Co(azim)(2)(DMF)(2)]·(ClO(4))(2)·2DMF}(n) (1) and {[Cd(azim)(2)(DMF)(2)]·(ClO(4))(2)·2DMF}(n) (2) (DMF = N,N'-dimethylformamide) at room temperature. Both 1 and 2 are isostructural with rhombic two-dimensional sheets stacking in ABAB... fashion resulting in large voids that contain DMF and ClO(4)ˉ as guests. In 1, the azo groups and phenyl rings are disordered over two positions and as in usual cases, the pedal motion cannot be discerned. Upon heating, 1 turns amorphous. In the case of 2, however, heat treatment does not lead to loss of crystallinity. Thus, when a crystal of 2 (mother crystal) is heated slowly, it causes substantial movement or escape of both metal-bound and lattice DMF besides movement of ClO(4)ˉ anions to give daughter crystals 2a, 2b, and 2c without losing crystallinity (single-crystal to single-crystal (SC-SC) transformation). Most interestingly, the X-ray structures of 2 and its daughter products reveal stepwise reversible bicycle-pedal or crankshaft motion of the azo group. When a crystal of 2c is kept in DMF for 10 h, crystal 2' is formed whose structure is similar to that of 2 with slight changes in the bond distances and angles. Also, crystals of 2 are converted to 3 and 4 upon being kept in acetone or DEF (DEF = N,N'-diethylformamide), respectively, for 10 h at ambient temperature in SC-SC transformation. In 3, each lattice DMF molecule is replaced by an acetone molecule, leaving the two coordinated DMF molecules intact. However, in 4, all lattice and coordinated DMF molecules are replaced by equal number of DEF molecules. Both in 3 and 4, the azo moieties show bicycle-pedal motion. Thus, bicycle-pedal motion that normally cannot be observed is shown here to be triggered by heat as well as guest molecules in SC-SC fashion.     

End-to-end azide-bridged manganese(III) chain compounds: field-induced magnetic phase transitions and variation of T(C) to 38 K depending on the side groups of the Schiff bases

Three one-dimensional coordination polymers [Mn(L)(N(3))](n) [L = L1 (1), L2 (2), L3 (3); L1H(2) = N,N'-bis(5-chlorosalicylideneiminato)-1,3-diaminopentane, L2H(2) = N,N'-bis(5-bromosalicylideneiminato)-1,3-diaminopentane, L3H(2) = N,N'-bis(5-bromosalicylideneiminato)-1,3-diamino-2-dimethylpropane] bridged by end-to-end azides were prepared. The crystal systems differ according to the Schiff bases used. Each Mn atom adopts a typical Jahn-Teller distortion. The helicity of the chains occurs in a racemic manner only for 2. No noncovalent forces are relevant in 2, while π-π contacts are visible in 1 and 3. Magnetic measurements show the presence of apparent spin canting. Complexes 1 and 3 exhibit a field-induced metamagnetic transition from an antiferromagnetic state to a weak ferromagnetic phase, whereas 2 embraces a field-induced two-step magnetic phase transition. The critical temperature is observed at 38 K for 2, which is relatively higher than those for 1 (11 K) and 3 (10 K). The pronounced long-range order may contribute from intrachain exchange couplings and through-space dipolar interactions between adjacent chains.     

Crystal structure refinement and bonding patterns of CrB4: a boron-rich boride with a framework of tetrahedrally coordinated B atoms

Crystals of chromium tetraboride, a recently proposed candidate superhard material, have been grown for the first time to allow for a first structure refinement of the compound [orthorhombic, space group Immm (No. 71), a = 474.82(8) pm, b = 548.56(8) pm, and c = 287.17(4) pm, R value (all data) = 0.018]. The previously proposed structure model is confirmed, and accurate interatomic distances are presented for the first time. First-principles electronic structure calculations emphasize the unique framework of three-dimensionally linked B atoms that are tetrahedrally coordinated and carry a slightly negative charge. All B-B bonding is of the 2-center 2-electron type. CrB(4) is metallic with a pseudogap at the Fermi level.     

N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed aroylation of 3,5-dichloro-2(1H)-pyrazinones

The N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed chemoselective C3-aroylation of 3,5-dichloro-2(1H)-pyrazinones with various aldehydes is reported. We herein describe results of this remarkable mild and efficient procedure.     

Acid-catalyzed dehydration of naphthalene-cis-1,2-dihydrodiols: origin of impaired resonance effect of 3-substituents

Acid-catalyzed dehydrations of substituted naphthalene-cis-1,2-dihydrodiols occur with loss of the 1- or 2-OH group to form 2- and 1-naphthols, respectively. Effects of substituents MeO, Me, H, F, Br, I, and CN at 3-, 6-, and 7-positions of the naphthalene ring are consistent with rate-determining formation of β-hydroxynaphthalenium ion (carbocation) intermediates. For reaction of the 1-hydroxyl group the 3-substituents are correlated by the Yukawa-Tsuno relationship with ρ = -4.7 and r = 0.25 or by σ(p) constants with ρ = -4.25; for reaction of the 2-hydroxyl group the 3-substituents are correlated by σ(m) constants with ρ = -8.1. The correlations for the 1-hydroxyl imply a surprisingly weak resonance interaction of +M substituents (MeO, Me) with a carbocation reaction center but are consistent with the corresponding correlation for acid-catalyzed dehydration of 3-substituted benzene-cis-1,2-dihydrodiols for which ρ = -6.9 and r = 0.43. Substituents at the 6- and 7-positions of the naphthalene rings by contrast are correlated by σ(+) with ρ = -3.2 for reaction of the 1-hydroxyl group and ρ = -2.7 for reaction of the 2-hydroxyl group. The unimpaired resonance implied by these substituent effects appears to be inconsistent with a previous explanation of the weak resonance of the 3-substituents in terms of imbalance of charge development and/or nonplanarity of the benzenium ring in the transition state. An alternative possibility is that the adjacent hydroxyl group interferes sterically with conjugation of +M substituents. "Hyperaromaticity" of the arenium ion intermediates does not appear to be a factor influencing this behavior.     

Impregnated ruthenium on magnetite as a recyclable catalyst for the N-alkylation of amines, sulfonamides, sulfinamides, and nitroarenes using alcohols as electrophiles by a hydrogen autotransfer process

Various impregnated metallic salts on magnetite have been prepared, including cobalt, nickel, copper, ruthenium, and palladium salts, as well as a bimetallic palladium-copper derivative. Impregnated ruthenium catalyst is a versatile, inexpensive, and simple system for the selective N-monoalkylation of amino derivatives with poor nucleophilic character, such as aromatic and heteroaromatic amines, sulfonamides, sulfinamides, and nitroarenes, using in all cases alcohols as the initial source of the electrophile, through a hydrogen autotransfer process. In the case of sulfinamides, this is the first time that these amino compounds have been alkylated following this strategy, allowing the use of chiral sulfinamides and secondary alcohols to give the alkylated compound with a diastereomeric ratio of 92:8. In these cases, after alkylation, a simple acid deprotection gave the expected primary amines in good yields. The ruthenium catalyst is quite sensitive, and small modifications of the reaction medium can change the final product. The alkylation of amines using potassium hydroxide renders the N-monoalkylated amines, and the same protocol using sodium hydroxide yields the related imines. The catalyst can be easily removed by a simple magnet and can be reused up to ten times, showing the same activity.     

Do commercially available metal salts mediate calixarene formation via hydrogen-bonded dimers?

In this article we report the first example of a Lewis acid promoted, one-pot, Br?nsted acid free, high-yielding synthesis of the calixarene macrocycle from the "monomer" p-tert-butylphenol. We report that when a commercially available metal salt (Lewis acid) is incorporated within the calixarene-forming reaction, a certain amount of control over the size of the calixarenes produced can be gained. Although a detailed mechanistic rationale on how the macrocycle is assembled is unclear, what is evident from this work is that the metal cation, the counteranion, and the oxidation state of the salt employed are all important contributors to the outcome of the reaction process. Indeed, evidence to date suggests that a subtle "symbiotic" relationship exists between the metal cation, its oxidation state, and the anion that allows the efficient transformation of the "monomeric" p-tert-butylphenol into linear oligomers and, ultimately, into macrocyclic calixarenes. Athough the metal salt mediated process described herein is efficient and high-yielding, what is also fundamentally important is that a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of how the calixarenes are assembled be accrued. Searching for possible indicators or clues, we propose that oligomeric methylene-linked phenolic entities are initially formed and that these, we tentatively suggest, generate metal and/or anion hydrogen-bonded supramolecular intermediates. It is possible that the preorganization of the linear polyphenolic oligomers allows the formation of hydrogen-bonded structures which, critically, result in the formation of supramolecular assemblies that are subsequently "stitched" together, generating the p-tert-butylcalix[n]arenes (n = 4-9) in excellent yields. Substantiating the possibility that hydrogen-bonded entities are generated (and that these subsequently afford metal-templated assemblies), we make reference to a seldom cited 1962 Nature publication that reported the propensity of polyphenolic linear oligomers to form "well-defined intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded conformations".     

Alveolar macrophages modulate allergic inflammation in a murine model of asthma

The role of alveolar macrophages (AMs) in the pathogenesis of asthma is still unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of AM in the murine model of asthma. AMs were selectively depleted by liposomes containing clodronate just before allergen challenges, and changes in inflammatory cells and cytokine concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were measured. AMs were then adoptively transferred to AM-depleted sensitized mice and changes were measured. Phenotypic changes in AMs were evaluated after in vitro allergen stimulation. AM-depletion after sensitization significantly increased the number of eosinophils and lymphocytes and the concentrations of IL-4, IL-5 and GM-CSF in BAL fluid. These changes were significantly ameliorated only by adoptive transfer of unsensitized AMs, not by sensitized AMs. In addition, in vitro allergen stimulation of AMs resulted in their gaining the ability to produce inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and losing the ability to suppress GM-CSF concentrations in BAL fluid. These findings suggested that AMs worked probably through GM-CSF-dependent mechanisms, although further confirmatory experiments are needed. Our results indicate that the role of AMs in the context of airway inflammation should be re-examined.     

A synthetic approach to kingianin A based on biosynthetic speculation

A synthetic approach towards the structurally complex dimer, kingianin A is reported. The strategy involved a cascade of complexity generating reactions, inspired through biosynthetic speculation. A concise protecting group free synthesis of the proposed monomeric precursor pre-kingianin A has been achieved using a tandem Stille cross-coupling reaction and electrocyclisation process. However, preliminary studies of the key dimerisation reaction have been conducted, which indicate that the process is not spontaneous, raising questions as to the origin of this complex natural product.