Distinguishing carbones from allenes by complexation to AuCl

Quantum chemical calculations have been performed for the dicoordinated carbon compounds C(PPh(3))(2), C(NHC(Me))(2), R(2) C=C=CR(2) (R = H, F, NMe(2)), C(3)O(2), C(CN)(2)(-) and N-methyl-substituted N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC(Me)). The geometries of the complexes in which the dicoordinated carbon molecules bind as ligands to one and two AuCl moieties have been optimized and the strength and nature of the metal-ligand interactions in the mono- and diaurated complexes were investigated by means of energy decomposition analysis. The goal of the study is to elucidate the differences in the chemical behavior between carbones, allenes and carbenes. The results show that carbones bind one and two AuCl species in η(1) fashion, whereas allenes bind them in η(2) fashion. Compounds with latent divalent carbon(0) character can coordinate in more than one way, with the dominant mode indicating the degree of carbone or allene character. The calculated structures of the mono- and diaurated tetraaminoallenes (TAAs) reveal that TAAs exhibit a chameleon-like behavior: The bonding situation in the equilibrium structure is best described as allene [(R(2)N)(2)]C=C=C[(NR(2))(2)] in which the central carbon atom is a tetravalent C(IV) species, but the reactivity suggests that TAAs should be considered as divalent C(0) compounds C{C[(NR(2))(2)]}(2), that is, as "hidden" carbones. Carbon suboxide binds one AuCl preferentially in the η(1) mode, whereas the equilibrium structures of the η(1)- and η(2)-bonded diaurated complex are energetically nearly degenerate. The doubly negatively charged isoelectronic carbone C(CN)(2)(2-) binds one and two AuCl very strongly in characteristic η(1) fashion. The N-heterocyclic carbene complex, [NHC(Me)(AuCl)], possesses a high bond dissociation energy (BDE) for the splitting off of AuCl. The diaurated NHC adduct, [NHC(Me)(AuCl)(2)], has two η(1)-bonded AuCl moieties that exhibit aurophilic attraction, which yield a moderate bond strength that might be large enough for synthesizing the complex. The BDE for the second AuCl in [NHC(Me)(AuCl)(2)] is clearly smaller than the values for the second AuCl in doubly aurated carbone complexes.     

Gold catalysis: 1,3-oxazines by cyclisation of allene amides

A series of allene amides was prepared and their gold-catalysed cyclisation was investigated. The formation of six-membered rings, 1,3-oxazines, was observed. Dihydropyrroles originating from intramolecular hydroamination of the distal C=C double bonds of the allenes were minor side products. Mechanistic studies by in situ (31)P NMR spectroscopy showed only one additional species during the conversion in each case; a computational study of the different allyl gold(I) species involved allowed this to be assigned as the σ-allyl gold species bearing the gold catalyst at the sterically less hindered methylene end. The regiospecific deuterodeauration of this intermediate confirmed a S(E) '-type mechanism for this last step of the catalytic cycle.     

Allenes as three-carbon units in catalytic cycloadditions: new opportunities with transition-metal catalysts

Allenes are very versatile synthetic units that are used in many types of catalytic cycloaddition reactions. Most examples reported so far involve their use as 2C-atom components, whereas their participations as 3C-atom components have been much less frequent. In this concept article, we present an overview of this latter strategy, emphasizing on those more recent contributions involving the use of Pt(II) and Au(I) catalysts, which have uncovered new opportunities in this area.