Synthesis and transformations of metallacycles 33. The first example of cycloalumination of cyclonona-1,2-diene with Et<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al and EtAlCl<Subscript>2</Subscript> in the presence of Cp<Subscript>2</Subscript>ZrCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Catalytic cycloalumination of cyclonona-1,2-diene upon treatment with Et₃Al and EtAlCl₂ in the presence of Cp₂ZrCl₂, leading to 10-ethyl-10-aluminabicyclo[7.3.0^1,9]dodec-8-ene (1) and 11-ethyl-11-aluminatricyclo[10.7.0^1,12.0^2,10]nonadeca-9,12-diene, respectively, was accomplished in high yields. A possibility for the selective transformation of compound 1 to 1-allyl-9-(pent-4-enyl)cyclonon-1-ene and 10-hydroxybicyclo[7.3.0^1,9]dodec-8-ene in one preparative step was demonstrated. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2156–2159, November, 2007.     

Electrocatalytic dehalogenation of α-bromoketones in the presence of Cp2TiCl2

Processes of direct and electrocatalytic (in the presence of electrochemically reduced Cp₂TiCl₂) reduction of three α-bromoketones containing the C(sp³)-Br or C(sp²)-Br bond, viz., 2-bromo-and 2,6-dibromo-4,4-dimethylcyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ones and α-bromo-acetophenone, were studied by cyclic voltammetry and preparative electrolysis. In all cases, the dissociative electron transfer proceeds via the concerted mechanism. Preparative electrolysis of these α-bromoketones in the presence of Cp₂TiCl₂ affords the reductive debromination products in 40–80% yield at low cathodic potentials (−0.85 V vs. Ag/AgCl/KCl). In the case of 2,6-dibromo-4,4-dimethylcyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-one in the potentiostatic regime, only one bromine atom can be eliminated selectively. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 977–983, May, 2007.     

Synthesis of some sulfur-containing pyrido[1,2-α]pyrimidines

4-Methylthiopyrido[1,2-α]pyrimidin-2-one and 2-hydroxypyrido[1,2-α]pyrimidine-4-thione derivatives were synthesized by the addition ofN-(4-R-pyrid-2-yl)acetoacetamides (R = H, Me) to CS₂ under phase-transfer conditions followed by the alkylation of the reaction products with Mel. The molecular structure of 3-acetyl-4-methylthiopyrido[1,2-α]pyrimidin-2-one is established by X-ray analysis.     

An expeditious preparation of E-2-amino-5-hydroxyadamantane and its Z-isomer

Reductive amination of 5-hydroxy-2-adamantanone with S-α-methylbenzylamine using 5% Rh-C as the catalyst in the presence of Al(iOPr)₃ gave a 3:1 mixture of the E- and Z-5-hydroxy-adamantane-1-phenethylamines. Choice of catalyst, concentration, solvent and the presence of the hydroxyl group on the adamantane influenced the stereoselectivity of the amination reaction. The desired E-isomer could be isolated by fractional crystallization from diisopropyl ether. Debenzylation gave the elusive E-2-amino-5-hydroxyadamantane in a 45% overall yield.     

Novel Catalytic Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactor for Gas-Phase Abatement of Isopropanol

Catalytic gas-phase abatement of air containing 250 ppm of isopropanol (IPA) was carried out with a novel dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor with the inner catalytic electrode made of sintered metal fibers (SMF). The optimization of the reactor performance was carried out by varying the voltage from 12.5 to 22.5 kV and the frequency in the range 200–275 Hz. The performance was significantly improved by modifying SMF with Mn and Co oxide. Under the experimental conditions used, the MnO _x /SMF showed a higher activity towards total oxidation of IPA as compared to CoO _x /SMF and SMF electrodes. The complete destruction of 250 ppm of IPA was attained with a specific input energy of ∼235 J/L using the MnO _x /SMF catalytic electrode, whereas, the total oxidation was achieved at 760 J/L. The better performance of the MnO _x /SMF compared to other catalytic electrodes suggests the formation of short-lived active species on its surface by the in-situ decomposition of ozone.     

Transition metal clusters and supported species with metal-carbon bonds from first-principles quantum chemistry

We discuss the impact of density functional electronic structure calculations for understanding the organometallic chemistry of transition metal (TM) surface complexes and clusters. Examples will cover three types of systems, mainly of interest in the context of heterogeneous catalysis: (i) supported carbonyl complexes of rhenium on MgO and of rhodium in zeolites, (ii) TM clusters with CO ligands and adsorbates, and (iii) metal clusters exhibiting chemical bonds with atomic carbon. The first group of case studies promotes the concept that surface groups of oxide supports are bonded to TM complexes in the same way as common (poly-dentate) ligands are bonded in coordination compounds. The second group of examples demonstrates various “ligand effects” of TM clusters. Finally, we illustrate how carbido centers stabilize TM clusters and modify the propensity for adsorption at the surface of such clusters.     

A correlation study of bisphosphine ligand bite angles with enantioselectivity in Pd-catalyzed asymmetric transformations

Among the bisphosphine ligands, we have previously developed C_n-TunePhos (n = 1-6) as a family of ligands with tunable bite angles. The increase in spacer -CH₂- groups in this family of ligands causes changes in ligand dihedral angle, which in turn causes P-Pd-P bite angle variation. Pd-catalyzed asymmetric alkylations and cycloadditions have been tested with C_n-TunePhos ligands. This study aims at a possible correlation between ligand bite angles with enantioselectivity of the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric products.     

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of 1-Bromoalkynes with N-Heterocyclic Organozinc Reagents

Nitrogen-containing heterocycles represent the majority of FDA-approved small-molecule pharmaceuticals. Herein, we describe a synthetic method to produce saturated N-heterocyclic drug scaffolds with an internal alkyne for elaboration. The treatment of N,N-dimethylhydrazinoalkenes with Et₂Zn, followed by a Cu(I)-catalyzed cross-coupling with 1-bromoalkynes, results in piperidines and pyrrolidines with a good yield. Five examples are reported and a proposed mechanism for the Cu(I)-catalyzed cross-coupling is presented.     

Oxidation of Styrene to Benzaldehyde Catalyzed by Schiff Base Functionalized Triazolylidene Ni(II) Complexes

Four new Schiff base functionalized 1,2,3-triazolylidene nickel complexes, [Ni-(L₁NHC)₂](PF₆)₂; 3, [Ni-(L₂NHC)₂](PF₆)₂; 4, [Ni-(L₃NHC)](PF₆)₂; 7 and [Ni-(L₄NHC)](PF₆)₂; 8, (where L₁NHC = (E)-3-methyl-1-propyl-4-(2-(((2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethyl)imino)methyl)phenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium hexafluorophosphate(V), 1, L₂NHC = (E)-3-methyl-4-(2-((phenethylimino)methyl)phenyl)-1-propyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium hexafluorophosphate(V), 2, L₃NHC = 4,4′-(((1E)-(ethane-1,2-diylbis(azanylylidene))bis(methanylylidene))bis(2,1-phenylene))bis(3-methyl-1-propyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium) hexafluorophosphate(V), 5, and L₄NHC = 4,4′-(((1E)-(butane-1,4-diylbis(azanylylidene))bis(methanylylidene))bis(2,1-phenylene))bis(3-methyl-1-propyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium) hexafluorophosphate(V), 6), were synthesised and characterised by a variety of spectroscopic methods. Square planar geometry was proposed for all the nickel complexes. The catalytic potential of the complexes was explored in the oxidation of styrene to benzaldehyde, using hydrogen peroxide as a green oxidant in the presence of acetonitrile at 80 °C. All complexes showed good catalytic activity with high selectivity to benzaldehyde. Complex 3 gave a conversion of 88% and a selectivity of 70% to benzaldehyde in 6 h. However, complexes 4 and 7–8 gave lower conversions of 48–74% but with higher (up to 90%) selectivity to benzaldehyde. Results from kinetics studies determined the activation energy for the catalytic oxidation reaction as 65 ± 3 kJ/mol, first order in catalyst and fractional order in the oxidant. Results from UV-visible and CV studies of the catalytic activity of the Ni-triazolylidene complexes on styrene oxidation did not indicate any clear possibility of generation of a Ni(II) to Ni(III) catalytic cycle.     

The Dual Function of PhOH Included in the Coordination Sphere of the Nickel Complexes in the Processes of Oxidation with Dioxygen

The role of ligands in the regulation of the catalytic activity of Ni-complexes (Ni(acac)₂) in green process-selective ethylbenzene oxidation with O₂ into α-phenyl ethyl hydroperoxide is considered in this article. The dual function of phenol (PhOH) included in the coordination sphere of the nickel complex as an antioxidant or catalyst depends on the ligand environment of the metal. The role of intermolecular H-bonds and supramolecular structures (AFM method) in the mechanisms of selective catalysis by nickel complexes in chemical and biological oxidation reactions is analyzed.