Synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene precursors bearing biphenyl units and their use in ruthenium-catalyzed ring-opening metathesis polymerization

A range of new imidazolium and imidazolinium chlorides bearing biphenyl units on their nitrogen atoms was synthesized. They differed by the electron-withdrawing or -donating nature and the steric bulk of the substituents on their aromatic rings. These various N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors were combined with the [RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ dimer and potassium tert-butoxide to generate the corresponding ruthenium-arene complexes [RuCl₂(p-cymene)(NHC)] in situ. The catalytic activity of these species was investigated in the photoinduced ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of cyclooctene. The results obtained confirmed the necessity of blocking the ortho-positions of the phenyl rings in the vicinity of the metal center in order to attain high catalytic efficiencies. They also showed that changing the steric and electronic properties of the substituents on the remote phenyl rings of the biphenyl units had no significant influence on the outcome of the polymerization.     

Fluorinated lignands in HPLC

Summary The chromatographic behaviour of C₆F₅(CH₂)₃SiCl₃, C₆H₅(CH₂)₃SiCl₃, CF₃(CF₂)₇CH₂CH₂SiCl₃ and n-C₁₀H₂₁SiCl₃ as well as the bonding of these ligands to silica is described. Phases with partially fluorinated ligands show entirely different chromatographic characteristics to analogous phases, where hydrogen replaces fluorine. The silica with the pentafluorophenyl-3-n-propyl-C₆F₅(CH₂)₃-ligand has higher k-values and a better selectivity for aromatic hydrocarbons than that with phenyl-3-n-propyl C₆H₅(CH₂)₃-groups, whereas the phase with the fluorinated carbon chain is less useful than the silica modified with n-decyltrichlorosilane n-C₁₀H₂₁SiCl₃. The first effect can be explained by complex formation, and the second may be due to a different contact area between the ligand and the solute. The normal hydrocarbon chains hinder each other sterically and expose many adsorption sites, in contrast the perfluorinated chains are sterically fixed and are the first example of real brushes in HPLC.     

New sulfur-coordinating chiral ligands for the Tsuji—Trost reaction

The use of sulfur-coordinating chiral ligands in the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric Tsuji—Trost reaction is reviewed.     

Access to the structures of fluoromagnesium compounds: synthesis and structural characterization of the β-diketiminato magnesium fluoride [{CH(CMeNAr)2}Mg(μ-F)(THF)]2·toluene

β-Diketiminato magnesium fluoride [{CH(CMeNAr)₂}Mg(μ-F)(THF)]₂·toluene (Ar=2,6-i-Pr₂C₆H₃, 2·toluene) was synthesized. The molecular structure of 2 revealed for the first time, the double fluoro bridge feature between the two magnesium atoms with a typical MgF bond length (average 1.95 Å).     

Carbenoid Complexes of Electron-Deficient Transition Metals—Syntheses of and with Short-Lived Building Blocks

The relation of thermodynamic stability and kinetic lability of σ-organometallic compounds of transition metals, together with an improved understanding of the subtle interactions between central metal, ligands, and substrates, has increased the chemist's ability to plan organometallic syntheses. This article presents new results on intermediary and isolable synthetic building blocks incorporating metal–ligand multiple bonds of electron-deficient transition metals; the main emphasis will be placed on compounds with titanium–carbon double bonds. This particular class of compounds is mainly generated by H-transfer reactions starting from readily accessible alkyl and alkenyl derivatives. The preparative use of [L₂Ti(CHR₂)R′] derivatives as sources for [L₂Ti?CR₂] intermediates will be discussed, as well as the nature of these intermediates. Application of the same approach to vinyltitanium compounds [L₂Ti(CH?CH₂)R] opens up an access to a short-lived metallaallene derivative [L₂Ti?C?CH₂] of an electron-deficient transition metal. The reactivity of these synthetic building blocks is mainly characterized by the nucleophilic properties of the α-C atoms as well as by the spatial orientation of the π-bonding planes. Numerous cycloaddition products with unsaturated substrates could be isolated and characterized for the first time by using [L₂Ti?C?CH₂] intermediates. Hence it is possible to compare the properties of a multitude of metallacyclic ring systems with those obtained from “Tebbe–Grubbs chemistry”, and in this context, the dependence of the properties of metallacyclic four-membered rings on the substitution pattern is discussed. This class of compounds includes the metallaoxetanes, which have been obtained for the first time by the cycloaddition of the [CpTi?C?CH₂] intermediate with cumulenes and metal carbonyls. The differing cycloreversion behavior of these metallaoxetanes enables the differentiation of species exhibiting classical and nonclassical reactivity. The number and position of the exocyclic double bonds are the determining factors of the reactivity of the formed metallacycles. The discussion of the products obtained from titanium methylene and vinylidene building blocks is an up-to-date report on the formation and applications of carbene complexes and carbene intermediates of group 4 metals.     

New reactions of 1-alkynes catalyzed by transition metal complexes

Recently discovered catalytic reactions with ruthenium and lanthanide metal complexes have extended the scope of 1-alkynes as useful reagents. The specific formation of aryl-substituted (Z)-1,3-enzymes via the dimerization of HC(triple bond) CR(1) (R(1) = aryl) has been attained using dimeric lanthanide complexes, the catalytic activity of which appears to be unaffected by time. The dimerization of HC(triple bond) CR(2) (R(2) = t-Bu, SiMe(3)) catalyzed by Ru(cod)(cot)/PR(3) or RuH(2)(PPh(3))(3) produces a good yield of butatrienes (Z)R(2)CH=C=C=CHR(2) with a high degree of selectivity. Under certain conditions, HC(triple bond) C=SiMe(3) dimerizes to yield exclusively (Z)-M(3)Si-C(triple bond) C-CH=CH-SiMe(3). The hydration of HC(triple bond)CR(3) (R(3) = alkyl, aryl) catalyzed by RuCl(2)/PR'(3) or CpRuCl(PR"(3))(2) has realized the first example of anti-Markovnikov regioselectivity in an addition reaction of water that produces aldehydes R(3)CH(2)bond;CHO. The application of this reaction to propargylic alcohols has lead to their formal isomerization to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. In contrast, the addition of amines R(4)bond;NH(2) (R(4) = aryl) to HCtbond;CR(5) (R(5) = alkyl, aryl) conforms to Markovnikov's rule to produce ketimines R(5)bond;(C=NR(4))bond;CH(3) when catalyzed by a Ru(3)(CO)(12)/additive. Since the reaction can be performed in air without the need for any solvents, it enables the practical synthesis of aromatic ketimines, which are difficult to prepare by conventional methods. The synthesis of indoles using deactivated anilines is one practical application of this reaction. The mechanisms of some of these reactions have been analyzed in detail with the aid of theoretical calculations.     

Chemical modification of silica surface by immobilization of functional groups for extractive concentration of metal ions

Increased utilization of mechanically stable synthetic matrices particularly silica gel as a solid support and its surface modification either by impregnation of organic ligands directly or covalent grafting through spacer unit for extractive concentration of trace elements are highlighted in the present article. Experimental evidences for existence of surface silanol and its chemical nature have explored the idea of silica surface modification. Recent methods of development in functionalized silica synthesis by attachment of various ligands or organic reagents to the silica surface and techniques of characterization of the modified surface have been reported. Analytical applications of various modified silica surfaces, in particular, adsorption of trace elements taking separation and preconcentration into account from complex synthetic mixture as well as natural water is presented.     

Alternativ-Liganden. XXII. Rhodium(I)-Komplexe mit Donor/Akzeptor-Liganden des Typs Me2PCH2CH2SiXnMe3−(X = F,Cl, OMe)

Alternative Ligands. XXII. Rhodium(I) complexes with Donor/Acceptor Ligands of the Typs Me₂PCH₂CH₂SiX_nMe_3?n(X = F, Cl, OMe) Donor/acceptor ligand of the type Me₂PCH₂SiX_nMe_3?n react with [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂ ( 1 ) to give the mononuclear complexes RhCl(CO)(PMe₂CH₂CH₂SiX_nMe_3?n)₂ ( 2-6 , Table 1) with planar geometry of the donor atoms, one exception being Me₂PCH₂CH₂CH₂SiCl₃, yielding the crystalline Rh^III-complex RhCl₂(CO)(PMe₂CH₂CH₂SiCl₂)(PMe₂CH₂CH₂SiCl₃) ( 7 ) by oxidative addition of one of the SiCl bonds to the Rh¹ precursor. Structures with Rh → Si interaction between the basic central atoms and the acceptor group SiX_nMe_3?n could be detected in the isolated products neither spectroscopically nor by X-ray diffraction of the two representatives RhCl(CO)(PMe₂CH₂CH₂SiF₃)₂ ( 2 ) and RhCl(CO)[PMe₂CH₂CH₂siF₃]₂ ( 2 ) and RhCl(CO) [PMe₂CH₂CH₂Si(OMe₃]₂ ( 6 ). The presence of such acid/base adducts in the reaction mixture is indicated for the more acidic acceptor groups SiX_nMe_3?n byv_co values near 1990cm^?1, (see Table 3). The complex RhCl(CO)PMe₃)(PMe₂CH₂CH₂SiF₃ ( 8 ) is obtained by the reaction of RhCl(CO)(PMe₃)₂ ( 9 ) with Me₂PCH₂SiF₃ and has been identified spectroscopically in a mixture with 2 and 9 .     

Rhodium (II) compounds with functionalized metalated phosphines as bridging ligands

The reaction of Rh₂(O₂CCH₃)₄ · 2CH₃OH with the phosphine P(4-BrC₆H₄)₂(C₆H₅), 2, results in the formation of the monometalated compound Rh₂(O₂CCH₃)₃[PC] · 2CH₃CO₂H (PC representing a metalated P(4-BrC₆H₄)₂(C₆H₅)). The reaction involves selective metalation of the phosphine at one Br-substituted ring (12:1 isomer ratio). The reaction of Rh₂(O₂CCH₃)₃[(4-BrC₆H₃)P(4-BrC₆H₄)(C₆H₅)] · 2CH₃CO₂H, 4, with one additional mol of triphenylphosphine yields a mixture of two main stereoisomers Rh₂(O₂CCH₃)₂[(4-BrC₆H₃)P(4-BrC₆H₄)(C₆H₅)] [(C₆H₄)P(C₆H₅)₂] · 2CH₃CO₂H, 5a and 5b, that were isolated as pure compounds. These two compounds were resolved in the corresponding M and P enantiomers as trifluoroacetate derivatives that show good enantioselectivities in catalytic transformation of α-diazocarbonyl compounds.