A Planar‐Chiral Rhodium(III) Catalyst with a Sterically Demanding Cyclopentadienyl Ligand and Its Application in the Enantioselective Synthesis of Dihydroisoquinolones

The rapid development of enantioselective C?H activation reactions has created a demand for new types of catalysts. Herein, we report the synthesis of a novel planar‐chiral rhodium catalyst [(C₅H₂^tBu₂CH₂^tBu)RhI₂]₂ in two steps from commercially available [(cod)RhCl]₂ and tert‐butylacetylene. Pure enantiomers of the catalyst were obtained through separation of its diastereomeric adducts with natural (S)‐proline. The catalyst promoted enantioselective reactions of aryl hydroxamic acids with strained alkenes to give dihydroisoquinolones in high yields (up to 97 %) and with good stereoselectivity (up to 95 % ee).     

Simple Synthesis of Functionalized 2‐Phosphanaphthalenes

A simple synthesis of sodium 2‐phosphanaphthalene‐3‐olate ( 1 ) based on the extrusion of N₂ from phthalazine using Na[OCP] is reported. This heterocycle can be readily functionalized at the negatively charged oxygen center using a variety of electrophilic substrates. The coordination chemistry of both 1 and its neutral derivatives was explored, revealing their facile use as P‐donor ligands for late‐transition‐metal complexes.     

Au57Ag53(C≡CPh)40Br12: A Large Nanocluster with C1 Symmetry

The controlled synthesis and structure determination of a bimetallic nanocluster Au₅₇Ag₅₃(C≡CPh)₄₀Br₁₂ (Au₅₇Ag₅₃) is presented. The metal core has a four‐shell Au₂M₃@Au₃₄@Ag₅₁ @Au₂₀ (M=1/3 Au+2/3 Ag) architecture. In contrast to the previously reported large nanoclusters that have highly symmetric kernel structures, the metal atoms in Au₅₇Ag₅₃ are arranged in an irregular manner with C₁ symmetry. This cluster exhibits excellent thermal stability and is robust under oxidative or basic conditions. The silver precursors play a key role in dictating the structures of the nanoclusters, which suggests the importance of the counteranions used.     

Addition of H2 Across a Cobalt–Phosphorus Bond

Addition of H₂ across the cobalt–phosphorus bond of (PPP)CoPMe₃ ( 3 ) is demonstrated, where PPP is a monoanionic diphosphine pincer ligand with a central N‐heterocyclic phosphido (NHP^?) donor. The chlorophosphine Co^II complex (PP^ClP)CoCl₂ ( 2 ) can be generated through coordination of the chlorophosphine ligand (PP^ClP, 1 ) to CoCl₂. Subsequent reduction of 2 with KC₈ in the presence of PMe₃ generates (PPP)CoPMe₃ ( 3 ), in which both the phosphorus and cobalt centers have been reduced. The addition of 1 atm of H₂ to complex 3 cleanly affords (PP^HP)Co(H)PMe₃ ( 4 ), in which H₂ has ultimately been added across the metal–phosphorus bond. Complex 4 was characterized spectroscopically and using computational methods to predict its geometry.     

Self‐Assembly of an Anion‐Binding Cryptand for the Selective Encapsulation,Sequestration, and Precipitation of Phosphate from Aqueous Systems

The self‐assembled trimetallic species [L₂Cu₃]⁶⁺ contains a cavity that acts as a host to many different anions. By using X‐ray crystallography, ESI‐MS, and UV/Vis spectroscopy we show that these anions are encapsulated both in the solid state and aqueous systems. Upon encapsulation, the anions Br⁻, I⁻, CO₃²⁻, SiF₆²⁻, IO₆³⁻, VO₄³⁻, WO₄²⁻, CrO₄²⁻, SO₄²⁻, AsO₄³⁻, and PO₄³⁻ are all precipitated from aqueous solution and can be removed by filtration. Furthermore, the cavity can be tuned to be selective to either phosphate or sulfate anions by variation of the pH. Phosphate anions can be removed from water, even in the presence of other common anions, reducing the concentration from 1000 to <0.1 ppm and recovering approximately 99 % of the phosphate anions.     

Chiral Bifunctional Phosphine‐Carboxylate Ligands for Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Enantioselective C−H Arylation

Previous enantioselective Pd⁰‐catalyzed C?H activation reactions proceeding via the concerted metalation‐deprotonation mechanism employed either a chiral ancillary ligand, a chiral base, or a bimolecular mixture thereof. This study describes the development of new chiral bifunctional ligands based on a binaphthyl scaffold which incorporates both a phosphine and a carboxylic acid moiety. The optimal ligand provided high yields and enantioselectivities for a desymmetrizing C(sp²)?H arylation leading to 5,6‐dihydrophenanthridines, whereas the corresponding monofunctional ligands showed low enantioselectivities. The bifunctional system proved applicable to a range of substituted dihydrophenanthridines, and allowed the parallel kinetic resolution of racemic substrates.     

Barbier–Negishi Coupling of Secondary Alkyl Bromides with Aryl and Alkenyl Triflates and Nonaflates

A mild and practical Barbier–Negishi coupling of secondary alkyl bromides with aryl and alkenyl triflates and nonaflates has been developed. This challenging reaction was enabled by the use of a very bulky imidazole‐based phosphine ligand, which resulted in good yields as well as good chemo‐ and site selectivities for a broad range of substrates at room temperature and under non‐aqueous conditions. This reaction was extended to primary alkyl bromides by using an analogous pyrazole‐based ligand.     

Investigation of the chromatographic regulation properties of benzyl groups attached to bridging nitrogen atoms in a calixtriazine‐bonded stationary phase

Two reversed‐phase/anion‐exchange mixed‐mode stationary phases for high‐performance liquid chromatography using calixtriazines as chromatographic ligands were investigated with Tanaka test solutes, monosubstituted benzenes, aromatic positional isomers, and inorganic anions. Calixtriazine as a chromatographic ligand has been reported previously, but the benzylated nitrogen‐bridged calixtriazine‐bonded silica gel reported in this study is new. The experimental data showed that the calixtriazine platform is a unique chromatographic selector because its multiple active sites are available for different solutes and its chromatographic selectivity could be tuned by introducing substituent on the bridging nitrogen atoms present in the calixtriazine matrix. The synergistic effects of aromatic rings, nitrogen atoms, benzyl groups, and tunable cavity in the host molecule influenced the separation selectivity by multiple retention mechanisms. Such hybrid stationary phases provide more versatility and have great potential in the analysis of complex samples. Moreover, the synthetic protocols presented herein may provide an alternative understanding on macrocyclic host–guest chemistry, leading to new and selective separation media.     

New polydentate sulfide ligands: Synthesis, redox properties, and molecular structure of 4,5-bis(p-tolylthio)-4-cyclopenten-1,3-dione

The reaction of p-toluenethiol with 4,5-dichloro-4-cyclopenten-1,3-dione in 1,2-dichloroethane with added DBU affords good yields of the new bidentate sulfide ligand 4,5-bis(p-tolylthio)-4-cyclopenten-1,3-dione. The title compound was isolated by column chromatography and characterized in solution by IR and NMR spectroscopies. The solid-state structure of RC=CRC(O)CH₂C(O) (where R = p-tolylthio) was solved by X-ray crystallography. 4,5-Bis(p-tolylthio)-4-cyclopenten-1,3-dione crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2 ₁/c, a = 14.203(3) Å, b = 6.181(1) Å, c = 20.372(4) Å, = 106.111(3)°, V = 1718.1(6) ų, Z = 4, and d _calc = 1.316 mg/m³; R = 0.0743, R _w = 0.1693 for 3958 reflections with I > 2(I). The redox properties of 4,5-bis(p-tolylthio)-4-cyclopenten-1,3-dione have been examined by cyclic voltammetry in CH₂Cl₂ solution, where a quasireversible reduction wave at –1.10 V was found. The reduction behavior is discussed relative to the nature of the LUMO level, which has been determined by extended Hückel MO calculations. The redox chemistry and the LUMO of our bidentate sulfide ligand are contrasted with the known redox chemistry and the LUMO composition of the corresponding bidentate phosphine ligand 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4-cyclopenten-1,3-dione (bpcd).     

Complexes formed by the reactions of fluorinated and non-fluorinated organonitriles with [Zn(SO2)2][AsF6]2: A structural study

[Zn(SO₂)₂][AsF₆]₂ (1) has been prepared from zinc metal and AsF₅ in liquid sulfur dioxide, and crystallized from sulfur dioxide giving crystals of [Zn(SO₂)₄(AsF₆)₂] (1a). The compound 1 forms the homoleptic complexes [Zn(NCR)₆](AsF₆)₂ (R: CH₃ (2a), C₆H₅ (3a), C₆F₅ (3b)) with the corresponding nitriles. In these complexes, the metal center is octahedrally surrounded by six ligands (average Zn–N 2.13 ?). Reaction of 1 with the weaker ligand F₃CCN results in dicoordination at the metal center complemented by a two-dimensional polymeric network (2b) containing bridging AsF₆ ⁻ anions. [Zn(SO₂)₄(AsF₆)₂] (1a): monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=8.5176(8) ?, b=13.5787(14) ?, c=14.7661(15) ?, β=99.296(2)°; [Zn(NCCH₃)₆][AsF₆]₂ (2a): rhombohedral, R-3, a=11.2225(8) ?, b=11.2225(8) ?, c=16.9393(14) ?; [Zn (NCCF₃)₂][μ-FAsF₅)₂( (2b): monoclinic, P2₁/c, a=11.226(3) ?, b=6.6147(19) ?, c=10.460(3) ?, β=104.028(5)°; [Zn(NCC₆H₅)₆][AsF₆]₂ (3a): monoclinic, P2₁/n, a=13.7968(10) ?, b=19.8861(15) ?, c=16.1692(12) ?, β=91.563(2)°; [Zn(NCC₆F₅)₆][AsF₆]₂·2SO₂ (3b): monoclinic, P2₁/n, a=10.8448(9) ?, b=154456(13) ?, c=17.5206(15) ?, β=104.158(1)°.