Mechanism of palladium-catalyzed diene cyclization/hydrosilylation: direct observation of intramolecular carbometalation

The results of kinetic, deuterium-labeling, and low-temperature NMR studies have established a mechanism for the palladium-catalyzed cyclization/hydrosilylation of dimethyl diallylmalonate (1) with triethylsilane involving rapid, irreversible conversion of the palladium silyl complex [(phen)Pd(SiEt(3))(NCAr)](+) [BAr(4)](-) [Ar = 3,5-C(6)H(3)(CF(3))(2)] (4b) and 1 to the palladium 5-hexenyl chelate complex [(phen)Pd[eta(1),eta(2)-CH(CH(2)SiEt(3))CH(2)C(CO(2)Me)(2)CH(2)CH=CH(2)]](+) [BAr(4)](-) (5), followed by intramolecular carbometalation of 5 to form the palladium cyclopentylmethyl complex trans-[(phen)Pd[CH2CHCH2C(CO2Me)2CH2CHCH2SiEt3](NCAr)]+ [BAr4]- (6), and associative silylation of 6 to release 3 and regenerate 4b.     

Photomechanical Actuation of Ligand Geometry in Enantioselective Catalysis

A catalyst that couples a photoswitch to the biaryl backbone of a chiral bis(phosphine) ligand, thus allowing photochemical manipulation of ligand geometry without perturbing the electronic structure is reported. The changes in catalyst activity and selectivity upon switching can be attributed to intramolecular mechanical forces, thus laying the foundation for a new class of catalysts whose selectivity can be varied smoothly and in situ over a useful range by controlling molecular stress experienced by the catalyst during turnover. Forces on the order of 100 pN are generated, thus leading to measurable changes in the enantioselectivities of asymmetric Heck arylations and Trost allylic alkylations. The differential coupling between applied force and competing stereochemical pathways is quantified and found to be more efficient for the Heck arylations.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Reactivity of a Gold Carbenoid Complex That Lacks Heteroatom Stabilization

Hydride abstraction from the neutral gold cycloheptatrienyl complex [( P )Au(η¹‐C₇H₇)] ( P =P(tBu)₂(o‐biphenyl)) with triphenylcarbenium tetrafluoroborate at ?80 °C led to the isolation of the cationic gold cycloheptatrienylidene complex [( P )Au(η¹‐C₇H₆)]⁺ BF₄^? in 52 % yield, which was characterized in solution and by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. This cycloheptatrienylidene complex represents the first example of a gold carbenoid complex that lacks conjugated heteroatom stabilization of the electron‐deficient C1 carbon atom. The cycloheptatrienylidene ligand of this complex is reactive; it can be reduced by mild hydride donors, and converted to tropone in the presence of pyridine N‐oxide.     

Gold(I)-Catalyzed Intermolecular Hydroamination of Allenes with Arylamines

A mixture of (3)AuCl [3 = P(t-Bu)(2)o-biphenyl] and AgOTf catalyzes the intermolecular hydroamination of monosubstituted and 1,1- and 1,3-disubstituted allenes with primary and secondary arylamines.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Anti‐Markovnikov Hydroamination of Alkylidenecyclopropanes

The cationic gold phosphine complex [{PCy₂(o‐biphenyl)}Au(NCMe)]⁺SbF₆^? (Cy=cyclohexyl) catalyzes the intermolecular, anti‐Markovnikov hydroamination reaction of monosubstituted and cis‐ and trans‐disubstituted alkylidenecyclopropanes (ACPs) with imidazolidin‐2‐ones and other nucleophiles. This reaction forms 1‐cyclopropyl alkylamine derivatives in high yield and with high regio‐ and diastereoselectivity. NMR spectroscopic analysis of gold π‐ACP complexes and control experiments point to the sp hybridization of the ACP internal alkene carbon atom as controlling the regiochemistry of the ACP hydroamination reaction.     

Stereochemistry and mechanism of the Brønsted acid catalyzed intramolecular hydrofunctionalization of an unactivated cyclic alkene

Through employment of deuterium-labeled substrates, the triflic acid catalyzed intramolecular exo addition of the X-H(D) (X=N, O) bond of a sulfonamide, alcohol, or carboxylic acid across the C=C bond of a pendant cyclohexene moiety was found to occur, in each case, with exclusive formation (≥90%) of the anti-addition product without loss or scrambling of deuterium as determined by (1)H and (2)H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry analysis. Kinetic analysis of the triflic-acid-catalyzed intramolecular hydroamination of N-(2-cyclohex-2'-enyl-2,2-diphenylethyl)-p-toluenesulfonamide (1a) established the second-order rate law: rate=k(2)[HOTf][1a] and the activation parameters ΔH(++)=(9.7±0.5) kcal mol(-1) and ΔS(++)=(-35±5) cal K(-1) mol(-1). An inverse α-secondary kinetic isotope effect of k(D)/k(H) =(1.15±0.03) was observed upon deuteration of the C2' position of 1a, consistent with partial C-N bond formation in the highest energy transition state of catalytic hydroamination. The results of these studies were consistent with a mechanism for the intramolecular hydroamination of 1a involving concerted, intermolecular proton transfer from an N-protonated sulfonamide to the alkenyl C3' position of 1a coupled with intramolecular anti addition of the pendant sulfonamide nitrogen atom to the alkenyl C2' position.     

Gold(I)-catalyzed intramolecular amination of allylic alcohols with alkylamines

A 1:1 mixture of (1)AuCl [1 = P(t-Bu)(2)o-biphenyl] and AgSbF(6) catalyzes the intramolecular amination of allylic alcohols with alkylamines to form substituted pyrrolidine and piperidine derivatives. Gold(I)-catalyzed cyclization of (R,Z)-8-(N-benzylamino)-3-octen-2-ol (96% ee, 95% de) led to isolation of (R,E)-1-benzyl-2-(1-propenyl)piperidine in 99% yield with 96% ee, consistent with the net syn addition of the amine relative to the departing hydroxyl group.     

DYNGA: a general purpose QM-MM-MD program. I. Application to water

We present a general purpose QM-MM-MD engine (DYNGA) designed to test alternative hybrid Hamiltonians geared towards the treatment of problems of interest in structural biology including the use of experimental data constraints. In this first presentation we use DYNGA to explore the behaviour of a traditional QM-MM approach in the treatment of the water—water interaction. We find the potential energy hypersurface for the water dimer computed with the HF 4–31G*/TIP3P hybrid Hamiltonian tends to be too flat. We also explore the effect of using traditional QM-MM techniques on proton wires and conclude there is a need for improvement, possibly addressed by using polarizable force fields.     

Platinum-catalyzed intramolecular hydroamination of unactivated olefins with secondary alkylamines

Reaction of benzyl-2,2-diphenyl-4-pentenylamine with a catalytic 1:2 mixture of [PtCl2(H2C=CH2)]2 (2.5 mol %) and PPh3 in dioxane at 120 degrees C for 16 h led to isolation of 1-benzyl-2-methyl-4,4-diphenylpyrrolidine in 75% yield. A number of gamma- and delta-amino olefins underwent intramolecular hydroamination to form the corresponding pyrrolidine derivatives in moderate to good yield. The reaction displayed excellent functional group compatibility and low moisture sensitivity.