Electronic Structure, Aromaticity, and Physicochemical Characteristics of Carbene, Radical, and Ionic Forms of Compounds of the Imidazole Series, and their Oxo and Thio Analogs

The effects of benzannellation, phenyl substitution at the nitrogen atom, protonation at the carbene carbon, ionization, and the state of the carbene center (² or ²) on the electronic structure, diamagnetic susceptibility, induced -electron ring currents, the ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁴N chemical shifts, and the energies of the lowest electronic transitions of imidazol-2-ylidenes and their oxo and thio analogs were examined in the bound version of -electron perturbation theory. The calculated and experimental data are compared.     

Two Types of σ-Allenyl Complexes from Reactions of Silylenes and Germylenes with Chromium Fischer Alkynyl(alkoxy)carbenes

The reactivity of amidinatotetrylenes of the type E(tBu₂bzm)R¹ (E=Si, Ge; tBu₂bzm=N,N′-bis(tertbutyl)benzamidinate; R¹=alkyl or aryl) with the chromium Fischer alkynylcarbene complexes [Cr{C(OEt)C₂R²}(CO)₅] (R²=Ph; ferrocenyl, Fc) has been studied. At room temperature, two different reaction pathways have been identified: (a) attack of the amidinatotetrylene to the alkynyl C² atom (γ-attack), which leads to σ-allenyl complexes in which the original C_carbene atom maintains its attachment to the Cr(CO)₅ and OEt groups (compounds 3 ), and (b) attack of the amidinatotetrylene to the C_carbene atom (α-attack), which ends in σ-allenyl complexes in which the original C_carbene atom is not attached to the metal atom and has been inserted into an E−N bond of the amidinatotetrylene forming an E-C-N-C-N five-membered ring (compounds 4 ). It has been found that compounds 3 are thermodynamically less stable than their corresponding 4 isomers and that some of the former (E=Ge; R¹=CH₂SiMe₃) can be transformed into the latter upon heating. At high temperatures (>70 °C) the reactions involving bulky amidinatotetrylenes (R¹=Mes, tBu) end in the carbene-substitution products [Cr{E(tBu₂bzm)R¹}(CO)₅].     

Skeleton Decoration of NHCs by Amino Groups and its Sequential Booster Effect on the Palladium‐Catalyzed Buchwald–Hartwig Amination

A challenging synthetic modification of PEPPSI‐type palladium pre‐catalysts consisting of a stepwise incorporation of one and two amino groups onto the NHC skeleton was seen to exert a sequential enhancement of the electronic donor properties. This appears to be positively correlated with the catalytic performances of the corresponding complexes in the Buchwald–Hartwig amination. This is illustrated, for example, by the quantitative amination of 4‐chloroanisole by morpholine within 2 h at 25 °C with a 2 mol % catalyst/substrate ratio or by a significant reduction of catalytic loading (down to 0.005 mol %) for the coupling of aryl chlorides with anilines (max TON: 19 600).     

Metal‐Free Catalyst for the Chemoselective Methylation of Amines Using Carbon Dioxide as a Carbon Source

N‐methylation of amines is an important step in the synthesis of many pharmaceuticals and has been widely applied in the preparation of other key intermediates and chemicals. Therefore, the development of efficient methylation methods has attracted considerable attention. In this respect, carbon dioxide is an attractive C₁ building block because it is an abundant, renewable, and nontoxic carbon source. Consequently, we developed a highly chemoselective, metal‐free catalytic system that operates under ambient conditions for the N‐methylation of amines.     

A Fluorescent Sensor for Dual‐Channel Discrimination between Phosgene and a Nerve‐Gas Mimic

The ability to analyze highly toxic chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and related chemicals in a rapid and precise manner is essential in order to alleviate serious threats to humankind and public security caused by unexpected terrorist attacks and industrial accidents. In this investigation, we designed a o‐phenylenediamine‐pyronin linked dye that is capable of both fluorogenic and colorimetric discrimination between phosgene and the prototypical nerve‐agent mimic, diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP) in the solution or gas phase. Moreover, this dye has been used to construct a portable kit that can be employed for real‐time monitoring of DCP and phosgene in the field, both in a discriminatory manner, and in a simple and safe way.     

Rapid Interception of CnF2n+1(O)SO. Radical with Copper-Based Carbene: A Novel Access to Perfluoroalkanesulfinate Ester

In this communication, an unprecedented interception of C_nF_2n+1(O)SO^. radical with a copper-based carbene has been established. Distinguished by wide substrate scopes and mild reaction conditions, this novel radical–carbene coupling reaction (RCC reaction) provides a fundamentally different and mechanistically interesting strategy for the synthesis of perfluoroalkanesulfinate esters.     

Synthesis and Structures of Stable PtII and PtIV Alkylidenes: Evidence for π-Bonding and Relativistic Stabilization

Isolable cationic Pt^II and Pt^IV alkylidenes, proposed intermediates in catalytic organic transformations, are reported. The bonding in these species was probed by experimental, structural, spectroscopic, electrochemical and computational methods, providing direct evidence for π-bonding, the often-theorized relativistic stabilization of these species, and the influence of oxidation state.     

Ambident Reactivity of Imidazolium Cations as Evidence of the Dynamic Nature of N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Mediated Organocatalysis

This work reveals ambident nucleophilic reactivity of imidazolium cations towards carbonyl compounds at the C2 or C4 carbene centers depending on the steric properties of the substrates and reaction conditions. Such an adaptive behavior indicates the dynamic nature of organocatalysis proceeding via a covalent interaction of imidazolium carbenes with carbonyl substrates and can be explained by generation of the H-bonded ditopic carbanionic carbenes.