Practical Organocatalytic Synthesis of Functionalized Non-C2-Symmetrical Atropisomeric Biaryls

An organic acid catalyzed direct arylation of aromatic C(sp(2))-H bonds in phenols and naphthols for the preparation of 1,1'-linked functionalized biaryls was developed. The products are non-C2-symmetrical, atropoisomeric, and represent previously untapped chemical space. Overall this transformation is operationally simple, does not require an external oxidant, is readily scaled up (up to 98 mmol), and the structurally diverse 2,2'-dihydroxy biaryl (i.e., BINOL-type), as well as 2-amino-2'-hydroxy products (i.e., NOBIN-type) are formed with complete regioselectivity. Density-functional calculations suggest that the quinone and imino-quinone monoacetal coupling partners are exclusively arylated at their α-position by an asynchronous [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of a mixed acetal species which is formed in situ under the reaction conditions.

Allylic amination reactivity of Ni, Pd, and Pt heterobimetallic and monometallic complexes

Transition metal heterobimetallic complexes with dative metal–metal interactions have the potential for novel fast reactivity.

A nickel complex with a biscarbene pincer-type ligand shows high electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 over H2O

We report a planar nickel complex coordinated with a pincer-type carbene-pyridine-carbene ligand which exhibits high selectivity for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction in the presence of H2O.

Protonated alcohols are examples of complete charge-shift bonds

Accurate gas-phase and solution-phase valence bond calculations reveal that protonation of the hydroxyl group of aliphatic alcohols transforms the C-O bond from a principally covalent bond to a complete charge-shift bond with principally "no-bond" character. All bonding in this charge-shift bond is due to resonance between covalent and ionic structures, which is a different bonding mechanism from that of traditional covalent bonds. Until now, charge-shift bonds have been previously identified in inorganic compounds or in exotic organic compounds. This work showcases that charge-shift bonds can occur in common organic species.

π-π interaction energies as determinants of the photodimerization of mono-, di-, and triazastilbenes

We describe the quantitative [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of crystalline trans-2,4-dichloro-6-styrylpyrimidine to produce the corresponding htt r-ctt cyclobutane dimer, and we present ¹H NMR analysis of the photolysis of this and six other mono-, di-, and triazastilbenes in solid and solution states. Density functional (M06-2X) and correlated ab initio (MP2) calculations were used to obtain interaction energies between two monomers of each azastilbene. These energies mirror the relative polarization of the stilbene moieties and can be quantitatively correlated with the rate of reaction and selective formation of the htt r-ctt dimers. In the solid state, poor correlation is observed between interaction energy and reactivity/selectivity. This lack of correlation is explained through X-ray analysis of the azastilbene monomers and is shown to be in accordance with the principles of Schmidt’s topochemical postulate. Conversely, in solution there is a strong positive correlation (R² = 0.96) between interaction energies and formation of the htt r-ctt dimer. These results are the first to show this correlation and to demonstrate the utility of calculated interaction energies as a tool for the prediction of stereo- and regioselectivity in solution-state stilbene-type photocycloadditions.

Main-group compounds selectively oxidize mixtures of methane, ethane, and propane to alcohol esters

Much of the recent research on homogeneous alkane oxidation has focused on the use of transition metal catalysts. Here, we report that the electrophilic main-group cations thallium(III) and lead(IV) stoichiometrically oxidize methane, ethane, and propane, separately or as a one-pot mixture, to corresponding alcohol esters in trifluoroacetic acid solvent. Esters of methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, isopropanol, and propylene glycol are obtained with greater than 95% selectivity in concentrations up to 1.48 molar within 3 hours at 180°C. Experiment and theory support a mechanism involving electrophilic carbon-hydrogen bond activation to generate metal alkyl intermediates. We posit that the comparatively high reactivity of these d(10) main-group cations relative to transition metals stems from facile alkane coordination at vacant sites, enabled by the overall lability of the ligand sphere and the absence of ligand field stabilization energies in systems with filled d-orbitals.