The catalytic hydroamination of alkynes

Synthesis of a simplified version of stable bulky and rigid cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes, and catalytic activity of the ensuing gold(I) complex in the three-component preparation of 1,2-dihydroquinoline derivatives

A 95/5 mixture of cis and trans 2,4-dimethyl-3-cyclohexenecarboxaldehyde (trivertal), a common fragrance and flavor material produced in bulk quantities, serves as the precursor for the synthesis of a stable spirocyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene, in which the 2-methyl-substituted cyclohexenyl group provides steric protection to an ensuing metal. The efficiency of this carbene as ligand for transition metal based catalysts is first illustrated by the gold(I) catalyzed hydroamination of internal alkynes with secondary dialkyl amines, a process with little precedent. The feasibility of this reaction allows for significantly enlarging the scope of the one-pot three-component synthesis of 1,2-dihydroquinoline derivatives, and related nitrogen-containing heterocycles. Indeed, two different alkynes were used, which include an internal alkyne for the first step.

Synthesis and structural studies of amido, hydrazido and imido zirconium(IV) complexes incorporating a diamido/diamine cyclam-based ligand

The preparation, characterisation and structural analysis of a series of zirconium(IV) complexes that incorporate the diamido/diamine macrocyclic ligand Bn2Cyclam (Bn2Cyclam = 1,8-dibenzyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) are described. The reaction of one or two equivalents of the appropriate LiNHR reagents with [(Bn2Cyclam)ZrCl2] give the corresponding amido-chloride [(Bn2Cyclam)ZrCl(NHR)] (R = tBu, (2,6-iPr)Ph) or bis(amido) [(Bn2Cyclam)Zr(NHR)2] (R = iPr, tBu, (2,6-Me)Ph) complexes, respectively. Treatment of [(Bn2Cyclam)ZrCl(NH(2,6-iPr)Ph)] with one equiv. of MgClMe gives the base-free, monomeric imido complex [(Bn2Cyclam)Zr(N(2,6-iPr)Ph)]. The reaction of the tBu analog with MgClMe generates a dimeric bridging imido species [{(Bn2Cyclam)Zr}2(mu-NR)2], which can also be obtained by thermal decomposition of [(Bn2Cyclam)Zr(NHtBu)2] in toluene. The bis(hydrazido) complex [(Bn2Cyclam)Zr(NHNPh2)2] was obtained by reaction of [(Bn2Cyclam)ZrCl2] and two equiv. of LiNHNPh2. A hydrazido-chloride compound [(Bn2Cyclam)ZrCl(N(Ph)NBu(Ph))] was generated in a one-pot reaction between [(Bn2Cyclam)ZrCl2], LiBu and azobenzene. DFT calculations on [(Bn2Cyclam)ZrXY] complexes indicate that the coordination geometry adopted by these species is dictated by the steric bulk of the ligands X and Y, varying between six-coordinate prismatic and four-coordinate tetrahedral.

Titanium hydroamination catalysts bearing a 2-aminopyrrolinato spectator ligand: monitoring the individual reaction steps

A series of new titanium half sandwich complexes, containing a 2-aminopyrrolinato ligand {N(Xyl)N}(-) as the ancillary ligand, have been prepared and are shown to be pre-catalysts for the hydroamination of alkynes. The coordination of {N(Xyl)N}(-) to titanium was achieved by reaction of [Cp*TiMe(3)] with the protioligand N(Xyl)NH giving [Cp*Ti(N(Xyl)N)(Me)(2)] (). Upon reaction of complex with an excess of tert-butylamine, the imido complex [Cp*Ti(N(Xyl)N)(N(t)Bu)(NH(2)(t)Bu)] () was formed. The latter provided the preparative entry to the synthesis of a range of N-aryl substituted imido complexes. Imido ligand exchange with 2,6-dimethylaniline, 2,4,6-trimethylaniline as well as 2,6-diisopropylaniline gave the corresponding arylimido complexes in clean reactions. Reaction of the titanium imido complex [Cp*Ti(N(Xyl)N)(N(t)Bu)(NH(2)(t)Bu)] with terminal arylacetylenes, such as phenylacetylene and tolylacetylene, led to C-H activation and the formation of alkynyl/amido complexes, whereas the arylimido complexes and cleanly underwent {2 + 2} cycloaddition, giving the azatitanacyclobutene derivatives. A single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of the azatitanacyclobutene [Cp*Ti(N(Xyl)N){kappa(2)N(2,6-C(6)H(3)Me(2))CTol[double bond, length as m-dash]CH}] () provided the first crystallographically characterized Markovnikov cycloaddition product of an imidotitanium complex with a terminal alkyne. The mechanistic aspects of the hydromanination of alkynes with the new Ti half sandwich complexes were studied and established a reversible {2 + 2} cycloaddition step and the cleavage of the metallacyclic intermediate as the rate determining step in the catalytic cycle. The titanium half sandwich imido complexes were found to be active catalysts for the inter- and intramolecular hydroamination of a broad range of alkynes and omega-aminoalkynes.

The tandem Cope-type hydroamination/[2,3]-rearrangement sequence: a strategy to favor the formation of intermolecular hydroamination products and enable difficult cyclizations

The tandem hydroamination/Meisenheimer rearrangement sequence was developed to address the issue of unfavorable reaction thermodynamics for intermolecular reactions of alkenes and to improve the scope of Cope-type hydroaminations. This tandem sequence allows intermolecular reactions of N-alkyl-N-methallylhydroxyl-amines to be energetically more favorable: the N-oxide intermediate formed via Cope-type hydroamination, which can revert to the starting materials via a Cope elimination, can form a more stable neutral product via a [2,3]-Meisenheimer rearrangement. This tandem sequence also leads to increased efficiency in intramolecular systems as illustrated by syntheses of two alkaloids (coniine and norreticuline) featuring difficult hydroamination key steps.

A cationic gold(I) complex as a general catalyst for the intermolecular hydroamination of alkynes: application to the one-pot synthesis of allenes from two alkynes and a sacrificial amine

Two very distinct chemical reactions, yet a single catalyst: A gold complex promotes the formation of tertiary enamines from a variety of terminal and internal alkynes. Subsequent addition of a terminal alkyne to the reaction mixture affords allenes (see scheme).