Donor-acceptor chemistry in the main group

The Weakly Coordinating Tris(trichlorosilyl)silyl Anion

Closely following the procedure for the preparation of the base-stabilized dichlorosilylene complex NHC^Dipp ⋅SiCl₂ reported by Roesky, Stalke, and co-workers (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48, 5683-5686), a few crystals of the salt [NHC^Dipp -H⋅⋅⋅Cl⋅⋅⋅H-NHC^Dipp ]Si(SiCl₃ )₃ were isolated, aside from the reported byproduct [NHC^Dipp -H⁺ ⋅⋅⋅Cl^- ], and characterized by X-ray crystallography (NHC^Dipp =N,N-di(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazo-2-ylidene). They contain the weakly coordinating anion Si(SiCl₃ )₃^- , which was also obtained in high yields upon deprotonation of the conjugate Brønsted acid HSi(SiCl₃ )₃ with NHC^Dipp or PMP (PMP=1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidine). The acidity of HSi(SiCl₃ )₃ was estimated by DFT calculations to be substantially higher than those of other H-silanes. Further DFT studies on the electronic structure of Si(SiCl₃ )₃^- , including the electrostatic potential and the electron localizability, confirmed its low basicity and nucleophilicity compared with other silyl anions.

Synthesis of a Metallo-Iminosilane via a Silanone-Metal π-Complex

Facile oxygenation of the acyclic amido-chlorosilylene bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) Ni⁰ complex [{N(Dipp)(SiMe₃ )ClSi:→Ni(NHC)₂ ] (1; Dipp=2,6-ⁱ Pr₂ C₆ H₄ ; N-heterocyclic carbene=C[(ⁱ Pr)NC(Me)]₂ ) with N₂ O furnishes the first Si-metalated iminosilane, [DippN=Si(OSiMe₃ )Ni(Cl)(NHC)₂ ] (3), in a rearrangement cascade. Markedly, the formation of 3 proceeds via the silanone (Si=O)-Ni π-complex 2 as the initial product, which was predicted by DFT calculations and observed spectroscopically. The Si=O and Si=N moieties in 2 and 3, respectively, show remarkable hydroboration reactivity towards H-B bonds of boranes, in the former case corroborating the proposed formation of a (Si=O)-Ni π-complex at low temperature.

Pushing Chemical Boundaries with N-Heterocyclic Olefins (NHOs): From Catalysis to Main Group Element Chemistry

N-Heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) have gone from the topic of a few scattered (but important) reports in the early 1990s to very recently being a ligand/reagent of choice in the far-reaching research fields of organocatalysis, olefin and heterocycle polymerization, and low oxidation state main group element chemistry. NHOs are formally derived by appending an alkylidene (CR₂) unit onto an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC), and their pronounced ylidic character leads to high nucleophilicity and soft Lewis basic character at the ligating carbon atom. These olefinic donors can also be structurally derived from imidazole, triazole, and thiazole-based heterocyclic carbenes and, as a result, have highly tunable electronic and steric properties. In this Account, we will focus on various synthetic routes to imidazole-2-ylidene derived NHOs (sometimes referred to as deoxy-Breslow intermediates) followed by a discussion of the electron-donor ability of this structurally tunable ligand group. It should be mentioned that NHOs have a close structural analogy with Breslow-type intermediates, N-heterocyclic ketene aminals, and β-azolium ylides; while these latter species play important roles in advancing synthetic organic chemistry, discussion in this Account will be confined mostly to imidazole-2-ylidene derived NHOs. In addition, we will cover selected examples from the literature where NHOs and their anionic counterparts, N-heterocyclic vinylenes, are used to access reactive main group species not attainable using traditional ligands. Added motivation for these studies comes from the emerging number of low coordinate main group element based compounds that display reactivity once reserved for precious metal complexes (such as H-H and C-H bond activation). Moreover, NHOs are versatile precursors to new mixed element (P/C and N/C), and potentially bidentate, ligand constructs of great potential in catalysis, where various metal oxidation states and coordination environments need to be stabilized during a catalytic cycle. The most active area of recent growth for NHOs is their use as nucleophiles to promote efficient organocatalytic transformations, including transesterification, carbonyl reduction, and the conversion of CO₂ into value added products. Polyesters have also been generated through the NHO-promoted ring-opening polymerization of lactones, and the highly tunable nature of NHO organocatalysts allows for the rapid screening and enhancement of catalytic performance. Therefore, the growing utility of NHOs in the realm of organic and polymer chemistry can be viewed as evidence of the widespread impact of N-heterocyclic olefins on the chemical community. It is hoped that through this Account others will join this flourishing research domain and that the rapid recent growth of NHO chemistry is sustained for the foreseeable future.

Reactivity of a coordinated inorganic acetylene unit, HBNH, and the azidoborane cation [HB(N3)]. Chem Sci 2017;8:2337-2343. [PMID: 28451338 PMCID: PMC5365008 DOI: 10.1039/c6sc04893e]

A donor-acceptor complex of HBNH was prepared via thermolysis of a carbene-stabilized azidoborane. The reactivity of the fundamentally important HBNH unit (inorganic alkyne analogue) was explored in detail, including attempts to convert this species and related hydrido(azido)borane cations into molecular complexes of BN. This work provides added impetus for the development of molecular precursors that can release bulk boron nitride (a desirable insulator and thermal conductor) under mild conditions, and from solution.

Reactivity studies of silylene [PhC(NtBu)2](C5Me5)Si – reactions with [M(COD)Cl]2(M = Rh(i), Ir(i)), S, Se, Te, and BH3

The reactivity of N-heterocyclic silylene [PhC(NtBu)₂](C₅Me₅)Si towards main group elements and transition metals was evaluated.

C4-Ferrocenylsilyl-bridged and -substituted N-heterocyclic carbenes: complexation of germanium chloride

C4-Ferrocenylsilyl-bridged and -substituted N-heterocyclic carbenes and their germanium chloride complexes have been prepared and characterized.

Azido- and amido-substituted gallium hydrides supported by N-heterocyclic carbenes

The synthesis of azido- and amido-gallanes supported by hindered N-heterocyclic carbene donors is reported.

Investigation of N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Supported Group 12 Triflates as Pre-catalysts for Hydrosilylation/Borylation

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes of Cd and Hg triflates (OTf) were prepared and their attempted conversion into rare cadmium and mercury hydrides was explored. In contrast to zinc, which forms stable [ZnH]⁺ complexes with NHCs, the heavier Cd and Hg congeners could not be formed; the increased instability of Cd-H and Hg-H units was rationalized with the aid of computations. It was also discovered that the dimeric adduct [IPr⋅Cd(μ-OTf)₂ ]₂ (IPr=[(HCNDipp)₂ C:]; Dipp=2,6-iPr₂ C₆ H₃ ) is an active precatalyst for the hydrosilylation and hydroborylation of hindered aldehydes and ketones. The related zinc congener was inactive as a catalyst highlighting a distinct advantage of using heavy Group 12 metals to promote catalytic hydrosilylation/borylation.

Transition metal-mediated donor-acceptor coordination of low-oxidation state Group 14 element halides

The reactivity of tungsten carbonyl adducts of Group 14 element (Ge, Sn and Pb) dihalides towards the metal-based donors (η(5)-C5H5)Rh(PMe2Ph)2 and Pt(PCy3)2 was examined. When (η(5)-C5H5)Rh(PMe2Ph)2 was treated with the Lewis acid supported Ge(ii) complex, THF·GeCl2·W(CO)5, cyclopentadienyl ring activation occurred, whereas the analogous Lewis acidic units SnCl2·W(CO)5 and PbCl2 form direct adducts with the Rh complex to yield Rh-Sn and Rh-Pb dative bonds. Attempts to prepare metal coordinated element(ii) hydrides by adding hydride sources to the above mentioned rhodium-E(ii) halide complexes were unsuccessful; in each case insoluble products were formed along with regeneration of free (η(5)-C5H5)Rh(PMe2Ph)2. In a parallel study, ECl2·W(CO)5 (E = Ge or Sn) groups were shown to participate in E-Cl oxidation addition chemistry with (Cy3P)2Pt to give the formal Pt(ii) complexes ClPt(PCy3)2ECl·W(CO)5.

Concise access to iminophosphonamide stabilized heteroleptic germylenes: chemical reactivity and structural investigation

A heteroleptic three coordinate germylene monochloride, its adduct with a Lewis acid, and germaacid-chloride & -ester derivatives with sulfur and selenium have been reported.

Group 14 inorganic hydrocarbon analogues

This Review article deals with the synthesis and properties of inorganic hydrocarbon analogues: binary chemical species that contain heavier Group 14 elements (Si, Ge, Sn or Pb) and hydrogen as components. Rapid advances in our general knowledge of these species have enabled the development of industrially relevant processes such as the hydrosilylation of unsaturated substrates and the chemical vapor deposition of semi-conducting films.

Carbon-based two electron σ-donor ligands beyond classical N-heterocyclic carbenes

Recent advances in N-heterocyclic carbene-derived carbon-based two electron σ-donor ligands are presented in this perspective.

Synthesis, characterization, and electronic structures of a methyl germyliumylidene ion and germylone-group VI metal complexes

The reaction of germylone (L)Ge (1) [L = 3-Ad-1-{C(^tBu) = N(Mes)}C₃H₄N₂] with 1 equivalent of MeOTf afforded a germyliumylidene ion [(L)GeMe]⁺OTf⁻ (2), while reactions with M(CO)₅(thf) (M = Cr, Mo, W) gave the corresponding germylone-metal complexes [(L)Ge]M(CO)₅ (3–5).

Cationic 5-phosphonio-substituted N-heterocyclic carbenes

Cationic NHCs featuring a phosphonium moiety in the 5-position are prepared from the reaction of imidazolium salts with a tert. phosphane. They are used as ligands for the preparation of transition metal complexes, dehydrogenation reactions of prim. and sec. phosphanes and the preparation of a N-heterocyclic olefin (NHO).

N-Heterocyclic olefin stabilized boron dication

Boron mono- and di-cations featuring a nucleophilic N-heterocyclic olefin and the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl substituent have been prepared and structurally characterized. Experimental and theoretical investigations show that [η⁵-Cp*B-NHO]²⁺is considerably more Lewis acidic than [η⁵-Cp*B-IMes]²⁺due to the steric congestion imposed by the bent geometry of NHO around the central boron atom.

Direct estimate of the internal π-donation to the carbene centre within N-heterocyclic carbenes and related molecules

Fifteen cyclic and acylic carbenes have been calculated with density functional theory at the BP86/def2-TZVPP level. The strength of the internal X→p(π) π-donation of heteroatoms and carbon which are bonded to the C(II) atom is estimated with the help of NBO calculations and with an energy decomposition analysis. The investigated molecules include N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), the cyclic alkyl(amino)carbene (cAAC), mesoionic carbenes and ylide-stabilized carbenes. The bonding analysis suggests that the carbene centre in cAAC and in diamidocarbene have the weakest X→p(π) π-donation while mesoionic carbenes possess the strongest π-donation.

25 years of N-heterocyclic carbenes: activation of both main-group element-element bonds and NHCs themselves

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are widely used ligands and reagents in modern inorganic synthesis as well as in homogeneous catalysis and organocatalysis. However, NHCs are not always innocent bystanders. In the last few years, more and more examples were reported of reactions of NHCs with main-group elements which resulted in modification of the NHC. Many of these reactions lead to ring expansion and the formation of six-membered heterocyclic rings involving insertion of the heteroatom into the C-N bond and migration of hydrides, phenyl groups or boron-containing fragments. Furthermore, a few related NHC rearrangements were observed some decades ago. In this Perspective, we summarise the history of NHC ring expansion reactions from the 1960s till the present.

One-pot synthesis of functionalized germanium nanocrystals from a single source precursor

One-pot syntheses of surface functionalized germanium nanocrystals (GeNCs) based upon traditional hot injection and microwave-assisted heating of a Ge(II) dihydride single source precursor have been developed. The reported procedures offer in situ hydrogermylation-based covalent attachment of alkene/alkyne derived surface moieties that give access to hydrophobic or hydrophilic GeNCs.

Phosphine complexes of lone pair bearing Lewis acceptors

An overview of the synthesis, structures and reaction chemistry of coordination complexes featuring an acceptor with at least one lone pair and at least one phosphine donor is presented. One or more examples of complexes have been structurally-characterized for the majority of p-block elements but few are known for most elements. The unusual condition of a p-block element centre accommodating a lone pair of electrons and offering a low energy LUMO gives the element centre the potential to behave as both a Lewis acid and a Lewis Base. The structural diversity and reactivity of the phosphine complexes highlights new directions in main group chemistry and by comparison with transition metal coordination chemistry, the featured complexes demonstrate significant configurational and stereochemical flexibility. Ligand exchange, oxidation and reduction chemistry at the lone pair bearing acceptor centre reveals unusual reactivity and an interesting class of ligands and inorganic reagents, with new possibilities for catalysis or small molecule activation.

Mono- and di-cationic hydrido boron compounds

Stable mono- and di-cationic hydrido boron compounds featuring CH₂BH₂(μ-H)BH₂CH₂ and CH₂BH(μ-H)₂BHCH₂ cores are readily accessible by dehydrogenative hydride abstractions. NBO calculations revealed the occurrence of two B–H–B 3c–2e bonds in the HB(μ-H)₂BH moiety of di-cations (7 and 8), where 43% is located at the H bridges and ∼28% at each boron atom.

Interplay of donor–acceptor interactions in stabilizing boron nitride compounds: insights from theory

The chemical bonds in donor–acceptor stabilized linear and cyclic (BN)_n (n = 1–3) adducts are examined using natural bond orbital (NBO), atoms-in-molecules (AIM), and energy decomposition (EDA-NOCV) analyses.

Cations and dications of heavier group 14 elements in low oxidation states

This review gives an introduction to the synthesis, properties, and reactivity of the cations and dications of the heavier group 14 elements in their low oxidation state.

Can low-valent silicon compounds be better transition metal ligands than phosphines and NHCs?

We investigated the potential application of low-valent silicon compounds as transition metal ligands by computing the most important ligand properties and compared them to the generally used carbene and phosphine ligands.