Rhodium-catalyzed selective CH functionalization of NNN tridentate chelating compounds via a rollover pathway

Reported herein is the first example of the Rh(NHC)-catalyzed selective bis C-H alkylation of NNN tridentate chelating compounds in reaction with alkenes. The observed excellent site-selectivity can readily be explained by the postulated rollover pathway in the C-H bond activation step. The reaction is highly facile affording bis-alkylated tridentate products in high yields over a broad range of versatile heteroarene substrates and alkene reactants including ethylene gas, thus enabling its applications to be feasible in coordination and synthetic chemistry.

Radical non-radical states of the [Ru(PIQ)] core in complexes (PIQ = 9,10-phenanthreneiminoquinone)

9,10-Phenanthreneiminosemiquinonate anion radical (PIQ˙(-)) complexes of ruthenium of types trans-[Ru(II)(PIQ˙(-))(PPh3)2(CO)Cl] () and trans-[Ru(III)(PIQ˙(-))(PPh3)2Cl2] () are reported. Reactions of and with I2 afford trans-[Ru(III)(PIQ˙(-))(PPh3)2(CO)Cl](+)I3(-)·½CH2Cl2 ((+)I3(-)·½CH2Cl2) and trans-[Ru(PIQ˙(-))2(PPh3)2(μ-Cl)3](+)I3(-)·¼I2·¼toluene) ((+)I3(-)·¼I2·¼toluene), while the reaction of with Br2 yields a 9,10-phenanthreneiminoquinone (PIQ) complex of the type mer-[Ru(III)(PIQ)(PPh3)Br3]·½CH2Cl2 (·½CH2Cl2). In comparison, the reaction of trans-[Ru(III)(PQ˙(-))(PPh3)2Cl2] (PQ), a 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (PQ) analogue of affords only trans-[Ru(III)(PQ)(PPh3)2Cl2](+)Br3(-) ((+)Br3(-)). Considering the X-ray bond parameters, EPR spectra and the atomic spin densities obtained from the density functional theory (DFT) calculations, is defined as a PIQ˙(-) (average C-O/N and C-C lengths, 1.280(2) and 1.453(3) Å) complex of ruthenium(ii) while is a neutral PIQ (average C-O, C-N, C-C and C-O/N lengths, 1.248(7), 1.284(7), 1.485(8) and 1.266(7) Å) complex of the ruthenium(iii) ion. The single crystal X-ray bond parameters proposed that (+)I3(-) (average C-O/N and C-C lengths, 1.294(8) and 1.449(9) Å) and (average C-O/N and C-C lengths, 1.289(2) and 1.447(4) Å) are PIQ˙(-) complexes of ruthenium(iii), while the (+) ion (average C-O/N and C-C lengths, 1.288 ± 0.004 and 1.450 ± 0.017 Å) is a co-facial bi-octahedral complex of ruthenium(iii). In contrast, the (+) ion is a PQ complex of the ruthenium(iii) ion. EPR spectra and the calculated atomic spin densities authenticated that the (+) ion obtained after constant potential coulometric oxidation of is a PIQ complex of ruthenium(iii), while the (-) ion is a hybrid state of [Ru(II)(PIQ˙(-))] and [Ru(III)(PIQ(2-))] states. It is observed that the PIQ˙(-) state in which spin is more localized on the nitrogen (∼38% in and ∼35% in (-) ion) is stable and the coordination of the PIQ(2-) state is not observed in this study. Redox activities, UV-vis/NIR absorption spectra and their origins and the spectroelectrochemical measurements for → (+), → (-) and (+) → (2+) conversions are analyzed.

Synthesis and Characterization of Paramagnetic Tungsten Imido Complexes Bearing α-Diimine Ligands

Tungsten imido complexes bearing a redox-active ligand, such as N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-1,4-diaza-2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene (L1), N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene (L2), and 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene (L3), were prepared by salt-free reduction of W(═NC6H3-2,6-(i)Pr2)Cl4 (1) using 1-methyl-3,6-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-cyclohexadiene (MBTCD) followed by addition of the corresponding redox-active ligands. In the initial stage, reaction of W(═NC6H3-2,6-(i)Pr2)Cl4 with MBTCD afforded a tetranuclear W(V) imido cluster, [W(═NC6H3-2,6-(i)Pr2)Cl3]4 (2), which served as a unique precursor for introducing redox-active ligands to the tungsten center to give the corresponding mononuclear complexes with a general formula of W(═NC6H3-2,6-(i)Pr2)Cl3(L) (3, L = L1; 4, L = L2; and 6, L = L3). X-ray analyses of complexes 3 and 6 revealed a neutral coordination mode of L1 and L3 to the tungsten in solid state, while the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of 3 and 4 clarified that a radical was predominantly located on the tungsten center supported by neutral L1 or L2, and the EPR spectra of complex 6 indicated that a radical was delocalized over both the tungsten center and the monoanionic redox-active ligand L3.

Metal–ligand cooperation at tethered π-ligands

Recent advances in the use of tethered π-coordinating ligands for metal–ligand cooperation.

Coordination of o-benzosemiquinonate, o-iminobenzosemiquinonate, 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline anion radicals to oxidovanadium(iv)

Coordination of semiquinonate and heterocyclic α-diimine anion radicals to oxidovanadium(iv) is authenticated.

Investigation of Functional Group Effects on Palladium Catalysed Asymmetric P–H Addition

The pincer catalysed asymmetric P–H addition of diphenylphosphine to 3-benzylidene-2,4-pentadione is herein reported. Albeit successful in catalysing a series of similar substrates, unexpected chelation of the dione substrate to a CP and CN palladacycle catalyst resulted in inactivation of the catalyst with adjacent coordination sites. Protected phosphine adducts were isolated and characterised, providing critical insights to the choice of catalyst for structurally distinct functional groups borne by the substrate.

RhCl(PPh3)3-mediated C–H oxyfunctionalization of pyrrolido-functionalized bisazoaromatic pincers: a combined experimental and theoretical scrutiny of redox-active and spectroscopic properties

Non-trivial coordination mode of symmetrical NNN ligands with Rh(iii) leads to redox-active NNO-scaffolds via C(sp²)–H oxyfunctionalization at rt, opening an opportunity to juxtapose different redox-active domains.

Palladacycles of unsymmetrical (N,C−,E) (E = S/Se) pincers based on indole: their synthesis, structure and application in the catalysis of Heck coupling and allylation of aldehydes

Palladacycles of Schiff bases of 1-(2-phenylsulfanyl/selenylethyl)-1H-indole-3-carbaldehyde with benzyl amine catalyze Heck coupling and allylation at 0.1–0.3 and 1.0 mol% respectively.

Carbon dioxide cleavage across a tungsten-alkylidyne bearing a trianionic pincer-type ligand

Splitting of CO₂ across the tungsten-carbon triple bond in [CF₃-ONO]WCC^tBu(THF)₂ (1) yields the tungsten oxo ketene [CF₃-ONO]W(O){(CH₃)₃CCCO} (6).

Non-symmetric pincer ligands: complexes and applications in catalysis

Pincer ligands have become ubiquitous in organometallic chemistry and homogeneous catalysis. Recently, new varieties of pincer ligands with non-symmetrical backbones and/or ligating groups have been reported and their application in transition metal complexes has been exploited in a variety of catalytic transformations. This non-symmetric approach vastly increases the structural and electronic diversity of this class of ligand. This approach has proven beneficial in a variety of ways, such as the use of a single weakly coordinating moiety, which can dissociate and thereby create a vacant coordination site to increase the catalyst activity. Additionally, this provides further access to chiral ligands and complexes for asymmetric induction. This perspective highlights recent, important examples of non-symmetric pincer ligands, which feature aryl or pyridine backbones, and the synthesis and use of subsequent complexes in catalytic transformations, and discusses the future potential of this type of ligand system.

Evidence for a zwitterionic transition state in double bond rotations within tungsten-vinyl complexes

The trianionic pincer supported tungsten-vinyl complex [CF3-ONO]W(O){(CH3)3CC[double bond, length as m-dash]C(CH3)2} (3syn) undergoes facile double bond rotation at ambient temperature. The degenerate methyl exchange rates were measured via selective inversion-recovery experiments. DFT computations in conjunction with experimentally determined rate constants support a double bond rotation that proceeds via a Zwiterionic transition state.

Bimetallic Complexes Supported by a Redox-Active Ligand with Fused Pincer-Type Coordination Sites

The remarkable chemistry of mononuclear complexes featuring tridentate, meridionally chelating "pincer" ligands has stimulated the development of ligand frameworks containing multiple pincer sites. Here, the coordination chemistry of a novel pentadentate ligand (L(N3O2)) that provides two closely spaced NNO pincer-type compartments fused together at a central diarylamido unit is described. The trianionic L(N3O2) chelate supports homobimetallic structures in which each M(II) ion (M = Co, Cu, Zn) is bound in a meridional fashion by the bridging diarylamido N atom and O,N-donors of the salicyaldimine arms. The metal centers are also coordinated by a mono- or bidentate auxiliary ligand (L(aux)), resulting in complexes with the general form [M2(L(N3O2))(L(aux))2](+) (where L(aux) = 1-methyl-benzimidazole (1MeBI), 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), 4,4'-dibromo-2,2'-bipyridine (bpy(Br2)), or (S)-2-(4-isopropyl-4,5-dihydrooxazolyl)pyridine (S-(iPr)OxPy)). The fused nature of the NNO pincer sites results in short metal-metal distances ranging from 2.70 Å for [Co2(L(N3O2)) (bpy)2](+) to 3.28 Å for [Zn2(L(N3O2)) (bpy)2](+), as revealed by X-ray crystallography. The complexes possess C2 symmetry due to the twisting of the aryl rings of the μ-NAr2 core; spectroscopic studies indicate that chiral L(aux) ligands, such as S-(iPr)OxPy, are capable of controlling the helical sense of the L(N3O2) scaffold. Since the four- or five-coordinate M(II) centers are linked solely by the amido moiety, each features an open coordination site in the intermetallic region, allowing for the possibility of metal-metal cooperativity in small-molecule activation. Indeed, the dicobalt(II) complex [Co2(L(N3O2)) (bpy(Br2))2](+) reacts with O2 to yield a dicobalt(III) species with a μ-1,2-peroxo ligand. The bpy-containing complexes exhibit rich electrochemical properties due to multiple metal- and ligand-based redox events across a wide (3.0 V) potential window. Using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT), it was determined that one-electron oxidation of [Co2(L(N3O2)) (bpy)2](+) results in formation of a S = 1/2 species with a L(N3O2)-based radical coupled to low-spin Co(II) centers.

Highly selective molybdenum ONO pincer complex initiates the living ring-opening metathesis polymerization of strained alkynes with exceptionally low polydispersity indices

The pseudo-octahedral molybdenum benzylidyne complex [TolC≡Mo(ONO)(OR)]·KOR (R = CCH3(CF3)2) 1, featuring a stabilizing ONO pincer ligand, initiates the controlled living polymerization of strained dibenzocyclooctynes at T > 60 °C to give high molecular weight polymers with exceptionally low polydispersities (PDI ∼ 1.02). Kinetic analyses reveal that the growing polymer chain attached to the propagating catalyst efficiently limits the rate of propagation with respect to the rate of initiation (kp/ki ∼ 10(-3)). The reversible coordination of KOCCH3(CF3)2 to the propagating catalyst prevents undesired chain-termination and -transfer processes. The ring-opening alkyne metathesis polymerization with 1 has all the characteristics of a living polymerization and enables, for the first time, the controlled synthesis of amphiphilic block copolymers via ROAMP.

Tuning PCP–Ir complexes: the impact of an N-heterocyclic olefin

A flexible N-heterocyclic olefin (NHO) allows the adoption of facial coordination modes in Ir(i) or meridional in Ir(iii) complexes due to the dual nature (ylide–olefin) of the NHO scaffold. This results in a rare case of olefin “slippage” that is supported by X-ray crystallography and DFT calculations.

A new ONO3− trianionic pincer ligand with intermediate flexibility and its tungsten alkylidene and alkylidyne complexes

This report details the synthesis and characterization of the semi-flexible [ON^CH2O]H₃ (1) ligand and its W(vi)-alkylidene and alkylidyne complexes.

ONO pincer type Pd(ii) complexes: synthesis, crystal structure and catalytic activity towards C-2 arylation of quinoline scaffolds

Four new palladium(ii) complexes featuring ONO pincer type hydrazone ligands were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and single-crystal XRD analysis. Utility of these complexes to catalyze C–C bond formation in quinoline scaffolds were assessed.

A high-spin square-planar Fe(ii) complex stabilized by a trianionic pincer-type ligand and conclusive evidence for retention of geometry and spin state in solution

Extensive spectroscopic evaluation of a novel ONO^3– trianionic pincer Fe(ii) complex indicates the rare square-planar geometry and S = 2 spin state are retained in solution.

Square-planar high-spin Fe(ii) molecular compounds are rare and the only three non-macrocyclic or sterically-driven examples reported share a common FeO₄ core. Using an easily modifiable pincer-type ligand, the successful synthesis of the first compound of this type that breaks the FeO₄ motif was achieved. In addition, we present the first evidence that geometry and spin state persist in solution. Extensive characterization includes the first high-field EPR and variable field/temperature Mössbauer spectra for this class of compounds. Analysis of the spectroscopic data indicates this complex exhibits a large and positive zero-field splitting tensor. Furthermore, the unusually small ΔE_Q value determined for this compound is rationalized on the basis of DFT calculations.