Terminal Alkyne Coupling Reactions through a Ring: Mechanistic Insights and Regiochemical Switching

Regio- and Stereoselective Hydroalkynylation of Internal Alkynes with Terminal Alkynes by Half-Sandwich Rare-Earth Catalysts

The regio- and stereoselective hydroalkynylation of internal alkynes with terminal alkynes is of great interest and importance as a straightforward route for synthesizing multisubstituted 1,3-enynes. However, this transformation often suffers from regio- and stereoselectivity issues when working with unsymmetrical internal alkynes. Herein, we report for the first time the regio- and syn-stereoselective hydroalkynylation of a variety of heteroatom-functionalized unsymmetrical internal alkynes including homopropargyl ethers, thioethers, and tertiary amines with terminal alkynes by half-sandwich rare-earth catalysts. This protocol provides an atom-efficient and straightforward route for the synthesis of a new family of heteroatom (O, S, or N)-functionalized 1,3-enynes, featuring 100% atom-efficiency, broad substrate scope, and high regio- and syn-stereoselectivity (>19:1 r.r. and >19:1 syn/anti). The mechanistic details have been elucidated by deuterium-labeling experiments, control experiments, and isolation and transformations of key reaction intermediates, revealing that the reaction proceeded through the C(sp)-H deprotonation of a terminal alkyne by a half-sandwich scandium alkyl species to form a catalytically active dimeric half-sandwich scandium tetraalkynyl species followed by heteroatom-assisted insertion of internal alkyne into the Sc-alkynyl bond and the subsequent protonolysis of the resulting Sc-alkenyl bond with another terminal alkyne molecule. The coordination of the heteroatom (O, S, or N) of internal alkynes to the catalyst metal center plays a critically important role in achieving a high level of reactivity and regio- and stereoselectivity. Remarkably, the catalytically active dimeric half-sandwich scandium tetraalkynyl species can be recovered and reused, constituting the first example of a recyclable catalyst system for the hydroalkynylation of internal alkynes.

Active template synthesis

The active template synthesis of mechanically interlocked molecular architectures exploits the dual ability of various structural elements (metals or, in the case of metal-free active template synthesis, particular arrangements of functional groups) to serve as both a template for the organisation of building blocks and as a catalyst to facilitate the formation of covalent bonds between them. This enables the entwined or threaded intermediate structure to be covalently captured under kinetic control. Unlike classical passive template synthesis, the intercomponent interactions transiently used to promote the assembly typically do not 'live on' in the interlocked product, meaning that active template synthesis can be traceless and used for constructing mechanically interlocked molecules that do not feature strong binding interactions between the components. Since its introduction in 2006, active template synthesis has been used to prepare a variety of rotaxanes, catenanes and knots. Amongst the metal-ion-mediated versions of the strategy, the copper(I)-catalysed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) remains the most extensively used transformation, although a broad range of other catalytic reactions and transition metals also provide effective manifolds. In metal-free active template synthesis, the recent discovery of the acceleration of the reaction of primary amines with electrophiles through the cavity of crown ethers has proved effective for forming an array of rotaxanes without recognition elements, including compact rotaxane superbases, dissipatively assembled rotaxanes and molecular pumps. This Review details the active template concept, outlines its advantages and limitations for the synthesis of interlocked molecules, and charts the diverse set of reactions that have been used with this strategy to date. The application of active template synthesis in various domains is discussed, including molecular machinery, mechanical chirality, catalysis, molecular recognition and various aspects of materials science.

Capture of mechanically interlocked molecules by rhodium-mediated terminal alkyne dimerisation

The transition metal-mediated dimerisation of terminal alkynes is an attractive and atom-economic method for preparing conjugated 1,3-enynes. Using a phosphine-based macrocyclic pincer ligand, we demonstrate how this transformation can be extended to the synthesis of novel, hydrocarbon-based interlocked molecules: a rotaxane by 'active' metal template synthesis and a catenane by sequential 'active' and 'passive' metal template procedures.

Mechanism and Stereoselectivity Control of Terminal Alkyne Dimerization Activated by a Zr/Co Heterobimetallic Complex: A DFT Study

Heterobimetallic complexes have recently garnered considerable attention in organic synthesis owing to their high activity and selectivity, which surpass those of monometallic complexes. In this study, the detailed mechanisms of terminal alkyne dimerization activated by the heterobimetallic Zr/Co complex, as well as the different stereoselectivities of Me3SiC≡CH and PhC≡CH dimerization, were investigated and elucidated by using density functional theory calculations. After excluding the three-molecule reaction and outer-sphere mechanisms, the inner-sphere mechanism was determined as the most optimal process. The inner-sphere mechanism involves four processes: THF dissociation and coordination of the first alkyne; ligand migration and C-H activation; N2 dissociation and insertion of the second alkyne; and reductive elimination. The stereoselectivity between the E-/Z- and gem-isomers is determined by the C-C coupling mode of the two alkynes and that of the E- and Z-isomers is determined by the sequence of the C-C coupling and hydrogen migration in the reductive elimination process. Me3SiC≡CH dimerization yields only an E-isomer owing to the large differences in the distortion and interaction energies, whereas PhC≡CH dimerization produces an E-, Z-, and gem-isomers owing to the reduced interaction energy differences.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Spectroscopic Studies of 2,6-Dimethylpyridyl-Linked Cu(I)-CNC Complexes: The Electronic Influence of Aryl Wingtips on Copper Centers

Six new Cu(I) complexes containing pincer ligands of the type 2,6-bis(3-alkyl/arylimidazol-2-ylidene) methylpyridine I(R/R'Ar) ĈN̂C, where R = trifluoroethyl (TFE) and R' = 4-CF3, 4-NO2, 4-CN, 4-H, and 4-CH3, have been synthesized. These complexes, namely, [Cu(I(TFE)ĈN̂C)]PF6, 1-TFE; [Cu(ICF3Ar ĈN̂C]PF6, 2-CF3; [Cu(INO2Ar ĈN̂C)]PF6, 3-NO2; [Cu(ICNAr ĈN̂C]PF6, 4-CN; [Cu(IHAr ĈN̂C)]2(PF6)2, 5-H; and [Cu(ICH3Ar ĈN̂C)]2(PF6)2, 6-CH3, were fully characterized by 1H, 13C, and HMBC NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, electrochemical studies, and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The crystallographic data revealed different structures and copper nuclearities for the complexes bearing aryl wingtips with electron-withdrawing (2-CF3, 3-NO2, and 4-CN) and electron-donating (5-H and 6-CH3) substituents. The solution-phase conductivity measurements in acetonitrile revealed a mix-electrolyte behavior for these complexes, supporting the presence of both mono- and binuclear forms of each complex. The fast monomer-dimer equilibrium of the Cu-CNC complexes at room temperature is reflected in their simple 1H NMR spectra in acetonitrile. However, both mono- and binuclear forms were identifiable in 1H diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) at low temperatures. The dynamic behavior of these complexes in solution was further examined by variable-temperature 1H NMR (VT 1H NMR) experiments, and the relevant thermodynamic parameters were determined. The process was also probed by one-dimensional rotating-frame Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (1D ROESY) experiments to elucidate the coexisting species in solution. The 2,6-dimethylpyridyl-linked Cu-CNC complexes also presented a quasi-reversible Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple in cyclic voltammetry studies, wherein a clear influence of the aryl wingtips on the E1/2 values was observed. Furthermore, the percent buried volumes (% Vbur) of the complexes were calculated, showing a similar steric hindrance around copper in all complexes. These findings support the importance of electronic effects, induced by the aryl wingtips, on the preferred coordination geometry, copper nuclearity, and redox properties of the Cu-CNC complexes.

trans-Hydroalkynylation of Internal 1,3-Enynes Enabled by Cooperative Catalysis

A cooperative catalyst system involving a Pd(0)/Senphos complex, tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane, copper bromide, and an amine base, is demonstrated to catalyze trans-hydroalkynylation of internal 1,3-enynes. For the first time, a Lewis acid catalyst is shown to promote the reaction involving the emerging outer-sphere oxidative reaction step. The resulting cross-conjugated dieneynes are versatile synthons for organic synthesis, and their characterization reveals distinct photophysical properties depending on the positioning of the donor/acceptor substituents along the conjugation path.

Mechanistic Insights into Molecular Crystalline Organometallic Heterogeneous Catalysis through Parahydrogen-Based Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies

The heterogeneous solid-gas reactions of crystals of [Rh(L₂)(propene)][BAr^F₄] (1, L₂ = ^tBu₂PCH₂CH₂P^tBu₂) with H₂ and propene, 1-butene, propyne, or 1-butyne are explored by gas-phase nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy under batch conditions at 25 °C. The temporal evolution of the resulting parahydrogen-induced polarization (PHIP) effects measures catalytic flux and thus interrogates the efficiency of catalytic pairwise para-H₂ transfer, speciation changes in the crystalline catalyst at the molecular level, and allows for high-quality single-scan ¹H, ¹³C NMR gas-phase spectra for the products to be obtained, as well as 2D-measurements. Complex 1 reacts with H₂ to form dimeric [Rh(L₂)(H)(μ-H)]₂[BAr^F₄]₂ (4), as probed using EXAFS; meanwhile, a single-crystal of 1 equilibrates NMR silent para-H₂ with its NMR active ortho isomer, contemporaneously converting into 4, and 1 and 4 each convert para-H₂ into ortho-H₂ at different rates. Hydrogenation of propene using 1 and para-H₂ results in very high initial polarization levels in propane (>85%). Strong PHIP was also detected in the hydrogenation products of 1-butene, propyne, and 1-butyne. With propyne, a competing cyclotrimerization deactivation process occurs to afford [Rh(^tBu₂PCH₂CH₂P^tBu₂)(1,3,4-Me₃C₆H₃)][BAr^F₄], while with 1-butyne, rapid isomerization of 1-butyne occurs to give a butadiene complex, which then reacts with H₂ more slowly to form catalytically active 4. Surprisingly, the high PHIP hydrogenation efficiencies allow hyperpolarization effects to be seen when H₂ is taken directly from a regular cylinder at 25 °C. Finally, changing the chelating phosphine to Cy₂PCH₂CH₂PCy₂ results in initial high polarization efficiencies for propene hydrogenation, but rapid quenching of the catalyst competes to form the zwitterion [Rh(Cy₂PCH₂CH₂PCy₂){η⁶-(CF₃)₂(C₆H₃)}BAr^F₃].

Modulation of Metal Carbonyl Stretching Frequencies in the Second Coordination Sphere through the Internal Stark Effect

Spectroscopic and computational examination of a homologous series of rhodium(I) pybox carbonyl complexes has revealed a correlation between the conformation of the flanking aryl-substituted oxazoline donors and the carbonyl stretching frequency. This relationship is also observed experimentally for octahedral rhodium(III) and ruthenium(II) variants and cannot be explained through the classical, Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson, interpretation of metal-carbonyl bonding. Instead, these findings are reconciled by local changes in the magnitude of the electric field that is projected along the metal-carbonyl vector: the internal Stark effect.

Pincer and Macrocyclic Pyridylidene Amide (PYA) AuIII Complexes

Gold-based homogeneous catalysis is dominated by redox neutral Au^I systems. Redox-active gold-based catalysts are less common, principally because of redox cycles between Au^I and Au^III being hampered by unfavorable potentials. We report gold(III) complexes containing pincer-based, donor-flexible pyridylidene amide (PYA) ligands to address these issues. These complexes act as electron reservoirs through two limiting resonance structures consisting of either soft, imine coordination sites or harder, zwitterionic amide donors. We further alter the donor properties by using the ortho-, meta-, and para-pyridylidene amide variants of the PYA pincer arms. These bis-PYA pincer ligands exhibited a high contribution of amide coordination in the solid-state of the gold(III) complexes; however, the solution data suggests a high contribution from the neutral L-type resonance forms. This L-type contribution, primarily shown through cyclic voltammetry studies, prevents reversible gold(III) reduction and also disfavors abstraction of the ancillary chloride ligand. Furthermore, a novel macrocyclic-PYA ligand is introduced, which shows secondary metal-ligand interactions.

Palladium-Catalyzed Tail-to-Tail Reductive Dimerization of Terminal Alkynes to 2,3-Dibranched Butadienes

The palladium-catalyzed tail-to-tail reductive dimerization of terminal alkynes is described for the first time. Aromatic terminal alkynes bearing diverse and sensitive functional groups as well as aliphatic terminal alkynes are efficiently transformed to 2,3-dibranched butadienes. The key to achieve a selective tail-to-tail reductive dimerization reaction is to control appropriately the acidity of the reaction solution, which is accomplished by a combined use of pivalic acid and para-toluenesulfonic acid. The tail-to-tail reductive dimerization reaction is proposed to proceed via a cationic alkenyl palladium intermediate under acidic conditions.

The Fascinating Flexibility and Coordination Modes of a Pentamethylene Connected Macrocyclic CNC Pincer Ligand

The coordination chemistry of an electron-rich macrocyclic CNC pincer-ligand consisting of two pentamethylene tethered N-heterocyclic carbene moieties on a carbazole backbone (bimca^C5) is investigated by mainly NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystal structure analysis. A bridging coordination mode is found for the lithium complex. With the larger and softer potassium ion, the ligand adopts a facial coordination mode and a polymeric structure by intermolecular potassium nitrogen interactions. The facial coordination is also confirmed at a Cp*Ru fragment, while C-H activation under dehydrogenation at the alkyl chain is observed upon reaction with [Ru(PPh₃)₃Cl₂]. In contrast, Pd(OAc)₂ reacts under C-H activation at the central carbon atom of the pentamethylene tether to an alkyl-pincer macrocycle.

Synthesis and reactivity of iridium complexes of a macrocyclic PNP pincer ligand

Having recently reported on the synthesis and rhodium complexes of the novel macrocyclic pincer ligand PNP-14, which is derived from lutidine and features terminal phosphine donors trans-substituted with a tetradecamethylene linker (Dalton Trans., 2020, 49, 2077-2086 and Dalton Trans., 2020, 49, 16649-16652), we herein describe our findings critically examining the chemistry of iridium homologues. The five-coordinate iridium(i) and iridium(iii) complexes [Ir(PNP-14)(η2:η2-cyclooctadiene)][BArF4] and [Ir(PNP-14)(2,2'-biphenyl)][BArF4] are readily prepared and shown to be effective precursors for the generation of iridium(iii) dihydride dihydrogen, iridium(i) bis(ethylene), and iridium(i) carbonyl derivatives that highlight important periodic trends by comparison to rhodium counterparts. Reaction of [Ir(PNP-14)H2(H2)][BArF4] with 3,3-dimethylbutene induced triple C-H bond activation of the methylene chain, yielding an iridium(iii) allyl hydride derivative [Ir(PNP-14*)H][BArF4], whilst catalytic homocoupling of 3,3-dimethylbutyne into Z-tBuC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CCHCHtBu could be promoted at RT by [Ir(PNP-14)(η2:η2-cyclooctadiene)][BArF4] (TOFinitial = 28 h-1). The mechanism of the latter is proposed to involve formation and direct reaction of a vinylidene derivative with HC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CtBu outside of the macrocyclic ring and this suggestion is supported experimentally by isolation and crystallographic characterisation of a catalyst deactivation product.

Ruthenium macrocycles bearing pyridine bis(carboxamide): synthesis, structure, and catalytic activity for hydrosilylation

Ruthenium complexes Ru(MC33)(CO)n(L)2−n (L = H2O, PPh3, P(OEt)3; n = 1, 2) with a pincer-type macrocyclic ligand MC33 with a cavity were synthesized and characterized.

Oxidative Addition of a Mechanically Entrapped C(sp)-C(sp) Bond to a Rhodium(I) Pincer Complex

By use of a macrocyclic phosphinite pincer ligand and bulky substrate substituents, we demonstrate how the mechanical bond can be leveraged to promote the oxidative addition of an interlocked 1,3-diyne to a rhodium(I) center. The resulting rhodium(III) bis(alkynyl) product can be trapped out by reaction with carbon monoxide or intercepted through irreversible reaction with dihydrogen, resulting in selective hydrogenolysis of the C-C σ-bond.

Terminal Alkyne Coupling Reactions Through a Ring: Effect of Ring Size on Rate and Regioselectivity

Terminal alkyne coupling reactions promoted by rhodium(I) complexes of macrocyclic NHC-based pincer ligands-which feature dodecamethylene, tetradecamethylene or hexadecamethylene wingtip linkers viz. [Rh(CNC-n)(C2 H4 )][BArF 4 ] (n=12, 14, 16; ArF =3,5-(CF3 )2 C6 H3 )-have been investigated, using the bulky alkynes HC≡CtBu and HC≡CAr' (Ar'=3,5-tBu2 C6 H3 ) as substrates. These stoichiometric reactions proceed with formation of rhodium(III) alkynyl alkenyl derivatives and produce rhodium(I) complexes of conjugated 1,3-enynes by C-C bond reductive elimination through the annulus of the ancillary ligand. The intermediates are formed with orthogonal regioselectivity, with E-alkenyl complexes derived from HC≡CtBu and gem-alkenyl complexes derived from HC≡CAr', and the reductive elimination step is appreciably affected by the ring size of the macrocycle. For the homocoupling of HC≡CtBu, E-tBuC≡CCH=CHtBu is produced via direct reductive elimination from the corresponding rhodium(III) alkynyl E-alkenyl derivatives with increasing efficacy as the ring is expanded. In contrast, direct reductive elimination of Ar'C≡CC(=CH2 )Ar' is encumbered relative to head-to-head coupling of HC≡CAr' and it is only with the largest macrocyclic ligand studied that the two processes are competitive. These results showcase how macrocyclic ligands can be used to interrogate the mechanism and tune the outcome of terminal alkyne coupling reactions, and are discussed with reference to catalytic reactions mediated by the acyclic homologue [Rh(CNC-Me)(C2 H4 )][BArF 4 ] and solvent effects.

Oxidative Addition of Biphenylene and Chlorobenzene to a Rh(CNC) Complex

The synthesis and organometallic chemistry of rhodium(I) complex [Rh(CNC-Me)(SOMe2)][BArF 4], featuring NHC-based pincer and labile dimethyl sulfoxide ligands, is reported. This complex reacts with biphenylene and chlorobenzene to afford products resulting from selective C-C and C-Cl bond activation, [Rh(CNC-Me)(2,2'-biphenyl)(OSMe2)][BArF 4] and [Rh(CNC-Me)(Ph)Cl(OSMe2)][BArF 4], respectively. A detailed DFT-based computational analysis indicates that C-H bond oxidative addition of these substrates is kinetically competitive, but in all cases endergonic: contrasting the large thermodynamic driving force calculated for insertion of the metal into the C-C and C-Cl bonds, respectively. Under equivalent conditions the substrates are not activated by the phosphine-based pincer complex [Rh(PNP-iPr)(SOMe2)][BArF 4].

Rhodium(I)-NHC Complexes Bearing Bidentate Bis-Heteroatomic Acidato Ligands as gem-Selective Catalysts for Alkyne Dimerization

A series of Rh(κ² -BHetA)(η² -coe)(IPr) complexes bearing 1,3-bis-hetereoatomic acidato ligands (BHetA) including carboxylato (O,O), thioacetato (O,S), amidato (O,N), thioamidato (N,S), and amidinato (N,N), have been prepared by reaction of the dinuclear precursor [Rh(μ-Cl)(IPr)(η² -coe)]₂ with the corresponding anionic BHetA species. The Rh^I -NHC-BHetA compounds catalyze the dimerization of aryl alkynes, showing excellent selectivity for the head-to-tail enynes. Among them, the acetanilidato-based catalyst has shown an outstanding catalytic performance reaching unprecedented TOF levels of 2500 h^-1 with complete selectivity for the gem-isomer. Investigation of the reaction mechanism supports a non-oxidative pathway in which the BHetA ligand behaves as proton shuttle through intermediate κ¹ -HBHetA species. However, in the presence of pyridine as additive, the identification of the common Rh^III H(C≡CPh)₂ (IPr)(py)₂ intermediate gives support for an alternative oxidative route.

A shape changing tandem Rh(CNC) catalyst: preparation of bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,5,7-trienes from terminal aryl alkynes

The preparation of a range of tetraaryl-substituted bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,5,7-trienes using a one-pot procedure starting from terminal aryl alkynes and catalysed by a rhodium(i) complex is reported. This synthesis proceeds by a reaction sequence involving head-to-tail homocoupling of the terminal alkyne and zipper annulation of the resulting gem-enyne. The rhodium catalyst employed is notable for the incorporation of a flexible NHC-based pincer ligand, which is suggested to interconvert between mer- and fac-coordination modes to fulfil the orthogonal mechanistic demands of the two transformations. Evidence for this interesting auto-tandem action of the catalyst is provided by reactions of the precatalyst with model substrates, corroborating proposed intermediates in both component cycles, and norbornadiene, which reversibly captures the change in pincer ligand coordination mode, along with a DFT-based computational analysis.

Synthesis and group 9 complexes of macrocyclic PCP and POCOP pincer ligands

The synthesis of macrocyclic variants of commonly employed phosphine-based pincer (pro)ligands derived from meta-xylene (PCP-14) and resorcinol (POCOP-14) is described, where the P-donors are trans-substituted with a tetradecamethylene linker. The former was accomplished using a seven-step asymmetric procedure involving (-)-cis-1-amino-2-indanol as a chiral auxiliary and ring-closing olefin metathesis. A related, but non-diastereoselective route was employed for the latter, which consequently necessitated chromatographic separation from the cis-substituted by-product. The proligands are readily metalated and homologous series of M^I(CO) and M^IIICl₂(CO) derivatives (M = Rh, Ir) have been isolated and fully characterised in solution and the solid state. Metal hydride complexes are generated during the synthesis of the former and have been characterised in situ using NMR spectroscopy.

Weak functional group interactions revealed through metal-free active template rotaxane synthesis

Modest functional group interactions can play important roles in molecular recognition, catalysis and self-assembly. However, weakly associated binding motifs are often difficult to characterize. Here, we report on the metal-free active template synthesis of [2]rotaxanes in one step, up to 95% yield and >100:1 rotaxane:axle selectivity, from primary amines, crown ethers and a range of C=O, C=S, S(=O)2 and P=O electrophiles. In addition to being a simple and effective route to a broad range of rotaxanes, the strategy enables 1:1 interactions of crown ethers with various functional groups to be characterized in solution and the solid state, several of which are too weak - or are disfavored compared to other binding modes - to be observed in typical host-guest complexes. The approach may be broadly applicable to the kinetic stabilization and characterization of other weak functional group interactions.

Macrocyclic Metal Complexes Bearing Rigid Polyaromatic Ligands: Synthesis and Catalytic Activity

We synthesised palladium and platinum complexes possessing cyclic and acyclic pincer-type polyaromatic ligands and investigated their structural effect on the catalysis. The pincer-type bis(6-arylpyridin-2-yl)benzene skeleton was constructed via Kröhnke pyridine synthesis under transition metal-free conditions on gram-scale quantity. Ligand structure significantly influenced catalytic activity toward the platinum-catalysed hydrosilylation of diphenyl acetylenes, despite the ligand-independence of the conformations and electronic properties of these complexes.

Synthesis and rhodium complexes of macrocyclic PNP and PONOP pincer ligands

The synthesis of macrocyclic variants of commonly employed phosphine-based pincer ligands derived from lutidine (PNP-14) and 2,6-dihydroxypyridine (PONOP-14) is described, where the P-donors are trans-substituted with a tetradecamethylene linker. This was accomplished using an eight-step procedure involving borane protection, ring-closing olefin metathesis, chromatographic separation from the cis-substituted diastereomers, and borane deprotection. The rhodium coordination chemistry of these ligands has been explored, aided by the facile synthesis of 2,2'-biphenyl (biph) adducts [Rh(PNP-14)(biph)][BAr^F₄] and [Rh(PONOP-14)(biph)][BAr^F₄] (Ar^F = 3,5-(CF₃)₂C₆H₃). Subsequent hydrogenolysis enabled generation of dihydrogen, ethylene and carbonyl derivatives; notably the ν(CO) bands of the carbonyl complexes provide a means to compare the donor properties of the new pincer ligands with established acyclic congeners.

Reactions of Rh(PNP) pincer complexes with terminal alkynes: homocoupling through a ring or not at all

“Switching on” a metal's capacity to promote terminal alkyne coupling reactions using a macrocyclic pincer ligand.

Active template rotaxane synthesis through the Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling of alkylzinc reagents with redox-active esters

The synthesis of unsymmetrical axle [2]rotaxanes through a recently developed Ni-catalyzed C(sp3)-C(sp3) cross-coupling of redox-active esters (formed directly from carboxylic acids) and organozinc reagents (derived from alkyl bromides) is reported. The method also furnishes, as a minor product, the symmetrical axle [2]rotaxanes resulting from the homo-coupling of the organozinc half-thread. The rotaxanes are formed in up to 56% yield with the ratio of unsymmetrical rotaxane increasing with the cavity size of the macrocycle. In the absence of the redox-active ester neither rotaxane is formed, even though the homo-coupling rotaxane product does not incorporate the redox-active ester building block. A Ni(iii) intermediate is consistent with these observations, providing support for the previously postulated mechanism of the Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction.

Synthesis and Structural Dynamics of Five-Coordinate Rh(III) and Ir(III) PNP and PONOP Pincer Complexes

The synthesis and characterization of a homologous series of five-coordinate rhodium(III) and iridium(III) complexes of PNP (2,6-( tBu₂PCH₂)₂C₅H₃N) and PONOP (2,6-( tBu₂PO)₂C₅H₃N) pincer ligands are described: [M(PNP)(biph)][BAr^F₄] (M = Rh, 1a; Ir, 1b; biph = 2,2'-biphenyl; Ar^F = 3,5-(CF₃)₂C₆H₃) and [M(PONOP)(biph)][BAr^F₄] (M = Rh, 2a; Ir, 2b). These complexes are structurally dynamic in solution, exhibiting pseudorotation of the biph ligand on the ¹H NMR time scale (Δ G^⧧ ca. 60 kJ mol^-1) and, in the case of the flexible PNP complexes, undergoing interconversion between helical and puckered pincer ligand conformations (Δ G^⧧ ca. 10 kJ mol^-1). Remarkably, the latter is sufficiently facile that it persists in the solid state, leading to temperature-dependent disorder in the associated X-ray crystal structures. Reaction of 1 and 2 with CO occurs for the iridium congeners 1b and 2b, leading to the formation of sterically congested carbonyl derivatives.

Stereoselective Access to ( E)-1,3-Enynes through Pd/Cu-Catalyzed Alkyne Hydrocarbation of Allenes

Pd^II and Cu^I cooperate in catalyzing the alkynes hydrocarbation of allenes (AHA) giving ( E)-1,3-enynes with high yields, atom economy, and high regio-/stereoselectivities. We devised new efficient conditions and expanded the substrate scope. Experimental and computational studies support a nonorthodox Pd^II/Pd^IV catalytic cycle involving an oxidative addition triggered by a stereodeterminant H⁺ transfer. This reaction is leveraged in a new strategy of stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-dienes.

Synergic Deprotonation Generates Alkali-Metal Salts of Tethered Fluorenide-NHC Ligands Co-Complexed to Alkali-Metal Amides

Synergic combinations of alkali-metal hydrocarbyl/amide reagents were used to synthesise saturated N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands tethered to a fluorenide anion through deprotonation of a spirocyclic precursor, whereas conventional bases were not successful. The Li2 derivatives displayed a bridging amide between two Li atoms within the fluorenide-NHC pocket, whereas the Na2 and K2 analogues displayed extended solid-state structures with the fluorenide-NHC ligand chelating one alkali metal centre.

A convenient method for the generation of {Rh(PNP)}+ and {Rh(PONOP)}+ fragments: reversible formation of vinylidene derivatives

The substitution reactions of [Rh(COD)2][BArF4] with PNP and PONOP pincer ligands 2,6-bis(di-tert-butylphosphinomethyl)pyridine and 2,6-bis(di-tert-butylphosphinito)pyridine in the weakly coordinating solvent 1,2-F2C6H4 are shown to be an operationally simple method for the generation of reactive formally 14 VE rhodium(i) adducts in solution. Application of this methodology enables synthesis of known adducts of CO, N2, H2, previously unknown water complexes, and novel vinylidene derivatives [Rh(pincer)(CCHR)][BArF4] (R = tBu, 3,5-tBu2C6H3), through reversible reactions with terminal alkynes.

1,3-Chlorine Shift to a Vinyl Cation: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of the E-Selective Gold(I)-Catalyzed Dimerization of Chloroacetylenes

Metal-catalyzed dimerization reactions of terminal acetylenes are well known in the literature. However, only a few examples of the dimerization of halogen-substituted acetylenes are described. The products of the latter metal-catalyzed dimerization are the branched head-to-tail enynes. The formation of the corresponding linear head-to-head enynes has not been reported yet. Herein, we demonstrate by means of quantum chemical methods and experiments that the head-to-head dimerization of chloroarylacetylenes can be achieved via mono gold catalysis. Under the optimized conditions, a clean and complete conversion of the starting materials is observed and the dimeric products are obtained up to 75% NMR yield. A mechanistic investigation of the dimerization reaction reveals that the branched head-to-tail vinyl cation is energetically more stable than the corresponding linear head-to-head cation. However, the latter can rearrange by an unusual 1,3-chlorine shift, resulting in the highly stereoselective formation of the trans product, which corresponds to the gold complex of the head-to-head E-enyne. The activation barrier for this rearrangement is extremely low (ca. 2 kcal/mol). As the mono gold-catalyzed dimerization can be conducted in a preparative scale, this simple synthesis of trans-1,2-dichloroenynes makes the gold(I)-catalyzed head-to-head dimerization of chloroarylacetylenes an attractive method en route to more complex conjugated enyne systems and their congeners.

Pseudo-tetrahedral Rhodium and Iridium Complexes: Catalytic Synthesis of E-Enynes

The reactions of the rhodium(I) and iridium(I) complexes [M(PhBP₃ )(C₂ H₄ )(NCMe)] (PhBP₃ =PhB(CH₂ PPh₂ )₃ ^- ) with alkynes have resulted in the synthesis of a new family of pseudo-tetrahedral complexes, [M(PhBP₃ )(RC≡CR')] (M=Rh, Ir), which contain the alkyne as a four-electron donor. The reactions of these unusual compounds with two-electron donors (L=PMe₃ , CNtBu) produced a change in the "donicity" of the alkyne from a 4e^- to a 2e^- donor to give five-coordinate complexes. These were the final products with the iridium complexes, whereas further reactions took place with the rhodium complexes. In particular, C(sp)-H bond activation of the alkyne occurred leading to hydrido alkynyl complexes. This process is essential for the further reactivity of the alkynes, and if the alkyne itself was used as reagent, E-enyne complexes were obtained. As a consequence of this chemistry, we show that the complex [Rh(PhBP₃ )(C₂ H₄ )(NCMe)] is a very efficient pre-catalyst for the regioselective di- and trimerization of terminal alkynes to E-enynes and benzene derivatives, respectively. Interestingly, acetonitrile significantly enhanced the catalytic activity by facilitating the C(sp)-H bond activation step. A hydrometalation mechanism to account for these experimental observations is proposed.

Rhodium(III) and Iridium(III) Complexes of a NHC-Based Macrocycle: Persistent Weak Agostic Interactions and Reactions with Dihydrogen

The synthesis and characterization of five-coordinate rhodium(III) and iridium(III) 2,2′-biphenyl complexes [M(CNC-12)(biph)][BAr^F₄] (M = Rh (1a), Ir (1b)), featuring the macrocyclic lutidine- and NHC-based pincer ligand CNC-12 are reported. In the solid state these complexes are notable for the adoption of weak ε-agostic interactions that are characterized by M···H–C contacts of ca. 3.0 Å by X-ray crystallography and ν(CH) bands of reduced wavenumber by ATR IR spectroscopy. Remarkably, these interactions persist on dissolution and were observed at room temperature using NMR spectroscopy (CD₂Cl₂) and solution-phase IR spectroscopy (CCl₄). The associated metrics point toward a stronger M···H–C interaction in the iridium congener, and this conclusion is borne out on interrogation of 1 in silico using DFT-based NBO and QTAIM analyses. Reaction of 1 with dihydrogen resulted in hydrogenolysis of the biaryl and formation of fluxional hydride complexes, whose ground state formulations as [Rh(CNC-12)H₂][BAr^F₄] (2a″) and [Ir(CNC-12)H₂(H₂)][BAr^F₄] (2b‴) are proposed on the basis of inversion recovery and variable-temperature NMR experiments, alongside a computational analysis. Reactions of 1 and 2 with carbon monoxide help support their respective structural properties.