Can Remote N-Heterocyclic Carbenes Coordinate with Main Group Elements? Synthesis, Structure, and Quantum Chemical Analysis of N+ -Centered Complexes

Electron-rich pyridines with para-N-heterocyclic imine substituents: ligand properties and coordination to CO2, SO2, BCl3 and PdII complexes

Electron-rich pyridines with π donor groups at the para position play an important role as nucleophiles in organocatalysis, but their ligand properties and utilization in coordination chemistry have received little attention. Herein, we report the synthesis of two electron-rich pyridines 1 and 2 bearing N-heterocyclic imine groups at the para position and explore their coordination chemistry. Experimental and computational methods were used to assess the donor ability of the new pyridines showing that they are stronger donors than aminopyridines and guanidinyl pyridines, and that the nature of the N-heterocyclic backbone has a strong influence on the pyridine donor strength. Coordination compounds with Lewis acids including the CO2, SO2, BCl3 and PdII ions were synthesized and characterized. Despite the ambident character of the new pyridines, coordination preferentially occurs at the pyridine-N atom. Methyl transfer experiments reveal that 1 and 2 can act as demethylation reagents.

L→S Coordination Complexes Containing Benzothiazol-2-ylidene Ligand: Quantum Chemical Analysis and Synthesis

(NHC)→E coordination interactions were known where NHC is an N-heterocyclic carbene, and E is a main group element (B, C, N, Si, P). Recently, it was suggested that compounds with (NHC)→S coordination chemistry are also possible. This work reports quantum chemical analysis and synthesis of (NHC)→S-R(+) complexes in which benzothiazol-2-ylidene acts as a ligand. A Density functional study established that (NHC)→S interaction can best be described as a coordination interaction. Synthetic efforts were made, initially, to generate divalent sulfur compounds containing benzothiazole substituents. N-alkylation of the heterocyclic ring in these sulfides using methyl triflate led to the generation of the desired products with (NHC)→S coordination chemistry, which involves the in situ generation of NHC ring ligands. The observed changes in the 13C NMR spectra, before and after methylation, confirmed the change in the electronic character of the C-S bond from a covalent character to a coordination character.

Identification of CYP3A4 inhibitors as potential anti-cancer agents using pharmacoinformatics approach

Biguanide derivatives exhibit a wide variety of therapeutic applications, including anti-cancer effects. Metformin is an effective anti-cancer agent against breast cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer. In the crystal structure (PDB ID: 5G5J), it was found that metformin is found in the active site of CYP3A4, and the associated anti-cancer effect was explored. Taking clues from this work, pharmacoinformatics research has been carried out on a series of known and virtual biguanide, guanylthiourea (GTU), and nitreone derivatives. This exercise led to the identification of more than 100 species that exhibit greater binding affinity toward CYP3A4 in comparison to that of metformin. Selected six molecules were subjected to molecular dynamics simulations, and the results are presented in this work.

A cyclic divalent N(I) species isoelectronic to carbodiphosphoranes

The formation of a rare type of diphosphazenium cation is described. Its synthesis features a unique oxidative dealkylation of an iminophosphorane-phosphole by a silver(I) salt. DFT study of this compound reveals the low valent character of the N(I) center.

Thiazetidin-2-ylidenes as four membered N-heterocyclic carbenes: theoretical studies and the generation of complexes with N+ center

Thiazetidin-2-ylidenes have been designed as four membered N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) using quantum chemical studies. These species are smaller analogs of thiazol-2-ylidenes, possess high singlet stability (57 kcal mol^-1) and large nucleophilicity (3.4 eV). The possible existence of these carbenes has been established by synthesizing and crystalizing compounds with NHC→N⁺←(thiazetidin-2-ylidene) coordination bonds.

Mesoionic and N-Heterocyclic Carbenes Coordinated N+ Center: Experimental and Computational Analysis

N-Heterocyclic carbenes, carbocyclic carbenes, remote N-heterocyclic carbenes and N-heterocyclic silylenes are known to form L→N⁺ coordination bonds. However, mesoionic carbenes (MICs) are not reported to form coordination bonds with cationic nitrogen. Herein, synthesis and quantum chemical studies were performed on 1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene stabilized N⁺ center. Six compounds with MIC→N⁺ ←NHC were synthesized. Density functional theory calculations and energy decomposition analysis were carried out to explore the bonding situation between MIC and N⁺ center. The C→N⁺ bond lengths were in the range of 1.295-1.342 Å and bond dissociation energies were <400 kcal/mol. Natural bond orbital analysis supported the presence of excess electron density (>3 electrons) at the N⁺ center. The computational and X-ray diffraction analysis results confirmed the presence of divalent N^I character of center nitrogen and MIC→N⁺ ←NHC coordination interactions.

Biguanides: Species with versatile therapeutic applications

Biguanides are compounds in which two guanidine moieties are fused to form a highly conjugated system. Biguanides are highly basic and hence they are available as salts mostly hydrochloride salts, these cationic species have been found to exhibit many therapeutic properties. This review covers the research and development carried out on biguanides and accounts the various therapeutic applications of drugs containing biguanide group-such as antimalarial, antidiabetic, antiviral, anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-tubercular, antifilarial, anti-HIV, as well as other biological activities. The aim of this review is to compile all the medicinal chemistry applications of this class of compounds so as to pave way for the accelerated efforts in finding the drug action mechanisms associated with this class of compounds. Importance has been given to the organic chemistry of these biguanide derivatives also.

Quantum chemical study in exploring the role of donor→acceptor interactions in 1,3-bis carbene-stabilized guanidinium cations

Guanidinium species are highly basic and hence mostly exist in cationic state. Because these cations carry electron-deficient centers, they can be stabilized with the help of electron-donating ligands like N-heterocyclic carbenes. A few novel guanidinium cationic species stabilized by electron-donating ligands were designed and quantum chemically evaluated. It was shown that strong hydrogen bonds and tautomerism are the important characteristics of these species. Further, the possibility of donor→acceptor coordination interactions in these species have been explored between the electron-donating carbenes and the central guanidinium unit. The results suggest that the title compounds can be considered as ligand-stabilized guanidinium cations similar to the ligand-stabilized N⁺ and N₃⁺ centers.

Divalent NI Compounds: Identifying new Carbocyclic Carbenes to Design Nitreones using Quantum Chemical Methods

Nitreones are compounds with oxidation state 1 at the nitrogen, these compounds carry formal positive charge as well as two lone pairs of electrons at nitrogen center. These compounds are also known as divalent NI compounds and can be represented with the general formula L → N+ ← L, where L is an electron donating ligand. In the recent past, several divalent NI compounds have been reported with L = N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC), remote N-heterocyclic carbene (rNHC), carbocyclic carbene (CCC) and diaminocarbene. Recently, our group reported that a novel six-membered CCC (cyclohexa-2,5-diene-4-[diaminomethynyl]-1-ylidene) can stabilize N+ center in nitreones. As an independent carbene, this species is very unstable. In this work, modulation of this CCC using (a) annulation, (b) heterocyclic ring modification, (c) substitutions adjacent to the carbenic carbon, (d) exocyclic double bond insertion and (e) ring contraction, has been reported. These modulations and quantum chemical analyses helped in the identification of five new six-membered CCCs which carry improved donation and stability properties. Further, these CCCs were employed in the design of new divalent NI compounds (nitreones) which carry coordination bonds between ligands and N+ center. The molecular and electronic structure properties, and the donor→acceptor coordination interactions present in the resultant low oxidation state divalent NI compounds have been explored.

Synthesis and crystal structures of two 1,3-di(alk-yloxy)-2-(methyl-sulfan-yl)imidazolium tetra-fluorido-borates

In both structures, the alk­yloxy and methyl­sulfanyl groups are rotated out of the plane of the respective heterocyclic ring.

Two salts were prepared by methyl­ation of the respective imidazoline-2-thione at the sulfur atom, using Meerwein’s salt (tri­methyl­oxonium tetra­fluorido­borate) in CH₂Cl₂. 1,3-Dimeth­oxy-2-(methyl­sulfan­yl)imidazolium tetra­fluorido­borate (1), C₆H₁₁N₂O₂S⁺·BF₄⁻, displays a syn conformation of its two meth­oxy groups relative to each other whereas the two benz­yloxy groups present in 1,3-dibenz­yloxy-2-(methyl­sulfan­yl)imidazolium tetra­fluorido­borate (2), C₁₈H₁₉N₂O₂S⁺·BF₄⁻, adopt an anti conformation. In the mol­ecules of 1 and 2, the methyl­sulfanyl group is rotated out of the plane of the respective heterocyclic ring. In both crystal structures, inter­molecular inter­actions are dominated by C—H⋯F—B contacts, leading to three-dimensional networks. The tetra­fluorido­borate counter-ion of 2 is disordered over three orientations (occupancy ratio 0.42:0.34:0.24), which are related by rotation about one of the B—F bonds.

Donor→acceptor coordination interactions in 1,3-bis(NHC)triazenyl Cations: An electronic structure analysis

Donor→acceptor coordination interactions (L → N) between ligands and nitrogen center as in L → N^⊕  ← L were reported in the recent past. This article describes the possibility of L → N coordination interactions in triazenyl cation species L → N₃ ^⊕  ← L. A few 1,3-bis(NHC)triazenyl cation species were experimentally known, the electronic structure analysis reported in this work reveals the presence of L → N (donor→acceptor) interactions in these species. Molecular orbital analysis, NBO charge analysis, energy decomposition analysis, and so forth, confirm the possibility of L → N coordination bond character. Ten molecules with the general formula L → N₃ ^⊕  ← L have been designed carrying L → N₃ ^⊕  ← L interactions. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Azines: synthesis, structure, electronic structure and their applications

Azines (2,3-diaza-1,3-butadienes): structure, electronic structure, tautomerism, and their applications in organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry and materials chemistry.

Electronic and ligating properties of carbocyclic carbenes: A theoretical investigation

Carbocyclic carbenes (CCCs) are a class of nucleophilic carbenes which are very similar to N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) in terms of their reactivity, but they do not contain a stabilizing heteroatom in their cyclic ring system. In this study, 17 representative known CCCs and 34 newly designed CCCs are evaluated using quantum chemical methods, and the results are compared in terms of their stability, nucleophilicity, and proton affinity (PA) parameters. The results are divided on the basis of ring size of the known and reported CCCs. The stability, nucleophilicity, PA, complexation energy, and bond strength-related parameters were estimated using M06/6-311++G(d,p) method. The results indicated that the CCCs known in the literature are strong σ-electron donating species and have considerable π-accepting properties. This study led to the design and identification of a few new CCCs with dimethylamine and diaminomethynyl substituents which can be singlet stable and are substantially nucleophilic. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

NL2+ Systems as New-Generation Phase-Transfer Catalysts

Phase-transfer catalysts (PTCs), currently, are one of the most important tools of chemists for performing organic reactions. PTCs accelerate several types of reactions in biphasic systems, giving excellent yields of the desired product. Most of the PTCs belong to the general formula NR₄⁺X^-. In the recent past, several compounds possessing a novel scaffold with the general formula NL₂⁺X^- have been reported as PTCs. In the NL₂⁺ species, a nitrogen atom with a formal positive charge accepts electron density from electron-donating ligands. Electronic structure studies reported in the literature confirmed the possibility of L → N coordination (donor-acceptor) interactions in these species, and thus, this class of compounds are known as divalent N^I compounds. These species are reported to exhibit better catalytic potential in comparison to the traditional NR₄⁺ systems. Some of the NL₂⁺ systems are found to be useful in asymmetric phase-transfer catalysis. Thus, these systems offer extensive opportunities for exploring the catalytic properties and novel mechanistic aspects associated with their unique electronic structure. In this paper, the synthesis, electronic, and structural properties and the applications in catalysis of the NL₂⁺-based PTCs are reviewed with their bright future scope in catalytic organic chemistry.