Magnesocenophane-Catalyzed Amine Borane Dehydrocoupling

Different Reaction Modes Operating in ansa-Half-Sandwich Magnesium Catalysts

Magnesium-based catalysts are becoming popular for hydroelementation reactions specially using p-block reagents. Based on the seminal report from Schäfer's group (ChemCatChem 2022, 14, e202201007), our study demonstrates that the reaction mechanisms exhibit a far greater degree of complexity than originally presumed. Magnesium has a variety of coordination modes (and access to different hybridizations) which allows this electron-deficient centre to modulate its catalytic power depending on the σ-donor properties of the reagent. DFT calculations demonstrate several reaction channels closely operating in these versatile catalysts. In addition, variations in limiting energy barriers resulting from catalyst modifications were examined as a function of the Hammett constant, thereby predicting enhanced efficiency in reaction conversions.

Two active species from a single metal halide precursor: a case study of highly productive Mn-catalyzed dehydrogenation of amine-boranes via intermolecular bimetallic cooperation

Metal-metal cooperation for inert bond activation is a ubiquitous concept in coordination chemistry and catalysis. While the great majority of such transformations proceed via intramolecular mode in binuclear complexes, to date only a few examples of intermolecular small molecule activation using usually bimetallic frustrated Lewis pairs (Mδ+⋯M'δ-) have been reported. We introduce herein an alternative approach for the intermolecular bimetallic cooperativity observed in the catalytic dehydrogenation of amine-boranes, in which the concomitant activation of N-H and B-H bonds of the substrate via the synergetic action of Lewis acidic (M+) and basic hydride (M-H) metal species derived from the same mononuclear complex (M-Br). It was also demonstrated that this system generated in situ from the air-stable Mn(i) complex fac-[(CO)3(bis(NHC))MnBr] and NaBPh4 shows high activity for H2 production from several substrates (Me2NHBH3, tBuNH2BH3, MeNH2BH3, NH3BH3) at low catalyst loading (0.1% to 50 ppm), providing outstanding efficiency for Me2NHBH3 (TON up to 18 200) that is largely superior to all known 3d-, s-, p-, f-block metal derivatives and frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs). These results represent a step forward towards more extensive use of intermolecular bimetallic cooperation concepts in modern homogeneous catalysis.

Lanthanide Mimicking by Magnesium for Oxazolidinone Synthesis

In the last decade, magnesium complexes have emerged as a viable alternative to transition-metal catalysts for the hydrofunctionalization of unsaturated bonds. However, their potential for advanced catalytic reactions has not been thoroughly investigated. To address this gap, we have developed a novel magnesium amide compound (3) using a PNP framework that is both bulky and flexible. Our research demonstrates that compound 3 can effectively catalyze the synthesis of biologically significant oxazolidinone derivatives. This synthesis involves a tandem reaction of hydroalkoxylation and cyclohydroamination of isocyanate using propargyl alcohol. Furthermore, we conducted comprehensive theoretical calculations to gain insights into the reaction mechanism. It is important to note that these types of transformations have not been reported for magnesium and would significantly enhance the catalytic portfolio of the 7th most abundant element.

Cyclopentadienyl Complexes of the Alkaline Earths in Light of the Periodic Trends

The electron-rich cyclopentadienyl and the analogous indenyl and fluorenyl ligands (collectively denoted here as Cp') have been impactful in stabilizing electron-deficient metal centers including the highly electropositive alkaline earths. Being in the s-block, the group 2 metals follow a major periodic variation in their atomic and ionic properties which is reflected in those Cp' compounds. This article presents an overview of this class of compounds for all the five metals from beryllium to barium (radium is excluded for its radioactivity), highlighting their systematic variation.

Molecular Main Group Metal Hydrides

This review serves to document advances in the synthesis, versatile bonding, and reactivity of molecular main group metal hydrides within Groups 1, 2, and 12-16. Particular attention will be given to the emerging use of said hydrides in the rapidly expanding field of Main Group element-mediated catalysis. While this review is comprehensive in nature, focus will be given to research appearing in the open literature since 2001.

Synthesis and structure of an asymmetrical sila[1]magnesocenophane

The synthesis and structure of an asymmetrical sila[1]magnesocenophane, featuring a cyclopentadienyl and a tetramethylcyclopentadienyl group, are reported. The compound was obtained as a bis(tetrahydrofuran) adduct and exhibits a slipped sandwich structure in the solid state.

Rings and Chains: Synthesis and Characterization of Polyferrocenylmethylene

The synthesis and characterization of polyferrocenylmethylene (PFM) starting from dilithium 2,2-bis(cyclopentadienide)propane and a Me₂ C[1]magnesocenophane is reported. Molecular weights of up to M_w  = 11 700 g mol^-1 featuring a dispersity, Ð, of 1.40 can be achieved. The material is studied by different methods comprising nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-ToF) mass spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements elucidating the molecular structure and thermal properties of these novel polymers. Moreover, cyclic voltammetry (CV) reveals quasi-reversible oxidation and reduction behavior and communication between the iron centers. Also, the crystal structure of a related cyclic hexamer is presented.

Main-Group Metallocenophanes

Metallocenes with interlinked cyclopentadienide ligands are commonly referred to as ansa‐metallocenes or metallocenophanes. These can have drastically different properties than their unbridged parent compounds. While this concept is best known for transition metals such as iron, it can also be adopted for many main‐group elements. This review aims to summarize recent advances in the field of metallocenophanes based on main‐group elements of group 2, group 13, group 14 and group 15, focusing on synthesis, structure and properties of these compounds.

Bifunctional activation of amine-boranes by the W/Pd bimetallic analogs of "frustrated Lewis pairs"

The reaction between basic [(PCP)Pd(H)] (PCP = 2,6-(CH2P(t-C4H9)2)2C6H4) and acidic [LWH(CO)3] (L = Cp (1a), Tp (1b); Cp = η5-cyclopentadienyl, Tp = κ3-hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate) leads to the formation of bimolecular complexes [LW(CO)2(μ-CO)⋯Pd(PCP)] (4a, 4b), which catalyze amine-borane (Me2NHBH3, t BuNH2BH3) dehydrogenation. The combination of variable-temperature (1H, 31P{1H}, 11B NMR and IR) spectroscopies and computational (ωB97XD/def2-TZVP) studies reveal the formation of an η1-borane complex [(PCP)Pd(Me2NHBH3)]+[LW(CO3)]- (5) in the first step, where a BH bond strongly binds palladium and an amine group is hydrogen-bonded to tungsten. The subsequent intracomplex proton transfer is the rate-determining step, followed by an almost barrierless hydride transfer. Bimetallic species 4 are easily regenerated through hydrogen evolution in the reaction between two hydrides.

Donor-Stabilized Monocarba-Bridged Bis(cyclopentadienyl)alanes

Five monocarba-bridged bis(cyclopentadienyl)aluminum halide NHC and thione complexes and one monocarba-bridged bis(cyclopentadienyl)phosphanylalane NHC complex are reported. The former were synthesized by transmetalation of a C[1]magnesocenophane with the corresponding aluminum(III) chloride and aluminum(III) bromide donor adducts. The phosphanylalane complex was obtained by a subsequent functionalization of the corresponding bromoalane with lithium diphenylphosphide. All complexes were characterized in solution by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Bonding energies of the NHC and thione ligands to the aluminum centres were estimated by DFT calculations.

Magnesocenophane-Catalyzed Amine Borane Dehydrocoupling

The Lewis acidities of a series of [n]magnesocenophanes (1 a–d) have been investigated computationally and found to be a function of the tilt of the cyclopentadienyl moieties. Their catalytic abilities in amine borane dehydrogenation/dehydrocoupling reactions have been probed, and C[1]magnesocenophane (1 a) has been shown to effectively catalyze the dehydrogenation/dehydrocoupling of dimethylamine borane (2 a) and diisopropylamine borane (2 b) under ambient conditions. Furthermore, the mechanism of the reaction with 2 a has been investigated experimentally and computationally, and the results imply a ligand‐assisted mechanism involving stepwise proton and hydride transfer, with dimethylaminoborane as the key intermediate.