Reactivity of Ruthenium(II) and Copper(I) Complexes that Possess Anionic Heteroatomic Ligands: Synthetic Exploitation of Nucleophilicity and Basicity of Amido, Hydroxo, Alkoxo, and Aryloxo Ligands for the Activation of Substrates that Possess Polar Bonds as well as Nonpolar C–H and H–H Bonds

An Isolable Mononuclear Palladium(I) Amido Complex

Mononuclear Pd(I) species are putative intermediates in Pd-catalyzed reactions, but our knowledge about them is limited due to difficulties in accessing them. Herein, we report the isolation of a Pd(I) amido complex, [(BINAP)Pd(NHAr^Trip)] (BINAP = 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthalene, Ar^Trip = 2,6-bis(2',4',6'-triisopropylphenyl)phenyl), from the reaction of (BINAP)PdCl₂ with LiNHAr^Trip. This Pd(I) amido species has been characterized by X-ray crystallography, electron paramagnetic resonance, and multiedge Pd X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Theoretical study revealed that, while the three-electron-two-center π-interaction between Pd and N in the Pd(I) complex imposes severe Pauli repulsion in its Pd-N bond, pronounced attractive interligand dispersion force aids its stabilization. In accord with its electronic features, reactions of homolytic Pd-N bond cleavage and deprotonation of primary amines are observed on the Pd(I) amido complex.

Nickel Pincer Complexes with Frequent Aliphatic Alkoxo Ligands [(iPrPCP)Ni-OR] (R = Et, nBu, iPr, 2-hydroxyethyl). An Assessment of the Hydrolytic Stability of Nickel and Palladium Alkoxides

A series of nickel pincer complexes with terminal alkoxo ligands [(^iPrPCP)Ni-OR] (R = Et, nBu, iPr, CH₂CH₂OH; ^iPrPCP is the 2,6-bis(diisopropylphosphinomethyl)phenyl pincer ligand) was synthesized and fully characterized. Together with the previously reported methoxo analogues of Ni and Pd, these complexes constitute a unique series of isostructural late transition-metal alkoxides. Spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction data provide direct indications of the strong polarization of their covalent Ni-OR bonds. One of the most salient features of this class of compounds is their facile hydrolysis with traces of moisture, leading to equilibrium mixtures with the corresponding hydroxides [(^iPrPCP)M-OH] (M = Ni or Pd) and alcohols, ROH. To compare the hydrolytic stability of nickel and palladium alkoxides, we performed NMR titrations of both hydroxides with several alcohols and determined the corresponding equilibrium constants. In general, these constants are ca. 1 order of magnitude smaller for M = Ni than Pd, indicating that Ni alkoxide complexes are more readily hydrolyzed than their Pd counterparts. For alkoxide complexes containing heteroatom-free R groups, the tendency to hydrolyze decreases as the parent alcohol ROH becomes more acidic, that is, R = Me > Et > iPr. This intuitive trend is broken for 2-methoxyethanol, the most acidic alcohol investigated. The hydroxo/2-methoxyethanol exchange equilibrium constants are comparable to those of ethanol (M = Ni) or methanol (M = Pd), showing that the corresponding 2-methoxyethoxide complexes are more prone to hydrolysis than anticipated. These experimental observations were rationalized in the light of density functional theory calculations.

The unexpected mechanism underlying the high-valent mono-oxo-rhenium(V) hydride catalyzed hydrosilylation of C=N functionalities: insights from a DFT study

In this study, we theoretically investigated the mechanism underlying the high-valent mono-oxo-rhenium(V) hydride Re(O)HCl2(PPh3)2 (1) catalyzed hydrosilylation of C=N functionalities. Our results suggest that an ionic S(N)2-Si outer-sphere pathway involving the heterolytic cleavage of the Si-H bond competes with the hydride pathway involving the C=N bond inserted into the Re-H bond for the rhenium hydride (1) catalyzed hydrosilylation of the less steric C=N functionalities (phenylmethanimine, PhCH=NH, and N-phenylbenzylideneimine, PhCH=NPh). The rate-determining free-energy barriers for the ionic outer-sphere pathway are calculated to be ∼28.1 and 27.6 kcal mol(-1), respectively. These values are slightly more favorable than those obtained for the hydride pathway (by ∼1-3 kcal mol(-1)), whereas for the large steric C=N functionality of N,1,1-tri(phenyl)methanimine (PhCPh=NPh), the ionic outer-sphere pathway (33.1 kcal mol(-1)) is more favorable than the hydride pathway by as much as 11.5 kcal mol(-1). Along the ionic outer-sphere pathway, neither the multiply bonded oxo ligand nor the inherent hydride moiety participate in the activation of the Si-H bond.

Mechanistic insights into B–H bond activation with the high-valent oxo-molybdenum complex MoO2Cl2

The ionic mechanistic model involving the heterolytic cleavage of the B–H bond is slightly energetically favorable than the [2+2] addition mechanism for the high-valent oxo-molybdenum complex MoO₂Cl₂activating the B–H bond.

Benzo annulated cycloheptatriene PCP pincer iridium complexes

Chemical conversions of a cycloheptatriene iridium pincer complex were studied by NMR and MS techniques as well as DFT calculations.

Synthesis of an iridium porphyrin amido complex

A synthetic route for iridium porphyrin amido complexes has been established. Treatment of a THF solution of Ir(ttp)(CO)Cl (1) (ttp = 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(p-tolyl)porphyrinato dianion) with an aqueous mixture of NaOH and NaBH4, followed by 2-iodoethanol leads to the clean formation of the β-hydroxyethyl complex Ir(ttp)(C2H4OH) (2) in 92% yield. Heating a pyridine solution of complex 2 in the presence of ca. 5–10 equiv. of phthalimide (HNC8H4O2; HPhth) leads to the formation of Ir(ttp)(C5H5N)(CH2CH2Phth) (3). The replacement of pyridine by THF as the reaction solvent leads to the formation of the THF adduct Ir(ttp)(THF)(Phth) (4), which has been characterized spectroscopically. Heating a solution of 4 in pyridine leads to the formation of Ir(ttp)(C5H5N)(Phth) (5), which has been isolated in 72% yield. Complexes 3 and 5 have been characterized by X-ray crystallographic studies. Complexes 4 and 5 are rare examples of monomeric late transition metal-amido complexes and are the first examples of iridium-amido complexes featuring a porphyrin as a supporting ligand.

Copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative C-H functionalizations: trends and mechanistic insights

The selective oxidation of C-H bonds and the use of O(2) as a stoichiometric oxidant represent two prominent challenges in organic chemistry. Copper(II) is a versatile oxidant, capable of promoting a wide range of oxidative coupling reactions initiated by single-electron transfer (SET) from electron-rich organic molecules. Many of these reactions can be rendered catalytic in Cu by employing molecular oxygen as a stoichiometric oxidant to regenerate the active copper(II) catalyst. Meanwhile, numerous other recently reported Cu-catalyzed C-H oxidation reactions feature substrates that are electron-deficient or appear unlikely to undergo single-electron transfer to copper(II). In some of these cases, evidence has been obtained for the involvement of organocopper(III) intermediates in the reaction mechanism. Organometallic C-H oxidation reactions of this type represent important new opportunities for the field of Cu-catalyzed aerobic oxidations.

Synthesis of parent amido (NH2)-bridged dinuclear complexes of ruthenium and iridium by stepwise transfer hydrogenation of mu-azido complexes

The azido-bridged diruthenium and diiridium complexes [(LMCl)(2)(micro-N(3))(2)] (LM = CymRu, Cp*Ir; Cym = eta(6)-p-cymene, Cp* = eta(5)-C(5)(CH(3))(5)) are sequentially converted into the amido-bridged complexes [(LMCl)(2)(micro-NH(2))(micro-N(3))] and [(LMCl)(2)(micro-NH(2))(micro-H)] upon treatment with 2-propanol and a base.