Imidazole based solid-supported catalysts for the benzoin condensation

Computational investigations of NHC-backbone configurations for applications in organocatalytic umpolung reactions

Density functional theory (DFT) and multiconfigurational self-consistent field theory (MCSCF) methods are employed to investigate variation of the electronic properties of various N-heterocyclic carbenes. Alterations to the backbone by increased or decreased conjugation, heteroatom substitution in the NHC ring, and electron-donating or -withdrawing backbone substituents are modeled. The MCSCF calculations show extensive delocalization of both the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals for NHCs with polymerizable backbone substituents. The free energies of the intermediates and transition structures for benzoin condensation are also shown to be sensitive to substitution of the NHC backbone. Taken together, these results imply great sensitivity of the reactivity of poly(NHC) catalysts to backbone modification at this moiety. Implications with respect to enhancement of poly(NHC)s employed in umpolung catalysis are discussed.

Formation and Properties of Poly(Ionic Liquid)-Carbene Nanogels Containing Individually Stabilized Silver Species

Imidazolium-based ionic liquids have the ability to undergo a variety of chemical reactions through an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) intermediate, which has expanded the chemical toolbox for new applications. Despite their uses and exploration, the carbene-forming properties and applications of their polymeric congeners, poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs), is still underdeveloped. Herein, we explore the NHC-forming properties of a theophylline-derived PIL for nanogel synthesis. Using silver oxide as both the carbene-forming reagent and cross-linker, nanogels containing individually stabilized ions can be created with different sizes and morphology, including large "galaxy-like" superstructures. Using high-resolution TEM techniques, we directly observed the sub-nanometer structure of these constructs. These features combined exemplify the unique chemistry of poly-NHCs for single-metal-ion-stabilization nanogel design.

A new more atom-efficient multi-component approach to tetrasubstituted imidazoles: one-pot condensation of nitriles, amines and benzoin

A new more atom-efficient multi-component approach for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted imidazoles via the one-pot condensation of nitriles, primary amines and benzoin has been described.

Recyclable montmorillonite-supported thiazolium ionic liquids for high-yielding and solvent-free upgrading of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to C10 and C12 furoins

Six Na⁺/montmorillonite (MMT) – supported thiazolium (TM) ionic liquids (ILs) have been synthesized and employed to catalyze the highly selective condensation of furfural (FF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) into C₁₀ and C₁₂ furoins, respectively.

Poly(4-vinylimidazolium) iodides: a highly recyclable organocatalyst precursor for benzoin condensation reaction

The development of highly efficient, recyclable poly(4-vinylimidazolium) iodides (2) for the benzoin condensation reaction under mild reaction conditions is discussed: poly(4-vinylN-heterocyclic carbene)s (3) obtained from2showed a higher catalytic activity and could be successfully recovered and reused over seven times without loss of performance.

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) as organocatalysts and structural components in metal-free polymer synthesis

The chemistry of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) has witnessed tremendous development in the past two decades: NHCs have not only become versatile ligands for transition metals, but have also emerged as powerful organic catalysts in molecular chemistry and, more recently, in metal-free polymer synthesis. To understand the success of NHCs, this review first presents the electronic properties of NHCs, their main synthetic methods, their handling, and their reactivity. Their ability to activate key functional groups (e.g. aldehydes, esters, heterocycles, silyl ketene acetals, alcohols) is then discussed in the context of molecular chemistry. Focus has been placed on the activation of substrates finding analogies with monomers (e.g. bis-aldehydes, multi-isocyanates, cyclic esters, epoxides, N-carboxyanhydrides, etc.) and/or initiators (e.g. hydroxy- or trimethylsilyl-containing reagents) employed in such "organopolymerisation" reactions utilizing NHCs. A variety of metal-free polymers, including aliphatic polyesters and polyethers, poly(α-peptoid)s, poly(meth)acrylates, polyurethanes, or polysiloxanes can be obtained in this way. The last section covers the use of NHCs as structural components of the polymer chain. Indeed, NHC-based photoinitiators, chain transfer agents or functionalizing agents, as well as bifunctional NHC monomer substrates, can also serve for metal-free polymer synthesis.

Intermolecular Insertion of an N,N-Heterocyclic Carbene into a Nonacidic CH Bond: Kinetics, Mechanism and Catalysis by (K-HMDS)2 (HMDS=Hexamethyldisilazide)

The reaction of 2-[13C]-1-ethyl-3-isopropyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-1-ium hexafluorophosphate ([13C1]-1-PF6) with a slight excess (1.03 equiv) of dimeric potassium hexamethyldisilazide ("(K-HMDS)2") in toluene generates 2-[13C]-3-ethyl-1-isopropyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimid-2-ylidene ([13C1]-2). The hindered meta-stable N,N-heterocyclic carbene [13C1]-2 thus generated undergoes a slow but quantitative reaction with toluene (the solvent) to generate the aminal 2-[13C]-2-benzyl-3-ethyl-1-isopropylhexahydropyrimidine ([13C1]-14) through formal C-H insertion of C2 (the "carbene carbon") at the toluene methyl group. Despite a significant pKa mismatch (Delta pKa 1+ and toluene estimated to be ca. 16 in DMSO) the reaction shows all the characteristics of a deprotonation mechanism, the reaction rate being strongly dependent on the toluene para substituent (rho = 4.8(+/-0.3)), and displaying substantial and rate-limiting primary (k(H)/k(D) = 4.2(+/-0.6)) and secondary (k(H)/k(D) = 1.18(+/-0.08)) kinetic isotope effects on the deuteration of the toluene methyl group. The reaction is catalysed by K-HMDS, but proceeds without cross over between toluene methyl protons and does not involve an HMDS anion acting as base to generate a benzyl anion. Detailed analysis of the reaction kinetics/kinetic isotope effects demonstrates that a pseudo-first-order decay in 2 arises from a first-order dependence on 2, a first-order dependence on toluene (in large excess) and, in the catalytic manifold, a complex noninteger dependence on the K-HMDS dimer. The rate is not satisfactorily predicted by equations based on the Brønsted salt-effect catalysis law. However, the rate can be satisfactorily predicted by a mole-fraction-weighted net rate constant: -d[2]/dt = ({x2 k(uncat)} + {(1-x2) k(cat)})[2]1[toluene]1, in which x2 is determined by a standard bimolecular complexation equilibrium term. The association constant (Ka) for rapid equilibrium-complexation of 2 with (K-HMDS)2 to form [2(K-HMDS)2] is extracted by nonlinear regression of the 13C NMR shift of C2 in [13C1]-2 versus [(K-HMDS)2] yielding: Ka = 62(+/-7) M(-1); delta(C(2)) in 2=237.0 ppm; delta(C(2)) in [2(K-HMDS)2] = 226.8 ppm. It is thus concluded that there is discrete, albeit inefficient, molecular catalysis through the 1:1 carbene/(K-HMDS)2 complex [2(K-HMDS)2], which is found to react with toluene more rapidly than free 2 by a factor of 3.4 (=k(cat)/k(uncat)). The greater reactivity of the complex [2(K-HMDS)2] over the free carbene (2) may arise from local Brønsted salt-effect catalysis by the (K-HMDS)2 liberated in the solvent cage upon reaction with toluene.