Iron and Cobalt Diazoalkane Complexes Supported by β-Diketiminate Ligands: A Synthetic, Spectroscopic, and Computational Investigation

A Cooperative Cobalt-Driven System for One-Carbon Extension in the Synthesis of (Z)-Silyl Enol Ethers from Aldehydes: Unlocking Regio- and Stereoselectivity

The research presented herein explores a cobalt-based catalytic system, distinctively featuring a cooperative boron-centric element within its intricate ligand architecture. This system is strategically engineered to enable the integration of a singular carbon atom into aldehydes, a process culminating in the production of (Z)-silyl enol ethers. Beyond offering an efficient one-pot synthesis route, this method adeptly overcomes challenges inherent to conventional techniques, such as the need for large amounts of additives, restrictive functional group tolerance, and extreme reaction temperatures. Initial mechanistic studies suggest the potential role of a cobalt-carbene complex as a catalytically significant species and underscore the importance of the borane segment. Collectively, these observations highlight the potential of this system in advancing complex bond activation pursuits.

Cyclic iron tetra N-heterocyclic carbenes: synthesis, properties, reactivity, and catalysis

Cyclic iron tetracarbenes are an emerging class of macrocyclic iron N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes. They can be considered as an organometallic compound class inspired by their heme analogs, however, their electronic properties differ, e.g. due to the very strong σ-donation of the four combined NHCs in equatorial coordination. The ligand framework of iron tetracarbenes can be readily modified, allowing fine-tuning of the structural and electronic properties of the complexes. The properties of iron tetracarbene complexes are discussed quantitatively and correlations are established. The electronic nature of the tetracarbene ligand allows the isolation of uncommon iron(III) and iron(IV) species and reveals a unique reactivity. Iron tetracarbenes are successfully applied in C-H activation, CO₂ reduction, aziridination and epoxidation catalysis and mechanisms as well as decomposition pathways are described. This review will help researchers evaluate the structural and electronic properties of their complexes and target their catalyst properties through ligand design.

A Chiral Macrocyclic Tetra-N-Heterocyclic Carbene Yields an "All Carbene" Iron Alkylidene Complex

The first chiral macrocyclic tetra-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand has been synthesized. The macrocycle, prepared in high yield and large scale, was ligated onto palladium and iron to give divalent C2 -symmetric square planar complexes. Multinuclear NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction demonstrated that there are two distinct NHCs on each ligand, due to the bridging chiral cyclohexane. Oxidation of the iron(II) complex with trimethylamine N-oxide yielded a bridging oxo complex. Diazodiphenylmethane reacted with the iron(II) complex at room temperature to give a paramagnetic diazoalkane complex; the same reaction yielded the "all carbene" complex at elevated temperature. Electrochemical measurements support the assignment of the "all carbene" complex being an alkylidene. Notably, the diazoalkane complex can be directly transformed into the alkylidene complex, which had not been previously demonstrated on iron. Finally, a test catalytic reaction with a diazoalkane on the iron(II) complex does not yield the expected cyclopropane, but actually the azine compound.

A Terminal Iron Nitrilimine Complex: Accessing the Terminal Nitride through Diazo N-N Bond Cleavage

A novel method for the N−N bond cleavage of trimethylsilyl diazomethane is reported for the synthesis of terminal nitride complexes. The lithium salt of trimethylsilyl diazomethane was used to generate a rare terminal nitrilimine transition metal complex with partially occupied d‐orbitals. This iron complex 2 was characterized by CHN combustion analysis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic analysis, single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography, SQUID magnetometry, ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, and computational analysis. The combined results suggest a high‐spin d ⁶ (S=2) electronic configuration and an allenic structure of the nitrilimine ligand. Reduction of 2 results in release of the nitrilimine ligand and formation of the iron(I) complex 3, which was characterized by CHN combustion analysis, ¹H NMR spectroscopic analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. Treatment of 2 with fluoride salts quantitatively yields the diamagnetic Fe^IV nitride complex 4, with concomitant formation of cyanide and trimethylsilyl fluoride through N−N bond cleavage.

Tetralithio Metalla-aromatics with Two Independent Perpendicular Dilithio Aromatic Rings Spiro-fused by One Manganese Atom

Herein, we present the realization of a class of unprecedented aromatic structures 2: metalla-aromatics with two independent and perpendicular aromatic rings spiro-fused by a transition-metal spiro atom, of which their corresponding organic analogues are impossible. Tetralithio spiro manganacycles 2 are readily synthesized from 1,4-dilithio-1,3-butadienes 1 and MnCl₂ in the presence of lithium. The aromaticity of 2 is supported by experimental measurements (X-ray structural analysis, NMR) and theoretical analyses (NICS, ACID, MOs). The spiro atom Mn in 2 uses its 3d_xz and 3d_xy orbitals to form the two perpendicular manganacycles, which are two independent 6π aromatic systems. Theoretical analyses reveal that the Li cations play an indispensable role in governing their geometric and electronic structures and hence their aromaticity. Therefore, this work contributes not only to enrich the concept of aromaticity, but also to deepen the understanding of the fundamental chemical bonding.

Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl osmium complexes that contain diazoalkane, dioxygen and allenylidene ligands: preparation and reactivity

Diazoalkane complexes [Os(η5-C5Me5)(N2CAr1Ar2)(PPh3){P(OR)3}]BPh4 (1, 2) [R = Me (1), Et (2); Ar1 = Ar2 = Ph (a); Ar1 = Ph, Ar2 = p-tolyl (b); Ar1Ar2 = C12H8 (fluorenyl) (c)] were prepared by reacting bromo-compounds OsBr(η5-C5Me5)(PPh3){P(OR)3} with an excess of diazoalkane in ethanol. The treatment of diazoalkane complexes 1 and 2 with acetylene under mild conditions (1 atm, RT) led to dipolar (3 + 2) cycloaddition affording 3H-pyrazole derivatives [Os(η5-C5Me5)(η1-[upper bond 1 start]N[double bond, length as m-dash]NC(C12H8)CH[double bond, length as m-dash]C[upper bond 1 end]H)(PPh3){P(OR)3}]BPh4 (6, 7) [R = Me (6), Et (7)] whereas reactions with terminal alkynes R1C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CH (R1 = Ph, p-tolyl, COOMe) gave vinylidene derivatives [Os(η5-C5Me5){[double bond, length as m-dash]C[double bond, length as m-dash]C(H)R1}(PPh3){P(OR)3}]BPh4 (8b-d, 9b-d) [R = Me (8), Et (9); R1 = Ph (b), p-tolyl (c), COOMe (d)]. Exposure to air of dichloromethane solutions of complexes 1 and 2 produced dioxygen derivatives [Os(η5-C5Me5)(η2-O2)(PPh3){P(OR)3}]BPh4 (10, 11) [R = Me (10), Et (11)]. Allenylidene [Os][double bond, length as m-dash]C[double bond, length as m-dash]C[double bond, length as m-dash]CR1R2 (12-14) [R1 = R2 = Ph (12, 13); R1 = Ph, R2 = Me (14)], vinylvinylidene [Os][double bond, length as m-dash]C[double bond, length as m-dash]C(H)C(Ph)[double bond, length as m-dash]CH2 (15) and 3-hydroxyvinylidene [Os][double bond, length as m-dash]C[double bond, length as m-dash]C(H)C(H)R2(OH) (16, 17) [R2 = Ph (16), H (17)] derivatives were also prepared. The vinylidene complex [Os(η5-C5Me5)([double bond, length as m-dash]C[double bond, length as m-dash]CH2)(PPh3){P(OMe)3}]BPh4 (8a) reacted with PPh3 to afford the alkenylphosphonium derivative [Os(η5-C5Me5){η1-C(H)[double bond, length as m-dash]C(H)PPh3}(PPh3){P(OMe)3}]BPh4 (18) whereas vinylidene complexes 8 and 9 reacted with water leading to the hydrolysis of the alkyne and the formation of carbonyl complexes [Os(η5-C5Me5)(CO)(PPh3){P(OR)3}]BPh4 (19, 20). The complexes were characterised by spectroscopic data (IR and NMR) and by X-ray crystal structure determination of [Os(η5-C5Me5){[double bond, length as m-dash]C[double bond, length as m-dash]C(H)p-tolyl}(PPh3){P(OEt)3}]BPh4 (9c), [Os(η5-C5Me5)(η2-O2)(PPh3){P(OMe)3}]BPh4 (10) and [Os(η5-C5Me5)(CO)(PPh3){P(OMe)3}]BPh4 (19).

α-Thiocarbonyl synthesisviathe FeII-catalyzed insertion reaction of α-diazocarbonyls into S–H bonds

Fe(OTf)₂was used to catalyze the insertion reaction of α-diazocarbonyls into S–H bonds at 40 °C.