Synthetic and Mechanistic Interrogation of Pd/Isocyanide-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling: π-Acidic Ligands Enable Self-Aggregating Monoligated Pd(0) Intermediates

A zero-valent palladium cluster-organic framework

Acquiring spatial control of nanoscopic metal clusters is central to their function as efficient multi-electron catalysts. However, dispersing metal clusters on surfaces or in porous hosts is accompanied by an intrinsic heterogeneity that hampers detailed understanding of the chemical structure and its relation to reactivities. Tethering pre-assembled molecular metal clusters into polymeric, crystalline 2D or 3D networks constitutes an unproven approach to realizing ordered arrays of chemically well-defined metal clusters. Herein, we report the facile synthesis of a {Pd3} cluster-based organometallic framework from a molecular triangulo-Pd3(CNXyl)6 (Xyl = xylyl; Pd3) cluster under chemically mild conditions. The formally zero-valent Pd3 cluster readily engages in a complete ligand exchange when exposed to a similar, ditopic isocyanide ligand, resulting in polymerization into a 2D coordination network (Pd3-MOF). The structure of Pd3-MOF could be unambiguously determined by continuous rotation 3D electron diffraction (3D-ED) experiments to a resolution of ~1.0 Å (>99% completeness), showcasing the applicability of 3D-ED to nanocrystalline, organometallic polymers. Pd3-MOF displays Pd03 cluster nodes, which possess significant thermal and aerobic stability, and activity towards hydrogenation catalysis. Importantly, the realization of Pd3-MOF paves the way for the exploitation of metal clusters as building blocks for rigidly interlocked metal nanoparticles at the molecular limit.

The diverse functions of isocyanides in phosphorescent metal complexes

In this Perspective, we highlight many examples of photoluminescent metal complexes supported by isocyanides, with an emphasis on recent developments including several from our own group. Work in this field has shown that the isocyanide can play important structural roles, both as a terminal ligand and as a bridging ligand for polynuclear structures, and can influence the excited-state character and excited-state dynamics. In addition, there are many examples of isocyanide-supported complexes where the isocyanide serves as a chromophoric ligand, meaning the low-energy excited states that are important in the photochemistry are partially or completely localized on the isocyanide. Finally, an emerging trend in the design of luminescent compounds is to use the isocyanide as an electrophilic precursor, converted to an acyclic carbene by nucleophilic addition which imparts certain photophysical advantages. This Perspective aims to show the diverse roles played by isocyanides in the design of luminescent compounds, showcasing the recent developments that have led to a substantial growth in fundamental knowledge, function, and applications related to photoluminescence.

Triangular Palladium Cluster from Activation of the Si-Si Bond in a Disilane with Phosphine Pendants

A disilane that contains two diphenylphosphino moieties, (Ph₂PCH₂)Ph₂Si-SiPh₂(CH₂PPh), was readily synthesized from the reaction of ClPh₂Si-SiPh₂Cl with (tmeda)Li(CH₂PPh₂). Treatment of the thus-obtained disilane with the palladium(0) precursor [Pd(CN^tBu)₂]₃ led to the exclusive formation of a trinuclear palladium cluster in which three palladium atoms are arranged in a triangular fashion. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the obtained triangular cluster revealed that novel silylphosphido chelating ligands were formed via a skeletal rearrangement of the ligand framework.

Reactivity of a Dinuclear PdI Complex [Pd2(μ-PPh2)(μ2-OAc)(PPh3)2] with PPh3: Implications for Cross-Coupling Catalysis Using the Ubiquitous Pd(OAc)2/nPPh3 Catalyst System

[Pd^I₂(μ-PPh₂)(μ₂-OAc)(PPh₃)₂] is the reduction product of Pd^II(OAc)₂(PPh₃)₂, generated by reaction of ‘Pd(OAc)₂’ with two equivalents of PPh₃. Here, we report that the reaction of [Pd^I₂(μ-PPh₂)(μ₂-OAc)(PPh₃)₂] with PPh₃ results in a nuanced disproportionation reaction, forming [Pd⁰(PPh₃)₃] and a phosphinito-bridged Pd^I-dinuclear complex, namely [Pd^I₂(μ-PPh₂){κ₂-P,O-μ-P(O)Ph₂}(κ-PPh₃)₂]. The latter complex is proposed to form by abstraction of an oxygen atom from an acetate ligand at Pd. A mechanism for the formal reduction of a putative Pd^II disproportionation species to the observed Pd^I complex is postulated. Upon reaction of the mixture of [Pd⁰(PPh)₃] and [Pd^I₂(μ-PPh₂){κ₂-P,O-μ-P(O)Ph₂}(κ-PPh₃)₂] with 2-bromopyridine, the former Pd⁰ complex undergoes a fast oxidative addition reaction, while the latter dinuclear Pd^I complex converts slowly to a tripalladium cluster, of the type [Pd₃(μ-X)(μ-PPh₂)₂(PPh₃)₃]X, with an overall 4/3 oxidation state per Pd. Our findings reveal complexity associated with the precatalyst activation step for the ubiquitous ‘Pd(OAc)₂’/nPPh₃ catalyst system, with implications for cross-coupling catalysis.

Photoelectric properties of aromatic triangular tri-palladium complexes and their catalytic applications in the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction

The photoelectric properties and catalytic activities of substituted triphenylphosphine and sulfur/selenium ligand supported aromatic triangular tri-palladium complexes 1-4, abbreviated as [Pd₃]⁺, were investigated. The cyclic voltammogram of [Pd₃]⁺ in CH₃CN-ⁿBu₄NPF₆ showed a single quasi-reversible wave which was consistent with their robust property and provided preliminary proof for their electron transfer processes in catalysis. With excitation at 267 nm, [Pd₃]⁺ exhibited strong ratiometric fluorescence at 550 and 780 nm at a temperature gradient from 77 K to 287 K. These peculiar triangular tri-palladium complexes showed excellent catalytic activities and exclusive reactivity with aryl iodides over the other halogenated aromatics in the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction. The electronic and steric hindrance effects of substituents on the aryl iodides and aryl boronic acids including heteroaromatics like pyridine, pyrazine and thiophenes were explored and most substrates achieved up to 99% of yields. (2-[1,1'-Biphenyl]-2-ylbenzothiazole) which was analogous to the selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors was also synthesized with our tri-palladium catalyst and gave good isolated yield (94%). The study of the catalytic process revealed that the mechanism of the reaction may involve the replacement of the sulphur ligand on [Pd₃]⁺ by iodine from aryl iodides, which was beneficial for the matching of C-I bond energy.

Isonitriles as supporting and non-innocent ligands in metal catalysis

Isonitriles are unique ligands for metal catalysis, owing to the possibility of their steric and electronic tuning as well as their non-innocent nature to undergo transformations with nucleophiles.

Bimolecular fusion of [Pd3(μ-CN-C6H3Me2-2,6)3(CN-C6H3Me2-2,6)3] induced by Ph2GeH2: formation of the redox-active Pd6Ge2 complex

The reaction of Ph₂GeH₂ with a planar tripalladium(0) complex, [Pd₃(μ-CN-C₆H₃Me₂-2,6)₃(CN-C₆H₃Me₂-2,6)₃], selectively afforded a hexagonal bipyramidal Pd₆Ge₂ complex, [Pd₆(μ-GePh₂)₂(CN-C₆H₃Me₂-2,6)₈(μ-CN-C₆H₃Me₂-2,6)₂]. The molecule is stabilized by bridging coordination of isonitrile and GePh₂ ligands, although all the Pd-Pd bonds are weak, as revealed by DFT calculations. The resulting complex undergoes two successive redox processes at E_1/2 = -1.35 and -1.03 V (vs. Fc⁺/Fc), which correspond to the stepwise oxidation of the Pd(0)₆ complex.