Oxygen Activation and Intramolecular C–H Bond Activation by an Amidate-Bridged Diiron(II) Complex

Is the Electrophilicity of the Metal Nitrene the Sole Predictor of Metal-Mediated Nitrene Transfer to Olefins? Secondary Contributing Factors as Revealed by a Library of High-Spin Co(II) Reagents

Recent research has highlighted the key role played by the electron affinity of the active metal-nitrene/imido oxidant as the driving force in nitrene additions to olefins to afford valuable aziridines. The present work showcases a library of Co(II) reagents that, unlike the previously examined Mn(II) and Fe(II) analogues, demonstrate reactivity trends in olefin aziridinations that cannot be solely explained by the electron affinity criterion. A family of Co(II) catalysts (17 members) has been synthesized with the assistance of a trisphenylamido-amine scaffold decorated by various alkyl, aryl, and acyl groups attached to the equatorial amidos. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, cyclic voltammetry and EPR data reveal that the high-spin Co(II) sites (S = 3/2) feature a minimal [N3N] coordination and span a range of 1.4 V in redox potentials. Surprisingly, the Co(II)-mediated aziridination of styrene demonstrates reactivity patterns that deviate from those anticipated by the relevant electrophilicities of the putative metal nitrenes. The representative L4Co catalyst (-COCMe3 arm) is operating faster than the L8Co analogue (-COCF3 arm), in spite of diminished metal-nitrene electrophilicity. Mechanistic data (Hammett plots, KIE, stereocontrol studies) reveal that although both reagents follow a two-step reactivity path (turnover-limiting metal-nitrene addition to the C b atom of styrene, followed by product-determining ring-closure), the L4Co catalyst is associated with lower energy barriers in both steps. DFT calculations indicate that the putative [L4Co]NTs and [L8Co]NTs species are electronically distinct, inasmuch as the former exhibits a single-electron oxidized ligand arm. In addition, DFT calculations suggest that including London dispersion corrections for L4Co (due to the polarizability of the tert-Bu substituent) can provide significant stabilization of the turnover-limiting transition state. This study highlights how small ligand modifications can generate stereoelectronic variants that in certain cases are even capable of overriding the preponderance of the metal-nitrene electrophilicity as a driving force.

1,3-N,O-Complexes of late transition metals. Ligands with flexible bonding modes and reaction profiles

1,3-N,O-Chelating ligands are ubiquitous in nature owing to their occurrence as α-chiral amino acids in metalloproteins.

Unique Eu(II) Coordination Environments with a Janus Cryptand

Two new Eu(II)-containing cryptates were prepared with a new nitrogenous cryptand functionalized with three benzo groups. The introduction of three aromatic rings into the ligand backbone imparts lopsided geometrical features on the resulting Eu(II) coordination environments. In both complexes, the interactions between Eu and the amines on the aromatic side of the molecule are weaker than those on the nonaromatic side, resulting in one discrete unit with two distinct faces. One of the new complexes is, to the best of our knowledge, the first direct observation of a bis-aquo Eu(II)-containing cryptate with two nonadjacent inner-sphere water molecules. In addition to solid-phase structure, the electronic UV-visible and emission spectra of the new complexes were studied in acetonitrile. Experimental results show that the decreased Lewis basicity of the aromatic face hypsochromically shifts absorbances and emissions from a structurally related compound without the benzo groups.

N,O-Chelating Four-Membered Metallacyclic Titanium(IV) Complexes for Atom-Economic Catalytic Reactions

Titanium, as the second most abundant transition metal in the earth's crust, lends itself as a sustainable and inexpensive resource in catalysis. Its nontoxicity and biocompatibility are also attractive features for handling and disposal. Titanium has excelled as a catalyst for a broad range of transformations, including ethylene and α-olefin polymerizations. However, many reactions relevant to fine chemical synthesis have preferrentially employed late transition metals, and reactive, inexpensive early transition metals have been largely overlooked. In addition to promising reactivity, titanium complexes feature more robust character compared with some other highly Lewis-acidic metals such as those found in the lanthanide series. Since the advent of modulating ligand scaffolds, titanium has found use in a growing variety of reactions as a versatile homogeneous catalyst. These catalytic transformations include hydrofunctionalization reactions (adding an element-hydrogen (E-H) bond across a C-C multiple bond), as well as the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters, all of which are atom-economic transformations. Our investigations have focused on tight bite angle monoanionic N,O-chelating ligands, forming four-membered metallacycles. These ligand sets, including amidates, ureates, pyridonates, and sulfonamidates, have flexible binding modes offering a range of stable and reactive intermediates necessary for catalytic activity. Additionally, the simple form of these ligands leads to easily prepared proligands, along with facile tuning of steric and electronic factors. A sterically bulky titanium amidate complex has proven to be a leading catalyst for the selective formation of anti-Markovnikov addition products via intermolecular hydroamination of terminal alkynes, while sterically less demanding titanium pyridonates have opened the path to the selective formation of amine substituted cycloalkanes via the intramolecular hydroaminoalkylation of aminoalkenes over the competing hydroamination pathway. Sulfonamidates have boosted reactivity for hydrofunctionalization and polymerization reactions compared with amide ligands not bearing a sulfonyl group. N,O-Chelated titanium complexes have been used to synthesize ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene and have been utilized in the challenging task of realizing equal incorporation of two different cyclic esters in a random ring-opening copolymerization. These discrete complexes have allowed for careful study of fundamental coordination chemistry and stoichiometric organometallic investigations. With inexpensive starting materials and modular ligands, titanium N,O-chelated complexes are well-suited to address the challenges of achieving greener chemical processes while accessing useful reaction manifolds for sustainable synthesis.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Activity of a Series of Aluminium–Amidate Complexes

The aluminium complexes {[κ2-N,O-(t-BuNCOPh)]AlMe2}2 (2), [κ2-N,O-(t-BuNCOPh)]2AlMe (3), and [κ2-N,O-(t-BuNCOPh)]3Al (4) were prepared through the protonolysis reaction between trimethylaluminium and one, two, or three equivalents, respectively, of N-tert-butylbenzamide. Complex 2 was also prepared via a salt metathesis reaction between K(t-BuNCOPh) and dimethylaluminium chloride. Complexes 2–4 were characterized using 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the complexes corroborated ligand : metal stoichiometries and revealed that all the amidate ligands coordinate to the aluminium ion in a κ2 fashion. The Al–amidate complexes 2–4 were viable catalyst precursors for the Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley–Oppenauer reduction–oxidation manifold, successfully interconverting several classes of carbonyl and alcohol substrates.