Persistent Radical Effect in Action: Kinetic Studies of Copper-Catalyzed Atom Transfer Radical Addition in the Presence of Free-Radical Diazo Initiators as Reducing Agents

Structural and Electronic Noninnocence of α-Diimine Ligands on Niobium for Reductive C-Cl Bond Activation and Catalytic Radical Addition Reactions

A d⁰ niobium(V) complex, NbCl₃(α-diimine) (1a), supported by a dianionic redox-active N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-1,4-diaza-2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene (α-diimine) ligand (ene-diamido ligand) served as a catalyst for radical addition reactions of CCl₄ to α-olefins and cyclic alkenes, selectively affording 1:1 radical addition products in a regioselective manner. During the catalytic reaction, the α-diimine ligand smoothly released and stored an electron to control the oxidation state of the niobium center by changing between an η⁴-(σ²,π) coordination mode with a folded MN₂C₂ metallacycle and a κ²-(N,N') coordination mode with a planar MN₂C₂ metallacycle. Kinetic studies of the catalytic reaction elucidated the reaction order in the catalytic cycle: the radical addition reaction rate obeyed first-order kinetics that were dependent on the concentrations of the catalyst, styrene, and CCl₄, while a saturation effect was observed at a high CCl₄ concentration. In the presence of excess amounts of styrene, styrene coordinated in an η²-olefinic manner to the niobium center to decrease the reaction rate. No observation of oligomers or polymers of styrene and high stereoselectivity for the radical addition reaction of CCl₄ to cyclopentene suggested that the C-C bond formation proceeded inside the coordination sphere of niobium, which was in good accordance with the negative entropy value of the radical addition reaction. Furthermore, reaction of 1a with (bromomethyl)cyclopropane confirmed that both the C-Br bond activation and formation proceeded on the α-diimine-coordinated niobium center during transformation of the cyclopropylmethyl radical to a homoallyl radical. With regard to the reaction mechanism, we detected and isolated NbCl₄(α-diimine) (6a) as a transient one-electron oxidized species of 1a during reductive cleavage of the C-X bonds; in addition, the monoanionic α-diimine ligand of 6a adopted a monoanionic canonical form with selective one-electron oxidation of the dianionic ene-diamido form of the ligand in 1a.

Towards the development of highly active copper catalysts for atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) and polymerization (ATRP)‡

Fundamentals of copper catalyzed atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) and mechanistically similar polymerization (ATRP) were discussed. Special emphasis was placed on structural characterization and electrochemical properties of copper complexes. Recent advances in the development of highly active copper complexes for both processes were also reviewed. It was found that electron-donating groups (methoxy and methyl in the 4 and 3,5 positions, respectively) of the pyridine rings in tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPMA) ligand, significantly increase the catalytic activity in copper mediated ATRA/ATRP.

Properties and ATRP activity of copper complexes with substituted tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine-based ligands

Synthesis, characterization, electrochemical studies, and ATRP activity of a series of novel copper(I and II) complexes with TPMA-based ligands containing 4-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-substituted pyridine arms were reported. In the solid state, Cu(I)(TPMA*(1))Br, Cu(I)(TPMA*(2))Br, and Cu(I)(TPMA*(3))Br complexes were found to be distorted tetrahedral in geometry and contained coordinated bromide anions. Pseudo-coordination of the aliphatic nitrogen atom to the copper(I) center was observed in Cu(I)(TPMA*(2))Br and Cu(I)(TPMA*(3))Br complexes, whereas pyridine arm dissociation occurred in Cu(I)(TPMA*(1))Br. All copper(I) complexes with substituted TPMA ligands exhibited a high degree of fluxionality in solution. At low temperature, Cu(I)(TPMA*(1))Br was found to be symmetrical and monomeric, while dissociation of either unsubstituted pyridine and/or 4-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-substituted pyridine arms was observed in Cu(I)(TPMA*(2))Br and Cu(I)(TPMA*(3))Br. On the other hand, the geometry of the copper(II) complexes in the solid state deviated from ideal trigonal bipyramidal, as confirmed by a decrease in τ values ([Cu(II)(TPMA*(1))Br][Br] (τ = 0.92) > [Cu(II)(TPMA*(3))Br][Br] (τ = 0.77) > [Cu(II)(TPMA*(2))Br][Br] (τ = 0.72)). Furthermore, cyclic voltammetry studies indicated a nearly stepwise decrease (ΔE ≈ 60 mV) of E1/2 values relative to SCE (TPMA (-240 mV) > TPMA*(1) (-310 mV) > TPMA*(2) (-360 mV) > TPMA*(3) (-420 mV)) on going from [Cu(II)(TPMA)Br][Br] to [Cu(II)(TPMA*(3))Br][Br], confirming that the presence of electron-donating groups in the 4 (-OMe) and 3,5 (-Me) positions of the pyridine rings in TPMA increases the reducing ability of the corresponding copper(I) complexes. This increase was mostly the result of a stronger influence of substituted TPMA ligands toward stabilization of the copper(II) oxidation state (log β(I) = 13.4 ± 0.2, log β(II) = 19.3 (TPMA*(1)), 20.5 (TPMA*(2)), and 21.5 (TPMA*(3))). Lastly, ARGET ATRP kinetic studies show that with more reducing catalysts an induction period is observed. This was attributed to slow regeneration of Cu(I) species from the corresponding Cu(II).

Copper-catalyzed cyanoalkylarylation of activated alkenes with AIBN: a convenient and efficient approach to cyano-containing oxindoles

A novel, simple, and cost-effective protocol has been developed for the construction of cyano-containing oxindoles by copper-catalyzed direct cyanoalkylarylation of activated alkenes with AIBN.