Cationic Ir(III) Alkylidenes Are Key Intermediates in C–H Bond Activation and C–C Bond-Forming Reactions

Exploring Brominated Aromatic Butenolides from Aspergillus terreus EGF7-0-1 with Their Antifungal Activities

Fungal diseases could severely harm agricultural productions. To develop new antifungal agents, based on the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking, typical bromine isotope peak ratios, and ultraviolet absorptions, cultivation of the soft coral-derived endophytic fungi Aspergillus terreus EGF7-0-1 with NaBr led to the targeted isolation of 14 new brominated aromatic butenolides (1-14) and six known analogues (15-20). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and quantum chemical calculations. Compounds 1-14 exhibited wildly antifungal activities (against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Pestalotiopsis microspora, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, Botrytis cinerea, and Diaporthe phoenicicola). The bioassay results showed that compounds 1-14 exhibited excellent antifungal activities against C. gloeosporioides, with concentration for 50% of maximal effect (EC50) values from 2.72 to 130.41 nM. The mechanistic study suggests that compound 1 may disrupt nutrient signaling pathways by reducing the levels of metabolites, such as carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids, leading to an increase in low-density granules and a decrease in high-density granules in the cytoplasm, accompanied by numerous vacuoles, thereby inhibiting the growth of C. gloeosporioides. Monobrominated γ-butenolide 1 may be expected to exploit a novel agriculturally antifungal leading drug. Meanwhile, compound M1 has conformed antifugual activities against C. gloeosporioides by papayas in vivo.

Iridium-catalysed thioether-directed regioselective cycloaddition of internal alkynes with azides

We report herein a cationic iridium-catalysed thioether-directed alkyne-azide cycloaddition reaction. Diverse 2-alkynyl phenyl sulfides can undergo cycloaddition with different azides in a regioselective fashion. The reaction features high efficiency, a short reaction time, and a broad substrate scope, providing modular access to complex S-containing triazoles.

Theoretical Design of a Catalyst with Both High Activity and Selectivity in C-H Borylation

Improving both the activity and selectivity of the C-H borylation reaction is currently a hot research topic but also a challenge. In this regard, we suggest a multistrategy combining directing group, coordination unsaturated metal center, and cationic character. Based on Reek's catalyst, we designed a new unsaturated cationic catalyst (1) featuring a directing group for C-H borylation. The calculated free energy barrier of C-H activation is only 7.2 kcal/mol, indicating that the cationic catalyst has higher activity than the original neutral catalyst in this process. Moreover, the comparison suggests that the ortho-C-H borylation pathway is more favorable than the meta and para pathways. The catalyst deconstructions are further performed and prove that the ortho-selectivity is attributed to hydrogen-bonding interactions between the directing group and the substrate, although the ortho site is sterically and electronically unfavorable.

A Versatile Approach to Access Trimetallic Complexes Based on Trisphosphinite Ligands

A straightforward method for the preparation of trisphosphinite ligands in one step, using only commercially available reagents (1,1,1-tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane and chlorophosphines) is described. We have made use of this approach to prepare a small family of four trisphosphinite ligands of formula [CH3C{(C6H4OR2)3], where R stands for Ph (1a), Xyl (1b, Xyl = 2,6-Me2-C6H3), iPr (1c), and Cy (1d). These polyfunctional phosphinites allowed us to investigate their coordination chemistry towards a range of late transition metal precursors. As such, we report here the isolation and full characterization of a number of Au(I), Ag(I), Cu(I), Ir(III), Rh(III) and Ru(II) homotrimetallic complexes, including the structural characterization by X-ray diffraction studies of six of these compounds. We have observed that the flexibility of these trisphosphinites enables a variety of conformations for the different trimetallic species.

Conversion of methane to ethylene using an Ir complex and phosphorus ylide as a methylene transfer reagent

Cp*(Me₃P)Ir(CH₃)(OTf), a complex known to reversibly activate CH₄ and other hydrocarbons under mild conditions, reacts with the phosphorus ylide H₂CPPh₃ in THF to afford two major species [Cp*(Me₃P)(Ph₃P)Ir(CH₂CH₃)][OTf] and [Cp*(Me₃P)Ir(H)(η²-CH₂CH₂)][OTf].

Synthesis, Structures, and Reactivity of Single and Double Cyclometalated Complexes Formed by Reactions of [Cp*MCl2]2 (M = Ir and Rh) with Dinaphthyl Phosphines

Reactions of two dinaphthyl phosphines with [Cp*IrCl₂]₂ have been carried out. In the case of di(α-naphthyl)phenylphosphine (1a), a simple P-coordinated neutral adduct 2a is obtained. However, tert-butyldi(α-naphthyl)phenylphosphine (1b) is cyclometalated to form [Cp*IrCl(P^C)] (3b). Complexes 2a and 3a undergo further cyclometalation to give the corresponding double cyclometalated complexes [Cp*Ir(C^P^C)] (4a,b) upon heating. In the presence of sodium acetate, reactions of 1a,b with [Cp*IrCl₂]₂ directly afford the final double cyclometalated complexes (4a,b). In the absence of acetate, [Cp*RhCl₂]₂ shows no reaction with 1a,b, whereas with acetate the reactions form the corresponding single cyclometalated complexes [Cp*RhCl(P^C)] (5a,b), which react with ^t BuOK to form the corresponding rhodium hydride complexes (6a,b). Treatment of 4a with CuCl₂ or I₂ leads to opening of two Ir-C σ bonds to yield the corresponding P-coordinated iridium dihalide (7 or 8) by means of an intramolecular C-C coupling reaction. A new chiral phosphine (11) is formed by the ligand-exchange reaction of 8 with PMe₃. Reactions of the single cycloiridated complex 3b with terminal aromatic alkynes result in the corresponding five- and six-membered doubly cycloiridated complex 12 and/or η²-alkene coordinated complexes 13-15; the latter discloses that the electronic effect of terminal alkynes affects the regioselectivity. While the single cyclorhodated complex 5b reacts with terminal aromatic alkynes to form the corresponding six-membered cyclometalated complexes 16a-c by vinylidene rearrangement/1,1-insertion. Plausible pathways for formation of insertion products 13-16 were proposed. Molecular structures of twelve new complexes were determined by X-ray diffraction.

The theoretical chemical calculations clarify the mechanism of beta-alkylation of 1-phenylethanol with benzyl alcohol catalyzed by iron(ii) acetylacetonate methods

Iron(ii) acetylacetonate was suggested to be a better catalyst of the β-alkylation of 1-phenylethanol with benzyl alcohol to form 1,3-diphenyl-1-propanol. DFT calculations have been performed to study the internal mechanism, the structures of intermediates and transition states, and the exchange of electronic density in detail. The energetic results show that this β-alkylation reaction proceeds via the hydrogen autotransfer mechanism and the catalytic cycle includes three sequential stages: (1) alcohol oxidation to produce aldehyde associated with hydride anion transfer, (2) cross-aldol condensation to form a chalcone and (3) chalcone reduction with multi-step hydrogenation. In order to study whether the only by-product, water, has clearly influenced the reaction, eight catalyst hydrogenation pathways and four catalyst dehydrogenation pathways have been studied. We are delighted to find that the presence of the only by-product, water, can significantly increase the reduction energy barrier of dihydrochalcone. The energy barrier of the catalyst's hydrogenation is less than 6 kcal mol⁻¹. Our calculation results are fundamentally coincident with the experimental detections, and suggest that the crossing-coupling reaction occurs through a reliable mechanism. Two dihydrochalcone catalysts were designed on the basis of how the β-alkylation reaction proceeds.

Iron(ii) acetylacetonate was suggested to be a better catalyst of the β-alkylation of 1-phenylethanol with benzyl alcohol to form 1,3-diphenyl-1-propanol.

Redox-state dependent activation of silanes and ammonia with reverse polarity (PCcarbeneP)Ni complexes: electrophilic vs. nucleophilic carbenes

A rigidified PC_alkylP ligand allowed for the synthesis and characterization of cationic and radical PC_CarbeneP nickel complexes in which the carbene anchor of the pincer framework is electrophilic rather than nucleophilic.

Csp3 -H Activation without Chelation Assistance in an Iridium Pincer Complex Forming Cyclometallated Products

Cyclometallation of 8-methylquinoline and 2-(dimethylamino)-pyridine in an iridium-based pincer complex is described. The C-H activation of 2-(dimethylamino)pyridine is not chelation assisted, which has not been described before for Csp³ -H bonds in cyclometallation reactions. The mechanism of the cyclometallation of 2-(dimethylamino)pyridine was studied by DFT calculations and kinetic measurements.

Theoretical study on the mechanism of iridium-catalyzed γ-functionalization of primary alkyl C–H bonds

The mechanism of the iridium-catalyzed functionalization of a primary C–H bond at the γ position of an alcohol 5 is investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A new IrIII–IrV mechanism is found to be more feasible than the previously reported IrI–IrIII mechanism. 10 In the IrIII–IrV mechanism, the reaction begins with the initial formation of (Me4phen)IrIII(H)[Si(OR)Et2]2 from the catalyst precursor, [Ir(cod)OMe]2 (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene). The catalytic cycle includes five steps: (1) the insertion of norbornene into the Ir–H bond to produce (Me4phen)IrIII(norbornyl)[Si(OR)Et2]2 (R = –CH(C2H5)C3H7); (2) the Si–H oxidative addition of HSi(OR)Et2 to form (Me4phen)IrVH(norbornyl)[Si(OR)Et2]3; (3) the reductive elimination of norbornane to furnish (Me4phen)IrIII[Si(OR)Et2]3; (4) the intramolecular C–H activation of the primary C–H bond at the γ position; and (5) the Si–C reductive elimination to produce the final product and regenerate the catalyst. The highest barrier in the IrIII–IrV mechanism is 7.3 kcal/mol lower than that of the IrI–IrIII mechanism. In addition, the regioselectivity of the C–H activation predicted by this new IrIII–IrV mechanism is consistent with experimental observation.

Redox-induced umpolung of transition metal carbenes

Metal carbene complexes have been at the forefront of organic and organometallic synthesis and are instrumental in guiding future sustainable chemistry efforts. While classical Fischer and Schrock type carbenes have been intensely studied, compounds that do not fall within one of these categories have attracted attention only recently. In addition, applications of carbene complexes rarely take advantage of redox processes, which could open up a new dimension for their use in practical processes. Herein, we report an umpolung of a nucleophilic palladium carbene complex, [{PC(sp2)P} tBuPd(PMe3)] ({PC(sp2)P} tBu = bis[2-(di-iso-propylphosphino)-4-tert-butylphenyl]methylene), realized by successive one-electron oxidations that generated a cationic carbene complex, [{PC(sp2)P} tBuPdI]+, via a carbene radical, [{PC˙(sp2)P} tBuPdI]. An EPR spectroscopic study of [{PC˙(sp2)P} tBuPdI] indicated the presence of a ligand-centered radical, also supported by the results of reactions with 9,10-dihydroanthracene and PhSSPh. The cationic carbene complex shows electrophilic behavior toward nucleophiles such as NaH, p TolNHLi, PhONa, and PMe3, resulting from an inversion of the electronic character of the Pd-Ccarbene bond in [{PC(sp2)P} tBuPd(PMe3)]. The redox induced umpolung is reversible and unprecedented.

Synthesis and Reactivity toward H2 of (η(5)-C5Me5)Rh(III) Complexes with Bulky Aminopyridinate Ligands

Electrophilic, cationic Rh(III) complexes of composition [(η(5)-C5Me5)Rh(Ap)](+), (1(+)), were prepared by reaction of [(η(5)-C5Me5)RhCl2]2 and LiAp (Ap = aminopyridinate ligand) followed by chloride abstraction with NaBArF (BArF = B[3,5-(CF3)2C6H3]4). Reactions of cations 1(+) with different Lewis bases (e.g., NH3, 4-dimethylaminopyridine, or CNXyl) led in general to monoadducts 1·L(+) (L = Lewis base; Xyl = 2,6-Me2C6H3), but carbon monoxide provided carbonyl-carbamoyl complexes 1·(CO)2(+) as a result of metal coordination and formal insertion of CO into the Rh-Namido bond of complexes 1(+). Arguably, the most relevant observation reported in this study stemmed from the reactions of complexes 1(+) with H2. (1)H NMR analyses of the reactions demonstrated a H2-catalyzed isomerization of the aminopyridinate ligand in cations 1(+) from the ordinary κ(2)-N,N' coordination to a very uncommon, formally tridentate κ-N,η(3) pseudoallyl bonding mode (complexes 3(+)) following benzylic C-H activation within the xylyl substituent of the pyridinic ring of the aminopyridinate ligand. The isomerization entailed in addition H-H and N-H bond activation and mimicked previous findings with the analogous iridium complexes. However, in dissimilarity with iridium, rhodium complexes 1(+) reacted stoichiometrically at 20 °C with excess H2. The transformations resulted in the hydrogenation of the C5Me5 and Ap ligands with concurrent reduction to Rh(I) and yielded complexes [(η(4)-C5Me5H)Rh(η(6)-ApH)](+), (2(+)), in which the pyridinic xylyl substituent is η(6)-bonded to the rhodium(I) center. New compounds reported were characterized by microanalysis and NMR spectroscopy. Representative complexes were additionally investigated by X-ray crystallography.

Formation of a C-C double bond from two aliphatic carbons. Multiple C-H activations in an iridium pincer complex

The search for novel, atom-economic methods for the formation of C-C bonds is of crucial importance in synthetic chemistry. Especially attractive are reactions where C-C bonds are formed through C-H activation, but the coupling of unactivated, alkane-type Csp3 -H bonds remains an unsolved challenge. Here, we report iridium-mediated intramolecular coupling reactions involving up to four unactivated Csp3 -H bonds to give carbon-carbon double bonds under the extrusion of dihydrogen. The reaction described herein is completely reversible and the direction can be controlled by altering the reaction conditions. With a hydrogen acceptor present a C-C double bond is formed, while reacting under dihydrogen pressure leads to the reverse process, with some of the steps representing net Csp3 -Csp3 bond cleavage. Mechanistic investigations revealed a conceptually-novel overall reactivity pattern where insertion or deinsertion of an Ir carbene moiety, formed via double C-H activation, into an Ir-C bond is responsible for the key C-C bond formation and cleavage steps.

Cyclometalated [Cp*M(C^X)] (M = Ir, Rh; X = N, C, O, P) complexes

Isolated and well-defined cyclometalated iridium/rhodium complexes that contain a Cp*M–C (M = Ir, Rh) bond stabilised by the intramolecular coordination of neutral donor atoms (N, C, O or P), together with their applications, were summarized.