Novel η3-Allylpalladium−Pyridinylpyrazole Complex: Synthesis, Reactivity, and Catalytic Activity for Cyclopropanation of Ketene Silyl Acetal with Allylic Acetates

Synthesis of gem-Difluorinated Oxa/Azaspiro[2.4]heptanes via Palladium-Catalyzed Spirocyclopropanation

A palladium-catalyzed spirocyclopropanation of gem-difluoroalkenes with π-allylpalladium 1,4-dipoles has been successfully developed, which gives a powerful and straightforward synthetic strategy for the construction of novel gem-difluorinated spirocyclic compounds, 6,6-difluoro-5-oxa/azaspiro[2.4]heptanes. The scope of gem-difluoroalkenes can be extended to styrenes, acrylic esters, and acrylamides to realize the installment of various functional groups and different heteroatoms on the spirocyclic skeletons, which could be converted to valuable compounds with potential biological activity. The mechanistic investigations revealed the competition between spirocyclopropanation and β-F elimination of π-allylpalladium zwitterionic intermediates.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Acceptorless Dehydrogenation of Primary Amines to Nitriles

The direct double dehydrogenation from primary amines to nitriles without an oxidant or hydrogen acceptor is both intriguing and challenging. In this paper, we describe a non-noble metal catalyst capable of realizing such a transformation with high efficiency. A cobalt-centered N,N-bidentate complex was designed and employed as a metal-ligand cooperative dehydrogenation catalyst. Detailed kinetic studies, control experiments, and DFT calculations revealed the crucial hydride transfer, proton transfer, and hydrogen evolution processes. Finally, a tandem outer-sphere/inner-sphere mechanism was proposed for the dehydrogenation of amines to nitriles through an imine intermediate.

Recent Developments in Reactions and Catalysis of Protic Pyrazole Complexes

Protic pyrazoles (N-unsubstituted pyrazoles) have been versatile ligands in various fields, such as materials chemistry and homogeneous catalysis, owing to their proton-responsive nature. This review provides an overview of the reactivities of protic pyrazole complexes. The coordination chemistry of pincer-type 2,6-bis(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridines is first surveyed as a class of compounds for which significant advances have made in the last decade. The stoichiometric reactivities of protic pyrazole complexes with inorganic nitrogenous compounds are then described, which possibly relates to the inorganic nitrogen cycle in nature. The last part of this article is devoted to outlining the catalytic application of protic pyrazole complexes, emphasizing the mechanistic aspect. The role of the NH group in the protic pyrazole ligand and resulting metal-ligand cooperation in these transformations are discussed.

Decarboxylative Allylic Alkylation of Phthalides: Stabilized Benzylic Nucleophiles for sp3-sp3 Coupling

A new family of stabilized benzylic nucleophiles for the palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative allylic alkylation reaction has been developed. Allyl esters derived from 3-carboxyphthalides were found to undergo palladium-catalyzed deallylation and decarboxylation under mild reaction conditions, a process facilitated by the formation of a stabilized aromatic anion. The regioselective allylic coupling of this intermediate afforded a variety of functionalized phthalides in 73-96% yields.

Synthesis of Double-Bridged Cofacial Nickel Porphyrin Dimers with 2,2'-Bipyridyl Pillars and Their Restricted Coordination Space

Double-bridged cofacial Ni porphyrin dimers 2 with 2,2'-bipyridyl pillars were effectively prepared by a one-step reductive homocoupling reaction of bis(chloropyridyl)-substituted Ni porphyrin derivatives followed by a specific separation of a cyanopropyl-modified silica gel column using pyridine eluent systems. The structural analyses of 2 and its Pd complex were carried out in their solid and solution states by means of X-ray single crystal analysis and NMR, respectively. The complexation of η³-allylpalladium chloride (Pd) with 2 on the spatially restricted 2,2-bipyridine moieties on 2 gave a 2:1 (Pd:2) complex, in which the 2,2'-bipyridine ligands only provided one of the N atoms on a 2,2'-bipyridine ligand to a Pd. Therefore, the 2,2-bipyridine moieties acted as a monodentate ligand.

Phosphinative cyclopropanation of allyl phosphates with lithium phosphides

A new cyclopropanation reaction of allyl phosphates with lithium phosphides has been developed to give cyclopropylphosphines, and high selectivity toward cyclopropanation has been realized by conducting the reaction in the presence of HMPA.

A heterometallic Cd/Ag/Se complex incorporating 3-ferrocenyl-5-(2-pyridyl)pyrazolato (fcpp) ligands: synthesis and structure of [Cd2{Ag(SePh)}2(μ3-OH2)2(μ2,η3-fcpp)4]·2C3H6O

A self-assembly reaction of Cd(NO3)2 · 4H2O, 3-ferrocenyl-5-(2-pyridyl)-pyrazole (Hfcpp), [Ag(SePh)] n , and Et3N in a mixed acetone-water solvent resulted in the formation of a heterometallic complex [Cd2{Ag(SePh)}2 (μ 3-OH2)2(μ 2,η 3-fcpp)4] · 2C3H6O (1) with a phenylselenolate ligand. The two cadmium and two silver centers are linked by four [μ 2,η 3-fcpp]− ligands and two μ 3-OH2 water molecules. Each Cd atom is in a slightly distorted octahedral coordination environment, while each Ag atom shows a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry, which is composed of two pyrazolyl nitrogen atoms, one selenium atom, and one oxygen atom.

Development of Palladium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Allylation of Electron-Deficient Sulfones and Identification of Unusual Side Products

The use of sulfones as electron-withdrawing groups in substrates for palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative allylation was explored. A previously published trifluoromethanesulfonyl-based substrate was highly reactive and selective under mild conditions, but the substrate scope was not readily expanded. Instead, 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl sulfones were employed, thereby simultaneously retaining most of the electron deficiency and providing facile synthetic access. Optimization of the catalytic conditions to maximize the product distribution to a synthetically useful level of the allylation product over the protonation side product proved extremely challenging, with inconsistent and irreproducible results afforded with Pd₂(dba)₃ as the palladium source. A variety of substrates were subjected to the optimized catalytic conditions of PdCp(1-cinnamyl) and Xantphos in tetrahydrofuran at 50 °C for 30 min. These conditions were applicable to all substrates with the exception of the α,α-dimethyl allyl ester, which required more forcing conditions and afforded four products: the allylation and protonation products, as expected, along with a cyclopropylation product and an unprecedented pseudodimeric product. The mechanism for the formation of these unusual side products is considered.

Key Mechanistic Features in Palladium-Catalyzed Methylcyclopropanation of Norbornenes With Vinyl Bromides: Insights From DFT Calculations

DFT calculations were performed to elucidate mechanistic details of an unusual palladium-catalyzed methylcyclopropanation from [2 + 1] cycloadditions of (Z)-2-bromovinylbenzene and endo-N-(p-tolyl)-norbornenesuccinimide. The reaction proceeds via oxidative addition (OA), intermolecular alkene insertion, deprotonation/protonation, intramolecular alkene insertion, β-H elimination and reductive elimination (RE). Protonation is the rate-limiting step and requires an overall barrier of 28.5 kcal/mol. The sources of two protons for protonation and exchange have also been clarified and the calculations agree with experimental observations.

Pd-catalyzed enantioselective cyclopropanation of nitriles with mono substituted allyl carbonates enabled by the bulky N-heterocyclic carbene ligand

Enantioselective cyclopropanation of nitriles with allyl reagents was realized using Pd/NHC as a catalyst and the reasons for the cyclopropanation were investigated.

Synthesis of cis-5,5a,6,10b-Tetrahydroindeno[2,1-b]indoles through Palladium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Coupling of Vinyl Benzoxazinanones with Arynes

A novel palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reaction of vinyl benzoxazinanones with arynes which may feature an intramolecular nucleophilic attack of an amino group at the central carbon of π-allylpalladium intermediate has been developed. The cis-5,5a,6,10b-tetrahydroindeno[2,1-b]indoles were generated in moderate to good yields. One key to the success of the present reaction was to achieve comparable rates for the palladium-catalyzed decarboxylation and aryne formation steps.

Luminescent dinuclear copper(i) complexes bearing 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane and functionalized 3-(2′-pyridyl)pyrazole mixed ligands

The luminescence properties of 3-(2′-pyridyl)pyrazole-based dinuclear Cu(i) complexes can be well modulated by altering the substituent on the pyrazolyl ring.

Palladium(0)-Catalyzed Methylcyclopropanation of Norbornenes with Vinyl Bromides and Mechanism Study

An unusual methylcyclopropanation from [2 + 1] cycloadditions of vinyl bromides to norbornenes catalyzed by Pd(OAc)2/PPh3 in the presence of CH3ONa and CH3OH has been established. A methylcyclopropane subunit was installed by a 3-fold domino procedure involving a key protonation course. Preliminary deuterium-labeling studies revealed that the proton came from methyl of CH3OH and also exposed an additional hydrogen/deuterium exchange process. These two proton-concerned reactions were fully chemoselective.

Palladium-catalyzed amination of 2,3,3-trifluoroallyl esters: synthesis of trifluoromethylenamines via an intramolecular fluorine shift and CF3 group construction

The palladium-catalyzed reaction of 2,3,3-trifluoroallyl esters with amines afforded trifluoromethylenamines, which were formed by the addition of a nitrogen nucleophile at the C-2 position and the fluorine atom shift from the C-2 to C-3 position.

Pyridine-NHC: effective ligand in Pd-catalyzed cyclopropanation of esters with substituted allyl carbonates

By consideration of the mechanism of Pd-catalyzed cyclopropanation and allylation, NHC-pyridine compounds were adopted as the ligand in Pd-catalyzed cyclopropanation of esters and monosubstituted allylic reagents. The corresponding cyclopropanes were afforded as major products in moderate to good yields with high cyclopropane/allylation selectivity.

Homo- and heteropolymetallic 3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazolate manganese and rhenium complexes

Heteropolymetallic complexes with pyridylpyrazolates bridging Mn and Na or K are tetrametallic and contain bridging pyridylpyrazolates with an unprecedented coordination mode, whereas the Mn/Li complex is bimetallic.

Metal–ligand bifunctional reactivity and catalysis of protic N-heterocyclic carbene and pyrazole complexes featuring β-NH units

The metal–ligand bifunctional cooperation of protic N-heterocyclic carbene and pyrazole complexes bearing an NH unit at the position β to the metal is surveyed.

Quantitative Determination of the Regioselectivity of Nucleophilic Addition to η-Propargyl Rhenium Complexes and Direct Observation of an Equilibrium Between η-Propargyl Rhenium Complexes and Rhenacyclobutenes

PMe(3) adds selectively to the central carbon of the η(3)- propargyl complex [C(5)Me(5)(CO)(2)Re(η(3)-CH(2)C≡CCMe(3))][BF(4)] (1-t-Bu) to form the metallacyclobutene [C(5)Me(5)(CO)(2)Re(CH(2)C(PMe(3))=CCMe(3))][BF(4)] (7). The rate of rearrangement of the metallacyclobutene 7 to η(2)-alkyne complex [C(5)Me(5)(CO)(2)Re(η(2)-Me(3)PCH(2)C≡CCMe(3))][BF(4)] (8) is is independent of phosphine concentration, consistent with a dissociative mechanism proceeding via η(3)-propargyl complex 1-t-Bu. The rate of this rearrangement is 480 times slower than the rate of exchange of PMe(3) with the labeled metallacyclobutene 7-d(9). This rate ratio provides an indirect measurement of the regioselectivity for addition of PMe(3) to the central carbon of η(3)-propargyl complex 1-t-Bu to give 7 compared to addition to a terminal carbon to give 8. The addition of PPh(3) to 1-t-Bu gives the metallacyclobutene [C(5)Me(5)(CO)(2)Re(CH(2)C(PPh(3))=CCMe(3))][BF(4)] (11). Low temperature (1)H NMR spectra provide evidence for an equilibrium between metallacyclobutene 11 and η(3)-propargyl complex 1-t-Bu (K(eq) ≈ 44 M(-1) at -46 °C and ΔG° (0 °C) = -1.2 ± 0.2 kcal mol(-1)).