General Route to Halide-Bridged Organopalladium A-Frame Complexes and Studies of Reductive Elimination from These Bimetallic Systems

Changes in ligand coordination mode induce bimetallic C-C coupling pathways

Carbon-carbon coupling is one of the most powerful tools in the organic synthesis arsenal. Known methodologies primarily exploit monometallic Pd⁰/Pd^II catalytic mechanisms to give new C-C bonds. Bimetallic C-C coupling mechanisms that involve a Pd^I/Pd^II redox cycle, remain underexplored. Thus, a detailed mechnaistic understanding is imperative for the development of new bimetallic catalysts. Previously, a Pd^II-Me dimer (1) supported by L1, which has phosphine and 1-azaallyl donor groups, underwent reductive elimination to give ethane, a Pd^I dimer, a Pd^II monometallic complex, and Pd black. Herein, a comprehensive experimental and computational study of the reactivity of 1 is presented, which reveals that the versatile coordination chemistry of L1 promotes bimetallic C-C bond formation. The phosphine 1-azaallyl ligand adopts various bridging modes to maintain the bimetallic structure throughout the C-C bond forming mechanism, which involves intramolecular methyl transfer and 1,1-reductive elimination from one of the palladium atoms. The minor byproduct, methane, likely forms through a monometallic intermediate that is sensitive to solvent C-H activation. Overall, the capacity of L1 to adopt different coordination modes promotes the bimetallic C-C coupling channel through pathways that are unattainable with statically-coordinated ligands.

Bimetallic catalysis involving dipalladium(I) and diruthenium(I) complexes

Dipalladium(I) and diruthenium(I) compounds bridged by two [{(5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)amino}carbonyl]ferrocene (L) ligands have been synthesized. The X-ray structures of [Pd(2)L(2)][BF(4)](2) (1) and [Ru(2)L(2)(CO)(4)][BF(4)](2) (2) reveal dinuclear structures with short metal-metal distances. In both of these structures, naphthyridine bridges the dimetal unit, and the site trans to the metal-metal bond is occupied by weakly coordinating oxygen from the amido fragment. The catalytic utilities of these bimetallic compounds are evaluated. Compound 1 is an excellent catalyst for phosphine-free, Suzuki cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides with arylboronic acids and provides high yields in short reaction times. Compound 1 is also found to be catalytically active for aryl chlorides, although the corresponding yields are lower. A bimetallic mechanism is proposed, which involves the oxidative addition of aryl bromide across the Pd-Pd bond and the bimetallic reductive elimination of the product. Compound 1 is also an efficient catalyst for the Heck cross-coupling of aryl bromides with styrenes. The mechanism for aldehyde olefination with ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) and PPh(3), catalyzed by 2, has been fully elucidated. It is demonstrated that 2 catalyzes the formation of phosphorane utilizing EDA and PPh(3), which subsequently reacts with aldehyde to produce a new olefin and phosphine oxide. The efficacy of bimetallic complexes in catalytic organic transformations is illustrated in this work.

Bimetallic reductive elimination from dinuclear Pd(III) complexes

In 2009, we reported C-halogen reductive elimination reactions from dinuclear Pd(III) complexes and implicated dinuclear intermediates in Pd(OAc)(2)-catalyzed C-H oxidation chemistry. Herein, we report results of a thorough experimental and theoretical investigation of the mechanism of reductive elimination from such dinuclear Pd(III) complexes, which establish the role of each metal during reductive elimination. Our results implicate reductive elimination from a complex in which the dinuclear core is intact and suggest that redox synergy between the two metals is responsible for the facile reductive elimination reactions observed.

An approach to bimetallic catalysts by ligand design

New diphosphines based on benzofurobenzofuran and dibenzodioxocin backbones, forming exclusively bimetallic complexes were designed and synthesized. Depending on the ligand to metal ratio, face-to-face bimetallic complexes or syn-chloride bridged dimeric complexes were formed as main reaction products. The structures of the rhodium complexes of the new ligands 4, 7, 10, 13, 16 were established in solution by NMR, IR, and MS spectroscopy. The molecular structures of the syn-chloride bridged dimeric complexes [Rh(2)(CO)(2)(mu-Cl)(2)(4)] (22), [Rh(2)(CO)(2)(mu-Cl)(2)(10)] (24), and the face-to-face bimetallic complexes [Rh(CO)Cl(4)](2) (17), [Rh(CO)Cl(10)](2) (19), and [Rh(CO)Cl(13)](2) (20) were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Ligands 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, and SPANphos were tested in rhodium catalyzed methanol carbonylation at 150 degrees C and 22 bar of CO gas, showing high activities under catalytic conditions.

Roof-Shaped Halide-Bridged Bimetallic Complexes via Ring Expansion Reaction

Binucleating behavior of rigid triptycene-based ligands has been studied. It has been demonstrated that trans-spanned transition-metal mononuclear complexes bearing 1,8-bis(diisopropylphosphino)triptycene (L1) and 1-diisopropylphosphino-8-diphenylphosphinotriptycene (L2) react with an appropriate transition-metal precursor via a ring-expansion pathway to form unusual bimetallic quasi-closed structures. New palladium and rhodium complexes featuring strongly bent (ca. 115 degrees ) M2(mu-Cl2) cores with very closely spanned metal centers (less than 3 A) have been prepared using the described ring-expansion reaction and have been fully characterized. Despite a constrained arrangement of the binuclear system, halogen bridges in all new compounds were stable in both the solid state and solution showing no tendency for dissociation even in the presence of added Lewis bases. Spontaneous resolution of the dissymmetric Pd2(mu-Cl)2Cl2(1-diisopropylphosphino-8-diphenylphosphinotriptycene) (2) into enantiopure antipodes is discussed as well.

Routes to unique palladium A-frame complexes with a bridging fluoro-ligand

Treatment of a toluene solution of [PdMe(2)(Cy(2)PCH(2)PCy(2))](1) with pentafluoropyridine in the presence of traces of water affords the generation of the A-frame complexes [(PdMe)(2){mu-kappa(2)(P,P)Cy(2)PCH(2)PCy(2)}(2)(mu-F)][SiMeF(4)]() and [(PdMe)(2){mu-kappa(2)(P,P)Cy(2)PCH(2)PCy(2)}(2)(mu-F)][OC(5)NF(4)](2b). If the reaction is performed in an NMR tube equipped with a PFA inliner, complex 2b is produced, only. Treatment of 1 with pentafluoropyridine in the presence of an excess water yields the pyridyloxy complex [PdMe(OC(5)NF(4))(Cy(2)PCH(2)PCy(2))](3). Compound [(PdMe)(2){mu-kappa(2)(P,P)Cy(2)PCH(2)PCy(2)}(2)(mu-F)][FHF](2c) bearing a bifluoride anion instead of SiMeF(4)(-) or OC(5)NF(4)(-) can be generated by reaction of 1 with substoichiometric amounts of Et(3)N.3HF. The analogous complex [(PdMe)(2){mu-kappa(2)(P,P)Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2)}(2)(mu-F)][FHF] (5c) has been synthesized by addition of Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2) to a solution of [PdMe(2)(Me(2)NCH(2)CH(2)NMe(2))](4) in THF and subsequent treatment of the reaction mixture with Et(3)N.3HF. The structure of the A-frame complex 5c has been determined by X-ray crystallography.

N-benzoylimido complexes of palladium. Synthesis, structural characterisation and structure–reactivity relationship

Benzoyl azides, ArC(O)N3, 2, (Ar = phenyl or substituted phenyl), react with [Pd2Cl2(dppm)2], 1, [dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane] with the formation of novel [Pd2Cl2(mu-NC(O)Ar)(dppm)2], 3, benzoylnitrene complexes that were structurally characterised by multinuclear magnetic resonance and IR spectroscopy and, in several instances, by single crystal X-ray diffraction. As shown by crystallographic studies, the C2P4Pd2 rings adopt extended twist-boat conformations with methylene groups bending towards the bridging benzoylimido moieties. X-ray diffraction studies have revealed the chiral nature of the imido complexes, the chiral element being the propeller-like C2P4Pd2 ring. Structural data accumulated on complexes 3 such as short C-N distances (1.32 A), elongated C=O bonds (1.30 A) as well as the outstandingly high barrier to internal rotation around the N-C(O) linkage (88.3 kJ mol(-1)) are in line with extensive ppi-ppi interaction between the bridging nitrogen and the carbonyl carbon atoms. Theoretical calculations indicate an electron shift from the dimer towards the apical nitrogen atom, which, in turn, facilitates the donation of electrons towards the carbonyl moiety. To elucidate the structure-reactivity relationship of benzoyl azides towards 1, crystallographic and solution IR spectroscopic studies were carried out on a series of para-substituted benzoyl azides. The reaction obeys the Hammett equation. The large positive value of the reaction constant indicates that the azides act as electrophiles in the reaction studied. The enhanced reactivity of 2-nitrobenzoyl azide has been attributed to a decreased conjugation of the phenyl and carbonyl moieties in this reagent.

Diphosphines Possessing Electronically Different Donor Groups: Synthesis and Coordination Chemistry of the Unsymmetrical Di(N-pyrrolyl)phosphino-Functionalized dppm Analogue Ph2PCH2P(NC4H4)2

The unsymmetrical diphosphinomethane ligand Ph(2)PCH(2)P(NC(4)H(4))(2) L has been prepared from the reaction of Ph(2)PCH(2)Li with PCl(NC(4)H(4))(2). The diphenylphosphino group can be selectively oxidized with sulfur to give Ph(2)P(S)CH(2)P(NC(4)H(4))(2) 1. The reaction of L with [MCl(2)(cod)] (M = Pd, Pt) gives the chelate complexes [MCl(2)(L-kappa(2)P,P')] (2, M = Pd; 3, M = Pt) in which the M-P bond to the di(N-pyrrolyl)phosphino group is shorter than that to the corresponding diphenylphosphino group. However, the shorter Pd-P bond is cleaved on reaction of 2 with an additional 1 equiv of L to give [PdCl(2)(L-kappa(1)P)(2)] 4. Complex 4 reacts with [PdCl(2)(cod)] to regenerate 2, and with [Pd(2)(dba)(3)].CHCl(3) to give the palladium(I) dimer [Pd(2)Cl(2)(mu-L)(2)] 5, which exists in solution and the solid state as a 1:1 mixture of head-to-head (HH) and head-to-tail (HT) isomers. The palladium(II) dimer [Pd(2)Cl(2)(CH(3))(2)(mu-L)(2)] 6, formed by the reaction of [PdCl(CH(3))(cod)] with L, also exists in solution as a mixture of HH and HT isomers, although in this case the HT isomer prevails at low temperature and crystallizes preferentially. Complex 6 reacts with TlPF(6) to give the A-frame complex [Pd(2)(CH(3))(2)(mu-Cl)(mu-L)(2)]PF(6) 7. The reaction of L with [RuCp*(mu(3)-Cl)](4) leads to the dimer [Ru(2)Cp*(2)(mu-Cl)(2)(mu-L)] 8, for which the enthalpy of reaction has been measured. The reaction of L with [Rh(mu-Cl)(cod)](2) gives a mixture of compounds from which the dimer [Rh(2)(mu-Cl)(cod)(2)(mu-L)]PF(6) 9 can be isolated. The crystal structures of 2.CHCl(3), 3.CH(2)Cl(2), 4, 5.(1)/(4)CH(2)Cl(2), 6, 7.2CH(2)Cl(2), 8, and 9.CH(2)Cl(2) are reported.