Crystal Structures of [PhLi·(−)-sparteine]2, [PhOLi·(−)-sparteine]2, and the Mixed Aggregate [PhLi·PhOLi·2(−)-sparteine]

Insights into the metalation of benzene and toluene by Schlosser's base: a superbasic cluster comprising PhK, PhLi, and tBuOLi

The metalation of benzene by Schlosser's base (nBuLi/tBuOK) occurs smoothly in THF at low temperatures to afford a discrete mixed-metal Li2 K4 cluster that contains phenyl anions and tert-butoxide. The aggregate itself exhibits superbasic behavior by metalating toluene. The delocalized benzyl anion obtained this way π bonds to potassium counterions, thereby creating a 2D coordination polymer.

Mixed aggregates of an alkyl lithium reagent and a chiral lithium amide derived from N-ethyl-O-triisopropylsilyl valinol

The crystal structure of a mixed aggregate containing lithiated (S)-N-ethyl-3-methyl-1-(triisopropylsilyloxy)butan-2-amine derived from (S)-valinol and cyclopentyllithium is determined by X-ray diffraction. The mixed aggregate adopts a ladder structure in the solid state. The ladder-type mixed aggregate is also the major species in a toluene-d8 solution containing an approximately 1:1 molar ratio of the lithiated chiral amide to cyclopentyllithium. A variety of NMR experiments including diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY) with diffusion coefficient-formula (D-FW) weight correlation analyses and other one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques allowed us to characterize the complex in solution. Solution state structures of the mixed aggregates of n-butyl, sec-butyllithium, isopropyllithium with lithiated (S)-N-ethyl-3-methyl-1-(triisopropylsilyloxy)butan-2-amine are also reported. Identical dimeric, ladder-type, mixed aggregates are the major species at a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1 lithium chiral amide to alkyllithium in toluene-d8 solution for all of the different alkyllithium reagents.

Formation of specific configurations at stereogenic nitrogen centers upon their coordination to zinc and mercury

The coordination of (R,R)-tetramethylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine derivatives with stereogenic nitrogen centers to zinc and mercury halides is investigated. It is shown that the resulting complexes display one specific configuration at the stereogenic nitrogen centers. This fact is unusual due to the fast inversion of nitrogen centers but highly desirable as the stereoinformation of the ligands is brought closer to the metal centers of the potential catalysts. A combination of NMR studies and quantum chemical calculations gives insight into the selective formation of one specific configuration at the stereogenic nitrogen centers of the zinc complexes.

Mechanistic insight into stereoselective carbolithiation

This article addresses the mechanistic features of asymmetric carbolithiation of β-methylstyrenes. While often the presence of functional groups is required to obtain high enantioselectivities in carbolithiation reactions, simple β-methylstyrene also gives high selectivities in (-)-sparteine-mediated addition of alkyl lithium compounds. Computational studies on the carbolithiation of β-methylstyrene with (-)-sparteine show that the observed selectivities are the result of repulsion effects in the diastereomeric transition states between the (-)-sparteine⋅alkyl lithium adduct and the β-methylstyrene, upon approximation of the two reactants. In contrast, for the ortho-amino β-methylstyrene (E)-benzyl(2-propenylphenyl)amine (4) X-ray structure analyses of intermediate lithium amides indicate a carbolithiation mechanism in which one side of the double bond is shielded by the amide moiety, leaving only one side free for approach of the chiral alkyl lithium adduct.

Lithium phenolates solvated by tetrahydrofuran and 1,2-dimethoxyethane: structure determination using the method of continuous variation

The method of continuous variation in conjunction with (6)Li NMR spectroscopy was used to characterize lithium phenolates solvated by tetrahydrofuran and 1,2-dimethoxyethane. The strategy relies on the formation of ensembles of homo- and heteroaggregated phenolates. The symmetries and concentration dependencies of the heteroaggregates attest to the aggregation numbers of the homoaggregates. The structurally diverse phenols afford substrate- and solvent-dependent combinations of lithium phenolate monomers, dimers, trimers, tetramers, and pentamers. We discuss the refinement of protocols for characterizing O-lithiated species. Computational studies examine further the substituent and solvent dependencies of aggregation.

Pd/X group interchange in the [Pd(Br)(PH3)(C6H5)(C6H5X)] system — Theoretical insights from the isolobal analogy perspective

DFT-B3LYP calculations have been carried out to assess the fate of the Pd/X group intermolecular exchange in the [PdBr(PH3)(C6H5)(C6H5X)] system, where X is either H, an electropositive atom, or a group such as Li, Na, BH2, AlH2, BeH or BeCH3, and an electronegative atom, or a group such as F, Cl, Br, CH3, OH, and SH. The transfer of H is best viewed as involving the migration of a proton between the two phenyls. At variance with this result, the transfer of the more electropositive entities such as X = Li, Na, BH2, AlH2, BeH, or BeCH3 is not complete. It stops halfway to yield a stable structure in which X can experience interactions with the two phenyl groups that are quite ionic. These stable structures are rationalized through isolobal analogy arguments. In the case of beryllium, the correspondence has been made also with the experimentally known cyclopentadienylberyllium borohydride system, CpBeH4. The results of the DFT geometry optimization call for a re-examination of the gas-phase electron-diffraction structure determination, especially for the bond distances and angles that pertain to the two bridging hydrogens. For the halogen series X = F, Cl, or Br and for the electronegative groups CH3, OH, or SH, the transfer between the two phenyls takes place via a two-step Pd(II)/Pd(IV) oxidative addition/reductive elimination mechanism. The associated energy barriers are nevertheless quite high, except for Br and SH for which the process might be feasible. The dimerization of the PdBr(PH3)(C6H5) system is also analyzed within the isolobal analogy framework.

Crystal structures of n-BuLi adducts with (R,R)-TMCDA and the consequences for the deprotonation of benzene

Combinations of organolithium compounds and diamine bases have become a powerful tool in synthetic chemistry. Because of the structure-reactivity relationship, the elucidation of reaction mechanisms of these reagents is strongly connected with the structural determination of intermediate species. In mixtures of the diamine TMCDA (N,N,N',N'-tetramethylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine) and n-butyllithium, two different structures, the dimeric [n-BuLi x (R,R)-TMCDA]2 and the aggregate [(n-BuLi)2 x (R,R)-TMCDA]2, can be isolated, depending on the n-BuLi/TMCDA ratio. Thereby, [(n-BuLi)2 x (R,R)-TMCDA]2 is a rare example of an organolithium compound with a ladder arrangement of the central four-membered Li-C-Li-C rings. Two isomers of the ladder structure are formed in the crystal by changing from the enantiomerically pure to racemic TMCDA. As n-BuLi/TMCDA mixtures are also able to deprotonate benzene, these structures give hint to possible mechanisms. Supported by theoretical studies, transition states based on the dimer, the ladder structure, and a hypothetical monomer are discussed.

(1R,2R)-N,N'-Dimethyl-cyclo-hexane-1,2-diamine

The molecule of the title compound, C₈H₁₈N₂, possesses C₂ symmetry. Owing to its stereochemistry, it is used in the synthesis of chiral ligands and metal complexes for asymmetric synthesis. The cyclo­hexane ring shows a chair conformation with the amino groups in equatorial positions. Contrary to the literature, the title compound is not a liquid, but a crystalline solid at room temperature (293 K). The absolute configuration is assigned from the synthesis.