2,6-Bis(oxazolinyl)phenylnickel(II) Bromide and 2,6-Bis(ketimine)phenylnickel(II) Bromide: Synthesis, Structural Features, and Redox Properties

An Aryl Diimine Cobalt(I) Catalyst for Carbonyl Hydrosilylation

Through the application of a redox-innocent aryl diimine chelate, the discovery and utilization of a cobalt catalyst, (Ph2PPrADI)Co, that exhibits carbonyl hydrosilylation turnover frequencies of up to 330 s–1 is...

Catalytic Hydrodefluorination via Oxidative Addition, Ligand Metathesis, and Reductive Elimination at Bi(I)/Bi(III) Centers

Herein, we report a hydrodefluorination reaction of polyfluoroarenes catalyzed by bismuthinidenes, Phebox-Bi(I) and OMe-Phebox-Bi(I). Mechanistic studies on the elementary steps support a Bi(I)/Bi(III) redox cycle that comprises C(sp²)-F oxidative addition, F/H ligand metathesis, and C(sp²)-H reductive elimination. Isolation and characterization of a cationic Phebox-Bi(III)(4-tetrafluoropyridyl) triflate manifests the feasible oxidative addition of Phebox-Bi(I) into the C(sp²)-F bond. Spectroscopic evidence was provided for the formation of a transient Phebox-Bi(III)(4-tetrafluoropyridyl) hydride during catalysis, which decomposes at low temperature to afford the corresponding C(sp²)-H bond while regenerating the propagating Phebox-Bi(I). This protocol represents a distinct catalytic example where a main-group center performs three elementary organometallic steps in a low-valent redox manifold.

C-O and C-N Functionalization of Cationic, NCN-Type Pincer Complexes of Trivalent Nickel: Mechanism, Selectivity, and Kinetic Isotope Effect

This report presents the synthesis of new mono- and dicationic NCN-Ni^III complexes and describes their reactivities with protic substrates. (NCN is the pincer-type ligand κ ^N, κ ^C, κ ^N-2,6-(CH₂NMe₂)₂-C₆H₃.) Treating van Koten's trivalent complex (NCN)Ni^IIIBr₂ with AgSbF₆ in acetonitrile gives the dicationic complex [(NCN)Ni^III(MeCN)₃]²⁺, whereas the latter complex undergoes a ligand-exchange reaction with (NCN)Ni^IIIBr₂ to furnish the related monocationic complex [(NCN)Ni^III(Br)(MeCN)]⁺. These trivalent complexes have been characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and EPR spectroscopy. Treating these trivalent complexes with methanol and methylamine led, respectively, to C-OCH₃ or C-NH(CH₃) functionalization of the Ni-aryl moiety in these complexes, C-heteroatom bond formation taking place at the ipso-C. These reactions also generate the cationic divalent complex [(NCN)Ni^II(NCMe)]⁺, which was prepared independently and characterized fully. The unanticipated formation of the latter divalent species suggested a comproportionation side reaction between the cationic trivalent precursors and a monovalent species generated at the C-O and C-N bond formation steps; this scenario was supported by direct reaction of the trivalent complexes with the monovalent compound (PPh₃)₃Ni^ICl. Kinetic measurements and density functional theory analysis have been used to investigate the mechanism of these C-O and C-N functionalization reactions and to rationalize the observed inverse kinetic isotope effect in the reaction of [(NCN)Ni^III(Br)(MeCN)]⁺ with CH₃OH/CD₃OD.

Mechanistic Interrogation of Co/Ni-Dual Catalyzed Hydroarylation

Cobalt/nickel-dual catalyzed hydroarylation of terminal olefins with iodoarenes builds complexity from readily available starting materials, with a high preference for the Markovnikov (branched) product. Here, we advance a mechanistic model of this reaction through the use of reaction progress kinetic analysis (RPKA), radical clock experiments, and stoichiometric studies. Through exclusion of competing hypotheses, we conclude that the reaction proceeds through an unprecedented alkylcobalt to nickel direct transmetalation. Demonstration of catalytic alkene prefunctionalization, via spectroscopic observation of an organocobalt species, distinguishes this Csp2-Csp3 cross-coupling method from a conventional transmetalation process, which employs a stoichiometric organometallic nucleophile, and from a bimetallic oxidative addition of an organohalide across nickel, described by radical scission and subsequent alkyl radical capture at a second nickel center. A refined understanding of the reaction leads to an optimized hydroarylation procedure that excludes exogenous oxidant, demonstrating that the transmetalation is net redox neutral. Catalytic alkene prefunctionalization by cobalt and engagement with nickel catalytic cycles through direct transmetalation provides a new platform to merge these two rich areas of chemistry in preparatively useful ways.

Trifluoromethylation of a Well-Defined Square-Planar Aryl-NiII Complex involving NiIII /CF3. and NiIV -CF3 Intermediate Species

Ni-mediated trifluoromethylation of an aryl-Br bond in model macrocyclic ligands (L_n -Br) has been thoroughly studied, starting with an oxidative addition at Ni⁰ to obtain well-defined aryl-Ni^II -Br complexes ([L_n -Ni^II ]Br). Abstraction of the halide with AgX (X=OTf^- or ClO₄^- ) thereafter provides [L_n -Ni^II ](OTf). The nitrate analogue has been obtained through a direct C-H activation of an aryl-H bond using Ni^II salts, and this route has been studied by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Crystallographic XRD and XAS characterization has shown a tight macrocyclic coordination in the aryl-Ni^II complex, which may hamper direct reaction with nucleophiles. On the contrary, enhanced reactivity is observed with oxidants, and the reaction of [L_n -Ni^II ](OTf) with CF₃⁺ sources afforded L_n -CF₃ products in quantitative yield. A combined experimental and theoretical mechanistic study provides new insights into the operative mechanism for this transformation. Computational analysis indicates the occurrence of an initial single electron transfer (SET) to 5-(trifluoromethyl)dibenzothiophenium triflate (TDTT), producing a transient L₁ -Ni^III /CF₃^. adduct, which rapidly recombines to form a [L₁ -Ni^IV -CF₃ ](X)₂ intermediate species. A final facile reductive elimination affords L₁ -CF₃ . The well-defined square-planar model system studied here permits to gain fundamental knowledge on the rich redox chemistry of nickel, which is sought to facilitate the development of new Ni-based trifluoromethylation methodologies.

Less is more: three-coordinate c,n-chelated distannynes and digermynes

We report here the synthesis of new C,N-chelated chlorostannylenes and germylenes L(3) MCl (M=Sn(1), Ge (2)) and L(4) MCl (M=Sn(3), Ge (4)) containing sterically demanding C,N-chelating ligands L(3, 4) (L(3) =[2,4-di-tBu-6-(Et2 NCH2 )C6 H2 ](-) ; L(4) =[2,4-di-tBu-6-{(C6 H3 -2',6'-iPr2 )N=CH}C6 H2 ](-) ). Reductions of 1-4 yielded three-coordinate C,N-chelated distannynes and digermynes [L(3, 4) M]2 for the first time (5: L(3) , M=Sn, 6: L(3) , M=Ge, 7: L(4) , M=Sn, 8: L(4) , M=Ge). For comparison, the four-coordinate distannyne [L(5) Sn]2 (10) stabilized by N,C,N-chelate L(5) (L(5) =[2,6-{(C6 H3 -2',6'-Me2 )NCH}2 C6 H3 ](-) ) was prepared by the reduction of chlorostannylene L(5) SnCl (9). Hence, we highlight the role of donor-driven stabilization of tetrynes. Compounds 1-10 were characterized by means of elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy, and in the case of 1, 2, 5-7, and 10, also by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The bonding situation in either three- or four-coordinate distannynes 5, 7, and 10 was evaluated by DFT calculations. DFT calculations were also used to compare the nature of the metal-metal bond in three-coordinate C,N-chelating distannyne [L(3) Sn]2 (5) and related digermyme [L(3) Ge]2 (6).

Mechanistic and stereoselectivity study for the reaction of trifluoropyruvates with arylpropenes catalyzed by a cationic Lewis acid rhodium complex

The mechanism and stereoselectivity of a Lewis acid catalyzed carbonyl–ene reaction of trifluoropyruvates with arylpropenes have been investigated using a DFT method.

m-Carborane-based chiral NBN pincer-metal complexes: synthesis, structure, and application in asymmetric catalysis

We have succeeded in synthesizing m-carborane-based chiral NBN-pincer ligands, 1,7-bis(oxazolinyl)-1,7-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane (Carbox) (7-9). The combination of bis(hydroxyamides) and 3 equiv of diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST) is a key step for cyclization to form oxazoline rings in excellent yields. X-ray crystal structures of these ligands confirmed three donor sites, one central B and two flanking N atoms in fixed positions. The electrophilic halogenation of the Carbox pincer ligands with iodine and a catalytic amount of Lewis acid led to ring-opening of the oxazolines and afforded bis(haloamides) (13 and 14). The air- and moisture-stable Carbox pincer complexes of rhodium(III), nickel(II), and palladium(II) were synthesized by the oxidative addition of RhCl(3)·3H(2)O, Ni(COD)(2), and Pd(CH(3)CN)(4)[BF(4)](2) to the Carbox pincer ligands (7-9), respectively. The catalytic activity of the rhodium(III) complexes (18-20) was examined for the asymmetric conjugate reduction of α,β-unsaturated esters and reductive aldol reaction. Among these catalysts, [(S,S)-Carbox-iPr]Rh(OAc)(2)·H(2)O (18) showed the highest enantioselective catalytic ability for both asymmetric conjugate reduction and reductive aldol reaction.

Symmetrical and unsymmetrical pincer complexes with group 10 metals: synthesis via aryl C-H activation and some catalytic applications

Aryl-based pincer metal complexes with anionic terdentate ligands have been widely applied in organic synthesis, organometallic catalysis and other related areas. Synthetically, the most simple and convenient method for the construction of these complexes is the direct metal-induced C(aryl)-H bond activation, which can be fulfilled by choosing the appropriate functional donor groups in the two side arms of the aryl-based pincer preligands. In this perspective, we wish to summarize some results achieved by our group in this context. Successful examples include symmetrical chiral bis(imidazoline) NCN pincer complexes with Ni(II), Pd(II) and Pt(II), bis(phosphinite) and bis(phosphoramidite) PCP pincer Pd(II) complexes, unsymmetrical (pyrazolyl)phosphinite, (amino)phosphinite and (imino)phosphinite PCN pincer Pd(II) complexes, chiral (imidazolinyl)phosphinite and (imidazolinyl)phosphoramidite PCN pincer complexes with Ni(II) and Pd(II) as well as unsymmetrical (oxazolinyl)amine and (oxazolinyl)pyrazole NCN' pincer Pd(II) complexes. Among them, the P-donor containing complexes are efficiently synthesized by the "one-pot phosphorylation/metalation" method. The obtained symmetrical and unsymmetrical pincer complexes have been used as catalysts in Suzuki-Miyaura reaction (Pd), asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indole with trans-β-nitrostyrene (Pt) as well as in asymmetric allylation of aldehyde and sulfonimine (Pd). In the Suzuki couplings conducted at 40-50 °C, some unsymmetrical Pd complexes exhibit much higher activity than the related symmetrical ones which can be attributed to their faster release of active Pd(0) species resulting from the hemilabile coordination of the ligands. Literature results on the synthesis of some related pincer complexes as well as their activities in the above catalytic reactions are also presented.