Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Containing Six-Membered Sulfone and Sulfonamide Chelating Rings

Direct C-H Hydroxylation of N-Heteroarenes and Benzenes via Base-Catalyzed Halogen Transfer

Hydroxylated (hetero)arenes are valued in many industries as both key constituents of end products and diversifiable synthetic building blocks. Accordingly, the development of reactions that complement and address the limitations of existing methods for the introduction of aromatic hydroxyl groups is an important goal. To this end, we apply base-catalyzed halogen transfer (X-transfer) to enable the direct C-H hydroxylation of mildly acidic N-heteroarenes and benzenes. This protocol employs an alkoxide base to catalyze X-transfer from sacrificial 2-halothiophene oxidants to aryl substrates, forming SNAr-active intermediates that undergo nucleophilic hydroxylation. Key to this process is the use of 2-phenylethanol as an inexpensive hydroxide surrogate that, after aromatic substitution and rapid elimination, provides the hydroxylated arene and styrene byproduct. Use of simple 2-halothiophenes allows for C-H hydroxylation of 6-membered N-heteroarenes and 1,3-azole derivatives, while a rationally designed 2-halobenzothiophene oxidant extends the scope to electron-deficient benzene substrates. Mechanistic studies indicate that aromatic X-transfer is reversible, suggesting that the deprotonation, halogenation, and substitution steps operate in synergy, manifesting in unique selectivity trends that are not necessarily dependent on the most acidic aryl position. The utility of this method is further demonstrated through streamlined target molecule syntheses, examples of regioselectivity that contrast alternative C-H hydroxylation methods, and the scalable recycling of the thiophene oxidants.

Reactivity regulation for olefin metathesis-catalyzing ruthenium complexes with sulfur atoms at the terminal of 2-alkoxybenzylidene ligands

For regulating the olefin metathesis (OM) activity of the Hoveyda-Grubbs second-generation complex (HG-II), the structural modification of the benzylidene ligand is a useful strategy. This paper reports the effect of a chalcogen atom placed at the end of the benzylidene group on the catalytic properties of HG-II derivatives, using complexes with a thioether or ether component in the benzylidene ligand (ortho-Me-E-(CH₂)₂O-styrene; E = S, O). Nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray crystallographic analyses of the complex with a thioether moiety (E = S) proved the (O,S)-bidentate and trans-dichlorido coordination for the complex. A stoichiometric ligand exchange between HG-II and the benzylidene ligand (E = S) produced the corresponding complex with an 86% yield, confirming higher stability of the complex (E = S) than that of HG-II. Despite the bidentate chelation, the complex (E = S) exhibited OM catalytic activity, indicating the exchangeability of the S-chelating ligand with an olefinic substrate. The green solution color, a characteristic of HG-II derivatives, was retained after the complex (E = S)-mediated OM reactions, indicating high catalyst durability. Conversely, the complex (E = O) rapidly initiated OM reactions; however, it showed low catalyst durability. In the OM reactions conducted in the presence of methanol, the complex (E = S) exhibited higher yields than the complex (E = O) and HG-II: the S-coordination increased the catalyst tolerance to methanol. A coordinative atom (such as sulfur) placed at the terminal of the benzylidene ligand can precisely regulate the reactivity of HG-II derivatives.

Structural and theoretical study of π-stacking interactions in new complexes based on CuCl2 and 3-sulfonamide-substituted imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles

CONTEXT

At present, sulfonamides and their metal complexes have received a new impetus for development. Of particular interest is the study of molecular and crystal structures, which takes into account weak non-valent interactions. Despite the low energy of such interactions, in many cases, they act collectively, and the sum of their actions can play a significant role. As a result, the spectrum of medical and biological activity of new metal complexes is expanded. In this regard, the synthesis and study of the molecular and crystal structure of sulfonamides and their metal complexes is of undoubted relevance. In this work, we studied non-valent intra- and intermolecular interactions in ligands of sulfonamide-substituted imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles and their previously unknown complexes with CuCl₂. The performed analysis of the data obtained by X-ray diffraction analysis made it possible to establish the intramolecular π-stacking interaction in imidazothiazole ligands, which is retained in their complexes with CuCl₂. Within the framework of QTAIM topological analysis of electron density and DORI analysis, stereoelectronic and topological structures were studied. In the complexes, tetral, chalcogen, and pnycogen new interligand non-valent interactions were established. The energies of all established types of non-valent interactions have been calculated, and their comparative evaluation has been made.

METHODS

X-ray data of new arylsulfonylamino-substituted derivatives of imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles and their metal complexes with CuCl₂ have been studied. To determine the theoretical prerequisites for the occurrence of π-stacking in the molecules under study, the QTAIM method was used in the framework of the DFT/B3LYP/6-311 + G(d) calculation using the GAUSSIAN 09 program. In addition, the DORI electron density region overlap indicator and the Multiwfn program were used to analyze non-valent interactions.

Ruthenabenzene: A Robust Precatalyst

Metallaaromatics constitute a unique class of aromatic compounds where one or more transition metal elements are incorporated into the aromatic system, the parent of which is metallabenzene. One of the main concerns about metallabenzenes generally deals with the structural characterization related to their relative aromaticity compared to the carbon archetype. Transition metal-containing metallabenzenes are also implicated in certain catalytic processes such as alkyne metathesis polymerization; however, these transition metal-based metallaaromatic compounds have not been developed as a catalyst. Herein, we describe an effective strategy to generate diverse arrays of ruthenabenzenes and demonstrated them as an aromatic equivalent of the Grubbs-type ruthenium alkylidene catalysts. These ruthenabenzenes can be prepared via an enyne metathesis and metallotropic [1,3]-shift cascade process to form alkyne-chelated ruthenium alkylidene intermediates followed by spontaneous cycloaromatization. The aromatic nature of these complexes was confirmed by spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic data, and the mechanistic pathways for the cycloaromatization process were studied by DFT calculations. These ruthenabenzenes display robust catalytic activity for metathesis and other transformations, which illustrates that metallabenzenes are not only compounds of structural and theoretical interests but also are a novel platform for new catalyst development.

A general approach for the formation of oxygen-chelated ruthenium alkylidene complexes relying on the Thorpe–Ingold effect

Ruthenium alkylidene complexes are prepared via enyne ring-closing metathesis relying on the exo and endo gem-dialkyl substituent effect.

Structure and reactivity of sulfonamide- and acetate-chelated ruthenium alkylidene complexes

The formation of chelated ruthenium alkylidenes with the oxygen of sulfonamides and acetates and their complexation with carbon monoxide have been studied.

Highly efficient nitrogen chelated ruthenium carbene metathesis catalysts

Highly efficient nitrogen chelated ruthenium carbene metathesis catalysts containing an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and a carbonyl group have been developed.

Consequences of the electronic tuning of latent ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalysts on their reactivity

Two ruthenium olefin metathesis initiators featuring electronically modified quinoline-based chelating carbene ligands are introduced. Their reactivity in RCM and ROMP reactions was tested and the results were compared to those obtained with the parent unsubstituted compound. The studied complexes are very stable at high temperatures up to 140 °C. The placement of an electron-withdrawing functionality translates into an enhanced activity in RCM. While electronically modified precatalysts, which exist predominantly in the trans-dichloro configuration, gave mostly the RCM and a minor amount of the cycloisomerization product, the unmodified congener, which preferentially exists as its cis-dichloro isomer, shows a switched reactivity. The position of the equilibrium between the cis- and the trans-dichloro species was found to be the crucial factor governing the reactivity of the complexes.