N-Heterocyclic Olefin Stabilized Borenium Cations

Frustrated Lewis Pair-Type Reactivity of Intermolecular Rare-Earth Aryloxide and N-Heterocyclic Carbene/Olefin Combinations

This work reports the cooperative reactivity of rare-earth aryloxide complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) or N-heterocyclic olefin (NHO), showcasing their synergistic effect on the activation of H2 and diverse organic substrates. Reactions of RE(OAr)3 (RE=La, Sm, and Y; Ar=2,6-tBu2-C6H3) with unsaturated NHC ItBu (:C[N(R)CH]2, R=tBu) isolated abnormally bound RE metal NHC complexes RE/aNHC. In contrast, no metal-NHO adducts were formed when RE(OAr)3 were treated with NHO (R2C=C[N(R)C(R)]2, R=CH3). Both RE/aNHC and RE/NHO Lewis pairs enabled cooperative H2 activation. Furthermore, RE(OAr)3 were found to catalyze the hydrogenation of the exocyclic C=C double bond of NHO under mild conditions. Moreover, treatment of the La/aNHC complex with benzaldehyde produced a La/C4 1,2-addition product. The La/NHO Lewis pair could react with (trimethylsilyl)diazomethane and α, β-conjugated imine, affording an isocyanotrimethylsilyl lanthanum amide complex and a La/C 1,4-addition product, respectively.

An N-Heterocyclic Quinodimethane: A Strong Organic Lewis Base Exhibiting Diradical Reactivity

We report the preparation of a new organic σ-donor with a C6H4-linker between an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and an exocyclic methylidene group, which we term N-heterocyclic quinodimethane (NHQ). The aromatization of the C6H4-linker provides a decisive driving force for the reaction of the NHQ with an electrophile and renders the NHQ significantly more basic than analogous NHCs or N-heterocyclic olefins (NHOs), as shown by DFT computations and competition experiments. In solution, the NHQ undergoes an unprecedented dehydrogenative head-to-head dimerization by C-C coupling of the methylidene groups. DFT computations indicate that this reaction proceeds via an open-shell singlet pathway revealing the diradical character of the NHQ. The product of this dimerization can be described as conjugated N-heterocyclic bis-quinodimethane, which according to cyclic voltammetry is a strong organic reducing agent (E1/2=-1.71 V vs. Fc/Fc+) and exhibits a remarkable small singlet-triplet gap of ΔES→T=4.4 kcal mol-1.

A Facile Preparation of N-Heterocyclic Olefins: Ring-Opening Polymerization of β-Butyrolactone and Frustrated Lewis Pair Reactivity

A direct synthesis of N-heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) and their mesoionic congeners (mNHOs) from N-heterocyclic carbenes and N-aziridinylimines is reported. The reaction provided diverse functionalized (m)NHOs and π-extended analogues. The prepared NHOs initiated the ring-opening polymerization of β-butyrolactone, and insertion of aldehyde and nitrile into an NHO-B(C6 F5 )3 adduct was demonstrated.

Self-Assembled Monolayers of N-Heterocyclic Olefins on Au(111)

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of N-heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) have been prepared on Au(111) and their thermal stability, adsorption geometry, and molecular order were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, polarized X-ray absorption spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The strong σ-bond character of NHO anchoring to Au induced high geometrical flexibility that enabled a flat-lying adsorption geometry via coordination to a gold adatom. The flat-lying adsorption geometry was utilized to further increase the surface interaction of the NHO monolayer by backbone functionalization with methyl groups that induced high thermal stability and a large impact on work-function values, which outperformed that of N-heterocyclic carbenes. STM measurements, supported by DFT modeling, identified that the NHOs were self-assembled in dimers, trimers, and tetramers constructed of two, three, and four complexes of NHO-Au-adatom. This self-assembly pattern was correlated to strong NHO-Au interactions and steric hindrance between adsorbates, demonstrating the crucial influence of the carbon-metal σ-bond on monolayer properties.

Substitution at sp3 boron of a six-membered NHC·BH3: convenient access to a dihydroxyborenium cation

Herein, we have undertaken the synthesis and investigated the reactivity of a 6-membered saturated NHC borane adduct (1). Direct electrophilic halogenation of 1 with a stoichiometric amount of I₂ led to NHC boryl iodides, 6-SIDipp·BH₂I (2) and 6-SIDipp·BHI₂ (3), which were further reacted with various nucleophiles to give novel 6-SIDipp based mono and disubstituted boranes with OTf (4 and 6) or ONO₂ (5 and 7) functional groups. The addition of Br₂/H₂O to 1 smoothly results in a dihydroxyborenium cation (8).

Versatile chemistry of six-membered NHC with boranes: bromination at sp3 borane, activation of B–H bond of HBpin, and ring expansion of NHC

The NHC•borane chemistry has been majorly restricted to imidazol-2-ylidene classes of carbenes. In our previous communication, we have reported the synthesis of 6-SIDipp•BH3 [6-SIDipp = 1,3-di(2,6-diisopropylphenyl) tetrahydropyrimidine-2-ylidene] and its electrophilic...

A strongly Lewis-acidic and fluorescent borenium cation supported by a tridentate formazanate ligand

Lewis acids are highly sought after for their applications in sensing, small-molecule activation, and catalysis. When combined with π-conjugated molecular frameworks, Lewis acids with unique optoelectronic properties can be realized. Here, we use a tridentate formazanate ligand to create a planar, redox-active, fluorescent, and strongly Lewis-acidic borenium cation. We also demonstrate that this compound can act as a colourimetric probe for reactivity.

Brönsted Basicities and Nucleophilicities of N-Heterocyclic Olefins in Solution: N-Heterocyclic Carbene versus N-Heterocyclic Olefin. Which Is More Basic, and Which Is More Nucleophilic?

A Brönsted basicity scale comprising nine representative N-heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) was established by measuring the equilibrium acidities of their corresponding precursors in DMSO using an ultraviolet-visible spectroscopic method. The basicities (pK_aHs) of the investigated NHOs cover a range from 14.7 to 24.1. The basicities of unsaturated NHOs are stronger than those of their N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) analogues; however, the basicities for the saturated ones are much weaker than those of their NHC analogues, which is largely due to the aromatization effect that intrinsically influences the acidic dissociations of NHC and NHO precursors. The nucleophilicities of four NHOs were measured photometrically by monitoring the kinetics of reactions of these NHOs with common reference electrophiles for quantifying nucleophilic reactivities. In general, the nucleophilicity of the NHOs is much stronger than that of commonly used Lewis bases such as Ph₃P or DMAP [4-(dimethylamino)pyridine] but weaker than that of their NHC analogues; however, caution should be taken when generalizing this conclusion to a wide range of electrophiles with distinctively electronic and structural properties.

A BH Borenium-Derived Thioxoborane, Its Persulfide, and Their Li+-Induced Reactions with Alkynes and with Carbon Dioxide

Insertion of sulfur into the B-H bond of the BH borenium salt [IMes(C₆F₅)BH]⁺ followed by deprotonation gave the thioxoborane IMes(C₆F₅)B═S. Subsequent treatment with additional sulfur gave the corresponding boron persulfide, a NHC-stabilized boradithiirane. The B═S compound reacted with carbon dioxide in the presence of the lithium salt Li[B(C₆F₅)₄] by formal [2+2] cycloaddition to give a boron thiocarbonate-type product. The boron persulfide formally inserted phenyl acetylene into the B-S bond in the presence of Li[B(C₆F₅)₄] to give the respective five-membered heterocycle.

The Brönsted Basicities of N-Heterocyclic Olefins in DMSO: An Effective Way to Evaluate the Stability of NHO-CO2 Adducts

A Brönsted basicity scale (∼24 pK units) for 85 commonly seen imidazole-, imidazoline-, triazole-, and thiazole-based N-heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) in DMSO was established using a well-examined computational model. The influence of substituents on the Brönsted basicities of these NHOs was investigated through basicity comparisons and rationalized by geometric analyses. The Gibbs energy (ΔG_r) of the reaction between NHO and CO₂ was also calculated, which linearly correlates with the basicity of the corresponding NHO, suggesting that the stability of NHO-CO₂ adducts can be evaluated by the basicity of NHOs and a stronger basicity leads to a more stable NHO-CO₂ adduct.

A Stable Naked Dithiolene Radical Anion and Synergic THF Ring-Opening

Reaction of the lithium dithiolene radical 2^• with the imidazolium salt [{(Me)CN(i-Pr)}₂CH]⁺[Cl]^- (in a 1:1 molar ratio) gives the first stable naked anionic dithiolene radical 3^•, which, when coupled with hexasulfide, [{(Me)CN(i-Pr)}₂CH]⁺₂[S₆]^2- (4), and N-heterocyclic silylene 5, unexpectedly results in synergic THF ring-opening via a radical mechanism.

Stable Mesoionic N-Heterocyclic Olefins (mNHOs)

We report a new class of stable mesoionic N-heterocyclic olefins, featuring a highly polarized (strongly ylidic) double bond. The ground-state structure cannot be described through an uncharged mesomeric Lewis-structure, thereby structurally distinguishing them from traditional N-heterocyclic olefins (NHOs). mNHOs can easily be obtained through deprotonation of the corresponding methylated N,N'-diaryl-1,2,3-triazolium and N,N'-diaryl-imidazolium salts, respectively. In their reactivity, they represent strong σ-donor ligands as shown by their coordination complexes of rhodium and boron. Their calculated proton affinities, their experimentally derived basicities (competition experiments), as well as donor abilities (Tolman electronic parameter; TEP) exceed the so far reported class of NHOs.

Synthesis, properties & applications of N-heterocyclic olefins in catalysis

N-Heterocyclic olefins (NHOs), a recently (re-)discovered type of electron-rich, polar alkene, are comprehensively presented. Along with synthetic aspects and chemical properties, special emphasis is put on the multi-faceted impact NHOs already have had on catalysis. This is discussed along the lines of small molecule organocatalysis, organo- and metal-assisted polymerization and of the understanding and application of NHO-ligated organometallic complexes. Highlighted are the strong basicity of NHOs ("superbases"), their high nucleophilicity and the design principles to tailor NHO (organo-)catalysts. It is demonstrated that NHOs can complement, and in many cases out-perform, the much better established N-heterocyclic carbene-based systems. Examples include among others CO₂-sequestration, the polymerization of lactones and epoxides or the transfer hydrogenation of carbonyls. Further, the unique ability to selectively address basic or nucleophilic reaction pathways via NHO-mediation is detailed, as is the bonding situation in NHO-metal complexes and the ability of the olefin to act as an electronically flexible ligand.

Molecular Manipulations of a Utility Nitrogen-Heterocyclic Carbene by Sodium Magnesiate Complexes and Transmetallation Chemistry with Gold Complexes

Expanding the scope and applications of anionic N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), a novel series of magnesium NHC complexes is reported using a mixed sodium-magnesium approach. Sequential reactivity of classical imidazol- 2-ylidene carbene IPr with NaR and MgR₂ (R=CH₂ SiMe₃ ) affords [(THF)₃ Na(μ-IPr^- )MgR₂ (THF)] (2) [IPr^- =:C{[N(2,6-iPr₂ C₆ H₃ )]₂ CHC] containing an anionic NHC ligand, whereas surprisingly sodium magnesiate [NaMgR₃ ] fails to deprotonate IPr affording instead the redistribution coordination adduct [IPr₂ Na₂ MgR₄ ] (1). Compound 2 undergoes selective C2-methylation when treated with MeOTf furnishing novel abnormal NHC complex [{aIPr^Me MgR₂ }₂ ] (3). Dissolving 3 in THF led to the dissociation of this complex into MgR₂ and aIPr^Me with the latter isomerizing to the olefinic NHC IPr=CH₂ . The ability of 2 and 3 to transfer their anionic and abnormal NHC ligands, respectively to Au^I metal fragments has been investigated allowing the isolation and structural characterization of [RAu(μ-IPr^- )MgR(THF)₂ ] (4) and [aIPr^Me AuR] (5) respectively. In both cases transfer of an alkyl R group is observed. However while 3 can also transfer its abnormal NHC ligand to give 5, in 4 the anionic NHC still remains coordinated to Mg via its C4 position, whereas the {AuR} fragment occupies the C2 position previously filled by a donor-solvated {Na(THF)₃ }⁺ cation.

NHCs in Main Group Chemistry

Since the discovery of the first stable N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) in the beginning of the 1990s, these divalent carbon species have become a common and available class of compounds, which have found numerous applications in academic and industrial research. Their important role as two-electron donor ligands, especially in transition metal chemistry and catalysis, is difficult to overestimate. In the past decade, there has been tremendous research attention given to the chemistry of low-coordinate main group element compounds. Significant progress has been achieved in stabilization and isolation of such species as Lewis acid/base adducts with highly tunable NHC ligands. This has allowed investigation of numerous novel types of compounds with unique electronic structures and opened new opportunities in the rational design of novel organic catalysts and materials. This Review gives a general overview of this research, basic synthetic approaches, key features of NHC-main group element adducts, and might be useful for the broad research community.

Structurally versatile phosphine and amine donors constructed from N-heterocyclic olefin units

A general strategy for the synthesis of hindered N- and P-based donors is presented whereby the strongly electron releasing N-heterocyclic olefin (NHO) unit, IPr[double bond, length as m-dash]CH-, (IPr[double bond, length as m-dash]CH- = [(HCNDipp)2C[double bond, length as m-dash]CH](-); Dipp = 3,6-(i)Pr2C6H2) is linked to terminally bound phosphine and amine donors. Preliminary coordination chemistry is presented involving phosphine (IPr[double bond, length as m-dash]CH)PR2 (R = (i)Pr and Ph) and amine (IPr[double bond, length as m-dash]CH)NMe2 ligands and the Lewis acids BH3 and AuCl. Interestingly, (IPr[double bond, length as m-dash]CH)NMe2 binds AuCl through an exocyclic olefin unit, while the softer phosphorus centers in (IPr[double bond, length as m-dash]CH)PR2 coordinate to yield Au-P linkages; thus the reported NHO-based ligands exhibit tunable binding modes to metals.

Pushing Chemical Boundaries with N-Heterocyclic Olefins (NHOs): From Catalysis to Main Group Element Chemistry

N-Heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) have gone from the topic of a few scattered (but important) reports in the early 1990s to very recently being a ligand/reagent of choice in the far-reaching research fields of organocatalysis, olefin and heterocycle polymerization, and low oxidation state main group element chemistry. NHOs are formally derived by appending an alkylidene (CR₂) unit onto an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC), and their pronounced ylidic character leads to high nucleophilicity and soft Lewis basic character at the ligating carbon atom. These olefinic donors can also be structurally derived from imidazole, triazole, and thiazole-based heterocyclic carbenes and, as a result, have highly tunable electronic and steric properties. In this Account, we will focus on various synthetic routes to imidazole-2-ylidene derived NHOs (sometimes referred to as deoxy-Breslow intermediates) followed by a discussion of the electron-donor ability of this structurally tunable ligand group. It should be mentioned that NHOs have a close structural analogy with Breslow-type intermediates, N-heterocyclic ketene aminals, and β-azolium ylides; while these latter species play important roles in advancing synthetic organic chemistry, discussion in this Account will be confined mostly to imidazole-2-ylidene derived NHOs. In addition, we will cover selected examples from the literature where NHOs and their anionic counterparts, N-heterocyclic vinylenes, are used to access reactive main group species not attainable using traditional ligands. Added motivation for these studies comes from the emerging number of low coordinate main group element based compounds that display reactivity once reserved for precious metal complexes (such as H-H and C-H bond activation). Moreover, NHOs are versatile precursors to new mixed element (P/C and N/C), and potentially bidentate, ligand constructs of great potential in catalysis, where various metal oxidation states and coordination environments need to be stabilized during a catalytic cycle. The most active area of recent growth for NHOs is their use as nucleophiles to promote efficient organocatalytic transformations, including transesterification, carbonyl reduction, and the conversion of CO₂ into value added products. Polyesters have also been generated through the NHO-promoted ring-opening polymerization of lactones, and the highly tunable nature of NHO organocatalysts allows for the rapid screening and enhancement of catalytic performance. Therefore, the growing utility of NHOs in the realm of organic and polymer chemistry can be viewed as evidence of the widespread impact of N-heterocyclic olefins on the chemical community. It is hoped that through this Account others will join this flourishing research domain and that the rapid recent growth of NHO chemistry is sustained for the foreseeable future.

Iridium-catalysed regioselective borylation of carboranes via direct B-H activation

Carboranes are carbon-boron molecular clusters, which can be viewed as three-dimensional analogues to benzene. They are finding many applications in medicine, materials and organometallic chemistry. On the other hand, their exceptional thermal and chemical stabilities, as well as 3D structures, make them very difficult to be functionalized, in particular the regioselective functionalization of BH vertex among ten similar B-H bonds. Here we report a very efficient iridium-catalysed borylation of cage B(3,6)-H bonds of o-carboranes with excellent yields and regioselectivity using bis(pinacolato)diboron (B₂pin₂) as a reagent. Selective cage B(4)-H borylation has also been achieved by introducing a bulky TBDMS (tert-butyldimethylsilyl) group to one cage carbon vertex. The resultant 3,6-(Bpin)₂-o-carboranes are useful synthons for the synthesis of a wide variety of B(3,6)-difunctionalized o-carboranes bearing cage B-X (X=O, N, C, I and Br) bonds.

NHC-Stabilised Acetylene-How Far Can the Analogy Be Pushed?

Experimental studies suggest that the compound (NHC^bz )₂ C₂ H₂ can be considered as a complex of a distorted acetylene fragment which is stabilised by benzoannelated N-heterocyclic carbene ligands (NHC^bz )→(C₂ H₂ )←(NHC^bz ). A quantum chemical analysis of the electronic structures shows that the description with dative bonds is more favourable than with electron-sharing double bonds (NHC^bz )=(C₂ H₂ )=(NHC^bz ).

Azido- and amido-substituted gallium hydrides supported by N-heterocyclic carbenes

The synthesis of azido- and amido-gallanes supported by hindered N-heterocyclic carbene donors is reported.

Using N-Heterocyclic Vinyl Ligands to Access Stable Divinylgermylenes and a Germylium Cation

Two efficient methods are presented to install σ- and π-electron-donating N-heterocyclic vinyl groups onto main-group elements (E): halosilane elimination and base-induced E-C bond formation. Placement of two NHC=CH^- ligands (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene) onto a Ge^II center affords a two-coordinate germylene, a heavy congener of the elusive divinyl carbenes. The π-donating ability of this vinylic ligand scaffold was further demonstrated by the synthesis of a three-coordinate germylium cation R₃ Ge⁺ .

N-Heterocyclic Olefins as Robust Organocatalyst for the Chemical Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Value-Added Chemicals

In this report, the activity of N-heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) as a newly emerging class of organocatalyst is investigated for the chemical fixation of carbon dioxide through reactions with aziridines to form oxazolidinones and the N-formylation of amines with polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) or 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (9-BBN) as the reducing agent under mild conditions. The exocyclic carbon atoms of NHOs are highly nucleophilic owing to the electron-donating ability of the two nitrogen atoms. This high nucleophilicity of the NHOs activates CO2 molecules to form zwitterionic NHO-carboxylate (NHO-CO2 ) adducts, which are active in formylation reactions as well as the carboxylation of aziridines to oxazolidinones.

N-Heterocyclic olefins as efficient phase-transfer catalysts for base-promoted alkylation reactions

N-Heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) chemically transfer the base from solid phase and promote alkylation reaction on a wide range of substrates.

N-Heterocyclic olefins as ancillary ligands in catalysis: a study of their behaviour in transfer hydrogenation reactions

Ir(i) complexes featuring an N-heterocyclic olefin ligand (NHO) have been tested in the transfer hydrogenation reaction; this representing the first example of the use of NHOs as ancillary ligands in catalysis.

Applications of N-heterocyclic imines in main group chemistry

A survey of the most recent progress in the applications of N-heterocyclic imines in main group compounds is given.

Carbon-based two electron σ-donor ligands beyond classical N-heterocyclic carbenes

Recent advances in N-heterocyclic carbene-derived carbon-based two electron σ-donor ligands are presented in this perspective.

Advances in the development of complexes that contain a group 13 element chalcogen multiple bond

The advances in the synthesis and isolation of complexes that contain a group 13 element chalcogen multiple bond are accounted for.

Cationic 5-phosphonio-substituted N-heterocyclic carbenes

Cationic NHCs featuring a phosphonium moiety in the 5-position are prepared from the reaction of imidazolium salts with a tert. phosphane. They are used as ligands for the preparation of transition metal complexes, dehydrogenation reactions of prim. and sec. phosphanes and the preparation of a N-heterocyclic olefin (NHO).

N-Heterocyclic olefin stabilized boron dication

Boron mono- and di-cations featuring a nucleophilic N-heterocyclic olefin and the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl substituent have been prepared and structurally characterized. Experimental and theoretical investigations show that [η⁵-Cp*B-NHO]²⁺is considerably more Lewis acidic than [η⁵-Cp*B-IMes]²⁺due to the steric congestion imposed by the bent geometry of NHO around the central boron atom.