Ortho-Palladation of (Z)-2-Aryl-4-Arylidene-5(4H)-Oxazolones. Structure and Functionalization

Fluorescence Amplification of Unsaturated Oxazolones Using Palladium: Photophysical and Computational Studies

Weakly fluorescent (Z)-4-arylidene-5-(4H)-oxazolones (1), Φ_PL < 0.1%, containing a variety of conjugated aromatic fragments and/or charged arylidene moieties, have been orthopalladated by reaction with Pd(OAc)₂. The resulting dinuclear complexes (2) have the oxazolone ligands bonded as a C^N-chelate, restricting intramolecular motions involving the oxazolone. From 2, a variety of mononuclear derivatives, such as [Pd(C^N-oxazolone)(O₂CCF₃)(py)] (3), [Pd(C^N-oxazolone)(py)₂](ClO₄) (4), [Pd(C^N-oxazolone)(Cl)(py)] (5), and [Pd(C^N-oxazolone)(X)(NHC)] (6, 7), have been prepared and fully characterized. Most of complexes 3-6 are strongly fluorescent in solution in the range of wavelengths from green to yellow, with values of Φ_PL up to 28% (4h), which are among the highest values of quantum yield ever reported for organometallic Pd complexes with bidentate ligands. This means that the introduction of the Pd in the oxazolone scaffold produces in some cases an amplification of the fluorescence of several orders of magnitude from the free ligand 1 to complexes 3-6. Systematic variations of the substituents of the oxazolones and the ancillary ligands show that the wavelength of emission is tuned by the nature of the oxazolone, while the quantum yield is deeply influenced by the change of ligands. TD-DFT studies of complexes 3-6 show a direct correlation between the participation of the Pd orbitals in the HOMO and the loss of emission through non-radiative pathways. This model allows the understanding of the amplification of the fluorescence and the future rational design of new organopalladium systems with improved properties.

Synthesis of Bis(amino acids) Containing the Styryl-cyclobutane Core by Photosensitized [2+2]-Cross-cycloaddition of Allylidene-5(4H)-oxazolones

The irradiation of 2-aryl-4-(E-3'-aryl-allylidene)-5(4H)-oxazolones 1 with blue light (456 nm) in the presence of [Ru(bpy)₃](BF₄)₂ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, 5% mol) gives the unstable cyclobutane-bis(oxazolones) 2 by [2+2]-photocycloaddition of two oxazolones 1. Each oxazolone contributes to the formation of 2 with a different C=C bond, one of them reacting through the exocyclic C=C bond, while the other does so through the styryl group. Treatment of unstable cyclobutanes 2 with NaOMe/MeOH produces the oxazolone ring opening reaction, affording stable styryl-cyclobutane bis(amino acids) 3. The reaction starts with formation of the T₁ excited state of the photosensitizer ³[Ru*(bpy)₃]²⁺, which reacts with S₀ of oxazolones 1 through energy transfer to give the oxazolone T₁ state ³(oxa*)-1, which is the reactive species and was characterized by transient absorption spectroscopy. Measurement of the half-life of ³(oxa*)-1 for 1a, 1b and 1d shows large values for 1a and 1b (10-12 μs), while that of 1d is shorter (726 ns). Density functional theory (DFT) modeling displays strong structural differences in the T₁ states of the three oxazolones. Moreover, study of the spin density of T₁ state ³(oxa*)-1 provides clues to understanding the different reactivity of 4-allylidene-oxazolones described here with respect to the previously reported 4-arylidene-oxazolones.

Fluorescent Orthopalladated Complexes of 4-Aryliden-5(4H)-oxazolones from the Kaede Protein: Synthesis and Characterization

The goal of the work reported here was to amplify the fluorescent properties of 4-aryliden-5(4H)-oxazolones by suppression of the hula-twist non-radiative deactivation pathway. This aim was achieved by simultaneous bonding of a Pd center to the N atom of the heterocycle and the ortho carbon of the arylidene ring. Two different 4-((Z)-arylidene)-2-((E)-styryl)-5(4H)-oxazolones, the structures of which are closely related to the chromophore of the Kaede protein and substituted at the 2- and 4-positions of the arylidene ring (1a OMe; 1b F), were used as starting materials. Oxazolones 1a and 1b were reacted with Pd(OAc)₂ to give the corresponding dinuclear orthometalated palladium derivates 2a and 2b by regioselective C–H activation of the ortho-position of the arylidene ring. Reaction of 2a (2b) with LiCl promoted the metathesis of the bridging carboxylate by chloride ligands to afford dinuclear 3a (3b). Mononuclear complexes containing the orthopalladated oxazolone and a variety of ancillary ligands (acetylacetonate (4a, 4b), hydroxyquinolinate (5a), aminoquinoline (6a), bipyridine (7a), phenanthroline (8a)) were prepared from 3a or 3b through metathesis of anionic ligands or substitution of neutral weakly bonded ligands. All species were fully characterized and the X-ray determination of the molecular structure of 7a was carried out. This structure has strongly distorted ligands due to intramolecular interactions. Fluorescence measurements showed an increase in the quantum yield (QY) by up to one order of magnitude on comparing the free oxazolone (QY < 1%) with the palladated oxazolone (QY = 12% for 6a). This fact shows that the coordination of the oxazolone to the palladium efficiently suppresses the hula-twist deactivation pathway.

Cationic Pd(II)-catalyzed C-H activation/cross-coupling reactions at room temperature: synthetic and mechanistic studies

Cationic palladium(II) complexes have been found to be highly reactive towards aromatic C-H activation of arylureas at room temperature. A commercially available catalyst [Pd(MeCN)4](BF4)2 or a nitrile-free cationic palladium(II) complex generated in situ from the reaction of Pd(OAc)2 and HBF4, effectively catalyzes C-H activation/cross-coupling reactions between aryl iodides, arylboronic acids and acrylates under milder conditions than those previously reported. The nature of the directing group was found to be critical for achieving room temperature conditions, with the urea moiety the most effective in promoting facile coupling reactions at an ortho C-H position. This methodology has been utilized in a streamlined and efficient synthesis of boscalid, an agent produced on the kiloton scale annually and used to control a range of plant pathogens in broadacre and horticultural crops. Mechanistic investigations led to a proposed catalytic cycle involving three steps: (1) C-H activation to generate a cationic palladacycle; (2) reaction of the cationic palladacycle with an aryl iodide, arylboronic acid or acrylate, and (3) regeneration of the active cationic palladium catalyst. The reaction between a cationic palladium(II) complex and arylurea allowed the formation and isolation of the corresponding palladacycle intermediate, characterized by X-ray analysis. Roles of various additives in the stepwise process have also been studied.

Regioselective orthopalladation of (Z)-2-aryl-4-arylidene-5(4H)-oxazolones: scope, kinetico-mechanistic, and density functional theory studies of the C-H bond activation

Orthopalladated complexes derived from (Z)-2-aryl-4-arylidene-5(4H)-oxazolones have been prepared by reaction of the oxazolone with palladium acetate in acidic medium. The reaction is regioselective, only the ortho C-H bond of the arylidene ring being activated, producing a six-membered ring. The scope and reaction conditions of the orthopalladation are dependent on the acidity of the solvent. In CF(3)CO(2)H a large number of oxazolones can be metalated under mild conditions. As acidity decreases a lesser number of oxazolones can be efficiently palladated and harsher conditions must be used to achieve similar yields. The C-H bond activation in acidic medium agrees with an ambiphilic mechanism, as determined from kinetic measurements at variable temperature and pressure for different oxazolones substituted at the arylidene ring. The mechanism has been confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, where the formation of the six-membered ring is shown to be favored from both a kinetic and a thermodynamic perspective. In addition, the dependence of the reaction rate on the acidity of the medium has also been accounted for via a fine-tuning between the C-H agostic precoordination and the proton abstraction reaction in the overall process occurring on coordinatively saturated [Pd(κ(N)-oxazolone)(RCO(2)H)(3)](2+).