Intramolecular Transmetalation of Arylpalladium(II) and Arylplatinum(II) Complexes with Silanes and Stannanes

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of 4-sila-4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazines by intramolecular Hiyama coupling

A palladium-catalyzed synthesis of 4-sila-4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazines, silicon-switched analogs of biologically relevant 4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazines, was developed by the intramolecular Hiyama coupling of 3-amido-2-(arylsilyl)aryl triflates.

Defect-Free Alternating Conjugated Polymers Enabled by Room- Temperature Stille Polymerization

The Stille cross-coupling polymerization is one of the most efficient synthetic methods for donor-acceptor (D-A) type π-conjugated polymers (CPs). Nevertheless, thermal-activation Stille polymerization readily produced homocoupling defects, resulting in batch-to-batch variations in copolymers quality and deteriorating the device performance of electronics and optoelectronics. Here, a room-temperature Stille-type polymerization was developed, the utility and generality of which were demonstrated by synthesis of twelve D-A CPs with high molecular weights. Importantly, the resultant copolymers possessed no homocoupling (hc) structural defects, while hc reactions were observed in the thermal-activation Stille reactions. Thus, the organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) based on the former exhibited twofold higher charge transport mobility (2.10 cm²  V^-1  s^-1 ), since it possessed stronger crystallinity and lower trap density of states (tDOS).

A Systematic Study of the Effects of Complex Structure on Aryl Iodide Oxidative Addition at Bipyridyl-Ligated Gold(I) Centers

A combined theoretical and experimental approach has been used to study the unusual mechanism of oxidative addition of aryl iodides to [bipyAu(C₂H₄)]⁺ complexes. The modular nature of this system allowed a systematic assessment of the effects of complex structure. Computational comparisons between cationic gold and the isolobal (neutral) Pd⁰ and Pt⁰ complexes revealed similar mechanistic features, but with oxidative addition being significantly favored for the group 10 metals. Further differences between Au and Pd were seen in experimental studies: studying reaction rates as a function of electronic and steric properties showed that ligands bearing more electron‐poor functionality increase the rate of oxidative addition; in a complementary way, electron‐rich aryl iodides give faster rates. This divergence in mechanism compared to Pd suggests that Ar−X oxidative addition with Au can underpin a broad range of new or complementary transformations.

Platinum-Catalyzed α,β-Desaturation of Cyclic Ketones through Direct Metal-Enolate Formation

The development of a platinum-catalyzed desaturation of cyclic ketones to their conjugated α,β-unsaturated counterparts is reported in this full article. A unique diene-platinum complex was identified to be an efficient catalyst, which enables direct metal-enolate formation. The reaction operates under mild conditions without using strong bases or acids. Good to excellent yields can be achieved for diverse and complex scaffolds. A wide range of functional groups, including those sensitive to acids, bases/nucleophiles, or palladium species, are tolerated, which represents a distinct feature from other known desaturation methods. Mechanistically, this platinum catalysis exhibits a fast and reversible α-deprotonation followed by a rate-determining β-hydrogen elimination process, which is different from the prior Pd-catalyzed desaturation method. Promising preliminary enantioselective desaturation using a chiral-diene-platinum complex has also been obtained.

Platinum-Catalyzed Desaturation of Lactams, Ketones, and Lactones

The development of a general platinum-catalyzed desaturation of N-protected lactams, ketones, and lactones to their conjugated α,β-unsaturated counterparts is reported. The reaction operates under mildly acidic conditions at room temperature or 50 °C. It is scalable and tolerates a wide range of functional groups. The complementary reactivity to the palladium-catalyzed desaturation is demonstrated in the efficient conversion of iodide, bromide, and sulfur-containing substrates.

Machine learning meets volcano plots: computational discovery of cross-coupling catalysts

The application of modern machine learning to challenges in atomistic simulation is gaining attraction.

The application of modern machine learning to challenges in atomistic simulation is gaining attraction. We present new machine learning models that can predict the energy of the oxidative addition process between a transition metal complex and a substrate for C–C cross-coupling reactions. In turn, this quantity can be used as a descriptor to estimate the activity of homogeneous catalysts using molecular volcano plots. The versatility of this approach is illustrated for vast libraries of organometallic catalysts based on Pt, Pd, Ni, Cu, Ag, and Au combined with 91 ligands. Out-of-sample machine learning predictions were made on a total of 18 062 compounds leading to 557 catalyst candidates falling into the ideal thermodynamic window. This number was further refined by searching for candidates with an estimated price lower than 10 US$ per mmol. The 37 catalyst finalists are dominated by palladium phosphine ligand combinations but also include the earth abundant transition metal (Cu) with less common ligands. Our results indicate that modern statistical learning techniques can be applied to the computational discovery of readily available and promising catalyst candidates.

Mechanistic significance of the si-o-pd bond in the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of alkenylsilanolates

Through the combination of reaction kinetics (both catalytic and stoichiometric) and solid-state characterization of arylpalladium(II) alkenylsilanolate complexes, the intermediacy of covalent adducts containing Si-O-Pd linkages in the cross-coupling reactions of organosilanolates has been unambiguously established. Two mechanistically distinct pathways have been demonstrated: (1) transmetalation via a neutral 8-Si-4 intermediate that dominates in the cross-coupling of potassium alkenylsilanolates, and (2) transmetalation via an anionic 10-Si-5 intermediate that dominates in the cross-coupling of cesium alkenylsilanolates. Arylpalladium(II) alkenylsilanolate complexes bearing various phosphine ligands (both bidentate and monodentate) have been isolated, fully characterized, and evaluated for their kinetic competence under thermal (stoichiometric) and anionic (catalytic) conditions. Comparison of the rates for thermal and anionic activation demonstrates that intermediates containing the Si-O-Pd linkage are involved in the cross-coupling process.

Studies on the mechanism of allylic coupling reactions: a hammett analysis of the coupling of aryl silicate derivatives

Hammett analysis of the palladium-catalyzed allyl-aryl coupling reaction has demonstrated that the rate of the coupling reaction is enhanced by electron-withdrawing groups on the aryl siloxane. The positive slope of the Hammett plot indicated involvement of a charged transition state in which negative charge on the aryl ring is stabilized inductively. This result is consistent with either transmetalation or reductive elimination being the rate-determining step in the coupling process. Furthermore, the influence of ligand on the metal site has been assessed from competition studies as a function of ligand type, cone angle, and electronic effects. From the relative ratios of coupling products produced in the Hammett study, it is possible to gather insight into the role of the electronic as well as the steric effects of ligands on the mechanism of the coupling reaction.

Distinct Electronic Effects on Reductive Eliminations of Symmetrical and Unsymmetrical Bis-Aryl Platinum Complexes

Symmetrical bis-aryl platinum complexes (DPPF)Pt(C(6)H(4)-4-R)(2) (R = NMe(2), OMe, CH(3), H, Cl, CF(3)) and electronically unsymmetrical bis-aryl platinum complexes (DPPF)Pt(C(6)H(4)-4-R)(C(6)H(4)-4-X) (R = CH(3), X = NMe(2), OMe, H, Cl, F, CF(3); R = OMe, X = NMe(2), H, Cl, F, CF(3); R = CF(3), X = H, Cl, NMe(2); and R = NMe(2), X = H, Cl) were prepared, and the rates of reductive elimination of these complexes in the presence of excess PPh(3) are reported. The platinum complexes reductively eliminated biaryl compounds in quantitative yields with first-order rate constants that were independent of the concentration of PPh(3). Plots of Log(k(obs)/k(obs(H))) vs Hammett substituent constants (sigma) of the para substituents R and X showed that the rates of reductive elimination reactions depended on two different electronic properties. The reductive elimination from symmetrical bis-aryl platinum complexes occurred faster from complexes with more electron-donating para substituents R. However, reductive elimination from a series of electronically unsymmetrical bis-aryl complexes was not faster from complexes with the more electron-donating substituents. Instead, reductive elimination was faster from complexes with a larger difference in the electronic properties of the substituents on the two platinum-bound aryl groups. The two electronic effects can complement or cancel each other. Thus, this combination of electronic effects gives rise to complex, but now more interpretable, free energy relationships for reductive elimination.

Application of Silicon-Based Cross-Coupling Technology to Triflates

Aryl silatranes undergo fluoride-induced cross-coupling with aryl triflates to provide unsymmetrical biaryl derivatives in good to excellent yields. Silatranes also couple with aryl iodides and bromides, although the yields of adduct are lower than with the corresponding siloxane derivates. Aryl siloxanes (which had previously failed to couple with triflates) can be employed for triflate couplings using the Denmark modification, although the yields are lower than the corresponding silatrane reactions.

Mechanism of the Stille reaction catalyzed by palladium ligated to arsine ligand: PhPdI(AsPh3)(DMF) is the species reacting with vinylstannane in DMF

The kinetics of the reaction of PhPdI(AsPh(3))(2) (formed via the fast oxidative addition of PhI with Pd(0)(AsPh(3))(2)) with a vinyl stannane CH(2)[double bond]CH[bond]Sn(n-Bu)(3) has been investigated in DMF. This reaction (usually called transmetalation step) is the prototype of the rate determining second step of the catalytic cycle of Stille reactions. It is established here that the transmetalation proceeds through PhPdI(AsPh(3))(DMF), generated by the dissociation of one ligand AsPh(3) from PhPdI(AsPh(3))(2). PhPdI(AsPh(3))(DMF) is the reactive species, which leads to styrene through its reaction with CH(2)[double bond]CH[bond]SnBu(3). Consequently, in DMF, the overall nucleophilic attack mainly proceeds via a mechanism involving PhPdI(AsPh(3))(DMF) as the central reactive complex and not PhPdI(AsPh(3))(2). The dimer [Ph(2)Pd(2)(mu(2)-I)(2)(AsPh(3))(2)] has been independently synthesized and characterized by its X-ray structure. In DMF, this dimer dissociates quantitatively into PhPdI(AsPh(3))(DMF), which reacts with CH(2)[double bond]CH[bond]SnBu(3). The rate constant for the reaction of PhPdI(AsPh(3))(DMF) with CH(2)[double bond]CH[bond]SnBu(3) has been determined in DMF for each situation and was found to be comparable.

Improved synthesis of aryltriethoxysilanes via palladium(0)-catalyzed silylation of aryl iodides and bromides with triethoxysilane

The scope of the palladium-catalyzed silylation of aryl halides with triethoxysilane has been expanded to include aryl bromides. A more general Pd(0) catalyst/ligand system has been developed that activates bromides and iodides: palladium(0) dibenzylideneacetone (Pd(dba)(2)) is activated with 2-(di-tert-butylphosphino)biphenyl (Buchwald's ligand) (1:2 mol ratio of Pd/phosphine). Electron-rich para- and meta-substituted aryl halides (including unprotected aniline and phenol derivatives) undergo silylation to form the corresponding aryltriethoxysilane in fair to excellent yield; however, ortho-substituted aryl halides failed to be silylated.

Synthesis and insertion reactions of the cyclometalated palladium-alkyl complexes Pd(CH(2)CMe(2)-o-C(6)H(4))L(2). Observation of a pentacoordinated intermediate in the insertion of SO(2)

Palladacycles of the type 2, have been synthesized by treatment of the corresponding chloroalkylcomplexes Pd(CH(2)CMe(2)C(6)H(5))ClL(2) (L(2) = (PMe(3))(2), 2a, or 1,5-cyclooctadiene (cod), 2b) with suitable bases, or by simple ligand exchange reactions from the cyclooctadiene derivative 2b. The metallacycles 2 react with activated alkynes and with sulfur dioxide, giving rise to different insertion products.

Intramolecular C-H activation by alkylpalladium(II) complexes: insights into the mechanism of the palladium-catalyzed arylation reaction

The cyclization of [ArOCH2PdL2Cl] complexes proceeds at room temperature in CH3CN in the presence of base, such as KOPh or carbonate, to form palladacycles. The effect of substituents on the aryl moiety (p-MeO > H >p-NO2) is as expected for an electrophilic aromatic substitution by electrophilic Pd(II). The absence of isotopic effect is also consistent with this proposal. Cyclopalladation proceeds with bidentate ligands (dppf, COD and phen); although the C-H activation reactions are slower in these cases. The starting [ArOCH2Pd(PPh3)2Cl] and [ArOCH2Pd(PPh3)Cl]2 complexes were prepared by transmetalation of organostannanes [(ArOCH2)4Sn] with [Pd(PPh3)2Cl2] or [Pd(PPh3)Cl2]2, respectively. Cleavage of palladacycles with HCl also gave [ArOCH2PdL2Cl] complexes.