Optimizing dirhodium(ii) tetrakiscarboxylates as chiral NMR auxiliaries

Deconvoluting Nonlinear Catalyst-Substrate Effects in the Intramolecular Dirhodium-Catalyzed C-H Insertion of Donor/Donor Carbenes Using Data Science Tools

Interactions between catalysts and substrates can be highly complex and dynamic, often complicating the development of models to either predict or understand such processes. A dirhodium(II)-catalyzed C-H insertion of donor/donor carbenes into 2-alkoxybenzophenone substrates to form benzodihydrofurans was selected as a model system to explore nonlinear methods to achieve a mechanistic understanding. We found that the application of traditional methods of multivariate linear regression (MLR) correlating DFT-derived descriptors of catalysts and substrates leads to poorly performing models. This inspired the introduction of nonlinear descriptor relationships into modeling by applying the sure independence screening and sparsifying operator (SISSO) algorithm. Based on SISSO-generated descriptors, a high-performing MLR model was identified that predicts external validation points well. Mechanistic interpretation was aided by the deconstruction of feature relationships using chemical space maps, decision trees, and linear descriptors. Substrates were found to have a strong dependence on steric effects for determining their innate cyclization selectivity preferences. Catalyst reactive site features can then be matched to product features to tune or override the resultant diastereoselectivity within the substrate-dictated ranges. This case study presents a method for understanding complex interactions often encountered in catalysis by using nonlinear modeling methods and linear deconvolution by pattern recognition.

A New Ligand Design Based on London Dispersion Empowers Chiral Bismuth-Rhodium Paddlewheel Catalysts

Heterobimetallic bismuth-rhodium paddlewheel complexes with phenylglycine ligands carrying TIPS-groups at the meta-positions of the aromatic ring exhibit outstanding levels of selectivity in reactions of donor/acceptor and donor/donor carbenes; at the same time, the reaction rates are much faster and the substrate scope is considerably wider than those of previous generations of chiral [BiRh] catalysts. As shown by a combined experimental, crystallographic, and computational study, the new catalysts draw their excellent application profile largely from the stabilization of the chiral ligand sphere by London dispersion (LD) interactions of the peripheral silyl substituents.

Design and Synthesis of Novel Chiral Dirhodium(II) Carboxylate Complexes for Asymmetric Cyclopropanation Reactions

A novel approach to the design of dirhodium(II) tetracarboxylates derived from (S)-amino acid ligands is reported. The approach is founded on tailoring the steric influences of the overall catalyst structure by reducing the local symmetry of the ligand's N-heterocyclic tether. The application of the new approach has led to the uncovering of [Rh₂ (S-^tert PTTL)₄ ] as a new member of the dirhodium(II) family with extraordinary selectivity in cyclopropanation reactions. The stereoselectivity of [Rh₂ (S-^tert PTTL)₄ ] was found to be comparable to that of [Rh₂ (S-PTAD)₄ ] (up to >99 % ee), with the extra benefit of being more synthetically accessible. Correlations based on X-ray structures to justify the observed enantioinduction are also discussed.

Adducts of nitrogenous ligands with rhodium(II) tetracarboxylates and tetraformamidinate: NMR spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations

Complexation of tetrakis(μ2-N,N'-diphenylformamidinato-N,N')-di-rhodium(II) with ligands containing nitrile, isonitrile, amine, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl, isocyanate, and isothiocyanate functional groups has been studied in liquid and solid phases using (1)H, (13)C and (15)N NMR, (13)C and (15)N cross polarisation-magic angle spinning NMR, and absorption spectroscopy in the visible range. The complexation was monitored using various NMR physicochemical parameters, such as chemical shifts, longitudinal relaxation times T1 , and NOE enhancements. Rhodium(II) tetraformamidinate selectively bonded only unbranched amine (propan-1-amine), pentanenitrile, and (1-isocyanoethyl)benzene. No complexation occurred in the case of ligands having hydroxyl, sulfhydryl, isocyanate, and isothiocyanate functional groups, and more expanded amine molecules such as butan-2-amine and 1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane. Such features were opposite to those observed in rhodium(II) tetracarboxylates, forming adducts with all kind of ligands. Special attention was focused on the analysis of Δδ parameters, defined as a chemical shift difference between signal in adduct and corresponding signal in free ligand. In the case of (1)H NMR, Δδ values were either negative in adducts of rhodium(II) tetraformamidinate or positive in adducts of rhodium(II) tetracarboxylates. Experimental findings were supported by density functional theory molecular modelling and gauge independent atomic orbitals chemical shift calculations. The calculation of chemical shifts combined with scaling procedure allowed to reproduce qualitatively Δδ parameters.

Complexation of rhodium(II) tetracarboxylates with aliphatic diamines in solution: 1H and 13C NMR and DFT investigations

The complexation of rhodium(II) tetraacetate, tetrakistrifluoroaceate and tetrakisoctanoate with a set of diamines (ethane-1,diamine, propane-1,3-diamine and nonane-1,9-diamine) and their N,N'-dimethyl and N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl derivatives in chloroform solution has been investigated by (1) H and (13) C NMR spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) modelling. A combination of two bifunctional reagents, diamines and rhodium(II) tetracarboxylates, yielded insoluble coordination polymers as main products of complexation and various adducts in the solution, being in equilibrium with insoluble material. All diamines initially formed the 2 : 1 (blue), (1 : 1)n oligomeric (red) and 1 : 2 (red) axial adducts in solution, depending on the reagents' molar ratio. Adducts of primary and secondary diamines decomposed in the presence of ligand excess, the former via unstable equatorial complexes. The complexation of secondary diamines slowed down the inversion at nitrogen atoms in NH(CH3 ) functional groups and resulted in the formation of nitrogenous stereogenic centres, detectable by NMR. Axial adducts of tertiary diamines appeared to be relatively stable. The presence of long aliphatic chains in molecules (adducts of nonane-1,9-diamines or rhodium(II) tetrakisoctanoate) increased adduct solubility. Hypothetical structures of the equatorial adduct of rhodium(II) tetraacetate with ethane-1,2-diamine and their NMR parameters were explored by means of DFT calculations.