Simple activation by acid of latent Ru-NHC-based metathesis initiators bearing 8-quinolinolate co-ligands

Tuning the steric hindrance of alkylamines: a predictive model of steric editing of planar amines

Amines are one of the most prevalent functional groups in chemistry. Perhaps even more importantly, amines represent one of the most ubiquitous moieties within the realm of bioactive natural products and life-saving pharmaceuticals. The archetypal geometrical property of amines is their sp3 hybridization with the lone pair of nitrogen occupying the apex of the pyramid. Herein, we present a blueprint for quantifying the properties of extremely sterically hindered alkylamines. These amines reach planarity around the nitrogen atom due to the excessive steric hindrance, which results in a conformational re-modeling of the amine moiety. Crucially, the steric properties of amines are characterized by the %V Bur index, which we show is a general predictive parameter for evaluating the properties of sterically hindered amines. Computational studies on the acidic nature and the reactivity of organometallic Au and Pd complexes are outlined. Density functional theory calculations permit for predictive catalysis, ordering the mapping of extremely hindered tertiary amines by employing artificial intelligence via machine learning. Overall, the study outlines the correlation between the unusual geometry and the key thermodynamic and kinetic properties of extremely hindered alkylamines. The steric hindrance, as quantified by %V Bur, is the crucial factor influencing the observed trends and the space required to accommodate sterically hindered tertiary amines.

Predictive Catalysis in Olefin Metathesis with Ru-based Catalysts with Annulated C60 Fullerenes in the N-heterocyclic Carbenes

Predictive catalysis must be the tool that does not replace experiments, but acts as a selective agent, so that synthetic strategies of maximum profitability are used in the laboratory in a surgical way. Here, nanotechnology has been used in olefin metathesis from homogeneous Ru-NHC catalysts, specifically annulating a C₆₀ fullerene to the NHC ligand. Based on results with the C₆₀ in the backbone, a sterile change with respect to the catalysis of the metal center, an attempt has been made to bring C₆₀ closer to the metal, by attaching it to one of the two C-N bonds of the imidazole group of the SIMes (1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) ligand (reference NHC ligand of the 2^nd generation Grubbs catalysts) to increase the steric pressure of C₆₀ in the first sphere of reactivity of the metal. The DFT calculated thermodynamics and the kinetics of SIMes-derived systems show that they are efficient catalysts for olefin metathesis.

The activity of indenylidene derivatives in olefin metathesis catalysts

The first turnover event of an olefin metathesis reaction using a new family of homogenous Ru-based catalysts bearing modified indenylidene ligands has been investigated, using methoxyethylene as a substrate. The study is carried out by means of density functional theory (DFT). The indenylidene ligands are decorated with ortho-methyl and isopropyl groups at both ortho positions of their phenyl ring. DFT results highlight the more sterically demanding indenylidenes have to undergo a more exothermic first phosphine dissociation step. Overall, the study emphasises advantages of increased steric hindrance in promoting the phosphine release, and the relative stability of the corresponding metallacycle over classical ylidene ligands. Mayer bond orders and steric maps provide structural reasons for these effects, whereas NICS aromaticity and conceptual DFT confirm that the electronic parameters do not play a significant role.

A pH-controlled recyclable indolinooxazolidine tagged N-heterocyclic carbene Ru catalyst for olefin metathesis

A pH-controlled recyclable indolinooxazolidine tagged N-heterocyclic carbene Ru catalyst for olefin metathesis has been developed.

In Silico Olefin Metathesis with Ru-Based Catalysts Containing N-Heterocyclic Carbenes Bearing C60 Fullerenes

Density functional theory calculations have been used to explore the potential of Ru-based complexes with 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene (SIMes) ligand backbone (A) being modified in silico by the insertion of a C60 molecule (B and C), as olefin metathesis catalysts. To this end, we investigated the olefin metathesis reaction catalyzed by complexes A, B, and C using ethylene as the substrate, focusing mainly on the thermodynamic stability of all possible reaction intermediates. Our results suggest that complex B bearing an electron-withdrawing N-heterocyclic carbene improves the performance of unannulated complex A. The efficiency of complex B is only surpassed by complex A when the backbone of the N-heterocyclic carbene of complex A is substituted by two amino groups. The particular performance of complexes B and C has to be attributed to electronic factors, that is, the electronic-donating capacity of modified SIMes ligand rather than steric effects, because the latter are predicted to be almost identical for complexes B and C when compared to those of A. Overall, this study indicates that such Ru-based complexes B and C might have the potential to be effective olefin metathesis catalysts.