Abnormal N-heterocyclic Carbene Research Articles

Stereo- and Regioselective Addition of Arene to Alkyne Using Abnormal NHC Based Palladium Catalysts: Elucidating the Role of Trifluoroacetic Acid in Fujiwara Process

Hydroarylation of alkyne was reported by Fujiwara nearly two decades back. Interestingly, this reaction does not proceed in the absence of trifluoroacetic acid; however, the exact role of TFA has not been unambiguously established, in particular with the support of X-ray crystallography by isolating the TFA-involved catalytically active species. In this work, abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene (aNHC) based Pd catalysts have been used for the efficient hydroarylation of aromatic C–H bonds leading to new C–C bond formation through regio- and stereoselective addition to alkynes. The addition reaction has been realized by a catalytic amount of Pd (II) compound (0.5 mol %) in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) under ambient conditions. Various arenes undergo transhydroarylation selectively across the triple bond (containing functional groups CO2Me, CO2Et, and CO2H), affording the kinetically controlled cis adduct predominantly in good yields. A simple reaction condition through an intermolecular reaction has been outline...

Expanding the Scope of Cu(I) Catalyzed “Click Chemistry” with Abnormal NHCs: Three-Fold Click to Tris-Triazoles

Cationic copper(I) complexes [Cu(aIPrPh)(IPr)]I (3) and [Cu(aIPrPh)2]I (4) featuring an abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene (aNHC) (aIPrPh = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-2-phenyl- imidazol-4-ylidene) and/or an NHC (IPr = 1,3-Bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) ligand(s) are reported. Treatment of Cu(aIPrPh)I (2) with IPr affords complex 3. Reaction of (IPrPh)I (1) (IPrPh = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-2-phenyl-imidazolium) with CuI in the presence of K{N(SiMe3)2} leads to the formation of 4. Complexes 3 and 4 represent rare examples of mixed aNHC-NHC and bis-aNHC metal complexes, respectively. They are characterized by elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopic, and mass spectrometric studies. The solid-state molecular structures of 3 and 4 have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The catalytic activity of 2, 3, and 4 has been investigated in the [3+2] cycloaddition of alkynes and organic azides, affording triazole derivatives in an almost quantitative yield. Notably, complexes 2, 3, and 4 are excellent catalysts for the three-fold cycloaddition of a tris-azide with various alkynes. This catalytic protocol offers a high yield access to tris-triazoles in a shorter reaction time and considerably reduces the experimental work-up compared to the classical synthetic method.

Facile routes to abnormal-NHC-cobalt(ii) complexes.

Deprotonation of [IPrPh]I (1) with Co{N(SiMe3)2}2 readily affords the abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene (aNHC) complex (aIPrPh)2CoI2 (2) (aIPrPh = 1,3-bis(2,6-iPr2C6H3)-2-phenyl-imidazol-4-ylidene). Treatment of 1 with NaHBEt3 yields (aIPrPh)BEt3 (3) that serves as an aNHC-transfer agent and yields (aIPrPh)Co{N(SiMe3)2}2 (4) on reaction with Co{N(SiMe3)2}2.

Metal-Free Reduction of CO2 to Methoxyborane under Ambient Conditions through Borondiformate Formation.

An abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene (aNHC) based homogeneous catalyst has been used for the reduction of carbon dioxide to methoxyborane in the presence of a range of hydroboranes under ambient conditions and resulted in the highest turnover number of 6000. A catalytically active reaction intermediate, [aNHC-H⋅9BBN(OCOH)2 ] was structurally characterized and authenticated by NMR spectroscopy. A detailed mechanistic cycle of this catalytic process via borondiformate formation has been proposed from tandem experimental and computational experiments.

Abnormal-NHC Palladium(II) Complexes: Rational Synthesis, Structural Elucidation, and Catalytic Activity

Reaction of a C2-arylated imidazolium iodide (IPrPh)I (1) (IPrPh = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-2-phenyl-imidazolium) with PdCl2 in the presence of Ag2O affords abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene (aNHC) palladium complexes (aIPrPh)PdCl2 (2) and (aIPrPh)2PdCl2 (3) (aIPrPh = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-2-phenyl-imidazol-4-ylidene). Treatment of 2 with a pyridine gives Pd-PEPPSI-type complexes (aIPrPh)PdCl2(L) (L = pyridine (py), 5; L = 3-chloropyridine (3Cl-py), 6). Compounds 5 and 6 are also accessible by a one-pot reaction of 1, PdCl2, and Ag2O in a pyridine solvent. While the use of a conventional base K2CO3 leads to the formation of mixed halide complexes (aIPrPh)Pd(Cl)I(L) (7, L = py; 8, L = 3Cl-py), iodide derivatives (aIPrPh)PdI2(L) (9, L = py; 10, L = 3Cl-py) can be selectively prepared with addition of an excess of KI to the reaction mixture. Albeit in a low yield, a putative transmetalation agent {(aIPrPh)2Ag}AgI2 (4) has been isolated and characterized. Compounds 2–10 are air stable crystalline...

Exploring the Oxidative-Addition Pathways of Phenyl Chloride in the Presence of PdII Abnormal N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: A DFT Study.

DFT calculations were performed to elucidate the oxidative addition mechanism of the dimeric palladium(II) abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene complex 2 in the presence of phenyl chloride and NaOMe base under the framework of a Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. Pre-catalyst 2 undergoes facile, NaOMe-assisted dissociation, which led to monomeric palladium(II) species 5, 6, and 7, each of them independently capable of initiating oxidative addition reactions with PhCl. Thereafter, three different mechanistic routes, path a, path b, and path c, which originate from the catalytic species 5, 7, and 6, were calculated at M06-L-D3(SMD)/LANL2TZ(f)(Pd)/6-311++G**//M06-L/LANL2DZ(Pd)/6-31+G* level of theory. All studied routes suggested the rather uncommon PdII /PdIV oxidative addition mechanism to be favourable under the ambient reaction conditions. Although the Pd0 /PdII routes are generally facile, the final reductive elimination step from the catalytic complexes were energetically formidable. The PdII /PdIV activation barriers were calculated to be 11.3, 9.0, 26.7 kcal mol-1 (ΔΔ≠ GLS-D3 ) more favourable than the PdII /Pd0 reductive elimination routes for path a, path b, and path c, respectively. Out of all the studied pathways, path a was the most feasible as it comprised of a PdII /PdIV activation barrier of 24.5 kcal mol-1 (ΔGLS-D3 ). To further elucidate the origin of transition-state barriers, EDA calculations were performed for some key saddle points populating the energy profiles.

Investigation on reactivity of non-classical carbenes with sterically hindered Lewis acid, B(C6F5)3 under inert and open conditions

Reactions of B(C6F5)3 with abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene (aNHC), L1 and cyclic (alkyl)(amino) carbene (cAAC), L2 in the presence of moisture as well as in its absence, have been investigated in toluene. Reaction of aNHC with 1 equivalent of B(C6F5)3 under inert condition produced classical Lewis acid-base adduct, [L1.B(C6F5)3], 1. Further, probing the same reaction with cyclic (alkyl)(amino) carbene (cAAC), having different electronic property, led to the isolation of [L2.B(C6F5)3], 2 under inert condition. Interestingly, reaction of aNHC or cAAC with 1 equivalent of B(C6F5)3 in the presence of moisture resulted in water splitting leading to the formation of [L1-H][(OH)B(C6F5)3], 3 and [L2-H][(OH)B(C6F5)3, 4. All these compounds (1-4) were characterized in solution by 1H, 13C, 19F and 11B NMR spectroscopy. Additionally, the solid-state structures were unambiguously established by crystallographic analysis of compounds 1-4. Reactions of B(C6F5)3 with abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene or cyclic (alkyl)(amino) carbene in absence and in presence of moisture in toluene led to the formation of B(C6F5)3-carbene 1:1 adducts and water splitting products, respectively.

ChemInform Abstract: Copper(I) Complexes Bearing Carbenes Beyond Classical N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes: Synthesis and Catalytic Activity in “Click Chemistry”.

The synthesis and characterization of abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene, cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene, and mesoionic carbene copper(I) complexes are reported. These organometallic species are obtained via a versatile and inexpensive synthetic pathway using readily available reactants, namely copper oxide and iminium salts. The catalytic activity of this series of complexes was evaluated in the [3+2] cycloaddition of alkynes with azides (CuAAC). Outstanding catalytic properties were observed for the abnormal NHC- and triazolylidene-based copper(I) complexes.

Nucleophilicity of normal and abnormal N-heterocyclic carbenes at DFT: steric effects on tetrazole-5-ylidenes

Nucleophilicity of both normal (1R) and abnormal (2R) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC); every 2R showing a higher nucleophilicity than its corresponding 1R isomer (R = H, methyl, ethyl, i-propyl, and t-butyl).

An abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene based nickel complex for catalytic reduction of nitroarenes.

Herein we report the synthesis of a nickel(ii) dichloro complex bearing an abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene (aNHC). The NiCl2(aNHC)2 complex has been used as an efficient catalyst for the reduction of nitroarenes with hydrosilanes to give aromatic amines in good to excellent yields. This catalytic protocol can tolerate functional groups such as halides, alkenes or nitriles. Furthermore, the longevity of the catalyst was tested in successive catalytic cycles, which indicates a sustained catalytic activity over multiple catalytic cycles.

Sc3N@Ih -C80 as a novel Lewis acid to trap abnormal N-heterocyclic carbenes: the unprecedented formation of a singly bonded [6,6,6]-adduct.

The reaction between an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC), namely 1,3-bis(diisopropylphenyl)-imidazol-2-ylene (1), and Sc3N@Ih -C80 successfully affords a Lewis acid-base pair (2a). Single crystal X-ray crystallographic results unambiguously reveal the unexpected structure of 2a where the abnormal carbene center of the NHC is connected to a triple-hexagon-junction (THJ) carbon atom of Sc3N@Ih -C80via a single bond. Theoretical calculations reveal that selective entrapment of the abnormal carbene 1 is caused by the steric hindrance between the normal NHC moiety and the fullerene cage, which precludes the formation of normal carbene adducts. Furthermore, the analysis of the electronic density distribution on the cage of Sc3N@Ih -C80 indicates that THJ carbons bear relatively low negative charge densities and, accordingly, are easily attacked by the electron-rich NHC 1 to form the singly bonded [6,6,6]-adduct 2a instead of the corresponding [5,6,6]-adduct 2b. It is thus confirmed that the regioselective formation of 2a is a synergistic effect of both cage size and electron density distribution. Sc3N@Ih -C80, although with a highly charged cage, is proven to show excellent Lewis acidity, opening a wide avenue toward carbon-based Lewis acids taking into account the diversity of endohedral metallofullerenes.

Zwitterionic carbene adducts and their carbene isomers

N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) and abnormal NHCs (aNHC) form the stable adducts,1and2, with X (CH2, SiH2, NH, PH, O, S), which are excellent nucleophiles at X.

Fluoride-free Hiyama coupling by palladium abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene complexes.

A series of palladium complexes of the abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene ligands of the type (a-NHC)PdI2(L) [L = NC5H5(1-3)b and PPh3(1-3)c] effectively catalyzed the Hiyama coupling of aryl bromides and iodides with PhSi(OMe)3 under the highly desired fluoride-free conditions. Interestingly enough, the pyridine based trans-(1-3)b complexes and a PPh3 derived cis-3c complex exhibited higher yields than the related PPh3 derived trans-(1-2)c complexes. The superior performances of the pyridine based trans-(1-3)b complexes and the PPh3 derived cis-3c complex have been correlated to a tighter binding of the a-NHC ligand to the palladium center in these complexes, leading to a greater (a-NHC) ligand influence on the metal center partaking in the catalysis.

A highly efficient catalyst for selective oxidative scission of olefins to aldehydes: abnormal-NHC-Ru(II) complex in oxidation chemistry.

The utility and selectivity of the catalyst [Ru(COD)(L(1))Br2] (1) bearing a fused π-conjugated imidazo[1,2-a][1,8]naphthyridine-based abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene ligand L(1) is demonstrated toward selective oxidation of C═C bonds to aldehydes and C≡C bonds to α-diketones in an EtOAc/CH3CN/H2O solvent mixture at room temperature using a wide range of substrates, including highly functionalized sugar- and amino acid-derived compounds.

Chemoselective reduction of the carbonyl functionality through hydrosilylation: integrating click catalysis with hydrosilylation in one pot.

Herein we report the chemoselective reduction of the carbonyl functionality via hydrosilylation using a copper(I) catalyst bearing the abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene 1 with low (0.25 mol %) catalyst loading at ambient temperature in excellent yield within a very short reaction time. The hydrosilylation reaction of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds takes place selectively toward 1,2-addition (C═O) to yield the corresponding allyl alcohols in good yields. Moreover, when two reducible functional groups such as imine and ketone groups are present in the same molecule, this catalyst selectively reduces the ketone functionality. Further, 1 was used in a consecutive fashion by combining the Huisgen cycloaddition and hydrosilylation reactions in one pot, yielding a range of functionalized triazole substituted alcohols in excellent yields.

Carbene rearrangements in three-coordinate N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of cobalt(II) bis(trimethylsilyl)amide.

The synthesis and molecular structures of the cobalt(II) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes [(NHC)Co{N(SiMe3)2}2], where NHC = 1,3-bis(diisopropylphenyl)imidazolylidene (IPr) (6), 1,3-bis(mesityl)imidazolylidene (IMes) (7), and 1,3-bis(tert-butyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (I(t)Bu) (8), are reported. Complexes 6-8 are rare examples of three-coordinate cobalt NHC complexes. The steric congestion within the coordination environments of the cobalt(II) centers in 6 and 7 results in the longest Co-C(NHC) distances currently known. Investigating the thermal stability of 6-8, we have found that the steric congestion in 6 is such that heating the complex to reflux in toluene prompts a rearrangement from the normal, C2-bonding mode of the IPr ligand to the corresponding "abnormal" or mesoionic bonding mode. The rearrangement results in formation of [(aIPr)Co{N(SiMe3)2}2] (9), which is the first cobalt complex of an abnormal NHC ligand. The Co-C bond in 9 is 0.06 Å shorter than the analogous bond in 6, suggesting that, although the rearrangement occurs due to the spatial demands of the IPr ligand, there is also a thermodynamic driving force in terms of the Co-C bond. In contrast to the case for 6, complex 7 is stable with respect to the normal-to-abnormal rearrangement. Refluxing complex 8 in toluene results in activation of a tert-butyl substituent, which is eliminated as isobutene, followed by formation of the 1-tert-butylimidazole complex [((t)BuIm)Co{N(SiMe3)2}2] (10).

An abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene-carbon dioxide adduct from imidazolium acetate ionic liquids: the importance of basicity.

In the reaction of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate [C2C1Im][OAc] ionic liquid with carbon dioxide at 125 °C and 10 MPa, not only the known N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-CO2 adduct I, but also isomeric aNHC-CO2 adducts II and III were obtained. The abnormal NHC-CO2 adducts are stabilized by the presence of the polarizing basic acetate anion, according to static DFT calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics studies. A further possible reaction pathway is facilitated by the high basicity of the system, deprotonating the initially formed NHC-CO2 adduct I, which can then be converted in the presence of the excess of CO2 to the more stable 2-deprotonated anionic abnormal NHC-CO2 adduct via the anionic imidazolium-2,4-dicarboxylate according to DFT calculations on model compounds. This suggests a generalizable pathway to abnormal NHC complex formation.

Room-temperature hydrohydrazination of terminal alkynes catalyzed by saturated abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene-gold(I) complexes.

A number of saturated abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes of gold, in combination with KBAr(F) 4 as activator, were successfully applied in the chemoselective addition of hydrazine to alkynes. The reaction proceeds even at room temperature, which was not possible to date with gold catalysts. The reaction can be applied to a number of substituted arylalkynes. With alkylalkynes the yields are low. The saturated abnormal NHC ligands are resistant to isomerization to the saturated normal NHC coordination mode under basic reaction conditions. Under acidic conditions, a simple protonation at the nitrogen atom not neighboring the carbene center was observed and unambiguously characterized by an X-ray crystal-structure analysis. Computational studies confirm that such an isomerization would be highly exothermic, the observed kinetic stability probably results from the need to shift two protons in such a process.

Synthesis and molecular structure of an abnormal carbene-gallium chloride complex.

Low temperature reaction of N-heterocyclic carbene : BEt3 with nBuLi (in THF) initially gives the C4-lithiated N-heterocyclic carbene : BEt3 complex (4), which isomerizes to the C2-lithiated abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene : BEt3 complex (2) in refluxing THF. While reaction of with GaCl3 gives a 4-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene : GaCl3 adduct (6), reaction of with GaCl3 affords the first abnormal carbene-gallium chloride complexes (5).

Sydnone anions and abnormal N-heterocyclic carbenes of O-ethylsydnones. Characterizations, calculations and catalyses.

Deprotonated sydnones, which can be represented as anionic N-heterocyclic carbenes, were prepared as Li adducts and compared with deprotonated O-ethylsydnones (5-ethoxy-1,2,3-oxadiazol-4-ylidenes) which belong to the class of abnormal NHCs. The Pd complexes of the sydnone anions (X-ray analysis) as well as of the O-ethylsydnone carbenes proved to be efficient catalysts in aryl couplings of thiophenes.