Bidentate NHC Ligands Research Articles

Well-defined non-symmetric NHC-iron(III) catalyst for photoinduced atom-transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate

Photoinduced atom transfer radical polymerization (photo-ATRP) has emerged as a prominent technique in contemporary polymer chemistry, offering a potent means to create precisely structured materials. Well-defined catalysts are essential for controlling the growth of polymers with reproducible results; however, most photo-ATRP catalytic systems involve mixing the metal salt with the ligand. Herein we present a well-defined iron(III) based photo-ATRP catalyst bearing bidentate NHC ligand, 3-Methyl-1-phenyl-1H-3,1-benzimidazol-3-ium iodide (Pmb). The [FeBr(Pmb)2] was successfully synthesized and fully characterized by FTIR, UV–Vis, and EPR spectroscopic studies, elemental analysis, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and computational studies. [FeBr(Pmb)2] was employed as the catalyst for photo-ATRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) under ultraviolet light irradiation (365 nm). The catalytic activity of [FeBr(Pmb)2] in the photo-ATRP of MMA was evaluated under different conditions using EBPA as the initiator. The polymerizations showed robust activity, yelding in polymers with controlled molecular weights and a narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD). Remarkably, this was achieved with low catalysts loading (102.6 ppm), mainly at the molar ratio [MMA]/[EBPA]/[Fe] = 200/1/0.04. Well-defined polyMMA was synthesized and temporal control over photo-ATRP was successfully demonstrated through “on/off” experiments. For example, photo-ATRP of MMA with a molar ratio of [200/1/0.04] after 12 h at T = 25 °C in bulk resulted in PMMA with a polydispersity (Ð) of 1.15 at 50 % monomer conversion.

Iridium(I) complexes with bidentate NHC ligands as catalysts for dehydrogenative directed C-H silylation.

A series of (NHC)(cod)Ir(I) complexes bearing NHC-carboxylate ligands were efficiently synthesized and fully characterized. Their solid-state structures confirmed the bidentate coordination mode of these LX-type NHC ligands. These unprecedented iridium(I) complexes demonstrated efficient catalytic activities in dehydrogenative directed C-H silylation of arenes, and allowed for excellent ortho-selectivity control with aromatic silylating agents.

Dinuclear gold(I) Complexes with Bidentate NHC Ligands as Precursors for Alkynyl Complexes via Mechanochemistry.

The use of alkynyl gold(I) complexes covers different research fields, such as bioinorganic chemistry, catalysis, and material science, considering the luminescent properties of the complexes. Regarding this last application, we report here the synthesis of three novel dinuclear gold(I) complexes of the general formula [(diNHC)(Au-C≡CPh)2]: two Au-C≡CPh units are connected by a bridging di(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligand, which should favor the establishment of semi-supported aurophilic interactions. The complexes can be easily synthesized through mechanochemistry upon reacting the pristine dibromido complexes [(diNHC)(AuBr)2] with phenylacetylene and KOH. Interestingly, we were also able to isolate the monosubstituted complex [(diNHC)(Au-C≡CPh)(AuBr)]. The gold(I) species were fully characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The emission properties were also evaluated, and the salient data are comparable to those of analogous compounds reported in the literature.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Stabilized Gold Nanoclusters with Organometallic Motifs for Promoting Catalysis.

The complexity of heterogeneous metal catalysts makes it challenging to gain insights into their catalytic mechanisms. Thus, there exists a huge gap between heterogeneous catalysis and organometallic catalysis. With the success in the preparation of highly robust atomically precise metal nanocluster catalysts (i.e., [Au16(NHC-1)5(PA)3Br2]3+ and [Au17(NHC-1)4(PA)4Br4]+, where NHC-1 is a bidentate NHC ligand, and PA is phenylacetylide) with surface organometallic motifs anchored on the metallic core, we demonstrate in this work how the metallic core works synergistically with the surface organometallic motifs to enhance the catalysis. More importantly, the discovery allows the development of highly stable and recyclable heterogeneous metal catalysts to achieve efficient hydroamination of alkynes with an extremely low catalyst dosage (0.002 mol %), helping bridge the gap between heterogeneous and homogeneous metal catalysis. The surface modification of metal nanocatalysts with organometallic motifs provides a new design principle of metal catalysts with enhanced catalysis.

Synthesis and enantioseparation of chiral Au13 nanoclusters protected by bis-N-heterocyclic carbene ligands.

A series of chiral Au13 nanoclusters were synthesized via the direct reduction of achiral dinuclear Au(i) halide complexes ligated by ortho-xylyl-linked bis-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. A broad range of functional groups are tolerated as wingtip substituents, allowing for the synthesis of a variety of functionalized chiral Au13 nanoclusters. Single crystal X-ray crystallography confirmed the molecular formula to be [Au13(bisNHC)5Cl2]Cl3, with a chiral helical arrangement of the five bidentate NHC ligands around the icosahedral Au13 core. This Au13 nanocluster is highly luminescent, with a quantum yield of 23%. The two enantiomers of the Au13 clusters can be separated by chiral HPLC, and the isolated enantiomers were characterized by circular dichroism spectroscopy. The clusters show remarkable stability, including configurational stability, opening the door to further investigation of the effect of chirality on these clusters.

Gold(I) Alkynyls Supported by Mono- and Bidentate NHC Ligands: Luminescence and Isolation of Unprecedented Ionic Complexes.

Reactions of NHC·HX (NHC = 1-benzyl-3-methylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene, X = Br-, PF6-) and (AuC≡CR)n (R = Ph, C3H6OH) in the presence of Cs2CO3 initially afford compounds of the general formula [(NHC)2Au]2[(RC2)2Au]X, which can be isolated by crystallization. With increased reaction time, only the expected mononuclear complexes of the type [NHCAuC≡CR] are produced. The crystal structure of [(NHC)2Au]2[(PhC2)2Au]PF6 reveals an unprecedented triple-decker array upheld by a remarkably short (2.9375(7) Å) unsupported Au···Au···Au contact. The mononuclear complex [NHCAuC≡CPh] was found to crystallize as three distinct polymorphs and a pseudopolymorph, which depending on the intermolecular Au···Au distances emit blue, green, or yellow light. Two synthetic approaches were employed for the preparation of a series of dinuclear NHC-ligated Au(I) alkynyl complexes of the general formula [NHC-(CH2)n-NHC(AuC≡CR)2], where NHC = N-benzylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene, R = Ph, C3H6OH, C6H10OH, and n = 1-3. In solution, the complexes with aliphatic substituents on the alkynyl fragment are nonemissive, whereas their phenyl-bearing congeners demonstrate characteristic metal-perturbed 3[IL(C≡CPh)] emission. In the solid state, a clear correlation between intermolecular aurophilic interactions and luminescence was established, including their role in the luminescent thermochromism of the phenylalkynyl complexes. The relationship between the Au···Au distance and emission energy was found to be inverse: i.e., the shorter the aurophilic contact, the higher the emission energy. We tentatively attribute this behavior to a smaller extent of excited-state distortion for a structure with a shorter Au···Au separation.

Chiral Bidentate NHC Ligands Based on the 1,1'-Binaphthyl Scaffold: Synthesis and Application in Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric Reactions.

The use of the chiral 1,1'-binaphthyl scaffold to construct chiral ligands can be traced back for a long time. However, the development of bidentate NHC ligands based on the same backbone has only appeared recently. In this account, we describe the design and synthesis of a new family of chiral NHC ligands based on the 1,1'-binaphthyl scaffold and demonstrate the applications of these chiral NHC-metal complexes in the catalyzed oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols, asymmetric carbon-carbon bond formations, hydrosilylations, and cyclizations of 1,6-enynes. The chiral NHC ligands containing the 1,1'-binaphthyl backbone can be synthesized in good yields from enantiomerically pure 1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diamine. These transition metals coordinated with chiral bidentate NHC ligands exhibit high catalytic activities and good enantioselectivities for a wide range of metal-catalyzed asymmetric reactions.

A new N–heterocyclic carbene palladium complex immobilized on nano silica: An efficient and recyclable catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura C[sbnd]C coupling reaction

A new catalytic system based on Pd–NHC complex utilizing (4–pyridyl)bis(imidazolyl)methane as a bidentate NHC ligand supported on nano‒silica is introduced. The catalyst was characterized by FT–IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X–ray analysis, transmission electron microscopy and elemental analysis. This heterogeneous catalytic system exhibited excellent activity in the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction of various aryl halides with phenylboronic acid, and was reusable several times without significant loss of its catalytic activity.

Activation of Propargyl Alcohols by TpRu Complexes Bearing a Bidentate NHC Ligand

The complex [TpRuCl(COD)] reacts with L·Ag2Cl2 (L = bis(3-methylimidazol-2-ylidene)) in dichloroethane at 120 °C for a period of 20 h, furnishing the bis(carbene) derivative [TpRuCl(L)] (1). This compound reacts with NaBAr′4 in FPh under dinitrogen to yield the cationic dinitrogen complexes [TpRu(N2)(L)][BAr′4] (2′) and [{TpRu(L)}(μ-N2)][BAr′4]2 (2). The terminal dinitrogen complex 2′ is labile and spontaneously converts into 2, which was structurally characterized. The reaction of 2 with CO is slow and affords [TpRu(CO)(L)][BAr′4] (3). The kinetics of the substitution of coordinated dinitrogen in 2 by CD3CN has been studied. The value of 25 ± 4 kcal mol–1 determined for ΔG⧧298 for the substitution reaction is consistent with the observation that the dinitrogen ligand is strongly bound to ruthenium in 2. Complex 1 reacts with propargyl alcohols HC≡CC(OH)RR′ (RR′ = Me2, (CH2)5, MePh, HPh) and NaBPh4 in MeOH at 50–60 °C, yielding the corresponding γ-methoxyvinylidene complexes [TpRu═C═CHC(OMe)RR′(L)][BPh4] ...

Rhenium complexes of bidentate, bis-bidentate and tridentate N-heterocyclic carbene ligands.

A series of eight Rhenium(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes of the general form [ReCl(CO)3(C^C)] (where C^C is a bis(NHC) bidentate ligand), [ReCl(CO)3(C^C)]2 (where C^C is a bis-bidentate tetra-NHC ligand) and [Re(CO)3(C^N^C)](+)[X](-) (where C^N^C is a bis(NHC)-amine ligand and the counter ion X is either the ReO4(-) or PF6(-)) have been synthesised using a Ag2O transmetallation protocol. The novel precursor imidazolium salts and Re(I) complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy and the molecular structures for two imidazolium salt and six Re(I) complexes were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. These NHC ligand systems are of interest for possible applications in the development of Tc-99m or Re-186/188 radiopharmaceuticals and as such the stability of two complexes of the form [ReCl(CO)3(C^C)] and [Re(CO)3(C^N^C)][ReO4] were evaluated in ligand challenge experiments using the metal binding amino acids L-histidine or L-cysteine. These studies showed that the former was unstable, with the chloride ligand being replaced by either cysteine or histidine, while no evidence for transchelation was observed for the latter suggesting that bis(NHC)-amine ligands of this type may be suitable for biological applications.

SPIONs-bis(NHC)-palladium(II): A novel, powerful and efficient catalyst for Mizoroki–Heck and Suzuki–Miyaura C–C coupling reactions

A novel, stable and powerful nano Pd-NHC complex utilizing N-methylimidazole bounded to 1,3,5-triazine-tethered SPIONs (superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles) as a bidentate NHC ligand is reported. This well-defined complex was used as an efficient (NHC)-based catalyst for Mizoroki–Heck and Suzuki–Miyaura cross coupling reactions. These cross coupled products were produced in excellent yields under conventional heating or microwave irradiation at extremely low palladium loading (∼0.002mol%) with perfect high turnover frequencies (TOFs) (103–106h−1). Moreover, the catalyst could be quickly and completely recovered by external magnetic field and be reused for seven reaction cycles without any change in catalytic activity.

Modular Approach to the Synthesis of Polydentate NHC-Ligand Precursors (Benzimidazolium Salts) Containing Axial Chiral 1,1′-Binaphthyl via Pd-Catalyzed N-Arylation of 1,2-Diaminobenzene

A convenient and efficient modular approach to the synthesis of polydentate NHC ligand precursors (benzimidazolium salts) containing axial chiral 1,1′-binaphthyl from 1,2-diaminobenzene and BINOL has been developed. The benzimidazolium salts could be regarded as the potential bidentate, tridentate, and tetradentate NHC ligand precursors.

NHC Metal (Silver, Mercury, and Nickel) Complexes Based on Quinoxaline–Dibenzimidazolium Salts: Synthesis, Structural Studies, and Fluorescent Chemosensors for Cu2+ by Charge Transfer

The two dibenzimidazolium salts 2,3-bis[(1-nPr-benzimidazoliumyl)methyl]quinoxaline hexafluorophosphate (H2-1a) and 2,3-bis[(1-Pi-benzimidazoliumyl)methyl]quinoxaline hexafluorophosphate (H2-1b) (nPr = n-propyl and Pi = picolyl) and their four NHC metal complexes [Ag2(1a)2](PF6)2 (2a), [Hg(1a)(OAc)(H2O)]2(PF6)2 (2b), [Ag2(1b)2](PF6)2 (2c) and [Ni(1b)](NiCl4) (2d) have been synthesized and characterized. Each cation in 2a,c possesses a boxlike structure with different sizes. In 2b, one 18-membered macrometallacycle is formed by two bidentate NHC ligands and two mercury(II) atoms, in which an inversion center is observed. In 2d, one nickel(II) atom is surrounded by two carbene carbon atoms and two nitrogen atoms from two pyridine rings to adopt a square geometry. The recognition of Cu2+ using 2a,c as chemosensors by charge transfer was investigated on the basis of fluorescence and UV/vis spectroscopic titrations. The results show that complexes 2a,c are effective chemosensors for Cu2+.

Synthesis and catalytic activity of iron complexes with bidentate NHC ligands

A family of well-defined Fe(II) complexes of the type {BnN(N-CH2(CH2)n-N'-tert-butyl-imidazole-2-ylidene)2}FeCl2 (Bn = benzyl; n = 1 (1) or 2 (2)), {BnN(N-CH2(CH2)n-N'-methylbenzimidazole-2-ylidene)2}FeCl2 (n = 1 (3) or 2 (4)) and {BnN(N-CH2CH2CH2-N'-methylbenzimidazole-2-ylidene)2}FeBr2 (5) has been synthesized. These complexes are rare examples of Fe species supported by bidentate NHC ligands. Complexes 2, 3, 4 and 5 were characterized by X-ray crystallography and in all cases a distorted tetrahedral geometry is observed around the Fe center. The magnetic data is consistent with the complexes containing non interacting high spin Fe(II) centers (S = 2) and indicates that a large zero-field splitting (D) is present. The new complexes are highly active pre-catalysts for the homo-coupling of Grignard reagents.

Rhodium–NHC complexes mediate diboration versus dehydrogenative borylation of cyclic olefins: a theoretical explanation

In rhodium catalysed borylation of cyclic olefins, the synergy between bidentate NHC ligands, that modify cationic Rh(I) species, and the use of non-polar solvents, such as cyclohexane, is the key factor to favour a less energetically demanding route towards the formation of diborated products versus allyl boronate esters.

Axially chiral dimeric Ir and Rh complexes bridged by flexible NHC ligands

A family of Ag complexes of the type [{BnN(CH2CH2RIm)2}Ag]·[AgX2] (X=I, RIm=1-methylimidazole (3a); X=Cl, RIm=1-tert-butylimidazole (3b), 1-benzylimidazole (3c) or 1-methylbenzimidazole (3d)) or [{BnN(CH2CH2CH2RIm)2}Ag]·[AgCl2] (RIm=1-methylimidazole (4a), 1-tert-butylimidazole (4b), 1-benzylimidazole (4c) or 1-methylbenzimidazole (4d)) with a flexible unsaturated linker connecting the two NHC ligands has been prepared. These silver complexes undergo facile transmetalliation with [Ir(COD)Cl]2 to generate the bimetallic species (COD)ClIr{BnN(CH2CH2RIm)2}IrCl(COD) (RIm=1-methylimidazole (5a), 1-tert-butylimidazole (5b), 1-benzylimidazole (5c) or 1-methylbenzimidazole (5d)) or (COD)ClIr{BnN(CH2CH2CH2RIm)2}IrCl(COD) (RIm=1-methylimidazole (6a), 1-tert-butylimidazole (6b), 1-benzylimidazole (6c) or 1-methylbenzimidazole (6d)) with a bridging bidentate NHC ligand. A similar reaction can be performed using [Rh(COD)Cl]2 to generate the analogous Rh species (COD)ClRh{BnN(CH2CH2CH2RIm)2}RhCl(COD) (RIm=1-methylimidazole (7a), 1-benzylimidazole (7c) or 1-methylbenzimidazole (7d)). Complexes 5d, 6d and 7d were characterized by X-ray crystallography. All of our new Rh and Ir species possess axial chirality and are prepared as a mixture of isomers. However, crystals of 5d, 6d and 7d contain only one diastereomer. Dissolution of the diastereometrically pure crystals results in epimerization and the formation of an equilibrium mixture. Our new Ir complexes are active catalysts for both olefin and transfer hydrogenation and we present a comparison of their catalytic activity based on the linker length of the ligand.

Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydroboration

This paper describes the copper-catalyzed enantioselective hydroboration of 1,1-disubstituted aryl alkenes. Despite the recent development of enantioselective hydroboration, utilization of 1,1-disubstitued alkenes remains a challenge. The authors found that the bidentate NHC ligand provided homobenzylic C-B bond formation selectively and attained high enantioselectivity.

Synthesis of trifluoroborate functionalised imidazolium salts as precursors to weakly coordinating bidentate NHC ligands

A new class of trifluoroborate functionalised N-heterocyclic carbene precursors have been synthesised, isolated and characterised structurally. The ligands were obtained via a serendipitous one-pot reaction in which deprotection, cyclisation and fluorination of boryl-functionalised diarylethylenediamine derivatives occur concurrently. Deprotonation of the imidazolium salts was found to yield the free carbene, though 18-crown-6 was found necessary to prevent further reactivity of the resulting aryl potassium trifluoroborate salts; in the absence of 18-crown-6, elimination of KF resulted in a cyclic carbene–BF 2 arene adduct. Complexation to rhodium was facile, and yielded four-coordinate complexes in which the Rh–BF 3 interaction was determined by 19F NMR spectroscopy to be weak.

ChemInform Abstract: Construction of a New Type of Chiral Bidentate NHC Ligands: Copper‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Conjugate Alkylation.

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Construction of a new type of chiral bidentate NHC ligands: copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate alkylation

We synthesized in three steps simple chiral bidentate NHC compounds that carry an achiral coordinating group as N-substituent and revealed that they serve as efficient chiral auxiliaries for the copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of dialkylzinc to acyclic enones (up to 97% ee).