Formation Of Metallacycles Research Articles

Supramolecular Coordination Complexes for Synergistic Cancer Therapy.

Supramolecular coordination complexes (SCCs) are predictable and size-tunable supramolecular self-assemblies constructed through directional coordination bonds between readily available organic ligands and metallic receptors. Based on planar and 3D structures, SCCs can be mainly divided into two categories: metallacycles (e.g., rhomboidal, triangular, rectangular, and hexagonal) and metallacages (e.g., tetrahedral, hexahedral, and dodecahedral). The directional coordination bonds enable the efficient formation of metallacycles and metallacages with well-defined architectures and geometries. SCCs exhibit several advantages, including good directionality, strong interaction force, tunable modularity, and good solution processability, making them highly attractive for biomedical applications, especially in cellular imaging and cancer therapy. Compared with their molecular precursors, SCCs demonstrate enhanced cellular uptake and a strengthened tumor accumulation effect, owing to their inherently charged structures. These properties and the chemotherapeutic potential inherent to organic platinum complexes have promoted their widespread application in antitumor therapy. Furthermore, the defined structures of SCCs, achieved via the design modification of assembly elements and introduction of different functional groups, enable them to combat malignant tumors through multipronged treatment modalities. Because the development of cancer-treatment methodologies integrated in clinics has evolved from single-modality chemotherapy to synergistic multimodal therapy, the development of functional SCCs for synergistic cancer therapy is crucial. While some pioneering reviews have explored the bioapplications of SCCs, often categorized by a specific function or focusing on the specific metal or ligand types, a comprehensive exploration of their synergistic multifunctionality is a critical gap in the current literature.In this Account, we focus on platinum-based SCCs and their applications in cancer therapy. While other metals, such as Pd-, Rh-, Ru-, and Ir-based SCCs, have been explored for cancer therapy by Therrien and Casini et al., platinum-based SCCs have garnered significant interest, owing to their unique advantages in antitumor therapy. These platinum-based SCCs, which enhance antitumor efficacy, are considered prominent candidates for cancer therapies owing to their desirable properties, such as potent antitumor activity, exceptionally low systemic toxicity, active tumor-targeting ability, and enhanced cellular uptake. Furthermore, diverse diagnostic and therapeutic modalities (e.g., chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, and photodynamic therapy) can be integrated into a single platform based on platinum-based SCCs for cancer therapy. Consequently, herein, we summarize our recent research on platinum-based SCCs for synergistic cancer therapy with particular emphasis on the cooperative interplay between different therapeutic methods. In the Conclusions section, we present the key advancements achieved on the basis of our research findings and propose future directions that may significantly impact the field.

When is an Imine Directing Group a Transient Imine Directing Group in C-H Functionalization?

'Transient' C-H functionalization has emerged in recent years to describe the use of a dynamic linkage, often an imine, to direct cyclometallation and subsequent functionalization. As the field continues to grow in popularity, we consider the features that make an imine directing group transient. A transient imine should be i) formed dynamically in situ, ii) avoid discrete introduction or cleavage steps, and iii) offer the potential for catalysis in both the directing group and metal. This concept article contrasts transient imines with pioneering early studies of imines as directing groups for the formation of metallacycles and the use of preformed imines in C-H functionalization. Leading developments in the use of catalytic additives to form transient directing groups (as aldehyde or amine) are covered including selected highlights of the most recent examples of catalytic imine directed C-H functionalization with transition metals.

Diastereoselective and Reversible Metallacycle Formation by Attack of a Pt-PR2OH Group on a Coordinated Nitrile in Pt-Catalyzed Hydration

Diastereoselective and Reversible Metallacycle Formation by Attack of a Pt-PR₂OH Group on a Coordinated Nitrile in Pt-Catalyzed Hydration

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Carbonylation of α-Aminoaryl-Tethered Alkylidenecyclopropanes: Synthesis of Eight-Membered Benzolactams.

The synthesis of medium-sized lactams is a great challenge because of the unfavorable transannular interactions and entropic barriers in the transition state. We have developed a ruthenium-catalyzed carbonylation of α-aminoaryl-tethered alkylidenecyclopropanes (ACPs) that allows for the efficient preparation of valuable eight-membered benzolactams under ligand-free conditions. The amino group served a dual role of both directing group and nucleophile to facilitate the metallacycle formation and the carbonylation.

Selective sensing of picric acid using a Zn(II)-metallacycle: experimental and theoretical validation of the sensing mechanism and quantitative analysis of sensitivity in contact mode detection.

A combination of N,N',N''-tris(3-pyridyl)-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxamide (L1) and p-chlorobenzoic acid (HL2) with Zn(NO3)2·6H2O resulted in the formation of a dinuclear metallacycle [ZnL1(L2)2(DMF)2]2 (1(DMF)4). In 1(DMF)4, the Zn(II) centre adopts a square pyramidal geometry, while one of the pyridyl N out of the three pyridyl groups in L1 remained uncoordinated. Solvated DMF molecules are present in 1(DMF)4. The structural and chemical nature of 1(DMF)4 is effective for it to act as a potential fluorescent probe for the detection of nitroaromatic compounds. It is observed that the probe, 1(DMF)4, could selectively detect picric acid (PA) among various aromatic compounds in solution (DMSO), while the solid state (contact mode) detection showed a positive sensing response for the nitrophenols (PA: 87% quenching efficiency, 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP): 57% quenching efficiency and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP): 40% quenching efficiency). The limit of detection (LOD) of PA by the probe in DMSO was found to be 6.8 × 10-11 M while the LOD in contact mode detection was estimated to be 0.49 ng cm-2. The mechanism of selective detection of PA by 1(DMF)4 in DMSO was analyzed through photophysical studies, 1H-NMR experiments and also by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The effective overlap of the absorption spectrum of 1(DMF)4 and emission spectrum of PA in DMSO suggests that the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is responsible for quenching phenomena in DMSO. The DFT calculations and molecular docking studies showed the adduct formation due to the favorable interactions between 1(DMF)4 and PA in DMSO, while negligible interactions were observed between 1(DMF)4 with other aromatic compounds. The experimental and DFT studies showed that the efficient sensing ability of PA by 1(DMF)4 in the solid-state was due to photoelectron transfer (PET) and FRET phenomena described herein.

NMR detection of the strained metallacycles in organolithiums: theoretical study.

For the first time through quantum chemistry methods, the effective use of 1JCLi spin-spin coupling constants as descriptors for assessing the formation of strained metallacycles is demonstrated. Both acyclic organolithiums and 3- to 7-membered metallacycles are examined. 80 organolithium compounds, including both monomeric and dimeric species, with ligands containing fluorine, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon (in the form of carbanions), are tested. In general, the 1JCLi values below 12 Hz for monomeric species and below 6 Hz for dimeric species serve as clear indicators of strained monomeric metallacycle formation (for 6Li nuclei). The primary contributor to the overall 1JCLi value is the Fermi-contact term, which correlates directly with the carbon-lithium interatomic distance and allows to distinguish between dimers and monomers.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity of High-Valent Carbene Dicarboxamide-Based Nickel Pincer Complexes.

High-valent metal-fluoride complexes are currently being explored for concerted proton-electron transfer (CPET) reactions, the driving force being the high bond dissociation energy of H-F (BDEH-F = 135 kcal/mol) that is formed after the reaction. Ni(III)-fluoride-based complexes on the pyridine dicarboxamide pincer ligand framework have been utilized for CPET reactions toward phenols and hydrocarbons. We have replaced the central pyridine ligand with an N-heterocyclic carbene carbene to probe its effect in both stabilizing the high-valent Ni(III) state and its ability to initiate CPET reactions. We report a monomeric carbene-diamide-based Ni(II)-fluoride pincer complex that was characterized through 1H/19F NMR, mass spectrometry, UV-vis, and X-ray crystallography analysis. Although carbenes and deprotonated carboxamides in the Ni(II)-fluoride complex are expected to stabilize the Ni(III) state upon oxidation, the Ni(III)/Ni(II) redox process occurred at very high potential (0.87 V vs Fc+/Fc, dichloromethane) and was irreversible. Structural studies indicate significant distortion in the imidazolium "NCN" carbene plane of Ni(II)-fluoride caused by the formation of six-membered metallacycles. The high-valent NiIII-fluoride analogue was synthesized by the addition of 1.0 equiv CTAN (ceric tetrabutylammonium nitrate) in dichloromethane at -20 °C which was characterized by UV-vis, mass spectrometry, and EPR spectroscopy. Density functional theory studies indicate that the Ni-carbene bond elongated, while the Ni-F bond shortened upon oxidation to the Ni(III) species. The high-valent Ni(III)-fluoride was found to react with the substituted phenols. Analysis of the KIE and linear free energy relationship correlates well with the CPET nature of the reaction. Preliminary analysis indicates that the CPET is asynchronous and is primarily driven by the E0' of the Ni(III)-fluoride complex.

Asymmetric Reductive Coupling of Alkynes and Imines via Cobalt-Catalyzed Formation of Zinc Metallacycles

Asymmetric Reductive Coupling of Alkynes and Imines via Cobalt-Catalyzed Formation of Zinc Metallacycles

Enantioselective Rhodium‐Catalyzed Pauson–Khand Reactions of 1,6‐Chloroenynes with 1,1‐Disubstituted Olefins

AbstractAn enantioselective rhodium(I)‐catalyzed Pauson–Khand reaction (PKR) using 1,6‐chloroenynes that contain challenging 1,1‐disubstituted olefins is described. In contrast to the previous studies with these types of substrates, which are only suitable for a single type of tether and alkyne substituent, the new approach results in a more expansive substrate scope, including carbon and heteroatom tethers with polar and non‐polar substituents on the alkene. DFT calculations provide critical insight into the role of the halide, which pre‐polarizes the alkyne to lower the barrier for metallacycle formation and provides the proper steric profile to promote a favorable enantiodetermining interaction between substrate and chiral diphosphine ligand. Hence, the chloroalkyne enables the efficient and enantioselective PKR with 1,6‐enynes that contain challenging 1,1‐disubstituted olefins, thereby representing a new paradigm for enantioselective reactions involving 1,6‐enynes.

Enantioselective Rhodium-Catalyzed Pauson-Khand Reactions of 1,6-Chloroenynes with 1,1-Disubstituted Olefins.

An enantioselective rhodium(I)-catalyzed Pauson-Khand reaction (PKR) using 1,6-chloroenynes that contain challenging 1,1-disubstituted olefins is described. In contrast to the previous studies with these types of substrates, which is only suitable for a single type of tether and alkyne substituent, the new approach results in a more expansive substrate scope, including carbon and heteroatom tethers with polar and non-polar substituents on the alkene. DFT calculations provide critical insight into the role of the halide, which pre-polarizes the alkyne to lower the barrier for the metallacycle formation and provides the proper steric profile to promote a favorable enantiodetermining interaction between substrate and chiral diphosphine ligand. Hence, the chloroalkyne enables the efficient and enantioselective PKR with 1,6-enynes that contain challenging 1,1-disubstituted olefins, which represents a new paradigm for enantioselective reactions involving 1,6-enynes.

Iron/Photosensitizer-Catalyzed Directed C–H Activation Triggered by the Formation of an Iron Metallacycle

C–H functionalization reactions catalyzed by iron, the most abundant transition metallic element in the Earth’s crust, are one of the ideal synthetic methods. However, there are a limited number of strategies for iron-catalyzed directed C–H activation reactions when compared to reactions catalyzed by other first-row transition metals. Here, we report the iron/photosensitizer-catalyzed C–H alkenylation of amide derivatives via a σ-CAM (σ-complex-assisted metathesis) promoted by the in situ generation of an iron metallacycle. Mechanistic experiments suggest that the C–H bond cleavage would proceed via the σ-CAM from a metallacycle generated in situ rather than via the oxidative addition to a low-valent iron species.

Highly emissive perylene diimide-based bowtie-shaped metallacycles

Metallacycles hold great promise for fluorescence-based sensing due to their synthetic advantages and unique physicochemical properties. However, it remains highly challenging to develop a versatile methodology for constructing highly emissive metallacycles with targeted functionalities and therefore sought-after properties. Herein, we report a general strategy to construct a series of highly emissive perylene diimide-based metallacycles via the self-assembly of perylene diimide-based tetrapyridyl ligand with different dicarboxylic ligands featuring fixed angles and cis-Pt(PEt3)2(OTf)2. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses verify the formation of bowtie-like metallacycles with two triangular cavities. Notably, the fluorescence quantum yields of most assemblies exceed 98%, amongst the highest values for metallacycles. Additionally, such metallacycles exhibit sensitive fluorescence responses toward picric acid with a detection limit of 2.8 × 10−6 mol/L. This study not only provides a rational strategy for preparing highly emissive bowtie-shaped metallacycles, but also sheds light on their usage in the detection of picric acid and associated compounds.

Frontispiece: Recent Advances in the Syntheses and Catalytic Applications of Homonuclear Ru‐, Rh‐, and Ir‐Complexes of CNHC^C Cyclometalated Ligands

Formation of stable metallacycles through the generation of metal-carbon covalent bonds by activating unreactive Csp2-H or Csp3-H bonds, enhances the applicability scope of metal complexes, especially in the area of homogeneous catalysis. Recent developments in the arena of CNHC^C cyclometalated transition metal complexes, including synthesis and catalytic applications, are described in the Minireview by A. Rit and co-workers on page 16581 ff.

Recent Advances in the Syntheses and Catalytic Applications of Homonuclear Ru‐, Rh‐, and Ir‐Complexes of CNHC^C Cyclometalated Ligands

In the past few decades, chemistry of cyclometalated species has gained momentum with increased applications in several areas of scientific developments. Cyclometalation reactions result in the formation of stable metallacycles through the generation of metal-carbon covalent bonds by activating the unreactive Csp2 -H or Csp3 -H bonds. The extra stability gained by the formation of metallacycles enhances their applicability scopes especially in the area of homogeneous catalysis. In the recent research development in this area, NHC ligands (strong σ-donor and generally, weak π-acceptor) have been found to be one of the most suitable candidates for the intramolecular C-H activation process which leads to the cyclometalated species. The growth in the area of cyclometalation chemistry that started in the late 20th century is still continuing and in the past few decades, various examples of NHC derived transition metal-based cyclometalated complexes came into the picture. As covering all the reported literatures in this area (includes mainly late transition metals) will exceed the limits of minireview, we restricted ourselves to the recent (2015 - May 2021) examples of the most common Ru-, Rh-, and Ir-based CNHC ^C cyclometalated complexes and their applications in various homogeneous catalytic conversions such as transfer hydrogenation, amidation, oxidation of alcohols, annulations, and so forth.

Transition Metal (Ni, Cu, Pd)-Catalyzed Alkene Dicarbofunctionalization Reactions.

Recently, alkene dicarbofunctionalization, i.e., the powerful organic synthesis method of alkene difunctionalization with two carbon sources, emerged as a formidable reaction with immense promise to synthesize complex molecules expeditiously from simple chemicals. This reaction is generally achieved with transition metals (TMs) through interception by carbon sources of an alkylmetal [β-H-C(sp3)-[M]] species, a key intermediate prone to undergo rapid β-H elimination. Related prior reports, since Paolo Chiusoli and Catellani's work in 1982 [ Tetrahedron Lett. 1982, 23, 4517], have used bicyclic and disubstituted terminal alkenes, wherein β-H elimination is avoided by geometric restriction or complete lack of β-H's. With reasoning that β-H-C(sp3)-[M] intermediates could be rendered amenable to interception with the use of first row late TMs and formation of coordination-assisted transient metallacycles, these two strategies were implemented to address the β-H elimination problem in alkene dicarbofunctionalization reactions.Because first row late TMs catalyze C(sp3)-C(sp3) coupling, Cu and Ni were anticipated to impart sufficient stability to β-H-C(sp3)-[M] intermediates, generated catalytically upon alkene carbometalation, for their subsequent interception by carbon electrophiles/nucleophiles in three-component reactions. Additionally, such an innate property could enable alkene difunctionalization with carbon coupling partners through entropically driven cyclization/coupling reactions. The cyclometalation concept to stabilize intractable β-H-C(sp3)-[M] intermediates was hypothesized when three-component reactions were performed. The idea of cyclometalation to curtail β-H elimination is founded upon Whitesides's [ J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1976, 98, 6521] observation that metallacycles undergo β-H elimination much slower than acyclic alkylmetals.In this Account, examples of alkene dicarbofunctionalization reactions demonstrate that Cu and Ni catalysts could enable cyclization/coupling of alkenylzinc reagents, alkyl halides, and aryl halides to afford complex carbo- and heterocycles. In addition, forming coordination-assisted transient nickellacycles enabled regioselective performance of three-component dicarbofunctionalization of various alkenyl compounds. In situ reaction of [M]-H with alkenes generated after β-H elimination induced an unprecedented metallacycle contraction process, in which six-membered metal-containing rings shrank to five-membered cycles, allowing creation of new carbon-carbon bonds at allylic (1,3) positions. Applications of these regioselective alkene dicarbofunctionalization reactions are discussed.

Selective Construction of Trefoil knots and a Molecular Borromean Ring Induced by Steric Hindrance of Thioether Ligands.

Two Cp*-RhIII based trefoil knots were obtained in high yield under ambient conditions via the coordination-driven self-assembly of semi-rigid thioether dipyridyl ligand 1,4-bis[(pyridin-4-ylthio)methyl]benzene (L1 ), ligand chloranilic acid (H2 -CA) and 6,11-dihydroxytetracene-5,12-dione (H2 -TtDo) with Cp*RhIII metal corner units, respectively. Furthermore, using the bulkier 4,4'-{[(2,5-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene)bis(methylene)]bis(sulfanediyl)}dipyridine (L2 ) in the place of ligand L1 in the construction process resulted in the formation of a teranuclear metallacycle and a template-free Borromean ring in high yields thanks to significantly altered intermolecular forces between the constituent ligands induced by the sterically-hindering methyl groups of L2 , as demonstrated via a detailed X-ray crystallographic analysis and NMR spectroscopy.

Cyclobutadiene Rhodium Complexes as Catalysts for the Synthesis of Amides from Electron‐rich Arenes, Tosyl Azide and CO

AbstractCyclobutadiene rhodium complexes [(C4R4)RhX]2 (R=Et, Ph; X=I, Cl) at 0.5 mol % loading catalyze the formation of aromatic amides from various indoles, tosyl azide, and carbon monoxide (1 atm). The reaction gives good yields of the target products (typically 60–85 %) and tolerates both donor and moderately acceptor substituents in the indoles (alkyl, OMe, Hal, COOMe, but not CN). The DFT calculations at the PBE/3ζ level revealed a new plausible mechanism for the reaction of TsN3 with CO via cycloaddition and formation of RhCON3 metallacycle, which is more favorable than the commonly assumed formation of nitrene intermediate.

SYNTHESIS AND SPECTRAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HETEROMETALLIC COMPLEXES OF Pr(III) WITH Zn(II), CO(II) BASED ON ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETIC AND ETHYLENEDIAMINEDISUCCINIC ACIDS

New heterometallic f-d-complexes of Pr (III), Co(II), Zn(II) with aminopolycarboxylic acids (ethylenediaminetetraacetic, ethylenediaminedisuccinic acids) have been synthesized and spectroscopically characterized. It was found that complexes with a molar ratio of Pr:M3d: EDTA=1:2:2 are formed for ethylenediaminetetraacetic compounds, and that in the case of complexes based on EDDS, heteronuclear compounds of the equimolar composition Pr: M3d: EDDS = 1: 1: 1 are formed. It is shown that it is expedient to carry out the synthesis of heterometallic complexes on the basis of mono­nuclear polycarboxylates of 3d metals, which act as a «building block» for the preparation of a heterobinuclear compound by the exo coordination of additional metal ions. The complexes are characterized by the method of electron absorption spectroscopy. It is shown that independent of 3d-metal, for both heterometallic systems based on EDDS, a hypsochromic shift of the absorption maxima relative to νmax is observed for the homonuclear praseodymium complex. For ethylenediaminetetraacetate systems, the absorption maxima undergo both low- and high-frequency shift, which indicates the different nature of the ligand field effect, which is caused primarily by differences in the structure of the corresponding heteronuclearaminopolycarboxylates due to the presence of a chiral carbon atom in the EDDS molecule. For the supersensitive transitions Pr(III)) 3H4 →3P2 and 3H4 → 1D2 , the covalence parameters of the Ln-O bond have been calculated: osci­llator power (P), nepheloxetic parameter (β), covalence parameter (b1/2), Sinha parameter (δ). Analysis of the spectroscopic parameters indicates a decrease in the covalence of the lanthanide-ligand bond in the transition from mono- to heteronuclear complex, and a decrease in the local symmetry of the lanthanide ion occurs in the order Ln (III) aqua ion <hete­rometallic complex <monometallic complex. Heteronuclear complexes are several orders of magnitude more stable than mononuclear ones due to the formation of additional bonds or metallacycles with donor ligand atoms. It is noted that the stability of complexes with EDDS is lower than that of the corresponding complexes with EDTA due to the different size and number of chelated metallacycles. The obtained heteronuclear complexes belong to folded complexes, in which the ligand-complexone realizes the maximum denticity to the lanthanide ion, and the coordination sphere of the 3d-cation is formed by carboxyl groups EDTA / EDDS and inner-sphere water molecules. In this case, the ions of 3d-metals are in a distorted octahedral environment, and the coordination number of Pr(III) is 8.

Site-selective functionalization of remote aliphatic C-H bonds via C-H metallation.

Directing group assistance provided a paradigm for controlling site-selectivity in transition metal-catalyzed C–H functionalization reactions. However, the kinetically and thermodynamically favored formation of 5-membered metallacycles has greatly hampered the selective activation of remote C(sp3)–H bonds via larger-membered metallacycles. Recent development to achieve remote C(sp3)–H functionalization via the C–H metallation process largely relies on employing specific substrates without accessible proximal C–H bonds. Encouragingly, recent advances in this field have enabled the selective functionalization of remote aliphatic C–H bonds in the presence of equally accessible proximal ones by taking advantage of the switch of the regiodetermining step, ring strain of metallacycles, multiple non-covalent interactions, and favourable reductive elimination from larger-membered metallacycles. In this review, we summarize these advancements according to the strategies used, hoping to facilitate further efforts to achieve site- and even enantioselective functionalization of remote C(sp3)–H bonds.

Mechanistic study in azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) catalyzed by bifunctional trinuclear copper(I) pyrazolate complex: Shift in rate-determining step

Trinuclear copper(I) pyrazolate [Cu(3,5-(CF3)2Pz)]3 was employed in a mechanistic study of azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). It was shown that the copper complex operates as a bifunctional catalytic system (copper source and Brønsted base) under mild conditions (RT and air atmosphere) at low catalyst loading (1 mol%). The rate-determining step of the reaction is the first C-N bond formation between azide and acetylene (azide migratory insertion) but not the copper(I) acetylide formation as commonly assumed. It was supported by the observed kinetic isotope effect equaling 1.1 and by DFT calculations. The reaction has a second-order dependence on the catalyst concentration implicating the two copper(I) centers participate in the metallacycle formation step from “bis-butterfly” tetranuclear complex Cu4L4(RC≡CH)2 in the rate-determining step. DFT calculations proved that the pyrazolate ligand acts as a Brønsted base and deprotonates the acetylene molecule providing successful catalysis. A plausible catalytic cycle of the reaction has constructed based on DFT calculations.