Well-defined N-heterocyclic Carbene Research Articles

Mechanistic Studies of Catalytic Carbon–Carbon Cross-Coupling by Well-Defined Iron NHC Complexes

The mechanism of iron-catalyzed carbon–carbon cross-coupling reactions between Grignard reagents and alkyl halides has been investigated using well-defined N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) compounds. The iron(II) precatalyst, [Fe2Cl2(μ-Cl)2(IPr)2], was employed in several C–C cross coupling reactions exhibiting the ability to efficiently couple primary and secondary alkyl halides with several aryl and alkyl Grignard reagents. For selected substrates, a 2 mol % catalyst loading (4 mol % Fe) afforded conversions of >99% and were achieved with <8% homocoupling of the electrophile. The mechanism of the coupling reaction was studied by means of radical clock, radical trap, and single-turnover experiments, which support a radical-based cycle involving an Fe(II/III) redox couple. The implications of this mechanism on the efficacy of iron-NHC-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions are discussed.

Mechanism of trifluoromethylation reactions with well-defined NHC copper trifluoromethyl complexes and iodobenzene: A computational exploration

Abstract Computational calculation was performed to investigate the mechanism of trifluoromethylation reactions of iodobenzene with well-defined N -heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-supported Cu I trifluoromethyl complexes. Four proposed reaction pathways, namely σ-bond metathesis (BM), concerted oxidative addition–reductive elimination (OARE), iodine atom transfer (IAT) and single-electron transfer (SET), have been computed by density functional theory (DFT). The result indicated that the concerted OARE mechanism is favored among the four reaction pathways, suggesting the trifluoromethylation may occur via concerted OARE mechanism involving Ar–X oxidative addition to the Cu(I) center as the rate determining step.

N-Heterocyclic carbene–palladium(II)-1-methylimidazole complex catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck reaction of aryl chlorides with styrenes

A well-defined N-heterocyclic carbene–palladium(II)-1-methylimidazole [NHC-Pd(II)-Im] complex 1 was found to be an effective catalyst for the Mizoroki–Heck reaction of a variety of aryl chlorides with styrenes. Both activated and deactivated aryl chlorides work well to give the corresponding coupling products in good to excellent yields by using tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as the ionic liquid.

NHC–Pd(II)–Im (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene, Im=1-methylimidazole) complex catalyzed coupling reaction of arylboronic acids with carboxylic acid anhydrides in water

A well-defined N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)–palladium chloride–imidazole complex exhibited high catalytic activity in the coupling reaction of arylboronic acids with carboxylic acid anhydrides in pure water under mild conditions. Under the optimal conditions, all reactions gave the desired coupling products in moderate to high yields.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene Based Ruthenium-Catalyzed Direct Amide Synthesis from Alcohols and Secondary Amines: Involvement of Esters

A well-defined N-heterocyclic carbene based ruthenium complex was developed as a highly active precatalyst for the direct amide synthesis from alcohols and secondary amines. Notably, reaction of 1-hexanol and dibenzylamine afforded 60% of the corresponding amide using our catalytic system, while no amide formation was observed for this reaction with the previously reported catalytic systems. Unlike the previously reported amidation with less sterically hindered alcohols and amines, involvement of ester intermediates was observed.

NHC–Pd(II)–Im (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene; Im = 1-methylimidazole) complexes as efficient catalysts for Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions of aryl chlorides

A new type of well-defined N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-palladium chloride-imidazole complexes derived from IPr HCl or IMes HCl, PdCl 2 and 1-methylimidazole exhibits high catalytic activity in the room-temperature Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions of aryl or heteroaryl chlorides. Moreover, the large-scale (20.0 mmol) couplings in the presence of 0.01 mol% catalyst loading can also give the corresponding coupling products in high yields.

Well-defined N-heterocyclic carbene silver halides of 1-cyclohexyl-3-arylmethylimidazolylidenes: synthesis, structure and catalysis in A3-reaction of aldehydes, amines and alkynes

Structurally well-defined N-heterocyclic carbene silver chlorides and bromides supported by 1-cyclohexyl-3-benzylimidazolylidene (CyBn-NHC) or 1-cyclohexyl-3-naphthalen-2-ylmethylimidazolylidene (CyNaph-NHC) were synthesized by reaction of the corresponding imidazolium halides with silver(I) oxide while cationic bis(CyBn-NHC) silver nitrate was isolated under similar conditions using imidazolium iodide in the presence of sodium nitrate. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed a dimeric structure through a nonpolar weak-hydrogen-bond supported Ag-Ag bond for 1-cyclohexyl-3-benzylimidazolylidene silver halides [(CyBn-NHC)AgX](2) (X = Cl, 1; Br, 2) but a monomeric structure for N-heterocyclic carbene silver halides with the more sterically demanding 1-cyclohexyl-3-naphthalen-2-ylmethylimidazolylidene ligand (CyNaph-NHC)AgX (X = Cl, 4; Br, 5). Cationic biscarbene silver nitrate [(CyBn-NHC)(2)Ag](+)NO(3)(-)3 assumed a cis orientation with respect to the two carbene ligands. The monomeric complexes (CyNaph-NHC)AgX 4 and 5 showed higher catalytic activity than the dimeric [(CyBn-NHC)AgX](2)1 and 2 as well as the cationic biscarbene silver nitrate 3 in the model three component reaction of 3-phenylpropionaldehyde, phenylacetylene and piperidine with chloride 4 performing best and giving product in almost quantitative yield within 2 h at 100 °C. An explanation for the structure-activity relationship in N-heterocyclic carbene silver halide catalyzed three component reaction is given based on a slightly modified mechanism from the one in literature.

Well-Defined N-Heterocyclic Carbene Based Ruthenium Catalysts for Direct Amide Synthesis from Alcohols and Amines

Well-defined N-heterocyclic carbene based ruthenium complexes were developed as highly active catalysts for direct amide synthesis from alcohols and amines. A catalytic amount of a base such as KOtBu was essential to initiate the catalytic cycle. Activity of the Ru complexes was comparable with the reported in situ Ru catalysts. These catalysts provided mechanistic insight suggesting a Ru hydride species as an active catalytic intermediate. The generation of the Ru hydride was critical for the amidation of free aldehydes.

A N-heterocyclic carbene gold hydroxide complex: a golden synthon

The synthesis and complete characterisation of a well-defined N-heterocyclic carbene bearing gold hydroxide complex, [Au(OH)(IPr)], is reported. Its reaction chemistry appears rich and diverse.

Intramolecular Cycloisomerization of Aryl-Substituted Alkylidenecyclo­propanes via NHC Palladium-Catalyzed Cascade C-C Bond Cleavage/C-H Activation/C-C Bond Formation

A well-defined N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) palladium-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization reaction of aryl-substituted alkylidenecyclopropanes (ACP) to 1 -aryl dihydronaphthalenes is described. The NHC salts were found to suppress β-hydride elimination from the homoallylpalladium intermediate, which may lead to unwanted alkene formation. A plausible mechanism for the cycloisomerization was proposed.

An efficient and mild protocol for the α-arylation of ketones mediated by an (imidazol-2-ylidene)palladium(acetate) system

The activity of well-defined N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-palladium acetate complexes has been studied in the α-arylation of ketones. The enolate was generated in situ via use of slight excess of sodium tert-butoxide as base. The results showed a high activity, allowing for the coupling of non-activated chlorides. The use of hindered substrates provided an avenue for convenient synthesis of various ketone derivatives. The first examples of α-arylation of ketones at room temperature mediated by an NHC-ligated catalyst are also presented.