Tantalum ureate complexes for photocatalytic hydroaminoalkylation.

Using a tantalum ureate pre-catalyst, photocatalytic hydroaminoalkylation of unactivated alkenes with unprotected amines at room temperature is demonstrated. The combination of Ta(CH2SiMe3)3Cl2 and a ureate ligand with a saturated cyclic backbone resulted in this unique reactivity. Preliminary investigations of the reaction mechanism suggest that both the thermal and photocatalytic hydroaminoalkylation reactions begin with N-H bond activation and subsequent metallaaziridine formation. However, a select tantalum ureate complex, through ligand to metal charge transfer (LMCT), results in photocatalyzed homolytic metal-carbon bond cleavage and subsequent addition to unactivated alkene to afford the desired carbon-carbon bond formation. Origins of ligand effects on promoting homolytic metal-carbon bond cleavage are explored computationally to support enhanced ligand design efforts.

Schlenk's Legacy-Methyllithium Put under Close Scrutiny.

Commercially available stock solutions of organolithium reagents are well-implemented tools in organic and organometallic chemistry. However, such solutions are inherently contaminated with lithium halide salts, which can complicate certain synthesis protocols and purification processes. Here, we report the isolation of chloride-free methyllithium employing K[N(SiMe3 )2 ] as a halide-trapping reagent. The influence of distinct LiCl contaminations on the 7 Li-NMR chemical shift is examined and their quantification demonstrated. The structural parameters of new chloride-free monomeric methyllithium complex [(Me3 TACN)LiCH3 ], ligated by an azacrown ether, are assessed by comparison with a halide-contaminated variant and monomeric lithium chloride [(Me3 TACN)LiCl], further emphasizing the effect of halide impurities.

Selective propargylic C(sp3)-H activation of methyl-substituted alkynes versus [2 + 2] cycloaddition at a titanium imido template.

The reaction of the titanium imido complex 1b with 2-butyne leads to the formation of the titanium azadiene complex 2a at ambient temperature instead of yielding the archetypical [2 + 2] cycloaddition product (titanaazacyclobutene) which is usually obtained by combining titanium imido complexes and internal alkynes. The formation of 2a is presumably caused by an initial propargylic C(sp3)-H activation step and quantum chemical calculations suggest that the outcome of this unexpected reactivity is thermodynamically favored. The previously reported titanaazacyclobutene I (which is obtained by reacting 1b with 1-phenyl-1-propyne) undergoes a rearrangement reaction at elevated temperature to give the corresponding five-membered titanium azadiene complex 2b.

Titanium catalysis for the synthesis of fine chemicals - development and trends.

Titanium is the second most abundant transition metal and is already a key player in important industrial processes (e.g. polyethylene). Titanium is an attractive metal to use for catalytic transformations as it is a versatile and inexpensive metal of low-toxicity and of established biocompatibility. However, its potential use as a catalyst for the synthesis of fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals is often overlooked due to its oxophilic, Lewis acidic character, which renders complexes of titanium less functional group tolerant than their late transition metal counterparts. Nevertheless, three different fields of research in titanium catalysis have drawn attention in recent years: formal redox catalysis, hydroamination and hydroaminoalkylation. For these reactions, titanium offers new approaches and alternative pathways/mechanisms that are complementary to late transition metal-based catalysis. This review focuses on advances in fine chemical synthesis by titanium-catalyzed reactions featuring redox transformations and two important hydrofunctionalization reactions, hydroamination and hydroaminoalkylation. Starting from the late 90s, we provide an overview of historic inspirational contributions, both catalytic and stoichiometric, and the latest insights in catalyst design efforts, mechanistic details and utility of the three different classes of transformations. Insights to enhance catalyst activity as well as catalyst controlled regio- and stereoselectivities are presented. Illustrative examples that highlight substrate scope and the application of titanium catalysis to the synthesis of complex organic small molecules, natural products and materials are shown. Finally, opportunities and strategies for on-going research and development activities in titanium catalysis are highlighted.

Bis(η5 :η1 -pentafulvene)niobium(V) Complexes: Efficient Synthons for Niobium Carbene and Imido Derivatives.

Transition-metal carbene complexes and their reactivities are a key topic of chemistry. They are an integral part of researches in catalysis, organic synthesis, coordination chemistry, and numerous other areas. In this context, we report the synthesis of a low-valent bis(η5 :η1 -(di-p-tolyl)-pentafulvene)niobium chloride. Owing to the π-η5 :σ-η1 coordination mode of the pentafulvenes and the resulting high nucleophilic character of the exocyclic carbon atom of the ligand, the bis(η5 :η1 -pentafulvene)niobium complex is able to achieve the umpolung of a coordinated vinyl unit and the resulting formation of the first η5 :η1 cyclic niobium Schrock carbene complex. This new synthetic route is, in comparison to classical α-hydrogen elimination reactions or thermolysis of diazo compounds, completely unprecedented. The reactivity of the cyclic carbene function and the remaining fulvene ligand is demonstrated by double N-H bond activation of primary amines to niobium imido complexes.

From Five to Seven: Ring Expansion of Monoazadiene Titanium Complexes by Insertion of Aldehydes, Ketones and Nitriles.

The ring enlargement reactions at ambient temperatures of non C-terminus substituted monoazabutadiene (η4 -RN=CHCH=CH2 ) titanium complexes 2 are investigated. The insertion of aldehydes/ketones (five examples) and nitriles (four examples) into the Ti-C bonds result in expansion of the five-membered rings to uncommon seven-membered titanacycles 3 and 4 in good yields. These new compounds are fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In subsequent reactions, the seven-membered ring systems are protolyzed and the released organic fragments are isolated. Whereas the aldehyde/ketone insertion products 3 form substituted δ-amino alcohols 5 after reduction with NaBH3 CN, the nitrile insertion products 4 form substituted pyrroles 6 via cyclization.

Flexible Structural Features of Pentafulvene Titanium Derivatives: Isolation and Characterization of NHC Complexes.

The reaction of η(5),η(1)-pentafulvene titanium complexes with the strong N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) donor 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazole-2-ylidene, leads to the formation of isolable NHC titanium adducts, featuring a haptotropic shift of the pentafulvene ligand, proved by single crystal X-ray diffraction as well as NMR spectroscopy studies.

Efficient access to titanaaziridines by C-H activation of N-methylanilines at ambient temperature.

Titanaaziridines or η(2)-imine titanium complexes are considered key intermediates of the titanium-catalyzed hydroaminoalkylation of alkenes. Herein, we present an efficient synthetic route to this class of compounds, starting from N-methylanilines and a bis(η(5):η(1)-pentafulvene)titanium complex. Consecutive reactions on the η(2)-methyleneaniline complexes, characterized for the first time, prove a high chemical versatility. In particular, hydroaminoalkylation products were found in reactions of the three-membered titanacycles with alkenes. For the first time, all the intermediates of the hydroaminoalkylation of alkenes were isolated and characterized.