Cooperation towards nobility: equipping first-row transition metals with an aluminium sword.

The exploration for noble metals substitutes in catalysis has become a highly active area of research, driven by the pursuit of sustainable chemical processes. Although the utilization of base metals holds great potential as an alternative, their successful implementation in predictable catalytic processes necessitates the development of appropriate ligands. Such ligands must be capable of controlling their intricate redox chemistry and promote two-electron events, thus mimicking well-established organometallic processes in noble metal catalysis. While numerous approaches for infusing nobility to base metals have been explored, metal-ligand cooperation has garnered significant attention in recent years. Within this context, aluminium-based ligands offer interesting features to fine-tune the activity of metal centres, but their application in base metal catalysis remains largely unexplored. This perspective seeks to highlight the most recent breakthroughs in the reactivity of heterobimetallic aluminium-base-metal complexes, while also showcasing their potential to develop novel and predictable catalytic transformations. By turning the spotlight on such heterobimetallic species, we aim to inspire chemists to explore aluminium-base-metal species and expand the range of their applications as catalysts.

Mechanistic Studies on the Bismuth-Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation of Azoarenes.

Organobismuth-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation has recently been disclosed as an example of low-valent Bi redox catalysis. However, its mechanistic details have remained speculative. Herein, we report experimental and computational studies that provide mechanistic insights into a Bi-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of azoarenes using p-trifluoromethylphenol (4) and pinacolborane (5) as hydrogen sources. A kinetic analysis elucidated the rate orders in all components in the catalytic reaction and determined that 1 a (2,6-bis[N-(tert-butyl)iminomethyl]phenylbismuth) is the resting state. In the transfer hydrogenation of azobenzene using 1 a and 4, an equilibrium between 1 a and 1 a ⋅ [OAr]2 (Ar=p-CF3 -C6 H4 ) is observed, and its thermodynamic parameters are established through variable-temperature NMR studies. Additionally, pKa -gated reactivity is observed, validating the proton-coupled nature of the transformation. The ensuing 1 a ⋅ [OAr]2 is crystallographically characterized, and shown to be rapidly reduced to 1 a in the presence of 5. DFT calculations indicate a rate-limiting transition state in which the initial N-H bond is formed via concerted proton transfer upon nucleophilic addition of 1 a to a hydrogen-bonded adduct of azobenzene and 4. These studies guided the discovery of a second-generation Bi catalyst, the rate-limiting transition state of which is lower in energy, leading to catalytic transfer hydrogenation at lower catalyst loadings and at cryogenic temperature.

Csp2-H Amination Reactions Mediated by Metastable Pseudo-Oh Masked Aryl-CoIII-nitrene Species.

Cobalt-catalyzed C-H amination via M-nitrenoid species is spiking the interest of the research community. Understanding this process at a molecular level is a challenging task, and here we report a well-defined macrocyclic system featuring a pseudo-Oh aryl-CoIII species that reacts with aliphatic azides to effect intramolecular Csp2-N bond formation. Strikingly, a putative aryl-Co═NR nitrenoid intermediate species is formed and is rapidly trapped by a carboxylate ligand to form a carboxylate masked-nitrene, which functions as a shortcut to stabilize and guide the reaction to productive intramolecular Csp2-N bond formation. On one hand, several intermediate species featuring the Csp2-N bond formed have been isolated and structurally characterized, and the essential role of the carboxylate ligand has been proven. Complementarily, a thorough density functional theory study of the Csp2-N bond formation mechanism explains at the molecular level the key role of the carboxylate-masked nitrene species, which is essential to tame the metastability of the putative aryl-CoIII═NR nitrene species to effectively yield the Csp2-N products. The solid molecular mechanistic scheme determined for the Csp2-N bond forming reaction is fully supported by both experimental and computation complementary studies.

Mechanism of the Aryl-F Bond-Forming Step from Bi(V) Fluorides.

In this article, we describe a combined experimental and theoretical mechanistic investigation of the C(sp2)-F bond formation from neutral and cationic high-valent organobismuth(V) fluorides, featuring a dianionic bis-aryl sulfoximine ligand. An exhaustive assessment of the substitution pattern in the ligand, the sulfoximine, and the reactive aryl on neutral triarylbismuth(V) difluorides revealed that formation of dimeric structures in solution promotes facile Ar-F bond formation. Noteworthy, theoretical modeling of reductive elimination from neutral bismuth(V) difluorides agrees with the experimentally determined kinetic and thermodynamic parameters. Moreover, the addition of external fluoride sources leads to inactive octahedral anionic Bi(V) trifluoride salts, which decelerate reductive elimination. On the other hand, a parallel analysis for cationic bismuthonium fluorides revealed the crucial role of tetrafluoroborate anion as fluoride source. Both experimental and theoretical analyses conclude that C-F bond formation occurs through a low-energy five-membered transition-state pathway, where the F anion is delivered to a C(sp2) center, from a BF4 anion, reminiscent of the Balz-Schiemann reaction. The knowledge gathered throughout the investigation permitted a rational assessment of the key parameters of several ligands, identifying the simple sulfone-based ligand family as an improved system for the stoichiometric and catalytic fluorination of arylboronic acid derivatives.

Well-Defined Aryl-FeII Complexes in Cross-Coupling and C-H Activation Processes.

Herein we explore the intrinsic organometallic reactivity of iron embedded in a tetradentate N3C macrocyclic ligand scaffold that allows the stabilization of aryl-Fe species, which are key intermediates in Fe-catalyzed cross-coupling and C-H functionalization processes. This study covers C-H activation reactions using Me L H and FeCl2, biaryl C-C coupling product formation through reaction with Grignard reagents, and cross-coupling reactions using Me L Br or H L Br in combination with Fe0(CO)5. Synthesis under light irradiation and moderate heating (50 °C) affords the aryl-FeII complexes [FeII(Br)( Me L)(CO)] (1 Me ) and [FeII( H L)(CO)2]Br (1 H ). Exhaustive spectroscopic characterization of these rare low-spin diamagnetic species, including their crystal structures, allowed the investigation of their intrinsic reactivity.

Smart Dual-Functionalized Gold Nanoclusters for Spatio-Temporally Controlled Delivery of Combined Chemo- and Photodynamic Therapy.

We report the preparation of gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) as a delivery vehicle for the clinically approved photodynamic and chemotherapeutic agents Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) and doxorubicin (DOX), respectively, and their effect on tumor cells. DOX was attached to the gold nanoclusters through a singlet oxygen-cleavable linker and was therefore released after PpIX irradiation with red light, contributing, synergistically with singlet oxygen, to induce cell death. The doubly functionalized AuNCs proved more effective than a combination of individually functionalized AuNCs. Unlike free DOX, the photoactive nanosystem was non-toxic in the absence of light, which paves the way to introduce a spatiotemporal control of the anticancer therapy and could contribute to reducing the undesirable side effects of DOX.

Bismuth-Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of Arylboronic Acids with Triflate and Nonaflate Salts.

Herein we present a Bi-catalyzed cross-coupling of arylboronic acids with perfluoroalkyl sulfonate salts based on a Bi(III)/Bi(V) redox cycle. An electron-deficient sulfone ligand proved to be key for the successful implementation of this protocol, which allows the unusual construction of C(sp2)-O bonds using commercially available NaOTf and KONf as coupling partners. Preliminary mechanistic studies as well as theoretical investigations reveal the intermediacy of a highly electrophilic Bi(V) species, which rapidly eliminates phenyl triflate.

Unravelling the mechanism of cobalt-catalysed remote C-H nitration of 8-aminoquinolinamides and expansion of substrate scope towards 1-naphthylpicolinamide.

Previously, an unexpected Co-catalysed remote C-H nitration of 8-aminoquinolinamide compounds was developed. This report provided a novel reactivity for Co which was assumed to proceed through the mechanistic pathway already known for analogous Cu-catalysed remote couplings of the same substrates. In order to shed light into this intriguing, and previously unobserved reactivity for Co, a thorough computational study has now been performed, which has allowed for a full understanding of the operative mechanism. This study demonstrates that the Co-catalysed remote coupling does not occur through the previously proposed Single Electron Transfer (SET) mechanism, but actually operates through a high-spin induced remote radical coupling mechanism, through a key intermediate with significant proportion of spin density at the 5- and 7-positions of the aminoquinoline ring. Additionally, new experimental data provides expansion of the synthetic utility of the original nitration procedure towards 1-naphthylpicolinamide which unexpectedly appears to operate via a subtly different mechanism despite having a similar chelate environment.

Fluorination of arylboronic esters enabled by bismuth redox catalysis.

Bismuth catalysis has traditionally relied on the Lewis acidic properties of the element in a fixed oxidation state. In this paper, we report a series of bismuth complexes that can undergo oxidative addition, reductive elimination, and transmetallation in a manner akin to transition metals. Rational ligand optimization featuring a sulfoximine moiety produced an active catalyst for the fluorination of aryl boronic esters through a bismuth (III)/bismuth (V) redox cycle. Crystallographic characterization of the different bismuth species involved, together with a mechanistic investigation of the carbon-fluorine bond-forming event, identified the crucial features that were combined to implement the full catalytic cycle.

Bi(I)-Catalyzed Transfer-Hydrogenation with Ammonia-Borane.

A catalytic transfer-hydrogenation utilizing a well-defined Bi(I) complex as catalyst and ammonia-borane as transfer agent has been developed. This transformation represents a unique example of low-valent pnictogen catalysis cycling between oxidation states I and III, and proved useful for the hydrogenation of azoarenes and the partial reduction of nitroarenes. Interestingly, the bismuthinidene catalyst performs well in the presence of low-valent transition-metal sensitive functional groups and presents orthogonal reactivity compared to analogous phosphorus-based catalysis. Mechanistic investigations suggest the intermediacy of an elusive bismuthine species, which is proposed to be responsible for the hydrogenation and the formation of hydrogen.

Aerobic C-C and C-O bond formation reactions mediated by high-valent nickel species.

Nickel complexes have been widely employed as catalysts in C-C and C-heteroatom bond formation reactions. While Ni(0), Ni(i), and Ni(ii) intermediates are most relevant in these transformations, recently Ni(iii) and Ni(iv) species have also been proposed to play a role in catalysis. Reported herein is the synthesis, detailed characterization, and reactivity of a series of Ni(ii) and Ni(iii) metallacycle complexes stabilized by tetradentate pyridinophane ligands with various N-substituents. Interestingly, while the oxidation of the Ni(ii) complexes with various other oxidants led to exclusive C-C bond formation in very good yields, the use of O2 or H2O2 as oxidants led to formation of appreciable amounts of C-O bond formation products, especially for the Ni(ii) complex supported by an asymmetric pyridinophane ligand containing one tosyl N-substituent. Moreover, cryo-ESI-MS studies support the formation of several high-valent Ni species as key intermediates in this uncommon Ni-mediated oxygenase-type chemistry.

Towards optimized naphthalocyanines as sonochromes for photoacoustic imaging in vivo.

In this paper we establish a methodology to predict photoacoustic imaging capabilities from the structure of absorber molecules (sonochromes). The comparative in vitro and in vivo screening of naphthalocyanines and cyanine dyes has shown a substitution pattern dependent shift in photoacoustic excitation wavelength, with distal substitution producing the preferred maximum around 800 nm. Central ion change showed variable production of photoacoustic signals, as well as singlet oxygen photoproduction and fluorescence with the optimum for photoacoustic imaging being nickel(II). Our approach paves the way for the design, evaluation and realization of optimized sonochromes as photoacoustic contrast agents.

Acid- and hydrogen-bonding-induced switching between 22-π and 18-π electron conjugations in 2-aminothiazolo[4,5-c]porphycenes.

2-Aminothiazolo[4,5-c]porphycenes are a novel class of 22-π electron aromatic porphycene derivatives prepared by click reaction of porphycene isothiocyanates with primary and secondary amines with high potential as near-infrared theranostic labels. Herein, the optical and photophysical properties of 2-aminothiazolo[4,5-c]porphycenes have been studied, revealing a strong dependence on hydrogen bond donor solvents and acids. High hydrogen bond donor solvents and acids shift the absorption and fluorescence emission of 2-aminothiazolo[4,5-c]porphycenes to the blue due to a contraction of their aromatic system from 22-π to 18-π electrons. Finally, the aromatic shift has been successfully used to measure the pH using 2-aminothiazoloporphycene-labelled gold nanoclusters, paving the way for the use of these compounds as near infrared pH-sensitive probes.

Carboxylate-Assisted Formation of Aryl-Co(III) Masked-Carbenes in Cobalt-Catalyzed C-H Functionalization with Diazo Esters.

Herein we describe the synthesis of a family of aryl-Co(III)-carboxylate complexes and their reactivity with ethyl diazoacetate. Crystallographic, full spectroscopic characterization, and theoretical evidence of unique C-metalated aryl-Co(III) enolate intermediates is provided, unraveling a carboxylate-assisted formation of aryl-Co(III) masked-carbenes. Moreover, additional evidence for an unprecedented Co(III)-mediated intramolecular SN2-type C-C bond formation in which the carboxylate moiety acts as a relay is disclosed. This novel strategy is key to tame the hot reactivity of a metastable Co(III)-carbene and elicit C-C coupling products in a productive manner.

Isolation of Key Organometallic Aryl-Co(III) Intermediates in Cobalt-Catalyzed C(sp2)-H Functionalizations and New Insights into Alkyne Annulation Reaction Mechanisms.

The selective annulation reaction of alkynes with substrates containing inert C-H bonds using cobalt as catalyst is currently a topic attracting significant interest. Unfortunately, the mechanism of this transformation is still relatively poorly understood, with little experimental evidence for intermediates, although an organometallic Co(III) species is generally implicated. Herein, we describe a rare example of the preparation and characterization of benchtop-stable organometallic aryl-Co(III) compounds (NMR, HRMS, XAS, and XRD) prepared through a C(sp2)-H activation, using a model macrocyclic arene substrate. Furthermore, we provide crystallographic evidence of an organometallic aryl-Co(III) intermediate proposed in 8-aminoquinoline-directed Co-catalyzed C-H activation processes. Subsequent insights obtained from the application of our new organometallic aryl-Co(III) compounds in alkyne annulation reactions are also disclosed. Evidence obtained from the resulting regioselectivity of the annulation reactions and DFT studies indicates that a mechanism involving an organometallic aryl-Co(III)-alkynyl intermediate species is preferred for terminal alkynes, in contrast to the generally accepted migratory insertion pathway.

Distance-Dependent Plasmon-Enhanced Singlet Oxygen Production and Emission for Bacterial Inactivation.

Herein, we synthesized a series of 10 core-shell silver-silica nanoparticles with a photosensitizer, Rose Bengal, tethered to their surface. Each nanoparticle possesses an identical silver core of about 67 nm, but presents a different silica shell thickness ranging from 5 to 100 nm. These hybrid plasmonic nanoparticles thus afford a plasmonic nanostructure platform with a source of singlet oxygen ((1)O2) at a well-defined distance from the metallic core. Via time-resolved and steady state spectroscopic techniques, we demonstrate the silver core exerts a dual role of enhancing both the production of (1)O2, through enhanced absorption of light, and its radiative decay, which in turn boosts (1)O2 phosphorescence emission to a greater extent. Furthermore, we show both the production and emission of (1)O2 in vitro to be dependent on proximity to the plasmonic nanostructure. Our results clearly exhibit three distinct regimes as the plasmonic nanostructure moves apart from the (1)O2 source, with a greater enhancement for silica shell thicknesses ranging between 10 and 20 nm. Moreover, these hybrid plasmonic nanoparticles can be delivered to both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria boosting both photoantibacterial activity and detection limit of (1)O2 in cells.

Synthesis, photophysical characterization, and photoinduced antibacterial activity of methylene blue-loaded amino- and mannose-targeted mesoporous silica nanoparticles.

Over the last 20 years, the number of pathogenic multi-resistant microorganisms has grown steadily, which has stimulated the search for new strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT), also called photodynamic inactivation, is emerging as a promising alternative to treatments based on conventional antibiotics. We have explored the effectiveness of methylene blue-loaded targeted mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNP) in the photodynamic inactivation of two Gram negative bacteria, namely Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For E. coli, nanoparticle association clearly reduced the dark toxicity of MB while preserving its photoinactivation activity. For P. aeruginosa, a remarkable difference was observed between amino- and mannose-decorated nanoparticles. The details of singlet oxygen production in the nanoparticles have been characterized, revealing the presence of two populations of this cytotoxic species. Strong quenching of singlet oxygen within the nanoparticles is observed.

A novel fluoro-chromogenic click reaction for the labelling of proteins and nanoparticles with near-IR theranostic agents.

Reaction of porphycene isothiocyanates with primary and secondary amines leads to the formation of thiazolo[4,5-c]porphycenes, with a substantial shift in the absorption and fluorescence spectra. The conjugates show fluorescence in the near-infrared and are capable of photosensitizing the production of the cytotoxic species singlet oxygen.

Structural modeling of iron halogenases: synthesis and reactivity of halide-iron(IV)-oxo compounds.

A structural synthetic model of the iron(IV)-oxo-halide active species of non-heme iron dependent halogenases is reported. Compounds with general formula [Fe(IV)(O)(X)(Pytacn)](+) (1-X, X = Cl, Br) have been prepared and characterized spectroscopically and chemically with regard to their oxidizing ability. 1-X performs hydrogen-atom abstraction of C-H bonds at reaction rates 2-3 times faster than the corresponding solvato dicationic species, thus modelling the first step in C-H functionalization taking place in natural halogenation.