Phosphido-bis(borane) complexes of the alkaline earth metals.

The reaction between two equivalents of {(Me3Si)2CH}(Ph)PH(BH3) (1) and Bu2Mg, followed by two equivalents of BH3·SMe2, gives the corresponding phosphido-bis(borane) complex, which may be crystallised as two distinct chemical species: the complex [{(Me3Si)2CH}(Ph)P(BH3)2]2Mg(THF)4·THF (2a), and two different THF solvates (1 : 1 and 1 : 2) of the solvent-separated ion triples [{(Me3Si)2CH}(Ph)P(BH3)2]2[Mg(THF)6]·THF (2b) and [{(Me3Si)2CH}(Ph)P(BH3)2]2[Mg(THF)6]·2THF (2c). Similar reactions between two equivalents of 1 and either (4-tBuC6H4CH2)2Ca(THF)4 or [(Me3Si)2CH]2Sr(THF)2, followed by two equivalents of BH3·SMe2, give the heavier alkali metal complexes [{(Me3Si)2CH}(Ph)P(BH3)2]2M(THF)4 [M = Ca (3), Sr (4)]. Surprisingly, compounds 2a, 3 and 4 adopt almost identical structures in the solid state, which differ only in the geometrical arrangement of the phosphido-bis(borane) ligands and the hapticity of the borane groups.

Bonding Insights from Structural and Spectroscopic Comparisons of {SnW5 } and {TiW5 } Alkoxido- and Aryloxido-Substituted Lindqvist Polyoxometalates.

Incorporation of {MX}n+ groups into polyoxometalates (POMs) provides the means not only to introduce reactivity and functionality but also to tune the electronic properties of the oxide framework by varying M, X and n. In order to elucidate the factors responsible for differences in reactivity between {TiW5 } and {SnW5 } Lindqvist-type hexametalates, a series of alkoxido- and aryloxido-tin substituted POMs (nBu4 N)3 [(RO)SnW5 O18 ] (R=Me, Et, iPr and tBu) and (nBu4 N)3 [(ArO)SnW5 O18 ] (Ar=C6 H5 , 4-MeC6 H5 , 4-tBuC6 H5 , 4-HOC6 H4 , 3-HOC6 H4 and 2-CHOC6 H4 ) has been structurally characterised and studied by multinuclear NMR (1 H, 13 C, 17 O, 119 Sn and 183 W) and FTIR spectroscopy. Spectroscopic and structural parameters were compared with those of titanium-substituted homologues and, when coupled with theoretical studies, indicated that Sn-OR and Sn-OAr bonds are ionic with little π-contribution, whereas Ti-OR and Ti-OAr bonds are more covalent with π-bonding that is more prevalent for Ti-OR than Ti-OAr. This experimental and theoretical analysis of bonding in a homologous series of reactive POMs is the most extensive and detailed to date, and reveals factors which account for significant differences in reactivity between tin and titanium congeners.

Structural and Mechanistic Insights into s-Block Bimetallic Catalysis: Sodium Magnesiate-Catalyzed Guanylation of Amines.

To advance the catalytic applications of s-block mixed-metal complexes, sodium magnesiate [NaMg(CH2 SiMe3 )3 ] (1) is reported as an efficient precatalyst for the guanylation of a variety of anilines and secondary amines with carbodiimides. First examples of hydrophosphination of carbodiimides by using a Mg catalyst are also described. The catalytic ability of the mixed-metal system is much greater than that of its homometallic components [NaCH2 SiMe3 ] and [Mg(CH2 SiMe3 )2 ]. Stoichiometric studies suggest that magnesiate amido and guanidinate complexes are intermediates in these catalytic routes. Reactivity and kinetic studies imply that these guanylation reactions occur via (tris)amide intermediates that react with carbodiiimides in insertion steps. The rate law for the guanylation of N,N'-diisopropylcarbodiimide with 4-tert-butylaniline catalyzed by 1 is first order with respect to [amine], [carbodiimide], and [catalyst], and the reaction shows a large kinetic isotopic effect, which is consistent with an amine-assisted rate-determining carbodiimide insertion transition state. Studies to assess the effect of sodium in these transformations denote a secondary role with little involvement in the catalytic cycle.

A comparison of MOP-phosphonite ligands and their applications in Rh(i)- and Pd(ii)-catalysed asymmetric transformations.

Six chiral MOP-phosphonites have been synthesised and compared via experimental and computational methods in an effort to quantify their differing structural and electronic profiles. They were found to be electron-poor ligands in comparison to their arylphosphine analogues and have a larger trans influence in square planar Pt(ii) complexes. Four [Rh(LP)(η2:η2-cod)Cl] complexes were synthesised and characterised by NMR, HRMS and X-ray crystallography. Two [Rh(LP)2]BF4 complexes were prepared where one ligand acts as a chelating P,C-π-donor; detailed NMR studies demonstrated a hemilabile η6-coordination mode, which in one case was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Rh(i) complexes were used as catalysts in asymmetric hydrogenation and hydroformylation reactions and in the addition of phenyl boronic acid to an isatin. Pd(ii) complexes were successfully employed in asymmetric Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions yielding binaphthyl products. Two [Pd(LP)2Cl2] complexes were synthesised and characterised by X-ray crystallography, both adopting cis orientations, with one of the complexes crystallising as two pseudo-polymorphs.

High-Throughput Screening and Hit Validation of Extracellular-Related Kinase 5 (ERK5) Inhibitors.

The extracellular-related kinase 5 (ERK5) is a promising target for cancer therapy. A high-throughput screen was developed for ERK5, based on the IMAP FP progressive binding system, and used to identify hits from a library of 57 617 compounds. Four distinct chemical series were evident within the screening hits. Resynthesis and reassay of the hits demonstrated that one series did not return active compounds, whereas three series returned active hits. Structure-activity studies demonstrated that the 4-benzoylpyrrole-2-carboxamide pharmacophore had excellent potential for further development. The minimum kinase binding pharmacophore was identified, and key examples demonstrated good selectivity for ERK5 over p38α kinase.

Synthesis and crystal structure of the dinuclear copper(II) Schiff base complex µ-hydroxido-µ-chlorido-bis{[bis(trans-2-nitrocinnamaldehyde)ethylenediamine]chloridocopper(II)} dichloromethane sesquisolvate.

Transition metal complexes of Schiff base ligands have been shown to have particular application in catalysis and magnetism. The chemistry of copper complexes is of interest owing to their importance in biological and industrial processes. The reaction of copper(I) chloride with the bidentate Schiff base N,N'-bis(trans-2-nitrocinnamaldehyde)ethylenediamine {Nca2en, systematic name: (1E,1'E,2E,2'E)-N,N'-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[3-(2-nitrophenyl)prop-2-en-1-imine]} in a 1:1 molar ratio in dichloromethane without exclusion of air or moisture resulted in the formation of the title complex µ-chlorido-µ-hydroxido-bis(chlorido{(1E,1'E,2E,2'E)-N,N'-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[3-(2-nitrophenyl)prop-2-en-1-imine]-κ(2)N,N'}copper(II)) dichloromethane sesquisolvate, [Cu2Cl3(OH)(C20H18N4O4)2]·1.5CH2Cl2. The dinuclear complex has a folded four-membered ring in an unsymmetrical Cu2OCl3 core in which the approximate trigonal bipyramidal coordination displays different angular distortions in the equatorial planes of the two Cu(II) atoms; the chloride bridge is asymmetric, but the hydroxide bridge is symmetric. The chelate rings of the two Nca2en ligands have different conformations, leading to a more marked bowing of one of the ligands compared with the other. This is the first reported dinuclear complex, and the first five-coordinate complex, of the Nca2en Schiff base ligand. Molecules of the dimer are associated in pairs by ring-stacking interactions supported by C-H...Cl interactions with solvent molecules; a further ring-stacking interaction exists between the two Schiff base ligands of each molecule.

The design of second generation MOP-phosphonites: efficient chiral hydrosilylation of functionalised styrenes.

A series of enantiopure MOP-phosphonite ligands, with tailored steric profiles, have been synthesised and are proven to be very successful in high-yielding, regio- and enantioselective catalytic hydrosilylation reactions of substituted styrenes, affording important chiral secondary alcohols.

Assessing the reactivity of sodium alkyl-magnesiates towards quinoxaline: single electron transfer (SET) vs. nucleophilic alkylation processes.

By exploring the reactivity of sodium butyl-magnesiate (1) supported by the bulky chelating silyl(bisamido) ligand {Ph2Si(NAr*)2}(2-) (Ar* = 2,6-iPr2-C6H3) towards Quinoxaline (Qx), the ability of this bimetallic system to effectively promote SET processes has been disclosed. Thus 1 executes the single-electron reduction of Qx affording complex (2) whose structure in the solid state contains two quinaxolyl radical anions Qx˙ stabilised within a dimeric magnesiate framework. Combining multinuclear NMR and EPR measurements with DFT calculations, new insights into the constitution of 2 in solution and its magnetic behaviour have been gained. Further evidence on the SET reactivity of 1 was found when it was reacted with nitroxyl radical TEMPO which furnished contacted ion pair sodium magnesiate [(Ph2Si(NAr*)2)Mg(TEMPO(-))Na(THF)3] (4) where both metals are connected by an alkoxide bridge, resulting from reduction of TEMPO. The role that the different ligands present in 1 can play in these new SET reactions has also been assessed. Using an amination approach, the Bu group in 1 can be replaced by the more basic amide TMP allowing the isolation of (3) which was characterised by multinuclear NMR and X-ray crystallography. (1)H NMR monitoring of the reaction of 3 with Qx showed its conversion to 2, leaving the hydrogen atoms of the heterocycle untouched. Contrastingly, using sodium homoalkyl magnesiate [NaMg(CH2SiMe3)3] (5) led to the chemoselective C2 alkylation of this heterocycle, suggesting that the presence of the steric stabiliser {Ph2Si(NAr*)2}(2-) on the mixed-metal reagent is required in order to facilitate the Qx reduction.

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structures of the bidentate Schiff base N,N'-bis(2-nitrocinnamaldehyde)ethylenediamine and its complex with CuNCS and triphenylphosphane.

Reaction of copper(I) thiocyanate and triphenylphosphane with the bidentate Schiff base N,N'-bis(trans-2-nitrocinnamaldehyde)ethylenediamine {Nca2en, (1); systematic name (1E,1'E,2E,2'E)-N,N'-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[3-(2-nitrophenyl)prop-2-en-1-imine]}, C20H18N4O4, in a 1:1:1 molar ratio in acetonitrile resulted in the formation of the complex {(1E,1'E,2E,2'E)-N,N'-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[3-(2-nitrophenyl)prop-2-en-1-imine]-κ(2)N,N'}(thiocyanato-κN)(triphenylphosphane-κP)copper(I)], [Cu(NCS)(C20H18N4O4)(C18H15P)] or [Cu(NCS)(Nca2en)(PPh3)], (2). The Schiff base and copper(I) complex have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR, electronic and (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography [from synchrotron data for (1)]. The molecule of (1) lies on a crystallographic inversion centre, with a trans conformation for the ethylenediamine unit, and displays significant twists from coplanarity of its nitro group, aromatic ring, conjugated chain and especially ethylenediamine segments. It acts as a bidentate ligand coordinating via the imine N atoms to the Cu(I) atom in complex (2), in which the ethylenediamine unit necessarily adopts a somewhat flattened gauche conformation, resulting in a rather bowed shape overall for the ligand. The NCS(-) ligand is coordinated through its N atom. The geometry around the Cu(I) atom is distorted tetrahedral, with a small N-Cu-N bite angle of 81.56 (12)° and an enlarged opposite angle of 117.29 (9)° for SCN-Cu-P. Comparisons are made with the analogous Schiff base having no nitro substituents and with metal complexes of both ligands.

Mechanism of proton transfer to coordinated thiolates: encapsulation of acid stabilizes precursor intermediate.

Earlier kinetic studies on the protonation of the coordinated thiolate in the square-planar [Ni(SC6H4R'-4)(triphos)](+) (R' = NO2, Cl, H, Me or MeO) by lutH(+) (lut = 2,6-dimethylpyridine) indicate a two-step mechanism involving initial formation of a (kinetically detectable) precursor intermediate, {[Ni(SC6H4R'-4)(triphos)]···Hlut}(2+) (K(R)1), followed by an intramolecular proton transfer step (k(R)2). The analogous [Ni(SR)(triphos)]BPh4 {R = Et, Bu(t) or Cy; triphos = PhP(CH2CH2PPh2)2} have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Similar to the aryl thiolate complexes, [Ni(SR)(triphos)](+) are protonated by lutH(+) in an equilibrium reaction but the observed rate law is simpler. Analysis of the kinetic data for both [Ni(SR)(triphos)](+) and [Ni(SC6H4R'-4)(triphos)](+) shows that both react by the same mechanism, but that K(R)1 is largest when the thiolate is poorly basic, or the 4-R' substituent in the aryl thiolates is electron-withdrawing. These results indicate that it is both NH···S hydrogen bonding and encapsulation of the bound lutH(+) (by the phenyl groups on triphos) which stabilize the precursor intermediate.

Grignard-mediated reduction of 2,2,2-trichloro-1-arylethanones.

2,2,2-Trichloro-1-aryl-ethanones can be reduced by RMgX to the corresponding 2,2-dichloro-1-arylethen-1-olates and trapped with a range of electrophiles resulting in either reduction, reduction/aldol, reduction/Claisen condensation or reduction/aldol-Tishchenko products. In addition we demonstrate that 2,2-dichloro-1-arylethen-1-olates undergo counter-ion controlled Darzens condensations, which can be followed by a thermal rearrangement as a route to 1,3-diaryl-3-chloropropane-1,2-diones.

Impact of a rigid backbone on the structure of an agostically-stabilised dialkylstannylene: isolation of an unusual bridged stannyl-stannylene.

The reaction between the phosphine-borane-stabilised dicarbanion complex [1,2-C6H4{CHP(BH3)Cy2}2][Li(THF)n]2 and Cp2Sn gives the unusual stannyl-stannylene [[1,2-C6H4{CHP(BH3)Cy2}2]Sn]2·1½PhMe, in which one dicarbanion ligand chelates a tin centre, while the other bridges a tin-tin bond. The stannylene centre is stabilised by an agostic-type B-H···Sn interaction.

Re and (99m)Tc complexes of BodP3--multi-modality imaging probes.

A fluorescent tridentate phosphine, BodP3 (2), forms rhenium complexes which effectively image cancer cells. Related technetium analogues are also readily prepared and have potential as dual SPECT/fluorescent biological probes.

BR2BodPR2: highly fluorescent alternatives to PPh3 and PhPCy2.

The syntheses of highly fluorescent analogues of PPh3 and PhPCy2 based on the Bodipy chromophore are described. The ligands have been incorporated into two- to four-coordinate group 11 metal complexes. The synthesis, characterisation and photophysical properties of the novel ligands and their metal complexes are reported; many of these compounds have also been characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Incorporation of the phosphino group and complexation to the group 11 metal centre has little effect on the absorption and emission profiles; high molar extinction coefficients and fluorescence quantum yields were still obtained. In particular, incorporation of the dicyclohexylphosphino substituent significantly increases the quantum yields relative to the parent dyes.

Ditopic bis-terdentate cyclometallating ligands and their highly luminescent dinuclear iridium(III) complexes.

A new family of bridged cyclometallating ligands is reported, which incorporate two terdentate N(∧)C(∧)N-coordinating binding sites linked via pyrazine, pyrimidine or pyridazine units. Dinuclear Ir(III) complexes of one ligand have been prepared and crystallographically characterised; they display intense red phosphorescence.

Stabilization of a diphosphagermylene through pπ-pπ interactions with a trigonal-planar phosphorus center.

N-Heterocyclic carbenes and their heavier homologues are, in part, stabilized by delocalization of the N lone pairs into the vacant p-orbital at carbon (or a heavier Group 14 element center). These interactions are usually absent in the corresponding P-substituted species, owing to the large barrier to planarization of phosphorus. However, judicious selection of the substituents at phosphorus has enabled the synthesis of a diphosphagermylene, [(Dipp)2P]2 Ge, in which one of the P centers is planar (Dipp=2,6-diisopropylphenyl). The planar nature of this P center and the correspondingly short P-Ge distance suggest a significant degree of P-Ge multiple bond character that is due to delocalization of the phosphorus lone pair into the vacant p-orbital at germanium. DFT calculations support this proposition and NBO and AIM analyses are consistent with a Ge-P bond order greater than unity.

Axially chiral BODIPYs.

The synthesis and resolution of a class of chiral organic fluorophores, axially chiral 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacenes (Ax*-BODIPY), is described. Ax*-BODIPYs were prepared through a modular synthesis combined with a late stage Heck functionalisation. Resolution was achieved by preparative chiral HPLC. Absolute stereochemical assignment was performed by comparison of experimental ECD spectra with TD-DFT calculations.

Binding multidentate ligands to Ni2+: kinetic identification of preferential binding sites.

The kinetics of the reactions between [Ni(MeOH)6](2+) (hereafter Ni(2+)) and a variety of neutral Schiff base multidentate ligands have been measured in methanol at 25.0 °C using stopped-flow spectrophotometry. The ligands contain a variety of different potential donor sites (phenolic OH, imine N, pyridyl N and NH groups), different structural components and substituents. The kinetic studies explore how systematic changes to the composition of the ligands affect the rates of binding. The results are consistent with the Eigen-Wilkins mechanism in which the ligand initially forms an outer-sphere association with Ni(2+) prior to dissociation of a coordinated solvent molecule and binding to the metal ion. The general features that emerge from these studies are as follows. (i) For ligands with the same donor set, the rates of binding are all similar irrespective of changes to the ligand framework (bridge and substituents). (ii) Comparison of structurally analogous ligands shows that the presence of pyridyl or NH groups in the multidentate results in significantly faster reactions. (iii) With ligands containing multiple NH groups, the rate of ligand binding increases as the number of NH groups increases. The extent to which these kinetic features can be attributed to preferential binding of particular donor groups is discussed.

Model system for irreversible inhibition of Nek2: thiol addition to ethynylpurines and related substituted heterocycles.

Recent studies have shown that irreversible inhibition of Nek2 kinase [(Never in mitosis gene a)-related kinase 2], overexpression of which is observed in several cancers, can be achieved using Michael acceptors containing an ethynyl group, which target the enzyme's cysteine 22 residue lying near the catalytic site. The model studies described herein demonstrate an analogous capture of the ethynyl moiety in a series of ethynyl-heterocycles (e.g. 6-ethynyl-N-phenyl-9H-purin-2-amine) by N-acetylcysteine methyl ester in the presence of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane in either dimethyl sulfoxide or N,N-dimethylformamide. Kinetic studies showed a 50-fold range in reactivity with 7-ethynyl-N-phenyl-3H-[1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-5-amine being the most reactive compound, whereas 4-ethynyl-N-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-amine was the least reactive. Studies of the isomeric compounds, 2-(3-((6-ethynyl-7-methyl-7H-purin-2-yl)amino)phenyl)acetamide and 2-(3-((6-ethynyl-9-methyl-9H-purin-2-yl)amino)phenyl)acetamide, revealed the N(7)-methyl isomer to be 5-fold more reactive than the 9-methyl isomer, which is ascribed to a buttressing effect in the N(7)-methyl compound. Comparison of the crystal structures of these isomers showed that the ethynyl group is significantly displaced away from the methyl group exclusively in the N(7)-methyl isomer with an sp(2) bond angle of 124°, whereas the corresponding angle in the N(9)-methyl isomer was the expected 120°. The results of this study indicate heterocyclic scaffolds that are likely to be more promising for inhibition of Nek2 and other kinases containing a reactive cysteine.

Unprecedented regiochemical control in the formation of aryl[1,2-a]imidazopyridines from alkynyliodonium salts: mechanistic insights.

Aryl(alkynyl)iodonium salts have been demonstrated to be valuable precursors to a diverse range of heteroaromatic ring systems including aryl[1,2-a]imidazopyridines. Successful application, using the recently described aryl(alkynyl)iodonium trifluoroacetate salts, is described, highlighting for the first time that the regioselectivity of this process is both counter-ion and concentration dependent. Studies with a carbon-13 labelled substrate established that the reactions of alkynyliodonium salts are highly complex and that multiple mechanistic processes appear to be underway simultaneously.