Donor-Acceptor π-Conjugated Enamines: Functional Group-Compatible Synthesis from Amides and Their Photoabsorption and Photoluminescence Properties.

High functional group compatibility of iridium-catalyzed synthesis of enamines from amides and 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDS) realized facile access of a series of donor (D)-π-acceptor (A)-conjugated enamines, in which enamine behaves as a donor functional group. The amide precursors containing reducible functional groups, such as halogen, carbonyl, and nitro groups, underwent reaction with TMDS to give the corresponding enamines in high yields. In most cases, chemoselective hydrosilane reduction of the amide group occurred while other reducible groups remained intact. Absorption and emission properties including solvatochromic behavior for the resulting D-π-A-conjugated enamines were determined using UV-visible and fluorescent spectra, which provided an understanding of the donor properties of the CH═CHNPh2 group and photofunctional properties of the D-π-A conjugated enamines as a fluorescent dye. Maximum absorption wavelength (λabs) of p-ZC6H4CH═CHNPh2 was predictable from λabs of p-ZC6H4NPh2, which was supported by density functional theory calculations. Some of the D-π-A-conjugated enamines showed fluorescence with moderate fluorescence quantum yields (Φfl). Of interest are unusually emissive π-conjugated enamines containing a nitro group, which generally behaves as strong quenchers of fluorescence. The additive effect of B(C6F5)3 resulted in significant red shifts of λabs and λfl. In some cases, high Φfl was observed in the solution state.

Theoretical Study on the Rhodium-Catalyzed Hydrosilylation of C═C and C═O Double Bonds with Tertiary Silane.

Reaction mechanisms of hydrosilylation of ketone and alkene with tertiary silane using the Wilkinson-type catalyst were theoretically investigated on the basis of density functional calculations using ωB97XD functional. Previously proposed three mechanisms, the Chalk-Harrod (CH) mechanism, the modified Chalk-Harrod (mCH) mechanism, and the outer-sphere mechanism were examined. Besides, we also found two mechanisms, the alternative CH (aCH) mechanism and the double hydride (DH) mechanism. In the aCH mechanism, a four-coordinate rhodium hydride complex formed through the elimination of R3Si-Cl is a catalytically active species. In the DH mechanism, the active species is a six-coordinate complex with two Rh-H bonds. For the C═O double bond hydrosilylation, the rate-determining steps of the aCH and DH mechanisms are both acetone insertion into the Rh-H bond, and the order of the activation barrier is DH < aCH ≈ CH < mCH. For the C═C double bond hydrosilylation, except for the mCH pathway whose rate-determining step is the hydrosilane addition reaction, the rate-determining steps of the CH, aCH, and DH pathways are Si-C reductive elimination reactions. The order of the energy barrier is DH ≈ mCH < aCH ≈ CH. In the outer-sphere mechanism, no stable intermediate or transition state was found. Consequently, we concluded that the DH mechanism is adopted as the mechanism for the Rh-catalyzed hydrosilylation of the carbonyl group while the mCH or DH mechanism is adopted as the mechanism for alkenes under conditions where their active intermediates are formed. The present result revises a hypothesis that the hydrosilylation of the carbonyl group is in general accomplished by the mCH mechanism. The active species in the DH mechanism has one more extra Rh-H bond compared to that of the other pathways, and its interaction with a silyl group, trans-influence, and small steric effect are the origin of the highly efficient catalytic activity, which was not reported before.

Disilaruthena- and Ferracyclic Complexes Containing Isocyanide Ligands as Effective Catalysts for Hydrogenation of Unfunctionalized Sterically Hindered Alkenes.

Disilaferra- and disilaruthenacyclic complexes containing mesityl isocyanide as a ligand, 3' and 4', were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopy and crystallography. Both 3' and 4' showed excellent catalytic activity for the hydrogenation of alkenes. Compared with iron and ruthenium carbonyl analogues, 1' and 2', the isocyanide complexes 3' and 4' were more robust under the hydrogenation conditions, and were still active even at higher temperatures (∼80 °C) under high hydrogen pressure (∼20 atm). The iron complex 3' exhibited the highest catalytic activity toward hydrogenation of mono-, di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted alkenes among currently reported iron catalysts. Ruthenium complex 4' catalyzed hydrogenation under very mild conditions, such as room temperature and 1 atm of H2. The remarkably high catalytic activity of 4' for hydrogenation of unfunctionalized tetrasubstituted alkenes was especially notable, because it was comparable to the activity of iridium complexes reported by Crabtree and Pfaltz, which are catalysts with the highest activity in the literature. DFT calculations suggested two plausible catalytic cycles, both of which involved activation of H2 assisted by the metal-silicon bond through σ-bond metathesis of late transition metals (oxidative hydrogen migration). The linear structure of M-C≡N-C (ipso carbon of the mesityl group) played an essential role in the efficient hydrogenation of sterically hindered tetrasubstituted alkenes.

Non-Precious-Metal Catalytic Systems Involving Iron or Cobalt Carboxylates and Alkyl Isocyanides for Hydrosilylation of Alkenes with Hydrosiloxanes.

A mixture of an iron or a cobalt carboxylate and an isocyanide ligand catalyzed the hydrosilylation of alkenes with hydrosiloxanes with high efficiency (TON >10(3)) and high selectivity. The Fe catalyst showed excellent activity for hydrosilylation of styrene derivatives, whereas the Co catalyst was widely effective in reaction of alkenes. Both of them catalyzed the reaction with allylic ethers. Chemical modification and cross-linking of silicones were achieved by choosing the right catalyst and reaction conditions.

Theoretical Study of Pd11 Si6 Nanosheet Compounds Including Seven-Coordinated Si Species and Its Ge Analogues.

Nanosheet compounds Pd11 (SiiPr)2 (SiiPr2 )4 (CNtBu)10 (1) and Pd11 (SiiPr)2 (SiiPr2 )4 (CNMes)10 (2), containing two Pd7 (SiiPr)(SiiPr2 )2 (CNR)4 plates (R=tBu or Mes) connected with three common Pd atoms, were investigated with DFT method. All Pd atoms are somewhat positively charged and the electron density is accumulated between the Pd and Si atoms, indicating that a charge transfer (CT) occurs from the Pd to the Si atoms of the SiMe2 and SiMe groups. Negative regions of the Laplacian of the electron density were found between the Pd and Si atoms. A model of a seven-coordinated Si species, that is, Pd5 (Pd-SiMe), is predicted to be a stable pentagonal bipyramidal molecule. Five Pd atoms in the equatorial plane form bonding overlaps with two 3p orbitals of the Si atom. This is a new type of hypervalency. The Ge analogues have geometry and an electronic structure similar to those of the Si compounds. But their formation energies are smaller than those of the Si analogues. The use of the element Si is crucial to synthesize these nanoplate compounds.

Theoretical Study of the Catalytic Hydrogenation of Alkenes by a Disilaferracyclic Complex: Can the Fe-Si σ-Bond-Assisted Activation of H-H Bonds Allow Development of a Catalysis of Iron?

The mechanisms associated with the hydrogenation of alkenes catalyzed by the iron complex Fe(cis-CO)2{o-(SiMe2)2C6H4}2(H)2 (1) were investigated by DFT calculations. The complex 1 has a structure in which the iron center is bonded to four silicon atoms and two hydrides. Secondary Si···H···Si interactions were also observed. The exchange of a 1,2-bis(dimethylsilyl)benzene ligand with ethylene and hydrogen gives a disilaferracycle bearing η2-(CH2═CH2) and η2-H2 ligands. The catalytic cycle initiated from the disilaferracycle involves cleavage of a H-H linkage assisted by an Fe-Si bond to form Fe-H and η1-(H-Si) moieties (step 1), hydrogen migration from the Fe-H group to the η2-(CH2═CH2) ligand which accomplishes the insertion of ethylene into the Fe-H bond (step 2), and reaction of the resulting ß-agostic ethyl moiety with the η2-(H-Si) group to form ethane on the iron atom (step 3). The octahedral geometry of 1 as well as the presence of π-acidic CO ligands and Fe-Si σ-bonds contributes to all of the catalytic intermediates and the transition states being in the low-spin state. Steps 1 and 3 correspond to the σ-complex-assisted metathesis (σ-CAM) mechanisms proposed by Perutz and Sabo-Etienne, suggesting that these mechanisms can assist in the design of iron-based hydrogenation catalysts operating under mild conditions.

Well-defined iron complexes as efficient catalysts for "green" atom-transfer radical polymerization of styrene, methyl methacrylate, and butyl acrylate with low catalyst loadings and catalyst recycling.

Environmentally friendly iron(II) catalysts for atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) were synthesized by careful selection of the nitrogen substituents of N,N,N-trialkylated-1,4,9-triazacyclononane (R3 TACN) ligands. Two types of structures were confirmed by crystallography: "[(R3 TACN)FeX2 ]" complexes with relatively small R groups have ionic and dinuclear structures including a [(R3 TACN)Fe(µ-X)3 Fe(R3 TACN)](+) moiety, whereas those with more bulky R groups are neutral and mononuclear. The twelve [(R3 TACN)FeX2 ]n complexes that were synthesized were subjected to bulk ATRP of styrene, methyl methacrylate (MMA), and butyl acrylate (BA). Among the iron complexes examined, [{(cyclopentyl)3 TACN}FeBr2 ] (4 b) was the best catalyst for the well-controlled ATRP of all three monomers. This species allowed easy catalyst separation and recycling, a lowering of the catalyst concentration needed for the reaction, and the absence of additional reducing reagents. The lowest catalyst loading was accomplished in the ATRP of MMA with 4 b (59 ppm of Fe based on the charged monomer). Catalyst recycling in ATRP with low catalyst loadings was also successful. The ATRP of styrene with 4 b (117 ppm Fe atom) was followed by precipitation from methanol to give polystyrene that contained residual iron below the calculated detection limit (0.28 ppm). Mechanisms that involve equilibria between the multinuclear and mononuclear species were also examined.

Practical access to amines by platinum-catalyzed reduction of carboxamides with hydrosilanes: synergy of dual Si-H groups leads to high efficiency and selectivity.

The synergetic effect of two Si-H groups leads to efficient reduction of carboxamides to amines by platinum catalysts under mild conditions. The rate of the reaction is dependent on the distance of two Si-H groups; 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDS) and 1,2-bis(dimethylsilyl)benzene are found to be an effective reducing reagent. The reduction of amides having other reducible functional groups such as NO(2), CO(2)R, CN, C horizontal lineC, Cl, and Br moieties proceeds with these groups remaining intact, providing a reliable method for the access to functionalized amine derivatives. The platinum-catalyzed reduction of amides with polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) also proceeds under mild conditions. The reaction is accompanied by automatic removal of both platinum and silicon wastes as insoluble silicone resin, and the product is obtained by simple extraction. A mechanism involving double oxidative addition of TMDS to a platinum center is discussed.

Effect of TMEDA on iron-catalyzed coupling reactions of ArMgX with alkyl halides.

A new reaction mechanism for the iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of ArMgX with alkyl halides using (TMEDA)FeAr(2) and (TMEDA)Fe(Ar)Br is proposed on the basis of the isolation and reaction of these organoiron intermediates.

Highly efficient synthesis of aldenamines from carboxamides by iridium-catalyzed silane-reduction/dehydration under mild conditions.

The combination of IrCl(CO)(PPh3)2 with 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane or poly(methylhydrosiloxane) (PMHS) is found to be an efficient catalyst system for the preparation of aldenamines from carboxamides; in particular, facile removal of silicone and iridium residues from the product can be achieved by the use of PMHS.

Hydrosilane Reduction of Nitriles to Primary Amines by Cobalt-Isocyanide Catalysts.

Reduction of nitriles to silylated primary amines was achieved by combination of 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDS) as the hydrosilane and a catalytic amount of Co(OPiv)2 (Piv = CO tBu) associated with isocyanide ligands. The resulting silylated amines were subjected to acid hydrolysis or treatment with acid chlorides to give the corresponding primary amines or imides in good yields. One-pot synthesis of primary amides to primary amines with hydrosilanes was also achieved by iron-cobalt dual catalyst systems.

Chemoselective hydrogenation of nitroarenes with carbon nanofiber-supported platinum and palladium nanoparticles.

Platinum and palladium nanoparticles supported on three types of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are synthesized and used as catalysts in the hydrogenation of nitroarenes. Nanosized platinum particles dispersed on platelet-type CNF efficiently catalyze the reduction of functionalized nitroarenes to the corresponding substituted anilines in high turnover numbers with other functional groups remaining intact.

Encapsulated molecular catalysts in polysiloxane gels: ruthenium cluster-catalyzed isomerization of alkenes.

Novel ruthenium-encapsulating polysiloxane gels are prepared by treatment of polymethylhydrosiloxane with diols in the presence of (mu(3),eta(2),eta(3),eta(5)-acenaphthylene)Ru(3)(CO)(7), and act as reusable catalysts in the isomerization of alkenes without leakage of the catalyst species.

Remarkably high catalyst efficiency of a disilaruthenacyclic complex for hydrosilane reduction of carbonyl compounds.

A disilaruthenacyclic complex (1) showed extremely high catalytic activity for hydrosilane reduction of aldehydes and ketones to silyl ethers and secondary and tertiary amides to the corresponding amines. An σ-CAM mechanism was proposed to explain the activity.

Functional group-selective poisoning of molecular catalysts: a ruthenium cluster-catalysed highly amide-selective silane reduction that does not affect ketones or esters.

The addition of amines eliminates the catalytic activity of a triruthenium cluster in the hydrosilane reduction of ketones and esters without affecting the rate of reduction of amides; selective reduction of the amide group in amido ketones and amido esters is accomplished.

Reusable and environmentally friendly ionic trinuclear iron complex catalyst for atom transfer radical polymerization.

Ionic iron complex [(Me(3)tacn)(2)Fe(2)Cl(3)](+)[(Me(3)tacn)FeCl(3)](-) (1), which is readily soluble in methanol, acted as a powerful catalyst in controlled radical polymerization of styrene and MMA, and showed promising features of removal from the resulting polymers and was reusable after recovery from the crude products.

Disilametallacyclic chemistry for efficient catalysis.

This article discusses two new features of disilametallacyclic chemistry that contribute to the development of efficient catalytic reactions in organic synthesis. The first is disilametallacyclic intermediates in the hydrosilane reduction of carbonyl compounds. Experimental and theoretical studies on disilaplatinacycles suggested that the H2Pt(iv)Si2 species generated by oxidative addition of 1,2-bis(dimethylsilyl)benzene behaves as a highly reactive hydride to reduce amides to amines. This mechanism via disilametallacyclic intermediates explains the efficient hydrosilane reduction of carbonyl compounds with α,ω-bifunctional hydrosilanes catalyzed by other transition metals. The second is hydrogenation of alkenes by disilaferra- or disilaruthenacyclic complexes as catalyst precursors. A new mechanism not involving the conventional oxidative addition of H2 was suggested from DFT calculations, in which activation of the H-H bond occurs in the metal-silicon bond of the disilametallacyclic intermediate. Disilametallacyclic intermediates contribute to efficient catalytic reactions through this σ-CAM (σ-complex assisted mechanism) type mechanism.

Simultaneous Determination of Seven Kinds of Fungicides in Citrus Fruits by Gas Chromatograghy/Mass Spectrometry.

A simple and accurate procedure was developed for the determination of seven fungicides, azoxystrobin (AZO), diphenyl (DP), fludioxonil (FLUDI), imazalil (IMZ), o-phenylphenol (OPP), pyrimethanil (PYRI) and thiabendazole (TBZ), in citrus fruits. The citrus fruit sample was extracted with acetonitrile and cleaned up with a graphite carbon/aminopropyl silanized silica gel solid-phase extraction cartridge using acetonitrile-toluene (3 : 1, v/v) as the eluent. Triphenylene was used as an internal standard (I.S.) at the concentration of 0.5 µg/mL. The sample solution was subjected to GC-MS utilizing the matrix-matched standard solution method. The recoveries of AZO, FLUDI, IMZ, OPP, PYRI and TBZ spiked in domestic citrus fruits (Satsuma mandarin) at the level of 0.01-10.0 µg/g were 72.8-104% and the limits of quantification were 0.01 µg/g. The recoveries of DP spiked in domestic citrus fruits at the level of 0.01-70.0 µg/g were 70.8-80.4% and the limit of quantification was 0.01 µg/g. The proposed method was applied to the determination of fungicides in citrus fruits purchased in various markets.

Persistent four-coordinate iron-centered radical stabilized by π-donation.

Dinuclear iron carbonyl complex 2, which contains an elongated unsupported Fe-Fe bond, was synthesized by the reaction between Fe2(CO)9 and phosphinyl radical 1. Thermal Fe-Fe bond homolysis led to the generation of a four-coordinate carbonyl-based iron-centered radical, 3, which is stabilized by π-donation. Complex 3 exhibited high reactivity toward organic radicals to form diamagnetic five-coordinate Fe(ii) complexes.