Structurally Diverse Bench-Stable Nickel(0) Pre-Catalysts: A Practical Toolkit for In Situ Ligation Protocols.

A flurry of recent research has centered on harnessing the power of nickel catalysis in organic synthesis. These efforts have been bolstered by contemporaneous development of well-defined nickel (pre)catalysts with diverse structure and reactivity. In this report, we present ten different bench-stable, 18-electron, formally zero-valent nickel-olefin complexes that are competent pre-catalysts in various reactions. Our investigation includes preparations of novel, bench-stable Ni(COD)(L) complexes (COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene), in which L=quinone, cyclopentadienone, thiophene-S-oxide, and fulvene. Characterization by NMR, IR, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and natural bond orbital analysis sheds light on the structure, bonding, and properties of these complexes. Applications in an assortment of nickel-catalyzed reactions underscore the complementary nature of the different pre-catalysts within this toolkit.

Iron-Catalyzed Vinylsilane Dimerization and Cross-Cycloadditions with 1,3-Dienes: Probing the Origins of Chemo- and Regioselectivity.

The selective, intermolecular, homodimerization and cross-cycloaddition of vinylsilanes with unbiased 1,3-dienes, catalyzed by a pyridine-2,6-diimine (PDI) iron complex is described. In the absence of a diene coupling partner, vinylsilane hydroalkenylation products were obtained chemoselectively with unusual head-to-head regioselectivity (up to >98% purity, 98:2 E/Z). In the presence of a 4- or 2-substituted diene coupling partner, under otherwise identical reaction conditions, formation of value-added [2+2]- and [4+2]-cycloadducts, respectively, was observed. The chemoselectivity profile was distinct from that observed for analogous α-olefin dimerization and cross-reactions with 1,3-dienes. Mechanistic studies conducted with well-defined, single-component precatalysts (MePDI)Fe(L2) (where MePDI = 2,6-(2,6-Me2-C6H3N═CMe)2C5H3N; L2 = butadiene or 2(N2)) provided insights into the kinetic and thermodynamic factors contributing to the substrate-controlled regioselectivity for both the homodimerization and cross cycloadditions. Diamagnetic iron diene and paramagnetic iron olefin complexes were identified as catalyst resting states, were characterized by in situ NMR and Mössbauer spectroscopic studies, and were corroborated with DFT calculations. Stoichiometric reactions and computational models provided evidence for a common mechanistic regime where competing steric and orbital-symmetry requirements dictate the regioselectivity of oxidative cyclization. Although distinct chemoselectivity profiles were observed in cross-cycloadditions with the vinylsilane congeners of α-olefins, these products arose from metallacycles with the same connectivity. The silyl substituents ultimately governed the relative rates of ß-H elimination and C-C reductive elimination to dictate final product formation.

Pyridine(diimine) Iron Diene Complexes Relevant to Catalytic [2+2]-Cycloaddition Reactions.

The synthesis, characterization, and catalytic activity of pyridine(diimine) iron piperylene and isoprene complexes are described. These diene complexes are competent precatalysts for (i) the selective cross-[2+2]-cycloaddition of butadiene or (E)-piperylene with ethylene and α-olefins and (ii) the 1,4-hydrovinylation of isoprene with ethylene. In the former case, kinetic analysis implicates the diamagnetic η4-piperylene complex as the resting state prior to rate-determining oxidative cyclization. Variable temperature 1H NMR and EXSY experiments established that diene exchange from the diamagnetic, 18e- complexes occurs rapidly in solution at ambient temperature through a dissociative mechanism. The solid-state structure of (Me(Et)PDI)Fe(η4-piperylene) (Me(Et)PDI = 2,6-(2,6-Me2-C6H3N═CEt)2C5H3N), was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and confirmed the s-trans coordination of the monosubstituted 1,3-diene. Possible relationships between ligand-controlled diene coordination geometry, metallacycle denticity, and chemoselectivity of iron-mediated cycloaddition reactions are discussed.

Ni(COD)(DQ): An Air-Stable 18-Electron Nickel(0)-Olefin Precatalyst.

We report that Ni(COD)(DQ) (COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene, DQ=duroquinone), an air-stable 18-electron complex originally described by Schrauzer in 1962, is a competent precatalyst for a variety of nickel-catalyzed synthetic methods from the literature. Due to its apparent stability, use of Ni(COD)(DQ) as a precatalyst allows reactions to be conveniently performed without use of an inert-atmosphere glovebox, as demonstrated across several case studies.

Investigations into the Mechanism of Inter- and Intramolecular Iron-Catalyzed [2 + 2] Cycloaddition of Alkenes.

Mechanistic studies are reported on the inter- and intramolecular [2 + 2] alkene cycloadditions to form cyclobutanes promoted by (tricPDI)Fe(N2) (tricPDI = 2,6-(2,4,6-tricyclopentyl)C6H2N = CMe)2C5H3N). A combination of kinetic measurements, freeze-quench 57Fe Mössbauer and infrared spectroscopic measurements, deuterium labeling studies, natural abundance 13C KIE studies, and isolation and characterization of catalytically relevant intermediates were used to gain insight into the mechanism of both inter- and intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions. For the stereo- and regioselective [2 + 2] cycloaddition of 1-octene to form trans-1,2-dihexylcyclobutane, a first-order dependence on both iron complex and alkene was measured as well as an inverse dependence on N2 pressure. Both 57Fe Mössbauer and infrared spectroscopic measurements identified (tricPDI)Fe(N2)(η2-1-octene) as the catalyst resting state. Rate-determining association of 1-octene to (tricPDI)Fe(η2-1-octene) accounts for the first order dependence of alkene and the inverse dependence on N2. Heavy atom 13C/12C kinetic isotope effects near unity also support post rate-determining C-C bond formation. By contrast, the intramolecular iron-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloaddition of 1,7-octadiene yielded cis-bicyclo[4.2.0]octane in 92:8 d.r. and a first order dependence on the iron precursor and zeroth order behavior in both diene and N2 pressure were measured. A pyridine(diimine) iron trans-bimetallacycle was identified as the catalyst resting state and was isolated and characterized by X-ray diffraction and 1H NMR and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopies. Dissolution of the iron trans-bimetallacycle in benzene-d6 produced predominantly the cis-cyclobutane product, establishing interconversion between the trans and cis metallacycles during the catalytic reaction and consistent with a Curtin-Hammett kinetic regime. A primary 13C/12C kinetic isotope effect of 1.022(4) was measured at 23 °C, consistent with irreversible unimolecular reductive elimination to form the cyclobutane product. Despite complications from competing cyclometalation of chelate aryl substituents, deuterium labeling experiments were consistent with unimolecular C-C reductive elimination that occurred either by a concerted pathway or a radical rebound sequence that is faster than C-C bond rotation.

Enantio- and Diastereoselective Synthesis of Hydroxy Bis(boronates) via Cu-Catalyzed Tandem Borylation/1,2-Addition.

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of 1-hydroxy-2,3-bisboronate esters through multicomponent borylation/1,2-addition is reported. Catalyst and substrates are readily available, form both a C-B and C-C bond, and generate up to three contiguous stereocenters. The reaction is tolerant of aryl, vinyl, and alkyl aldehydes and ketones in up to 95% yield, >20:1 dr, and 99:1 er. Intramolecular additions to aldehydes and ketones result in stereodivergent processes. The hydroxy bis(boronate) ester products are amenable to site-selective chemical elaboration.

Silver(I)-Catalyzed Diastereoselective Synthesis of anti-1,2-Hydroxyboronates.

A catalytic protocol for the diastereoselective synthesis of anti-1,2-hydroxyboronates is described. The process provides access to secondary alkyl organoborons. The deborylative 1,2-addition reactions of alkyl 1,1-diborons proceed in the presence of a silver(I) salt with either KOtBu or nBuLi as an activator. The catalytic diastereoselective protocol can be extended to aryl, alkenyl, and alkyl aldehydes with up to 99:1 d.r.

Enantio- and Diastereoselective Synthesis of 1,2-Hydroxyboronates through Cu-Catalyzed Additions of Alkylboronates to Aldehydes.

The first catalytic enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of 1,2-hydroxyboronates is reported. Reactions are promoted by a readily available chiral monodentate phosphoramidite-copper complex in the presence of an alkyl 1,1-diboron reagent. Products contain two contiguous stereogenic centers and are obtained in up to 91% yield, >98:2 d.r., and 98:2 e.r. The reaction is tolerant of aryl and vinyl aldehydes, and the 1,2-hydroxyboronate products can be transformed into versatile derivatives. Mechanistic experiments indicate control of absolute stereochemistry of the α-boryl component.