Multicomponent synthesis of chiral bidentate unsymmetrical unsaturated N-heterocyclic carbenes: copper-catalyzed asymmetric C-C bond formation.

A multicomponent strategy was applied to the synthesis of chiral bidentate unsaturated hydroxyalkyl- and carboxyalkyl-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors. The newly developed low-cost chiral ligands derived from amino alcohols and amino acids were evaluated in copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugated addition and asymmetric allylic alkylation, which afforded the desired tertiary and quaternary carbon stereocenters with excellent regio- and enantioselectivities (up to 99:1 e.r.).

Cationic bis-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ruthenium complex: structure and application as latent catalyst in olefin metathesis.

An unexpected cationic bis-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) benzylidene ether based ruthenium complex (2 a) was prepared through the double incorporation of an unsymmetrical unsaturated N-heterocyclic carbene (U2 -NHC) ligand that bore an N-substituted cyclododecyl side chain. The isolation and full characterization (including X-ray diffraction studies) of key synthetic intermediates along with theoretical calculations allowed us to understand the mechanism of the overall cationization process. Finally, the newly developed complex 2 a displayed interesting latent behavior during ring-closing metathesis, which could be "switched on" under acidic conditions.

Multicomponent synthesis of unsymmetrical unsaturated N-heterocyclic carbene precursors and their related transition-metal complexes.

A low-cost, modular, and easily scalable multicomponent procedure affording access in good yields and excellent selectivity (up to 93%) to a wide range of (a)chiral unsymmetrical 1-aryl-3-cycloalkyl-imidazolium salts is disclosed. Electronic and steric properties of the corresponding unsymmetrical unsaturated N-heterocyclic carbene (U2-NHC) ligands were evaluated and evidenced strong electron donor ability, high steric discrimination, and modular steric demand.

Aromatic C=C bonds as dipolarophiles: facile reactions of uncomplexed electron-deficient benzene derivatives and other aromatic rings with a non-stabilized azomethine ylide.

Non-stabilized azomethine ylide 4a reacts smoothly at room temperature with a variety of uncomplexed aromatic heterocycles and carbocycles on the condition that the ring contains at least one or two electron-withdrawing substituents, respectively. Aromatic substrates, including pyridine and benzene derivatives, participate as 2π components in [3+2] cycloaddition reactions and interact with one, two, or three equivalent(s) of the ylide, depending on their structure and substitution pattern. Thus, this process affords highly functionalized polycyclic structures that contain between one and three pyrrolidinyl ring(s) in useful yields. These results indicate that the site selectivity of the cycloaddition reactions strongly depends on both the nature and the positions of the substituents. In most cases, the second 1,3-dipolar reaction occurs on the opposite face to the one that contains the first pyrrolidinyl ring. DFT calculations on model compounds indicate that a concerted mechanism features a low activation barrier.

Ph2P(BH3)Li: from ditopicity to dual reactivity.

A multinuclear NMR study shows that the deprotonation of diphenylphosphine-borane by n-BuLi in THF leads to a disolvated lithium phosphido-borane Ph(2)P(BH(3))Li of which Li(+) is connected to the hydrides on the boron and two THF molecules rather than to the phosphorus. This entity behaves as both a phosphination and a reducing agent, depending on the kinetic or thermodynamic control imposed to the reaction medium. Density functional theory computations show that H(2)P(BH(3))Li exhibits a ditopic character (the lithium cation can be in the vicinity of the hydride or of the phosphorus). It explains its dual reactivity (H- or P-addition), both routes going through somewhat similar six-membered transition states with low activation barriers.