Organosilicon Radicals with Si-H and Si-Me Bonds from Commodity Precursors.

The cyclic alkyl(amino) carbene (cAAC) stabilized biradicals of composition (cAAC)2SiH2 (1), (cAAC)SiMe2-SiMe2(cAAC) (2), and (cAAC)SiMeCl-SiMeCl(cAAC) (3) have been isolated as molecular species. All the compounds are stable at room temperature for more than 6 months under inert conditions in the solid state. All radical species were fully characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis and EPR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the structure and bonding of compounds 1-3 have been investigated by theoretical methods. Compound 1 contains the SiH2 moiety and this is the first instance, where we have isolated 1 without an acceptor molecule.

Insertion of Cyclic Alkyl(amino) Carbene into the Si-H Bonds of Hydrochlorosilanes.

Carbenes are known for their ability to abstract HCl from hydrochlorosilanes to form carbene hydrochloride adducts. In contrast, the Si-H bond insertion products RSiCl2(cAACH) (2, 4, 6, and 8) have been formed in the reaction of RSiHCl2 [R = Ar(SiMe3)N (1), Cp* (3), PhC(NtBu)2 (5), Cl (7); Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3] with a cyclic alkyl(amino) carbene (cAAC:) irrespective of the steric demand of the R group. The new products have been characterized by various analytical tools including X-ray crystallography, electron ionization mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy. Theoretical investigations have also been performed to understand why cAAC prefers insertion into the Si-H bond rather than the dehydrohalogenation pathway.

Multiple Cycloaddition Reactions of Ketones with a ß-Diketiminate Al Compound.

A ß-diketiminate Al compound (1) with an exocyclic double bond reacts with two equivalents each of benzophenone and 2-benzoylpyridine in a [4+2] cycloaddition to generate bicyclic and tricyclic compounds 2 and 3, respectively. Compound 2 consists of six- and eight-membered aluminium rings, whereas 3 has two five- and one eight-membered ring. Compounds 2 and 3 were characterized by a number of analytical tools including single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The quantum mechanical calculations suggest that the dissociation of the solvent molecule from 1 would lead to an active species 1A having two 1,4-dipolar 4π electron moieties, in which the electrophilic site is the Al atom and the nucleophilic positions are polarized exocyclic and endocyclic C=C π bonds. The detailed mechanistic study shows that the dipolarophiles, benzophenone, and 2-benzoylpyridine undergo double cycloaddition with two 1,4-dipolar 4π electron moieties of 1A. Herein, the addition of one molecule of the dipolarophile promotes the addition of the second one.

A stable dimer of SiS2 arranged between two carbene molecules.

The Me-cAAC:-stabilized dimer of silicon disulfide (SiS2 ) has been isolated in the molecular form as (Me-cAAC:)2 Si2 S4 (2) at room temperature [Me-cAAC:=cyclic alkyl(amino) carbene]. Compound 2 has been synthesized from the reaction of (Me-cAAC:)2 Si2 with elemental sulfur in a 1:4 molar ratio under oxidative addition. This is the smallest molecular unit of silicon disulfide characterized by X-ray crystallography, electron ionization mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy. Structures with three sulfur atoms arranged around a silicon atom are known; however, 2 is the first structurally characterized silicon-sulfur compound containing one terminal and two bridging sulfur atoms at each silicon atom. Compound 2 shows no decomposition after storing for three months in an inert atmosphere at ambient temperature. The bonding of 2 has been further studied by theoretical calculations.

Aspherical-atom modeling of coordination compounds by single-crystal X-ray diffraction allows the correct metal atom to be identified.

Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) is often considered the gold standard in analytical chemistry, as it allows element identification as well as determination of atom connectivity and the solid-state structure of completely unknown samples. Element assignment is based on the number of electrons of an atom, so that a distinction of neighboring heavier elements in the periodic table by XRD is often difficult. A computationally efficient procedure for aspherical-atom least-squares refinement of conventional diffraction data of organometallic compounds is proposed. The iterative procedure is conceptually similar to Hirshfeld-atom refinement (Acta Crystallogr. Sect. A- 2008, 64, 383-393; IUCrJ. 2014, 1,61-79), but it relies on tabulated invariom scattering factors (Acta Crystallogr. Sect. B- 2013, 69, 91-104) and the Hansen/Coppens multipole model; disordered structures can be handled as well. Five linear-coordinate 3d metal complexes, for which the wrong element is found if standard independent-atom model scattering factors are relied upon, are studied, and it is shown that only aspherical-atom scattering factors allow a reliable assignment. The influence of anomalous dispersion in identifying the correct element is investigated and discussed.

Synthetic access to a hydrocarbon-soluble trifluorinated Ge(II) compound and its Sn(II) congener.

Trifluorinated germanium anions attracted attention of theoretical chemists already in the late 1990s to predict their physical and chemical properties. However these species were not synthesized in the laboratory, although substantial evidence for their existence was obtained from the mass spectrometry of GeF4. The present study shows that controlled fluorination of LMNMe2 (L = PhC(N(t)Bu)2, M = Ge, Sn) using HF·pyridine in toluene leads to the formation of [LH2](+)[MF3](-) under elimination of HNMe2. The products contain the trifluorinated Ge(II) and Sn(II) anionic species which are stabilized by interionic H···F bonds. The new compounds were characterized by single crystal X-ray structural analysis, NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis.

One-electron-mediated rearrangements of 2,3-disiladicarbene.

A disiladicarbene, (Cy-cAAC)2Si2 (2), was synthesized by reduction of Cy-cAAC:SiCl4 adduct with KC8. The dark-colored compound 2 is stable at room temperature for a year under an inert atmosphere. Moreover, it is stable up to 190 °C and also can be characterized by electron ionization mass spectrometry. Theoretical and Raman studies reveal the existence of a Si═Si double bond with a partial double bond between each carbene carbon atom and silicon atom. Cyclic voltammetry suggests that 2 can quasi-reversibly accept an electron to produce a very reactive radical anion, 2(•-), as an intermediate species. Thus, reduction of 2 with potassium metal at room temperature led to the isolation of an isomeric neutral rearranged product and an anionic dimer of a potassium salt via the formation of 2(•-).

Stabilization of a cobalt-cobalt bond by two cyclic alkyl amino carbenes.

(Me2-cAAC:)2Co2 (2, where Me2-cAAC: = cyclic alkyl amino carbene, :C(CH2)(CMe2)2N-2,6-iPr2C6H3)) was synthesized via the reduction of precursor (Me2-cAAC:Co(II)(µ-Cl)Cl)2 (1) with KC8. 2 contains two cobalt atoms in the formal oxidation state zero. Magnetic measurement revealed that 2 has a singlet spin ground state S = 0. The cyclic voltammogram of 2 exhibits both one-electron oxidation and reduction, indicating the possible synthesis of stable species containing 2(•-) and 2(•+) ions. The latter was synthesized via reduction of 1 with required equivalents of KC8 and characterized as [(Me2-cAAC:)2Co2](•+)OTf(-) (2(•+)OTf(-)). Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of 2(•+) reveals the coupling of the electron spin with 2 equiv (59)Co isotopes, leading to a (Co(0.5))2 state. The experimental Co1-Co2 bond distances are 2.6550(6) and 2.4610(6) Å for 2 and 2(•+)OTf(-), respectively. Theoretical investigation revealed that both 2 and 2(•+)OTf(-) possess a Co-Co bond with an average value of 2.585 Å. A slight increase of the Co-Co bond length in 2 is more likely to be caused by the strong π-accepting property of cAAC. 2(•+) is only 0.8 kcal/mol higher in energy than the energy minimum. The shortening of the Co-Co bond of 2(•+) is caused by intermolecular interactions.

Electronic structure and slow magnetic relaxation of low-coordinate cyclic alkyl(amino) carbene stabilized iron(I) complexes.

Cyclic alkyl(amino) carbene stabilized two- and three-coordinate Fe(I) complexes, (cAAC)2FeCl (2) and [(cAAC)2Fe][B(C6F5)4] (3), respectively, were prepared and thoroughly studied by a bouquet of analytical techniques as well as theoretical calculations. Magnetic susceptibility and Mössbauer spectroscopy reveal the +1 oxidation state and S = 3/2 spin ground state of iron in both compounds. 2 and 3 show slow magnetic relaxation typical for single molecule magnets under an applied direct current magnetic field. The high-frequency EPR measurements confirm the S = 3/2 ground state with a large, positive zero-field splitting (∼20.4 cm(-1)) and reveal easy plane anisotropy for compound 2. CASSCF/CASPT2/RASSI-SO ab initio calculations using the MOLCAS program package support the experimental results.

Synthesis and characterization of a triphenyl-substituted radical and an unprecedented formation of a carbene-functionalized quinodimethane.

The trichlorosilylcarbene monoradical (Cy-cAAC ·)SiCl3 (1) was directly converted to (Cy-cAAC ·)SiPh3 (2) by substitution of the three chlorine atoms with phenyl groups without affecting the radical center adjacent to the silicon atom. In addition to the structure determination, compound 2 was studied by EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. The three hyperfine lines in the EPR spectrum of 2 are due to the coupling with (14)N nucleus. Functionalized 1,4-quinodimethane Me2-cAAC=C6H4=CPh2 (7) was isolated, whereas carbon analogue of radical 2 was targeted. Cyclic voltammogram of 7 indicated that a stable radical-anion 7 ·-, as well as a radical-cation 7 ·+, can be prepared. Theoretical calculations showed that one-electron ionization energy and electron affinity of 7 are 5.1 and 0.7 eV mol(-1), respectively.

Experimental charge density study of a silylone.

An experimental and theoretical charge density study confirms the interpretation of (cAAC)2Si as a silylone to be valid. Two separated VSCCs present in the non-bonding region of the central silicon are indicative for two lone pairs. In the experiment, both the two crystallographically independent Si-C bond lengths and ellipticities vary notably. It is only the cyclohexyl derivative that shows significant differences in these values, both in the silylones and the germylones. Only by calculating increasing spheres of surrounding point charges we were able to recover the changes in the properties of the charge density distribution caused by weak intermolecular interactions. The nitrogen-carbene-carbon bond seems to have a significant double-bond character, indicating a singlet state for the carbene carbon, which is needed for donor acceptor bonding. Thus the sum of bond angles at the nitrogen atoms seems to be a reasonable estimate for singlet versus triplet state of cAACs.

C4 cumulene and the corresponding air-stable radical cation and dication.

A neutral C4 cumulene 1 that includes a cyclic alkyl(amino) carbene (cAAC), its air-stable radical cation 1(·+) , and dication 1(2+) have been synthesized. The redox property of 1(·+) was studied by cyclic voltammetry. EPR and theoretical calculations show that the unpaired electron in 1(·+) is mainly delocalized over the central C4 backbone. The commercially available CBr4 is utilized as a source of dicarbon in the cumulene synthesis.

A singlet biradicaloid zinc compound and its nonradical counterpart.

Metal ions with radical centers in their coordination sphere are key participants in biological and catalytic processes. In the present study, we describe the synthesis of the cAAC:ZnCl2 adduct (1) using a cyclic alkylaminocarbene (cAAC) as donor ligand. Compound 1 was treated with 2 equiv of KC8 and LiB(sec-Bu)3H to yield a deep blue-colored dicarbene zinc compound (cAAC)2Zn (2) and the colorless hydrogenated zinc compound (cAACH)2Zn (3), respectively. Compounds 2 and 3 were well characterized by spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray structural analysis. Density functional theory calculations were performed for 2 which indicate that this molecule possesses a singlet biradicaloid character. Moreover, we show the application of 2 in CO2 activation, which yields a zwitterionic cAAC·CO2 adduct.

Oxidative addition versus substitution reactions of group 14 dialkylamino metalylenes with pentafluoropyridine.

Dialkylamino compounds of group 14 elements (Si, Ge, Sn) in the +2 oxidation state supported by benzamidinate ligands were synthesized and treated with pentafluoropyridine. Two different modes of reactivity were observed, depending on the metal atom and the basicity of the substituent at the metal. Pentafluoropyridine undergoes oxidative addition reaction at the Si(II) and Ge(II) atoms whereas at the Sn(II) atom substitution of the NMe(2) group by the para fluorine of pentafluoropyridine occurs. The C-F bond activation by the lone pair of germanium is the first report of this kind. The Sn(II) fluoride obtained has an elongated Sn-F bond length and can be used as a good fluorinating agent. The compounds were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and X-ray structural analysis. Single crystal X-ray structural analysis of the tin fluoride shows an asymmetric dimer with weak [Formula: see text] interactions.

Easy access to silicon(0) and silicon(II) compounds.

Two different synthetic methodologies of silicon dihalide bridged biradicals of the general formula (L(n)•)2SiX2 (n = 1, 2) have been developed. First, the metathesis reaction between NHC:SiX2 and L(n): (L(n): = cyclic akyl(amino) carbene in a 1:3 molar ratio leads to the products 2 (n = 1, X = Cl), 4 (n = 2, X = Cl), 6 (n = 1, X = Br), and 7 (n = 2, X = Br). These reactions also produce coupled NHCs (3, 5) under C-C bond formation. The formation of the coupled NHCs (L(m) = cyclic alkyl(amino) carbene substituted N-heterocyclic carbene; m = 3, n = 1 (3) and m = 4, n =2 (5)) is faster during the metathesis reaction between NHC:SiBr2 and L(n): when compared with that of NHC:SiCl2. Second, the reaction of L(1):SiCl4 (8) (L(1): =:C(CH2)(CMe2)2N-2,6-iPr2C6H3) with a non-nucleophilic base LiN(iPr)2 in a 1:1 molar ratio shows an unprecedented methodology for the synthesis of the biradical (L(1)•)2SiCl2 (2). The blue blocks of silicon dichloride bridged biradicals (2, 4) are stable for more than six months under an inert atmosphere and in air for one week. Compounds 2 and 4 melt in the temperature range of 185 to 195 °C. The dibromide (6, 7) analogue is more prone to decomposition in the solution but comparatively more stable in the solid state than in the solution. Decomposition of the products has been observed in the UV-vis spectra. Moreover, compounds 2 and 4 were further converted to stable singlet biradicaloid dicarbene-coordinated (L(n):)2Si(0) (n = 1 (9), 2 (10)) under KC8 reduction. Compounds 2 and 4 were also reduced to dehalogenated products 9 and 10, respectively when treated with RLi (R = Ph, Me, tBu). Cyclic voltametry measurements show that 10 can irreversibly undergo both one electron oxidation and reduction.

Phenalenyl-based organozinc catalysts for intramolecular hydroamination reactions: a combined catalytic, kinetic, and mechanistic investigation of the catalytic cycle.

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of two organozinc complexes that contain symmetrical phenalenyl (PLY)-based N,N-ligands. The reactions of phenalenyl-based ligands with ZnMe(2) led to the formation of organozinc complexes [N(Me),N(Me)-PLY]ZnMe (1) and [N(iPr),N(iPr)-PLY]ZnMe (2) under the evolution of methane. Both complexes (1 and 2) were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The solid-state structures of complexes 1 and 2 were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Complexes 1 and 2 were used as catalysts for the intramolecular hydroamination of unactivated primary and secondary aminoalkenes. A combined approach of NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations was utilized to obtain better insight into the mechanistic features of the zinc-catalyzed hydroamination reactions. The progress of the catalysis for primary and secondary aminoalkene substrates with catalyst 2 was investigated by detailed kinetic studies, including kinetic isotope effect measurements. These results suggested pseudo-first-order kinetics for both primary and secondary aminoalkene activation processes. Eyring and Arrhenius analyses for the cyclization of a model secondary aminoalkene substrate afforded ΔH(≠) =11.3 kcal mol(-1) , ΔS(≠) =-35.75 cal K(-1) mol(-1) , and E(a) =11.68 kcal mol(-1) . Complex 2 exhibited much-higher catalytic activity than complex 1 under identical reaction conditions. The in situ NMR experiments supported the formation of a catalytically active zinc cation and the DFT calculations showed that more active catalyst 2 generated a more stable cation. The stability of the catalytically active zinc cation was further supported by an in situ recycling procedure, thereby confirming the retention of catalytic activity of compound 2 for successive catalytic cycles. The DFT calculations showed that the preferred pathway for the zinc-catalyzed hydroamination reactions is alkene activation rather than the alternative amine-activation pathway. A detailed investigation with DFT methods emphasized that the remarkably higher catalytic efficiency of catalyst 2 originated from its superior stability and the facile formation of its cation compared to that derived from catalyst 1.

Stable silaimines with three- and four-coordinate silicon atoms.

The reactions of silylenes with organic azides are quite diverse, depending on the substituents of the silylene center and on the nature of the azide employed. Elusive silaimine with three-coordinate silicon atom L(1)SiN(2,6-Triip(2)-C(6)H(3)) (5) {L(1) = CH[(C═CH(2))(CMe)(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)N)(2)] and Triip = 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl} was synthesized by treatment of the silylene L(1)Si (1) with a sterically demanding 2,6-bis(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)phenyl azide (2,6-Triip(2)C(6)H(3)N(3)). The reaction of Lewis base-stabilized dichlorosilylene L(2)SiCl(2) (2) {L(2) = 1,3-bis(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3))imidazol-2-ylidene} with Ph(3)SiN(3) afforded four-coordinate silaimine L(2)(Cl(2))SiNSiPh(3) (6). Treatment of 2,6-Triip(2)C(6)H(3)N(3) with L(3)SiCl (3) (L(3) = PhC(NtBu)(2)) yielded silaimine L(3)(Cl)SiN(2,6-Triip(2)-C(6)H(3)) (7) possessing a four-coordinate silicon atom. The reactions of L(3)SiN(SiMe(3))(2) (4) with adamantyl and trimethylsilyl azide furnished silaimine compounds with a four-coordinate silicon atom L(3)(N(Ad)SiMe(3))SiN(SiMe(3)) (8) (Ad = adamantyl) and L(3)(N(SiMe(3))(2))SiN(SiMe(3)) (9). Compound 8 was formed by migration of one of the SiMe(3) groups. Compounds 5-9 are stable under inert atmosphere and were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray studies.

Selective aromatic C-F and C-H bond activation with silylenes of different coordinate silicon.

Herein we report on the reaction of stable two-coordinate silylene, L(1)Si [L(1) = CH{(C=CH(2))(CMe)(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)N)(2)}] (1) and three-coordinate silylene (Lewis base stabilized silylene), L(2)SiCl [L(2) = PhC(NtBu)(2)] (2) with aromatic compounds containing C-F and C-H bonds. The reaction of 1 and 2 with hexafluorobenzene (C(6)F(6)) affords the silicon(IV) fluorides, L(1)SiF(C(6)F(5)) (3) and L(2)SiFCl(C(6)F(5)) (4), respectively. The reaction proceeds through the unprecedented oxidative addition of one of the C-F bonds to the silicon(II) center without any additional catalyst. When 1 and 2 are treated with octafluorotoluene (C(6)F(5)CF(3)), pentafluoropyridine (C(5)F(5)N) regioselective C-F bond activation occurs leading to the formation of L(1)SiF(4-C(6)F(4)CF(3)) (5), L(1)SiF(4-C(5)F(4)N) (6), L(2)SiFCl(4-C(6)F(4)CF(3)) (7), and L(2)SiFCl(4-C(5)F(4)N) (8), respectively. More interestingly, compounds 1 and 2 react with pentafluorobenzene (C(6)F(5)H) under formation of silicon(IV) hydride L(1)SiH(C(6)F(5)) (9) by chemoselective C-H bond activation, in the latter case producing silicon(IV) fluoride L(2)SiFCl(4-C(6)F(4)H) (10) by chemo- as well as regioselective C-F bond activation. Furthermore, the reaction of 1 with 1,3,5-trifluorobenzene (1,3,5-C(6)F(3)H(3)) leads to the chemoselective formation of silicon(IV) hydride L(1)SiH(1,3,5-C(6)F(3)H(2)) (11). The formation of compounds 9 and 11 occurs via oxidative addition of the aromatic C-H bond to the silicon(II) center instead of C-F bond activation. All reported reactions proceed without any additional catalyst. Compounds 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 were investigated by microanalysis and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and compounds 3, 7, 8, and 9 additionally by single crystal X-ray structural analyses.

An efficient route for the synthesis of a Tin(II) substituted carbodiimide from a diazo compound.

The reaction of beta-diketiminate substituted tin(II) chloride, LSnCl (1; L = HC{(CMe)(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)N)}(2)), with the lithium salt of trimethylsilyl diazomethane (LiC(N(2))SiMe(3)) is described. In the course of the reaction, the exclusive formation of tin(II) substituted carbodiimide LSnNCNSiMe(3) (2) is observed in good yield. This reaction occurs at room temperature without any side products. Furthermore, we reacted diiron nonacarbonyl, Fe(2)(CO)(9), with compound 2 to confirm the carbodiimide skeleton (N=C=N) without rearrangement. The latter reaction leads to the tin(II) coordinate iron carbonyl complex LSnNCNSiMe(3)Fe(CO)(4) (3). Compounds 2 and 3 were investigated by microanalysis and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and were further characterized by X-ray structural analysis.

Synthesis and reaction of monomeric germanium(II) and lead(II) dimethylamide and the synthesis of germanium(II) hydrazide by cleavage of one N-H bond of hydrazine.

The beta-diketiminate substituted germanium(II) and lead(II) dimethylamides, LGeNMe(2) (1) and LPbNMe(2) (2), [L = CH{(CMe)(2)(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)N)(2)}] have been synthesized by the reaction of LiNMe(2) with LGeCl and LPbCl respectively. Reaction of compound 1 with an equivalent amount of elemental sulfur leads to the germanium analogue of thioamide, LGe(S)NMe(2) (3). 2 reacts with 2-benzoyl pyridine (PhCOPy-2) to form the lead(II) alkoxide LPbOC(NMe(2))Ph(2-Py) (4) by nucleophilic addition of "NMe(2)" to the carbon oxygen double bond. The reaction of stable N-heterocyclic germylene L(1)Ge [L(1) = CH{(C=CH(2))(CMe)(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)N)(2)}] with hydrazine yields the germanium(II) substituted hydrazide LGeNHNH(2) (5) by cleavage of one N-H bond of hydrazine. Finally, attempts to isolate lead(II) hydride LPbH from the reaction of 2 with phenylsilane (PhSiH(3)) failed, and instead LPbN(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)){C(CH(3))CHC(CH(3))=N(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3))} (6) was obtained in very low yield. We are able to prove this only by single crystal X-ray structural analysis. Compounds 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 were characterized by microanalysis, electron impact (EI) mass spectrometry, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore compounds 1, 2, 5, and 6 were characterized by single crystal X-ray structural analysis, with the result that they are exhibiting monomeric structures in the solid state with trigonal-pyramidal environment at the metal center and a stereochemically active lone pair.