Nickel-Catalyzed Electrochemical Cross-Electrophile C(sp2)-C(sp3) Coupling via a NiII Aryl Amido Intermediate.

Cross-electrophile coupling (XEC) between aryl halides and alkyl halides is a streamlined approach for C(sp2)-C(sp3) bond construction, which is highly valuable in medicinal chemistry. Based on a key NiII aryl amido intermediate, we developed a highly selective and scalable Ni-catalyzed electrochemical XEC reaction between (hetero)aryl halides and primary and secondary alkyl halides. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies indicate that an amine secondary ligand slows down the oxidative addition process of the Ni-polypyridine catalyst to the aryl bromide and a NiII aryl amido intermediate is formed in-situ during the reaction process. The relatively slow oxidative addition is beneficial for enhancing the selectivity of the XEC reaction. The NiII aryl amido intermediate stabilizes the NiII-aryl species to prevent the aryl-aryl homo-coupling side reactions and acts as a catalyst to activate the alkyl bromide substrates. This electrosynthesis system provides a facile, practical, and scalable platform for the formation of (hetero)aryl-alkyl bonds using standard Ni catalysts under mild conditions. The mechanistic insights from this work could serve as a great foundation for future studies on Ni-catalyzed cross-couplings.

Trajectory-Based Time-Resolved Mechanism for Benzene Reductive Elimination from Cyclopentadienyl Mo/W Phenyl Hydride Complexes.

Calculated potential energy structures and landscapes are very often used to define the sequence of reaction steps in an organometallic reaction mechanism and interpret kinetic isotope effect (KIE) measurements. Underlying most of this structure-to-mechanism translation is the use of statistical rate theories without consideration of atomic/molecular motion. Here we report direct dynamics simulations for an organometallic benzene reductive elimination reaction, where nonstatistical intermediates and dynamic-controlled pathways were identified. Specifically, we report single spin state as well as mixed spin state quasiclassical direct dynamics trajectories in the gas phase and explicit solvent for benzene reductive elimination from Mo and W bridged cyclopentadienyl phenyl hydride complexes ([Me2Si(C5Me4)2]M(H)(Ph), M = Mo and W). Different from the energy landscape mechanistic sequence, the dynamics trajectories revealed that after the benzene C-H bond forming transition state (often called reductive coupling), σ-coordination and π-coordination intermediates are either skipped or circumvented and that there is a direct pathway to forming a spin flipped solvent caged intermediate, which occurs in just a few hundred femtoseconds. Classical molecular dynamics simulations were then used to estimate the lifetime of the caged intermediate, which is between 200 and 400 picoseconds. This indicates that when the η2-π-coordination intermediate is formed, it occurs only after the first formation of the solvent-caged intermediate. This dynamic mechanism intriguingly suggests the possibility that the solvent-caged intermediate rather than a coordination intermediate is responsible (or partially responsible) for the inverse KIE value experimentally measured for W. Additionally, this dynamic mechanism prompted us to calculate the kH/kD KIE value for the C-H bonding forming transition states of Mo and W. Surprisingly, Mo gave a normal value, while W gave an inverse value, albeit small, due to a much later transition state position.

Intramolecular Heteroatom and Styryl Diels-Alder Reactions, Asymmetric Cycloadditions of Chiral 3-Phenylallyl Maleic Esters.

Polycyclic aryl naphthalene and tetralin dihydro arylnaphthalene lactone lignans possess anticancer and antibiotic activity. Related furo[3,4-c]pyranones, typified by the sequester-terpenoid isobolivianine, show similar antiproliferative bioactivity. Efficient syntheses of compounds featuring these polycyclic cores have proven challenging due to low yields and poor stereoselectivity. We report the synthesis of chiral cinnamyl but-2-enanoates and 3,3-diphenylallyl-but-2-enoates 1 as new Diels-Alder substrates. These compounds undergo [4 + 2]-cycloadditions to give furo[3,4-c]pyranones 2 in good yield (70%) and diastereoselectivity (7:1), together with naphthyl 3 and dihydronaphthyl tetralins 4 as minor products. Molecular structures and stereochemistries of the major products were verified using X-ray diffraction. Density functional theory calculations revealed that the cycloaddition process involves a bispericyclic/ambimodal process where there is a single transition state that leads to both intramolecular styryl Diels-Alder (ISDA) 3, 4 and intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder (IHDA) cycloadducts 2. With the elevated temperature conditions after cycloaddition, the resulting ISDA cycloadduct either undergoes [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement to the more stable major IHDA product or aromatization leading to the phenyltetralin.

Coordination-induced O-H/N-H bond weakening by a redox non-innocent, aluminum-containing radical.

Several renewable energy schemes aim to use the chemical bonds in abundant molecules like water and ammonia as energy reservoirs. Because the O-H and N-H bonds are quite strong (>100 kcal/mol), it is necessary to identify substances that dramatically weaken these bonds to facilitate proton-coupled electron transfer processes required for energy conversion. Usually this is accomplished through coordination-induced bond weakening by redox-active metals. However, coordination-induced bond weakening is difficult with earth's most abundant metal, aluminum, because of its redox inertness under mild conditions. Here, we report a system that uses aluminum with a redox non-innocent ligand to achieve significant levels of coordination-induced bond weakening of O-H and N-H bonds. The multisite proton-coupled electron transfer manifold described here points to redox non-innocent ligands as a design element to open coordination-induced bond weakening chemistry to more elements in the periodic table.

Dynamic-dependent selectivity in a bisphosphine iron spin crossover C-H insertion/π-coordination reaction.

Reaction pathway selectivity is generally controlled by competitive transition states. Organometallic reactions are complicated by the possibility that electronic spin state changes rather than transition states can control the relative rates of pathways, which can be modeled as minimum energy crossing points (MECPs). Here we show that in the reaction between bisphosphine Fe and ethylene involving spin state crossover (singlet and triplet spin states) that neither transition states nor MECPs model pathway selectivity consistent with experiment. Instead, single spin state and mixed spin state quasiclassical trajectories demonstrate nonstatistical intermediates and that C-H insertion versus π-coordination pathway selectivity is determined by the dynamic motion during reactive collisions. This example of dynamic-dependent product outcome provides a new selectivity model for organometallic reactions with spin crossover.

Exploring Cuneanes as Potential Benzene Isosteres and Energetic Materials: Scope and Mechanistic Investigations into Regioselective Rearrangements from Cubanes.

Cuneane is a strained hydrocarbon that can be accessed via metal-catalyzed isomerization of cubane. The carbon atoms of cuneane define a polyhedron of the C2v point group with six faces─two triangular, two quadrilateral, and two pentagonal. The rigidity, strain, and unique exit vectors of the cuneane skeleton make it a potential scaffold of interest for the synthesis of functional small molecules and materials. However, the limited previous synthetic efforts toward cuneanes have focused on monosubstituted or redundantly substituted systems such as permethylated, perfluorinated, and bis(hydroxymethylated) cuneanes. Such compounds, particularly rotationally symmetric redundantly substituted cuneanes, have limited potential as building blocks for the synthesis of complex molecules. Reliable, predictable, and selective syntheses of polysubstituted cuneanes bearing more complex substitution patterns would facilitate the study of this ring system in myriad applications. Herein, we report the regioselective, AgI-catalyzed isomerization of asymmetrically 1,4-disubstituted cubanes to cuneanes. In-depth DFT calculations provide a charge-controlled regioselectivity model, and direct dynamics simulations indicate that the nonclassical carbocation invoked is short-lived and dynamic effects augment the charge model.

Direct Dynamics Trajectories Reveal Nonstatistical Coordination Intermediates and Demonstrate that σ and π-Coordination Are Not Required for Rhenium(I)-Mediated Ethylene C-H Activation.

The C-H activation reaction between Cp(PMe3)2Re and ethylene results in kinetic selectivity for the Re-vinyl hydride I over the thermodynamically more stable Cp(PMe3)2Re(η2-ethylene) π-complex II. While transition-state and variational transition-state structures were located for individual pathways leading to I and II, DFT and CCSD(T) energies predict a large kinetic selectivity of 102-104, which is incompatible with the experimental 10:1 ratio. DFT direct quasiclassical trajectories revealed that the transition states do not provide a qualitatively correct reaction mechanism or a quantitatively correct selectivity due to a nonstatistical σ-CH coordination intermediate that precedes the transition states for C-H activation and π coordination. Using metadynamics and quasiclassical direct dynamics, we show that trajectories for the reaction between Cp(PMe3)2Re and ethylene result in direct formation of either the Re-vinyl hydride I or the π-complex II. Trajectories leading to the Re-vinyl hydride skip σ-coordination and do not require π-coordination. Consistent with experiments, trajectory selectivity provides a relatively small kinetic selectivity for the Re-vinyl hydride.

Experiments and Direct Dynamics Simulations That Probe η2-Arene/Aryl Hydride Equilibria of Tungsten Benzene Complexes.

Key steps in the functionalization of an unactivated arene often involve its dihaptocoordination by a transition metal followed by insertion into the C-H bond. However, rarely are the η2-arene and aryl hydride species in measurable equilibrium. In this study, the benzene/phenyl hydride equilibrium is explored for the {WTp(NO)(PBu3)} (Bu = n-butyl; Tp = trispyrazoylborate) system as a function of temperature, solvent, ancillary ligand, and arene substituent. Both face-flip and ring-walk isomerizations are identified through spin-saturation exchange measurements, which both appear to operate through scission of a C-H bond. The effect of either an electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituent is to increase the stability of both arene and aryl hydride isomers. Crystal structures, electrochemical measurements, and extensive NMR data further support these findings. Static density functional theory calculations of the benzene-to-phenyl hydride landscape suggest a single linear sequence for this transformation involving a sigma complex and oxidative cleavage transition state. Static DFT calculations also identified an η2-coordinated benzene complex in which the arene is held more loosely than in the ground state, primarily through dispersion forces. Although a single reaction pathway was identified by static calculations, quasiclassical direct dynamics simulations identified a network of several reaction pathways connecting the η2-benzene and phenyl hydride isomers, due to the relatively flat energy landscape.

Synthetic investigations of low-coordinate (N-phosphino-amidinate) nickel chemistry: agostic alkyl complexes and benzene insertion into Ni-H.

Treatment of (PN)NiX (X = NHdipp or OtBu; PN = N-phosphinoamidinate ligand) with Me2PhSiH in benzene solvent afforded the crystallographically characterized, antifacial-coordinated, dinuclear species 1, the formation of which corresponds to the hitherto unknown net Ni-H addition of two equivalents of the putative (PN)NiH intermediate across C[double bond, length as m-dash]C units within a single benzene molecule. Computational analysis supports the view of 1 as being comprised of two cationic (PN)NiII fragments ligated by a substituted butadiene dianion µ2-η3:η3-C6H82- bridging group. Also described is the formation and characterization of three-coordinate (PN)Ni(alkyl) complexes stabilized by ß-agostic (alkyl = Et, 2; n-Bu, 3; n-hexyl, 4) or γ-agostic (alkyl = neopentyl, 5) interactions, and our efforts to employ 2 and 3 as synthons for the generation of (PN)NiHvia ß-hydride elimination. Notably, compound 5 represents both the first crystallographically characterized three-coordinate Ni-alkyl complex featuring a heterobidentate ligation, and the first neutral γ-agostic NiII-alkyl complex.

C-O and C-N Functionalization of Cationic, NCN-Type Pincer Complexes of Trivalent Nickel: Mechanism, Selectivity, and Kinetic Isotope Effect.

This report presents the synthesis of new mono- and dicationic NCN-NiIII complexes and describes their reactivities with protic substrates. (NCN is the pincer-type ligand κ N, κ C, κ N-2,6-(CH2NMe2)2-C6H3.) Treating van Koten's trivalent complex (NCN)NiIIIBr2 with AgSbF6 in acetonitrile gives the dicationic complex [(NCN)NiIII(MeCN)3]2+, whereas the latter complex undergoes a ligand-exchange reaction with (NCN)NiIIIBr2 to furnish the related monocationic complex [(NCN)NiIII(Br)(MeCN)]+. These trivalent complexes have been characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and EPR spectroscopy. Treating these trivalent complexes with methanol and methylamine led, respectively, to C-OCH3 or C-NH(CH3) functionalization of the Ni-aryl moiety in these complexes, C-heteroatom bond formation taking place at the ipso-C. These reactions also generate the cationic divalent complex [(NCN)NiII(NCMe)]+, which was prepared independently and characterized fully. The unanticipated formation of the latter divalent species suggested a comproportionation side reaction between the cationic trivalent precursors and a monovalent species generated at the C-O and C-N bond formation steps; this scenario was supported by direct reaction of the trivalent complexes with the monovalent compound (PPh3)3NiICl. Kinetic measurements and density functional theory analysis have been used to investigate the mechanism of these C-O and C-N functionalization reactions and to rationalize the observed inverse kinetic isotope effect in the reaction of [(NCN)NiIII(Br)(MeCN)]+ with CH3OH/CD3OD.

Synthesis and Computational Studies Demonstrate the Utility of an Intramolecular Styryl Diels-Alder Reaction and Di-t-butylhydroxytoluene Assisted [1,3]-Shift to Construct Anticancer dl-Deoxypodophyllotoxin.

Deoxypodophyllotoxin is a secondary metabolite lignan possessing potent anticancer activity with potential as a precursor for known anticancer drugs, but its use is limited by scarcity from natural sources. We here report the total synthesis of racemic deoxypodophyllotoxin in seven steps using an intramolecular styryl Diels-Alder reaction strategy uniquely suited to assemble the deoxypodophyllotoxin core. Density functional theory was used to analyze concerted, polar, and singlet-open-shell diradical reaction pathways, which identified a low-energy concerted [4 + 2] Diels-Alder pathway followed by a faster di-t-butylhydroxytoluene assisted [1,3]-formal hydrogen shift.

A nickel complex with a biscarbene pincer-type ligand shows high electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 over H2O.

We report a planar nickel complex coordinated with a pincer-type carbene-pyridine-carbene ligand which exhibits high selectivity for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction in the presence of H2O.

Selective access to E- and Z-ΔIle-containing peptides via a stereospecific E2 dehydration and an O → N acyl transfer.

A concise synthesis of peptides that contain E- or Z-dehydroisoleucine (ΔIle) residues is reported. The key reaction is an unusual anti dehydration of ß-tert-hydroxy amino acid derivatives that is mediated by the Martin sulfurane. A subsequent tandem Staudinger reduction-O → N acyl transfer process forges an amide bond to the ΔIle residue with minimal E/Z alkene isomerization. Density functional calculations attribute the stereospecific dehydration to a highly asynchronous E2 anti process.

Thinking out of the black box: accurate barrier heights of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of ozone with acetylene and ethylene.

Accurate barriers for the 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of ozone with acetylene and ethylene have been determined via the systematic extrapolation of ab initio energies within the focal point approach of Allen and co-workers. Electron correlation has been accounted for primarily via coupled cluster theory, including single, double, and triple excitations, as well as a perturbative treatment of connected quadruple excitations [CCSD, CCSD(T), CCSDT, and CCSDT(Q)]. For the concerted [4 + 2] cycloadditions, the final recommended barriers are DeltaH(0K) = 9.4 +/- 0.2 and 5.3 +/- 0.2 kcal mol(-1) for ozone adding to acetylene and ethylene, respectively. These agree with recent results of Cremer et al. and Anglada et al., respectively. The reaction energy for O3 + C2H2 exhibits a protracted convergence with respect to inclusion of electron correlation, with the CCSDT/cc-pVDZ and CCSDT(Q)/cc-pVDZ values differing by 2.3 kcal mol-1. Recommended enthalpies of formation (298 K) for cycloadducts 1,2,3-trioxole and 1,2,3-trioxolane are +32.8 and -1.6 kcal mol(-1), respectively. Popular composite ab initio approaches [CBS-QB3, CBS-APNO, G3, G3B3, G3(MP2)B3, G4, G4(MP3), and G4(MP2)] predict a range of barrier heights for these systems. The CBS-QB3 computed barrier for ozone and acetylene, DeltaH(0K) = 4.4 kcal mol(-1), deviates by 5 kcal mol(-1) from the focal point value. CBS-QB3 similarly underestimates the barrier for the reaction of ozone and ethylene, yielding a prediction of only 0.7 kcal mol(-1). The errors in the CBS-QB3 results are significantly larger than mean errors observed in application to the G2 test set. The problem is traced to the nontransferability of MP2 basis set effects in the case of these reaction barriers. The recently published G4 and G4(MP2) approaches perform substantially better for O3 + C2H2, predicting enthalpy barriers of 9.0 and 8.4 kcal mol(-1), respectively. For the prediction of these reaction barriers, the additive corrections applied in the majority of the composite approaches considered lead to worse agreement with the reference focal point values than would be obtained relying only on single point energies evaluated at the highest level of theory utilized within each composite method.