Enantiopure [6]-Azairidahelicene by Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of a Configurationally Labile [4]-Helicene.

A pair of enantiopure [6]-azairidahelicenes incorporating chirality at the metal center and on the helicenic ligand were synthesized by dynamic kinetic resolution (dkr) of a configurationally labile [4]-helicenic ligand (4-(2-pyridyl)-benzo[g]phenanthrene, L1H) using bis-cyclometalated chiral-at-metal only iridium(III) precursors as chiral inductors. The origin of the observed dkr is attributed to the different conformation and stability of diastereomeric reaction intermediates formed during the cyclometalation process. The isolated enantiomers exhibited circularly polarized phosphorescence (CPP), with |gphos| values of 1.8×10-3.

Catalytic activation of remote alkenes through silyl-rhodium(III) complexes.

The tandem isomerization-hydrosilylation reaction is a highly valuable process able to transform mixtures of internal olefins into linear silanes. Unsaturated and cationic hydrido-silyl-Rh(III) complexes have proven to be effective catalysts for this reaction. Herein, three silicon-based bidentate ligands, 8-(dimethylsilyl)quinoline (L1), 8-(dimethylsilyl)-2-methylquinoline (L2) and 4-(dimethylsilyl)-9-phenylacridine (L3), have been used to synthesize three neutral [RhCl(H)(L)PPh3] (1-L1, 1-L2 and 1-L3) and three cationic [Rh(H)(L)(PPh3)2][BArF4] (2-L1, 2-L2 and 2-L3) Rh(III) complexes. Among the neutral compounds, 1-L2 could be characterized in the solid state by X-ray diffraction showing a distorted trigonal bipyramidal structure. Neutral complexes (1-L1, 1-L2 and 1-L3) failed to catalyze the hydrosilylation of olefins. On the other hand, the cationic compound 2-L2 was also characterized by X-ray diffraction showing a square pyramidal structure. The unsaturated and cationic Rh(III) complexes 2-L1, 2-L2 and 2-L3 showed significant catalytic activity in the hydrosilylation of remote alkenes, with the most sterically hindered (2-L2) being the most active one.

Tailor-Made Synthesis of Hydrosilanols, Hydrosiloxanes, and Silanediols Catalyzed by di-Silyl Rhodium(III) and Iridium(III) Complexes.

Siloxanes and silanols containing Si-H units are important building blocks for the synthesis of functionalized siloxane materials, and their synthesis is a current challenge. Herein, we report the selective synthesis of hydrosilanols, hydrosiloxanes, and silanodiols depending on the nature of the catalysts and the silane used. Two neutral ({MCl[SiMe2(o-C6H4PPh2)]2}; M = Rh, Ir) and two cationic ({M[SiMe2(o-C6H4PPh2)]2(NCMe)}[BArF4]; M = Rh, Ir) have been synthesized and their catalytic behavior toward hydrolysis of secondary silanes has been described. Using the iridium complexes as precatalysts and diphenylsilane as a substrate, the product obtained is diphenylsilanediol. When rhodium complexes are used as precatalysts, it is possible to selectively obtain silanediol, hydrosilanol, and hydrosiloxane depending on the catalysts (neutral or cationic) and the silane substituents.

Hydrogen Tunneling in Catalytic Hydrolysis and Alcoholysis of Silanes.

An unprecedented quantum tunneling effect has been observed in catalytic Si-H bond activations at room temperature. The cationic hydrido-silyl-iridium(III) complex, {Ir[SiMe(o-C6 H4 SMe)2 ](H)(PPh3 )(THF)}[BArF 4 ], has proven to be a highly efficient catalyst for the hydrolysis and the alcoholysis of organosilanes. When triethylsilane was used as a substrate, the system revealed the largest kinetic isotopic effect (KIESi-H/Si-D =346±4) ever reported for this type of reaction. This unexpectedly high KIE, measured at room temperature, together with the calculated Arrhenius preexponential factor ratio (AH /AD =0.0004) and difference in the observed activation energy [(E a D -E a H )=34.07 kJ mol-1 ] are consistent with the participation of quantum tunneling in the catalytic process. DFT calculations have been used to unravel the reaction pathway and identify the rate-determining step. Aditionally, isotopic effects were considered by different methods, and tunneling effects have been calculated to be crucial in the process.

Bicolour fluorescent molecular sensors for cations: design and experimental validation.

Molecular entities whose fluorescence spectra are different when they bind metal cations are termed bicolour fluorescent molecular sensors. The basic design criteria of this kind of compound are presented and the different fluorescent responses are discussed in terms of their chemical behaviour and electronic features. These latter elements include intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), formation of intramolecular and intermolecular excimer/exciplex complexes and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). Changes in the electronic properties of the fluorophore based on the decoupling between its constitutive units upon metal binding are also discussed. The possibility of generating fluorescent bicolour indicators that can capture metal cations in the gas phase and at solid-gas interfaces is also discussed.

Fluorescent bicolour sensor for low-background neutrinoless double ß decay experiments.

Observation of the neutrinoless double ß decay is the only practical way to establish that neutrinos are their own antiparticles1. Because of the small masses of neutrinos, the lifetime of neutrinoless double ß decay is expected to be at least ten orders of magnitude greater than the typical lifetimes of natural radioactive chains, which can mimic the experimental signature of neutrinoless double ß decay2. The most robust identification of neutrinoless double ß decay requires the definition of a signature signal-such as the observation of the daughter atom in the decay-that cannot be generated by radioactive backgrounds, as well as excellent energy resolution. In particular, the neutrinoless double ß decay of 136Xe could be established by detecting the daughter atom, 136Ba2+, in its doubly ionized state3-8. Here we demonstrate an important step towards a 'barium-tagging' experiment, which identifies double ß decay through the detection of a single Ba2+ ion. We propose a fluorescent bicolour indicator as the core of a sensor that can detect single Ba2+ ions in a high-pressure xenon gas detector. In a sensor made of a monolayer of such indicators, the Ba2+ dication would be captured by one of the molecules and generate a Ba2+-coordinated species with distinct photophysical properties. The presence of such a single Ba2+-coordinated indicator would be revealed by its response to repeated interrogation with a laser system, enabling the development of a sensor able to detect single Ba2+ ions in high-pressure xenon gas detectors for barium-tagging experiments.

A readily accessible ruthenium catalyst for the solvolytic dehydrogenation of amine-borane adducts.

The use of the readily available complex [Ru(p-Cym)(bipy)Cl]Cl as an efficient and robust precatalyst for homogeneously catalysed solvolysis of amine-borane adducts to liberate the hydrogen content of the borane almost quantitatively is being presented. The reactions can be carried out in tap water, and in aqueous mixtures with non-deoxygenated solvents. The system is also efficient for the dehydrocoupling of dimethylamine-borane under solvent-free conditions.

Enantioselective supramolecular catalysis induced by remote chiral diols.

A new method of creating libraries of chiral diphosphines is presented. Supramolecular coordination compounds based on Ti, Rh, achiral ditopic ligands, and chiral diols were synthesized by in situ mixing and used as catalysts in the asymmetric hydrogenation of (Z)-methyl 2-acetamido-3-phenylacrylate, giving ee's of up to 92%. The ditopic ligands contain a Schiff base that coordinates to the assembly metal Ti and a phosphine as a ligand for Rh. Chirality is introduced by coordination of the chiral diols to Ti. The controlling chiral center and the substrate are separated by as much as 13 Å.

Zn(II) Robson macrocycles as templates for chelating diphosphines.

Chelating diphosphines were constructed using dinuclear Zn(II) complexes of Robson macrocycles (Zn-RMCs) as templates. The assembly process is driven by the interaction between the metal centers (Lewis acids) with anionic and neutral Lewis base-functionalized monophosphines. The stability of the final structure depends on the geometry and the affinity of the functional groups of the ditopic phosphines and on the structure of the RMC. In the free ligand the ditopic phosphines coordinate at opposite faces of the pseudo-planar macrocycle as is shown in the molecular structure of several of the assemblies, according to X-ray diffraction. Pre-organization of the system by coordinating the phosphorus atoms to a transition metal center enforced coordination of the functional groups at the same face of the RMC. For several templated diphosphines cis-PtCl(2) complexes were identified by NMR. The in situ assembled diphosphines showed a chelating effect in the rhodium catalyzed hydroformylation of 1-octene. Combination of Zn-RMC 3 and phosphine A gave the highest l/b ratio (13) in acetonitrile.

Relationship between conformational flexibility and chelate cooperativity.

A family of four biscarbamates (AA) and four bisphenols (DD) were synthesized, and H-bonding interactions between all AA•DD combinations were characterized using (1)H NMR titrations in carbon tetrachloride. A chemical double mutant cycle analysis shows that there are no secondary electrostatic interactions or allosteric cooperativity in these systems, and the system therefore provides an ideal platform for investigating the relationship between chemical structure and chelate cooperativity. Effective molarities (EMs) were measured for 12 different systems, where the number of rotors in the chains connecting the two H-bond sites was varied from 5 to 20. The association constants vary by less than an order of magnitude for all 12 complexes, and the variation in EM is remarkably small (0.1-0.9 M). The results provide a relationship between EM and the number of rotors in the connecting chains (r): EM ≈ 10r(-3/2). The value of 10 M is the upper limit for the value of EM for a noncovalent intramolecular interaction. Introduction of rotors reduces the value of EM from this maximum in accord with a random walk analysis of the encounter probability of the chain ends (r(-3/2)). Noncovalent EMs never reach the very high values observed for covalent processes, which places limitations on the magnitudes of the effects that one is likely to achieve through the use of chelate cooperativity in supramolecular assembly and catalysis. On the other hand, the decrease in EM due to the introduction of conformational flexibility is less dramatic than one might expect based on the behavior of covalent systems, which limits the losses in binding affinity caused by poor preorganization of the interaction sites.

An approach to bimetallic catalysts by ligand design.

New diphosphines based on benzofurobenzofuran and dibenzodioxocin backbones, forming exclusively bimetallic complexes were designed and synthesized. Depending on the ligand to metal ratio, face-to-face bimetallic complexes or syn-chloride bridged dimeric complexes were formed as main reaction products. The structures of the rhodium complexes of the new ligands 4, 7, 10, 13, 16 were established in solution by NMR, IR, and MS spectroscopy. The molecular structures of the syn-chloride bridged dimeric complexes [Rh(2)(CO)(2)(mu-Cl)(2)(4)] (22), [Rh(2)(CO)(2)(mu-Cl)(2)(10)] (24), and the face-to-face bimetallic complexes [Rh(CO)Cl(4)](2) (17), [Rh(CO)Cl(10)](2) (19), and [Rh(CO)Cl(13)](2) (20) were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Ligands 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, and SPANphos were tested in rhodium catalyzed methanol carbonylation at 150 degrees C and 22 bar of CO gas, showing high activities under catalytic conditions.

Efficient bulky phosphines for the selective telomerization of 1,3-butadiene with methanol.

A series of bulky phosphines containing substituted biphenyl, 2-methylnaphthyl, or 2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethylxanthene moiety were prepared. They were used in the preparation of new monophosphine-palladium(0)-dvds complexes, which were employed as catalysts for the selective telomerization of 1,3-butadiene with methanol to obtain 1-methoxyocta-2,7-diene (1-MOD), the key intermediate in the Dow 1-octene process. Several ligands showed improved selectivity and yield compared to that of the benchmark ligand PPh(3). Especially 2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethylxanthen-4-yl-diphenylphosphine (4, "mono-xantphos") stands out as an excellent ligand in terms of yield, selectivity, and stability.

Bite angle effects of diphosphines in C-C and C-X bond forming cross coupling reactions.

Catalytic reactions of C-C and C-X bond formation are discussed in this critical review with particular emphasis on cross coupling reactions catalyzed by palladium and wide bite angle bidentate diphosphine ligands. Especially those studies have been collected that allow comparison of the ligand bite angles for the selected ligands: dppp, BINAP, dppf, DPEphos and Xantphos. Similarities with hydrocyanation and CO/ethene/MeOH reactions have been highlighted, while rhodium hydroformylation has been mentioned as a contrasting example, in which predictability is high and steric and electronic effects follow smooth trends. In palladium catalysis wide bite angles and bulkiness of the ligands facilitate generally the reductive elimination thus giving more efficient cross coupling catalysis (174 references).

Ionic interaction as a powerful driving force for the formation of heterobidentate assembly ligands.

An ionic interaction has been used for the first time to assemble monophosphane ligands. NMR spectroscopy and X-ray studies show that cationic and anionic triphenylphosphane derivatives form ion pairs and subsequently act as a ligand in various transition-metal complexes. The position of the ionic functional groups allows both cis and trans coordination of the novel assembly ligand in square-planar transition-metal complexes.

SPANphos: trans-spanning diphosphines as cis chelating ligands!

Several SPANphos ligands based on a spirobichroman backbone, introduced as a putative trans ligand, form compounds of the type [Rh(nbd)(SPANphos)]BF(4) () in which both norbornadiene and SPANphos act as cis chelating ligands. The cyclooctadiene rhodium chloride derivatives form bimetallic complexes. Crystal structures for several of these compounds and free ligands are reported. Semiemperical AM1 and DFT calculations show that spirobichroman can assume several conformations, some of which are suitable for the formation of cis chelating SPANphos. All calculations on SPANphos complexes of PdCl(2), PtCl(2) and Rh(CO)Cl show that the trans complex is more stable by 4-10 kcal mol(-1). The cis conformation is enforced by the cis chelating norbornadiene ligand.

Alcoholysis of acylpalladium(II) complexes relevant to the alternating copolymerization of ethene and carbon monoxide and the alkoxycarbonylation of alkenes: the importance of Cis-coordinating phosphines.

The mechanism and kinetics of the solvolysis of complexes of the type [(L-L)Pd(C(O)CH(3))(S)](+)[CF(3)SO(3)](-) (L-L = diphosphine ligand, S = solvent, CO, or donor atom in the ligand backbone) was studied by NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy with the use of the ligands a-j: SPANphos (a), dtbpf (b), Xantphos (c), dippf (d), DPEphos (e), dtbpx (f), dppf (g), dppp (h), calix-6-diphosphite (j). Acetyl palladium complexes containing trans-coordinating ligands that resist cis coordination (SPANphos, dtbpf) showed no methanolysis. Trans complexes that can undergo isomerization to the cis analogue (Xantphos, dippf, DPEphos) showed methanolyis of the acyl group at a moderate rate. The reaction of [trans-(DPEphos)Pd(C(O)CH(3))](+)[CF(3)SO(3)](-) (2e) with methanol shows a large negative entropy of activation. Cis complexes underwent competing decarbonylation and methanolysis with the exception of 2j, [cis-(calix-diphosphite)Pd(C(O)CH(3))(CD(3)OD)](+)[CF(3)SO(3)](-). The calix-6-diphosphite complex showed a large positive entropy of activation. It is concluded that ester elimination from acylpalladium complexes with alcohols requires cis geometry of the acyl group and coordinating alcohol. The reductive elimination of methyl acetate is described as a migratory elimination or a 1,2-shift of the alkoxy group from palladium to the acyl carbon atom. Cis complexes with bulky ligands such as dtbpx undergo an extremely fast methanolysis. An increasing steric bulk of the ligand favors the formation of methyl propanoate relative to the insertion of ethene leading to formation of oligomers or polymers in the catalytic reaction of ethene, carbon monoxide, and methanol.