Regioselective Formal ß-Allylation of Carbonyl Compounds Enabled by Cooperative Nickel and Photoredox Catalysis.

The Tsuji-Trost reaction between carbonyl compounds and allylic precursors has been widely used in the synthesis of natural products and pharmaceutical compounds. As the α-C-H bond is far more acidic than the ß-C-H bond, carbonyl compounds undergo highly regioselective allylation at the α-position and their ß-allylation is therefore highly challenging. This innate α-reactivity conversely hampers diversity, especially if the corresponding ß-allylation product is targeted. Herein, we present a formal intermolecular ß-C-C bond formation reaction of a broad range of aldehydes and ketones with different allyl electrophiles through cooperative nickel and photoredox catalysis. ß-Selectivity is achieved via initial transformation of the aldehydes and ketones to their corresponding silyl enol ethers. The overall transformation features mild conditions, excellent regioselectivity, wide functional group tolerance and high reaction efficiency. The introduced facile and regioselective ß-allylation of carbonyl compounds proceeding through cooperative catalysis allows the preparation of valuable building blocks that are difficult to access from aldehydes and ketones using existing methodology.

Aspects of Phosphaallene Chemistry: Heat-Induced Formation of 1,2-Dihydrophosphetes by Intramolecular Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution and Photochemical Generation of Tricyclic Phosphiranes.

3H-Phosphaallenes are accessible on a new and facile route and show a fascinating chemical behavior. The thermally induced rearrangement of Mes*P═C═C(H)R' (R' = tBu, Ad) afforded by C-H activation, isobutene elimination, and C-C and P-H bond formation bicyclic 1-benzo-dihydrophosphetes (2) with PC3 heterocycles. DFT calculations suggest a mechanism with intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution and replacement of an alkyl group by the nucleophilic α-C atom of the phosphaallene. These bicycles formed W(CO)5 complexes (3) or afforded 1,2-dihydrophosphetes with P-bound alkenyl groups by catalyst-free hydrophosphination of alkynes (4 and 5). The resulting bulky phosphines formed complexes with IrCp*Cl2, RuCl2, AuCl, or CuO3SCF3. The Ru atom is coordinated by the P atom and a phenyl group. Irradiation of TripP═C═C(H)tBu led by the insertion of the central C atom of the P═C═C group into the α-C-H bond of an iPr substituent and by C-C and P-C bond formation to a new isomer of phosphaallenes, 10, which features a strained PC2 heterocycle. It formed adducts with M(CO)5 (M = Cr, Mo, W) and AuCl and reacted with SO2Cl2 by cleavage of one of the phosphirane P-C bonds to yield PC4 or PC5 heterocycles. Hydrolysis yielded a PC5 compound with a P(O)Cl group.

Structure and reactivity of an Al/P-based frustrated Lewis pair bearing relatively small substituents at aluminium.

Reaction of Mes2P─C≡C─Ph (Mes = mesityl) with dineopentylaluminium hydride afforded by hydroalumination a geminal Al/P-based frustrated Lewis pair (FLP; 4). Its steric shielding is relatively low, and its reactivity in various secondary reactions is less hindered by steric repulsion than observed for related compounds having bulkier groups attached to aluminium. FLP 4 yielded adducts with Me3C─NCO or benzaldehyde via the formation of Al-O and P-C bonds. Trimethylsilyl azide reacted with 4 under surprisingly mild conditions to afford a nitrene complex by spontaneous N2 elimination below room temperature. A carbodiimide molecule was coordinated via one of the C=N bonds to form a five-membered AlCPNC heterocycle with an intact C=N bond in an exocyclic position. A very large molecule was obtained by the reaction of two equivalents of 4 with a bifunctional methylene-bridged phenylene isocyanate precursor.This article is part of the themed issue 'Frustrated Lewis pair chemistry'.

Functionalized alkynyl-chlorogermanes: hydrometallation, Ge-Cl bond activation, Ge-H bond formation and chlorine-tert-butyl exchange via a transient germyl cation.

Treatment of alkynyl-arylchlorogermanes ArylnGe(Cl)(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-(t)Bu)3-n (n = 1, 2) with HM(t)Bu2 (M = Al, Ga) yielded mixed Al or Ga alkenyl-alkynylchlorogermanes via hydrometallation reactions. Intramolecular interactions between the Lewis-basic Cl atoms and the Lewis-acidic Al or Ga atoms afforded MCGeCl heterocycles. The endocyclic M-Cl distances were significantly lengthened compared to the starting compounds and indicated Ge-Cl bond activation. Dual hydrometallation succeeded only with HGa(t)Bu2. One Ga atom of the product was involved in a Ga-Cl bond, while the second one had an interaction to a C-H bond of a phenyl group. In two cases treatment of chlorogermanes with two equivalents of HAl(t)Bu2 resulted in hydroalumination of one alkynyl group and formation of unprecedented Ge-H functionalized germanes, Aryl-Ge(H)(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-(t)Bu)[C(Al(t)Bu2)[double bond, length as m-dash]C(H)-(t)Bu] (Aryl = mesityl, triisopropylphenyl). The Al atoms of these compounds interacted with the α-C atoms of the alkynyl groups. Ph(Cl)Ge(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-(t)Bu)[C(Al(t)Bu2}[double bond, length as m-dash]C(H)-(t)Bu] reacted in an unusual Cl/(t)Bu exchange to yield the tert-butylgermane Ph((t)Bu)Ge(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-(t)Bu)[C{Al((t)Bu)(Cl)}[double bond, length as m-dash]C(H)-(t)Bu]. Quantum chemical calculations suggested the formation of a germyl cation as a transient intermediate.

Hydroalumination of alkynyl-aminophosphines as a promising tool for the synthesis of unusual phosphines: P-N bond activation, a transient phosphaallene, a zwitterionic AlP2C2 heterocycle and a masked Al/P-based frustrated Lewis pair.

Treatment of the new alkynyl-chlorophosphine, Mes-P(Cl)-C ≡ C-CMe3, with LiNR2 afforded various unprecedented aminophosphines, Mes-P(NR2)-C ≡ C-CMe3, which showed a fascinating diversity in their reactivity towards H-Al(t)Bu2. NMe2 and NEt2 derivatives yielded the hydroalumination products Mes-P(NR2)-C(Al(t)Bu2) = C(H)-CMe3 which have an Al-N and an activated P-N bond. Elimination of aluminium amide yielded the transient 3H-phosphaallene, Mes-P = C = C(H)-CMe3, which finally afforded a five-membered AlP2C2 heterocycle with an Al-P bond and two exocyclic C = C bonds. This heterocycle is directly formed with the sterically shielded (i)Pr2N- and dimethylpiperidinophosphines. A unique R2AlH adduct resulted from the NPh2 and N(SiMe3)2 substituted phosphines. It may be viewed as an Al/P-based frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) which coordinates an R2AlH moiety. The heterocyclic AlP2C2 compound is formed in the final step of this reaction. Hydroalumination with Et2AlH yielded [Mes-P(H)-C(AlEt2) = C(H)-CMe3]2 which features an Al2P2C2 heterocycle and two Al-P bonds. This dimer resembles the class of hidden or masked FLPs which show a reactivity similar to uncoordinated FLPs. Its unique structural motif is a P-H bond which may result in a new type of FLP chemistry.

Cooperative Ge-N Bond activation in aluminium-functionalised aminogermanes and spontaneous imine elimination via an intermediate germyl cation.

Hydrometallation of iPr2 N-Ge(CMe3 )(C≡C-CMe3 )2 with H-M(CMe3 )2 (M=Al, Ga) affords alkenyl-alkynylgermanes in which the Lewis-acidic metal atoms are not coordinated by the amino N atoms but by the α-C atoms of the ethynyl groups. These interactions result in a lengthening of the Ge-C bonds by approximately 10 pm and a comparably strong deviation of the Ge-CC angle from linearity (154.3(1)°). This unusual behaviour may be caused by steric shielding of the N atoms. Coordination of the metal atoms by the amino groups is observed upon hydrometallation of Et2 N-Ge(C6 H5 )(C≡C-CMe3 )2 , bearing a smaller NR2 group. Strong M-N interactions lead to a lengthening of the Ge-N bonds by 10 to 15 pm and a strong deviation of the M atoms from the MC3 plane by 52 and 47 pm, for Al and Ga, respectively. Dual hydrometallation is achieved only with HAl(CMe3 )2 . In the product, there is a strong Al-N bond with converging Al-N and Ge-N distances (208 vs. 200 pm) and an interaction of the second Al atom to the phenyl group. Addition of chloride anions terminates the latter interaction while the activated Ge-N bond undergoes an unprecedented elimination of EtN=C(H)Me at room temperature, leading to a germane with a Ge-H bond. State-of-the-art DFT calculations reveal that the unique mechanism comprises the transfer of the amino group from Ge to Al to yield an intermediate germyl cation as a strong Lewis acid, which induces ß-hydride elimination, with chloride binding being crucial for providing the thermodynamic driving force.

Hydrometallation of amino-trialkynylsilanes--intramolecular M-N interactions (M = Al, Ga) and potential activation of Si-N bonds.

Hydrometallation of a pyrrolidyl functionalised trialkynylsilane, H8C4N-Si(C≡C-CMe3)3, with equimolar quantities of H-M(CMe3)2 (M = Al, Ga) resulted in the formation of mixed alkenyl-dialkynylsilanes (3a, 3b) which have a Lewis-acidic Al or Ga atom in the geminal position to the Si atom and form four-membered M-N-Si-C heterocycles by a strong interaction of the amine N atoms with the Lewis-acidic metal atoms. This interaction results in a concomitant lengthening and weakening of the Si-N bonds. Dual hydrometallation afforded alkynyl-dialkenylsilanes (4a, 4b) with two Lewis-acidic metal atoms. Al-N and Ga-N interactions to one of the Lewis-acidic centres led again to the formation of M-N-Si-C heterocycles. The second Al atom of 4a interacted with C-H bonds of the vinylic tert-butyl group, while the Ga atom of 4b was coordinated to the α-C atom of the remaining alkynyl substituent. Dual hydrometallation of the corresponding pyrrolyl-trialkynylsilane resulted in compounds with different structures (5a, 5b) due to the delocalisation of the lone pair of electrons at nitrogen in the aromatic ring. One metal atom is coordinated to the α-C atom of the alkynyl group, and the other has close contact to a C-H bond of the pyrrole ring. The synthesis of 4b gave an unprecedented bicyclic by-product (6) which has a Ga-H-Ga 3c-2e bond. It was formally formed by hydrogallation of the trialkyne with the sesquihydride [H2Ga-CMe3]2[H-Ga(CMe3)2]2 and was also obtained by the selective reaction with this starting material.

Hydroalumination of a chlorotrialkynylsilane: spontaneous stepwise 1,3-dyotropic rearrangement via an intermediate silyl cation.

A new functionalised alkynylsilane, Cl-Si(CC-CMe3 )3 (3), was obtained by a facile multistep synthesis. Treatment of 3 with equimolar quantities of the hydrides H-M(CMe3 )2 (M=Al, Ga) gave the mixed alkenyl-di(alkynyl)silanes, in which the chlorine atom adopts a bridging position between the aluminium and silicon atoms. Dual hydrogallation of 3 resulted in the formation of a di(alkenyl)-alkynylsilane containing two gallium atoms, one of which is coordinated to the chlorine atom, and the second is bonded to the α-carbon atom of the remaining alkynyl group. A tert-butylsilane was unexpectedly formed by a unique 1,3-dyotropic chlorine-tert-butyl exchange for the corresponding dialuminium compound. One aluminium atom is bonded to a tert-butyl group, a terminal chlorine atom and the α-carbon atom of the ethynyl moiety; the second is coordinatively unsaturated, with two terminal tert-butyl substituents. High-level quantum-chemical calculations favour a stepwise dyotropic rearrangement with an intermediate cationic silicon species over a simultaneous tert-butyl-chlorine migration via a five-coordinate silicon atom in the transition state.

Formation of isostructural solid solutions in 2,6-disubstituted N-phenylformamides and N-phenylthioamides.

In order to investigate possible isostructural solid solutions of disubstituted N-phenylformamides and thioamides, we have studied the re-crystallization of pairs of compounds selected from 2,6-difluoro-N-phenylformamide (I), 2,6-dichloro-N-phenylformamide (II), 2,6-dimethyl-N-phenylformamide (III), 2,6-dichloro-N-phenylthioamide (IV), 2,6-dimethyl-N-phenylthioamide (V), 2,6-diisopropyl-N-phenylformamide (VI) and 2,6-diisopropyl-N-phenylthioamide (VII). For single-component 2,6-disubstituted-N-phenylformamides only the trans form occurs in the pure crystal, while for thioamides the cis form occurs, with only one exception. By forming solid solutions of pairs of these molecules the resulting structures all adopt similar N-H...O/S chains in the crystals. Solid solutions (1), (2) and (3), resulting from the mixing of (I) and (II), (II) and (III), and (IV) and (V), respectively, are all isostructural with each other (space group Pbca). Only co-crystal (1) is isostructural to both starting materials, while (2) is isostructural to only one of the starting pair, (II). Solid solution (3), which adopts the same Pbca structure as (1) and (2), is different to the monoclinic structures of both the reactants. Solid solution (4) is monoclinic, with similar hydrogen-bonded chains, and isostructural to the two components, resulting from the composition from the mixing of (VI) and (VII). Isostructural indices were used to quantify crystal-packing similarities and differences. Occupancy factors of the reactants in each co-crystal differ widely.

The missing link in the coordination chemistry of hydrazines--a hydrazinetriide [N-N(Me)](3-) anion coordinated to five Al atoms.

The heptanuclear aluminium-nitrogen cage compound [(AlMe(2))(4)(AlMe)(3)(NHNMe)(3)(N-NMe)(OMe)] contains the unique hydrazinetriide fragment [N-N(Me)](3-) stabilized by coordination to five Al atoms. It was synthesised by thermolysis of the sesqui-hydrazide Al[(µ-NH-NHMe)(2)AlMe(2)](3) in refluxing toluene in the presence of a small quantity of methanol.

Vinylgallium and alkyllithium compounds: transmetalation and generation of oligolithium cages.

Vinylgallium compounds [C(6)H(6-n){(H)C=C(SiR(2) R')-GaR''(2)}(n ] (3, R=Ph, Me; R'=Ph, Me; R''=tBu, Et; n=1, 2) are easily accessible by hydrogallation of the corresponding alkynylbenzene derivatives with H-GaCl(2) and subsequent reaction with alkyllithium derivatives. Treatment of 3 with an excess amount of tert-butyl- or ethyllithium yielded by transmetalation and ortho-deprotonation of the aromatic rings the unprecedented solvent-free oligolithium cluster compounds [{(C(6)H(4)Li)HC=C(SiPh(3))Li}(2)(tBuLi)(2)] (4), [{(C(6)H(4)Li)HC=C(SiPh(2)Me)Li}(4)] (5) and [{(C(6)H(3)Li){HC=C(SiMe(3))Li}(2)}(3)] (6) in moderate yields. Their solid-state structures revealed the presence of unique molecular lithium clusters with 6, 8, or 9 lithium atoms that may be derived from two edge-sharing Li(4) tetrahedra (4), three Li(4) tetrahedra in a chain joined by two common edges (5) or a tricapped trigonal prism of lithium atoms (6).

Aluminum, gallium, and indium hydrazides and the generation of oligonuclear element-nitrogen cages: molecular intermediates on the way to element nitrides.

Organoelement aluminum, gallium, and indium hydrazides, [R(2)ENHN(H)R'](2) (E = Al, Ga, In), are easily available from the corresponding trialkylelement compounds, ER(3), and hydrazines, H(2)NN(H)R', via elimination of the respective hydrocarbons. Their diverse molecular structures are derived from four-, five-, or six-membered element-nitrogen heterocycles. Their stepwise thermolysis under carefully controlled conditions was shown to proceed along one of several different well-defined routes. Cleavage of the N-N bonds afforded aluminum or gallium imides, [REN(H)](n), with up to eight metal atoms in a single molecule, while preservation of the N-N bonds led to interesting cages in which intact N-N bonds of formally dianionic hydrazinediides bridge the metal atoms via their two adjacent donor atoms. Further thermolysis yielded the amorphous element nitrides via the gradual degradation of the hydrazinediide groups. Several intermediates have been isolated and provided insight in the course of these reactions. A particularly interesting compound was one that features a hydrazinetetraide unit, [N-N](4-), that is stabilized by coordination to six gallium atoms.

Oligonuclear gallium nitrogen cage compounds: molecular intermediates on the way from gallium hydrazides to gallium nitride.

Gallium hydrazides are potentially applicable as facile starting compounds for the generation of GaN by thermolysis. The decomposition pathways are, however, complicated and depend strongly on the substituents attached to the gallium atoms and the hydrazido groups. This paper describes some systematic investigations into the thermolysis of the gallium hydrazine adduct Bu(t)(3)Ga←NH(2)-NHMe (1a) and the dimeric gallium hydrazides [R(2)Ga(N(2)H(2)R')](2) (2b, R = Bu(t), R' = Bu(t); 2c, R = Pr(i), R' = Ph; 2d, R = Me, R' = Bu(t)) which have four- or five-membered heterocycles in their molecular cores. Heating of the adduct 1a to 170 °C gave the heterocyclic compound Bu(t)(2)Ga(µ-NH(2))[µ-N(Me)-N(=CH(2))]GaBu(t)(2) (3) by cleavage of N-N bonds and rearrangement. 3 was further converted at 400 °C into the tetrameric gallium cyanide (Bu(t)(2)GaCN)(4) (4). The thermolysis of the hydrazide (Bu(t)(2)Ga)(2)(NH-NHBu(t))(2) (2b) at temperatures between 270 and 420 °C resulted in cleavage of all N-N bonds and the formation of an octanuclear gallium imide, (Bu(t)GaNH)(8) (6). The trimeric dialkylgallium amide (Bu(t)(2)GaNH(2))(3) (5) was isolated as an intermediate. Thermolysis of the hydrazides (Pr(i)(2)Ga)(2)(NH-NHPh)(NH(2)-NPh) (2c) and (Me(2)Ga)(2)(NH-NHBu(t))(2) (2d) proceeded in contrast with retention of the N-N bonds and afforded a variety of novel gallium hydrazido cage compounds with four gallium atoms and up to four hydrazido groups in a single molecule: (Pr(i)Ga)(4)(NH-NPh)(3)NH (7), (MeGa)(4)(NH-NBu(t))(4) (8), (MeGa)(4)(NH-NBu(t))(3)NBu(t) (9), and (MeGa)(4)(NHNBu(t))(3)NH (10). Partial hydrolysis gave reproducibly the unique octanuclear mixed hydrazido oxo compound (MeGa)(8)(NHNBu(t))(4)O(4) (11).

Synthesis of a GaN cage compound with a hydrazinetetraide fragment, [N-N]4-, stabilised by six gallium atoms.

Thermolysis of the bicyclic gallium hydrazide [(GaMe(2))(4)(NH-NMe)(NH-NHMe)(2)] (1) yielded the unique cage compound [(GaMe)(4)(GaMe(2))(4)(N(2))(NH-NMe)(4)] (2). Compound 2 contains a remarkable hydrazinetetraide moiety, [N-N](4-), as the central structural motif which is stabilised by coordination to six gallium atoms.

Gallium-gallium bonds as efficient templates for the generation of a large cage containing twelve gallium atoms.

Treatment of the digallium compound R(2)Ga-GaR(2) [R = CH(SiMe(3))(2)] with benzotriazol-5-carboxylic acid afforded a large cage-like compound in which six Ga-Ga bonds are bridged by six trifunctional ligands. The central cavity encapsulated a THF molecule which cannot be removed in vacuo and does not show exchange with a large excess of the solvent.

Two polymorphs of N-(2,6-difluorophenyl)formamide.

The structures of two distinct polymorphic forms of N-(2,6-difluorophenyl)formamide, C(7)H(5)F(2)NO, have been studied using single crystals obtained under different crystallizing conditions. The two forms crystallize in different space groups, viz. form (Ia) in the orthorhombic Pbca and form (Ib) in the monoclinic P2(1) space group. Each polymorph crystallizes with one complete molecule in the asymmetric unit and they have a similar molecular geometry, showing a trans conformation with the formamide group being out of the plane of the aromatic ring. The packing arrangements of the two polymorphs are quite different, with form (Ia) having molecules that are stacked in an alternating arrangement, linked into chains of N-H...O hydrogen bonds along the crystallographic a direction, while form (Ib) has its N-H...O hydrogen-bonded molecules stacked in a linear fashion. A theoretical study of the two structures allows information to be gained regarding other contributing interactions, such as pi-pi and weak C-H...F, in their crystal structures.

A heterocyclic organogallium peroxide with two dialkylgallium groups bridged by a peroxide dianion.

Treatment of Li[H2GaR2] [R=CH(SiMe3)2] with the hydrogen peroxide adduct (H2O2)2.DABCO (DABCO=diazabicyclooctane) afforded a heterocyclic digallium peroxide, [R2Ga(micro,eta1,eta1-O2)(micro-OH)GaR2]Li(DABCO) (2), in which two dialkylgallium groups are bridged by an oxidizing peroxo and a hydroxo ligand.

N-(2,6-Dibromophenyl)formamide.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(7)H(5)Br(2)NO, molecules related by translation are linked through N-H...O hydrogen bonds to form chains in the crystallographic a direction, with the aryl rings stacked parallel to each other along the chain. Besides the N-H...O hydrogen bonds, Br...O and Br...Br intermolecular interactions complete the packing of molecules in the crystal structure.

cis/trans Isomerism of hydroalumination and hydrogallation products-reflections on stability and rearrangement mechanism.

Treatment of (silylalkynyl)benzenes with (Me(3)C)(2)Ga-H afforded stable cis-addition products, for example, (Me(3)C)(2)Ga-C(SiMe(3))=C(H)-C(6)H(5) (1), while spontaneous cis/trans rearrangement was observed for sterically less shielded gallium hydrides. The corresponding trans-di(tert-butyl)gallium compounds (13, 14) were obtained by the reaction of C(6)H(6-n)[C(H)=C(SiMe(3))GaCl(2)](n) (11, 12) with LiCMe(3). In contrast, spontaneous isomerization took place upon reaction of (Me(3)C)(2)Al-H with phenyltrimethylsilylethyne. In this case the cis isomer (17) was detected only at low temperature, while the trans product (18) formed quantitatively above 0 degrees C. Quantum-chemical calculations showed that the trans forms are thermodynamically favored, essentially caused by a better mesomeric interaction of the C==C double bonds with the phenyl groups, a smaller steric stress in the molecules, and a short bonding contact of the coordinatively unsaturated Al or Ga atoms to C-H bonds of the aromatic rings. The rotation about the C=C double bonds follows a zwitterionic mechanism, and the relatively small rotational barrier is further lowered by an interaction to a Lewis acidic lithium cation.

The in vitro antitumour activity of novel, mitochondrial-interactive, gold-based lipophilic cations.

In this study we compared the effects of two previously described antimitochondrial gold complexes, that is, [A] [Au(dppe)(2)]Cl and [B] [Au(d4pype)(2)]Cl with two novel lipophilic cations, that is, [C] [Au(dpmaaH(2))(dpmaaSnMe(2))]Cl and [D] [Au(dpmaaSnMe(2))(2)]Cl as antimitochondrial agents. The results of this study indicate that [C] and [D] have intermediate partition coefficients and exhibited a selective uptake by cells. They exhibited a higher selectivity for the various cell lines than [A] but were more cytotoxic than [B]. There is a significant correlation between the cytotoxic potential of [A], [B], [C], and [D] and their octanol/water partition coefficients in both MCF-7 (breast cancer) and MCF-12A (nonmalignant breast) cells, whereas their cytotoxic potential and ability to induce the release of cytochrome c correlated only in the case of the MCF-12A cells. Complexes [C] and [D] are promising new chemotherapeutic drugs. These compounds target the mitochondrial membranes of certain cancer cells exploiting the differences between the mitochondrial membrane potential of these cells and normal cells. Although the concentrations of these compounds necessary to eradicate cancer cells are very high, the results provide a basis for the synthesis of a new family of compounds with intermediate partition coefficients compared to [A] and [B] but with increased activity against cancer cells.