New synthetic route for organic polyoxometallic clusters: synthetic and structural investigations on the first dumb-bell shaped polyoxozirconium hydroxide with the [Zr9(mu5-O)2(mu3-O)4(mu-O)4(mu-OH)8] core structure.

A new route for organic polyoxometallic clusters describes the first dumb-bell-like organic polyoxozirconium hydroxide [[(Cp*Zr)4(mu5-O)(mu3-O)2(mu-OH)4]2Zr(mu-O)4] x 2C7H8 (2; Cp* = C5Me5) involving the treatment of the Brønsted acidic organozirconium hydroxide [(Cp*Zr)6(mu4-O)(mu-O)4(mu-OH)8] x 2C7H8 (1) with organozirconium compounds.

Effect of Zn...Zn separation on the hydrolytic activity of model dizinc phosphodiesterases.

From the study of highly preorganized model systems, experimental support has been obtained for a possible functional role of the Zn-(H)O...HO(H)-Zn motif in oligozinc hydrolases. The mechanistic relevance of such an array, which may be described as a hydrated form of a pseudo-terminal Zn-bound hydroxide, has recently been supported by DFT calculations on various metallohydrolase active sites. In the present targeted approach, the Zn...Zn distance in two related dizinc complexes has been controlled through the use of multifunctional pyrazolate-based ligand scaffolds, giving either a tightly bridged Zn-O(H)-Zn or a more loosely bridged Zn-(H)O...HO(H)-Zn species in the solid state. Zn-bound water has been found to exhibit comparable acidity irrespective of whether the resulting hydroxide is supported by strong hydrogen-bonding in the O(2)H(3) moiety or is in a bridging position between two zinc ions, indicating that water does not necessarily have to adopt a bridging position in order for its pK(a) to be sufficiently lowered so as to provide a Zn-bound hydroxide at physiological pH. Comparative reactivity studies on the cleavage of bis(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP) mediated by the two dizinc complexes have revealed that the system with the larger Zn...Zn separation is hydrolytically more potent, both in the hydrolysis and the transesterification of BNPP. The extent of active site inhibition by the reaction products has also been found to be governed by the Zn...Zn distance, since phosphate diester coordination in a bridging mode within the clamp of two zinc ions is only favored for Zn...Zn distances well above 4 A. Different binding affinities are rationalized in terms of the structural characteristics of the product-inhibited complexes for the two different ligand scaffolds, with dimethyl phosphate found as a bridging ligand within the bimetallic pocket.

Rhenium oxo compounds containing eta2-pyrazolate ligands.

Reaction of potassium salts of sterically demanding pyrazolates (pz = bis-3,5-tert-butylpyrazolate, pz= bis-3,5-tert-butyl-4-methylpyrazolate) with Re2O7 affords soluble eta2-pyrazolate complexes of the type [(eta2-pz)ReO3(THF)n](1: pz, n= 1 and 2: pz, n= 0). They were characterized by spectroscopic methods and by X-ray crystallography confirming the eta2-coordinate ligands. Complex 1 employing the ligand with a proton in the 4-position retains one molecule of THF, whereas the additional methyl group in 2 leads to the base-free compound 2. Compound 1 reacts with pyridine and 3,5-dimethylpyridine to form Lewis base adducts of the type [(eta2-pz)ReO3(L)](3: L = py; 4: L = 3,5-Me2py). The pronounced sensitivity towards water of these complexes is demonstrated by the reaction of 1 with one equivalent of water forming the corresponding pyrazolium perrhenate [ReO4][pzH2](5). Its solid state structure shows a hydrogen bonded dimeric assembly. Catalytic activity of 1 is established in oxygen atom transfer-reactions (OAT) from dimethylsulfoxide to triphenylphosphine, and in epoxidations of cyclooctene employing bis(trimethylsilyl) peroxide (BTSP).

Domino 6pi-electrocyclization/Diels-Alder reactions on 1,6-disubstituted (E,Z,E)-1,3,5-hexatrienes: versatile access to highly substituted tri- and tetracyclic systems.

The (E,Z,E)-1,3,5-hexatrienes 1a, 2a,b and 3b undergo 6pi-electrocyclization within 15-30 min upon heating to 200-215 degrees C. While the cyclohexene-annelated products 8a,b were stable, the analogous cyclopentene- and cycloheptene-annelated derivatives 7a and 9b easily underwent dehydrogenation to the corresponding aromatic compounds 10a and 12b during the work-up. The cyclohexadiene derivatives 8a,b were employed in thermal Diels-Alder reactions with 4-phenyl-3H-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (PTAD) and tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) to give the expected [4+2] cycloadducts 13a and 14a in good yields (60 and 78%). The initially formed cycloadduct of 8a and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) underwent a subsequent retro-Diels-Alder reaction to give the tetrahydronaphthalene 11b (47%). Under high pressure (10 kbar), the cycloadduct 15a was formed at room temperature and could be isolated in 44% yield. TCNE and N-phenylmaleimide with 8a under high pressure also led to the [4+2] cycloadducts 14a and 16a in good yields (60 and 77%). The 6pi-electrocyclization and subsequent Diels-Alder reaction, when performed as a one-pot domino process, provided direct access to Diels-Alder products of intermediately formed 6pi-electrocyclization products, for example from the 1,3,5-hexatrienes 1a,b, 2a,b, 3b and TCNE to the corresponding tricyclic products 17a,b, 14a,b, 18b in moderate to good yields (27-80%) depending on the nature of the alkoxycarbonyl group. Such sequential reactions with N-phenylmaleimide, maleic anhydride, dimethyl maleate and fumarodinitrile, the latter two under high pressure (10 kbar), worked as well to yield 16b (70%), 19a,b (19, 32%) and 20b (39%) and 21b (76%), respectively. With PTAD, however, the hexatrienes 2a,b reacted at ambient temperature without 6pi-electrocyclization to give the formal [4+2] cycloadducts 27a,b (48 and 46%), most probably via zwitterionic intermediates 23a,b and 25a,b.

Selective transannular ring transformations in azirino-fused eight-membered O,N- or S,N-heterocycles.

The first examples of transannular ring transformations in azirino-fused eight-membered O,N- or S,N-heterocycles involving selective aziridine ring opening and medium-sized ring contraction are described, which provide an access to functionalized 1,4-benzox(thi)azines or 1,3-benzox(thi)azoles.

Synthesis and structural characterization of a terminal hydroxide containing alumoxane via hydrolysis of aluminum hydrides.

A novel terminal hydroxide containing dinuclear alumoxane LAl(OH)OAlL(OCH=N-tBu) (3; L = HC(CMeNAr)2, Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) was prepared by treatment of aluminum dihydride LAlH2 (1) and tert-butyl isocyanate in the presence of trace amounts of water and alternatively from 1 and LAlH(OCH=N-tBu) (2) with water. Compound 2 was obtained from the reaction of 1 and tert-butyl isocyanate.

A new phototransformation of methoxycarbonyl-substituted (E,Z,E)-1,3,5-hexatrienes: easy access to ring-annelated 8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octa-2,6-diene derivatives.

On attempting photochemically induced electrocyclizations of the previously reported 1,6-bismethoxycarbonyl- or 1,6-bistrimethylsilyl-substituted ring-attached (E,Z,E)-1,3,5-hexatrienes 4 b, 4 c and 5 b, 5 c, equilibrium mixtures of the starting materials and their diastereomers, the corresponding (E,Z,Z)-hexatrienes 4 b, 4 c and 5 b, 5 c were obtained. The desired trans-disubstituted ring-annelated cyclohexadienes 9 b and 10 b were formed by subsequent thermal 6pi-electrocyclization of the (E,Z,Z)-hexatrienes 4 b and 5 b in good yields (77-83 %). Upon treating the bissilyl-substituted hexatrienes (E,Z,E)-5 c or (E,Z,Z)-5 c under the same conditions, 6pi-electrocyclizations did occur, but the primary products immediately isomerized to a large extent, and mixtures of the cyclohexane-annelated cyclohexadienes 10 c-12 c along with the dehydrogenation products 13, 14 c were formed. When the bismethoxycarbonyl-substituted hexatriene (E,Z,E)- 5 b was irradiated for an extended period of time (4.5 h), the gradual formation of the oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octa-2,6-diene 17 b by a formal intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder reaction was observed and 17 b could be isolated in up to 69 % yield. To explore the scope of this new photochemical reaction, the new ring-attached (E,Z,E)-hexatrienes 4 a, 5 a and 6 b were synthesized by twofold Heck reactions from 1,2-dibromocycloalkenes 1-3 (59-66 %). While irridiation of the cyclopentene-attached 1,3,5-hexatrienes only led to decomposition, the cyclohexene- and cycloheptene-attached hexatrienes gave the hetero-Diels-Alder products or other photoproducts depending on the size of the cycloalkene moiety and the nature of the alkoxycarbonyl substituents at the vinyl termini. The photoreaction products 17 b and 18 b which are bicyclic acetals, underwent cleavage upon treatment with a Lewis acid such as Me(3)SiOTf to give the ring-annelated methoxycarbonyl-substituted troponecarboxylates 21 b and 22 b.

Synthesis of carbaalane halogen derivatives.

The carbaalane halogen derivatives [(AlX)(6)(AlNMe(3))(2)(CCH(2)CH(2)SiMe(3))(6)] (X = F (9), Cl (7), Br (10), I (11)) were prepared in toluene from [(AlH)(6)(AlNMe(3))(2)(CCH(2)CH(2)SiMe(3))(6)] (6) and BF(3).OEt(2), BX(3) (X = Br, I), Me(3)SnF, and Me(3)SiX (X = Cl, Br, I), respectively. A partially halogenated product [(AlH)(2)(AlX)(4)(AlNMe(3))(2)(CCH(2)CH(2)SiMe(3))(6)] (12) (X = Cl (approximately 40%), Br (approximately 60%)) was obtained from 5 and impure BBr(3). [(AlH)(6)(AlNMe(3))(2)(CCH(2)Ph)(6)] (5) was converted to [(AlX)(6)(AlNMe(3))(2)(CCH(2)Ph)(6)] (X = F (13), Cl (14), Br (15), I (16)) using BF(3).OEt(2) and Me(3)SiX (X = Cl, Br, I), respectively. The X-ray single-crystal structures of 11.C(6)H(6), 12.3C(7)H(8), 13.6C(7)H(8), and 15.4C(7)H(8) were determined. Compounds 7 and 9-11 are soluble in benzene/toluene and could be well characterized by NMR spectroscopy and MS (EI) spectrometry. The results demonstrate the facile substitution of the hydridic hydrogen atoms in 5 and 6 by the halides with different reagents.

Molecular zinc phosphonates: synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of [[(ZnMe)4(THF)2][tBuPO3]2] and [[(ZnEt)3(Zn(THF))3][tBuPO3]4[mu3-OEt]].

The reactions of zinc alkyls with tert-butylphosphonic acid in 2 : 1 and 1 : 1 molar ratios afforded [[(ZnMe)(4-)(THF)2][tBuPO3]2] (2) and [[(ZnEt)3(Zn(THF))3][tBuPO3]4[mu3-OEt]] (3), respectively. Compounds 2 and 3 have been fully characterised by means of spectroscopic and analytical methods. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed that zinc phosphonates 2 and 3 are tetra- and hexa-nuclear, respectively. This is in contrast to the dodecanuclear zinc phosphonate [[Zn2(THF)2(ZnEt)6Zn4(mu4-O)][(tBuPO3)8]] (1) obtained in a 1.5 : 1 reaction between zinc alkyls and tBuP(O)(OH)2.

Correlation of structure and function in oligonuclear zinc(II) model phosphatases.

A series of pyrazolate-based dizinc(II) complexes has been synthesized and investigated as functional models for phosphoesterases, focusing on correlations between hydrolytic activity and molecular parameters of the bimetallic core. The Zn...Zn distance, the (bridging or nonbridging) position of the Zn-bound hydroxide nucleophile, and individual metal ion coordination numbers are controlled by the topology of the compartmental ligand scaffold. Species distributions of the various dizinc complexes in solution have been determined potentiometrically, and structures in the solid state have been elucidated by X-ray crystallography. The hydrolysis of bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP) promoted by the dinuclear phosphoesterase model complexes has been investigated in DMSO/buffered water (1:1) at 50 degrees C as a function of complex concentration, substrate concentration, and pH. Coordination of the phosphodiester has been followed by ESI mass spectrometry, and bidentate binding could be verified crystallographically in two cases. Drastic differences in hydrolytic activity are observed and can be attributed to molecular properties. A significant decrease of the pK(a) of zinc-bound water is observed if the resulting hydroxide is involved in a strongly hydrogen-bonded intramolecular O(2)H(3) bridge, which can be even more pronounced than for a bridging hydroxide. Irrespective of the pK(a) of the Zn-bound water, a hydroxide in a bridging position evidently is a relatively poor nucleophile, while a nonbridging hydroxide position is more favorable for hydrolytic activity. Additionally, the metal array has to provide a sufficient number of coordination sites for activating both the substrate and the nucleophile, where phosphate diesters such as BNPP preferentially bind in a bidentate fashion, requiring a third site for water binding. Product inhibition of the active site by the liberated (p-nitrophenyl)phosphate is observed, and the product-inhibited complex could be characterized crystallographically. In that complex, the phosphate monoester is found to cap a rectangular array of four zinc ions composed of two bimetallic entities.

Neutral and ionic aluminum, gallium, and indium compounds carrying two or three terminal ethynyl groups.

The syntheses of the ionic compounds [Li(+).2 dioxane (2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)N(SiMe(3))Al(C triplebond CSiMe(3))(3))(-)].0.75 dioxane (1), [(Li(+))(2).(dioxane)(7)](0.5) [2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)N(SiMe(3))Ga(C triplebond CSiMe(3))(3)(-)].1.5 dioxane (2), and [(Li(+))(2).(dioxane)(7)](0.5) [2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)N(SiMe(3))In(C triplebond CSiMe(3))(3)(-)].1.5 dioxane (3) by the reaction of the corresponding organo metal chloride with LiC triplebond CSiMe(3) are reported. The neutral ethynyl compounds Br-Al(C triplebond CtBu)(2).2 THF (4), Cl-Ga(C triplebond CtBu)(2).THF (5), Cl-In(C triplebond CtBu)(2).2 THF (6), Al(C triplebond CtBu)(3).C[N(Me)CMe](2) (7), Ga(C triplebond CtBu)(3).dioxane (8), and In(C triplebond CtBu)(3).NEt(3) (9) have been obtained in good yields from the reaction of AlBr(3), GaCl(3), and InCl(3) with LiC triplebond CtBu in the presence of a Lewis base. Compound 7 is the first heterocyclic carbene substituted ethynyl derivative. Aluminum and gallium compounds with three terminal ethynyl groups Al(C triplebond CPh)(3).NMe(3) (10) and Ga(C triplebond CPh)(3).NMe(3) (11) have been prepared by the reaction of AlH(3).NMe(3) or GaH(3).NMe(3) with three equivalents of phenylethyne. All the above-mentioned compounds have been structurally studied. In compound 1 the lithium ion is coordinated to the three terminal ethynyl groups, whereas in compounds 2 and 3 the lithium is coordinated to the solvent (dioxane). Compound 8 crystallizes as a coordination polymer with dioxane molecules bridging the individual gallium units.

Two types of intramolecular addition of an Al-N multiple-bonded monomer LAlNAr' arising from the reaction of LAl with N3Ar' (L = HC[(CMe)(NAr)]2, Ar' = 2,6-Ar2C6H3, Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3).

The reaction of beta-diketiminated aluminum(I) monomer LAl with a large bulky azide N3Ar' (L = HC(CMeNAr)2, Ar' = 2,6-Ar2C6H3, Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) in the temperature range from -78 degrees C to room temperature affords two different isomers 2 and 3, which have been characterized by spectroscopic and X-ray structural analyses, as well as elemental analysis. The variable-temperature 1H NMR kinetic studies of this reaction indicate the existence of the monomer LAlNAr' (1) at low temperature and the thermal stability of the compounds increases in the order of 1 < 2 < 3.