Ruthenium complexes with triazenide ligands bearing an N-heterocyclic moiety, and their catalytic properties in the reduction of nitroarenes.

A series of ruthenium complexes of formulae [RuCl(triazenide)(-cymene)] have been synthesized using as ligand a triazenide monofunctionalized with an N-heterocyclic moiety. Nuclear magnetic resonance, high resolution mass spectrometry and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the triazenide ligands and their complexes. In addition, these ruthenium complexes catalyzed the reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline in the presence of sodium borohydride and ethanol as solvent at room temperature.

(CAAC)Copper Catalysis Enables Regioselective Three-Component Carboboration of Terminal Alkynes.

Cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) ligands are found to perturb regioselectivity of the copper-catalyzed carboboration of terminal alkynes, favoring the less commonly observed internal alkenylboron regiosomer through an α-selective borylcupration step. A variety of carbon electrophiles participate in the reaction, including allyl alcohols derivatives and alkyl halides. The method provides a straightforward and selective route to versatile tri-substituted alkenylboron compounds that are otherwise challenging to access.

Stable Singlet Carbenes as Organic Superbases.

A simple experimental procedure for scaling carbene Brønsted basicity is described. The results highlight the strong basicity of pyrazol-4-ylidenes, a type of mesoionic carbene, also named cyclic-bentallenes (CBA). They are more basic (pK >42.

Cyclic (Alkyl)(amino)carbene Ligands Enable Cu-Catalyzed Markovnikov Protoboration and Protosilylation of Terminal Alkynes: A Versatile Portal to Functionalized Alkenes*.

Regioselective hydrofunctionalization of alkynes represents a straightforward route to access alkenyl boronate and silane building blocks. In previously reported catalytic systems, high selectivity is achieved with a limited scope of substrates and/or reagents, with general solutions lacking. Herein, we describe a selective copper-catalyzed Markovnikov hydrofunctionalization of terminal alkynes that is facilitated by strongly donating cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) ligands.

Understanding the performance of a bisphosphonate Ru water oxidation catalyst.

Water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) create electrons that allow generating H2 from water and sunlight, a promising process for the production of clean energy. The mechanism of water oxidation mediated by Ru(2,2'-bipyridine-6,6'-diphosphonato)(4-picoline)2 has been studied computationally to comprehend the results obtained in the experiments performed by the Concepcion and Grotjahn groups. Our study was performed at pH = 8 and 1.

An Active-Site Sulfonate Group Creates a Fast Water Oxidation Electrocatalyst That Exhibits High Activity in Acid.

The storage of solar energy in chemical bonds will depend on pH-universal catalysts that are not only impervious to acid, but actually thrive in it. Whereas other homogeneous water oxidation catalysts are less active in acid, we report a catalyst that maintained high electrocatalytic turnover frequency at pH values as low as 1.1 and 0.

An Overview of Significant Achievements in Ruthenium-Based Molecular Water Oxidation Catalysis.

Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are becoming increasingly disfavored as long-term energy options due to concerns of scarcity and environmental consequences (e.g., release of anthropogenic CO₂).

Sequential Alkene Isomerization and Ring-Closing Metathesis in Production of Macrocyclic Musks from Biomass.

We report successful utilization of sequential alkene isomerization and ring-closing metathesis of dec-9-enoic acid based dienes in synthesis of macrocyclic lactones that possess a strong scent of musk. This catalytic sequence was essential to trim the chain length of starting dienes to yield macrocycles of the right size. Dec-9-enoic acid is conveniently obtainable from oleic esters by Ru-catalysed ethenolysis.

Iridium and Ruthenium Complexes of -Heterocyclic Carbene- and Pyridinol-Derived Chelates as Catalysts for Aqueous Carbon Dioxide Hydrogenation and Formic Acid Dehydrogenation: The Role of the Alkali Metal.

Hydrogenation reactions can be used to store energy in chemical bonds, and if these reactions are reversible, that energy can be released on demand. Some of the most effective transition metal catalysts for CO hydrogenation have featured pyridin-2-ol-based ligands (e.g.

Ruthenium (II) and Iridium (III) Complexes of N-Heterocyclic Carbene and Pyridinol Derived Bidentate Chelates: Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity.

We report the synthesis and characterization of new ruthenium(II) and iridium(III) complexes of a new bidentate chelate, NHC-py (OR = OMe, OtBu, OH and R' = Me, Et). Synthesis and characterization studies were done on the following compounds: four ligand precursors (1-4); two silver complexes of these NHC-py ligands (5-7); six ruthenium complexes of the type [η-(p-cymene)Ru(NHC-py)Cl]X with R' = Me, Et and R = Me, tBu, H and X = OTf, PF and POF (8-13); and two iridium complexes, [Cp*Ir(NHC-py)Cl]PF (14) and [Cp*Ir(NHC-py)Cl]POF (15). The complexes are air stable and were isolated in moderate yield.

Reactivity studies of pincer bis-protic N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of platinum and palladium under basic conditions.

Bis-protic N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of platinum and palladium (4) yield dimeric structures 6 when treated with sodium tert-butoxide in CH2Cl2. The use of a more polar solvent (THF) and a strong base (LiN(iPr)2) gave the lithium chloride adducts monobasic complex 7 or analogous dibasic complex 8.

Azide Tripodal Dendrons from Behera's Amine and Their Clicked Dendrimers.

Diazo transfer reactions on Behera's amine and its next-generation analogue formed G0 and G1 azide dendrons bearing three and nine tert-butyl-protected esters, respectively. The utility of the new dendrons was demonstrated by copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition, with 1,3,5-triethynylbenzene, forming two novel dendrimers in a convergent manner. Acid-mediated dendrimer deprotection was successful, and the resulting carboxy-terminated dendrimers were analyzed by NMR and DOSY experiments.

Hydrogen-bonding pincer complexes with two protic N-heterocyclic carbenes from direct metalation of a 1,8-bis(imidazol-1-yl)carbazole by platinum, palladium, and nickel.

Pincer protic N-heterocyclic carbene (PNHC) complexes were synthesized by direct metalation, the formation of a metal carbon bond from an unfunctionalized CH bond in a single synthetic step. Significantly, direct metalation succeeded even for a first-row metal, nickel. The chloride complexes were isolated and then converted to the acetate, triflate, or in the platinum case, a hydride analogue.

Bifunctional chelates optimized for molecular MRI.

Important requirements for exogenous dyes or contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) include an effective concentration of paramagnetic or superparamagnetic ions at the target to be imaged. We report the concise synthesis and characterization of several new enantiopure bifunctional derivatives of (α(1)R,α(4)R,α(7)R,α(10)R)-α(1),α(4),α(7),α(10)-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTMA) (and their 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) analogues as controls) that can be covalently attached to a contrast agent delivery system using either click or peptide coupling chemistry. Gd complexes of these derivatives can be attached to delivery systems while maintaining optimal water residence time for increased molecular imaging sensitivity.

Supported imidazolylphosphine catalysts for highly (E)-selective alkene isomerization.

For fine chemical synthesis, immobilized catalysts offer little advantage if they produce a product mixture that must be separated. Selective isomerization of terminal olefins is achieved by heterogenized bifunctional catalysts. Outstanding and consistent (E)-selectivity (>99%) even in cases where (E) and (Z) isomers are of comparable stability, combined with modest catalyst loadings (1 to 2 mol %), set these catalysts apart from previously reported systems.

General catalyst control of the monoisomerization of 1-alkenes to trans-2-alkenes.

After searching for the proper catalyst, the dual challenges of controlling the position of the double bond, and cis/trans-selectivity in isomerization of terminal alkenes to their 2-isomers are finally met in a general sense by mixtures of (C5Me5)Ru complexes 1 and 3 featuring a bifunctional phosphine. Typically, catalyst loadings of 1 mol % of 1 and 3 can be employed for the production of (E)-2-alkenes at 40-70 °C. Catalyst comprising 1 and 3 avoids more than any other known example the thermodynamic equilibration of alkene isomers, as the trans-2-alkenes of both nonfunctionalized and functionalized alkenes are generated.

Stereoselective alkene isomerization over one position.

Although controlling both the position of the double bond and E:Z selectivity in alkene isomerization is difficult, 1 is a very efficient catalyst for selective mono-isomerization of a variety of multifunctional alkenes to afford >99.5% E-products. Many reactions are complete within 10 min at room temperature.

Evolution of iridium-based molecular catalysts during water oxidation with ceric ammonium nitrate.

Organometallic iridium complexes have been reported as water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) in the presence of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN). One challenge for all WOCs regardless of the metal used is stability. Here we provide evidence for extensive modification of many Ir-based WOCs even after exposure to only 5 or 15 equiv of Ce(IV) (whereas typically 100-10000 equiv are employed during WOC testing).

A fluorinated dendrimer-based nanotechnology platform: new contrast agents for high field imaging.

Objectives: We aimed to develop a directly detected magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent for use with high fields based on a nanoscale fluorinated dendrimer-based platform for F MRI and overcome some of the problems with F MRI.

Materials And Methods: The dendrimers were prepared in a convergent manner by making the appropriate dendron, followed by coupling to a central core. The dendrons were prepared by attaching 3 equivalents of the fluorinated amino acid to the 3 carboxylic acids of the repeat branch unit followed by deprotection of the amine branch point, and either coupling to another repeat branch unit (increasing the generation G) or used directly allowing the precise growth of the dendrimer.

Multimodal study of secondary interactions in Cp*Ir complexes of imidazolylphosphines bearing an NH group.

Hydrogen bonding phenomena are explored using a combination of X-ray diffraction, NMR and IR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. Three imidazolylphosphines R(2)PImH (ImH = imidazol-2-yl, R = t-butyl, i-propyl, phenyl, 1a-1c) and control phosphine (i-Pr)(2)PhP (1d) lacking an imidazole were used to make a series of complexes of the form Cp*Ir(L(1))(L(2))(phosphine). In addition, in order to suppress intermolecular interactions with either imidazole nitrogen, 1e, a di(isopropyl)imidazolyl analogue of 1b was made along with its doubly (15)N-labeled isotopomer to explore bonding interactions at each imidazole nitrogen.

Mild and selective deuteration and isomerization of alkenes by a bifunctional catalyst and deuterium oxide.

H/D exchange is achieved at allylic positions of alkenes using D(2)O in acetone and alkene isomerization catalyst 1, which features a bifunctional imidazolylphosphine. The basic nitrogen of the latter is thought to deprotonate an alkene substrate coordinated to the CpRu center; at this stage the protonated nitrogen could undergo H/D exchange with deuterium oxide. An exceptional degree of deuteration is achieved at positions accessible to isomerization, with a high degree of control.

Bifunctional catalysts and related complexes: structures and properties.

Bifunctional catalysts offer unprecedented opportunities for new and improved reactivity and selectivity. The combination of a metal's d electrons and a pendant base or acid in the vicinity of an organometallic active site leads to rate accelerations of 1000 to 10 000 fold in the cases of alkyne hydration and alkene isomerization. The focus of this perspective is on work from our labs on bifunctional catalysts, catalytic intermediates, and related complexes.