Coordination-induced bond weakening and small molecule activation by low-valent titanium complexes.

Bond activation of small molecules through coordination to low valent metal complexes in M⋯X-H type interactions (where X = O, N, B, Si, .) leads to the formation of unusually weak X-H bonds and provides a powerful approach for the synthesis of target compounds under very mild conditions. Coordination of small molecules like water, amides, silanes, boranes, and dinitrogen to Ti(III) or Ti(II) complexes results in the synergetic redistribution of electrons between the metal orbitals and the ligand orbitals which weakens and enables the facile cleavage of the X-H or N-N bonds of the ligands.

Accessing Unusual Reactivity through Chelation-Promoted Bond Weakening.

Highly reducing Sm(II) reductants and protic ligands were used as a platform to ascertain the relationship between low-valent metal-protic ligand affinity and degree of ligand X-H bond weakening with the goal of forming potent proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reductants. Among the Sm(II)-protic ligand reductant systems investigated, the samarium dibromide -methylethanolamine (SmBr-NMEA) reagent system displayed the best combination of metal-ligand affinity and stability against H evolution. The use of SmBr-NMEA afforded the reduction of a range of substrates that are typically recalcitrant to single-electron reduction including alkynes, lactones, and arenes as stable as biphenyl.

Coordination-Induced Bond Weakening.

Coordination-induced bond weakening is a phenomenon wherein ligand X-H bond homolysis occurs in concert with the energetically favorable oxidation of a coordinating metal complex. The coupling of these two processes enables thermodynamically favorable proton-coupled electron transfer reductions to form weak bonds upon formal hydrogen atom transfer to substrates. Moreover, systems utilizing coordination-induced bond weakening have been shown to facilitate the dehydrogenation of feedstock molecules including water, ammonia, and primary alcohols under mild conditions.

Ammonia Solvation vs Aqueous Solvation of Samarium Diiodide. A Theoretical and Experimental Approach to Understanding Bond Activation Upon Coordination to Sm(II).

Coordination-induced desolvation or ligand displacement by cosolvents and additives is a key feature responsible for the reactivity of Sm(II)-based reagent systems. High-affinity proton donor cosolvents such as water and glycols also demonstrate coordination-induced bond weakening of the O-H bond, facilitating reduction of a broad range of substrates. In the present work, the coordination of ammonia to SmI was examined using Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations and mechanistic studies, and the SmI-ammonia system is compared to the SmI-water system.

Proton donor effects on the reactivity of SmI. Experimental and theoretical studies on methanol solvation vs. aqueous solvation.

Proton donors are important components of many reactions mediated by samarium diiodide (SmI). The addition of water to SmI creates a reagent system that enables the reduction of challenging substrates through proton-coupled electron-transfer (PCET). Simple alcohols such as methanol are often used successfully in reductions with SmI but often have reduced reactivity.

Titanocenes as Photoredox Catalysts Using Green-Light Irradiation.

Irradiation of Cp TiCl with green light leads to electronically excited [Cp TiCl ]*. This complex constitutes an efficient photoredox catalyst for the reduction of epoxides and for 5-exo cyclizations of suitably unsaturated epoxides. To the best of our knowledge, our system is the first example of a molecular titanium photoredox catalyst.

Experimental and Theoretical Studies on the Aqueous Solvation and Reactivity of SmCl and Comparison with SmBr and SmI.

Water addition to Sm(II) has been shown to increase reactivity for both SmI and SmBr. Previous work in our groups has demonstrated that this increase in reactivity can be attributed to coordination induced bond weakening enabling substrate reduction through proton-coupled electron transfer. The present work examines the interaction of water with samarium dichloride (SmCl) and illustrates the importance of the Sm-X interaction and bond distance upon water addition critical for the reactivity of the reagent system.

Contrasting Effect of Additives on Photoinduced Reactions of SmI.

The work described herein compares the effect of additives (HMPA, methanol, ethylene glycol, pinacol, N-methylethanolamine) on thermal and photochemical reactions of samarium diiodide (SmI ). In thermal reactions, additives that coordinate to SmI induce a significant increase in reaction rate. In photochemical reactions, the presence of an electronegative atom with a highly localized negative charge on the substrate leads to a rate deceleration.

Mechanistic Study and Development of Catalytic Reactions of Sm(II).

Samarium diiodide (SmI) is one of the most widely used single-electron reductants available to organic chemists because it is effective in reducing and coupling a wide range of functional groups. Despite the broad utility and application of SmI in synthesis, the reagent is used in stoichiometric amounts and has a high molecular weight, resulting in a large amount of material being used for reactions requiring one or more equivalents of electrons. Although few approaches to develop catalytic reactions have been designed, they are not widely used or require specialized conditions.

Experimental and Theoretical Studies on the Implications of Halide-Dependent Aqueous Solvation of Sm(II).

The addition of water to samarium(II) has been demonstrated to have a significant impact on the reduction of organic substrates, with the majority of research dedicated to the most widely used reagent, samarium diiodide (SmI). The work presented herein focuses on the reducing capabilities of samarium dibromide (SmBr) and demonstrates how the modest change in halide ligand results in observable mechanistic differences between the SmBr-water and the SmI-water systems that have considerable implications in terms of reactivity between the two reagents. Quantum chemical results from Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations show significant differences between SmI-water and SmBr-water, with the latter displaying less dissociation of the halide, which results in a lower coordination number for water.

Interplay between Substrate and Proton Donor Coordination in Reductions of Carbonyls by SmI-Water Through Proton-Coupled Electron-Transfer.

The reduction of a carbonyl by SmI-water is the first step in a range of reactions of synthetic importance. Although the reduction is often proposed to proceed through an initial stepwise electron-transfer-proton-transfer (ET-PT), recent work has shown that carbonyls and related functional groups are likely reduced though proton-coupled electron-transfer (PCET). In the present work, the reduction of an activated ester, aldehyde, a linear and cyclic ketone, and related sterically demanding carbonyls by SmI-HO was examined through a series of mechanistic experiments.

Cp TiX Complexes for Sustainable Catalysis in Single-Electron Steps.

We present a combined electrochemical, kinetic, and synthetic study with a novel and easily accessible class of titanocene catalysts for catalysis in single-electron steps. The tailoring of the electronic properties of our Cp TiX-catalysts that are prepared in situ from readily available Cp TiX is achieved by varying the anionic ligand X. Of the complexes investigated, Cp TiOMs proved to be either equal or substantially superior to the best catalysts developed earlier.

Aza versus Oxophilicity of SmI : A Break of a Paradigm.

Ligands that coordinate to SmI through oxygen are prevalent in the literature and make up a significant portion of additives employed with the reagent to perform reactions of great synthetic importance. In the present work a series of spectroscopic, calorimetric and kinetic studies demonstrate that nitrogen-based analogues of many common additives have a significantly higher affinity for Sm than the oxygen-based counterparts. In addition, electrochemical experiments show that nitrogen-based ligands significantly enhance the reducing power of SmI .

Secondary Amides as Hydrogen Atom Transfer Promoters for Reactions of Samarium Diiodide.

Two secondary amides (N-methylacetamide and 2-pyrrolidinone) were used as additives with SmI in THF to estimate the extent of N-H bond weakening upon coordination. Mechanistic and synthetic studies demonstrate significant bond-weakening, providing a reagent system capable of reducing a range of substrates through formal hydrogen atom transfer.

Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in the Reduction of Carbonyls by Samarium Diiodide-Water Complexes.

Reduction of carbonyls by SmI2 is significantly impacted by the presence of water, but the fundamental step(s) of initial transfer of a formal hydrogen atom from the SmI2-water reagent system to produce an intermediate radical is not fully understood. In this work, we provide evidence consistent with the reduction of carbonyls by SmI2-water proceeding through proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET). Combined rate and computational studies show that a model aldehyde and ketone are likely reduced through an asynchronous PCET, whereas reduction of a representative lactone occurs through a concerted PCET.

Highly Active Titanocene Catalysts for Epoxide Hydrosilylation: Synthesis, Theory, Kinetics, EPR Spectroscopy.

A catalytic system for titanocene-catalyzed epoxide hydrosilylation is described. It features a straightforward preparation of titanocene hydrides that leads to a reaction with low catalyst loading, high yields, and high selectivity of radical reduction. The mechanism was studied by a suite of methods, including kinetic studies, EPR spectroscopy, and computational methods.

High-Affinity Proton Donors Promote Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer by Samarium Diiodide.

The relationship between proton-donor affinity for Sm(II) ions and the reduction of two substrates (anthracene and benzyl chloride) was examined. A combination of spectroscopic, thermochemical, and kinetic studies show that only those proton donors that coordinate or chelate strongly to Sm(II) promote anthracene reduction through a PCET process. These studies demonstrate that the combination of Sm(II) ions and water does not provide a unique reagent system for formal hydrogen atom transfer to substrates.

ADAM17 Inhibitors Attenuate Corneal Epithelial Detachment Induced by Mustard Exposure.

Purpose: Sulfur mustard, nitrogen mustard (NM), and 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide all cause corneal injury with epithelial-stromal separation, differing only by degree. Injury can resolve in a few weeks or develop into chronic corneal problems. These vesicants induce microbullae at the epithelial-stromal junction, which is partially caused by cleavage of transmembranous hemidesmosomal collagen XVII, a component anchoring the epithelium to the stroma.

Origin and prediction of free-solution interaction studies performed label-free.

Interaction/reaction assays have led to significant scientific discoveries in the biochemical, medical, and chemical disciplines. Several fundamental driving forces form the basis of intermolecular and intramolecular interactions in chemical and biochemical systems (London dispersion, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic, and electrostatic), and in the past three decades the sophistication and power of techniques to interrogate these processes has developed at an unprecedented rate. In particular, label-free methods have flourished, such as NMR, mass spectrometry (MS), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), biolayer interferometry (BLI), and backscattering interferometry (BSI), which can facilitate assays without altering the participating components.

Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in the Reduction of Arenes by SmI2-Water Complexes.

The presence of water has a significant impact on the reduction of substrates by SmI2. The reactivity of the Sm(II)-water reducing system and the relationship between sequential or concerted electron-transfer, proton-transfer is not well understood. In this work, we demonstrate that the reduction of an arene by SmI2-water proceeds through an initial proton-coupled electron transfer.

Mechanistic study of silver-catalyzed decarboxylative fluorination.

The silver-catalyzed fluorination of aliphatic carboxylic acids by Selectfluor in acetone/water provides access to fluorinated compounds under mild and straightforward reaction conditions. Although this reaction provides efficient access to fluorinated alkanes from a pool of starting materials that are ubiquitous in nature, little is known about the details of the reaction mechanism. We report spectroscopic and kinetic studies on the role of the individual reaction components in decarboxylative fluorination.

Cationic Titanocene(III) Complexes for Catalysis in Single-Electron Steps.

By exploiting solvent and anion effects, [Cp2Ti](+) complexes for atom-economical catalysis in single-electron steps were developed and applied for the first time. These complexes constitute remarkably stable and active catalysts for radical arylations. The reaction kinetics and catalyst composition were studied by cyclic voltammetry and in situ IR spectroscopy.

Allylsamarium Bromide-Mediated Cascade Cyclization of Homoallylic Esters. Synthesis of 2-(2-Hydroxyalkyl)cyclopropanols and 2-(2-Hydroxyethyl)bicyclo[2.1.1]hexan-1-ols.

In continuation of our previous study on the intramolecular reductive coupling of simple homoallylic esters promoted by allylSmBr/HMPA/H2O, which afforded a facile synthesis of 2-(2-hydroxyalkyl)cyclopropanols, here we report the reductive cascade cyclization of but-3-enyl but-3-enoates mediated by allylSmBr/HMPA/CuCl2·2H2O, in which the two C═C bonds were successively coupled to allow the construction of the structurally interesting bridged bicyclic tertiary alcohols. Thus, the 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)bicyclo[2.1.

Mechanistic study of the titanocene(III)-catalyzed radical arylation of epoxides.

An atom-economical and catalytic arylation of epoxide-derived radicals is described. The key step of the catalytic system is a sequential electron and proton transfer for the rearomatization of the radical σ-complex and catalyst regeneration. Kinetic, computational, spectroscopic, and cyclovoltammetric investigations highlight the key issues of the reaction mechanism and catalyst stabilization by collidine hydrochloride.