Adrian C. Whitwood

Spontaneous Transfer of Parahydrogen Derived Spin Order to Pyridine at Low Magnetic Field

The cationic iridium complex [Ir(COD)(PCy(3))(py)]BF(4) (1) is shown to react with dihydrogen in the presence of pyridine (py) to form the dihydride complex fac,cis-[Ir(PCy(3))(py)(3)(H)(2)]BF(4) (2). Complex 2 undergoes rapid exchange of the two bound pyridine ligands which are trans to hydride with free pyridine; the activation parameters for this process in methanol are DeltaH(double dagger) = 97.4 +/- 9 kJ mol(-1) and DeltaS(double dagger) = 84 +/- 31 J K(-1) mol(-1). When parahydrogen is employed as a source of nuclear spin polarization, spontaneous magnetization transfer proceeds in low magnetic field from the two nascent hydride ligands of 2 to its other NMR active nuclei. Upon interrogation by NMR spectroscopy in a second step, signal enhancements in excess of 100 fold are observed for the (1)H, (13)C and (15)N resonances of free pyridine after ligand exchange. The degree of signal enhancement in the free substrate is increased by employing electronically rich and sterically encumbered phosphine ligands such as PCy(3), PCy(2)Ph, or P(i)Pr(3) and by optimizing the strength of the magnetic field in which polarization transfer occurs.

Fluorinated liquid crystals formed by halogen bonding

New, halogen-bonded fluorinated mesogens are reported; the expected microphase separation associated with perfluoroalkyl chains is surprisingly absent in the mesophase.

Structure-function relationships in liquid-crystalline halogen-bonded complexes.

New liquid-crystalline materials were prepared by self-assembly driven by halogen bonding between a range of 4-alkoxystilbazoles, 4-alkyl-, and 4-alkoxy-substituted pyridines as halogen-bonding acceptors, and substituted derivatives of 4-iodotetrafluorophenyl as halogen-bonding donors. Despite the fact that the starting materials are not mesomorphic, the dimeric, halogen-bonded complexes obtained exhibited nematic and SmA phases, depending on the length of the alkyl chains present on the components. The modularity of this approach also led to new chiral mesogens starting from non-mesomorphic chiral compounds.

Mesogenic, trimeric, halogen-bonded complexes from alkoxystilbazoles and 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene

New, halogen-bonded mesogens are formed as trimeric complexes of two molecules of alkoxystilbazole and one of 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene. The pure complexes show only monotropic nematic phases, while mixtures show a enantiotropic nematic with a range of up to 11 °C. A possible correlation between nematic phase stability and halogen bond strength is suggested.

Competing C−F Activation Pathways in the Reaction of Pt(0) with Fluoropyridines: Phosphine-Assistance versus Oxidative Addition

A survey of computed mechanisms for C-F bond activation at the 4-position of pentafluoropyridine by the model zero-valent bis-phosphine complex, [Pt(PH3)(PH2Me)], reveals three quite distinct pathways leading to square-planar Pt(II) products. Direct oxidative addition leads to cis-[Pt(F)(4-C5NF4)(PH3)(PH2Me)] via a conventional 3-center transition state. This process competes with two different phosphine-assisted mechanisms in which C-F activation involves fluorine transfer to a phosphorus center via novel 4-center transition states. The more accessible of the two phosphine-assisted processes involves concerted transfer of an alkyl group from phosphorus to the metal to give a platinum(alkyl)(fluorophosphine), trans-[Pt(Me)(4-C5NF4)(PH3)(PH2F)], analogues of which have been observed experimentally. The second phosphine-assisted pathway sees fluorine transfer to one of the phosphine ligands with formation of a metastable metallophosphorane intermediate from which either alkyl or fluorine transfer to the metal is possible. Both Pt-fluoride and Pt(alkyl)(fluorophosphine) products are therefore accessible via this route. Our calculations highlight the central role of metallophosphorane species, either as intermediates or transition states, in aromatic C-F bond activation. In addition, the similar computed barriers for all three processes suggest that Pt-fluoride species should be accessible. This is confirmed experimentally by the reaction of [Pt(PR3)2] species (R = isopropyl (iPr), cyclohexyl (Cy), and cyclopentyl (Cyp)) with 2,3,5-trifluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine to give cis-[Pt(F){2-C5NHF2(CF3)}(PR3)2]. These species subsequently convert to the trans-isomers, either thermally or photochemically. The crystal structure of cis-[Pt(F){2-C5NHF2(CF3)}(P iPr3)2] shows planar coordination at Pt with r(F-Pt) = 2.029(3) A and P(1)-Pt-P(2) = 109.10(3) degrees. The crystal structure of trans-[Pt(F){2-C5NHF2(CF3)}(PCyp3)2] shows standard square-planar coordination at Pt with r(F-Pt) = 2.040(19) A.

EPR Evidence for the Involvement of Free Radicals in the Iron-Catalysed Decomposition of Qinghaosu (Artemisinin) and Some Derivatives; Antimalarial Action of Some Polycyclic Endoperoxides

EPR experiments confirm that reaction of qinghaosu and some related endoperoxides with Fe2+ in aqueous acetonitrile leads to the production of carbon-centred radicals derived by rapid rearrangement of first-formed cyclic alkoxyl radicals. Signals obtained from qinghaosu itself with spin-traps DMPO and DBNBS are assigned to the adducts (15) and (16), a finding which accounts for the formation of the major products (11) and (14).

Emissive metallomesogens based on 2-phenylpyridine complexes of iridium(III).

Preparation of Ir(III) complexes using anisotropic 2,5-di(4-alkoxyphenyl)pyridine ligands leads to emissive, liquid-crystalline complexes containing bound Cl and dimethyl sulfoxide. Using analogous poly(alkoxy) ligands allows the preparation of bis(2-phenylpyridine)iridium(III) acac complexes, which are also mesomorphic. The observation of liquid crystallinity in octahedral complexes of this type is without precedent.

Ruthenium-mediated C-H functionalization of pyridine: the role of vinylidene and pyridylidene ligands.

A combined experimental and theoretical study has demonstrated that [Ru(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(py)(2)(PPh(3))](+) is a key intermediate, and active catalyst for, the formation of 2-substituted E-styrylpyridines from pyridine and terminal alkynes HC≡CR (R = Ph, C(6)H(4)-4-CF(3)) in a 100% atom efficient manner under mild conditions. A catalyst deactivation pathway involving formation of the pyridylidene-containing complex [Ru(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(κ(3)-C(3)-C(5)H(4)NCH═CHR)(PPh(3))](+) and subsequently a 1-ruthanaindolizine complex has been identified. Mechanistic studies using (13)C- and D-labeling and DFT calculations suggest that a vinylidene-containing intermediate [Ru(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(py)(═C═CHR)(PPh(3))](+) is formed, which can then proceed to the pyridylidene-containing deactivation product or the desired product depending on the reaction conditions. Nucleophilic attack by free pyridine at the α-carbon in this complex subsequently leads to formation of a C-H agostic complex that is the branching point for the productive and unproductive pathways. The formation of the desired products relies on C-H bond cleavage from this agostic complex in the presence of free pyridine to give the pyridyl complex [Ru(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(C(5)H(4)N)(═C═CHR)(PPh(3))]. Migration of the pyridyl ligand (or its pyridylidene tautomer) to the α-carbon of the vinylidene, followed by protonation, results in the formation of the 2-styrylpyridine. These studies demonstrate that pyridylidene ligands play an important role in both the productive and nonproductive pathways in this catalyst system.

Synthesis of P-Stereogenic Compounds via Kinetic Deprotonation and Dynamic Thermodynamic Resolution of Phosphine Sulfides: Opposite Sense of Induction Using (−)-Sparteine

A systematic study of the asymmetric deprotonation of a dimethyl-substituted phosphine sulfide using organolithium bases in the presence of (-)-sparteine has been carried out. Use of nBuLi and (-)-sparteine in Et(2)O at -78 °C gave trapped adducts in ∼88:12 er via a kinetically controlled process that was successfully predicted using a computational approach at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level. This initial kinetic enantioselectivity could be enhanced up to 97:3 er by trapping the lithiated intermediate with a prochiral electrophile (e.g., pivaldehyde or tBuPCl(2)). In addition, it was found that the R(P) and S(P) stereoisomers of the lithiated methylphosphine sulfide could interconvert at temperatures above 0 °C. Such interconversion is unprecedented and differs from the configurational instability of organolithiums that are stereogenic at a lithiated carbon atom. The major, thermodynamically preferred diastereomeric (-)-sparteine-complexed lithated phosphine sulfide was investigated by X-ray crystallography and computational methods at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level. Through the interconversion of the R(P) and S(P) stereoisomers of the lithiated methylphosphine sulfide, a novel dynamic thermodynamic resolution of a racemic lithiated phosphine sulfide has been developed. Thus, the phosphine sulfide was lithiated with nBuLi, and then (-)-sparteine was added. After equilibration at 0 °C for 3 h, electrophilic trapping generated an adduct in 81:19 er with the configuration opposite to that obtained under kinetic control. Thus, the methodology provides access to P-stereogenic compounds with the opposite sense of induction using (-)-sparteine as the ligand simply by changing the reaction conditions (kinetic or thermodynamic control).

A Kinetic and ESR Investigation of Iron(II) Oxalate Oxidation by Hydrogen Peroxide and Dioxygen as a Source of Hydroxyl Radicals

The reaction of Fe(II) oxalate with hydrogen peroxide and dioxygen was studied for oxalate concentrations up to 20 mM and pH 2-5, under which conditions mono- and bis-oxalate complexes (Fe[II](ox) and Fe[II](ox)2[2-]) and uncomplexed Fe2+ must be considered. The reaction of Fe(II) oxalate with hydrogen peroxide (Fe2+ + H2O2 --> Fe3+ + .OH + OH-) was monitored in continuous flow by ESR with t-butanol as a radical trap. The reaction is much faster than for uncomplexed Fe2+ and a rate constant, k = 1 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) is deduced for Fe(II)(ox). The reaction of Fe(II) oxalate with dioxygen is strongly pH dependent in a manner which indicates that the reactive species is Fe(II)(ox)2(2-), for which an apparent second order rate constant, k = 3.6 M(-1) s(-1), is deduced. Taken together, these results provide a mechanism for hydroxyl radical production in aqueous systems containing Fe(II) complexed by oxalate. Further ESR studies with DMPO as spin trap reveal that reaction of Fe(II) oxalate with hydrogen peroxide can also lead to formation of the carboxylate radical anion (CO2-), an assignment confirmed by photolysis of Fe(II) oxalate in the presence of DMPO.