Amalia I. Poblador-Bahamonde

[CpRu]-Catalyzed Carbene Insertions into Epoxides: 1,4-Dioxene Synthesis through S N 1-Like Chemistry with Retention of Configuration

Rather than lead to the usual deoxygenation pathway, metal carbenes derived from α-diazo-β-ketoesters undergo three-atom insertions into epoxides using a combination of 1,10-phenanthroline and [CpRu(CH3CN)3][BAr(F)] as the catalyst. Original 1,4-dioxene motifs are obtained as single regio- and stereoisomers. A perfect syn stereochemistry (retention, e.r. up to 97:3) is observed for the ring opening, which behaves as an S(N)1-like transformation.

Computational study of ethene hydroarylation at [Ir(κ2-OAc)(PMe3)Cp]+

Density functional theory calculations have been employed to model ethene hydroarylation using an [Ir(κ(2)-OAc)(PMe(3))Cp](+) catalyst, 1. The reaction proceeds via: (i) an acetate-assisted C-H activation of benzene via an AMLA-6 transition state; (ii) rate-limiting insertion of ethene into the Ir-Ph bond; and (iii) protonolysis of the β-phenylethyl species by HOAc. A range of competing processes are assessed, the most important of which are the C-H activation of ethene at 1 and trapping of the β-phenylethyl intermediate with ethene. The former process gives rise to Ir-vinyl species which can then access further ethene insertion to give stable allyl by-products. A comparison with other ethene hydroarylation catalysts reported in the literature is presented.

Palladium-Catalyzed Hydrohalogenation of 1,6-Enynes: Hydrogen Halide Salts and Alkyl Halides as Convenient HX Surrogates

Difficulties associated with handling H2 and CO in metal-catalyzed processes have led to the development of chemical surrogates to these species. Despite many successful examples using this strategy, the application of convenient hydrogen halide (HX) surrogates in catalysis has lagged behind considerably. We now report the use of ammonium halides as HX surrogates to accomplish a Pd-catalyzed hydrohalogenation of enynes. These safe and practical salts avoid many drawbacks associated with traditional HX sources including toxicity and corrosiveness. Experimental and computational studies support a reaction mechanism involving a crucial E-to-Z vinyl-Pd isomerization and a carbon-halogen bond-forming reductive elimination. Furthermore, rare examples of C(sp3)-Br and -Cl reductive elimination from Pd(II) as well as transfer hydroiodination using 1-iodobutane as an alternate HI surrogate are also presented.

A Highly Effective Ruthenium System for the Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Cyclization of Amine–Boranes to Cyclic Boranes under Mild Conditions

We recently disclosed a new ruthenium-catalyzed dehydrogenative cyclization process (CDC) of diamine-monoboranes leading to cyclic diaminoboranes. In the present study, the CDC reaction has been successfully extended to a larger number of diamine-monoboranes (4-7) and to one amine-borane alcohol precursor (8). The corresponding NB(H)N- and NB(H)O-containing cyclic diaminoboranes (12-15) and oxazaborolidine (16) were obtained in good to high yields. Multiple substitution patterns on the starting amine-borane substrates were evaluated and the reaction was also performed with chiral substrates. Efforts have been spent to understand the mechanism of the ruthenium CDC process. In addition to a computational approach, a strategy enabling the kinetic discrimination on successive events of the catalytic process leading to the formation of the NB(H)N linkage was performed on the six-carbon chain diamine-monoborane 21 and completed with a (15) N NMR study. The long-life bis-σ-borane ruthenium intermediate 23 possessing a reactive NHMe ending was characterized in situ and proved to catalyze the dehydrogenative cyclization of 1, ascertaining that bis σ-borane ruthenium complexes are key intermediates in the CDC process.

Alkyl dehydrogenation in a Rh(I) complex via an isolated agostic intermediate

A well-characterised 14-electron rhodium phosphine complex, [Rh(PiPr3)3][BArF4], which contains a beta-CH agostic interaction, is observed to undergo spontaneous dehydrogenation to afford [Rh(PiPr3)2(PiPr2(C3H5))][BArF4]; calculations on a model system show that while C-H activation is equally accessible from the beta-CH agostic species or an alternative gamma-CH agostic isomer, subsequent beta-H-transfer can only be achieved along pathways originating from the beta-CH agostic form.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Isomerization of meso-Oxabenzonorbornadienes to 1,2-Naphthalene Oxides

Herein we describe a rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective isomerization of meso-oxabicyclic alkenes to 1,2-naphthalene oxides. These potentially useful building blocks can be accessed in moderate to excellent yields with impressive enantioselectivities. Additionally, experimental findings supported by preliminary computations suggest that ring-opening reactions of bridgehead disubstituted oxabicyclic alkenes proceed through the intermediacy of these epoxides and may point to a kinetically and thermodynamically favored reductive elimination as the origin for the observed enantioselectivities.

Stereoselective and Enantiospecific Mono‐ and Bis‐C−H Azidation of Tröger Bases: Insight on Bridgehead Iminium Intermediates and Application to Anion‐Binding Catalysis

In the context of Tröger base chemistry, regio- and stereoselective Csp3 -H azidation reactions are reported. Azide functional groups are introduced at either one or the two benzylic positions selectively. Mild conditions and good yields are afforded by the combination of TMSN3 and iodosobenzene PhIO. The process occurs with high enantiospecificity (es 96-99 %) and-interestingly and importantly-via bridgehead iminium intermediates as shown by mechanistic and in-silico studies. Finally, mono- and bistriazole derivatives were prepared in high yields and enantiospecificity by using copper-catalyzed alkyne azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) reactions; some of the products were used as anion-binding organocatalysts for the tritylation of amines and alcohols.

Structures of d4 MH3X: a Computational Study of the Influence of the Metal and the Ligands

Density functional theory (DFT, PBE0, and range separated DFT, RSH + MP2) and coupled-cluster with single and double and perturbative triple excitations (CCSD(T)) calculations have been used to probe the structural preference of d(4) MH(3)X(q) (M = Ru, Os, Rh(+), Ir(+), and Re(-); X = H, F, CH(3), CF(3), SiH(3), and SiF(3)) and of MX(4) (M = Ru; X = H, F, CH(3), CF(3), SiH(3), and SiF(3)). Landis et al. have shown that complexes in which the metal is sd(3) hybridized have tetrahedral and non-tetrahedral structures with shapes of an umbrella or a 4-legged piano stool. In this article, the influence of the metal and ligands on the energies of the three isomeric structures of d(4) MH(3)X and MX(4) is established and rationalized. Fluoride and alkyl ligands stabilize the tetrahedral relative to non-tetrahedral structures while hydride and silyl ligands stabilize the non-tetrahedral structures. For given ligands and charge, 4d metal favors more the non-tetrahedral structures than 5d metals. A positive charge increases the preference for the non-tetrahedral structures while a negative charge increases the preference for the tetrahedral structure. The factors that determine these energy patterns are discussed by means of a molecular orbital analysis, based on Extended Hückel (EHT) calculations, and by means of Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analyses of charges and resonance structures (NRT analysis). These analyses show the presence of through-space interactions in the non-tetrahedral structures that can be sufficiently stabilizing, for specific metals and ligands, to stabilize the non-tetrahedral structures relative to the tetrahedral isomer.

Functionalization of Arenes Via C—H Bond Activation Catalysed by Transition Metal Complexes

Transition metal catalyzed C—H activation is an extremely important process, both for its fundamental scientific interest and for its potential to produce functionalized hydrocarbons. In order to achieve an effective functionalization, many investigations have been directed toward the understanding of this process. Experimentally, the nature of this step remains challenging as the dividing line between the various mechanistic possibilities can be unclear. The use of computational chemistry has provided more insight into such mechanistic issues. More in-depth mechanistic studies have shown subtleties in previously generalized processes. Therefore, this chapter will highlight the powerful synergy that the combination of experimental and computational study provides toward the understanding of the mechanisms of C—H activation and functionalization.