Daniël L. J. Broere

Redox-Active Ligand-Induced Homolytic Bond Activation†

Coordination of the novel redox-active phosphine-appended aminophenol pincer ligand (PNO(H2) ) to Pd(II) generates a paramagnetic complex with a persistent ligand-centered radical. The complex undergoes fully reversible single-electron oxidation and reduction. Homolytic bond activation of diphenyldisulfide by the single-electron reduced species leads to a ligand-based mixed-valent dinuclear palladium complex with a single bridging thiolate ligand. Mechanistic investigations support an unprecedented intramolecular ligand-to-disulfide single-electron transfer process to induce homolytic SS cleavage, thereby releasing a thiyl (sulfanyl) radical. This could be a new strategy for small-molecule bond activation.

Catalytic Synthesis of N-Heterocycles via Direct C(sp3)–H Amination Using an Air-Stable Iron(III) Species with a Redox-Active Ligand

Coordination of FeCl3 to the redox-active pyridine–aminophenol ligand NNOH2 in the presence of base and under aerobic conditions generates FeCl2(NNOISQ) (1), featuring high-spin FeIII and an NNOISQ radical ligand. The complex has an overall S = 2 spin state, as deduced from experimental and computational data. The ligand-centered radical couples antiferromagnetically with the Fe center. Readily available, well-defined, and air-stable 1 catalyzes the challenging intramolecular direct C(sp3)–H amination of unactivated organic azides to generate a range of saturated N-heterocycles with the highest turnover number (TON) (1 mol% of 1, 12 h, TON = 62; 0.1 mol% of 1, 7 days, TON = 620) reported to date. The catalyst is easily recycled without noticeable loss of catalytic activity. A detailed kinetic study for C(sp3)–H amination of 1-azido-4-phenylbutane (S1) revealed zero order in the azide substrate and first order in both the catalyst and Boc2O. A cationic iron complex, generated from the neutral precatalyst upon reaction with Boc2O, is proposed as the catalytically active species.

Dinuclear Palladium Complexes with Two Ligand‐Centered Radicals and a Single Bridging Ligand: Subtle Tuning of Magnetic Properties

The facile and tunable preparation of unique dinuclear [(L(⋅))Pd-X-Pd(L(⋅))] complexes (X = Cl or N3), bearing a ligand radical on each Pd, is disclosed, as well as their magnetochemistry in solution and solid state is reported. Chloride abstraction from [PdCl(NNO(ISQ))] (NNO(ISQ) = iminosemiquinonato) with TlPF6 results in an unusual monochlorido-bridged dinuclear open-shell diradical species, [{Pd(NNO(ISQ))}2(μ-Cl)](+), with an unusually small Pd-Cl-Pd angle (ca. 93°, determined by X-ray). This suggests an intramolecular d(8)-d(8) interaction, which is supported by DFT calculations. SQUID measurements indicate moderate antiferromagnetic spin exchange between the two ligand radicals and an overall singlet ground state in the solid state. VT EPR spectroscopy shows a transient signal corresponding to a triplet state between 20 and 60 K. Complex 2 reacts with PPh3 to generate [Pd(NNO(ISQ))(PPh3)](+) and one equivalent of [PdCl(NNO(ISQ))]. Reacting an 1:1 mixture of [PdCl(NNO(ISQ))] and [Pd(N3)(NNO(ISQ))] furnishes the 1,1-azido-bridged dinuclear diradical [{Pd(NNO(ISQ))}2(κ(1)-N;μ-N3](+), with a Pd-N-Pd angle close to 127° (X-ray). Magnetic and EPR measurements indicate two independent S = 1/2 spin carriers and no magnetic interaction in the solid state. The two diradical species both show no spin exchange in solution, likely because of unhindered rotation around the Pd-X-Pd core. This work demonstrates that a single bridging atom can induce subtle and tunable changes in structural and magnetic properties of novel dinuclear Pd complexes featuring two ligand-based radicals.

Reversible Redox Chemistry and Catalytic C(sp(3))-H Amination Reactivity of a Paramagnetic Pd Complex Bearing a Redox-Active o-Aminophenol-Derived NNO Pincer Ligand

The synthesis, spectroelectrochemical characterization (ultraviolet-visible and nuclear magnetic resonance), solid state structures, and computational metric parameters of three isostructural PdCl(NNO) complexes 1 [PdCl(NNO(ISQ))], 2 {[PdCl(NNO(AP))](-)}, and 5 {[PdCl(NNO(IBQ))](+)} (NNO = o-aminophenol-derived redox-active ligand with a pendant pyridine) with different NNO oxidation states are described. The reduced diamagnetic complex 2 readily reacts with halogenated solvents, including lattice solvent from crystalline pure material, as supported by spectroscopic data and density functional theory calculations. Thorough removal of chlorinated impurities allows for modest catalytic turnover in the conversion of 4-phenylbutyl azide into N-protected 2-phenylpyrrolidine, which is the first example of a palladium-catalyzed radical-type transformation facilitated by a redox-active ligand as well as the first C-H amination mediated by ligand-to-substrate single-electron transfer.

Metal–Metal Interactions in Heterobimetallic Complexes with Dinucleating Redox‐Active Ligands

The tuning of metal-metal interactions in multinuclear assemblies is a challenge. Selective P coordination of a redox-active PNO ligand to Au(I) followed by homoleptic metalation of the NO pocket with Ni(II) affords a unique trinuclear Au-Ni-Au complex. This species features two antiferromagnetically coupled ligand-centered radicals and a double intramolecular d(8)-d(10) interaction, as supported by spectroscopic, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and computational data. A corresponding cationic dinuclear Au-Ni analogue with a stronger d(8)-d(10) interaction is also reported. Although both heterobimetallic structures display rich electrochemistry, only the trinuclear Au-Ni-Au complex facilitates electrocatalytic C-X bond activation of alkyl halides in its doubly reduced state. Hence, the presence of a redox-active ligand framework, an available coordination site at gold, and the nature of the nickel-gold interaction appear to be essential for this reactivity.

Cobalt‐Porphyrin‐Catalysed Intramolecular Ring‐Closing C−H Amination of Aliphatic Azides: A Nitrene‐Radical Approach to Saturated Heterocycles

Abstract Cobalt‐porphyrin‐catalysed intramolecular ring‐closing C−H bond amination enables direct synthesis of various N‐heterocycles from aliphatic azides. Pyrrolidines, oxazolidines, imidazolidines, isoindolines and tetrahydroisoquinoline can be obtained in good to excellent yields in a single reaction step with an air‐ and moisture‐stable catalyst. Kinetic studies of the reaction in combination with DFT calculations reveal a metallo‐radical‐type mechanism involving rate‐limiting azide activation to form the key cobalt(III)‐nitrene radical intermediate. A subsequent low barrier intramolecular hydrogen‐atom transfer from a benzylic C−H bond to the nitrene‐radical intermediate followed by a radical rebound step leads to formation of the desired N‐heterocyclic ring products. Kinetic isotope competition experiments are in agreement with a radical‐type C−H bond‐activation step (intramolecular KIE=7), which occurs after the rate‐limiting azide activation step. The use of di‐tert‐butyldicarbonate (Boc2O) significantly enhances the reaction rate by preventing competitive binding of the formed amine product. Under these conditions, the reaction shows clean first‐order kinetics in both the [catalyst] and the [azide substrate], and is zero‐order in [Boc2O]. Modest enantioselectivities (29–46 % ee in the temperature range of 100–80 °C) could be achieved in the ring closure of (4‐azidobutyl)benzene using a new chiral cobalt‐porphyrin catalyst equipped with four (1S)‐(−)‐camphanic‐ester groups.

Well-Defined Dinuclear Gold Complexes for Preorganization-Induced Selective Dual Gold Catalysis

The synthesis, reactivity, and potential of well-defined dinuclear gold complexes as precursors for dual gold catalysis are explored. Using the preorganizing abilities of the ditopic PN(H) P(iPr) (L(H) ) ligand, dinuclear Au(I) -Au(I) complex 1 and mixed-valent Au(I) -Au(III) complex 2 provide access to structurally characterized chlorido-bridged cationic species 3 and 4 upon halide abstraction. For 2, this transformation involves unprecedented two-electron oxidation of the redox-active ligand, generating a highly rigidified environment for the Au2 core. Facile reaction with phenylacetylene affords the σ,π-activated phenylacetylide complex 5. When applied in the dual gold heterocycloaddition of a urea-functionalized alkyne, well-defined precatalyst 3 provides high regioselectivities for the anti-Markovnikov product, even at low catalyst loadings, and outperforms common mononuclear Au(I) systems. This proof-of-concept demonstrates the benefit of preorganization of two gold centers to enforce selective non-classical σ,π-activation with bifunctional substrates.

Redox-Active-Ligand-Mediated Formation of an Acyclic Trinuclear Ruthenium Complex with Bridging Nitrido Ligands

Coordination of a redox-active pyridine aminophenol ligand to Ru(II) followed by aerobic oxidation generates two diamagnetic Ru(III) species [1 a (cis) and 1 b (trans)] with ligand-centered radicals. The reaction of 1 a/1 b with excess NaN3 under inert atmosphere resulted in the formation of a rare bis(nitrido)-bridged trinuclear ruthenium complex with two nonlinear asymmetrical Ru-N-Ru fragments. The spontaneous reduction of the ligand centered radical in the parent 1 a/1 b supports the oxidation of a nitride (N(3-) ) to half an equivalent of N2 . The trinuclear omplex is reactive toward TEMPO-H, tin hydrides, thiols, and dihydrogen.

Quantitation of the THF Content in Fe[N(SiMe3)2]2·xTHF

The absence of residual solvent in metal precursors can be of key importance for the successful preparation of metal complexes or materials. Herein, we describe methods for the quantitation of residual coordinated tetrahydrofuran (THF) that binds to Fe[N(SiMe3)2]2, a commonly used iron synthon, when prepared according to common literature procedures. A simple method for quantitation of the amount of residual coordinated THF using 1H NMR spectroscopy is highlighted. Finally, a detailed synthetic procedure is described for the synthesis of THF-free Fe[N(SiMe3)2]2.