G.P.M. van Klink

Metathesis of olefin-substituted pyridines: the metalated NCN-pincer complex in a dual role as protecting group and scaffold.

Pincer-palladium(II) and -platinum(II) cat- ions, YCY-M (YCY (2,6-(YCH2)2C6H3) ;Y NMe2, SPh; M Pd II ,P t II ), bound to diolefin-substituted pyridines (3,5- or 2,6-substitution) were successfully synthesized, and subsequently used in olefin meta- thesis (RCM) as a model study for template-directed synthesis of macrocycles. Especially a 3,5-disubstitut- ed pyridine bound to a NCN-Pt II -center (5a) gave a fast metathesis reaction, while the same reaction with the Pd II analogue (4a) was much slower and less selective (isomerization products were formed). Fur- thermore, it was found that 2,6-diolefin-substituted pyridines (4b, 5b, 5c) gave slow metathesis reactions, which is mainly ascribed tosteric hindrance during the ring-closing step. In all cases where prolonged reaction times were required an isomerization pro- cess, most likely assisted by cationic pincer-M II species, was observed as a competing reaction. 1 HN MR spectroscopy experiments revealed that pyridines are stronger bound to a cationic NCN-Pt II -center than toits Pd II -analogue. This aspect is of crucial importance when these pincer-pyridine complexes are applied in metathesis, since free pyridine in solution deactivates the Ru-metathesis catalyst. For the tem- plated construction of macrocycles, a strong M-N(py) bond is also important since it determines the selectivity for the desired product. In addition, these results open a new research field in which organo- metallic (pincer) complexes are used as protecting groups for strong Lewis-basic groups in catalysis. From failed attempts to prepare macrocycles using hexakis(SCS-Pd II -(1a)) complex 14, and from the results obtained with the monometallic pincer com- plexes in RCM, it can be concluded that the most suitable candidate for constructing macrocycles should comprise 2,6-diolefin-substituted pyridines bound to a multi-(NCN-Pt II )-template. In such a system, intrapyridine metathesis (steric hindrance) as well as isomerization reactions (strong M-N(py) bond) are suppressed.

Template-Directed Synthesis of Macroheterocycles by Ring-Closing Metathesis of Olefin-Substituted Pyridines in the Coordination Sphere of a Triplatinum Complex *

Mono- and tris-3,5- and 2,6-pyridinediyl-containing macroheterocycles were synthesized by metathesis of olefin-substituted pyridines in the coordination sphere of mono- and tris-platinum complexes, respectively. Tris(2,6-pyridinediyl)-containing macroheterocycles were hydrogenated over palladium catalyst. The hydrogenated macrocycle was used as ligand for the triplatinum template. The structure of the resulting complex was established by X-ray analysis.