Ian J. S. Fairlamb

Emergence of Palladium(IV) Chemistry in Synthesis and Catalysis

Palladium-catalyzed bond-forming processes (e.g., C-C, C-X, C-Y; X ) F; Y ) NR2, OR, SR, etc.) represent essential tools for the synthetic chemist. A fascinating myriad of adventurous and unique Pd-catalyzed transformations are routinely found as key steps in target-oriented syntheses, affording complex natural products, functional advanced materials, fluorescent compounds, pharmaceutical lead compounds, and other high-value commercial products. Innovative Pd catalyst design, the identification of new synthetic methodologies, and the acquirement of detailed mechanistic insight, spanning both homogeneous and heterogeneous fields, underpin the numerous developments seen in this area over the past 40 years. Most commonly, Pd-catalyzed bond-forming processes involve Pd0/PdII complexes as intermediates. In recent times, the involvement of PdIV complexes have been implicated in many new synthetic methodologies, for which important advances have been made in the last 5 years or so. While observing the emergence of catalytic PdIV chemistry, particularly in organic synthesis, we identified the need to comprehensively review this area, which draws on aspects from both inorganic (organometallic) and organic chemistry fields. The historical background to organopalladium(IV) chemistry is therefore detailed. We have selected a wide range of diverse transformations where PdIV complexes are believed to act as key intermediates. It is clear that catalytic reaction manifolds involving PdIV intermediates offer new * Corresponding author. E-mail: ijsf1@york.ac.uk. Telephone: +44 (0)1904 434091. Fax: +44 (0)1904 432516. Chem. Rev. 2010, 110, 824–889 824

Regioselective (site-selective) functionalisation of unsaturated halogenated nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur heterocycles by Pd-catalysed cross-couplings and direct arylation processes

This tutorial review focuses on several practical synthetic transformations utilising palladium catalysis that facilitate the synthesis of functionalized unsaturated heterocycles in a regioselective (site-selective) manner. Cross-couplings of electron-deficient, electron-neutral and electron-rich unsaturated halogenated heterocycles with various organometallic reagents, and other types of nucleophiles, are detailed. Direct arylation of electron-rich unsaturated heterocyclic compounds by C-H functionalization is also presented.

Evidence for the Surface-Catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura Reaction over Palladium Nanoparticles: An Operando XAS Study†

No need to get away: X-ray absorption spectroscopy of catalytically active palladium nanopartlcles during a SuzukiMlyaura cross-coupling reaction revealed that the nanopartlcles were stable under the reaction conditions, and that cross-coupling Involved the direct participation of surface palladium defect sites In the catalytic cycle (see picture). Selective chemical and structural poisons provided further evidence for a heterogeneous active site.

Surface catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling by Pd nanoparticles: an operando XAS study.

Size-controlled, catalytically active PVP-stabilised Pd nanoparticles have been studied by operando liquid phase XAS during the Suzuki cross-coupling of iodonanisole and phenylboronic acid in MeOH-toluene using KOMe base. XAS reveals nanoparticles are stable to metal leaching throughout the reaction, with surface density Pd defect sites directly implicated in the catalytic cycle. The efficacy of popular selective chemical and structural poisons for distinguishing heterogeneous and homogeneous contributions in Pd catalysed cross-couplings is also explored.

Bioactive Properties of Iron-Containing Carbon Monoxide-Releasing Molecules

Carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CO-RMs) are compounds capable of delivering controlled amounts of CO within a cellular environment. Ruthenium-based carbonyls [tricarbonyldichloro ruthenium(II) dimer and tricarbonylchloro-(glycinato)ruthenium(II)] and boronacorbonates (sodium boranocarbonate) have been shown to promote vasodilatory, cardioprotective, and anti-inflammatory activities in a variety of experimental models. Here, we extend our previous studies by showing that η-4-(4-bromo-6-methyl-2-pyrone)tricarbonyl iron (0) (CORM-F3), an irontricarbonyl complex that contains a 2-pyrone motif, liberates CO in vitro and exerts pharmacological actions that are typical of CO gas. Specifically, CORM-F3 caused vasorelaxation in isolated aortic rings and inhibited the inflammatory response (e.g., nitrite production) of RAW264.7 macrophages stimulated with endotoxin in a dose-dependent fashion. By analyzing the rate of CO release, we found that when the bromide at the 4-position of the 2-pyrone CORM-F3 is substituted with a chloride group [η-4-(4-chloro-6-methyl-2-pyrone)tricarbonyl iron (0) (CORM-F8)], the rate of CO release is significantly decreased (4.5-fold), and a further decrease is observed when the 4- and 6-positions are substituted with a methyl group [η-4-(4-methyl-6-methyl-2-pyrone)tricarbonyl iron (0) (CORM-F11)] or a hydrogen [η-4-(4-chloro-2-pyrone)tricarbonyl iron (0) (CORM-F7)], respectively. Interestingly, the compounds containing halogens at the 4-position and the methyl at the 6-position of the 2-pyrone ring (CORM-F3 and CORM-F8) were found to be less cytotoxic compared with other CO-RMs when tested in RAW246.7 macrophages. Thus, iron-based carbonyls mediate pharmacological responses that are achieved through liberation of CO and the nature of the substituents in the organic ligand have a profound effect on both the rate of CO release and cytotoxicity.

Ligation independent cloning (LIC) as a rapid route to families of recombinant biocatalysts from sequenced prokaryotic genomes

A technique is presented for the high throughput generation of families of recombinant biocatalysts sourced from prokaryotic genomes, providing rapid access to the naturally evolved diversity of enzyme specificity for biocatalyst discovery. The method exploits a novel ligation independent cloning strategy, based on the locally engineered vector pET-YSBLIC and has been used for the rapid generation of a suite of expression plasmids containing genes encoding a family of six Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (MTb). The six resultant recombinant strains of E. coli B834 (DE3) expressing the genes were assayed for oxygenating activity in respect of the target reaction; the resolution of bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-one. The analysis of biotransformations catalysed by growing cells of E. coli was complicated by the production of indole in the reaction mixtures, possibly resulting from the in vivo activity of E. coli tryptophanase. Four of the recombinant strains expressing different BVMOs catalysed the oxidation of one or more of four screening substrates, well above controls that had been transformed with the re-ligated parent vector. One of the recombinant strains, E. coli B834 (DE3) pDB5, expressing the Rv3049c gene from MTb, was found to effectively resolve the target substrate, yielding a 19% yield of (1R, 5S)-(+)-bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-one with >95% enantiomeric excess in a 4 L fermentation reaction.

N-Heterocyclic carbene coated metal nanoparticles

N-Heterocyclic carbene coated Au and Pd nanoparticles have been prepared by a ligand exchange reaction; although carbenes quantitatively displaced the thioether and phosphine ligands from the nanoparticle surface, the resultant nanoparticles spontaneously leached metal complexes and aggregated in solution.

Bioactive 4-substituted-6-methyl-2-pyrones with promising cytotoxicity against A2780 and K562 cell lines.

Bioactive synthetic 4-substituted-6-methyl-2-pyrones are reported. Various 4-substitutents have been incorporated using Pd-catalysed carbon-carbon bond coupling procedures. Preliminary screening of the 2-pyrones against human ovarian carcinoma (A2780) and human chronic myelogenous leukaemia (K562) cell lines show that 4-alkynyl-6-methyl-2-pyrones have excellent potential as anticancer agents. The pyrones demonstrate broad spectrum antimicrobial activities.

Diversity and design of metal-based carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CO-RMs) in aqueous systems: revealing the essential trends

The CO-releasing ability of a diverse library of primary metal carbonyl complexes has been assessed using a deoxymyoglobin-carbonmonoxymyglobin assay. A wide spectrum of rates for the CO-release process was observed in aqueous systems. For octahedral d(6) complexes, the rate was found to decrease in the sequence FeI(2)(CO)(4) > [NEt(4)][V(CO)(6)] > MnBr(CO)(5) > Cr(CO)(6) implying that CO-release is not controlled by the metal-carbon bond strengths. Within the series, [NEt(4)][MX(CO)(5)] (M = Cr, Mo, W; X =Cl, Br, I), the rate of CO-release was found to decrease down the group (Cr > Mo > W), whilst within the chromium series a similar trend was observed for the halide (Cl > Br > I). The d(4) complexes [NEt(4)][MI(3)(CO)(4)] (M = Mo, W) exhibit faster release than their d(6) congeners. A mechanistic investigation into the [NEt(4)][MX(CO)(5)] series revealed the intermediacy of [[M(CO)(5)](2)(mu-X)](-) in the CO-release process and that the hydrolysis of the M-X bond, rather than the intrinsic strength of M-CO bonds, controls the rate of CO-release in aqueous systems.

An efficient synthesis of 4-alkenyl/alkynyl-6-methyl-2-pyrones via Pd-catalysed coupling on 4-bromo-6-methyl-2-pyrone

We herein report the efficient syntheses of biologically active 4-alkenyl- and 4-alkynyl-6-methyl-2-pyrones using Pd-catalysed coupling procedures. A palladium on carbon/triphenylphosphine combination is shown to be the most effective catalyst for Sonogashira cross-coupling of several terminal acetylenes with 4-bromo-6-methyl-2-pyrone in yields of up to 95%.