Jiří Kubišta

Reduction of Bis[η5-(ω-alkenyl)tetramethylcyclopentadienyl]titanium Dichlorides: An Efficient Synthesis of Long-Chainansa-Bridged Titanocene Dichlorides by Acidolysis of Cyclopentadienyl-Ring- Tethered Titanacyclopentanes

The reduction of symmetric, fully-substituted titanocene dichlorides bearing two pendant ω-alkenyl groups, [TiCl2(η5-C5Me4R)2], RCH(Me)CH=CH2 (1 a), (CH2)2CH=CH2 (1 b) and (CH2)3CH=CH2 (1 c), by magnesium in tetrahydrofuran affords bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanacyclopentanes [TiIV{η1:η1:tlsb&endash;3%>η5:η5-C5Me4CH(Me)CH(Ti)CH2CH(CH2(Ti))CH(Me)C5Me4}] (2 a), [TiIV{η1:η1:η5:η5-C5Me4(CH2)2CH(Ti)(CH2)2CH(Ti)(CH2)2C5Me4}] (2 b) and [TiIV{η1:η1:η5:η5-C5Me4(CH2)2CH(Ti)CH(Me)CH(Me)CH(Ti)(CH2)2C5Me4}] (2 c), respectively, as the products of oxidative coupling of the double bonds across a titanocene intermediate. For the case of complex 1 c, a product of a double bond isomerisation is obtained owing to a preferred formation of five-membered titanacycles. The reaction of the titanacyclopentanes with PbCl2 recovers starting materials 1 a from 2 a and 1 b from 2 b, but complex 2 c affords, under the same conditions, an isomer of 1 c with a shifted carbon-carbon double bond, [TiCl2{η5-C5Me4(CH2CH2CH=CHMe)}2] (1 c′). The titanacycles 2 a-c can be opened by HCl to give ansa-titanocene dichlorides ansa-[{η5:η5-C5Me4CH(Me)CH2CH2CH(Me)CH(Me)C5Me4}TiCl2] (3 a), ansa-[{η5:η5-C5Me4(CH2)8C5Me4}TiCl2] (3 b), along with a minor product ansa-[{η5:η5-C5Me4CH2CH=CH(CH2)5C5Me4}TiCl2] (3 b′), and ansa-[{η5:η5-C5Me4(CH2)3CH(Me)CH(Me)CH=CHCH2C5Me4}TiCl2] (3 c), respectively, with the bridging aliphatic chain consisting of five (3 a) and eight (3 b, 3 b′ and 3 c) carbon atoms. The course of the acidolysis changes with the nature of the pendant group; while the cyclopentadienyl ring-linking carbon chains in 3 a and 3 b are fully saturated, compounds 3 c and 3 b′ contain one asymetrically placed carbon-carbon double bond, which evidently arises from the β-hydrogen elimination that follows the HCl addition.

Internal ferrocenylalkynes —a comparative electrochemical and mass spectrometric study

Abstract A series of ferrocenylalkynes FcCCY, where Fc is ferrocenyl and Y=H ( 1 ), Me ( 2 ), Ph ( 3 ), EMe 3 [E=C ( 4 ), Si ( 5 ), and Ge ( 6 )], I ( 8 ), CPh 2 (OR) [R=H ( 9 ), Me ( 10 )], CHO ( 11 ), C(O)Me ( 12 ), and CO 2 R [R=H ( 13 ), Et ( 14 )] was synthesized (some representatives for the first time) and subjected to spectroscopic (IR, NMR, UV–vis, MS) and electrochemical study. In electron-impact mass spectra, all alkynes fragment via processes typical for the ferrocene skeleton and the substituent Y. Besides, the molecular ions of alkynes 1 – 3 decompose by a loss of {FeH 2 } affording likely a Y-substituted fulvene as the result of a cyclopentadienyl-ring transfer. The carbonyl group containing alkynes 11 – 14 tend to fragment so that ions isobaric with 1 + are produced. Similarly, the fragmentation of alcohol 10 appears as a superposition of fragmentation pathways due to Ph 2 CO + and 1 + . In cyclic voltammograms, all alkynes exhibit one-electron reversible wave of the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple, whose redox potential correlates linearly with Hammett σ p constants. A similar correlation with inductive σ I constants is less pronounced due to neglecting resonance effects. An influence of the triple bond spacer between the substituent Y and the ferrocene unit is discussed.

Syntheses and structures of doubly tucked-in titanocene complexes with tetramethyl(aryl)cyclopentadienyl ligands

Titanocene–bis(trimethylsilyl)ethyne complexes [Ti(η5-C5Me4R)2(η2-Me3SiCCSiMe3)], where R=benzyl (Bz, 1a), phenyl (Ph, 1b) and p-fluorophenyl (FPh, 1c), thermolyse at 150–160°C to give products of double CH activation [Ti(η5-C5Me4Bz){η3:η4-C5Me3(CH2)(CHPh)}] (2a), [Ti(η5-C5Me4Bz){η3:η4-C5Me2Bz(CH2)2}] (2a′), [Ti(η5-C5Me4Ph){η3:η4-C5Me2Ph(CH2)2}] (2b), and [Ti(η5-C5Me4FPh){η3:η4-C5Me2FPh(CH2)2}] (2c). In the presence of 2,2,7,7-tetramethylocta-3,5-diyne (TMOD) the thermolysis affords analogous doubly tucked-in compounds bearing one η3:η4-allyldiene and one η5-C5Me4R ligand having TMOD attached by its C-3 and C-6 carbon atoms to the vicinal methylene groups adjacent to the substituent R (R=Bz (3a), Ph (3b), and FPh (3c)). Compound 3a is smoothly converted into air-stable titanocene dichloride [TiCl2{η5-C5Me2Bz(CH2CH(t-Bu)CHCHCH(t-Bu)CH2)}(η5-C5Me4Bz)] (4a) by a reaction with hydrogen chloride. Yields in both series of doubly tucked-in complexes decrease in the order of substituents: Bz≫Ph>FPh. Crystal structures of 1c, 2a, 2b, and 3b have been determined.

Syntheses and properties of some exo,exo-bis(isodicyclopentadienyl)titanium low-valent complexes

Abstract The paramagnetic compounds exo,exo-bis(η5-isodicyclopentadienyl)chlorotitanium(III) (3) and its analogue with trimethylsilyl-substituted isodicyclopentadienide (isodiCp) ligand (4), and the similar pair of diamagnetic exo,exo-bis(isodicyclopentadienyl)[η2-bis(trimethylsilyl)ethyne]titanium(II) complexes 5 and 6 were obtained by common reduction procedures from exo,exo-bis(isodicyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV) dichloride (1) and exo,exo-bis[η5-2-(trimethylsilyl)isodicyclopentadienyl]titanium(IV) dichloride (2), respectively. As indicated by ESR spectroscopy compound 3 is a dimer in the solid state and in frozen toluene glass but monomeric in toluene solution. Compound 4 is monomeric in solution as well as in the solid state. As judged from the red shift of the ν(CC) vibration, compound 6 binds bis(trimethylsilyl)ethyne more strongly than compound 5. A comparison of their wavenumbers with those of the [Ti(C5H5−nMen)2(η2-Me3SiCCSiMe3)] (n=2–5) complexes shows that Lewis acidity of the central titanium atom decreases in the order of ligands 1,3-dimethylcyclopentadienyl>isodiCp∼1,2,3-trimethylcyclopentadienyl>(trimethylsilyl)isodiCp∼tetramethylcyclopentadienyl. The crystal structure of the most bulky complex 6 shows a bis-lateral (anti) conformation of the isodiCp ligands with the π-coordinated five-membered rings nearly eclipsed.

Reactions of titanocene-bis(trimethylsilyl)ethyne complexes with diethynylsilane derivatives

Titanocene complexes [Ti(η 5 -C 5 H 5− n Me n ) 2 (η 2 -Me 3 SiCCSiMe 3 )] ( n =0, 4 and 5) react uniformly with siladiynes R 2 2 Si(CCR 1 ) 2 , where R 1 =Ph, and R 2 =Ph or Me, at elevated temperature in hydrocarbon solvents to give the corresponding silacyclobutene-annelated titanacyclobutene complexes, 3-bis(η 5 -cyclopentadienyl)titana-6-diorganylsilabicyclo[2.2.0]hexa-1(2),4(5)-dienes, [(η 5 -C 5 H 5− n Me n ) 2 Ti{R 1 2 C 4 (SiR 2 2 )}]. Products arising from [Ti(η 5 -C 5 H 5− n Me n ) 2 (η 2 -Me 3 SiCCSiMe 3 )] ( n =0, 2 (1,3-isomer), 4 and 5) and Me 2 Si(CCCMe 3 ) 2 vary with n : the non-methylated titanocene complex affords a mixture of an analogous silacyclobutene-annelated titanacyclobutene and [{Ti(η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) 2 } 2 {μ-η(3–5):η(4–6)-Me 3 CCCCCCMe 3 }], the permethylated titanocene precursor gives mainly the allyldiene complex [Ti(η 5 -C 5 Me 5 )(η 3 :η 4 -C 5 Me 3 (CH 2 ) 2 )] while no titanium-containing product could be isolated for n= 4. The reaction of [Ti(η 5 -1,3-C 5 H 3 Me 2 ) 2 (η 2 -Me 3 SiCCSiMe 3 )] with Me 2 Si(CCCMe 3 ) 2 , however, cleanly affords the expected silacyclobutene–titanacyclobutene complex. All complexes were studied by spectral methods and solid-state structure of two representatives, [(η 5 -C 5 Me 5 ) 2 Ti{Ph 2 C 4 (SiMe 2 )}] and [(η 5 -1,3-C 5 H 3 Me 2 ) 2 Ti{(Me 3 C) 2 C 4 (SiMe 2 )}] was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Exhaled breath concentrations of acetic acid vapour in gastro-esophageal reflux disease

The objective of this experimental study was to discover volatile metabolites present in exhaled breath that could be used as biomarkers of gastro-esophageal reflux disease, GERD, one of the most common causes of chronic cough. An in vitro model based on pork tissue samples exposed to a challenge by artificial gastric fluid was used to identify specific volatile compounds to be chosen for quantification in directly exhaled breath of GERD patients and controls using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry, SIFT-MS. GC/MS analyses of the headspace of this in vitro model indicated that the only volatile compound significantly increased was acetic acid. End expiratory concentration of acetic acid measured by SIFT-MS in mouth exhaled breath of 22 GERD patients (median 85 ppbv) was found to be significantly higher than that in breath of a control group (median 48 ppbv). Breath acetic acid may be useful for non-invasive diagnostics of GERD and other conditions resulting in the lowering of pH of the lining of the airways.

Synthetic transformations of a pendant nitrile moiety in group 4 metallocene complexes

Functional group transformations at the group 4 metallocene framework have been demonstrated, which have provided relatively straightforward access to otherwise synthetically challenging derivatives. The pendant nitrile group in Ti and Zr metallocene complexes of the type [(η(5)-C5Me5)(η(5)-C5H4CMe2CH2CN)MCl2] was converted into an intramolecularly bound ketimido moiety by alkylation, which took place not only at the nitrile, but also at the metal centre. The choice of an alkylating reagent (alkyl/aryl lithium, Grignard reagent) was crucial: e.g., 2 equiv. of MeMgBr effected the alkylation only at the metal, yielding selectively complexes [(η(5)-C5Me5)(η(5)-C5H4CMe2CH2CN)MMe2], while the use of PhMgBr, PhLi, or MeLi instead gave selectively the ketimido complexes. Organyl lithium reagents were, however, not compatible with the titanocene derivatives. The metal-bound ketimides were subsequently cleaved off by the reaction with HCl, which afforded metallocene dichlorides with a pendant imino group. These compounds were easily protonated again at the nitrogen atom to produce a cationic iminium moiety. Aqueous hydrolysis of the imine or its respective hydrochloride proved to be viable in the case of Zr and it finally afforded a pendant ketone group attached to the zirconocene framework.

Synthesis of {1,3-bis(η5-tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane}dichlorotitanium(IV) via hydrolysis of bis{η5-(N,N-dimethylaminodimethylsilyl)tetramethylcyclopentadienyl}dichlorotitanium(IV)

Abstract Bis{η5-(N,N-dimethylaminodimethylsilyl)tetramethylcyclopentadienyl}dichlorotitanium(IV), [TiCl2{η5-C5Me4(SiMe2NMe2)}2] (1), easily undergoes hydrolytic cleavage of the Si–N bonds to give dimethylamine and {1,3-bis(η5-tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane}dichlorotitanium(IV), ansa-[TiCl2{(η5-C5Me4SiMe2)2O}] (2), in almost quantitative yields. The crystal structures of compounds 1 and 2 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Direct detection and quantification of malondialdehyde vapour in humid air using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry supported by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE It has been proposed that malondialdehyde (MDA) reflects free oxygen-radical lipid peroxidation and can be useful as a biomarker to track this process. For the analysis of MDA molecules in humid air by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS), the rate coefficients and the ion product distributions for the reactions of the SIFT-MS reagent ions with volatile MDA in the presence of water vapour are required. METHODS The SIFT technique has been used to determine the rate coefficients and ion product distributions for the reactions of H3O(+), NO(+) and O2 (+•) with gas-phase MDA. In support of the SIFT-MS analysis of MDA, solid-phase microextraction, SPME, coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, GC/MS, has been used to confirm the identification of MDA. RESULTS The primary product ions have been identified for the reactions of H3O(+), NO(+) and O2 (+•) with MDA and the formation of their hydrates formed in humid samples is described. The following combinations of reagent and the analyte ions (given as m/z values) have been adopted for SIFT-MS analyses of MDA in the gas phase: H3O(+): 109; NO(+): 89, 102; O2 (+•): 72, 90, 108, 126. The detection and quantification of MDA released by a cell culture by SIFT-MS are demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS This detailed study has provided the kinetics data required for the SIFT-MS analysis of MDA in humid air, including exhaled breath and the headspace of liquid-phase biogenic media. The detection and quantification by SIFT-MS of MDA released by a cell culture are demonstrated.

Solid-state structures of persubstituted titanocene chlorides bridged with long aliphatic ansa-chains

Abstract A series of three ansa-titanocene monochlorides containing η5-tetramethylcyclopentadienyl ligands bridged by five- or eight-membered aliphatic chains were prepared via reduction of the corresponding dichlorides with half molar equivalent of magnesium and characterized by spectral methods. The solid-state structures of the monochloride complexes ansa-[TiCl{η5:η5-C5Me4CH(Me)CH2CH2CH(Me)CH(Me)C5Me4}] (1a) and ansa-[TiCl{η5:η5-C5Me4(CH2)3CH(Me)CH(Me)CHCHCH2C5Me4}] (4a), and of the bridge-unsaturated titanocene dichloride complex ansa-[TiCl2{η5:η5-C5Me4CH2CHCH(CH2)5C5Me4}] (3) were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All the compounds show bent metallocene structures with the ansa-chain situated in a side position with respect to Cg, Ti, Cg (Cg=centroid of the cyclopentadienyl ligand) plane. Angles subtended by the least-squares planes of the cyclopentadienyl rings and conformation of the ansa-chains indicates the absence of steric strain in the metallocene framework.