Lydia Brelot

Direct synthesis of bicyclic guanidines through unprecedented palladium(ii) catalysed diamination with copper chloride as oxidant.

Palladium catalysed intramolecular guanidine transfer to alkenes can be accomplished with copper chloride as the oxidant to give bicyclic guanidines with complete selectivity and in high yields.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Biphenolate/Binaphtolate Titanate and Zirconate Alkoxide Species: Structural Characterization and Use in the Controlled ROP of Lactide

Well-defined biphenol/binaphtolate group 4 alkoxide salt species [(Ph-Biphen-O)(2)M(O(i)Pr)]Li(THF) (2a, M = Ti; 4a, M = Zr) and [(Ph-binapht-O)(2)M(O(i)Pr)]Li(THF) (2b, M = Ti; 4b, M = Zr) were found to be readily accessible in good yields via alcohol elimination routes and/or substitution reactions from the corresponding pro-ligands Ph-Biphen-OH (1a) and rac-Ph-Binapht-OH (1b). As established via X-ray crystallographic analysis, the molecular structures of the Ti derivatives 2a and 2b consist of Li(+) salts of anionic Ti-O(i)Pr moieties in which the Ti center adopts a distorted tbp geometry and is effectively chelated by two biphenolate/binaphtolate units. Remarkably, the solution and solid state data for salt species 2a,b agree with the sole presence of one diastereomer (with a (Δ, aS, aS)/(Λ, aR, aR) configuration), thus indicating that formation of the Ti and Zr alkoxide complexes 2a,b/4a,b proceeds stereoselectively. In contrast, the neutral biphenolate/binaphtolate Zr complexes (Ph-biphen-O)(2)Zr(THF)(2) (3a) and (Ph-binapht-O)(2)Zr(THF)(2) (3b) were both isolated and X-ray characterized as stereomers in a heterochiral configuration (Δ, aR, aS)/(Λ, aS, aR). The Ti and Zr alkoxide anionic chelates were found to initiate the ROP of rac-lactide in a controlled manner for production of narrowly disperse and ester-end group PLA, as deduced from SEC, kinetic, and MALDI-TOF data. The Zr-O(i)Pr derivatives 4a,b exhibit superior performance to their Ti counterparts (whether regarding activity, polymerization control, or stereoselectivity) to produce narrowly disperse and heterotactically enriched PLA (P(r) = 0.67, PDI < 1.15). The significantly decreased Lewis acidity of the Zr metal center in anions 4a,b (versus neutral analogues) due to the anionic charge and a likely substantial electronic π donation of the four Zr-O(ArO) oxygens to the Zr metal center may rationalize the moderate polymerization activity. Control experiments suggest that the nature of the countercation has little influence on lactide ROP activity and stereocontrol.

Structural bases of oxygen-sensitivity in Fe(II) complexes with tripodal ligands. Steric effects, Lewis acidity and the role of ancillary ligands

The complexation of Fe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) to the series of fluoro α-substituted tris-(2-aminomethylpyridyl)amine tripods F(1-3)TPA yields the triflato F(1-3)TPAFe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) complexes which have firstly been characterized in solution. As expected, bis-acetonitrile charged species are present in CH(3)CN, and neutral bis-triflato complexes in CH(2)Cl(2). The X-ray diffraction analyses of F(1)TPAFe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) and F(2)TPAFe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) crystallized from CH(2)Cl(2) solutions show that their structure in solution is retained in the solid state, with coordination of both triflate ions and the κ(4) coordination mode of the tripod in each complex. The solid state structure of the [F(2)TPAFe(NCMe)(SO(3)CF(3))](SO(3)CF(3)) complex obtained from crystallization in acetonitrile of the bis-triflato precursor is also reported. The presence of a bound triflate in the solid state is unexpected and interpreted as the result of solid-state stabilization by a metal center which displays some Lewis acidity character because of its coordination to an electron-deficient tripod. The fourth compound whose solid state structure is reported is [F(2)TPAFe(H(2)O)(2)](SO(3)CF(3))(2), fortuitously obtained after the bis-triflato precursor was handled under aerobic conditions. In CH(3)CN, all complexes are oxygen stable. The gain in stability of the bis-acetonitrile adducts is certainly responsible for the lack of reactivity of all complexes in this solvent. In CH(2)Cl(2), the parent TPAFe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) complex reacts with O(2) to yield a compound belonging to the well-known class of μ-oxo diferric compounds. Whereas F(1)TPAFe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) is poorly reactive, F(2)TPAFe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) and F(3)TPAFe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) turn out to be completely inert. This strongly contrasts with the behavior of the known F(1-3)TPAFeCl(2) complexes for which an increased reactivity is observed upon ligand substitution. In CH(2)Cl(2), conductimetry measurements indicate extremely weak (if any!) dissociation of the ancillary ligands in all complexes. Comparative analysis of the structures reveals relatively invariant structural parameters within the series of Fe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) complexes, whereas FeCl(2) complexes display important metal to ligand elongations upon tripod substitution. The reactivity increase upon fluorination of the ligand in the FeCl(2) complexes is interpreted as resulting from sterically-induced pyridine flexibility. The opposite situation with Fe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) complexes is due to the lock of the coordination polyhedron in the absence of important steric stress, especially when the metal center becomes electron-deficient.

A new hydrogen bonding motif involved in self-recognition in the solid state by functionalised macrocycles

Self-recognition within the crystal lattices of three functionalised macrocycles results in the formation of arrays of remarkably similar hermaphroditic pairs of macrocycles. In the case of two of the macrocycles containing acylhydrazine substituents, a hitherto unknown recognition pattern is found in the interaction of the hydrazine moiety with crown-ether oxygen atoms.