Mobin M. Shaikh

Palladium complexes of abnormal N-heterocyclic carbenes as precatalysts for the much preferred Cu-free and amine-free Sonogashira coupling in air in a mixed-aqueous medium

A series of new PEPPSI (Pyridine Enhanced Precatalyst Preparation Stabilization and Initiation) themed precatalysts of abnormal N-heterocyclic carbenes for the highly desirable Cu-free and amine-free Sonogashira coupling in air in a mixed-aqueous medium is reported. Specifically, the PEPPSI themed (NHC)PdI2(pyridine) type precatalysts, 1b-4b, efficiently carried out the highly convenient Cu-free and amine-free Sonogashira coupling of aryl bromides and iodides with terminal acetylenes in air in a mixed aqueous medium. Complexes, 1b-4b, were synthesized by the direct reaction of the corresponding imidazo[1,2-a]pyridinium iodide salts, 1a-4a, with PdCl2 in pyridine in the presence of K2CO3 as a base while the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridinium iodide salts, 1a-4a, were in turn synthesized by the alkylation reactions of the respective imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives with alkyl iodides. The density functional theory (DFT) studies revealed that these imidazol-3-ylidene[1,2-a]pyridine derived abnormal carbenes are strongly sigma-donating and consequently significantly weaken the catalytically important labile trans pyridine ligand in 1b-4b.

From large 12-membered macrometallacycles to ionic (NHC)(2)M(+)Cl(-) type complexes of gold and silver by modulation of the N-substituent of amido-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) Ligands

A series of structurally diverse gold and silver complexes extending from ionic (NHC) 2M(+)Cl(-) (M=Au, Ag) type complexes to large 12-membered macrometallacycles have been prepared by the appropriate modification of the N-substituent of amido-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes. Specifically, the ionic, [1-(R)-3-{ N-(t-butylacetamido)imidazol-2-ylidene}]2M(+)Cl(-), (R=t-Bu, i-Pr; M=Au, Ag; 1b, 1c, 2b, 2c) complexes, were obtained in case of the N- t-butyl substituent of the amido-functionalized sidearm while 12-membered macrometallacycles, [1-(R)-3-{N-(2,6-di i-propylphenylacetamido)imidazol-2-ylidene}]2M2, (R=t-Bu, i-Pr; M=Au, Ag; 3b, 3c, 4b, 4c) were obtained in case of the 2,6-di i-propylphenyl N-substituent. These structurally diverse complexes of gold and silver were, however, prepared employing a common synthetic pathway involving the reactions of the imidazolium chloride salts (1a, 2a, 3a, 4a) with Ag2O to give the silver complexes (1b, 2b, 3b, 4b) and which, when treated with (SMe2)AuCl, gave the gold complexes (1c, 2c, 3c, 4c). Detailed density functional theory studies of 1b, 1c, 2b, 2c, 3b, 3c, 4b, and 4c were carried out to gain insight about the structure, bonding, and the electronic properties of these complexes. The NHC-metal interaction in the ionic 1b, 1c, 2b, and 2c complexes is primarily composed of the interaction of the carbene lone pair with the empty p orbital of the metal (5p for Ag and 6p for Au) while the same in the macrometallacyclic 3b, 3c, 4b, and 4c complexes consisted of the interaction of the carbene lone pair with the empty s orbital of the metal (5s for Ag and 6s for Au). The observation of a low energy emission in about the 580-650 nm region has been tentatively assigned to originate from the presence of weak metallophilic interaction in these macrometallacyclic 3b, 3c, 4b, and 4c complexes.

Gold(III) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes mediated synthesis of β-enaminones from 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and aliphatic amines.

A series of gold(III) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes [1-(R(1))-3-(R(2))imidazol-2-ylidene]AuBr(3) [R(1) = i-Pr, R(2) = CH(2)Ph (1c); R(1) = mesityl, R(2) = CH(2)Ph (2c); R(1) = i-Pr, R(2) = CH(2)COt-Bu (3c), and R(1) = t-Bu, R(2) = CH(2)COt-Bu (4c)] act as effective precatalysts in the synthesis of β-enaminones from 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and primary amines under ambient conditions. Specifically the 1c-4c complexes efficiently catalyzed the condensation of a variety of cyclic as well as acyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, namely, acetyl acetone, benzoylacetone, 2-acetylcyclopentanone, and ethyl-2-oxocyclopentanecarboxylate with primary aliphatic amines, viz., methylamine, ethylamine, n-propylamine, i-propylamine, and n-butylamine, yielding β-enamines at room temperature. Interestingly enough, the more electrophilic gold(III) 1c-4c complexes exhibited superior activity in comparison to the gold(I) counterparts 1b-4b. A comparison along a representative 4a-c series further underscored the importance of gold in the reaction as both the gold(I) 4b and gold(III) 4c complexes were more effective than the silver analogue 4a. The density functional theory (DFT) study revealed that the strong σ-donating nature of the N-heterocyclic carbene ligand results in a strong C(carbene)-Au(III) interaction in the 1c-4c complexes.

Diversity-Oriented Approach to Macrocyclic Cyclophane Derivatives by Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-Coupling and Olefin Metathesis as Key Steps

Palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura (SM) cross-coupling reaction with allylboronic acid pinacol ester and titanium assisted cross-metathesis (CM)/ring-closing metathesis (RCM) cascade has been used to synthesize macrocyclic cyclophane derivatives.

Highly efficient palladium precatalysts of homoscorpionate bispyrazolyl ligands for the more challenging Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of aryl chlorides.

Highly efficient palladium precatalysts {[RN{-(CH(2))(n)-pz(3,5-Me)(2)}(2)]PdCl(2)}(m) [m = n = 1; R = 2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3) (1), 2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2) (2), CH(2)Ph (3) and m = n = 2; R = CH(2)Ph (4)] of a series of homoscorpionate bispyrazolyl ligands for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of the more challenging aryl chloride substrates are reported. In particular, the palladium 1-4 precatalysts carried out the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of a wide variety of aryl chloride substrates bearing electron withdrawing, electron donating and heteroaryl substituents. Remarkably enough, the molecular structure determination of the 1-4 precatalysts by X-ray diffraction studies revealed the presence of anagostic [C-H...Pd] type interactions in the mononuclear 1-3 complexes of methylene bridged bispyrazolyl ligands whereas the ethylene bridged analog 4 yielded an interesting dimeric 20-membered macrometallacyclic complex devoid of any such interaction.

Air-stable, convenient to handle Pd based PEPPSI (pyridine enhanced precatalyst preparation, stabilization and initiation) themed precatalysts of N/O-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes and its utility in Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction

Several new air-stable, convenient to handle and easily synthesized Pd based PEPPSI (Pyridine Enhanced Precatalyst Preparation, Stabilization and Initiation) type precatalysts supported over N/O-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) namely, trans-[1-(benzyl)-3-(N-t-butylacetamido)imidazol-2-ylidene]Pd(pyridine)Cl2 (), trans-[1-(2-hydroxy-cyclohexyl)-3-(benzyl)imidazol-2-ylidene]Pd(pyridine)Cl2 () and trans-[1-(o-methoxybenzyl)-3-(t-butyl)imidazol-2-ylidene]Pd(pyridine)Br2 (), have been designed. Specifically, the Pd-NHC complexes, , and , were conveniently synthesized from their respective imidazolium halide salts by the reaction with PdCl2 in pyridine in presence of K2CO3 as a base. A new imidazolium chloride salt, 1-(benzyl)-3-(N-t-butylacetamido)imidazolium chloride () was synthesized by the alkylation reaction of benzyl imidazole with N-t-butyl-2-chloroacetamide. The molecular structures of the imidazolium chloride salt, , and the Pd-NHC complexes, , and , have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The density functional theory studies of the , and complexes were carried out to in order to gain insight about their structure, bonding and the electronic properties. The nature of the NHC-metal bond in these complexes was examined using Charge Decomposition Analysis (CDA), which revealed that the N-heterocyclic carbene ligands are effective sigma-donors. In addition, the catalysis studies revealed that the Pd-NHC complexes, , and , are effective catalysts for the Suzuki-Miyaura type C-C cross-coupling reactions.

Mimicking the intradiol catechol cleavage activity of catechol dioxygenase by high-spin iron(III) complexes of a new class of a facially bound [N2O] ligand.

A series of high-spin iron(III) complexes, {N-R-2-[(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]acetamide}FeCl(3) [R = mesityl (1b), 2,6-Et(2)C(6)H(3) (2b), and 2,6-i-Pr(2)C(6)H(3) (3b)], that functionally emulate the intradiol catechol dioxygenase enzyme are reported. In particular, these enzyme mimics, 1b, 2b, and 3b, which utilized molecular oxygen in carrying out the intradiol catechol cleavage of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol with high regioselectivity (ca. 81-85%) at room temperature under ambient conditions, were designed by employing a new class of a facially bound [N(2)O] ligand, namely, N-R-2-[(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]acetamide [R = mesityl (1a), 2,6-Et(2)C(6)H(3) (2a), and 2,6-i-Pr(2)C(6)H(3) (3a)]. The density functional theory studies revealed that the intradiol catechol cleavage reaction proceeded by an iron(III) peroxo intermediate that underwent 1,2-Criegee rearrangement to yield the intradiol catechol cleaved products analogous to the native enzyme.

Crystal structures of 3,6-di­allyl­tetra­cyclo[6.3.0.04,11.05,9]undeca-2,7-dione and 1,7-di­allyl­penta­cyclo­[5.4.0.02,6. 03,10.05,9]undecane-8,11-dione: allyl­ated caged compounds

The crystal structures of two allylated caged molecules and the correlation of bond distances and feasibility of ring-closing metathesis is discussed.

Correlation between carbon–carbon bond length and the ease of retro Diels–Alder reaction

AbstractThe bond length between C8-C9 in (1′R,4′S,4a′R,8a′S)-6′,7′-dimethyl-1′,4′,4a′,8a′-tetrahydrospiro [cyclopropane-1,9′-[1,4]methanonaphthalene]-5′,8′-dione is 1.571 (2) Å and between C7-C12 is 1.567 (2) Å which are longer than the corresponding bond length for saturated bicyclic systems (1.531-1.535 Å). This paper reports the correlation between bond length and the ease of retro Diels −Alder reaction. Graphical AbstractWe examined the crystal structure of (1′R,4′S,4a′R,8a′S)-6′,7′-dimethyl-1′,4′,4a′,8a′-tetrahydrospiro[cyclopropane-1,9′-[1,4] methano- naphthalene]-5′,8′-dione and found that the bond length between atoms connecting diene and the dienophile is somewhat longer than the normal C–C bond length. The increased bond length is responsible for the facile rDA reaction of 5.

Crystal structure of the cage derivative penta­cyclo­[5.4.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]undeca-8,11-dione ethyl­ene di­thio­ketal

The pentacycloundecane cage derivative exhibits unusual Csp 3—Csp 3 single bond lengths ranging from 1.495 (3) to 1.581 (2) and strained bond angles as small as 89.29 (12) and as large as 115.11 (11)°.