Natalia Fridman

Mono(imidazolin-2-iminato) Actinide Complexes: Synthesis and Application in the Catalytic Dimerization of Aldehydes

The synthesis of the mono(imidazolin-2-iminato) actinide(IV) complexes [(Im(R)N)An(N{SiMe3)2}3] (3-8) was accomplished by the protonolysis reaction between the respective imidazolin-2-imine (Im(R)NH, R = tBu, Mes, Dipp) and the actinide metallacycles [{(Me3Si)N}2An{κ(2)C,N-CH2SiMe2N(SiMe3)}] (1, An = U; 2, M = Th). The thorium and uranium complexes were obtained in high yields, and their structures were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The mono(imidazolin-2-iminato) actinide complexes 3-8 display short An-N bonds together with large An-N-C angles, indicating strong electron donation from the imidazolin-2-iminato moiety to the metal, corroborating a substantial π-character to the An-N bond. The reactivity of complexes 3-8 toward benzaldehyde was studied in the catalytic dimerization of aldehydes (Tishchenko reaction), displaying low to moderate catalytic activities for the uranium complexes 3-5 and moderate to high catalytic activities for the thorium analogues 6-8, among which 8 exhibited the highest catalytic activity. In addition, actinide coordination compounds showed unprecedented reactivity toward cyclic and branched aliphatic aldehydes in the catalytic Tishchenko reaction mediated by the thorium complex [(Im(Dipp)N)Th{N(SiMe3)2}3] (8), exhibiting high activity even at room temperature. Moreover, complex 8 was successfully applied in the crossed Tishchenko reaction between an aromatic or polyaromatic and an aliphatic cyclic and branched aldehyde, yielding selectively the asymmetrically substituted ester in high yields (80-100%).

Design concept for α-hydrogen-substituted nitroxides

Stable nitroxides (nitroxyl radicals) have many essential and unique applications in chemistry, biology and medicine. However, the factors influencing their stability are still under investigation, and this hinders the design and development of new nitroxides. Nitroxides with tertiary alkyl groups are generally stable but obviously highly encumbered. In contrast, α-hydrogen-substituted nitroxides are generally inherently unstable and rapidly decompose. Herein, a novel, concept for the design of stable cyclic α-hydrogen nitroxides is described, and a proof-of-concept in the form of the facile synthesis and characterization of two diverse series of stable α-hydrogen nitroxides is presented. The stability of these unique α-hydrogen nitroxides is attributed to a combination of steric and stereoelectronic effects by which disproportionation is kinetically precluded. These stabilizing effects are achieved by the use of a nitroxide co-planar substituent in the γ-position of the backbone of the nitroxide. This premise is supported by a computational study, which provides insight into the disproportionation pathways of α-hydrogen nitroxides.

Nitrogen Lewis Acids

Being a major conception of chemistry, Lewis acids have found countless applications throughout chemical enterprise. Although many chemical elements can serve as the central atom of Lewis acids, nitrogen is usually associated with Lewis bases. Here, we report on the first example of robust and modifiable Lewis acids centered on the nitrogen atom, which provide stable and well-characterized adducts with various Lewis bases. On the basis of the reactivity of nitrogen Lewis acids, we prepared, for the first time, cyclic triazanes, a class of cyclic organic compounds sequentially bearing three all-saturated nitrogen atoms (N-N-N motif). Reactivity abilities of these N-Lewis acids were explained by theoretical calculations. Properties and future applications of nitrogen Lewis acids are intriguing.

Catalytic Addition of Alcohols into Carbodiimides Promoted by Organoactinide Complexes

The insertion of alcohols into carbodiimides mediated by benzimidazolin-2-iminato actinide complexes [(BimR1/R2N)AnN″3] [N″ = N(SiMe3)2] is presented herein. Analysis of single-crystal data revealed that steric hindrance, rather than electronic properties, plays an important role in determining the accessibility for this insertion process. All actinide complexes showed excellent activities under very mild conditions. Stoichiometric reactions in combination with kinetic and thermodynamic studies allow us to propose a plausible active species and a mechanism for the catalytic cycle.

Effect of Selective CF3 Substitution on the Physical and Chemical Properties of Gold Corroles

Gold corroles are not readily accessible and they display no interesting physical or chemical properties. A facile methodology has now been developed for obtaining selectively CF3 -substituted gold(III) corroles and the introduction of these groups has been found to have an immense effect on the structures of the complexes, their photophysical and redox properties, and on their ability to participate in catalytic processes.

Synthesis of Coordinatively Unsaturated Tetravalent Actinide Complexes with η5 Coordination of Pyrrole

The synthesis of new actinide complexes utilizing bridged α-alkyl-pyrrolyl ligands is presented. Lithiation of the ligands followed by treatment with 1 equiv of actinide tetrachloride (uranium or thorium) produces the desired complex in good yield. X-ray diffraction studies reveal unique η(5):η(5) coordination of the pyrrolyl moieties; when the nonsterically demanding methylated ligand is used, rapid addition of the lithiated ligand solution to the metal precursor forms a bis-ligated complex that reveals η(5):η(1) coordination as determined by crystallographic analysis.

The Planar Cyclooctatetraene Bridge in Bis-Metallic Macrocycles: Isolating or Conjugating?

A minor modification of the reported procedure for the synthesis of a corrole dimer that is fused by the cyclooctatetraene (COT) unit, (H3tpfc)2COT, allowed for its isolation in 18% yield. Of the two redox isomers that this interesting macrocycle does form, the current focus is on the reduced form, in which each subunit resembles that of monomeric corroles with a trianionic N4 coordination core. The corresponding bis-gallium(III) complex was prepared as an entry into the potentially rich coordination chemistry of (H3tpfc)2COT. Both X-ray crystallography and DFT calculations disclosed that the COT moiety is essentially planar with very unusual nonalternating C-C bonds. The same holds true for the bis-gallium(III) complexes [(Ga-tpfc)2]COT(py)2 and [(Ga-tpfc)2]COT(py)4, obtained with one and two pyridine molecules coordinated to each metal ion, respectively. The electronic spectra of both the free base and the gallium(III) complexes display an extremely low energy band (λmax at 720-724 nm), which points toward extensive π delocalization through the COT bridge. This aspect was fully addressed by examining the interactions between the two corrole subunits in terms of electrochemistry and DFT calculations of the oxidized and reduced macrocycle. The new near-IR bands that appear upon both oxidation (λmax 1250 nm) and reduction (λmax 1780 nm) serve as additional supporting evidence for this conclusion.

Selective CF3 Substitution for Affecting the Physical and Chemical Properties of Gold Corroles

Gold corroles have been hardly accessible and display no interesting physical or chemical properties. We now introduce a facile methodology for obtaining selectively CF3-substituted gold(III) corroles and show that the introduction of these groups has immense effects on the structures of the complexes, their photophysical and redox properties, and on their ability to participate in catalytic processes.

Self‐Assembled Cyclic Structures from Copper(II) Peptoids

Metal-ligand coordination is a key interaction in the self-assembly of both biopolymers and synthetic oligomers. Although the binding of metal ions to synthetic proteins and peptides is known to yield high-order structures, the self-assembly of peptidomimetic molecules upon metal binding is still challenging. Herein we explore the self-assembly of three peptoid trimers bearing a bipyridine ligand at their C-terminus, a benzyl group at their N-terminus, and a polar group (N-ethyl-R) in the middle position (R=OH, OCH3 , or NH2 ) upon Cu2+ coordination. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed unique, highly symmetric, dinuclear cyclic structure or aqua-bridged dinuclear double-stranded peptoid helicates, formed by the self-assembly of two peptoid molecules with two Cu2+ ions. Only the macrocycle with the highest number of intermolecular hydrogen bonds is stable in solution, while the other two disassemble to their corresponding monometallic complexes.

One-pot synthesis of contracted and expanded porphyrins with meso-CF3 groups, from affordable precursors

Corrole and sapphyrin with the smallest meso-substituents reported so far were prepared in a one-pot synthesis that relies on a non-aldehydic precursor for introducing CF3 groups. The substantial amounts of products obtained by this facile pathway allowed for the full characterization of 5,10-15-tris(trifluoromethyl)corrole, the access to a variety of stable chelates thereof and investigations that disclose the unique structural and chemical properties induced by the CF3 substituents. The novel 5,10,15,20-tetra(trifluoromethyl)sapphyrin does undergo only single protonation, which according to its crystal structure is stabilized by favorable non-bonding F/H interaction between the meso-CF3 and the inverted pyrrolic NH.