Pericles Stavropoulos

A Versatile Tripodal Cu(I) Reagent for C–N Bond Construction via Nitrene-Transfer Chemistry: Catalytic Perspectives and Mechanistic Insights on C–H Aminations/Amidinations and Olefin Aziridinations

A Cu(I) catalyst (1), supported by a framework of strongly basic guanidinato moieties, mediates nitrene-transfer from PhI═NR sources to a wide variety of aliphatic hydrocarbons (C-H amination or amidination in the presence of nitriles) and olefins (aziridination). Product profiles are consistent with a stepwise rather than concerted C-N bond formation. Mechanistic investigations with the aid of Hammett plots, kinetic isotope effects, labeled stereochemical probes, and radical traps and clocks allow us to conclude that carboradical intermediates play a major role and are generated by hydrogen-atom abstraction from substrate C-H bonds or initial nitrene-addition to one of the olefinic carbons. Subsequent processes include solvent-caged radical recombination to afford the major amination and aziridination products but also one-electron oxidation of diffusively free carboradicals to generate amidination products due to carbocation participation. Analyses of metal- and ligand-centered events by variable temperature electrospray mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, coupled with computational studies, indicate that an active, but still elusive, copper-nitrene (S = 1) intermediate initially abstracts a hydrogen atom from, or adds nitrene to, C-H and C═C bonds, respectively, followed by a spin flip and radical rebound to afford intra- and intermolecular C-N containing products.

Evidence for Cu⋯H interactions in dinuclear Cu(I) complexes of hindered hydrotris (pyrazolyl) borate ligands

The structures of the synthetically useful Cu(I) compounds [Tpt-Bu,MeCu1]2·0.5toluene (1) (C51.5H84B2Cu2N12, , triclinic, ; pz = pyrazoly) and [Tpt-Bu,i-PrCu1]2 (2) (C60H104B2Cu2N12, , monoclinic, P21/c, Z = 4) have been examined by X-ray analysis as well as by IR and NMR to reveal a complex pattern of BH…Cu interactions that persist in solution. As opposed to the structures of the pseudo-tetrahedral carbonyl adducts [Tpt-Bu,MeCu(CO)] (3) (C25H40BCuN6O, , monoclinic, Pc, Z = 4) and [Tpt-Bu,i-PrCu(CO)] (4), the structure of 1 and 2 display an ‘inverted’ configuration at the boron atom that directs the BH units towards the dicopper(I) core at a position suitable for a three-center, two-electron BH…Cu bonding interaction.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity of Iron Trisamidoamine Complexes That Undergo Both Metal- and Ligand-Centered Oxidative Transformations

Functional systems that combine redox-active metals and noninnocent ligands are no longer rare chemical oddities; they are instead emerging as significant components of catalytic and enzymatic reactions. The present work examines the synthetic and functional aspects of iron compounds ligated by a family of new trisamidoamine ligands of the type [(RNC6H4)3N]3- (L1). When R is the electron-rich 4-t-Bu-Ph moiety, the ligand can undergo oxidative rearrangement and store oxidizing equivalents under specific conditions. Starting ferrous complexes of the general formula [(L1)FeIIsolv]- (solv=CH3CN, dimethylformamide) can be easily oxidized (a) by dioxygen to afford the corresponding [(L1)FeIIIOH]- complexes, featuring several cases of terminal hydroxo units, and (b) by organochlorides (R-Cl) to provide [(L1)FeIIIsolv] congeners and coupled R-R products. Efforts to synthesize [(L1)FeIII-O-FeIII(L1)]2- by using [Cl3FeIII-O-FeIIICl3]2- indicate that intrinsic FeIIICl units can oxidatively rearrange the ligand to afford [(L1re)(Cl)FeII][Et4N]2, although the oxidizing equivalent is not retained. Compound [(L1re)(Cl)FeII][Et4N]2 can be further oxidized to [(L1re-2)(Cl)FeIII][Et4N] by CH2Cl2. Finally, oxidation of [(L1)FeIIIsolv] by FeCl3 affords [(L1reH)(Cl)FeII(micro-Cl)2FeII(Cl)(L1re-2H)], which features a similar ligand rearrangement that also gives rise to a diamagnetic, doubly oxidized moiety. These results underscore the complexity of chemical transformations available to systems in which both the metal and the ligand are redox-active entities.

Metalloradical complexes of manganese and chromium featuring an oxidatively rearranged ligand.

Redox events involving both metal and ligand sites are receiving increased attention since a number of biological processes direct redox equivalents toward functional residues. Metalloradical synthetic analogues remain scarce and require better definition of their mode of formation and subsequent operation. The trisamido-amine ligand [(RNC6H4)3N]3-, where R is the electron-rich 4-t-Bu Ph, is employed in this study to generate redox active residues in manganese and chromium complexes. Solutions of [(L1)Mn(II)-THF]- in THF are oxidized by dioxygen to afford [(L1re-1)Mn(III)-(O)2-Mn(III)(L1 re-1)]2-as the major product. The rare dinuclear manganese (III,III) core is stabilized by a rearranged ligand that has undergone an one-electron oxidative transformation, followed by retention of the oxidation equivalent as a pi radical in ano-diiminobenzosemiquinonate moiety. Magnetic studies indicate that the ligand-centered radical is stabilized by means of extended antiferromagnetic coupling between the S ) 1/2 radical and the adjacent S ) 2 Mn(III) site, as well as between the two Mn(III) centers via the dioxo bridge. Electrochemical and EPR data suggest that this system can store higher levels of oxidation potency. Entry to the corresponding Cr(III) chemistry is achieved by employing CrCl3 to access both[(L1)Cr(III)-THF] and [(L1re-1)Cr(III)-THF(Cl)], featuring the intact and the oxidatively rearranged ligands, respectively. The latter is generated by ligand-centered oxidation of the former compound. The rearranged ligand is perceived to be the product of an one-electron oxidation of the intact ligand to afford a metal-bound aminyl radical that subsequently mediates a radical 1,4-(N-to-N) aryl migration.

Synthesis and Characterization of a Series of Structurally and Electronically Diverse Fe(II) Complexes Featuring a Family of Triphenylamido-Amine Ligands

A family of triphenylamido-amine ligands of the general stoichiometry L(x)H(3) = [R-NH-(2-C(6)H(4))](3)N (R = 4-t-BuPh (L(1)H(3)), 3,5-t-Bu(2)Ph (L(2)H(3)), 3,5-(CF(3))(2)Ph (L(3)H(3)), CO-t-Bu (L(4)H(3)), 3,5-Cl(2)Ph (L(5)H(3)), COPh (L(6)H(3)), CO-i-Pr (L(7)H(3)), COCF(3) (L(8)H(3)), and i-Pr (L(9)H(3))) has been synthesized and characterized, featuring a rigid triphenylamido-amine scaffold and an array of stereoelectronically diverse aryl, acyl, and alkyl substituents (R). These ligands are deprotonated by potassium hydride in THF or DMA and reacted with anhydrous FeCl(2) to afford a series of ferrous complexes, exhibiting stoichiometric variation and structural complexity. The prevalent [(L(x))Fe(II)-solv](-) structures (L(x) = L(1), L(2), L(3), L(5), solv = THF; L(x) = L(8), solv = DMA; L(x) = L(6), L(8), solv = MeCN) reveal a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry, featuring ligand-derived [N(3,amido)N(amine)] coordination and solvent attachment trans to the N(amine) atom. Specifically for [(L(8))Fe(II)-DMA](-), a N(amido) residue is coordinated as the corresponding N(imino) moiety (Fe-N(Ar) horizontal lineC(CF(3))-O(-)). In contrast, compounds [(L(4))Fe(II)](-), [(L(6))(2)Fe(II)(2)](2-), [K(L(7))(2)Fe(II)(2)](2)(2-), and [K(L(9))Fe](2) are all solvent-free in their coordination sphere and exhibit four-coordinate geometries of significant diversity. In particular, [(L(4))Fe(II)](-) demonstrates coordination of one amidato residue via the O-atom end (Fe-O-C(t-Bu) horizontal lineN(Ar)). Furthermore, [(L(6))(2)Fe(II)(2)](2-) and [K(L(7))(2)Fe(II)(2)](2)(2-) are similar structures exhibiting bridging amidato residues (Fe-N(Ar)-C(R) horizontal lineO-Fe) in dimeric structural units. Finally, the structure of [K(L(9))Fe](2) is the only example featuring a minimal [N(3,amido)N(amine)] coordination sphere around each Fe(II) site. All compounds have been characterized by a variety of physicochemical techniques, including Mossbauer spectroscopy and electrochemistry, to reveal electronic attributes that are responsible for a range of Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox potentials exceeding 1.0 V.

Discrimination of enantiomers of dipeptide derivatives with two chiral centers by tetraaza macrocyclic chiral solvating agents using 1H NMR spectroscopy

1H NMR spectroscopy is often used to discriminate enantiomers of chiral analytes and determine their enantiomeric excess (ee) by various chiral auxiliaries. In reported research, these studies were mainly focused on chiral discriminantion of chiral analytes with only one chiral center. However, many chiral compounds possessing two or more chiral centers are often found in natural products, chiral drugs, products of asymmetric synthesis and biological systems. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate their chiral discrimination by effective chiral auxiliaries using 1H NMR spectroscopy. In this paper, a new class of tetraaza macrocyclic chiral solvating agents (TAMCSAs) with two amide (CONH), two amino (NH) and two phenolic hydroxyl (PhOH) groups has been designed and synthsized for chiral discrimination towards dipeptide derivatives with two chiral centers. These dipeptide derivatives are important chiral species because some of them are used as clinical drugs and special dietary supplements for treatment of human diseases, such as L-alanyl-L-glutamine and aspartame. The results show that these TAMCSAs have excellent chiral discriminating properties and offer multiple detection possibilities pertaining to 1H NMR signals of diagnostic split protons. The nonequivalent chemical shifts (up to 0.486 ppm) of various types of protons of these dipeptide derivatives were evaluated with the assistance of well-resolved 1H NMR signals in most cases. In addition, enantiomeric excesses (ee) of the dipeptide derivatives with different optical compositions have been calculated based on integration of well-separeted proton signals. At the same time, the possible chiral discriminating behaviors have been discussed by means of Job plots, ESI mass spectra and a proposed theoretical model of (±)-G1 with TAMCSA 1c. Additionally, the association constants of enantiomers of (±)-G5 with TAMCSA 1a were calculated by employing the nonlinear curve-fitting method.

Isolation, Characterization, and Computational Studies of the Novel [Mo3(μ3-Br)2(μ-Br)3Br6]2― Cluster Anion

The novel trimolybdenum cluster [Mo(3)(mu(3)-Br)(2)(mu-Br)(3)Br(6)](2-) (1, {Mo(3)}(9+), 9 d-electrons) has been isolated from the reaction of [Mo(CO)(6)] with 1,2-C(2)H(4)Br(2) in refluxing PhCl. The compound has been characterized in solution by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), UV-vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and in the solid state by X-ray analysis (counter-cations: (n-Bu)(4)N(+) (1), Et(4)N(+), Et(3)BzN(+)), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), magnetic susceptibility measurements, and infrared spectroscopy. The least disordered (n-Bu)(4)N(+) salt crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c, a = 20.077(2) A, b = 11.8638(11) A, c = 22.521(2) A, alpha = 90 deg, beta = 109.348(4) deg, gamma = 90 deg, V = 5061.3(9) A(3), Z = 4 and contains an isosceles triangular metal arrangement, which is capped by two bromine ligands. Each edge of the triangle is bridged by bromine ions. The structure is completed by six terminal bromine ligands. According to the magnetic measurements and the EPR spectrum the trimetallic core possesses one unpaired electron. Electrochemical data show that oxidation by one electron of 1 is reversible, thus proceeding with retention of the trimetallic core, while the reduction is irreversible. The effective magnetic moment of 1 (mu(eff), 1.55 mu(B), r.t.) is lower than the spin-only value (1.73 mu(B)) for S = 1/2 systems, most likely because of high spin-orbit coupling of Mo(III) and/or magnetic coupling throughout the lattice. The ground electronic state of 1 was studied using density functional theory techniques under the broken symmetry formalism. The ground state is predicted to exhibit strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the three molybdenum atoms of the core. Moreover, our calculated data predict two broken symmetry states that differ only by 0.4 kcal/mol (121 cm(-1)). The antiferromagnetic character is delocalized over three magnetic orbitals populated by three electrons. The assignment of the infrared spectra is also provided.

Metal-Catalyzed and Metal-Free Intermolecular Amination of Light Alkanes and Benzenes

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT Light alkanes (C1-C10) and simple aromatics are derived from desirable crude energy feedstock but present challenging cases for C–H functionalization purposes. This article reviews efforts to mediate C–N bond construction from these abundant sources to generate commodity chemicals of high industrial value. The nitrogen-group donors considered are largely limited to metal-bound or diffusively free nitrenes, nitrenoids, and amides/imides engaged in catalytic or stoichiometric intermolecular reactions. Both synthetic protocols and mechanistic studies are discussed to illustrate the current status of a rapidly developing field that is still in need of significant improvements to effect reactive and selective processes.

Synthesis of Tripeptide Derivatives with Three Stereogenic Centers and Chiral Recognition Probed by Tetraaza Macrocyclic Chiral Solvating Agents Derived from D-phenylalanine and (1S, 2S)-(+)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane via 1H NMR Spectroscopy

Enantiomers of a series of tripeptide derivatives with three stereogenic centers (±)-G1-G9 have been prepared from d- and l-α-amino acids as guests for chiral recognition by 1H NMR spectroscopy. In the meantime, a family of tetraaza macrocyclic chiral solvating agents (TAMCSAs) 1a-1d has been synthesized from d-phenylalanine and (1 S,2 S)-(+)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane. Discrimination of enantiomers of (±)-G1-G9 was carried out in the presence of TAMCSAs 1a-1d by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The results indicate that enantiomers of (±)-G1-G9 can be effectively discriminated in the presence of TAMCSAs 1a-1d by 1H NMR signals of multiple protons exhibiting nonequivalent chemical shifts (ΔΔδ) up to 0.616 ppm. Furthermore, enantiomers of (±)-G1-G9 were easily assigned by comparing 1H NMR signals of the split corresponding protons with those attributed to a single enantiomer. Different optical purities (ee up to 90%) of G1 were clearly observed and calculated in the presence of TAMCSAs 1a-1d, respectively. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions were demonstrated through theoretical calculations of enantiomers of (±)-G1 with TAMCSA 1a by means of the hybrid functional theory with the standard basis sets of 3-21G of the Gaussian 03 program.