Sourav Bhunya

Reactivity of Biomimetic Iron(II)-2-aminophenolate Complexes toward Dioxygen: Mechanistic Investigations on the Oxidative C–C Bond Cleavage of Substituted 2-Aminophenols

The isolation and characterization of a series of iron(II)-2-aminophenolate complexes [(6-Me3-TPA)Fe(II)(X)](+) (X = 2-amino-4-nitrophenolate (4-NO2-HAP), 1; X = 2-aminophenolate (2-HAP), 2; X = 2-amino-3-methylphenolate (3-Me-HAP), 3; X = 2-amino-4-methylphenolate (4-Me-HAP), 4; X = 2-amino-5-methylphenolate (5-Me-HAP), 5; X = 2-amino-4-tert-butylphenolate (4-(t)Bu-HAP), 6 and X = 2-amino-4,6-di-tert-butylphenolate (4,6-di-(t)Bu-HAP), 7) and an iron(III)-2-amidophenolate complex [(6-Me3-TPA)Fe(III)(4,6-di-(t)Bu-AP)](+) (7(Ox)) supported by a tripodal nitrogen ligand (6-Me3-TPA = tris(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)amine) are reported. Substituted 2-aminophenols were used to prepare the biomimetic iron(II) complexes to understand the effect of electronic and structural properties of aminophenolate rings on the dioxygen reactivity and on the selectivity of C-C bond cleavage reactions. Crystal structures of the cationic parts of 5·ClO4 and 7·BPh4 show six-coordinate iron(II) centers ligated by a neutral tetradentate ligand and a monoanionic 2-aminophenolate in a bidentate fashion. While 1·BPh4 does not react with oxygen, other complexes undergo oxidative transformation in the presence of dioxygen. The reaction of 2·ClO4 with dioxygen affords 2-amino-3H-phenoxazin-3-one, an auto-oxidation product of 2-aminophenol, whereas complexes 3·BPh4, 4·BPh4, 5·ClO4 and 6·ClO4 react with O2 to exhibit C-C bond cleavage of the bound aminophenolates. Complexes 7·ClO4 and 7(Ox)·BPh4 produce a mixture of 4,6-di-tert-butyl-2H-pyran-2-imine and 4,6-di-tert-butyl-2-picolinic acid. Labeling experiments with (18)O2 show the incorporation of one oxygen atom from dioxygen into the cleavage products. The reactivity (and stability) of the intermediate, which directs the course of aromatic ring cleavage reaction, is found to be dependent on the nature of ring substituent. The presence of two tert-butyl groups on the aminophenolate ring in 7·ClO4 makes the complex slow to cleave the C-C bond of 4,6-di-(t)Bu-HAP, whereas 4·BPh4 containing 4-Me-HAP displays fastest reactivity. Density functional theory calculations were conducted on [(6-Me3-TPA)Fe(III)(4-(t)Bu-AP)](+) (6(Ox)) to gain a mechanistic insight into the regioselective C-C bond cleavage reaction. On the basis of the experimental and computational studies, an iron(II)-2-iminobenzosemiquinonate intermediate is proposed to react with dioxygen resulting in the oxidative C-C bond cleavage of the coordinated 2-aminophenolates.

Theoretical Investigation on the Chemistry of Entrapment of the Elusive Aminoborane (H2NBH2) Molecule

Aminoborane (H2 N=BH2 ) is an elusive entity and is thought to be produced during dehydropolymerization of ammonia borane, a molecule of prime interest in the field of chemical hydrogen storage. The entrapment of H2 N=BH2 through hydroboration of exogenous cyclohexene has emerged as a routine technique to infer if free H2 N=BH2 is produced or not during metal-catalyzed ammonia borane dehydrogenation reactions. But to date, the underlying mechanism of this trapping reaction remains unexplored. Herein, by using DFT calculations, we have investigated the mechanism of trapping of H2 N=BH2 by cyclohexene. Contrary to conventional wisdom, our study revealed that the trapping of H2 N=BH2 does not occur through direct hydroboration of H2 N=BH2 on the double bond of cyclohexene. We found that autocatalysis by H2 N=BH2 is crucial for the entrapment of another H2 N=BH2 molecule by cyclohexene. Additionally, nucleophilic assistance from the solvent is also implicated for the entrapment reaction carried out in nucleophilic solvents. In THF, the rate-determining barrier for formation of the trapping product was predicted to be 16.7 kcal mol(-1) at M06 L(CPCM) level of theory.

A metal-free strategy to release chemisorbed H2 from hydrogenated boron nitride nanotubes.

Chemisorbed hydrogen on boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) can only be released thermally at very high temperatures above 350 °C. However, no catalyst has been identified that could liberate H2 from hydrogenated BN nanotubes under moderate conditions. Using different density functional methods we predict that the desorption of chemisorbed hydrogen from hydrogenated BN nanotubes can be facilitated catalytically by triflic acid at low free-energy activation barriers and appreciable rates under metal free conditions and mildly elevated temperatures (40-50 °C). Our proposed mechanism shows that the acid is regenerated in the process and can further facilitate similar catalytic release of H2 , thus suggesting all the chemisorbed hydrogen on the surface of the hydrogenated nanotube can be released in the form of H2 . These findings essentially raise hope for the development of a sustainable chemical hydrogen storage strategy in BN nanomaterials.

Theoretical Insights on the Effects of Mechanical Interlocking of Secondary Amines with Polyether Macrocycles for Frustrated‐Lewis‐Pair‐Type Hydrogen Activation

A frustrating environment: It has previously been shown that mechanical interlocking of secondary amines with polyether macrocycles enables these amines to activate H2 in the presence of B(C6F5)3. Density-functional calculations now show that the amine-macrocycle complex both preorganizes a frustrated Lewis pair minimum for H2 activation and stabilizes the product through strong hydrogen bonds.

Designing an effective Metal free Lewis acid catalyst for Ammonia-borane Dehydrogenation: A DFT Investigation on Triarylboranes

The catalytic dehydrogenation of ammonia‐borane (NH3BH3) is dominated largely by transition‐metal catalysts. Metal‐free catalysis for NH3BH3 dehydrogenation is a rarity. It is well known that mono‐boron‐based Lewis acids are largely ineffective to facilitate the catalytic dehydrogenation of NH3BH3. Herein, through theoretical investigations, we have identified the routes with catalytic potential for B(C6F5)3 and its congeners and also the factors that are likely to prevent effective catalysis for these systems. Our findings reveal for triarylboranes that potential catalytic dehydrogenation routes comprise of two main events: ion pair formation from NH3BH3 in the presence of a catalyst assisted by a nucleophile and subsequent H2 release from the ion pair. Donor solvents and the B−H hydride of NH3BH3 act as a nucleophile to facilitate ion‐pair formation from NH3BH3 and the Lewis acid catalyst in donor and nondonor solvents, respectively. A good nucleophilic solvent decreases the activation barrier of ion‐pair formation but it increases the activation barrier associated with the subsequent H2 release process. The reverse is true for nondonor solvents, in which case NH3BH3 acts as a nucleophile. Our studies reveal that by the careful tuning of the hydride affinity of the Lewis acid catalyst in combination with nondonor solvents, rate‐limiting barriers for dehydrogenation can be reduced to approximately 19–20 kcal mol−1, which would enable catalytic turnovers at room temperature.

Cis–Trans Conformational Analysis of δ-Azaproline in Peptides

The cis-trans isomerization and conformer specificity of δ-azaproline and its carbamate-protected form in linear and cyclic peptides were investigated using NMR and α-chymotrypsin assay. Comparisons of the chemical shift value of the α-hydrogen in each case of δ-azaproline-containing peptides with conformer-specific locked diketopiperazines reveal the fact that an upfield chemical shift value corresponds to cis conformer and a downfield value corresponds to a trans conformer. δ-Azaproline adopts cis-conformation in simple amides, dipeptides, and tripeptides whereas its carbamate-protected form adopts trans-conformation. In the case of longer, linear or cyclic peptides, vice versa results are obtained. Interestingly, in all these peptides exclusively one conformer, either cis or trans, is stabilized. This cis-trans isomerization is independent of both temperature and solvents; only the δ-nitrogen protecting group plays key role in the isomerization. δ-Azaproline is conformer-specific in either of its protected or deprotected forms, which is a unique property of this proline. Unlike other covalently modified proline surrogates, this isomerization of δ-azaproline can be tuned easily by a protecting group. The mechanism of cis-trans isomerization of δ-azaproline during deprotection and reprotection is supported by theoretical calculations.