Takashi Kurogi

A Terminally Bound Niobium Methylidyne

Complex (PNP)Nb(CH3)2(OAr) (PNP = N[2-P(i)Pr2-4-methylphenyl]2(-), Ar = 2,6-(i)Pr2C6H3), prepared from treatment of (PNP)NbCl3 with NaOAr followed by 2 equiv of H3CMgCl, can be oxidized with [FeCp2][OTf] to afford (PNP)Nb(CH3)2(OAr)(OTf). While photolysis of the latter resulted in formation of a rare example of a niobium methylidene, (PNP)Nb═CH2(OAr)(OTf), treatment of the dimethyl triflate precursor with the ylide H2CPPh3 produced the mononuclear group 5 methylidyne complex, (PNP)Nb≡CH(OAr). Adding a Brønsted base to (PNP)Nb═CH2(OAr)(OTf) also resulted in formation of the methylidyne. Solid-state structural analysis confirms both methylidene and methylidyne moieties to be terminal, having very short Nb-C distances of 1.963(2) and 1.820(2) Å, respectively. It is also shown that methylidyne for nitride cross-metathesis between (PNP)Nb≡CH(OAr) and NCR (R = tert-butyl or 1-adamantyl) results in formation of a neutral and mononuclear niobium nitride, (PNP)Nb≡N(OAr), along with the terminal alkyne HC≡CR.

Metallo-Wittig chemistry of an alkylidene to form a terminal titanium oxo complex.

We report the synthesis and structure of a titanium(iv) benzophenone adduct bearing a terminal oxo ligand, (PNP)Ti = O(OTf)(OCPh2) (PNP- = N[2-PiPr2-4-methylphenyl]2) (2). Complex 2 is readily synthesized in 71% yield from the previously reported titanium alkylidene (PNP)Ti[double bond, length as m-dash]CHtBu(OTf) (1) and two equivalents of benzophenone, by extruding the olefin Ph2C[double bond, length as m-dash]CHtBu. Treatment of benzophenone adduct 2 with a bulky aryloxide salt results in formation of (PNP)Ti[double bond, length as m-dash]O(OAr) (3) (OAr- = 2,6-bis(diphenylmethyl)-4-tert-butylphenoxide), concurrent with salt elimination and displacement of the benzophenone. Complexes 2 and 3 were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and a variety of spectroscopic techniques, including NMR, UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopies, and TD-DFT calculations.

A new and selective cycle for dehydrogenation of linear and cyclic alkanes under mild conditions using a base metal

Selectively converting linear alkanes to α-olefins under mild conditions is a highly desirable transformation given the abundance of alkanes as well as the use of olefins as building blocks in the chemical community. Until now, this reaction has been primarily the remit of noble-metal catalysts, despite extensive work showing that base-metal alkylidenes can mediate the reaction in a stoichiometric fashion. Here, we show how the presence of a hydrogen acceptor, such as the phosphorus ylide, when combined with the alkylidene complex (PNP)Ti=CHtBu(CH3) (PNP=N[2-P(CHMe2)2-4-methylphenyl]2-), catalyses the dehydrogenation of cycloalkanes to cyclic alkenes, and linear alkanes with chain lengths of C4 to C8 to terminal olefins under mild conditions. This Article represents the first example of a homogeneous and selective alkane dehydrogenation reaction using a base-metal titanium catalyst. We also propose a unique mechanism for the transfer dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons to olefins and discuss a complete cycle based on a combined experimental and computational study.

Room-Temperature Ring-Opening of Quinoline, Isoquinoline, and Pyridine with Low-Valent Titanium

The complex (PNP)Ti═CHtBu(CH2tBu) (PNP = N[2-PiPr2-4-methylphenyl]2-) dehydrogenates cyclohexane to cyclohexene by forming a transient low-valent titanium-alkyl species, [(PNP)Ti(CH2tBu)], which reacts with 2 equiv of quinoline (Q) at room temperature to form H3CtBu and a Ti(IV) species where the less hindered C2═N1 bond of Q is ruptured and coupled to another equivalent of Q. The product isolated from this reaction is an imide with a tethered cycloamide group, (PNP)Ti═N[C18H13N] (1). Under photolytic conditions, intramolecular C-H bond activation across the imide moiety in 1 occurs to form 2, and thermolysis reverses this process. The reaction of 2 equiv of isoquinoline (Iq) with intermediate [(PNP)Ti(CH2tBu)] results in regioselective cleavage of the C1═N2 and C1-H bonds, which eventually couple to form complex 3, a constitutional isomer of 1. Akin to 1, the transient [(PNP)Ti(CH2tBu)] complex can ring-open and couple two pyridine molecules, to produce a close analogue of 1, complex (PNP)Ti═N[C10H9N] (4). Multinuclear and multidimensional NMR spectra confirm structures for complexes 1-4, whereas solid-state structural analysis reveals the structures of 2, 3, and 4. DFT calculations suggest an unprecedented mechanism for ring-opening of Q where the reactive intermediate in the low-spin manifold crosses over to the high-spin surface to access a low-energy transition state but returns to the low-spin surface immediately. This double spin-crossover constitutes a rare example of a two-state reactivity, which is key for enabling the reaction at room temperature. The regioselective behavior of Iq ring-opening is found to be due to electronic effects, where the aromatic resonance of the bicycle is maintained during the key C-C coupling event.

CCDC 1579927: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Seung-yeol Baek, Takashi Kurogi, Dahye Kang, Masahiro Kamitani, Seongyeon Kwon, Douglas P. Solowey, Chun-Hsing Chen, Maren Pink, Patrick J. Carroll, Daniel J. Mindiola, and Mu-Hyun Baik|2017|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|139|12804|doi:10.1021/jacs.7b07433

CCDC 1579925: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Seung-yeol Baek, Takashi Kurogi, Dahye Kang, Masahiro Kamitani, Seongyeon Kwon, Douglas P. Solowey, Chun-Hsing Chen, Maren Pink, Patrick J. Carroll, Daniel J. Mindiola, and Mu-Hyun Baik|2017|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|139|12804|doi:10.1021/jacs.7b07433