Yusuke Sunada

Effect of TMEDA on Iron-Catalyzed Coupling Reactions of ArMgX with Alkyl Halides

A new reaction mechanism for the iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of ArMgX with alkyl halides using (TMEDA)FeAr(2) and (TMEDA)Fe(Ar)Br is proposed on the basis of the isolation and reaction of these organoiron intermediates.

Non-Precious-Metal Catalytic Systems Involving Iron or Cobalt Carboxylates and Alkyl Isocyanides for Hydrosilylation of Alkenes with Hydrosiloxanes

A mixture of an iron or a cobalt carboxylate and an isocyanide ligand catalyzed the hydrosilylation of alkenes with hydrosiloxanes with high efficiency (TON >10(3)) and high selectivity. The Fe catalyst showed excellent activity for hydrosilylation of styrene derivatives, whereas the Co catalyst was widely effective in reaction of alkenes. Both of them catalyzed the reaction with allylic ethers. Chemical modification and cross-linking of silicones were achieved by choosing the right catalyst and reaction conditions.

New catalyst systems for iron-catalyzed hydrosilane reduction of carboxamides

A heptanuclear iron carbonyl cluster, [Fe(3)(CO)(11)(μ-H)](2)Fe(DMF)(4) (4), is found to be a highly efficient catalyst for the reduction of various carboxamides by 1,2-bis(dimethylsilyl)benzene (BDSB), which makes possible reducing the amount of the catalyst, shortening the reaction time, and lowering the reaction temperatures.

Synthesis, structures, and electronic properties of [8Fe-7S] cluster complexes modeling the nitrogenase P-cluster.

High-yield synthesis of the iron-sulfur cluster [{N(SiMe(3))(2)}{SC(NMe(2))(2)}Fe(4)S(3)](2)(mu(6)-S) {mu-N(SiMe(3))(2)}(2) (1), which reproduces the [8Fe-7S] core structure of the nitrogenase P(N)-cluster, has been achieved via two pathways: (1) Fe{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(2) + HSTip (Tip = 2,4,6-(i)Pr(3)C(6)H(2)) + tetramethylthiourea (SC(NMe(2))(2)) + elemental sulfur (S(8)); and (2) Fe(3){N(SiMe(3))(2)}(2)(mu-STip)(4) (2) + HSTip + SC(NMe(2))(2) + S(8). The thiourea and terminal amide ligands of 1 were found to be replaceable by thiolate ligands upon treatment with thiolate anions and thiols at -40 degrees C, respectively, and a series of [8Fe-7S] clusters bearing two to four thiolate ligands have been synthesized and their structures were determined by X-ray analysis. The structures of these model [8Fe-7S] clusters all closely resemble that of the reduced form of P-cluster (P(N)) having 8Fe(II) centers, while their 6Fe(II)-2Fe(III) oxidation states correspond to the oxidized form of P-cluster (P(OX)). The cyclic voltammograms of the [8Fe-7S] clusters reveal two quasi-reversible one-electron reduction processes, leading to the 8Fe(II) state that is the same as the P(N)-cluster, and the synthetic models demonstrate the redox behavior between the two major oxidation states of the native P-cluster. Replacement of the SC(NMe(2))(2) ligands in 1 with thiolate anions led to more negative reduction potentials, while a slight positive shift occurred upon replacement of the terminal amide ligands with thiolates. The clusters 1, (NEt(4))(2)[{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(SC(6)H(4)-4-Me)Fe(4)S(3)](2)(mu(6)-S){mu-N(SiMe(3))(2)}(2) (3a), and [(SBtp){SC(NMe(2))(2)}Fe(4)S(3)](2)(mu(6)-S){mu-N(SiMe(3))(2)}(2) (5; Btp = 2,6-(SiMe(3))(2)C(6)H(3)) are EPR silent at 4-100 K, and their temperature-dependent magnetic moments indicate a singlet ground state with antiferromagnetic couplings among the iron centers. The (57)Fe Mössbauer spectra of these clusters are consistent with the 6Fe(II)-2Fe(III) oxidation state, each exhibiting two doublets with an intensity ratio of ca. 1:3, which are assignable to Fe(III) and Fe(II), respectively. Comparison of the quadrupole splittings for 1, 3a, and 5 has led to the conclusion that two Fe(III) sites of the clusters are the peripheral iron atoms.

Catalyst design for iron-promoted reductions: an iron disilyl-dicarbonyl complex bearing weakly coordinating η2-(H-Si) moieties.

Iron disilyl dicarbonyl complex 1, in which two H-Si moieties of the 1,2-bis(dimethylsilyl)benzene ligand were coordinated to the iron center in an η(2)-(H-Si) fashion, was synthesized by the reaction of (η(4)-C6H8)Fe(CO)3 with 2 equiv. of 1,2-bis(dimethylsilyl)benzene under photo-irradiation. Complex 1 demonstrated high catalytic activity toward the hydrogenation of alkenes, the hydrosilylation of alkenes and the reduction of carbonyl compounds.

Well‐Defined Iron Complexes as Efficient Catalysts for “Green” Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization of Styrene, Methyl Methacrylate, and Butyl Acrylate with Low Catalyst Loadings and Catalyst Recycling

Environmentally friendly iron(II) catalysts for atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) were synthesized by careful selection of the nitrogen substituents of N,N,N-trialkylated-1,4,9-triazacyclononane (R3 TACN) ligands. Two types of structures were confirmed by crystallography: [(R3 TACN)FeX2 ] complexes with relatively small R groups have ionic and dinuclear structures including a [(R3 TACN)Fe(μ-X)3 Fe(R3 TACN)](+) moiety, whereas those with more bulky R groups are neutral and mononuclear. The twelve [(R3 TACN)FeX2 ]n complexes that were synthesized were subjected to bulk ATRP of styrene, methyl methacrylate (MMA), and butyl acrylate (BA). Among the iron complexes examined, [{(cyclopentyl)3 TACN}FeBr2 ] (4 b) was the best catalyst for the well-controlled ATRP of all three monomers. This species allowed easy catalyst separation and recycling, a lowering of the catalyst concentration needed for the reaction, and the absence of additional reducing reagents. The lowest catalyst loading was accomplished in the ATRP of MMA with 4 b (59 ppm of Fe based on the charged monomer). Catalyst recycling in ATRP with low catalyst loadings was also successful. The ATRP of styrene with 4 b (117 ppm Fe atom) was followed by precipitation from methanol to give polystyrene that contained residual iron below the calculated detection limit (0.28 ppm). Mechanisms that involve equilibria between the multinuclear and mononuclear species were also examined.

Stereochemistry of mono- and dinuclear complexes of rhodium, iridium and ruthenium bearing bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphine

Reaction of [Cp*MCl 2 ] 2 ( 1a : M=Rh and 1b : M=Ir) or [(C 6 Me 6 )RuCl 2 ] 2 ( 1c ) with bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphine (dpmp) in the presence of KPF 6 generated mono- or dinuclear complexes [Cp*RhCl(dpmp)](PF 6 ) ( 2a ), [(C 6 Me 6 )RuCl(dpmp)](PF 6 ) ( 5c ), [Cp*MCl 2 (dpmp)MClCp*](PF 6 ) ( 3a : M=Rh and 4b : M=Ir) or [(C 6 Me 6 )RuCl 2 (dpmp)RuCl(C 6 Me 6 )](PF 6 ) ( 6c ), depending on reaction conditions. These complexes have two chiral centers and the diastereomers were separated and characterized by spectrometry and X-ray analyses. A diastereomer 2a ( A ) was treated with AuCl(C 4 H 8 S), generating a hetero-tetranuclear complex [{Cp*RhCl 2 (dpmp)Au} 2 ](PF 6 ) 2 ( 7a ), whereas similar reactions of 5c gave dinuclear complex [(C 6 Me 6 )RuCl(dpmp)AuCl](PF 6 ) ( 8c ( A )).

A ladder polysilane as a template for folding palladium nanosheets.

Although discrete nano-sized compounds consisting of a monolayer sheet of multiple atoms have attracted much attention, monolayer transition metal nanosheets are difficult to access. Here we report a template synthesis of the folding metal nanosheet (2) consisting of 11 palladium atoms by treatment of a ladder polysilane, decaisopropylbicyclo[2.2.0]hexasilane (1), with Pd(CN(t)Bu)2. Crystallographic analysis reveals that the compound is composed of two monolayer Pd7 sheets sharing three palladium atoms at the junction. Each Pd atom is stabilized by Pd-Si σ-bonds, Pd-Pd bonds and coordination of isocyanides. Ligand exchange of 2 from CN(t)Bu to CN(2,4,6-Me3-C6H2) is accompanied by structural rearrangement, leading to the formation of another folding Pd11 nanosheet (3) consisting of two edge-sharing Pd7 sheets. The shapes of the Pd7 sheets as well as the dihedral angle between the two Pd7 sheets are dependent on the substituent of the isocyanide ligand.

Platinum-catalyzed reduction of amides with hydrosilanes bearing dual Si–H groups: a theoretical study of the reaction mechanism

A platinum-catalyzed amide reduction through hydrosilylation with 1,2-bis(dimethylsilyl)benzene (BDSB) was investigated on a theoretical basis. While the platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation of alkenes is well known, that of carbonyl groups rarely occurs. The only exception involves the use of bifunctional hydrosilanes having dual, closely located Si-H groups, which accelerate the hydrosilylation of carbonyl groups, leading to successful reduction of amides to amines under mild conditions. In the present study, we determined through density functional theory calculations that the platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation of the C=O bond proceeds via a Pt(IV)-disilyl-dihydride intermediate with an associated activation energy of 29.6 kcal mol(-1). Although it was believed that the hydrosilylation of carbonyl groups does not occur via the classical Chalk-Harrod cycle, the computational results support a mechanism involving the insertion of the amide C=O bond into a Pt-H bond. This insertion readily occurs because a Pt-H bond in the Pt(IV)-disilyl-dihydride intermediate is highly activated due to the strong σ-donating interaction of the silyl groups. The modified Chalk-Harrod mechanism that occurs preferentially in rhodium-catalyzed hydrosilylation as well as the ionic outer sphere mechanism associated with iridium-catalyzed amide reduction were both safely ruled out as mechanisms for this platinum-catalyzed amide reduction, because of the unexpectedly large activation barrier (>40 kcal mol(-1)) for the Si-O bond formation.

Experimental and theoretical aspects of the haptotropic rearrangement of diiron and diruthenium carbonyl complexes bound to 4,6,8-trimethylazulene.

The haptotropic rearrangement of dinuclear metal carbonyl species on the conjugate pi-ligand of (micro2,eta3:eta5-4,6,8-trimethylazulene)M2(CO)5 [M = Fe (3) and Ru (4)] was investigated in detail both experimentally and theoretically. The complexes, 3 and 4, were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopy and crystallography. The spin saturation transfer technique of 1H NMR was used to measure the rate constant k of the haptotropic isomerization between the two enantiomers of 3 and 4, from which thermodynamic parameters were determined: (3; deltaS(double dagger) = -7 +/- 1 cal K(-1) mol(-1), deltaH(double dagger) = 22 +/- 1 cal mol(-1), deltaG(double dagger)373 = 25 +/- 1 cal mol(-1)), (4; deltaS(double dagger) = 7 +/- 1 cal K(-1) mol(-1), deltaH(double dagger) = 25 +/- 1 cal mol(-1), deltaG(double dagger)373 = 23 +/- 1 cal mol(-1)). DFT calculations (the B3LYP, B1B95 and PBE1PBE methods) were also carried out using the CEP-31G and cc-pVDZ as the basis set of the transition metal and other elements, respectively, by which both ground state and transition state structures were optimized for the haptotropic rearrangement of 3 and 4. The potential energy surface for these reactions suggests that the reaction involves the conversion of the coordination mode from micro2eta3,eta5- (ground state) to micro2,eta1,eta5- (transition state). Mechanistic consideration, in particular that of differences in transition states between the diiron and diruthenium complexes, is also described.