Showing papers by "Alexander J. Blake published in 2011"

A delocalized arene-bridged diuranium single-molecule magnet

Abstract: Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) are compounds that, below a blocking temperature, exhibit stable magnetization purely of molecular origin, and not caused by long-range ordering of magnetic moments in the bulk. They thus show promise for applications such as data storage of ultra-high density. The stability of the magnetization increases with increasing ground-state spin and magnetic anisotropy. Transition-metal SMMs typically possess high-spin ground states, but insufficient magnetic anisotropies. Lanthanide SMMs exhibit large magnetic anisotropies, but building high-spin ground states is difficult because they tend to form ionic bonds that limit magnetic exchange coupling. In contrast, the significant covalent bonding and large spin–orbit contributions associated with uranium are particularly attractive for the development of improved SMMs. Here we report a delocalized arene-bridged diuranium SMM. This study demonstrates that arene-bridged polyuranium clusters can exhibit SMM behaviour without relying on the superexchange coupling of spins. This approach may lead to increased blocking temperatures. Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) are multinuclear clusters whose behaviour typically relies on intramolecular spin-coupling interactions between neighbouring metal ions. A diuranium–arene complex has now been prepared that shows behaviour characteristic of an SMM without relying on this type of superexchange mechanism. This may enable the construction of SMMs that maintain their magnetism at higher temperatures.

Catalytic Phosphorus(V)-Mediated Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions: Development of a Catalytic Appel Reaction

Abstract: Catalytic phosphorus(V)-mediated chlorination and bromination reactions of alcohols have been developed. The new reactions constitute a catalytic version of the classical Appel halogenation reaction. In these new reactions oxalyl chloride is used as a consumable stoichiometric reagent to generate the halophosphonium salts responsible for halogenation from catalytic phosphine oxides. Thus, phosphine oxides have been transformed from stoichiometric waste products into catalysts and a new concept for catalytic phosphorus-based activation and nucleophilic substitution of alcohols has been validated. The present study has focused on a full exploration of the scope and limitations of phosphine oxide catalyzed chlorination reactions as well as the development of the analogous bromination reactions. Further mechanistic studies, including density functional theory calculations on proposed intermediates of the catalytic cycle, are consistent with a catalytic cycle involving halo- and alkoxyphosphonium salts as inte...

Pore with Gate: Enhancement of the Isosteric Heat of Adsorption of Dihydrogen via Postsynthetic Cation Exchange in Metal−Organic Frameworks

Abstract: Three isostructural anionic frameworks {[(Hdma)(H3O)][In2(L1)2]·4DMF·5H2O}∞ (NOTT-206-solv), {[H2ppz][In2(L2)2]·3.5DMF·5H2O}∞ (NOTT-200-solv), and {[H2ppz][In2(L3)2]·4DMF·5.5H2O}∞ (NOTT-208-solv) (dma = dimethylamine; ppz = piperazine) each featuring organic countercations that selectively block the channels and act as pore gates have been prepared. The organic cations within the as-synthesized frameworks can be replaced by Li+ ions to yield the corresponding Li+-containing frameworks {Li1.2(H3O)0.8[In2(L1)2]·14H2O}∞ (NOTT-207-solv), {Li1.5(H3O)0.5[In2(L2)2]·11H2O}∞ (NOTT-201-solv), and {Li1.4(H3O)0.6[In2(L3)2]·4acetone·11H2O}∞ (NOTT-209-solv) in which the pores are now unblocked. The desolvated framework materials NOTT-200a, NOTT-206a, and NOTT-208a display nonporous, hysteretic and reversible N2 uptakes, respectively, while NOTT-206a and NOTT-200a provide a strong kinetic trap showing adsorption/desorption hysteresis with H2. Single crystal X-ray analysis confirms that the Li+ ions are either tetrahedra...

Modifying cage structures in metal-organic polyhedral frameworks for H2 storage.

Abstract: Three isostructural metal-organic polyhedral cage based frameworks (denoted NOTT-113, NOTT-114 and NOTT-115) with (3,24)-connected topology have been synthesised by combining hexacarboxylate isophthalate linkers with {Cu(2)(RCOO)(4)} paddlewheels. All three frameworks have the same cuboctahedral cage structure constructed from 24 isophthalates from the ligands and 12 {Cu(2)(RCOO)(4)} paddlewheel moieties. The frameworks differ only in the functionality of the central core of the hexacarboxylate ligands with trimethylphenyl, phenylamine and triphenylamine moieties in NOTT-113, NOTT-114 and NOTT-115, respectively. Exchange of pore solvent with acetone followed by heating affords the corresponding desolvated framework materials, which show high BET surface areas of 2970, 3424 and 3394 m(2) g(-1) for NOTT-113, NOTT-114 and NOTT-115, respectively. Desolvated NOTT-113 and NOTT-114 show high total H(2) adsorption capacities of 6.7 and 6.8 wt%, respectively, at 77 K and 60 bar. Desolvated NOTT-115 has a significantly higher total H(2) uptake of 7.5 wt% under the same conditions. Analysis of the heats of adsorption (Q(st)) for H(2) reveals that with a triphenylamine moiety in the cage wall, desolvated NOTT-115 shows the highest value of Q(st) for these three materials, indicating that functionalisation of the cage walls with more aromatic rings can enhance the H(2)/framework interactions. In contrast, measurement of Q(st) reveals that the amine-substituted trisalkynylbenzene core used in NOTT-114 gives a notably lower H(2)/framework binding energy.

An unsupported uranium-rhenium complex prepared by alkane elimination.

Abstract: Understanding the nature of metal–metal bonds is fundamentally important to furthering our understanding of chemical bonding. This is particularly relevant to the fblock elements because there is continued debate over the degree of covalency in interactions involving f-block metal centres. Although compounds containing metal–metal bonds involving dand p-block elements are well known, and now even examples from the s-block have been reported, examples of uranium–metal complexes remain scarce. Prior to our initiation of a programme of research investigating uranium–metal bonds, structurally characterised examples of species with U M bonds were limited to the p-block derivatives [{(Ar) ACHTUNGTRENNUNG(tBu)N}3USiACHTUNGTRENNUNG(SiMe3)3] (Ar=3,5-Me2C6H3), [(hC5H5)3USnPh3], [7] and [(h-C5H4SiMe3)3UE ACHTUNGTRENNUNG(h5-C5Me5)] (E= Al, Ga). We have been investigating the chemistry of uranium– metal complexes supported by tripodal triamido ligands, which has resulted in the characterisation of the U Ga complex [(Tren) ACHTUNGTRENNUNG(THF)UGa ACHTUNGTRENNUNG(NAr’CH)2] [1, Ar’=2,6iPr2C6H3; Tren TMS =N(CH2CH2NSiMe3)3], [10] the U Re complex [(Tren)URe ACHTUNGTRENNUNG(h5-C5H5)2] (2), and two U Re complexes [(Ts) ACHTUNGTRENNUNG(THF)URe ACHTUNGTRENNUNG(h5-C5H5)2] [3, Ts =HCACHTUNGTRENNUNG(SiMe2NAr)3; Ar=3,5-Me2C6H3) and [(Ts)URe ACHTUNGTRENNUNG(h5-C5H5)2] (4). Complexes 1–4 are noteworthy because they exhibit s and p contributions within the uranium–metal interactions, although the latter component is clearly very weak. Compounds 1 and 2 were prepared by salt elimination, whereas complexes 3 and 4 were prepared by amine elimination. Although alkane elimination has proven to be a very successful strategy for preparing rare earth–metal bonds, it has not yet been applied to the synthesis of uranium–metal bonds; uranium alkyls tend to suffer from thermal instability, and since alkyls are reducing, the redox chemistry of uranium might be anticipated to interfere with uranium– metal bond formation. In search of a suitable uranium–alkyl complex with which to test whether or not alkane elimination can be a useful strategy for constructing uranium–metal bonds, our attention was drawn to the cyclometallated alkyl triamidoamine complex [U{N(CH2CH2NSiMe2tBu)2(CH2CH2NSiMetBuCH2)}] (5) developed by Scott and co-workers. [15] Complex 5 is stable at room temperature, in an inert atmosphere, and straightforward to prepare. This presents an excellent opportunity to examine whether alkane elimination is compatible with the construction of uranium–metal bonds. Herein, we show for the first time that a uranium–metal bond can be prepared by formal alkane elimination. Additionally, we report that the U Re interaction is predominantly ionic with a weak p contribution involving the U and Re centres, as revealed by analyses of the calculated electron density and frontier Kohn–Sham orbitals. The addition of toluene to a mixture of purple 5 and yellow rhenocene hydride resulted in a dark red solution. Following work-up, red crystals of [(Tren)URe ACHTUNGTRENNUNG(h5C5H5)2] [6, Tren DMSB =N(CH2CH2NSiMe2tBu)3]) were isolated in 46 % yield (Scheme 1). The H NMR spectrum exhibits paramagnetically shifted resonances over the range d= 19.85 to +5.64 ppm. The meff of 6 ranged from 0.31 to 2.86 mB over the temperature range 1.8–300 K (Figure 1), and clearly tends to zero, which is characteristic of a H4 uranium(IV) complex. The crystal structure of complex 6 is illustrated in Figure 2 with selected bond lengths. The uranium centre is five-coordinate, but, setting the U(1) N(4) bond to one [a] B. M. Gardner, Dr. J. McMaster, F. Moro, Dr. W. Lewis, Prof. A. J. Blake, Dr. S. T. Liddle School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD (UK) Fax: (+44) 115-951-3563 E-mail : stephen.liddle@nottingham.ac.uk Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chem.201100682.

The Nature of Unsupported Uranium–Ruthenium Bonds: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study

Abstract: Four new uranium-ruthenium complexes, [(Tren(TMS))URu(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)(2)] (9), [(Tren(DMSB))URu(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)(2)] (10), [(Ts(Tolyl))(THF)URu(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)(2)] (11), and [(Ts(Xylyl))(THF)URu(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)(2)] (12) [Tren(TMS)=N(CH(2)CH(2)NSiMe(3))(3); Tren(DMSB)=N(CH(2)CH(2)NSiMe(2)tBu)(3)]; Ts(Tolyl)=HC(SiMe(2)NC(6)H(4)-4-Me)(3); Ts(Xylyl)=HC(SiMe(2)NC(6)H(3)-3,5-Me(2))(3)], were prepared by a salt-elimination strategy. Structural, spectroscopic, and computational analyses of 9-12 shows: i) the formation of unsupported uranium-ruthenium bonds with no isocarbonyl linkages in the solid state; ii) ruthenium-carbonyl backbonding in the [Ru(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)(2)](-) ions that is tempered by polarization of charge within the ruthenium fragments towards uranium; iii) closed-shell uranium-ruthenium interactions that can be classified as predominantly ionic with little covalent character. Comparison of the calculated U-Ru bond interaction energies (BIEs) of 9-12 with the BIE of [(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(3)URu(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(CO)(2)], for which an experimentally determined U-Ru bond disruption enthalpy (BDE) has been reported, suggests BDEs of approximately 150 kJ mol(-1) for 9-12.

Pore with gate: modulating hydrogen storage in metal-organic framework materials via cation exchange

Abstract: A range of anionic metal–organic framework (MOF) materials has been prepared by combination of In(III) with tetracarboxylate isophthalate-based ligands. These materials incorporate organic cations, either H2ppz2+ (ppz = piperazine) or Me2NH2+, that are hydrogen bonded to the pore wall. These cations act as a gate controlling entry of N2 and H2 gas into and out of the porous host. Thus, hysteretic adsorption/desorption for N2 and H2 is observed in these systems, reflecting the role of the bulky hydrogen bonded organic cations in controlling the kinetic trapping of substrates. Post-synthetic cation exchange with Li+ leads to removal of the organic cation and the formation of the corresponding Li+ salts. Replacement of the organic cation with smaller Li+ leads to an increase in internal surface area and pore volume of the framework material, and in some cases to an increase in the isosteric heat of adsorption of H2 at zero coverage, as predicted by theoretical modelling. The structures, characterisation and analysis of these charged porous materials as storage portals for H2 are discussed. Inelastic neutron scattering experiments confirm interaction of H2 with the carboxylate groups of the isophthalate ligands bound to In(III) centres.

Enantioselective conjugate addition nitro-Mannich reactions: solvent controlled synthesis of acyclic anti- and syn-β-nitroamines with three contiguous stereocenters.

Abstract: We report an enantioselective conjugate addition nitro-Mannich reaction protocol which combines dialkylzinc, aromatic nitro alkene and imine to form two C−C bonds and three contiguous stereocenters in one reaction vessel. Absolute stereochemistry was controlled from the initial 1,4-addition of dialkylzinc to aromatic nitroalkenes by known copper−chiral ligand catalysts. The choice of solvent dictated the formation of either the syn,anti or syn,syn diastereoisomers, two of the four possible diastereoisomers. The syn,syn isomer is a rare example of a syn-selective nitro-Mannich reaction. The diastereoselectivity is dependent upon the presence or not of Zn(O2CCF3)2 in the reaction mixture and empirical transition state models are proposed to account for the observed stereochemical course of the two reaction conditions. The extent of enantioselectivity and structural diversity of the process is limited by current methodology for the catalytic asymmetric addition of dialkylzincs to nitrostyrenes. The synthetic...

A unique case of oxidative addition of interhalogens IX (X=Cl, Br) to organodiselone ligands: nature of the chemical bonding in asymmetric I-Se-X polarised hypervalent systems.

Abstract: The reactivity of the imidazoline-2-selone derivatives 1,1'-methylenebis(3-methyl-4-imidazoline-2-selone) (D1) and 1,2-ethylenebis(3-methyl-4-imidazoline-2-selone) (D2) towards the interhalogens IBr and ICl has been investigated in the solid state with the aim of synthesising "T-shaped" hypervalent chalcogen compounds featuring the extremely rare linear asymmetric I-E-X moieties (E=S, Se; X=Br, Cl) X-ray diffraction analysis and FT-Raman measurements provided a clear indication of the presence in the compounds obtained of discrete molecular adducts containing I-Se-Br and I-Se-Cl hypervalent moieties following a unique oxidative addition of interhalogens IX (X=Cl, Br) to the organoselone ligands In all asymmetric hypervalent systems isolated, a strong polarisation was observed, with longer bond lengths at the selenium atom involving the most electronegative halogen A topological electron density analysis on model compounds based on the quantum theory of atoms-in-molecules (QTAIM) and electron localisation function (ELF) established the three-centre-four-electron (3c-4e) nature of the bonding in these very polarised selenium hypervalent systems and new criteria were suggested to define and ascertain the hypervalency of the selenium atoms in these and related halogen and interhalogen adducts

Discovery of two new phases of zirconium tetrakis(8-hydroxyquinolinolate): synthesis, crystal structure and their electron transporting characteristics in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs)

Abstract: Two new phases of zirconium tetrakis(8-hydroxyquinolinolate) (Zrq4) have been synthesised and characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Their electrical, electronic, optical and thermal properties have been studied. Their electron transporting characteristics have been investigated in organic light emitting devices where the two phases show remarkable differences in performance. One of the forms (designated α-Zrq4) gives significantly lower operating voltage, higher efficiencies and longer lifetime than the other (designated β-Zrq4) in organic light emitting devices.

Halide, amide, cationic, manganese carbonylate, and oxide derivatives of triamidosilylamine uranium complexes.

Abstract: Treatment of the complex [U(Tren(TMS))(Cl)(THF)] [1, Tren(TMS) = N(CH(2)CH(2)NSiMe(3))(3)] with Me(3)SiI at room temperature afforded known crystalline [U(Tren(TMS))(I)(THF)] (2), which is reported as a new polymorph. Sublimation of 2 at 160 °C and 10(-6) mmHg afforded the solvent-free dimer complex [{U(Tren(TMS))(μ-I)}(2)] (3), which crystallizes in two polymorphic forms. During routine preparations of 1, an additional complex identified as [U(Cl)(5)(THF)][Li(THF)(4)] (4) was isolated in very low yield due to the presence of a slight excess of [U(Cl)(4)(THF)(3)] in one batch. Reaction of 1 with one equivalent of lithium dicyclohexylamide or bis(trimethylsilyl)amide gave the corresponding amide complexes [U(Tren(TMS))(NR(2))] (5, R = cyclohexyl; 6, R = trimethylsilyl), which both afforded the cationic, separated ion pair complex [U(Tren(TMS))(THF)(2)][BPh(4)] (7) following treatment of the respective amides with Et(3)NH·BPh(4). The analogous reaction of 5 with Et(3)NH·BAr(f)(4) [Ar(f) = C(6)H(3)-3,5-(CF(3))(2)] afforded, following addition of 1 to give a crystallizable compound, the cationic, separated ion pair complex [{U(Tren(TMS))(THF)}(2)(μ-Cl)][BAr(f)(4)] (8). Reaction of 7 with K[Mn(CO)(5)] or 5 or 6 with [HMn(CO)(5)] in THF afforded [U(Tren(TMS))(THF)(μ-OC)Mn(CO)(4)] (9); when these reactions were repeated in the presence of 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME), the separated ion pair [U(Tren(TMS))(DME)][Mn(CO)(5)] (10) was isolated instead. Reaction of 5 with [HMn(CO)(5)] in toluene afforded [{U(Tren(TMS))(μ-OC)(2)Mn(CO)(3)}(2)] (11). Similarly, reaction of the cyclometalated complex [U{N(CH(2)CH(2)NSiMe(2)Bu(t))(2)(CH(2)CH(2)NSiMeBu(t)CH(2))}] with [HMn(CO)(5)] gave [{U(Tren(DMSB))(μ-OC)(2)Mn(CO)(3)}(2)] [12, Tren(DMSB) = N(CH(2)CH(2)NSiMe(2)Bu(t))(3)]. Attempts to prepare the manganocene derivative [U(Tren(TMS))MnCp(2)] from 7 and K[MnCp(2)] were unsuccessful and resulted in formation of [{U(Tren(TMS))}(2)(μ-O)] (13) and [MnCp(2)]. Complexes 3-13 have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, Evans method magnetic moment, and CHN microanalyses.

A perylene diimide rotaxane: synthesis, structure and electrochemically driven de-threading.

Abstract: The first example of a [2]-rotaxane in which a perylene diimide acts as a recognition site has been synthesised and characterised. The interlocked nature of the compound has been verified by both NMR studies and an X-ray structure determination. Electrochemical investigations confirm that the nature of the redox processes associated with the perylene diimide are modified by the complexation process and that it is possible to mono-reduce the [2]-rotaxane to give a radical anion based rotaxane. Further reduction of the compound leads to de-threading of the macrocycle from the reduced PTCDI recognition site. Our synthetic strategies confirm the potential of PTCDI-based rotaxanes as viable targets for the preparation of complex interlocked species.

Increasing nuclearity of secondary building units in porous cobalt(II) metal–organic frameworks: Variation in structure and H2 adsorption

Abstract: Reaction of Co(NO3)2·6H2O with H2L [H2L = pyridine-4-(phenyl-3′,5′-dicarboxylic acid)] under different reaction conditions gives three closely-related metal–organic framework polymers, {[Co2(L)2(DMF)]·n(solv)}∞ (1), {[Co(L)]·2DMF}∞ (2) and {[Co3(L)3(DMF)0.5(H2O)1.5]·n(solv)}∞ (3). Variation in reaction conditions thus has a decisive impact on the materials isolated, producing frameworks based upon either binuclear (1, 2) or trinuclear (3) cobalt cluster nodes. Analysis of their crystal structures shows that all three contain considerable solvent-accessible volumes, an indication of porosity that is confirmed for desolvated 1 and 3, which can store up to 2.75 and 2.33 wt% of H2 at 78 K and 20 bar, respectively.

Studies on transannulation reactions across a nine-membered ring: the synthesis of natural product-like structures

Abstract: A series of diverse natural product-like structures have been synthesised by the use of a number of novel transannulation reactions across a cyclononene ring. Transannular cyclisations through oxygen functionality have generated a number of bicyclo[5.3.1]systems containing bridged cyclic ethers and bicyclo[5.2.2]lactones, as well as a tetrahydrofuran-containing bridged analogue of hexacyclinic acid. An unprecedented Bronsted acid mediated transannular cyclisation between proximal carbons generated bicyclo[4.3.0]nonanes which form the core of the pinguisane and austrodorane families of sesquiterpenoids. In all cases the key factor that determined the mode of reactivity was the conformation of the nine-membered ring and the distance between the reacting centres.

Synthesis, structure and redox properties of bis(cyclopentadienyl)dithiolene complexes of molybdenum and tungsten

Abstract: The compounds [Cp(2)M(S(2)C(2)(H)R)] (M = Mo or W; R = phenyl, pyridin-2-yl, pyridin-3-yl, pyridin-4-yl or quinoxalin-2-yl) and [Cp(2)Mo(S(2)C(2)(Me)(pyridin-2-yl)] have been prepared by a facile and general route for the synthesis of dithiolene complexes, viz. the reaction of [Cp(2)MCl(2)] (M = Mo or W) with the dithiolene pro-ligand generated by reacting the corresponding 4-(R)-1,3-dithiol-2-one with CsOH. These Mo compounds were reported previously (Hsu et al., Inorg. Chem. 1996, 35, 4743); however, the preparative method employed herein is more versatile and generates the compounds in good yield and all of the W compounds are new. Electrochemical investigations have shown that each compound undergoes a diffusion controlled one-electron oxidation (OX(I)) and a one-electron reduction (RED(I)) process; each redox change occurs at a more positive potential for a Mo compound than for its W counterpart. The mono-cations generated by chemical or electrochemical oxidation are stable and the structures of both components of the [Cp(2)Mo(S(2)C(2)(H)R)](+)/[Cp(2)Mo(S(2)C(2)(H)R)] (R = Ph or pyridin-3-yl) redox couples have been determined by X-ray crystallography. For each redox related pair, the changes in the Mo-S, S-C and C-C bond lengths of the {MoSCCS} moiety are generally consistent with OX(I) involving the loss of an electron from a π-orbital that is Mo-S and C-S antibonding and C-C bonding in character. These results have been interpreted successfully within the framework provided by DFT calculations accomplished for [Cp(2)M(S(2)C(2)(H)Ph)](n) (M = Mo or W; n = +1, 0 or -1). The HOMO of the neutral compounds is derived mainly from the dithiolene π(3) orbital (65%); therefore, OX(I) is essentially a dithiolene-based process. The similarity of the potentials for OX(I) (ca. 30 mV) for analogous Mo and W compounds is consistent with this interpretation and the EPR spectra of each of the Mo cations show that the unpaired electron is coupled to the dithiolene proton but relatively weakly to (95,97)Mo. The DFT calculations indicate that the unpaired electron is more localised on the metal in the mono-anions than in the mono-cations. In agreement with this, the EPR spectrum of each of the Mo-containing mono-anions manifests a larger (95,97)Mo coupling (A(iso)) than observed for the corresponding mono-cation and RED(I) for a W compound is significantly (ca. 300 mV) more negative than that of its Mo counterpart. [Cp(2)W(S(2)C(2)(H)(quinoxalin-2-yl))] is anomalous; RED(I) occurs at a potential ca. 230 mV more positive than expected from that of its Mo counterpart and the EPR spectrum of the mono-anion is typical of an organic radical. DFT calculations indicate that these properties arise because the electron is added to a quinoxalin-2-yl π-orbital.

Amido analogues of zincocenes and cadmocenes

Abstract: The synthesis and characterisation of low-coordinate zinc and cadmium complexes of the sterically demanding 1,3,6,8-tetra-tert-butylcarbazol-9-yl ligand (tBu4carb−) are reported. (tBu4carb)2M (M = Zn 1; M = Cd 2) are the first examples of formally two-coordinate bis-carbazol-9-yl complexes of the Group 12 metals and 2 is the first crystallographically characterised two-coordinate amido complex of cadmium. The structure and bonding within these complexes are explored via a combination of X-ray crystallography and DFT calculations. The solid state structures for these zinc and cadmium complexes differ greatly from each other; not only do the steric demands of the peripheral tert-butyl substituents in these systems act to inhibit solvent coordination, but they also influence the coordination geometry around the metal centres.

Redox non-innocence of thioether crowns: Spectroelectrochemistry and electronic structure of formal nickel(III) complexes of aza-thioether macrocycles

Abstract: The Ni(II) complexes [Ni([9]aneNS(2)-CH(3))(2)](2+) ([9]aneNS(2)-CH(3)=N-methyl-1-aza-4,7-dithiacyclononane), [Ni(bis[9]aneNS(2)-C(2)H(4))](2+) (bis[9]aneNS(2)-C(2)H(4)=1,2-bis-(1-aza-4,7-dithiacyclononylethane) and [Ni([9]aneS(3))(2)](2+) ([9]aneS(3)=1,4,7-trithiacyclononane) have been prepared and can be electrochemically and chemically oxidized to give the formal Ni(III) products, which have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, UV/Vis and multi-frequency EPR spectroscopy. The single-crystal X-ray structure of [Ni(III)([9]aneNS(2)-CH(3))(2)](ClO(4))(6)·(H(5)O(2))(3) reveals an octahedral co-ordination at the Ni centre, while the crystal structure of [Ni(III)(bis[9]aneNS(2)-C(2)H(4))](ClO(4))(6)·(H(3)O)(3)·3H(2)O exhibits a more distorted co-ordination. In the homoleptic analogue, [Ni(III)([9]aneS(3))(2)](ClO(4))(3), structurally characterized at 30 K, the Ni-S distances [2.249(6), 2.251(5) and 2.437(2) A] are consistent with a Jahn-Teller distorted octahedral stereochemistry. [Ni([9]aneNS(2)-CH(3))(2)](PF(6))(2) shows a one-electron oxidation process in MeCN (0.2 M NBu(4)PF(6), 293 K) at E(½)=+1.10 V versus Fc(+)/Fc assigned to a formal Ni(III)/Ni(II) couple. [Ni(bis[9]aneNS(2)-C(2)H(4))](PF(6))(2) exhibits a one-electron oxidation process at E(½)=+0.98 V and a reduction process at E(½)=-1.25 V assigned to Ni(II)/Ni(III) and Ni(II)/Ni(I) couples, respectively. The multi-frequency X-, L-, S-, K-band EPR spectra of the 3+ cations and their 86.2% (61)Ni-enriched analogues were simulated. Treatment of the spin Hamiltonian parameters by perturbation theory reveals that the SOMO has 50.6%, 42.8% and 37.2% Ni character in [Ni([9]aneNS(2)-CH(3))(2)](3+), [Ni(bis[9]aneNS(2)-C(2)H(4))](3+) and [Ni([9]aneS(3))(2)](3+), respectively, consistent with DFT calculations, and reflecting delocalisation of charge onto the S-thioether centres. EPR spectra for [(61)Ni([9]aneS(3))(2)](3+) are consistent with a dynamic Jahn-Teller distortion in this compound.

Regioselectivity of the Claisen rearrangement in meta-allyloxy aryl ketones: an experimental and computational study, and application in the synthesis of (R)-(-)-pestalotheol D.

Abstract: A study of the regioselectivity of the Claisen rearrangement of meta-allyloxy aryl ketones showed that the electron-withdrawing carbonyl group has a major influence and strongly directs rearrangement to the more hindered ortho position. However, when the ketone is part of a ring structure, its electronic effect can be negated by conversion into its triisopropylsilyl enol ether, which dramatically reverses the regiochemistry of the Claisen rearrangement. DFT calculations suggest that the effect is electronic although there is also a steric effect of the bulky silyl group. This strategy for influencing the regiochemical outcome of the Claisen rearrangement was then employed in a short synthesis of the furo[2,3-g]chromene, (-)-pestalotheol D, that confirms the absolute stereochemistry of the natural product.

Cycloaddition of homochiral dihydroimidazoles: A 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition route to optically active pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazoles

Abstract: N-Alkylation of optically active 1-benzyl-4-phenyl-4,5-dihydroimidazole with active alkyl halides and treatment of the so-formed 4,5-dihydroimidazolium ions with DBU in the presence of a range of electron-deficient alkene dipolarophiles, constitutes a ‘one-pot’ cascade terminating in a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction that affords optically active pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazoles. Three bonds of the so-formed pyrrolidine moiety are constructed in this cascade. The cycloaddition follows an endo approach of dipole and dipolarophile with anti geometry of the dipole and facial selectivity derived from the phenyl substituent. Inter- and intramolecular cycloaddition modes are observed.