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The terpenols L(-)-borneol, (1S2S3S5R)-3-pinanol, (-)-menthol, and (-)-myrtenol are easily available chiral alcohols for the preparation of enantiomerically pure catechol esters 1-4-H2. Those ligands are used for the hierarchical assembly of triple lithium-bridged dinuclear titanium(IV) triscatecholate helicates Li[Li3(1-4)6Ti2]. In solution, the dimeric species are in a solvent dependent equilibrium with the monomer Li2[(1-4)3Ti]. The equilibrium is studied by ¹H NMR. CD spectroscopy indicates that the configuration at the complex units of the enantiomerically pure dimeric α-chiral derivatives Li[Li3(1-3)6Ti2] is opposite to the configuration of the monomers Li2[(1-3)3Ti]. For the γ-chiral complex Li2[(4)3Ti] only a de of 25% is observed and in this case no interpretation of the mechanism of stereocontrol is possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perylene bisimides are widely studied due to their various applications. Most research is carried out on neutral molecules but charged species are essential in the context of organic electronics and photovoltaics. In this study, we carry out ultrafast transient absorption spectroelectrochemistry and coherent two-dimensional electronic spectroelectrochemistry on three different neutral perylene bisimide derivatives as well as their singly and doubly reduced species. We compare an unsubstituted, flat parent perylene bisimide with two twisted ones that introduce spin-orbit coupling, leading to enhanced intersystem crossing. The internal conversion from higher excited states to the lowest electronically excited state occurs in the picosecond regime with lifetimes significantly shorter for the charged species compared to the neutral ones. Coherent oscillations of the transients for the flat dianion of parent perylene bisimide indicate the occurrence of Fermi resonance. The corresponding vibrational coupling and the superposition of the participating vibrational modes may lead to an enhanced charge separation and triplet formation.

The reaction of the neutral diphosphanide [((Cl)Im(Dipp))P-P(Cl)(Dipp)] (6) ((Cl)Im(Dipp) = 4,5-dichloro-1,3-bis(Dipp)-imidazol-2-yl; Dipp = 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl) with methyl triflate (MeOTf) leads to the formation of cationic diphosphane [((Cl)Im(Dipp))(Me)P-P(Cl)(Dipp)](+) (8+) in a stereoselective methylation. In contrast, reacting with the Lewis acid GaCl3 yields cationic diphosphene [((Cl)Im(Dipp))P=P(Dipp)](+) (7+), which is explained by a low P-Cl bond dissociation energy. The significantly polarized P=P double bond in 7+ allows for its utilization as an acceptor for nucleophiles - the reaction with Cl(-) regenerates diphosphanide and the reaction with PMe3 gives cation [((Cl)Im(Dipp))P-P(PMe3)(Dipp)] (9+). In depth DFT investigation provides detailed insights into the bonding situation of the reported compounds.

The enantiomerically and diastereomerically pure tricyclic oxazolidine cis-10 was prepared in a five step synthesis starting with 1-bromo-2-iodobenzene. Me3SiCN and allylSiMe3 reacted with cis-10 in the presence of TiCl4 to form the nitrile (3S)-11 and the allyl derivative (3S)-12 with high diastereoselectivity. The hydrogenolytic removal of the chiral auxiliary failed, since the endocyclic benzyl-N-bond was cleaved simultaneously. Therefore the N-(hydroxyethyl)amide of (3S)-12 was transformed into the enamide 27, which was hydrolyzed to afford the secondary amide 28. The enamide strategy to remove the chiral auxiliary from (3S)-11 led to complete racemization due to fast deprotonation in α-position of the cyano moiety. Two pairs of enantiomers 30a-b/ent-30a-b with prototypical σ substituents at the N-atom were prepared. The low σ1 affinity of the tetrahydro-2-benzazepines (ent-30b, Ki = 407 nM) is attributed to the short distance between the two lipophilic aromatic moieties.

A series of novel benzene centered mono-, bis- and tris-1,3,5-triazapentadiene ligands was synthesized and investigated with respect to their reactivity towards triphenylborane. The resulting blue-fluorescent boron complexes with a six-membered ring chelate structure show excellent thermal and chemical stability. All title compounds were completely characterized including X-ray diffraction studies for and . Whereas the absorption spectra of all three classes of compounds are similar, the fluorescence spectra show distinct differences. Thus, the emission spectra of show Stokes shifts of 4100-6700 cm(-1) with low quantum yields both in solution and in the solid state. However, the more bulky compounds show markedly larger molar extinction coefficients and smaller bathochromic shifts compared to . For all compounds, we observe significantly more intense red-shifted fluorescence in the solid state compared to that in dichloromethane solutions. For the interpretation of the absorption properties TD-DFT studies were performed based on DFT geometry optimizations.

We have synthesized a series of luminescent trigonal [CuX(dtbphen)] (X = I (), Br (), Cl (), CN (), dtbphen = 2,9-di-tert-butylphenanthroline) and tetrahedral [Cu2(μ-I)2(L)2] (L = phenanthroline (), 2,9-dimethylphenanthroline ()) copper diimine complexes. Bearing in mind the chemical simplicity of this class of long-known Cu(i) phenanthroline compounds, it is surprising that they exhibit non-trivial photophysical properties, which have not been fully recognized. They display broad XMLCT absorption between ca. 450-600 nm, and the broad emission between ca. 550-850 nm in the solid state occurring with lifetimes on the μs timescale indicates phosphorescence, although the energetic overlap between excitation and emission suggests thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) from S1. In line with the latter assumption, low temperature measurements of in the solid state show an energetic separation of emission and excitation. However, a counter-intuitive decrease of emission intensity and simultaneous increase of the emission lifetime at low temperatures are observed for , which indicates two triplet states also being involved. Our DFT and TD-DFT calculations show that emission from the lowest excited triplet state T1 is of (3)LMXCT nature, separated by only ca. 0.16 eV from S1. Low temperature photophysical measurements at 77 K in a glassy matrix of in 2-Me-THF and of in the solid state are in agreement with the theoretical results, revealing in addition that π-interactions in the solid state also greatly influence the photophysical properties, making a clear conclusion towards TADF ambiguous. This study suggests that other related simple and long-known Cu(i) systems may exhibit a similar, more complex excited state behavior than previously appreciated, involving several emitting states and important intermolecular interactions.

The terpenols l(-)-borneol, (1S2S3S5R)-3-pinanol, (-)-menthol, and (-)-myrtenol are easily available chiral alcohols for the preparation of enantiomerically pure catechol esters -H2. Those ligands are used for the hierarchical assembly of triple lithium-bridged dinuclear titanium(iv) triscatecholate helicates Li[Li3()6Ti2]. In solution, the dimeric species are in a solvent dependent equilibrium with the monomer Li2[()3Ti]. The equilibrium is studied by (1)H NMR. CD spectroscopy indicates that the configuration at the complex units of the enantiomerically pure dimeric α-chiral derivatives Li[Li3()6Ti2] is opposite to the configuration of the monomers Li2[()3Ti]. For the γ-chiral complex Li2[()3Ti] only a de of 25% is observed and in this case no interpretation of the mechanism of stereocontrol is possible.

A large set of tetrahydro-2-benzazepines with an α-hydroxy or α-(aryl)alkoxy substituted benzyl moiety in the 5-position was prepared according to the recently reported C6C1 + C3N synthetic strategy. The Heck reaction of 2-iodobenzaldehyde acetal 4 and the subsequent Stetter reaction led to the ketone 7, which was reduced diastereoselectively to form the like-configured alcohol 8. The diastereomeric unlike-configured alcohol 9 was obtained by a Mitsunobu inversion of 8. Alkylation and reductive cyclization of the diastereomeric alcohols 8 and 9 provided like- and unlike-configured 2-benzazepines 13 and 23, which allowed the introduction of various substituents at the N-atom. Analysis of the relationship between the structure and the σ1 affinity revealed that large substituents such as the butyl, benzyl or 4-phenylbutyl moiety at the benzazepine N-atom resulted in high affinity ligands. A p-methoxybenzyl ether is less tolerated by the σ1 receptor than a methyl ether or an alcohol. The unlike-configured alcohols 25d and 27d show slightly higher σ1 affinity than their like-configured diastereomers 15d and 17d. With respect to the σ1 affinity, σ1/σ2 selectivity and lipophilic ligand efficiency, like- and unlike-configured alcohols 15d and 25d represent the most promising σ1 ligands of this series. Interactions of the novel 2-benzazepines with various binding sites of the NMDA receptor were not observed.

Two (aryl)PXY starting materials (aryl = mesityl or 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl; X,Y = Cl, Br) were reacted with lithiated conjugated enynes (derived from 2-methylbutenyne or 1-ethynylcyclohexene) to yield the respective (aryl)bis(enynyl)phosphanes. Their reaction with HB(C6F5)2 gave the heterocyclic five-membered zwitterionic borata-diene compounds containing the aryl group and one unchanged enynyl substituent at phosphorus. The borata-alkene products were thought to arise from a two step process of regioselective alkyne hydroboration followed by an internal phosphane attack on the boryldiene unit. Three examples of the ring-closed borata-alkene type products were characterized by X-ray diffraction.

The intramolecular vicinal frustrated P/B Lewis pair (FLP) Mes2PCH2CH2B(C6F5)2 readily abstracts a methyl anion equivalent from dimethylzirconocene to give the salt [Cp2ZrCH3](+) [Mes2PCH2CH2B(CH3)(C6F5)2](-) that features phosphane coordination to the zirconium cation. The analogous reaction between this FLP and Cp*2Zr(CH3)2 yields the analogous salt that, however, features a methyl bridged ([Zr]···H3C-[B]) tight ion pair structure. Both these products were characterized by X-ray diffraction. They both undergo 1,2-[Zr(+)]/P addition to carbon dioxide. The [Cp2ZrCH3](+) containing compound also adds to benzaldehyde or to p-tolyl isocyanate to give the respective [Zr(+)]/P addition products which were characterized by X-ray diffraction.

O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl coumarin 1 and 2 dicoumarol have been synthesized and their anion binding properties have been examined in organic and aqueous organic solvents. Compound 1 senses F(-) selectively over the other anions examined in CHCl3 by exhibiting a greater increase in emission. In contrast, compound 2 shows similar selectivity in CHCl3 giving ratiometric change in emission as well as color. In addition, both 1 and 2 are capable of detecting F(-) in water ensuing the cleavage of Si-O bonds. They also show cell permeability and demonstrate their abilities to detect F(-) in a living system.

2-Propenylbis(pentafluorophenyl)phosphane adds Piers' borane [HB(C(6)F(5))(2)] with anti-Markovnikov orientation to yield the intramolecular vicinal frustrated P/B Lewis pair 10. The FLP 10 adds pyridine, acetonitrile or alkyl isocyanides to form simple boron Lewis acid adducts 11-14, all of which were characterized by X-ray diffraction. The FLP 10 reacts with trans-cinnamic aldehyde to give a boron carbonyl adduct 15 that was characterized by an X-ray crystal structure analysis. In contrast, the geminal FLP (C(6)F(5))(2)P-CHEt-B(C(6)F(5))(2) (3) undergoes 1,2-carbonyl addition reactions with benzaldehyde or trans-cinnamic aldehyde to yield the respective five-membered heterocyclic products (7, 8, both characterized by X-ray diffraction). The FLP 10 undergoes 1,2-P/B addition to p-tolylacetylene and to 2-methylbutenyne, respectively, to yield the corresponding six-membered heterocyclic products 17 and 18, respectively (both were characterized by X-ray diffraction).

The vicinal frustrated P/B Lewis pair (FLP) Mes(2)PCH(2)CH(2)B(C(6)F(5))(2) reacts with 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (9-BBN) by C(6)F(5)vs. H exchange at boron to give the new [B]-H functionalized FLP Mes(2)PCH(2)CH(2)B(H)(C(6)F(5)) (4) and 9-C(6)F(5)-BBN. The latter was characterized as an isonitrile adduct by X-ray diffraction. The new FLP 4 forms an adduct with pyridine and it undergoes clean hydroboration reactions with 1-pentyne or added styrene or dimesitylvinylphosphane. The products formed stable adducts with pyridine; two such examples were also characterized by X-ray crystal structure analysis. A similar alkyl vs. hydrogen exchange was observed upon treatment of an Al/N based Lewis pair, iBu(2)Al-(Me(3)Si)C=C(H)-N(CH(2)CH(2))(2)NMe (14), with 9-BBN.

The FLP-mesityl azide addition products 5, formed by FLP-addition to the terminal azide nitrogen atom, undergo N-N bond cleavage in an unusual variant of the Staudinger reaction upon thermolysis or photolysis to give an internally borane stabilized [P]=NH phosphinimine and a dimethylindazole derivative.

The hitherto unreported reactions of β-alkoxyvinyl polyfluoroalkyl ketones with ethyl isocyanoacetate and equimolar amounts of potassium-tert-butoxide proceeded mainly in the β-position of the α,β-unsaturated ketones in cases of α-nonsubstituted 1a–e and α-methyl substituted ketones 1g–j. Other α- or β-substituted ketones 1f,k–o gave mainly products 4 of initial attack at the carbonyl carbon. Depending on the solvent, the major products of β-attack do exist in different tautomeric forms. Generally the openchain enol tautomers 5 predominate in the polar DMSO-d(6), while the cyclic γ-hemiaminals 8 are the major tautomers in the less polar CDCl(3). Acid treatment of the latter compounds 8 led to the hitherto unknown ethyl 5-polyfluoroalkyl-pyrrole-2-carboxylates 11 by elimination of formic acid. Catalytic hydrogenation of pyrrole 11a was used for the synthesis of earlier unknown 5-trifluoromethyl proline 16.

The reaction of η(2)-iminozirconocene chloride complexes with trimethylsilylethynyl lithium leads to rapid C-C coupling at room temperature to yield the corresponding five-membered aza-zirconacycloallenoids. Such compounds were also obtained by trapping of in situ generated zirconocene with alkynyl imines.

The frustrated Lewis pair B(C(6)F(5))(3)/P(o-tolyl)(3) (4a) reacts with 4,6-decadiyne to give the trans-1,2-addition product 5. In contrast, the B(C(6)F(5))(3)/P(t)Bu(3) FLP (4b) reacts with this substrate to give the trans-1,4-adduct trans-6. The cumulene trans-6 undergoes trans-/cis-isomerization upon photolysis to give a ca. 1:1 trans-6/cis-6 mixture. The FLP 4b reacts with 2,6-hexadiyne at r.t. to yield a ca. 4:1 mixture of their trans-1,2- and trans-1,4-addition products (7,8). DFT calculations showed that the zwitterionic 1,4-addition products are favored under thermodynamic control. Thermolysis of the kinetic trans-1,2-addition product (7) (80 °C, bromobenzene) does not lead to the thermodynamically favored 1,4-isomer (8), but instead elimination of isobutylene occurs to the formal trans-1,2-adduct (9) of the B(C(6)F(5))(3)/PH(t)Bu(2) pair. Compounds 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 were analyzed by X-ray diffraction.

A methylzirconocene cation (with a [B(C(6)F(5))(4)](-) counterion) transfers a methyl cation equivalent to diphenylphosphino-alkynes to generate (η(2)-alkyne)ZrCp(2) complexes bearing the [RC≡CPPh(2)Me](+) ligand. Two examples of the PMe(3) ligand stabilized [(Me(3)P)Cp(2)Zr(η(2)-RC≡CPPh(2)Me)(+)][B(C(6)F(5))(4)(-)] salts were characterized by X-ray diffraction.

We report a convenient and smooth protocol for the high-yielding synthesis of a triphosphane and an iso-tetraphosphane from a readily accessible tri(pyrazolyl)phosphane. The products are obtained from a one-pot reaction at room temperature and form complexes with the Fe(CO)(4)-fragment.

In this contribution the synthesis and characterization of two distinct, yet similar, zirconium complexes, [(π-P-nacnac-CN)Cp] and [(π-nacnac-CN)Cp] zirconium dichloride were discussed. In addition to the complexes, Lewis acid adducts [B(C(6)F(5))(3)] of the complexes were isolated and characterized as well. It was found that while structurally similar, the complexes behave distinctly upon adduct formation and in their ethylene polymerizations.

Voluminous amides were coupled with deactivated, sterically hindered aryl chlorides in excellent yields providing products, which have not been efficiently accessible by transition metal catalysis so far. Application of an unsymmetric bisphosphine ligand was critical for the high catalytic activity.

Reaction of the acetylene Mes(2)P-C≡C-Ar with B(C(6)F(5))(3) at rt gives a zwitterionic phosphirenium product, which reacts further at >100 °C to complete the 1,1-carboboration reaction., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011)

The tetrahydroazepine-annulated [3]ferrocenophane carbamate (4) was synthesized by two different linear routes starting from the readily available α-dimethylamino[3]ferrocenophane-ortho-carbaldehyde rac-6. The carbamate directed lithiation of 4 resulted in a selective attack at a (Cp)C-H bond at the higher substituted "lower" [3]ferrocenophane Cp-ring to eventually yield the respective ester (18) after treatment with ClCO(2)Me., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011)

Hydroboration of the electron poor phosphine (1-propenyl)P(C(6)F(5))(2) with Piers' borane [HB(C(6)F(5))(2)] gave the geminal frustrated Lewis pair (C(6)F(5))(2)P-CH(Et)-B(C(6)F(5))(2). It undergoes 1,2-addition reactions to an alkene and an alkyne and to the C=N bond of an isocyanate. With mesityl azide it undergoes a 1,3-addition reaction.

Starting from 1,1'-diacetylferrocene the ortho-amino,α-dimethylamino[3]ferrocenophane system 3 was prepared. This was converted to the o-imino,α-Cp-derivative 6. Subsequent treatment with e.g. an excess of methyllithium followed by ZrCl(2)(NMe(2))(2)(thf)(2) and Me(2)SiCl(2) eventually gave the [3]ferrocenophane based Cp-amido zirconium complex 11b. In a similar way the [3]ferrocenophane derived fluorenyl-Cp ansa-zirconocene dichloride complex 20 was obtained. The 20-methylalumoxane (MAO) system is an active homogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalyst for ethylene polymerization. The 11b-MAO system reacts efficiently with an ethene-1-octene mixture to yield a mixture of linear polyethylene plus the ethene-1-octene copolymer. The compounds 5, 8, 10b, 11b, 13, 14, and 20 were characterized by X-ray diffraction., (© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011)

The frustrated Lewis pair Mes(2)P-CH(2)CH(2)-B(C(6)F(5))(2) reacts with excess 6,6-dimethylpentafulvene to yield a P/B-Lewis pair addition product to an elusive pentafulvene [6 + 4] cycloaddition dimer. This observation may open a new field of utilization of frustrated Lewis pair chemistry.

The reactions of zinc dialkyls, R(2)Zn (1a-d; R = Me (a), Et (b), iPr (c) and tBu (d)), with N,N-dialkylhydroxylamines, HO-NR'(2) (2a-c; R' = Me (a), Et (b) and iPr (c)), afford organozinc hydroxylamides under alkane extrusion. Species of different nuclearity are observed, depending on the hydroxylamine 2 employed. The smaller 2a and 2b give pentanuclear complexes of the general formula Zn(RZn)(4)O-NR'(2))(6) (R = Me, Et, iPr and tBu; R' = Me and Et), whereas the derivatives of 2c are tetramers of the general formula (RZn)(4)(O-NR'(2))(4) (R = Me, Et and iPr; R' = iPr) as governed by bulk issues about the N-donor. Due to the ability of the double-donor unit O-NR(2) to change its bridging mode, two coordination isomers exist for both types of compounds. The pentanuclear species crystallise either in a heterofenestrane or an octahedroid motif. For these species, the central Zn atom exhibits either coordination number 4 or 6; in solution, a rapid change between coordination isomers is observed. Due to the absence of a central Zn atom in the tetranuclear species, these aggregate in heterocubane geometries or such derived thereof. They display the O-N units in either κ(3)O or κ(2)O;κ(1)N mode. The tetranuclear species are also yielded with the less sterically encumbered precursors under thermodynamic conditions (i.e. reflux), as exemplified by the reaction of Me(2)Zn (1a) with HO-NEt(2) (2b). They are non-dynamic in solution, showing that a central cation is mandatory for the fluxional behaviour observed for the pentanuclear derivatives. DFT studies on the O-NMe(2) series reveal that the relative energies of the pentazinc isomers become more similar with increasing RZn group size; possible conversions of these to their tetrazinc counterparts were also scrutinised. Two κ(3)O-bridged degradation products of hydroxylamide complexes could be structurally characterised. They were formed either by partial product hydrolysis, or by in situ oxygenation of the starting zinc dialkyl.

An oxidative desulfurization-fluorination protocol has been used to synthesize (2S)-2-(difluoromethyl)-N-tosylpyrrolidine (6a) and (2S)-2-(trifluoromethyl)-N-tosylpyrrolidine (7a) from the (2S)-prolinol-derived (2S)-2-(4-chlorophenylthiomethyl)-N-tosylpyrrolidine (9) or (2S)-2-(dithian-2-yl)-N-tosylpyrrolidine (5). Efforts to prepare 3,3-difluoroalanine similarly from an N-protected S-aryl-cysteine ester 17 gave only traces of the target compound 18. Instead, an unique N-(α,α-difluorobenzyl)-N-α',α'-dibromoglycine ester 19 was formed by an unprecedented sequence of reaction steps. A plausible mechanism is suggested involving a sulfur-assisted deoxygenation-difluorination of an imino oxygen and a haloform reaction like carbon-carbon bond fission as key-steps. Efforts to prepare (2S)-2-(fluoromethyl)-N-tosylpyrrolidine (12) from (2S)-N-tosylprolinol (3) by treatment with Fluolead™ (1-tert-butyl-4-trifluorosulfanyl-3,5-dimethylbenzene) gave only 5% of the target compound, but 95% of (3R)-3-fluoro-N-tosylpiperidine (11a) by ring enlargement.

The key step in the synthesis of the 7,9-diazabicyclo[4.2.2]decane system was a modified Dieckmann condensation of piperazinebutyrate 11, which makes use of trapping the first cyclized intermediate with TMS-Cl. Reduction of the bicyclic ketone 14 with LiBH(4) at -90 °C provided diastereoselectively (>99 : 1) the syn-configured alcohol 15a, which was converted into the final alcohol and ethers 16a-g. The configuration at the 2-position was established by X-ray structure analysis of methyl and ethyl ethers 15b and 15c. In contrast to bicyclic systems with a three-carbon bridge, inversion of the configuration at the 2-position of the alcohol 15a failed to give the inverted alcohol 19a. However, an unselective reduction of the ketone 24 with L-Selectride led to the diastereomeric alcohols 16a and 25a in the ratio 36 : 64. LiAlH(4) reduction of the tosylate 20 and the alkene 18 yielded the diazabicyclo-decane 26 and -decene 27 without further substituents at the four-carbon bridge. The σ(1) and σ(2) receptor affinities were investigated in receptor binding studies with radioligands. All test compounds showed a lower σ(1) affinity than the corresponding bicyclic derivatives with a three-membered bridge. The reduced σ(1) receptor affinity is attributed to the larger four-membered bridge. This hypothesis is supported by the alkene 27, which represents the most potent σ(1) ligand of this series (K(i) = 7.5 nM). In the alkene 27 the size and flexibility of the bridge is considerably reduced by the double bond. The methyl ether 25b and the unsubstituted derivatives 26 and 27 revealed moderate inhibition of the growth of the human tumor cell lines A-427, 5637 and MCF-7. Again, these compounds are less potent than the analogues with a three-membered bridge. The IC(50)-value of the most potent σ(1) ligand 27 against the small cell lung cancer cell line A-427 (IC(50) = 10 μM) should be emphasized, since this cell line is particularly sensitive to homologues with a three-carbon bridge.

Coupling of the N,N-dimethylacrylamides 6a-c with cyclopentadienide resulted in the formation of the substituted 3-dimethylamino-1,2-dihydropentalnenes 2a-c. Deprotonation followed by metallation with CpZrCl(3)·DME gave the substituted zirconocenes 12a-c. The reaction of 3-dimethylamino-1-methyl-dihydropentalene 2a with ZrCl(2)(NMe(2))(2)·2THF resulted in a unique coupling between a pair of the aminodihydropentalene derivatives to yield an unsymmetrically bridged novel ansa-zirconocene framework (9a). Treatment of the 1,1-dimethyl-substituted substrate 2b with this Zr-amido reagent in contrast resulted in a clean deprotonation and formation of the unbridged bis(dimethylaminohydropentalenyl)ZrCl(2) complexes 10b. The compounds 2a, 9a, meso-10b, 12a and 12c were characterized by X-ray diffraction.

Hydroboration of dimesitylvinylphosphine with Piers' borane [HB(C6F5)2] gives the ethylene-bridged intramolecular frustrated P/B Lewis pair 1. It adds pyridine, tert-butyl isocyanide or pivalonitrile to the strongly electrophilic boron center to yield the respective adducts 5-7. Compound 1 undergoes a 1,1-phosphine/borane addition to the terminal nitrogen center of phenyl azide to yield the five-membered heterocycle 8, featuring a pendant N=N-Ph. This can be regarded as a boron-stabilized intermediate of a Staudinger reaction. Benzaldehyde and phenyl isocyanate undergo 1,2-P/B additions of 1 to their reactive carbonyl groups to yield the corresponding six-membered heterocycles 9 and 10, respectively. The P/B Lewis pair reacts with nitrosobenzene by 1,2-addition to the -N=O unit under P-N and O-B bond formation to give the six-membered heterocycle 11. The compounds 5-11 were characterized by X-ray crystal structure analyses.

2,3-Dihydroxybenzylic esters with Frechet-type dendritic branches as the alcohol component form, in a hierarchical self-assembly process, disk shaped dendrimers when titanium(IV) and lithium ions are added.

The frustrated Lewis pair P(o-tolyl)(3)/B(C(6)F(5))(3) reacts with 1,7-octadiyne by acetylene C-C coupling to yield the zwitterionic product 2a. In contrast, the P(o-tolyl)(3)/B(C(6)F(5))(3) Lewis pair reacts with 1,6-heptadiyne by a sequence involving 1,1-carboboration of a terminal acetylene to eventually yield the heterocyclic product 4.

Bis(alkynyl)silanes (1a,b) react with bis(pentafluorophenyl)-borane to 3-boryl-2,5-bis(trimethylsilyl) substituted siloles 3a,b. Subsequent irradiation of 3 with Pyrex filtered UV light resulted in the complete conversion to the new 5-boryl-2,3-bis(trimethylsilyl) substituted siloles 4a,b.

Reductive amination of the bicyclic ketone 4 led diastereoselectively to endo-configured amines, which were transformed into the amides 7-10. The synthesis of the diastereomers 25 with an exo-configured amino moiety at position 6 was only successful after deactivation of both N-atoms of the 1,4-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane system. The N-1-oxide 19 with an N-4-tosyl moiety was the crucial intermediate, which allows SN2 substitution with NaN3 under inversion of the configuration at position 6. Whereas the endo-configured pyrrolidine 7a (WMS-1302) revealed a kappa receptor affinity of 73 nM, the exo-configured diastereomer 25a was almost inactive at the kappa receptor (Ki > 1 microM). Replacement of the 3,4-dichlorophenylacetyl residue by other acyl and sulfonyl residues showed that it is essential for high kappa affinity. The kappa receptor affinities of the conformationally constrained pyrrolidines 7a and 25a were correlated with the dihedral angle N(pyrrolidine)-C-C-N(acetamide). A systematic conformational analysis of the potent but flexible kappa agonist 2 showed that a dihedral angle of 168 degrees (as in 25a) is energetically more disfavored than a dihedral angle of 58 degrees (7a). However, even the conformation with a dihedral angle of 58 degrees does not represent an energy minimum, which might explain the reduced kappa affinity of 7a.

Addition of B(C(6)F(5))(3) to an alpha-dimethylamino-o-vinylferrocenophane system gives a frustrated Lewis pair that undergoes intramolecular 1,2-N-B addition to the alkene.

Nitrile insertion into a zirconacycloallenoid complex leads to the formation of a seven-membered ring product with an attached boratirane unit.

Condensation of allylcyclopentadiene 1 with acetone in the presence of pyrrolidine gave 2-allyl-6,6-dimethylfulvene (2). Methyllithium addition gave lithium 1-allyl-3-tert-butylcyclopentadienide (3). Transmetallation with 0.5 equiv. of ZrCl4 yielded the respective functionalized zirconocene dichloride complexes meso-4 and rac-4, which were both isolated isomerically pure. With 10 mol% of [Cl2(PCy3)2Ru=CHPh] the rac-4 diastereoisomer underwent a clean intramolecular ring-closing olefin metathesis reaction to yield the ansa-zirconocene complex rac-6. The complexes meso-4, rac-4 and rac-6 were characterized by X-ray diffraction. Treatment of the open metallocenes meso-4 and rac-4, respectively, with excess methylalumoxane gave rather active ethene polymerization catalysts. The corresponding catalyst derived from the conformationally restricted bulky ansa-metallocene rac-6 is markedly less active.

Bis-acylhydrazones of 2,6-pyridinedicarbaldehyde are introduced as planar pentadentate ligands for the coordination of lanthanide(III) ions. With large cations (e.g. lanthanum(III)) 1 : 1 as well as 2 : 1 ligand-to-metal complexes are formed depending on the stoichiometry of the reaction. The different complexes are distinguished by NMR spectroscopy and ESI MS in solution and they can be characterized by X-ray diffraction. With the small lutetium(III) ion only the 1 : 1 complex is formed. In the 1 : 1 compounds, anions such as nitrate fill up the coordination site at the metal ion. However, in some cases anion substitution by solvent molecules is observed in the solid state leading to cationic and even dicationic coordination compounds.

A series of benzobisimidazolium salts 1a-d has been prepared by tetraalkylation of benzobisimidazol. The salts 1a-d react with two equivalents of [Pt(Cl)2dppe] in the presence of 2.2 equivalents of sodium acetate to yield the dinuclear biscarbene complexes 2a-d. Under the same reaction conditions, the benzobisimidazolium salts react with only one equivalent of [Pt(Cl)2dppe] and one equivalent of sodium acetate to yield the monometalated carbene/benzimidazolium derivatives 3a,3c. Benzobisimidazolium salt 1c reacts with two equivalents of nickelocene to give the biscarbene bridged dinuclear nickel complex 4. Treatment of 4 with two equivalents of 4,4-bipyridine leads to the formation of the CpNiII-cornered molecular rectangle 5.

The investigation of the electronic and steric properties of 4,5-disubstituted imidazolylidenes is reported, as well as their successful application as organocatalysts in the formation of gamma-butyrolactones by conjugate Umpolung.

Efficient selective synthetic pathways to the O-(tert-butyl)diphenylsilyl-protected 2-hydroxyferrocene carbaldehyde enantiomers [(p-S)- 12 and (p-R)- 12, each >99.5% ee] are described. The general synthesis starts from Kagan's ferrocene carbaldehyde acetal [(S,S)- 6], bearing the (2S,4S)-[4-(methoxymethyl)-1,3-dioxan-2-yl] chiral auxiliary. The synthetic route to (p-S)- 12 involves a sequence of directed ortho-lithiation/iodination, followed by acetoxylation (Cu2O/acetic acid), saponification and protection by the TBDPS silyl-protective group. Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the chiral acetal then gave the O-TBDPS-protected (p-S)-configurated hydroxyferrocene carbaldehyde enantiomer in an overall yield of 76% over 4 steps. The (p-R)- 12 enantiomer was prepared by a similar route starting from (S,S)- 6 using the -SiMe3 group as a reversible blocking group to direct the required functionalization to the (p-R)-series. A total of six steps furnished (p-R)- 12 in a combined yield of 27%. The aldehyde enantiomers of 12 were used for the synthesis of the corresponding N-2,6-diisopropylphenyl-imines. Subsequent deprotection gave the new ferrocene-salimine ligands 2-hydroxy-[N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)iminomethyl]-ferrocene (p-S)- 2a and (p-R)- 2a, respectively. We also synthesized the (p-S)-enantiomers of the corresponding N-mesityl and N-pentafluorophenyl aldimine derivatives [(p-S)- 2b, (p-S)- 2c].

Reaction of the (p-S) enantiomers of the N-aryl-substituted planar chiral alpha-hydroxy-ferrocene carbaldimines [(p-S)- (aryl=2,6-diisopropylphenyl (), -C6F5 ()] with LDA gave the corresponding lithiated "ferrocene-saliminato" systems (p-S)- and (p-S)-, respectively. Both were characterized by X-ray diffraction. In the crystal, compound (p-S)- features an associated cyclotrimeric structure with a six-membered alternating Li3O3 core while (p-S)- shows a cyclotetrameric structure around a central cubic Li4O4 core unit. The reagent (p-S)- was treated with the group 4 metal tetrahalides to yield the bis(ferrocene-saliminato)MCl2 complexes (Ti), (Zr), and (Hf). In the crystal the latter feature single diastereomeric octahedral (p-S,p-S,Lambda)- (Zr) and (p-S,p-S,Lambda)- (Hf) structures, whereas the titanium analogue shows both the (p-S,p-S,Lambda)- and the (p-S,p-S,Delta)- diastereoisomers in the crystal. Upon dissolving, we observe a rapid Delta- to Lambda- isomerization to occur. The latter is the only isomer observed in solution under thermodynamic control. In contrast, the pure Lambda- and Lambda- isomers equilibrate in solution with a second isomer to a ca. 1:1 mixture. Treatment of (p-S)- (aryl=C6F5) with TiCl4 or ZrCl4 gave the analogous octahedral complexes and , respectively, as single diastereoisomers. Treatment of the neutral ferrocene-salimines (p-S)- with ZrCl4 or HfCl4 gave the respective N-aryl-substituted zwitterionic (ferrocene-salimine)2MCl4 complexes (: Zr, 2,6-diisopropylphenyl; : Hf, 2,6-diisopropylphenyl; : Zr, mesityl; : Zr, C6F5), that contain the zwitterionic iminium-tautomers O-bonded to the metal. Activation of a variety of the complexes and with methylalumoxane gave homogeneous ethylene polymerization catalysts that exhibit low to moderate catalyst activities in the 20 degrees C to 125 degrees C temperature range.

Acylhydrazones of 2,3-dihydroxybenzaldehyde are easily accessible and afford heterodinuclear helicates; the self-assembly is specific when the resulting coordination compounds are neutral in charge.

Hydroboration of allyl(dimesityl)phosphane with HB(C(6)F(5))(2) gives the intramolecular five-membered P-B Lewis pair 7, that was characterized by X-ray diffraction. Similarly, HB(C(6)F(5))(2) addition to the substrates (mesityl)(2)P-CR[double bond, length as m-dash]CH(2) (R = CH(3), Ph) yield the corresponding (mesityl)(2)P(micro-CHRCH(2))B(C(6)F(5))(2) products 9a (R = CH(3)) and 9b (R = Ph) that show a weak intramolecular P...B interaction. The activation energy of the (reversible) P...B cleavage of these substrates was determined by dynamic (19)F NMR spectroscopy (9a: Delta G(not equal)(inv) (280 K) = 11.7 +/- 0.4 kcal mol(-1)). Compounds 9b and 9c show similar values. Compound 9c was prepared by HB(C(6)F(5))(2) addition to (mesityl)(2)P-CH=CHSiMe(3). Compound 9a reacts rapidly with dihydrogen (2.5 bar) at room temperature in pentane to give the zwitterionic H(2)-activation product (mesityl)(2)PH(+)(micro-CHMeCH(2))BH(-)(C(6)F(5))(2) (11).

The "frustrated Lewis pair" 1,8-bis(diphenylphosphino)naphthalene/B(C6F5)3 reversibly activates dihydrogen; it serves as an active catalyst for the hydrogenation of silyl enol ethers under mild reaction conditions.

Cyclic diamino plumbylenes derived from saturated heterocycles are obtained from deprotonation of diamines and subsequent reaction with PbCl(2), or by reaction of a suitable diamine with Pb[N(SiMe(3))(2)](2). Single crystal X-ray studies have been used to probe the solid state structures of a range of these complexes and have shown the fine balance between monomer and dimer formation which is related to the bulk of the organic group attached to the nitrogen atoms. Dimerisation is also shown to effect structural changes within the core of the heterocyclic plumbylene.

Staudinger reaction of dppm-CN (5) gave the corresponding bis(N-phenylphosphinimino)acetonitrile system (6). Deprotonation with LDA furnished the corresponding anionic ligand 9. Its reaction with [(CO)(2)RhCl](2) gave the corresponding kappa(2)N,N'-chelate complex 11. X-Ray diffraction revealed a non-planar boat-like conformation of the six-membered chelate ring in the crystal. Treatment of 9 with [(nbd)RhCl](2) gave the six-membered chelate complex 12 which features a different twist-like structure in the solid state, as does 13, which was formed by reacting 9 with [(cod)IrCl](2).

A series of propargylic tertiary alcohols decorated with an sp2-hybridised nitrogen donor were kinetically resolved by reagent-controlled dehydrogenative Si-O coupling with a strained, highly reactive silicon-stereogenic cyclic silane.

A four-membered cyclic intramolecular phosphane-borane adduct activates dihydrogen to yield the respective ethylene-bridged zwitterionic phosphonium-hydridoborate system, which reduces benzaldehyde.