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The attributes of implant surfaces are pivotal for successful osseointegration. Among surface engineering strategies, microtopography stands out as a promising approach to promote early cellular interactions. This study aims to design and craft a novel biomimetic osteon-like surface modification and to compare its impact on human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) with four established topographies: blank, inverted pyramids, protrusions, and grooves. Poly-ε-caprolactone samples are fabricated using 2-photon-polymerization and soft lithography, prior to analysis via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle (WCA), and protein adsorption assays. Additionally, cellular responses including cell attachment, proliferation, morphology, cytoskeletal organization, and osteogenic differentiation potential are evaluated. SEM confirms the successful fabrication of microtopographies, with minimal effect on WCA and protein adsorption. Cell attachment experiments demonstrate a significant increase on the osteon-like structure, being three times higher than on the blank. Proliferation assays indicate a fourfold increase with osteon-like microtopography compared to the blank, while ALP activity is notably elevated with osteon-like microtopography at days 7 (threefold increase over blank) and 14 (fivefold increase over blank). In conclusion, the novel biomimetic osteon-like structure demonstrates favorable responses from hMSCs, suggesting potential for promoting successful implant integration in vivo., (© 2024 The Author(s). Macromolecular Bioscience published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The ligand field greatly affects the redox properties of cerium. Herein, cerium(III) and cerium(IV) complexes supported by imidazolin-2-iminato ligands were synthesized and structurally characterized, and their electrochemical properties were investigated. Silylamine elimination of cerium(III) amide Ce{N(SiMe 3 ) 2 } 3 with imidazolin-2-imine Im R NH (R=Mes, tBu, iPr) provided imidazolin-2-iminato cerium(III) complexes, [(Im Mes N)(Im Mes NH)Ce{N(SiMe 3 ) 2 } 2 ] (1), [(Im tBu N) 2 (Im tBu NH)Ce{N(SiMe 3 ) 2 }] (2) and [(Im iPr N) 2 (Im iPr NH)Ce(μ-Im iPr N)] 2 (4) in 71-85% yields. These cerium(III) complexes were successfully oxidized by Ph 3 CCl or C 2 Cl 6 to afford imidazolin-2-iminato cerium(IV) chlorides, [(Im Mes N) 2 Ce{N(SiMe 3 ) 2 }Cl] (5), [(Im tBu N) 3 CeCl] (6) and [(Im iPr N) 2 Ce(μ-Im iPr N)Cl] 2 (7) in 70%-76% yields. All complexes were characterized by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which showed that 1, 2, 5 and 6 are monomers while 4 and 7 are dimers. The electrochemical studies indicated that the Ce(III/IV) couples for 5 and 6 are more negative than those of silylamido cerium(IV) complexes, and the Ce(III/IV) couples for 1 and 2 have a similar trend., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The new diaminoacetylene (DAA) dimorpholinoacetylene (3) was prepared from 1,1-dimorpholinoethene (1) by bromination to form the dibromoketene aminal 2, which upon lithiation afforded 3 through a Fritsch-Buttenberg-Wiechell rearrangement. Heating 3 at elevated temperatures resulted in a complete conversion into the dimer 1,1,2,4-tetramorpholino-1-buten-3-yne (4), which was used for the synthesis of four-membered cyclic bent allene (CBA) transition-metal complexes of the type [(CBA)ML n ] (5-7; ML n =AuCl, RhCl(COD), RhCl(CO) 2 ; CBA=1,3,4,4-tetramorpholino-1,2-cyclobutadiene; COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene). The reaction of 3 with tetraethylammonium bromide gave 1,2,3,4-tetramorpholinocyclobutenylium bromide (8), which reacted with bromine to form 1,2,3,4-tetra(morpholino)cyclobutenediylium bis(tribromide) (9). Compound 9 represents the first fully characterized compound containing a tetraaminocyclobutadiene dication and displays a nearly planar C 4 N 4 core as shown by X-ray diffraction analysis. Detailed quantum chemical calculations were performed to assess the aromaticity of tetraaminocyclubutadiene dications by employing the Nucleus Independent Chemical Shift (NICS) method and current density analysis., (© 2022 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

In this Concept article we provide a brief overview of the design and preparation of N-heterocyclic carbenes carrying weakly coordinating anions (WCA-NHCs). The anionic charge in these ligand systems is located on an exocyclic group, for example, B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 , tethered to the backbone of the imidazole ring, thus resembling a weakly coordinating moiety. With the general guiding principle behind the application of WCA-NHCs being the conversion of otherwise cationic NHC complexes into their overall neutral congeners, numerous transition metal as well as main group element complexes were isolated during the last decade, which are summarized herein., (© 2022 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The lithium salts of anionic N-heterocyclic thiones and selones [{(WCA-IDipp)E}Li(toluene)] (1: E=S; 2: E=Se; WCA=B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 , IDipp=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene), which contain a weakly coordinating anionic (WCA) borate moiety in the imidazole backbone were reacted with Me 3 SiCl, to furnish the silylated adducts (WCA-IDipp)ESiMe 3 (3: E=S; 4: E=Se). The reaction of the latter with [(η 5 -C 5 Me 5 )MCl 2 ] 2 (M=Rh, Ir) afforded the rhodium(III) and iridium(III) half-sandwich complexes [{(WCA-IDipp)E}MCl(η 5 -C 5 Me 5 )] (5-8). The direct reaction of the lithium salts 1 and 2 with a half or a full equivalent of [M(COD)Cl] 2 (M=Rh, Ir) afforded the monometallic complexes [{(WCA-IDipp)E}M(COD)] (9-12) or the bimetallic complexes [μ 2 -{(WCA-IDipp)E}M 2 (COD) 2 (μ 2 -Cl)] (13-16), respectively. The bonding situation in these complexes has been investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations, revealing thiolate or selenolate ligand character with negligible metal-chalcogen π-interaction., (© 2021 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The lithium complexes [(WCA-NHC)Li(toluene)] of anionic N-heterocyclic carbenes with a weakly coordinating borate moiety (WCA-NHC, WCA=B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 , NHC=IDipp=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) were used for the preparation of silver(I) or copper(I) WCA-NHC complexes. While the reactions in THF with AgCl or CuCl afforded anionic mono- and dicarbene complexes with solvated lithium counterions [Li(THF) n ] + (n=3, 4), the reactions in toluene proceeded with elimination of LiCl and formation of the neutral phosphine and arene complexes [(WCA-NHC)M(PPh 3 )] and [(WCA-NHC)M(η 2 -toluene)] (M=Ag, Cu). The latter were used for the preparation of chlorido- and iodido-bridged heterobimetallic Ag/Ru and Cu/Ru complexes [(WCA-NHC)M(μ-X) 2 Ru(PPh 3 )(η 6 -p-cymene)] (M=Ag, Cu, X=Cl; M=Ag, X=I). Surprisingly, these complexes resisted the elimination of CuCl, AgCl, or AgI, precluding WCA-NHC transmetalation., (© 2021 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The N-heterocyclic carbene-phosphinidene adducts (NHC)PH were reacted with AlMe 3 in toluene to afford the monoaluminum complexes [{(IDipp)PH}AlMe 3 ] and [{(IMes)PH}AlMe 3 ] (IDipp=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene, IMes=1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene). In contrast, the dialuminum complex [{( Me IMes)PH}(AlMe 3 ) 2 ] was obtained for Me IMes=1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-4,5-dimethylimidazolin-2-ylidene. These complexes served as initiators for the efficient ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide in toluene at 60 °C. High degrees of isoselectivity were found for the poly(rac-lactide) obtained in the presence of the monoaluminum complexes (P m up to 0.92, T m up to 191 °C), whereas almost atactic polymers were produced by the dialuminum complex. Detailed mechanistic studies reveal that the polymerization proceeds via a coordination-insertion mechanism with the carbene-phosphinidene ligands acting as stereodirecting groups., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The lithium complexes [(WCA-NHC)Li(toluene)] of anionic N-heterocyclic carbenes with a weakly coordinating anionic borate moiety (WCA-NHC) reacted with iodine, bromine, or CCl 4 to afford the zwitterionic 2-halogenoimidazolium borates (WCA-NHC)X (X=I, Br, Cl; WCA=B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 , B{3,5-C 6 H 3 (CF 3 ) 2 } 3 ; NHC=IDipp=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene, or NHC=IMes=1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene). The iodine derivative (WCA-IDipp)I (WCA=B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 ) formed several complexes of the type (WCA-IDipp)I⋅L (L=C 6 H 5 Cl, C 6 H 5 Me, CH 3 CN, THF, ONMe 3 ), revealing its ability to act as an efficient halogen bond donor, which was also exploited for the preparation of hypervalent bis(carbene)iodine(I) complexes of the type [(WCA-IDipp)I(NHC)] and [PPh 4 ][(WCA-IDipp)I(WCA-NHC)] (NHC=IDipp, IMes). The corresponding bromine complex [PPh 4 ][(WCA-IDipp) 2 Br] was isolated as a rare example of a hypervalent (10-Br-2) system. DFT calculations reveal that London dispersion contributes significantly to the stability of the bis(carbene)halogen(I) complexes, and the bonding was further analyzed by quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analysis., (© 2020 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Chloride abstraction from the complexes [(η 6 -p-cymene){(IDipp)P}MCl] (2 a, M=Ru; 2 b, M=Os) and [(η 5 -C 5 Me 5 ){(IDipp)P}IrCl] (3 b, IDipp=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) with sodium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate (NaBAr F ) in the presence of trimethylphosphine (PMe 3 ), 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazolin-2-ylidene ( Me IMe) or carbon monoxide (CO) afforded the complexes [(η 6 -p-cymene){(IDipp)P}M(PMe 3 )]BAr F ] (4 a, M=Ru; 4 b, M=Os), [(η 6 -p-cymene){(IDipp)P}Os( Me IMe)]BAr F ] (5) and [(η 5 -C 5 Me 5 ){(IDipp)P}IrL][BAr F ] (6, L=PMe 3 ; 7, L= Me IMe; 8, L=CO). These cationic N-heterocyclic carbene-phosphinidene complexes feature very similar structural and spectroscopic properties as prototypic nucleophilic arylphosphinidene complexes such as low-field 31 P NMR resonances and short metal-phosphorus double bonds. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the metal-phosphorus bond can be described in terms of an interaction between a triplet [(IDipp)P] + cation and a triplet metal complex fragment ligand with highly covalent σ- and π-contributions. Crystals of the C-H activated complex 9 were isolated from solutions containing the PMe 3 complex, and its formation can be rationalized by PMe 3 dissociation and formation of a putative 16-electron intermediate [(η 5 -C 5 Me 5 )Ir{P(IDipp)}I][BAr F ], which undergoes C-H activation at one of the Dipp isopropyl groups and addition along the iridium-phosphorus bond to afford an unusual η 3 -benzyl coordination mode., (© 2020 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

A series of group 13 complexes of the general type [{(WCA-IDipp)EX 3 }Li(solv)] (E=B, Al, Ga, In; X=Cl, Br) that bear an anionic N-heterocyclic carbene ligand with a weakly coordinating borate moiety (WCA-IDipp, WCA=B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 and IDipp=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) were prepared by the reaction of the respective group 13 trihalides (EX 3 ) with the lithium salt [(WCA-IDipp)Li ⋅ toluene]. The molecular structures of the BBr 3 , AlCl 3 , AlBr 3 , GaCl 3 and InCl 3 adducts were established by X-ray diffraction analyses, revealing the formation of coordination polymers linked by halide-lithium interactions, except for the indium derivative, which consists of isolated [Li(THF) 4 ] + and [(WCA-IDipp)InCl 3 ] - ions in the solid state., (© 2020 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.)

The reaction of 1,2-dipiperidinoacetylene (1) with 0.5 equivalents of SnCl 2 or GeCl 2 ⋅dioxane afforded the 1,2,3,4-tetrapiperidino-1,3-cyclobutadiene tin and germanium dichloride complexes 2 a and 2 b, respectively. A competing redox reaction was observed with excess amounts of SnCl 2 , which produced a tetrapiperidinocyclobutadiene dication with two trichlorostannate(II) counterions. Heating neat 1 to 110 °C for 16 h cleanly produced the dimer 1,3,4,4-tetrapiperidino-3-buten-1-yne (3); its reaction with stoichiometric amounts of SnCl 2 or GeCl 2 ⋅dioxane furnished the 1,3,4,4-tetrapiperidino-1,2-cyclobutadiene tin and germanium dichloride complexes 4 a and 4 b, respectively. Transition-metal complexes containing this novel four-membered cyclic bent allene (CBA) ligand were prepared by reaction of 3 with [(tht)AuCl], [RhCl(CO) 2 ] 2 , and [(Me 3 N)W(CO) 5 ] to form [(CBA)AuCl] (5), [(CBA)RhCl(CO) 2 ] (6), and [(CBA)W(CO) 5 ] (7). The molecular structures of all compounds 2-7 were determined by X-ray diffraction analyses, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to rationalise the formation of 3 and 4 a., (© 2019 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.)

Arsenic monophosphide (AsP) species supported by two different N-heterocyclic carbenes were prepared by reaction of (IDipp)PSiMe 3 (1) (IDipp=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) with (IMes)AsCl 3 (2) (IMes=1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) to afford the dichloride [(IMes)As(Cl)P(IDipp)]Cl (3), which upon reduction with KC 8 furnished heteroleptic [(IMes)AsP(IDipp)] (4). The corresponding mono- and dications [(IMes)AsP(IDipp)][PF 6 ], [5]PF 6 , and [(IMes)AsP(IDipp)][GaCl 4 ] 2, [6][GaCl 4 ] 2 , respectively, were prepared by one-electron oxidation of 4 with ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate, [Fc]PF 6, or by chloride abstraction from 3 with two equivalents of GaCl 3 , respectively. Compounds 4-6 represent rare examples of heterodiatiomic interpnictogen compounds, and X-ray crystal structure determinations together with density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal a consecutive shortening of the As-P bond lengths and increasing bond order, in agreement with the presence of an arsenic-phosphorus single bond in 4 and a double bond in 6 2+ . The EPR signal of the cationic radical [5] +. indicates a symmetric spin distribution on the AsP moiety through strong hyperfine coupling with the 75 As and 31 P nuclei., (© 2019 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.)

For the first time, a catalytic protocol for a highly selective hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) of phenylacetic acid esters and amides under very mild reaction conditions is reported. Using a homogeneous iridium catalyst supported by a bidentate phosphine-imidazolin-2-imine P,N ligand, the HIE reaction on a series of phenylacetic acid derivatives proceeds with high yields, high selectivity, and with deuterium incorporation up to 99 %. The method is fully adaptable to the specific requirements of tritium chemistry, and its effectiveness was demonstrated by direct tritium labeling of the fungicide benalaxyl and the drug camylofine. Further insights into the mechanism of the HIE reaction with catalyst 1 have been provided utilizing DFT calculations, NMR studies, and X-ray diffraction analysis., (© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Although alkyne metathesis has been known for 50 years, rapid progress in this field has mostly occurred during the last two decades. In this article, the development of several highly efficient and thoroughly studied alkyne metathesis catalysts is reviewed, which includes novel well-defined, in situ formed and heterogeneous systems. Various alkyne metathesis methodologies, including alkyne cross-metathesis (ACM), ring-closing alkyne metathesis (RCAM), cyclooligomerization, acyclic diyne metathesis polymerization (ADIMET), and ring-opening alkyne metathesis polymerization (ROAMP), are presented, and their application in natural product synthesis, materials science as well as supramolecular and polymer chemistry is discussed. Recent progress in the metathesis of diynes is also summarized, which gave rise to new methods such as ring-closing diyne metathesis (RCDM) and diyne cross-metathesis (DYCM)., (© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Several pnictogen dihalide complexes of the type (WCA-IDipp)EX 2 (E=P, As, Sb; X=Cl, Br) that bear an anionic N-heterocyclic carbene ligand with a weakly coordinating borate moiety (WCA-IDipp, WCA=B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 , IDipp=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) were prepared by salt metathesis reactions between the respective pnictogen trihalides EX 3 and the lithium salt (WCA-IDipp)Li⋅toluene. Two-electron reduction of the dihalides (WCA-IDipp)EX 2 with 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-dihydropyrazine or elemental magnesium afforded the dipnictenes (WCA-IDipp) 2 E 2 , which display typical element-element double bonds as observed in diaryldiphosphenes, -arsenes and -stibenes. To provide an insight into the factors contributing to the structural stability of the pnictogen dihalide and dipnictene compounds, quantum chemical calculations were performed at the domain-based local pair natural orbital coupled-cluster (DLPNO-CCSD(T)) level. A local energy decomposition (LED) analysis of the interaction between the carbene and the pnictogen dihalide or dipnictene moiety demonstrates that London dispersion is an essential factor for the stabilization of these compounds., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The benzylidyne complex [PhC≡W{OSi(OtBu) 3 } 3 ] (1) catalyzed the cross-metathesis between 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,3-butadiyne (2) and symmetrical 1,3-diynes (3) efficiently, which gave access to TMS-capped 1,3-diynes RC≡C-C≡CSiMe 3 (4). Diyne cross-metathesis (DYCM) studies with 13 C-labeled diyne PhC≡ 13 C- 13 C≡CPh (3*) revealed that this reaction proceeds through reversible carbon-carbon triple-bond cleavage and formation according to the conventional mechanism of alkyne metathesis. The reaction between 1 and 3* afforded the 3-phenylpropynylidyne complex PhC≡ 13 C- 13 C≡W{OSi(OtBu) 3 } 3 ] (5*), indicating that alkynylalkylidyne complexes are likely to act as catalytically active species. Attempts to isolate 5* from mixtures of 1 and 3* afforded crystals of the ditungsten 2-butyne-1,4-diylidyne complex [(tBuO) 3 SiO} 3 W≡ 13 C- 13 C≡ 13 C- 13 C≡W{OSi(OtBu) 3 } 3 ] (6*), which was additionally characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Depolymerization-macrocyclization of a carbazole-butadiyne polymer, obtained from 3,6-diethynyl-9-dodecylcarbazole (7) under copper-catalyzed Hay coupling conditions, was also efficiently catalyzed by 1 and afforded a mixture of mono-, diyne- and triyne-containing tetrameric macrocycles, revealing that diyne disproportionation into monoynes and triynes occurs as a slow side reaction that interferes with a high diyne metathesis selectivity. Potential catalytic pathways were studied by means of quantum-chemical calculations, and kinetic studies were performed to substantiate an α,α-mechanism for the catalytic diyne metathesis reaction, which involves intermediate alkynylalkylidyne and α,α'-dialkynylmetallacyclobutadiene intermediates., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The organoactinide-catalyzed monohydroboration of carbodiimides is reported herein. The catalytic reactions proceed under very mild conditions in a highly atom-efficient and highly selective fashion to afford the corresponding monohydroborated N-borylformamidine products in high yields. A plausible mechanism is proposed based on stoichiometric and kinetic studies., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The reaction of the 2-(trimethylsilyl)imidazolium triflate 9 with diarylboron halides (4-R-C 6 H 4 ) 2 BX (R=H, X=Br; R=CH 3 , X=Cl; R=CF 3 , X=Cl) afforded the NHC-stabilized borenium cations 10 a-c. Cyclic voltammetry revealed a linear correlation between the Hammett parameter σ p of the para substituent and the half-wave potential. Chemical reduction with decamethylcobaltocene, [(C 5 Me 5 ) 2 Co], furnished the corresponding radicals 11 a-c; their characterization by EPR spectroscopy confirmed the paramagnetic character of 11 a-c, with large hyperfine coupling constants to the boron isotopes 11 B and 10 B, while delocalization of the unpaired electron into the NHC is negligible. DFT calculations of the percentage of spin density distribution between the carbene (NHC) and the boryl fragments (BR 2 ) revealed for 11 a-c a spin density ratio (BR 2 /NHC) of ca. 9:1, which underlines their distinct boryl radical character. The molecular structure of the most stable species 11 c was established by X-ray diffraction analysis., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Improvement of the activity, stability, and chemoselectivity of alkyne-metathesis catalysts is necessary before this promising methodology can become a routine method to construct C≡C triple bonds. Herein, we show that grafting of the known molecular catalyst [MesC≡Mo(OtBu F6 ) 3 ] (1, Mes=2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, OtBu F6 =hexafluoro-tert-butoxy) onto partially dehydroxylated silica gave a well-defined silica-supported active alkyne-metathesis catalyst [(≡SiO)Mo(≡CMes)(OtBu F6 ) 2 ] (1/SiO 2-700 ). Both 1 and 1/SiO 2-700 showed very high activity, selectivity, and stability in the self-metathesis of a variety of carefully purified alkynes, even at parts-per-million catalyst loadings. Remarkably, the lower turnover frequencies observed for 1/SiO 2-700 by comparison to 1 do not prevent the achievement of high turnover numbers. We attribute the lower reactivity of 1/SiO 2-700 to the rigidity of the surface Mo species owing to the strong interaction of the metal site with the silica surface., (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The reactivity of the diaminoacetylene Pip-C≡C-Pip (Pip=piperidyl=NC 5 H 10 ) towards phenyldichloro- and triphenylborane is presented. In the case of the less Lewis acidic PhBCl 2 , the first example of a double Lewis adduct of a vicinal dicarbenoid is reported. For the more Lewis acidic triphenylborane, coordination to the bifunctional carbene leads to a mild B-C bond activation, resulting in a syn-1,2-carboboration. Ensuing cis/trans isomerization yields a novel ethylene-bridged frustrated Lewis pair (FLP). The compounds were characterized using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, structural analysis, and mass spectrometry. Reactivity studies of both isomers with the N-heterocyclic carbene 1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene (IMe) aided in elucidating the proposed isomerization pathway. DFT calculations were carried out to elucidate the reaction mechanism. The rather low free energy of activation is consistent with the observation that the reaction proceeds smoothly at room temperature., (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Coinage metal complexes of the N-heterocyclic carbene-phosphinidene adduct IPr⋅PPh (IPr=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) were prepared by its reaction with CuCl, AgCl, and [(Me2 S)AuCl], which afforded the monometallic complexes [(IPr⋅PPh)MCl] (M=Cu, Ag, Au). The reaction with two equivalents of the metal halides gave bimetallic [(IPr⋅PPh)(MCl)2 ] (M=Cu, Au); the corresponding disilver complex could not be isolated. [(IPr⋅PPh)(CuOTf)2 ] was prepared by reaction with copper(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate. Treatment of [(IPr⋅PPh)(MCl)2 ] (M=Cu, Au) with Na(BAr(F) ) or AgSbF6 afforded the tetranuclear complexes [(IPr⋅PPh)2 M4 Cl2 ]X2 (X=BAr(F) or SbF6 ), which contain unusual eight-membered M4 Cl2 P2 rings with short cuprophilic or aurophilic contacts along the chlorine-bridged M⋅⋅⋅M axes. Complete chloride abstraction from [(IPr⋅PPh)(AuCl)2 ] was achieved with two equivalents of AgSbF6 in the presence of tetrahydrothiophene (THT) to form [(IPr⋅PPh){Au(THT)}2 ][SbF6 ]2 . The cationic tetra- and dinuclear complexes were used as catalysts for enyne cyclization and carbene transfer reactions., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Unprecedented catalytic reactivity of actinide coordination complexes toward heterocumulenes, such as carbodiimides, isocyanates, and isothiocyanates is reported. The mono(imidazolin-2-iminato) thorium(IV) complex [Th(Im(Dipp) N){N(SiMe3 )2 }3 ] (1) was applied as a precatalyst for the addition of EH (E=N, P, S) bonds to the YCX core (Y=R2 N; X=NR2 , O, S) of carbodiimides, isocyanates, and isothiocyanates. The respective insertion products were obtained in high yields under mild reaction conditions, with complex 1 displaying high tolerance toward functional groups and heteroatoms., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The N-heterocyclic carbene-phosphinidene adduct IPrPSiMe3 is introduced as a synthon for the preparation of terminal carbene-phosphinidyne transition metal complexes of the type [(IPrP)MLn ] (MLn =(η(6) -p-cymene)RuCl) and (η(5) -C5 Me5 )RhCl). Their spectroscopic and structural characteristics, namely low-field (31) P NMR chemical shifts and short metal-phosphorus bonds, show their similarity with arylphosphinidene complexes. The formally mononegative IPrP ligand is also capable of bridging two or three metal atoms as demonstrated by the preparation of bi- and trimetallic RuAu, RhAu, Rh2 , and Rh2 Au complexes., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Macrolide lactones, the so called cucujolides derived from unsaturated fatty acids, are aggregation pheromones of cucujid grain beetles. Thirty years ago, Oehlschlarger et al. showed that (3Z,6Z)-dodeca-3,6-dien-11-olide (4) and the respective 12-olide (7) attract the sawtoothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis, whereas (5Z,8Z,13R)-tetradeca-5,8-dien-13-olide (5) increases the response synergistically. The frass of this beetle is attractive for its parasitoid Cephalonomia tarsalis, which potentially can be used for pest control. A GC/MS analysis of attractive frass showed the presence of 5, together with an unknown isomer. Cucujolide V was tentatively identified also in the femoral glands, pheromone-releasing structures, of the Madagascan mantelline frog Spinomantis aglavei. Therefore, a new route to synthesize doubly unsaturated macrolides allowing the flexible attachment of the side chain was developed. A straightforward method to obtain Z configured macrolides involves ring-closing alkyne metathesis (RCAM) followed by Lindlar-catalyzed hydrogenation. This methodology was extended to homoconjugated diene macrolides by using RCAM after introduction of one Z configured double bond in the precursor by Wittig reaction. A tungsten benzylidyne complex was used as the catalyst in the RCAM reaction, which afforded the products in high yield at room temperature. With the synthetic material at hand, the unknown isomer was identified as the new natural product (5Z,8Z,12R)-tetradeca-5,8-dien-12-olide, cucujolide X (8). Furthermore, the route also allowed the synthesis of cucujolide V in good yield. The natural products were identified by the synthesis of enantiomerically pure or enriched material and gas chromatography on chiral phases. The new macrolide (R)-8 proved to be biologically active, attracting female O. surinamensis, but no males. The synthetic material allowed the identification of (R)-5 in both the beetle and the frog., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Boron dipyrrin (BODIPY) DYEmers bridged by conjugating ethynylene and ethenylene moieties can be prepared through metal-promoted metathesis reactions. Alkyne metathesis was advantageous over alkene metathesis and Stille coupling for BODIPY substrates, but also showed specific restrictions with respect to steric encumbrance and regioselectivity. All derivatives with unhindered rotations along the bridges reside in a coplanar minimum conformation. For a hindered β-ethenylene-bridged DYEmer, the shifts in the (1) H NMR spectrum indicate a significant loss of coplanarity and conjugation. The electronic interactions of the BODIPY subchromophores, visualized by optical spectra and cyclic voltammograms, deviate significantly from those found for nonconjugated and excitonically coupled DYEmers. The observed properties can be rationalized in each case by the respective strength of conjugation through the α or β position, the degree of coplanarity, and conformational dynamics., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Tris[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borane reacts with the sterically demanding Arduengo carbenes 1,3-di-tert-butylimidazolin-2-ylidene and 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene to form isolable normal adducts. In the case of 1,3-di-tert-butylimidazolin-2-ylidene, the adduct exhibits dynamic behaviour in solution and frustrated-Lewis-pair (FLP) reactivity. Fast cleavage of dihydrogen and THF, the C-H activation of phenylacetylene, and carbon dioxide fixation were achieved by using solutions of this adduct in benzene. This adduct is stable at room temperature in the absence of suitable substrates; however, thermal rearrangement into an abnormal carbene-borane adduct can be observed. In contrast, the 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene adduct exhibits no evidence of FLP reactivity or of dissociation in solution. DFT calculations confirmed the experimental behaviour and stability of these carbene-borane adducts., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Now even terminal: The 2,4,6-trimethylbenzylidyne complexes [MesC≡M{OC(CF(3))(2)Me}(3)] (M=Mo, W) were synthesized from [Mo(CO)(6)] and [W(CO)(6)], respectively. The molybdenum complex is an efficient catalyst for the metathesis of internal and terminal alkynes and also for the ring-closing metathesis of internal and terminal α,ω-diynes at room temperature and low catalyst concentrations., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The transmetalation reaction between [(η(7) -C(7) H(7) )ZrCl(tmeda)] (1; tmeda=N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) and various phospholide anions leads to a new class of mixed sandwich complexes: [(η(7)-C(7)H(7))Zr(η(5)-C(4)PMe(4))] (2), [(η(7)-C(7)H(7))Zr(η(5)-C(4)PH(2)Me(2))] (3) and [(η(7)-C(7)H(7))Zr(η(5)-C(4)PPhHMe(2))] (4). The presence of Lewis basic phosphorus atoms and Lewis acidic zirconium atoms allows ambiphilic behaviour to be observed, and X-ray diffraction analysis reveals dimeric arrangements for 2 and 3 with long intermolecular Zr-P bonds, whereas 4 remains monomeric in the solid state. DFT calculations indicate that the metal-phosphorus interaction is weak, and accordingly, complexes 2-4 act as monodentate ligands upon reaction with [W(CO)(5)(thf)]. The resulting complexes [W(CO)(5)(L)] 5-7 (L=2-4) were studied by IR spectroscopy and compared with the [W(CO)(5) ] complex 9, containing the phosphane-functionalised trozircene [(η(7)-C(7)H(7))Zr(η(5)-C(5)H(4)PPh(2))] (8). They all show a close resemblance to simple phosphanes, such as PMe(3) , although molecular orbital analysis of 2 reveals that the free electron pair in the phosphatrozircenes is not the HOMO. Four equivalents of 2 can replace 1,4-cyclooctadiene (COD) in [Ni(cod)(2)] to form the homoleptic, distorted tetrahedral complex [Ni{2}(4)] (10)., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A novel one-pot method was developed for the preparation of [Ti(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(η(7)-C(7)H(7))] (troticene, 1) by reaction of sodium cyclopentadienide (NaCp) with [TiCl(4)(thf)(2)], followed by reduction of the intermediate [(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(2)TiCl(2)] with magnesium in the presence of cycloheptatriene (C(7)H(8)). The [n]troticenophanes 3 (n=1), 4, 8, 10 (n=2), and 11 (n=3) were synthesized by salt elimination reactions between dilithiated troticene, [Ti(η(5)-C(5)H(4)Li)(η(7)-C(7)H(6)Li)]⋅pmdta (2) (pmdta = N,N',N',N'',N''-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine), and the appropriate organoelement dichlorides Cl(2)Sn(Mes)(2) (Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl), Cl(2)Sn(2)(tBu)(4), Cl(2)B(2)(NMe(2))(2), Cl(2)Si(2)Me(4), and (ClSiMe(2))(2)CH(2), respectively. Their structural characterization was carried out by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The stanna[1]- and stanna[2]troticenophanes 3 and 4 represent the first heteroleptic sandwich complexes bearing Sn atoms in the ansa bridge. The reaction of 3 with [Pt(PEt(3))(3)] resulted in regioselective insertion of the [Pt(PEt(3))(2)] fragment into the Sn-C(ipso) bond between the tin atom and the seven-membered ring, which afforded the platinastanna[2]troticenophane 5. Oxidative addition was also observed upon treatment of 4 with elemental sulfur or selenium, to produce the [3]troticenophanes [Ti(η(5)-C(5)H(4)SntBu(2))(η(7)-C(7)H(6)SntBu(2))E] (6: E=S; 7: E=Se). The B-B bond of the bora[2]troticenophane 8 was readily cleaved by reaction with [Pt(PEt(3))(3)] to form the corresponding oxidative addition product [Ti(η(5)-C(5)H(4)BNMe(2))(η(7)-C(7)H(6)BNMe(2))Pt(PEt(3))(2)] (9). The solid-state structures of compounds 5, 6, and 9 were also determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction., (Copyright © 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The reaction of [PhC[triple bond]MBr(3)(dme)] (dme=1,2-dimethoxyethane) with the hexafluoro-tert-butoxides LiX or KX [X=OC(CF(3))(2)Me] afforded the benzylidyne complexes [PhC[triple bond]MX(3)(dme)] (2a: M=W, 2b: M=Mo), which further reacted with the lithium reagent Li(Im(tBu)N), generated with MeLi from 1,3-di-tert-butylimidazolin-2-imine (Im(tBu)NH), to form the imidazolin-2-iminato complexes [PhC[triple bond]MX(2)(Im(tBu)N)] (3a: M=W, 3b: M=Mo). The propylidyne complex [EtC[triple bond]MoX(2)(NIm(tBu))] (4) was obtained by treatment of 3b with an excess of 3-hexyne. Complexes 3a and 3b are able to efficiently catalyse alkyne cross metathesis of various 3-pentynyl benzyl ethers 5 and benzoic esters 7 at room temperature, to afford 2-butyne and the corresponding diethers 6 and diesters 8. The tungsten complex 3a proved to be a superior catalyst for ring-closing alkyne metathesis, and the [10]cyclophanes 10 and 12 were synthesised in high yield from 1,3-bis(3-pentynyloxymethyl)benzene (9) and bis(3-pentynyl) phthalate (11), respectively. The molecular structures of compounds 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, and 12 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. DFT calculations have been carried out for catalyst systems based on the imidazolin-2-iminato tungsten and molybdenum complexes 3a and 3b by choosing the alkyne metathesis of 2-butyne as the model reaction; the studies revealed a lower activation barrier for the tungsten system.

Metallic nanostructures show interesting optical properties due to their plasmonic resonances, and when arranged in three-dimensional (3D) arrays hold promise for optical metamaterials with negative refractive index. Towards this goal a simple, cheap, and parallel method to fabricate large-area, ordered arrays of 150-nm gold nanocrescents supporting plasmonic resonances in the near-infrared spectral range is demonstrated. In this process hexagonally ordered monolayers of monodisperse colloids are prepared by a simple floating technique, and subsequently the individual particles are size-reduced in a plasma process and used as a shadow mask with the initial lattice spacing. The resulting two-dimensional array of plasmonic resonators is coated with a transparent silica layer, which serves as a support for a second layer prepared by the identical process. The mutual orientation of the nanostructures between the individual layers can be freely adjusted, which determines the polarization-dependent absorption of the array and opens the possibility to introduce chirality in this type of 3D metamaterial. The iteration of this simple and efficient methodology yields 3D arrays with optical features as sharp as those of the individual nanocrescents, and shows strong potential for large-scale production of high-quality optical metamaterials.

Twice as reactive: The coordination chemistry of phosphane-functionalized Zr and Hf cycloheptatrienyl-cyclopentadienyl complexes gives rise to unusual secondary interactions associated with the presence of Lewis acidic 16-electron sandwich moieties. These structures can develop weak dative bonds as exemplified by the noncovalent Pd-->Zr interaction in the heterobimetallic {Zr(2)Pd} complex (see picture). Phosphane-functionalized cycloheptatrienyl-cyclopentadienyl Group 4 metal complexes of the type [(eta(7)-C(7)H(7))M(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)PR(2))] (M=Ti (9); M=Zr (10); M=Hf (11); R=Ph (a); R=iPr (b)) have been prepared by the reduction of [(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)PR(2))TiCl(3)] or [(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)PR(2))(2)MCl(2)] (M=Zr, Hf) with magnesium in the presence of cycloheptatriene (C(7)H(8)). In the solid state, the Ti complex 9 a and the complex 11 b are monomeric, whereas 10 a, 10 b, and 11 a form dimers, in which the sandwich units are linked by long Zr-P or Hf-P bonds. Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the metal-phosphane interaction is weak, and accordingly, both the Ti complex 9 b and the Zr complex 10 b act as monodentate phosphane ligands upon reaction with [{(cod)RhCl}(2)] (cod=eta(4)-1,5-cyclooctadiene). The X-ray crystal structures of [(cod)Rh(9 b)Cl] (12) and [(cod)Rh(10 b)Cl] (13) reveal that only the latter exhibits a secondary intramolecular Cl-metal interaction. The complex [(10 b)(2)Pd] (14) was obtained by reaction of [(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Pd(eta(3)-C(3)H(5))] with two equivalents of 10 b. The solid-state structure of 14 reveals a T-shaped Pd(0) center with a long Pd-Zr bond of 2.9709(3) A, which can be interpreted as a weak noncovalent Pd(0)-->Zr(+IV) bond, as indicated by the calculated relaxed force constant of 5.68 N m(-1).