Search

The C-C bond formation reaction represents a fundamental and important transformation in synthetic chemistry, and exploring new types of C-C bond formation reactions is recognized as appealing, yet challenging. Herein, we disclose the first example of rhodium-catalyzed dealkenylative arylation of alkenes with arylboronic compounds, thereby providing an unconventional access to bi(hetero)aryls with excellent chemo-selectivity. In this method, C(aryl)-C(alkenyl) and C(alkenyl)-C(alkenyl) bonds in various alkenes and 1,3-dienes can be cleaved via a hydrometalation and followed by beta-carbon elimination pathway for Suzuki-Miyaura reaction. Furthermore, a series of novel organic fluorescent molecules with excellent photophysical properties has been efficiently constructed with this protocol.

International audience; The last decades have seen an impressive development of iron complexes involving organophosphorus ligands applied in homogeneous catalyzed hydrometalation of olefins and alkynes. Two main topics will be covered in this JOCSynopsis: (i) an overview of the achievements in the area of iron-catalyzed hydrophosphination and then (ii) hydrosilylation, hydroborylation, and hydromagnesiation reactions promoted by catalysts based on organophosphorus ligands and iron.

A method for catalytic conversion of C(aryl)-C(alkenyl) bonds in styrene derivatives to new C-C bonds is developed. In the presence of a rhodium catalyst, the alkenyl groups of styrenes bearing a pyrazolyl directing group were efficiently converted to other carbon substituents upon reacting with various alkenes including styrenes, aliphatic alkenes, and allyl alcohols. It is also indicated that the C-C bond cleavage proceeded via a hydrometalation/β-carbon elimination pathway.

The chemistry of low-valent main group elements has attracted much attention in the past decade. These species are relevant because they have been able to mimic transition metal behavior in catalytic applications, with decreased material costs and diminished toxicity. In this contribution, we study the L1EH catalysts (E = Si(II), Ge(II), Sn(II), and Pb(II); L1 = [ArNC(Me)CHC(Me)NAr] with Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) for the formation of formic acid derivatives through hydroboration of CO2. Detailed characterization of relevant structures on the potential energy surface enabled us to rationalize different paths for the hydroboration of CO2. Interestingly, it was found that according to the activation energies for the whole catalytic cycle, the process of transformation of CO2 becomes more favored going down group 14. However, an effective energetic decrease for the process (taking as the reference the uncatalyzed reaction between CO2 and HBpin) is evidenced just from the germanium analogue. The trend in reactivity found in the present study is a direct consequence of the change in the central main group element, enabling enhanced polar character of the E-H (L1EH in the CO2 activation step) and E-O (metal formates in the hydroboration step) bonds as the atomic radius increases. The transient stabilization of reaction intermediates found in the hydroboration step was rationalized through the non-covalent interaction index (NCI) and symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT). This computational study highlights the reactivity trends in group-14-based hydride catalysts in hydrometalation and posterior hydroboration to form formic acid intermediates. We hope that this study will motivate further experimental work in low-valent lead chemistry.

Rh(ii)-catalyzed unusual branch-selective ortho-C-H alkylation of aryl sulfonamides with vinylsilanes was achieved using an 8-aminoquinoline directing group., Rhodium(ii)-catalyzed unusual branch-selective ortho-C–H alkylation of aryl sulfonamides with vinylsilanes was achieved using an 8-aminoquinoline directing group. Notably, the para-substituted aryl sulfonamides gave mono-(branched)alkylated products exclusively without the formation of any double C–H alkylated byproducts. The results of deuterium labeling experiments suggest that both hydrometalation and carbometalation pathways are involved in this conversion.

The remote functionalization of α,β-unsaturated carbonyls by an array of multimetallic sequential catalytic systems is described. The reactions are triggered by hydrometalation using [Pd–H] or [Ru–H] isomerization catalysts and driven by the formation of thermodynamically more stable 1,2-vinyl arenes. The Pd-catalyzed deconjugative isomerization was combined with a Cu-catalyzed β-borylation of the transiently generated styrenyl derivatives to deliver a range of products that would not be accessible with the use of a single catalyst. [Pd/Cu] catalytic systems were also identified for the highly enantioselective α-hydroboration and α-hydroamination of the styrenyl intermediates. Difunctionalization simultaneously at the benzylic and homobenzylic positions was achieved by combining the isomerization process with Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation (SAD) using [Pd/Os] or [Ru/Os] couples. Starting from a simple α,β-unsaturated ester, an isomerization/dihydroxylation/lactonization sequence gave access to a naturally occurring γ-butyrolactone in good yield, with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity.

Routes to efficient construction of fully aliphatic substituted tertiary chiral centers are highly challenging and desirable. Herein, a Ni-catalyzed enantioselective hydroalkylation of unactivated alkenes at room temperature is described, providing a general and practical access to tertiary stereogenic carbon centers with three alkyl substituents. This reaction involves the regio- and stereoselective hydrometalation of unactivated alkenes with Markovnikov selectivity, followed by coupling with unactivated alkyl electrophiles to access tertiary chiral centers with full alkyl substituents. The mild and robust conditions enable the use of terminal and internal unactivated alkenes as well as primary and secondary unactivated alkyl, benzyl, propargyl halides for the construction of diverse trialkyl tertiary stereogenic carbon centers with broad functional group tolerance.

Ynamides are fascinating small molecules with complementary reactivities under radical, ionic and metal-catalyzed conditions. We report herein synthetic and DFT investigations of palladium-catalyzed ligand-controlled regiodivergent hydro-metallation reactions of ynamides. Germylated and stannylated enamides are obtained with excellent alpha,E- or beta,E-selectivities and a broad functional group tolerance. Such a regiodivergent palladium-catalyzed process is unique in ynamide chemistry and allows for the elaboration of metallated-enamides that are useful building blocks for cross-coupling reactions or heterocyclic chemistry. DFT calculations fully support the experimental data and demonstrate the crucial roles of the trans-geometry of the [H-Pd(L)-Ge] complex, as well as of the steric requirements of the phosphine ligand. In addition, the prevalence of a hydro-palladation pathway over a metal-palladation of the pi system of the ynamide was demonstrated.

Efficient regeneration of organolithium compounds is a challenging aspect in the process of novel organometathetical catalytic cycles. One of these catalytic cycles is a newly suggested method for Mg production from seawater that capitalizes on the rich chemistry of Grignard reagents. The proposed three-step catalytic cycle with Cp2 MCl L catalyst ( M = Ti, Zr; L = select organic ligands) requires the regeneration of nBuLi from Li(s), butene, and H2. The potential of this approach is evaluated with density functional theory-based molecular simulations. The results reveal that the high affinity of Li toward Cl and N results in the formation of alkanes, and the strong coupling between the catalyst and BuLi leads to catalyst deactivation. To improve its catalytic performance, we proposed the use of a diamine cocatalyst and a modified catalyst with a ligand that does not contain N, which would help release BuLi from the vicinity of the catalytic center. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations at 298 K in explicit solvent (THF) were used to estimate the Gibbs free energetics and equilibrium constants obtained from the vibrational density of states using velocity autocorrelation functions. The results show a marked improvement in the free energetics with lower barriers toward the completion of the catalytic cycle and suppression of deactivation channels.

International audience; The last two decades have seen an impressive improvement of the use of iron as a fascinating and valuable alternative transition metal in homogeneous catalysis in terms of sustainability and economy. It was efficiently used in catalytic organic synthetic transformations, which in particular include the reduction of unsaturated bonds. This review summarizes the fast development and the recent advances in selective reductions of olefins, alkynes, carbonyl and carboxylic derivatives, imines, and nitro compounds promoted by iron catalysts. The topical hydrogen-borrowing reactions and hydroboration of unsaturated compounds are also reported. It is hoped that this account not only provides an overview of the state of the art in iron catalysis but also stimulates the development of superior greener catalytic systems in the near future.

cis-Delivery of H2 to the π-system of an unsaturated substrate is the canonical course of metal catalyzed hydrogenation reactions. The semireduction of internal alkynes with the aid of [Cp*Ru]-based catalysts violates this rule and affords E-alkenes by direct trans-hydrogenation. A pathway involving σ-complexes and metallacyclopropenes accounts for this unconventional outcome. Connected to this process is an even more striking reactivity mode, in which both H atoms of H2 are delivered to one and the same C atom. Such gem-hydrogenation of stable carbogenic compunds is a fundamentally new transformation that leads to the formation of discrete metal carbene complexes. Computational studies suggest that the trans- and the gem-pathway have similar barriers, but polar substituents in the vicinity of the reacting triple bond provide opportunities for imposing selectivity and control. Moreover, it is shown that catalytic trans-hydrogenation is by no means a singularity: rather, the underlying principle is also ma...

Dedicated in Memoriam to Professor Dr. Pascual Royo., The reactions of the rhodium(I) and iridium(I) complexes [M(PhBP3)(C2H4)(NCMe)] (PhBP3=PhB(CH2PPh2)3−) with alkynes have resulted in the synthesis of a new family of pseudo‐tetrahedral complexes, [M(PhBP3)(RC≡CR′)] (M=Rh, Ir), which contain the alkyne as a four‐electron donor. The reactions of these unusual compounds with two‐electron donors (L=PMe3, CNtBu) produced a change in the “donicity” of the alkyne from a 4e− to a 2e− donor to give five‐coordinate complexes. These were the final products with the iridium complexes, whereas further reactions took place with the rhodium complexes. In particular, C(sp)−H bond activation of the alkyne occurred leading to hydrido alkynyl complexes. This process is essential for the further reactivity of the alkynes, and if the alkyne itself was used as reagent, E‐enyne complexes were obtained. As a consequence of this chemistry, we show that the complex [Rh(PhBP3)(C2H4)(NCMe)] is a very efficient pre‐catalyst for the regioselective di‐ and trimerization of terminal alkynes to E‐enynes and benzene derivatives, respectively. Interestingly, acetonitrile significantly enhanced the catalytic activity by facilitating the C(sp)−H bond activation step. A hydrometalation mechanism to account for these experimental observations is proposed., The generous financial support from the MINECO/FEDER (Projects CTQ2014‐53033‐P and CTQ2017‐83421‐P, C.T.) and the Gobierno de Aragón/FEDER (GA/FEDER, Inorganic Molecular Architecture Group E08_17R; C.T.) is gratefully acknowledged.

A mechanistic study of a rhenium catalyzed monoalkylation of phenols is described. Reaction kinetics reveals a zero-order dependence on both alkene and phenol and a half order dependence on catalyst. Isotopic labeling studies, competition experiments, kinetic isotope effects, and Hammett analysis together afford experimental data consistent with a reversible C–H activation step and an irreversible hydrometalation process. The turnover-limiting step is identified as catalyst deaggregation. NMR studies of binary mixtures of catalyst and a single substrate (alkene or phenol) as well as those of reaction mixtures identify potential intermediates and off-cycle species. Despite the numerous Re complexes formed in these mixtures, the overall reaction is both high yielding and highly selective for monoalkylation of phenols.

The terminal-selective, remote C(sp3)−H alkylation of alkenes was achieved by a relay process combining NiH-catalyzed hydrometalation, chain walking, and alkylation. This method enables the construction of unfunctionalized C(sp3)−C(sp3) bonds under mild conditions from two simple feedstock chemicals, namely olefins and alkyl halides. The practical value of this transformation is further demonstrated by the large-scale and regioconvergent alkylation of isomeric mixtures of olefins at low catalyst loadings.

A comprehensive mechanistic study on the title reaction by using DFT(B3LYP-D3) computational method is reported. Explicit consideration of mono- (m-xylylic) and dicarboxylic acid (phthalic) in the key transition states reveals active participation of the carboxylic acid, beginning with the generation of a monomeric Rh(I) active catalyst and in the ensuing catalytic steps. In the early catalytic event, uptake of alkyne is predicted to take place only after the oxidative addition of the Rh(I) active catalyst to the carboxylic acid. The hydrometalation of the alkyne bound to the Rh(III)-H intermediate then generates a Rh(III)-vinyl intermediate, which in turn converts to a Rh(III)-allyl species. The inclusion of m-xylylic acid results in a two-step pathway to Rh(III)-allyl species via Rh-allene intermediate. A number of weak noncovalent interactions (hydrogen bonding and C-H center dot center dot center dot pi) between the catalyst and the substrates and that involving m-xylylic acid are found to have a direct impact on the regiochemical preference toward the branched product and the enantiocontrolling hydroamination step involving C-N bond formation leading to the major enantiomer (S-allylic amine). The chiral induction is enabled by cumulative effect of noncovalent interactions, which is an insight that could aid future developments of chiral ligands for asymmetric hydroamination.

Rhodium-catalyzed alkylation reactions of C-H bonds (hydroarylation) in aromatic amides that contain an 8-aminoquinoline as a directing group with alkenes are discussed. Various alkenes, including acrylic esters, styrenes, α,β-unsaturated butyrolactones, dihydrofurans, maleimides, and norbornene derivatives are applicable to this C-H alkylation. The reaction with norbornene gives unusual endo-hydroarylation products in a high degree of selectivity. The use of a carboxylic acid as an additive dramatically increases both the reactivity and the selectivity of the reaction. The results of deuterium-labeling experiments suggest that hydrometalation or carbometalation, which are commonly accepted mechanisms for C-H alkylation reactions, are not involved. Instead, the reaction appears to proceed through a rhodium carbene intermediate generated from the alkene.

Stoichiometric amounts of oxidants are widely used as promoters (hydrogen acceptors) in dehydrogenative silylation of C-H bonds. However, the present study demonstrates that silylative and germylative cyclization with dehydrogenation can proceed efficiently, even without hydrogen acceptors. The combination of [RhCl(cod)]2 and PPh3 was effective for both transformations, and allowed a reduction in reaction temperature compared with our previous report. Monitoring of the reactions revealed that both transformations had an induction period for the early stage, and that the rate constant of dehydrogenative germylation was greater than that of dehydrogenative silylation. Competitive reactions in the presence of 3,3-dimethyl-1-butene indicated that the ratio of dehydrogenative metalation and hydrometalation was affected by reaction temperature when a hydrosilane or hydrogermane precursor was used. Further mechanistic insights of oxidant-free dehydrogenative silylation, including the origin of these unique reactivities, were obtained by density functional theory studies.

DFT calculations have been conducted to elucidate the mechanistic details of a novel Ni-catalyzed hydrocarboxylation reaction of alkynes, in which formic acid is atom-economically used through a catalytic CO recycling manner. On the basis of our theoretical investigations, the bisphosphine (dppbz, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene) ligated nickel monocarbonyl complex (dppbz)NiCO was located as the active catalytic species for this process, and such a carbonyl ligand is found to be critical for the final reductive elimination. Our studies also revealed the addition of H to alkynes proceeds via a proton transfer process directly from formic acid (i.e., outer-sphere pathway) rather than through a proposed hydrometalation process (i.e., direct hydride shift from Ni–H). The thermal decomposition of formic anhydrides was found to be vital to a successful reaction, and its barrier must be slightly higher than the energetic span of the Ni catalytic cycle. Fast release of CO can poison the Ni catalyst, so that the...

The first catalytic enantioselective carbonyl (α-amino)allylations are described. Phthalimido-allene 1 and primary alcohols 2a–2z, 2a′–2c′ engage in hydrogen auto-transfer-mediated carbonyl reductive coupling by way of (α-amino)allyliridium−aldehyde pairs to form vicinal amino alcohols 3a–3z, 3a′–3c′ with high levels of regio-, anti-diastereo-, and enantioselectivity. Reaction progress kinetic analysis and isotopic labeling studies corroborate a catalytic cycle involving turnover-limiting alcohol dehydrogenation followed by rapid allene hydrometalation.

A zirconium catalyzed reductive cleavage of Csp3 and Csp2 carbon–heteroatom bonds is reported that makes use of a tethered alkene functionality as a traceless directing group. The reaction is succe...

[Cp*RuCl](4) (1) has previously been shown to be the precatalyst of choice for stereochemically unorthodox trans-hydrometalations of internal alkynes. Experimental and computational data now prove that the alkyne primarily acts as a four-electron donor ligand to the catalytically active metal fragment [Cp*RuCl] but switches to adopt a two-electron donor character once the reagent R3MH (M = Si, Ge, Sn) enters the ligand sphere. In the stereodeterrnining step the resulting loaded complex evolves via an inner-sphere mechanism into a ruthenacyclopropene which swiftly transforms into the product. In accord with the low computed barriers, spectral and preparative data show that the reaction is not only possible but sometimes even favored at low temperatures. Importantly, such trans-hydrometalations are distinguished by excellent levels of regioselectivity when unsymmetrical alkynes are used that carry an -OH or -NHR group in vicinity of the triple bond. A nascent hydrogen bridge between the protic substituent and the polarized [Ru-Cl] unit imposes directionality onto the ligand sphere of the relevant intermediates, which ultimately accounts for the selective delivery of the R3M- group to the acetylene C-atom proximal to the steering substituent. The interligand hydrogen bonding also allows site-selectivity to be harnessed in reactions of polyunsaturated compounds, since propargylic substrates bind more "tightly than ordinary alkynes; even the electronically coupled triple bonds of conjugated 1,3-diynes can be faithfully discriminated as long as one of them is propargylic. Finally, properly positioned protic sites lead to a substantially increased substrate scope in that they render even 1,3-enynes, arylalkynes, and electron-rich alkynylated heterocycles amenable to trans-hydrometalation which are otherwise catalyst poisons.

The mechanisms of highly regioselective iron(II)-catalyzed synthesis of α-carboxylic acids from alkene derivatives and CO2 have been investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP-D3 level. The results show that the overall catalytic cycle includes β-hydride elimination, hydrometalation, oxidative addition of EtMgBr, reductive elimination, and carboxylation using CO2. However, the first and second steps could be replaced by a favored concerted one-step mechanism without forming the iron hydride complex. The rate-limiting step for the whole catalytic cycle is the reductive elimination step, where the energy barrier ΔE is 37.3 kcal/mol in the gas phase and the Gibbs free energy in solvent THF ΔGsol is 30.3 kcal/mol, computed using the SMD method. The mechanisms to obtain the byproduct β-carboxylic acids are also studied.

The first catalytic enantioselective C-C couplings of methanol (> 30× 106 tons/year) are reported. Formal insertion of 2-substituted dienes into the methanol C–H bond occurs in a regioselective manner to form all-carbonyl quaternary centers with excellent levels of enantioselectivity using an iridium-PhanePhos catalyst. Mechanistic studies corroborate a Curtin-Hammett scenario in which methanol dehydrogenation triggers rapid, reversible diene hydrometalation en route to regioisomeric allyliridium-formaldehyde pairs, yet complete levels of regioselectivity are observed.

Several functionalized and non-functionalized perfluoroarenes were catalytically transformed into their para-hydrodefluorinated products by using catalytic amounts of titanocene difluoride and stoichiometric amounts diphenylsilane. Turnover numbers of up to 93 were observed. Solution density functional theory calculations at the M06-2X/TZ(PCM)//M06-2X/TZ(PCM)level of theory provided insight into the mechanism of Ti(III)-catalyzed aromatic hydrodefluorination. Two different substrate approaches, with a Ti–F interaction (pathway A) and without a Ti–F interaction (pathway B), are possible. Pathway A leads to a s-bond metathesis transition state, whereas pathway B proceeds by means of a two-step mechanism through a syn-hydrometalation intermediate or through a Meisenheimer intermediate. Both pathways are competitive over a broad range of substrates.

The long-range deconjugative isomerization of a broad range of α,β-unsaturated amides, esters, and ketones by an in situ generated palladium hydride catalyst is described. This redox-economical process is triggered by a hydrometalation event and is thermodynamically driven by the refunctionalization of a primary or a secondary alcohol into an aldehyde or a ketone. Di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted carbon-carbon double bonds react with similar efficiency; the system is tolerant toward a variety of functional groups, and olefin migration can be sustained over 30 carbon atoms. The refunctionalized products are usually isolated in good to excellent yield. Mechanistic investigations are in support of a chain-walking process consisting of repeated migratory insertions and β-H eliminations. The bidirectionality of the isomerization reaction was established by isotopic labeling experiments using a substrate with a double bond isolated from both terminal functions. The palladium hydride was also found to be directly involved in the product-forming tautomerization step. The ambiphilic character of the in situ generated [Pd-H] was demonstrated using isomeric trisubstituted α,β-unsaturated esters. Finally, the high levels of enantioselectivity obtained in the isomerization of a small set of α-substituted α,β-unsaturated ketones augur well for the successful development of an enantioselective version of this unconventional isomerization.

Stereoselective hydrometalation reactions of aryl- and alkyl-substituted trifluoromethylated alkynes with triethylsilane, tributylstannane, and triphenylgermane have been investigated. (E)-α-CF3-Vinylsilanes, -stannanes, and -germanes were obtained under palladium-catalyzed conditions whereas the corresponding (Z)-α-CF3-vinylgermanes were obtained under radical conditions. These reactions proceed in good to excellent yields and possess a broad functional group tolerance. Applications of the (Z)- and (E)-α-CF3-vinylgermanes in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with aryl halides having diverse electronic requirements were also investigated. The corresponding (Z)- and (E)-α-CF3-styrenes were obtained as single isomers, thus demonstrating the utility of these versatile synthons for the synthesis of stereodefined trifluoromethylated alkenes.

The catalytic double hydrometalation such as hydrosilylation and hydroborylation of organonitriles has attracted considerable attention because the obtained products are widely used in organic synthesis and it is thought to be one of the effective methods for reduction of organonitriles. However, the examples of these reactions are quite limited to date. This paper summarizes the development of selective double hydrosilylation, double hydroborylation, and dihydroborylsilylation of organonitriles, including their reaction mechanisms and the role of the metal species in the catalytic cycle.

A formal E-selective hydrophosphination of terminal and internal alkynes catalyzed by a well-defined [Co(PMe3)4] (A) complex is achieved under mild conditions in good-to-excellent yield. The reaction does not require any additives and/or external base for an efficient hydrophosphination reaction. The reaction provided excellent scope and good functional tolerance. Detailed spectroscopic analysis (NMR, EPR, and UV–vis) revealed that the low valent cobalt(0) complex undergoes oxidative addition with diphenylphosphine, followed by hydrometalation with alkyne, and subsequent reductive elimination led to the expected product. The detailed spectroscopic analyses along with the isotopic labeled experiments facilitate to intercept the active intermediates that are involved in the catalytic cycle, which are detailed. It was revealed that the suprafacial (vide infra) delivery of H and phosphorus to π-alkynes in a syn-fashion led to formal E-vinyl phosphine.

The classical repertoire of synthetic organic chemistry is short of methods that allow triple bonds to be transformed into (E)-alkenes with high selectivity in the presence of other reducible sites...

Chiral ruthenium(II) complexes modified by Josiphos ligands catalyze the reaction of alkynes with primary alcohols to form homoallylic alcohols with excellent control of regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivity. These processes represent the first examples of enantioselective carbonyl allylation using alkynes as allylmetal equivalents.

A mild copper-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective monoborylation of conjugated diynes with bis(pinacolato)diboron that affords enynylboronates is reported. The reaction is efficient for different types of conjugated diynes including unsymmetrical diynes and produces enynylboron compounds with high and complementary regioselectivity compared with classical hydrometalation reactions. In particular, the reactions of internal conjugated diynes with a silyl substitution produced highly functionalized enynes with high regio- and stereoselectivity, which can be used in further transformations.

Ruthenium-catalyzed hydrogen transfer from 4-aminobutanol to butadiene results in the pairwise generation of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole and an allylruthenium complex, which combine to form products of imine anti-crotylation. In couplings of 1-substituted-1,3-dienes, novel C2 regioselectivity is observed. As corroborated by deuterium labeling studies, kinetically preferred hydrometalation of the terminal olefin of the 1-substituted-1,3-diene delivers a 1,1-disubstituted π-allylruthenium complex that isomerizes to a thermodynamically more stable monosubstituted π-allylruthenium complex, which undergoes imine addition with allylic inversion through a closed transition structure. Direct ruthenium-catalyzed diene hydroaminoalkylations with pyrrolidine also are described.

Hydroarylation is an environmentally attractive strategy which incorporates all of the atoms contained in the substrates into the desired products. Almost all the hydroarylations of norbornene reported to date involve an exo-selective reaction. Here we show the endo-selective hydroarylation of norbornene in the Rh(I)-catalyzed reaction of aromatic amides. The addition of sterically bulky carboxylic acids enhances the endo-selectivity of the reaction. The results of deuterium-labeling experiments show that both the ortho-carbon and the ortho-hydrogen atoms of aromatic amides were attached to the same carbon atom of the norbornane skeleton in the hydroarylation product. These results clearly suggest that hydrometalation or carbometalation, which are commonly accepted mechanisms for the catalytic hydroarylation of C–H bonds, are not involved as the key step in the present reaction, and suggest that the reaction involves a rhodium carbene complex generated from norbornene as the key intermediate., Investigating unusual organometallic pathways may help to efficiently control product selectivity in homogeneous catalysis. Here, the authors report the hydroarylation of aromatic amides with norbornene derivatives and propose the formation of a rhodium-carbene intermediate leading to rarely observed endo-products.

The mechanism and origin of the facile β-hydrogen elimination and hydrometalation of a palladium complex bearing a phenylene-bridged PSiP pincer ligand are clarified. Experimental and theoretical studies demonstrate a new mechanism for β-hydrogen elimination and hydrometalation mediated by a silyl ligand at palladium, which enables direct interconversion between an ethylpalladium(II) complex and an η(2) -(Si-H)palladium(0) complex without formation of a square-planar palladium(II) hydride intermediate. The flexibility of the PSiP pincer ligand enables it to act as an efficient scaffold to deliver the hydrogen atom as a hydride ligand.

In this article, the stereoselectivity of metal-catalyzed cyclizations of 1,6-dienes is examined according to the elementary steps which can be envisaged as triggers of the rearrangements. Crucial results have been obtained which demonstrate that enantio­selective and diastereoselective cyclizations are possible. However, a lack of stereoselectivity is often observed for 1,6-dienes having a prochiral tether, which appears to originate in the lack of differentiation between the two olefins of the substrates. 1 Introduction 2 Oxidative Cyclometalation 3 Copper-Catalyzed Photocycloaddition 4 Intermolecular Hydrometalation 5 Carbometalation and Sila-Metalation 6 π-Allyl Formation in Metallo-Ene Cyclization 7 Olefin Electrophilic Activation 8 C–H Activation 9 Conclusion

The first highly efficient ligand-controlled regio- and stereodivergent intermolecular hydrosilylations of internal alkynes have been disclosed. Cationic ruthenium complexes [Cp*Ru(MeCN)3](+) and [CpRu(MeCN)3](+) have been demonstrated to catalyze intermolecular hydrosilylations of silyl alkynes to form a range of vinyldisilanes with excellent but opposite regio- and stereoselectivity, with the former being α anti addition and the latter β syn addition. The use of a silyl masking group not only provides sufficient steric bulk for high selectivity but also leads to versatile product derivatizations toward a variety of useful building blocks. DFT calculations suggest that the reactions proceed by a mechanism that involves oxidative hydrometalation, isomerization, and reductive silyl migration. The energetics of the transition states and intermediates varies dramatically with the catalyst ligand (Cp* and Cp). Theoretical studies combined with experimental evidence confirm that steric effect plays a critical role in governing the regio- and stereoselectivity, and the interplay between the substituent in the alkyne (e.g., silyl group) and the ligand ultimately determines the observed remarkable regio- and stereodivergence.

Treatment of the alkynyl(diethylamino)germanes Et2NGe(C≡CtBu)3 (1) and (Et2N)2Ge(C≡CtBu)2 (2) with dialkylelement hydrides tBu2MH (M = Al, Ga) afforded in high yields the hydrometalation products (tBuC≡C)2(Et2N)Ge[C(MtBu2)═C(H)tBu] (3), (tBuC≡C)(Et2N)Ge[C(MtBu2)═C(H)tBu]2 (4) and (tBuC≡C)(Et2N)2Ge[C(GatBu2)═C(H)tBu] (6). The Lewis acidic aluminum and gallium atoms showed a close contact to the nitrogen atoms of the amino groups attached to germanium, which resulted in relatively long Ge–N bonds and short Al–N or Ga–N distances. The structures of these molecules and the strengths of the interactions were investigated by dispersion-corrected density functional theory. This activation of the Ge–N bonds caused an unprecedented reactivity of compounds 4b and 6. 4b reacted with PhC≡CH under mild conditions and elimination of HNEt2 to give the mixed dialkynyl compound (tBuC≡C)(PhC≡C)Ge[C(GatBu2)═C(H)tBu]2 (5), while facile insertion of RN═C═X into a Ge–N bond of 6 led to the formation of the six-membered Ge–C–Ga...

The reactivity of the molecular magnesium hydride [Mg(Me3TACD·AliBu3)H] (1) featuring a terminal magnesium–hydrogen bond and an NNNN-type macrocyclic ligand, Me3TACD ((Me3TACD)H = Me3[12]aneN4 = 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane), can be grouped into protonolysis, oxidation, hydrometalation, (insertion), and hydride abstraction. Protonolysis of 1 with weak Bronsted acids HX such as terminal acetylenes, amines, silanols, and silanes gave the corresponding derivatives [Mg(Me3TACD·AliBu3)X] (X = C≡CPh, 3; HN(3,5-Me2-C6H3), 4; OSiMe3, 5; OSiPh3, 6; Cl, 7; Br, 8). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction of anilide 4 showed a square-pyramidal coordination geometry for magnesium. No correlation with the pKa values of the acids was detected. Oxidation of 1 with elemental iodine gave the iodide [Mg(Me3TACD·AliBu3)I] (9), and oxidation with nitrous oxide afforded the μ-oxo-bridged compound [{Mg(Me3TACD·AliBu3)}2(μ-O)] (10) with a linear Mg–O–Mg core, as characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The M...