Scope and Mechanistic Study of the Coupling Reaction of α, ß-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds with Alkenes: Uncovering Electronic Effects on Alkene Insertion vs Oxidative Coupling Pathways.

The cationic ruthenium-hydride complex [(C(6)H(6))(PCy(3))(CO)RuH](+)BF(4) (-) (1) was found to be a highly effective catalyst for the intermolecular conjugate addition of simple alkenes to α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to give (Z)-selective tetrasubstituted olefin products. The analogous coupling reaction of cinnamides with electron-deficient olefins led to the oxidative coupling of two olefinic C-H bonds in forming (E)-selective diene products. The intramolecular version of the coupling reaction efficiently produced indene and bicyclic fulvene derivatives. The empirical rate law for the coupling reaction of ethyl cinnamate with propene was determined as: rate = k[1](1)[propene](0)[cinnamate](-1). A negligible deuterium kinetic isotope effect (k(H)/k(D) = 1.1±0.1) was measured from both (E)-C(6)H(5)CH=C(CH(3))CONHCH(3) and (E)-C(6)H(5)CD=C(CH(3))CONHCH(3) with styrene. In contrast, a significant normal isotope effect (k(H)/k(D) = 1.7±0.1) was observed from the reaction of (E)-C(6)H(5)CH=C(CH(3))CONHCH(3) with styrene and styrene-d(10). A pronounced carbon isotope effect was measured from the coupling reaction of (E)-C(6)H(5)CH=CHCO(2)Et with propene ((13)C(recovered)/(13)C(virgin) at C(ß) = 1.019(6)), while a negligible carbon isotope effect ((13)C(recovered)/(13)C(virgin) at C(ß) = 0.999(4)) was obtained from the reaction of (E)-C(6)H(5)CH=C(CH(3))CONHCH(3) with styrene. Hammett plots from the correlation of para-substituted p-X-C(6)H(4)CH=CHCO(2)Et (X = OCH(3), CH(3), H, F, Cl, CO(2)Me, CF(3)) with propene and from the treatment of (E)-C(6)H(5)CH=CHCO(2)Et with a series of para-substituted styrenes p-Y-C(6)H(4)CH=CH(2) (Y = OCH(3), CH(3), H, F, Cl, CF(3)) gave the positive slopes for both cases (ρ = +1.1±0.1 and +1.5±0.1, respectively). Eyring analysis of the coupling reaction led to the thermodynamic parameters, Δ H(‡) = 20±2 kcal mol(-1) and S(‡) = -42±5 e.u. Two separate mechanistic pathways for the coupling reaction have been proposed on the basis of these kinetic and spectroscopic studies.

Reactivity of acyclic (pentadienyl)iron(1+) cations: synthetic studies directed toward the frondosins.

A short, 4-step route to the scaffold of frondosin A and B is reported. The [1-methoxycarbonyl-5-(2',5'-dimethoxyphenyl)pentadienyl]Fe(CO)(3)(+) cation was prepared in two steps from (methyl 6-oxo-2,4-hexadienoate)Fe(CO)(3). Reaction of this cation with isopropenyl Grignard or cyclohexenyllithium reagents affords (2-alkenyl-5-aryl-1-methoxycarbonyl-3-pentene-1,5-diyl)Fe(CO)(3) along with other addition products. Oxidative decomplexation of these (pentenediyl)iron complexes, utilizing CuCl(2), affords 6-aryl-3-methoxycarbonyl-1,4-cycloheptadienes via the presumed intermediacy of a cis-divinylcyclopropane.

Chain- and Regioselective Ethylene and Styrene Dimerization Reactions Catalyzed by a Well-Defined Cationic Ruthenium-Hydride Complex: New Insights on the Styrene Dimerization Mechanism.

The cationic ruthenium-hydride complex [(eta(6)-C(6)H(6))(PCy(3))(CO)RuH](+)BF(4) (-) was found to be a highly regioselective catalyst for the ethylene dimerization reaction to give 2-butene products (TOF = 1910 h(-1), >95% selectivity for 2-butenes). The dimerization of styrene exclusively produced the head-to-tail dimer (E)-PhCH(CH(3))CH=CHPh at an initial turnover rate of 2300 h(-1). A rapid and extensive H/D exchange between the vinyl hydrogens of styrene-d(8) and 4-methoxystyrene was observed within 10 min without forming the dimer products at room temperature. The inverse deuterium isotope effect of k(H)/k(D) = 0.77+/-0.10 was measured from the first order plots on the dimerization reaction of styrene and styrene-d(8) in chlorobenzene at 70 degrees C. The pronounced carbon isotope effect on both vinyl carbons of styrene as measured by using Singleton's method ((13)C(recovered)/(13)C(virgin) at C(1) = 1.096 and C(2) = 1.042) indicates that the C-C bond formation is the rate-limiting step for the dimerization reaction. The Eyring plot of the dimerization of styrene in the temperature range of 50-90 degrees C led to DeltaH(double dagger) = 3.3(6) kcal/mol and DeltaS(double dagger) = -35.5(7) e.u. An electrophilic addition mechanism has been proposed for the dimerization of styrene.

Intermolecular Dehydrative Coupling Reaction of Arylketones with Cyclic Alkenes Catalyzed by a Well-Defined Cationic Ruthenium-Hydride Complex: A Novel Ketone Olefination Method via Vinyl C-H Bond Activation.

The cationic ruthenium-hydride complex [(eta(6)-C(6)H(6))(PCy(3))(CO)RuH](+)BF(4) (-) was found to be a highly effective catalyst for the intermolecular olefination reaction of arylketones with cycloalkenes. The preliminary mechanistic analysis revealed that electrophilic ruthenium-vinyl complex is the key species for mediating both vinyl C-H bond activation and the dehydrative olefination steps of the coupling reaction.

Chelate-Assisted Oxidative Coupling Reaction of Arylamides and Unactivated Alkenes: Mechanistic Evidence for Vinyl C-H Bond Activation Promoted by an Electrophilic Ruthenium-Hydride Catalyst.

The cationic ruthenium-hydride complex [(η(6)-C(6)H(6))(PCy(3))(CO)RuH](+)BF(4) (-) was found to be a highly regioselective catalyst for the oxidative C-H coupling reaction of aryl-substituted amides and unactivated alkenes to give ortho-alkenylamide products. The kinetic and spectroscopic analyses support a mechanism involving a rapid vinyl C-H activation followed by a rate-limiting C-C bond formation steps.

Aqueous phase C-H bond oxidation reaction of arylalkanes catalyzed by a water-soluble cationic Ru(III) complex [(pymox-Me2)2RuCl2]+BF4-.

The cationic complex [(pymox-Me(2))RuCl(2)](+)BF(4)(-) was found to be a highly effective catalyst for the C-H bond oxidation reaction of arylalkanes in water. For example, the treatment of ethylbenzene (1.0 mmol) with t-BuOOH (3.0 mmol) and 1.0 mol % of the Ru catalyst in water (3 mL) cleanly produced PhCOCH(3) at room temperature. Both a large kinetic isotope effect (k(H)/k(D) = 14) and a relatively large Hammett value (rho = -1.1) suggest a solvent-caged oxygen rebounding mechanism via a Ru(IV)-oxo intermediate species.

Efficient Dehydrogenation of Amines and Carbonyl Compounds Catalyzed by a Tetranuclear Ruthenium-mu-Oxo-mu-Hydroxo-Hydride Complex.

The tetranuclear ruthenium-mu-oxo-mu-hydroxo-hydride complex {[(PCy(3))(CO)RuH](4)(mu(4)-O)(mu(3)-OH)(mu(2)-OH)} (1) was found to be a highly effective catalyst for the transfer dehydrogenation of amines and carbonyl compounds. For example, the initial turnover rate of the dehydrogenation of 2-methylindoline was measured to be 1.9 s(-1) with the TON of 7950 after 1 h at 200 degrees C. The extensive H/D scrambling patterns observed from the dehydrogenation reaction of indoline-N-d(1) and indoline-alpha-d(2) suggest a monohydride mechanistic pathway with the C-H bond activation rate-limiting step.

Regioselective Intermolecular Coupling Reaction of Arylketones and Alkenes Involving C-H Bond Activation Catalyzed by an In-Situ Formed Cationic Ruthenium-Hydride Complex.

The cationic ruthenium-hydride complex, formed in-situ from the treatment of the tetranuclear ruthenium-hydride complex {[(PCy(3))(CO)RuH](4)(mu(4)-O)(mu(3)-OH)(mu(2)-OH)} with HBF(4).OEt(2), was found to be a highly effective catalyst for the intermolecular coupling reaction of arylketones and 1-alkenes to give the substituted indene and ortho-C-H insertion products. The formation of the indene products was resulted from the initial alkene isomerization followed by regioselective ortho-C-H insertion of 2-alkene and the dehydrative cyclization. The preliminary mechanistic studies revealed a rapid and reversible ortho-C-H bond activation followed by the rate-limiting C-C bond formation step for the coupling reaction.