Triphos derivatives and diphosphines as ligands in the ruthenium-catalysed alcohol amination with NH3.

The ruthenium-triphos and diphosphine-catalysed amination of alcohols with ammonia is reported. Various types of triphos derivatives with electron-donating functional group were synthesized and used as ligands in the Ru-catalysed alcohol amination with NH3. The triphos derivatives are effective for the formation of primary amines. On the other hand, if hemilabile diphosphines as tridentate ligands are used, mixtures of secondary-along with primary amines are obtained. It was found that even simple diphosphines can be used as ligands for the selective formation of the secondary amines. The diphosphine system allows a new entry to the Ru-catalysed formation of secondary amines.

5,5'-Diamino-BIPHEP ligands bearing small selector units for non-covalent binding of chiral analytes in solution.

A dynamic axially chiral BIPHEP-ligand with 3,5-dichlorobenzoyl amide selector units for non-covalent binding of phenylalanine derivatives has been developed. Interaction studies in solution were performed with rhodium(i) complexes under exclusion of the metal being involved in binding. (Rax, S(Phe)) and (Sax, S(Phe)) adducts were observed as significantly separated species in NMR spectroscopy.

A dispensable methoxy group? Phenyl fencholate as a chiral modifier of n-butyllithium.

Phenyl fenchol forms a 3:1 aggregate with n-butyllithium (3-BuLi), showing unique lithium-HC agostic interactions both in toluene solution (1H,7Li-HOESY) and in the solid state (X-ray analysis). Although methoxy-lithium coordination is characteristic for many mixed aggregates of anisyl fencholates with n-butyllithium, endo-methyl coordination to lithium ions compensates for the missing methoxy groups in 3-BuLi. This gives rise to a different orientation of the fenchane moiety, encapsulating and chirally modifying the butylide unit.

Chiral modular n-butyllithium aggregates: nbuli complexes with anisyl fencholates.

Chiral, enantiopure aggregates are formed spontaneously by mixing solutions of n-butyllithium with anisyl fenchols. X-ray crystal analyses reveal the structures of these aggregates with different ortho substituents in the anisyl moieties (X), X = H (1-H), SiMe3 (2-H), tBu (3-H) SiMe2(tBu) (4-H) and Me (5-H). While the complex of 1-BuLi shows a 3:1 composition, 2-BuLi, 3-BuLi and 4-BuLi yield 2:2 stoichiometries. The aggregate 5-BuLi crystallizes with a 2:4 composition and hence is a derivative of hexameric n-butyllithium, in which two trans-situated nBuLi molecules are substituted by lithium fencholate moieties. The variety in the synthesized chiral nBuLi aggregates demonstrates the high propensity of anisyl fencholates to chirally modify nBuLi. Variations in the modular ligand structures by alterations of the ortho-substituents (X) enable tunings of compositions and also of enantioselectivities in nBuLi additions to benzaldehyde.

Phosphinofenchol or metastable phosphorane? Phosphorus derivatives of fenchol.

Not the expected phosphinofenchol 1 but phosphorane 2 is obtained after reaction of 2-lithio(diphenylphosphino)benzene with (-)-fenchone. Surprisingly, ONIOM(B3LYP/6-31G*:UFF) computations of 1 and 2 as well as B3LYP analyses of smaller model systems point to a lower thermodynamic stability of phosphoranes relative to their isomeric alkoxyphosphines. An analogue inherent instability is computed for the methylphosphorane 10, which is also synthesized and characterized by X-ray analysis. Decreasing ring size in cyclic phosphoranes, that is, from five- to four-membered ring systems, destabilizes cyclic phosphoranes even more. This computational prediction is verified experimentally by reaction of lithiomethyl(diphenylphosphine) with (-)-fenchone and subsequent isolation of the corresponding phosphinofenchol. Protonation or alkylation of phosphoranide intermediates can account for the formation of metastable phosphoranes.

Tethered dithiacyclopropenones. syntheses and structural properties of tetrathiacyclopropenonophanes.

The reaction of the cyclic tetrathiadiynes 4(m.n) (where m and n indicate the number of methylene groups between the dithiaacetylene units) with sodium trichloroacetate and subsequent hydrolysis of the gem-dichlorocyclopropenes afforded the mono- and biscyclopropenone derivatives 5(m.n) and 6(m.n) in moderate yields. Investigation of the X-ray crystal structures revealed small torsion angles between the CH(2)-S bond and the C-C double bond, indicating conjugation between the sulfur 3p lone pair and the cyclopropenone ring. The maintenance of the conjugation determines the secondary structure of both (5, 6) ring systems.

(Phosphanyloxazoline)palladium complexes, part I: (Eta3-1,3-dialkylallyl)(phosphanyloxazoline)palladium complexes: X-ray crystallographic studies, NMR investigations, and quantum-chemical calculations.

A series of systematically varied (eta3-1,3-dialkylallyl)palladium complexes of (4S)-[2-(2-diphenylphosphanyl)phenyl]-4,5-dihydrooxazole (PHOX) ligands were characterized by X-ray crystal structure analysis and NMR spectroscopy. Complexes with identical substituents in the 1,3-positions of the allyl group can form eight stereoisomers. In solution four to six isomers were observed and their conformations assigned with the aid of NOE experiments. The dynamic behavior of the complexes was analyzed. In addition, quantum-chemical calculations (restricted Hartree-Fock (HF), density functional theory (DFT)) were carried out and gave satisfactory agreement with experimental findings.

Nitrogen-capped pi-prismands: syntheses and conformational analyses

[structure: see text] The one-pot syntheses of the new diazabicyclophanes 5-7 are described. The benzene rings incorporated in the bridging chains exhibit rotational motion which is examined by means of variable-temperature NMR experiments and semiempirical calculations. X-ray analysis and NMR studies indicate that the metal ion in the endohedral silver(I) complex of 7 fluctuates between the two nitrogen atoms.

A trigonal planar mu 3-fluorido coinage metal complex from a dicationic (diphosphinomethane)copper(I) dimer: syntheses, structures, and bonding.

The triflate and hexafluorophosphate salts of [Cu2(mu-dtbpm)2]2+ (1(2+)) [dtbpm = bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)methane, tBu2PCH2PtBu2] and of [Cu3(mu 3-F)(mu-dtbpm)3]2+ (2(2+)) were synthesized and characterized. Coordination of solvent or counterions to 1(2+) is observed neither in solution nor in the solid state. The two copper(I) centers in 1(2+) indicate weak d10-d10 closed-shell interactions. 1(2+) reacts slowly with PF6- anions in acetone or KF in CH2Cl2 to yield the mu 3-fluorido complex 2(2+) with idealized D3 symmetry, containing a trigonal planar Cu3F core, as shown by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Distinct structural differences are observed compared to monocationic bicapped, trinuclear copper(I) dppm halide complexes [dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane, Ph2PCH2PPh2]. The average Cu-Cu, Cu-F, and Cu-P distances and the P-Cu-P' angle in 2(2+) are 3.85, 2.22, and 2.28 A and 144.3 degrees, respectively. The P2Cu units are twisted out of the Cu3F plane by an average angle of 18.4 degrees. DFT calculations (BPW91/LANL2DZ) for the model [Cu3(mu 3-F)(mu-dhpm)3]2+ (dhpm = diphosphinomethane, H2PCH2PH2) are used to explain the formation, structure, and bonding pattern of 2(2+).