Rh(II)-catalysed N2-selective arylation of benzotriazoles and indazoles using quinoid carbenes via 1,5-H shift.

An efficient Rh(II)-catalyzed highly selective N2-arylation of benzotriazole, indazole, and 1,2,3 triazole is developed using diazonaphthoquinone. The developed protocol is extended with a wide scope. In addition, late-stage arylation of these scaffolds tethered with bioactive molecules is explored. Control experiments and DFT calculations reveal that the reaction proceeds presumably via nucleophilic addition of the N2 (of the 1H tautomer) center to quinoid-carbene followed by a 1,5-H shift.

The curious saga of dehydrogenation/hydrogenation for chemical hydrogen storage: a mechanistic perspective.

Hydrogen storage is an indispensable component of hydrogen-based fuel economy. Chemical hydrogen storage relies on the development of lightweight compounds which can deliver high weight percentage of H2 at moderate temperatures through dehydrogenation and can be recovered from the dehydrogenated mass by hydrogenation for reuse. In this feature article we primarily discuss the mechanistic underpinnings of the catalytic dehydrogenation of ammonia-borane, a potential candidate for hydrogen storage and the challenges associated with its regeneration from the dehydrogenated mass. Moreover, we highlight the mechanistic intricacies, viability, sustainability and unresolved issues of allied chemical hydrogen storage avenues such as the CH3OH-CO2 cycle.

Frustrated Lewis Acid-Base-Pair-Catalyzed Amine-Borane Dehydrogenation.

Metal-free catalysis by sterically encumbered Lewis Acid-Base pairs, popularly known as frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs), is gaining importance by the day due to its promise of providing a greener alternative to transition-metal-based catalysis. One of the stumbling blocks in achieving catalytic dehydrogenation of amine-boranes is catalyst deactivation by the reaction product. Herein, we have theoretically investigated the routes of a dimethylxanthene-derived B,P-FLP-catalyzed dehydrogenation of dimethylamine-borane (DMAB), a rare instance which avoids catalyst inhibition by the reaction product. Our computational findings reveal that the dehydrogenation proceeds via formation of the ion pair [FLP-H]- and [HMe2N-BH2-H-BH2-NMe2H]+. This step is followed by indirect B-H activation assisted by a second DMAB molecule and further H2 release via deprotonation by the PPh2 center. It is revealed that the binding of NMe2BH2 to the FLP is unfavorable which ensures smooth propagation of the catalytic cycle. Catalytic dehydrogenation by the same mechanistic pathway is somewhat inhibited in the case of ammonia-borane by the same FLP due to the latent stabilization provided by strong hydrogen bonding interaction to FLP-NH2BH2 adduct which renders partial deactivation of the catalyst.

Mono- and dinuclear oxidovanadium(v) complexes of an amine-bis(phenolate) ligand with bromo-peroxidase activities: synthesis, characterization, catalytic, kinetic and computational studies.

The mono- and dinuclear oxidovanadium(v) complexes [VVO(L1)(Cl)] (1) and [L1VVO(µ2-O)VO(L1)] (2) of ONNO donor amine-bis(phenolate) ligand (H2L1) were readily synthesized by the reaction between H2L1 and VCl3.(THF)3 or VO(acac)2 in MeOH or MeCN, respectively, and then characterized through mass spectroscopy, 1H-NMR and FTIR techniques. Both the complexes possess distorted octahedral geometry around each V centre. Upon the addition of 1 equivalent or more acid to a MeCN solution of complex 1, it immediately turned into the protonated form, which might be in equilibrium as: [L1ClVV[double bond, length as m-dash]OH]+ ↔ [L1ClVV-OH]+ (in the case of [L1ClVV[double bond, length as m-dash]OH]+ oxo-O is just protonated, whereas in [L1ClVV-OH]+ it is a hydroxo species), with the shift in λmax from 610 nm to 765 nm. Similar was the case for complex 2. The complexes 1 and 2 could efficiently catalyze the oxidative bromination of salicylaldehyde in the presence of H2O2 to produce 5-bromo salicylaldehyde as the major product with TONs of 405 and 450, respectively, in the mixed solvent system (H2O : MeOH : THF = 4 : 3 : 2, v/v). The kinetic analysis of the bromide oxidation reaction indicated a first-order mechanism in the protonated peroxidovanadium complex and a bromide ion and limiting first-order mechanism on [H+]. The evaluated kBr and kH values were 5.78 ± 0.20 and 11.01 ± 0.50 M-1 s-1 for complex 1 and 6.21 ± 0.13 and 20.14 ± 0.72 M-1 s-1 for complex 2, respectively. The kinetic and thermodynamic acidities of the protonated oxido species of complexes 1 and 2 were pKa = 2.55 (2.35) and 2.16 (2.19), respectively, which were far more acidic than those reported by Pecoraro et al. for peroxido-protonation instead of oxido protonation. On the basis of the chemistry observed for these model compounds, a mechanism of halide oxidation and a detailed catalytic cycle are proposed for the vanadium haloperoxidase enzyme and these were substantiated by detailed DFT calculations.

Cis-Trans Conformational Analysis of δ-Azaproline in Peptides.

The cis-trans isomerization and conformer specificity of δ-azaproline and its carbamate-protected form in linear and cyclic peptides were investigated using NMR and α-chymotrypsin assay. Comparisons of the chemical shift value of the α-hydrogen in each case of δ-azaproline-containing peptides with conformer-specific locked diketopiperazines reveal the fact that an upfield chemical shift value corresponds to cis conformer and a downfield value corresponds to a trans conformer. δ-Azaproline adopts cis-conformation in simple amides, dipeptides, and tripeptides whereas its carbamate-protected form adopts trans-conformation. In the case of longer, linear or cyclic peptides, vice versa results are obtained. Interestingly, in all these peptides exclusively one conformer, either cis or trans, is stabilized. This cis-trans isomerization is independent of both temperature and solvents; only the δ-nitrogen protecting group plays key role in the isomerization. δ-Azaproline is conformer-specific in either of its protected or deprotected forms, which is a unique property of this proline. Unlike other covalently modified proline surrogates, this isomerization of δ-azaproline can be tuned easily by a protecting group. The mechanism of cis-trans isomerization of δ-azaproline during deprotection and reprotection is supported by theoretical calculations.

Theoretical investigation on the chemistry of entrapment of the elusive aminoborane (H2 N=BH2 ) molecule.

Aminoborane (H2 N=BH2 ) is an elusive entity and is thought to be produced during dehydropolymerization of ammonia borane, a molecule of prime interest in the field of chemical hydrogen storage. The entrapment of H2 N=BH2 through hydroboration of exogenous cyclohexene has emerged as a routine technique to infer if free H2 N=BH2 is produced or not during metal-catalyzed ammonia borane dehydrogenation reactions. But to date, the underlying mechanism of this trapping reaction remains unexplored. Herein, by using DFT calculations, we have investigated the mechanism of trapping of H2 N=BH2 by cyclohexene. Contrary to conventional wisdom, our study revealed that the trapping of H2 N=BH2 does not occur through direct hydroboration of H2 N=BH2 on the double bond of cyclohexene. We found that autocatalysis by H2 N=BH2 is crucial for the entrapment of another H2 N=BH2 molecule by cyclohexene. Additionally, nucleophilic assistance from the solvent is also implicated for the entrapment reaction carried out in nucleophilic solvents. In THF, the rate-determining barrier for formation of the trapping product was predicted to be 16.7 kcal mol(-1) at M06 L(CPCM) level of theory.

A metal-free strategy to release chemisorbed H2 from hydrogenated boron nitride nanotubes.

Chemisorbed hydrogen on boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) can only be released thermally at very high temperatures above 350 °C. However, no catalyst has been identified that could liberate H2 from hydrogenated BN nanotubes under moderate conditions. Using different density functional methods we predict that the desorption of chemisorbed hydrogen from hydrogenated BN nanotubes can be facilitated catalytically by triflic acid at low free-energy activation barriers and appreciable rates under metal free conditions and mildly elevated temperatures (40-50 °C). Our proposed mechanism shows that the acid is regenerated in the process and can further facilitate similar catalytic release of H2 , thus suggesting all the chemisorbed hydrogen on the surface of the hydrogenated nanotube can be released in the form of H2 . These findings essentially raise hope for the development of a sustainable chemical hydrogen storage strategy in BN nanomaterials.

Reactivity of biomimetic iron(II)-2-aminophenolate complexes toward dioxygen: mechanistic investigations on the oxidative C-C bond cleavage of substituted 2-aminophenols.

The isolation and characterization of a series of iron(II)-2-aminophenolate complexes [(6-Me3-TPA)Fe(II)(X)](+) (X = 2-amino-4-nitrophenolate (4-NO2-HAP), 1; X = 2-aminophenolate (2-HAP), 2; X = 2-amino-3-methylphenolate (3-Me-HAP), 3; X = 2-amino-4-methylphenolate (4-Me-HAP), 4; X = 2-amino-5-methylphenolate (5-Me-HAP), 5; X = 2-amino-4-tert-butylphenolate (4-(t)Bu-HAP), 6 and X = 2-amino-4,6-di-tert-butylphenolate (4,6-di-(t)Bu-HAP), 7) and an iron(III)-2-amidophenolate complex [(6-Me3-TPA)Fe(III)(4,6-di-(t)Bu-AP)](+) (7(Ox)) supported by a tripodal nitrogen ligand (6-Me3-TPA = tris(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)amine) are reported. Substituted 2-aminophenols were used to prepare the biomimetic iron(II) complexes to understand the effect of electronic and structural properties of aminophenolate rings on the dioxygen reactivity and on the selectivity of C-C bond cleavage reactions. Crystal structures of the cationic parts of 5·ClO4 and 7·BPh4 show six-coordinate iron(II) centers ligated by a neutral tetradentate ligand and a monoanionic 2-aminophenolate in a bidentate fashion. While 1·BPh4 does not react with oxygen, other complexes undergo oxidative transformation in the presence of dioxygen. The reaction of 2·ClO4 with dioxygen affords 2-amino-3H-phenoxazin-3-one, an auto-oxidation product of 2-aminophenol, whereas complexes 3·BPh4, 4·BPh4, 5·ClO4 and 6·ClO4 react with O2 to exhibit C-C bond cleavage of the bound aminophenolates. Complexes 7·ClO4 and 7(Ox)·BPh4 produce a mixture of 4,6-di-tert-butyl-2H-pyran-2-imine and 4,6-di-tert-butyl-2-picolinic acid. Labeling experiments with (18)O2 show the incorporation of one oxygen atom from dioxygen into the cleavage products. The reactivity (and stability) of the intermediate, which directs the course of aromatic ring cleavage reaction, is found to be dependent on the nature of ring substituent. The presence of two tert-butyl groups on the aminophenolate ring in 7·ClO4 makes the complex slow to cleave the C-C bond of 4,6-di-(t)Bu-HAP, whereas 4·BPh4 containing 4-Me-HAP displays fastest reactivity. Density functional theory calculations were conducted on [(6-Me3-TPA)Fe(III)(4-(t)Bu-AP)](+) (6(Ox)) to gain a mechanistic insight into the regioselective C-C bond cleavage reaction. On the basis of the experimental and computational studies, an iron(II)-2-iminobenzosemiquinonate intermediate is proposed to react with dioxygen resulting in the oxidative C-C bond cleavage of the coordinated 2-aminophenolates.

Unfolding the crucial role of a nucleophile in Ziegler-Natta type Ir catalyzed polyaminoborane formation.

formation through dehydropolymerization of ammonia-borane by Brookhart's iridium pincer catalyst has been under intense scrutiny but a sound molecular level understanding has remained elusive. Herein, using DFT the mechanism outlined by us for IrH2POCOP catalyzed formation underscores the importance of generation of nucleophiles, in particular that of the metal bound NH2BH2 moiety armed with a nitrogen lone pair for chain initiation and chain propagation steps.

Theoretical insights on the effects of mechanical interlocking of secondary amines with polyether macrocycles for frustrated-Lewis-pair-type hydrogen activation.

A frustrating environment: It has previously been shown that mechanical interlocking of secondary amines with polyether macrocycles enables these amines to activate H2 in the presence of B(C6F5)3. Density-functional calculations now show that the amine-macrocycle complex both preorganizes a frustrated Lewis pair minimum for H2 activation and stabilizes the product through strong hydrogen bonds.