Deamination of the amino acid fragment in imine metallacycles: unexpected synthesis of an NH-aldimine organometallic compound.

We report that the action of Lewis bases, such as triphenylphosphine, pyridine, or trimethylamine, on imine metallacycles derived from amino acids leads to the formation of the first organometallic compound of an NH aldimine, a highly reactive organic species, and the corresponding alpha-ketoester, in a deamination reaction that mimics the metabolism of alpha-amino acids. The synthesis of different cyclopalladated compounds by a reaction between palladium acetate and the Schiff bases 2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2)CH=NCH(R(1))COOR(2) (R(1) = CH(2)Ph, R(2) = Et and R(1) = Ph, R(2) = Me) is also reported.

The first NH aldimine organometallic compound. Isolation and crystal structure.

The first NH aldimine organometallic derivative is unexpectedly formed by the cleavage of the nitrogen-carbon bond of the amino acid fragment of the Schiff base 2,4,6-Me3C6H2CH=NCH(CH2Ph)COOEt when the imine is treated with palladium acetate.

Synthesis, resolution, and reactivity of benzylmesitylphenylphosphine: a new p-chiral bulky ligand.

The synthesis of P,P'-dimesityl-P,P'-diphenyldiphosphine and benzylmesitylphenylphosphine is described as well as the resolution of the latter ligand by means of homochiral organometallic complexes. The absolute configuration of the phosphine is assigned by NMR spectra, using the homochiral palladacycle as a reference point. The configuration has been confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Molecular mechanics calculations were performed in [PdCl-(R)-(+)-C10H6CH(Me)NH2(PBnMesPh)], and showed that the rotation around the Pd-P bond is restricted in this complex. [Pd(eta3-2-MeC3H4)Cl(PBnMesPh)] was obtained and used as a precursor in the catalytic hydrovinylation of styrene. Benzylmesitylphenylphosphine has a strong tendency to form phosphapalladacycles by activation of one of the ortho-methyl groups. The formation of this metallacycle from cyclopalladated N-donor derivatives by a ligand-exchange reaction is also described.