In-silico-assisted derivatization of triarylboranes for the catalytic reductive functionalization of aniline-derived amino acids and peptides with H2.

Cheminformatics-based machine learning (ML) has been employed to determine optimal reaction conditions, including catalyst structures, in the field of synthetic chemistry. However, such ML-focused strategies have remained largely unexplored in the context of catalytic molecular transformations using Lewis-acidic main-group elements, probably due to the absence of a candidate library and effective guidelines (parameters) for the prediction of the activity of main-group elements. Here, the construction of a triarylborane library and its application to an ML-assisted approach for the catalytic reductive alkylation of aniline-derived amino acids and C-terminal-protected peptides with aldehydes and H2 is reported. A combined theoretical and experimental approach identified the optimal borane, i.e., B(2,3,5,6-Cl4-C6H)(2,6-F2-3,5-(CF3)2-C6H)2, which exhibits remarkable functional-group compatibility toward aniline derivatives in the presence of 4-methyltetrahydropyran. The present catalytic system generates H2O as the sole byproduct.

Electronic Profiling of N-Phosphine Oxide-Substituted Imidazolin-2-ylidenes (PoxIms) and Imidazolidin-2-ylidenes (SPoxIms).

A detailed electronic study of the N-phosphine oxide functionalized imidazolin-2-ylidenes (PoxIms) and imidazolidin-2-ylidenes (SPoxIms) has been performed experimentally using IR, 13C, and 77Se NMR spectroscopies. While the net donor/acceptor properties of the (S)PoxIms could not be differentiated via IR spectroscopy (TEP), NMR spectroscopic methods (HEP, Se) reveal that the (S)PoxIms are slightly weaker σ-donors but stronger π-acceptors compared to common NHCs. Moreover, backbone and substituent-effects could also be resolved by the latter, allowing for a ranking of their electronic properties. Finally, the donicities of these well-designed NHC ligands in their bidentate κ2-C,O modes were evaluated using HEP2 and compared to those of classical chelators.

Difluoromethylene insertion into fluoroalkyl copper complexes.

Herein, we report the insertion of a difluoromethylene into 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-arylethyl copper complexes to synthesize extended perfluoroalkyl-bridged compounds that have various functional groups on each edge (ArCF2CF2(CF2)nR, R = arenes, halogens, alkyl, alkenyl, and benzyloxycarbonyl). Further, the one-pot syntheses of perfluoroalkyl-bridged compounds from aryl boronic acid esters were carried out.

N-Heterocyclic Carbenes with Polyfluorinated Groups at the 4- and 5-Positions from [3 + 2] Cycloadditions between Formamidinates and cis-1,2-Difluoroalkene Derivatives.

We herein report the formation of fluorinated N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCFs) that bear fluorine atoms at the 4- and 5-positions of the imidazol-2-ylidene ring. Treatment of sodium N,N'-bis(aryl)formamidinates with tetrafluoroethylene followed by the addition of LiBF4 induced a [3 + 2] cycloaddition to afford 4,5-difluorinated imidazolium salts, which served as the precursors for 4,5-difluorinated NHCs. A key feature of this procedure is its applicability to other perfluorinated compounds, which enabled us to incorporate polyfluorinated functional groups at 4- and 5-positions on the imidazol-2-ylidene skeleton. Thus, employing octafluorocyclopentene and hexafluorobenzene led to the formation of 4,4,5,5,6,6-hexafluoro-1,3-diaryl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[d]imidazolium (CypIPrF·HBF4) and 4,5,6,7-tetrafluoro-1,3-diarylbenzimidazolium (BIPrF·HBF4) salts, respectively. A thorough NMR analysis of these NHCFs, their selenium adducts, and their tricarbonyl nickel complexes, (NHCF)Ni(CO)3, demonstrated that the fluorine substituents, contrary to expectations, tend to act as electron donors owing to the considerable positive mesomeric effect, while the perfluorocyclopentene-fused and tetrafluorobenzo-fused rings are pure electron acceptors due to their strong negative inductive effect. The unique and increased π-accepting character of the perfluorocyclopentene-fused and tetrafluorobenzo-fused NHCFs in both stoichiometric and catalytic reactions is further demonstrated by employing (NHCF)Ni(CO)3 and (NHCF)AuCl species, respectively. Moreover, an analysis of the % buried volume (%Vbur) values clearly suggests that the modification of the NHC backbone with polyfluorinated groups can drastically alter the electronic properties of the NHC ligand without substantially changing its steric properties. Our experimental results were further corroborated by a series of computational calculations.

Regioselective C-F Bond Transformations of Silyl Difluoroenolates.

Herein, we report the development of a nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of silyl difluoroenolates with aryl zinc reagents via C-F bond cleavage. Treatment of a stoichiometric amount of Ni(0)/N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) with silyl difluoroenolates in the presence of a lithium salt resulted in C-F bond cleavage to selectively afford the corresponding (Z)-alkenyl Ni complexes. On the basis of the observations, we developed a catalytic cross-coupling reaction that selectively delivers a single geometric isomer of a fluoroenolate.

Reversible Modulation of the Electronic and Spatial Environment around Ni(0) Centers Bearing Multifunctional Carbene Ligands with Triarylaluminum.

Designing and modulating the electronic and spatial environments surrounding metal centers is a crucial issue in a wide range of chemistry fields that use organometallic compounds. Herein, we demonstrate a Lewis-acid-mediated reversible expansion, contraction, and transformation of the spatial environment surrounding nickel(0) centers that bear N-phosphine oxide-substituted N-heterocyclic carbenes (henceforth referred to as (S)PoxIms). Reaction between tetrahedral (syn-κ-C,O-(S)PoxIm)Ni(CO)2 and Al(C6F5)3 smoothly afforded heterobimetallic Ni/Al species such as trigonal-planar {κ-C-Ni(CO)2}(µ-anti-(S)PoxIm){κ-O-Al(C6F5)3} via a complexation-induced rotation of the N-phosphine oxide moieties, while the addition of 4-dimethylaminopyridine resulted in the quantitative regeneration of the former Ni complexes. The corresponding interconversion also occurred between (SPoxIm)Ni(η2:η2-diphenyldivinylsilane) and {κ-C-Ni(η2:η2-diene)}(µ-anti-SPoxIm){κ-O-Al(C6F5)3} via the coordination and dissociation of Al(C6F5)3. The shape and size of the space around the Ni(0) center was drastically changed through this Lewis-acid-mediated interconversion. Moreover, the multinuclear NMR, IR, and XAS analyses of the aforementioned carbonyl complexes clarified the details of the changes in the electronic states on the Ni centers; i.e., the electron delocalization was effectively enhanced among the Ni atom and CO ligands in the heterobimetallic Ni/Al species. The results presented in this work thus provide a strategy for reversibly modulating both the electronic and spatial environment of organometallic complexes, in addition to the well-accepted Lewis-base-mediated ligand-substitution methods.

Nickel-Catalyzed Exhaustive Hydrodefluorination of Perfluoroalkyl Arenes.

Perfluoroalkyl compounds are persistent environmental pollutants due to their strong C(sp3)-F bonds. Hydrodefluorination has emerged as a potential alternative disposal method for perfluoroalkyl compounds. Although the transformation of trifluoromethyl arenes into the corresponding methyl arenes has been studied by several research groups, hydrodefluorination reactions of longer perfluoroalkyl chains remain rare. Herein, we report exhaustive hydrodefluorination reactions of pentafluoroethyl arenes and longer-chain analogues using molecular nickel catalysis. Despite the cleavage of multiple C(sp3)-F bonds, the reaction already proceeds upon gentle heating (60 °C). A mechanistic investigation indicated that the reaction proceeds via benzylic hydrodefluorination reactions followed by homobenzylic ones. We reveal the multiple roles of the Ni catalyst, which include C-F bond cleavage, promotion of HF elimination, and hydrosilylation.

Main group catalysis for H2 purification based on liquid organic hydrogen carriers.

Molecular hydrogen (H2) is one of the most important energy carriers. In the midterm future, a huge amount of H2 will be produced from a variety of hydrocarbon sources through conversion and removal of contaminants such as CO and CO2. However, bypassing these purification processes is desirable, given their energy consumption and environmental impact, which ultimately increases the cost of H2. Here, we demonstrate a strategy to separate H2 from a gaseous mixture of H2/CO/CO2/CH4 that can include an excess of CO and CO2 relative to H2 and simultaneously store it in N-heterocyclic compounds that act as liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs), which can be applied to produce H2 by subsequent dehydrogenation. Our results demonstrate that LOHCs can potentially be used for H2 purification from CO- and CO2-rich crude H2 in addition to their well-established use in H2 storage.

Room-Temperature Reversible Chemisorption of Carbon Monoxide on Nickel(0) Complexes.

Chemisorption on organometallic-based adsorbents is crucial for the controlled separation and long-term storage of gaseous molecules. The formation of covalent bonds between the metal centers in the adsorbents and the targeted gases affects the desorption efficiency, especially when the oxidation state of the metal is low. Herein, we report a pressure-responsive nickel(0)-based system that is able to reversibly chemisorb carbon monoxide (CO) at room temperature. The use of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands with hemi-labile N-phosphine oxide substituents facilitates both the adsorption and desorption of CO on nickel(0) via ligand substitution. Ionic liquids were used as the reaction medium to enhance the desorption rate and establish a reusable system. These results showcase a way for the sustainable chemisorption of CO using a zero-valent transition-metal complex.

Overlooked Factors Required for Electrolyte Solvents in Li-O2 Batteries: Capabilities of Quenching 1 O2 and Forming Highly-Decomposable Li2 O2.

Although sufficient tolerance against attack by superoxide radicals (O2 - ) has been mainly recognized as an important property for Li-O2 battery (LOB) electrolytes, recent evidence has revealed that other critical factors also govern the cyclability, prompting a reconsideration of the basic design guidelines of LOB electrolytes. Here, we found that LOBs equipped with a N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA)-based electrolyte exhibited better cyclability compared with other standard LOB electrolytes. This superior cyclability is attributable to the capabilities of quenching 1 O2 and forming highly decomposable Li2 O2 . The 1 O2 quenching capability is equivalent to that of a tetraglyme-based electrolyte containing a several millimolar concentration of a typical chemical quencher. Based on these overlooked factors, the DMA-based electrolyte led to superior cyclability despite its lower O2 - tolerance. Thus, the present work provides a novel design guideline for the development of LOB electrolytes.

Synthesis of Fluoroalkyl Sulfides via Additive-Free Hydrothiolation and Sequential Functionalization Reactions.

A modular synthetic method, involving a hydrothiolation, silylation, and fluoroalkylation, for the construction of highly functionalized fluoroalkyl sulfides has been developed. The use of aprotic polar solvents enables the additive-free chemoselective hydrothiolation of tetrafluoroethylene, trifluorochloroethylene, and hexafluoropropene with various thiols. The stepwise functionalization reactions convert the hydrothiolated intermediates into the tetrafluoroethyl sulfides in high efficiency. The method avoids the use of the environmental pollutant Halon-2402, which was employed as a building block in a reported synthetic route.

A boron-transfer mechanism mediating the thermally induced revival of frustrated carbene-borane pairs from their shelf-stable adducts.

Chemists have designed strategies that trigger the conformational isomerization of molecules in response to external stimuli, which can be further applied to regulate the complexation between Lewis acids and bases. We have recently developed a system in which frustrated carbene-borane pairs are revived from shelf-stable but external-stimuli-responsive carbene-borane adducts comprised of N-phosphine-oxide-substituted imidazolylidenes (PoxIms) and triarylboranes. Herein, we report the detailed mechanism on this revival process. A thermally induced borane-transfer process from the carbene carbon atom to the N-phosphinoyl oxygen atom initiates the transformation of the carbene-borane adduct. Subsequent conformational isomerization via the rotation of the N-phosphinoyl group in PoxIm moieties eventually leads to the revival of frustrated carbene-borane pairs that can cleave H2. We believe that this work illustrates an essential role of dynamic conformational isomerization in the regulation of the reactivity of external-stimuli-responsive Lewis acid-base adducts that contain multifunctional substituents.

Cleavage of C(sp3)-F Bonds in Trifluoromethylarenes Using a Bis(NHC)nickel(0) Complex.

The first example of the oxidative addition of a C(sp3)-F bond in trifluoromethylarenes to a nickel(0) complex is described. A nickel(0) complex that bears two N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands of low steric demand is able to cleave C(sp3)-F bonds of trifluoromethylarenes to afford the corresponding trans-difluorobenzyl nickel(II) fluoride complexes. Isolation and characterization studies suggested that the cleavage of the C(sp3)-F bond proceeds via an η2-arene nickel(0) complex. Taking advantage of the reactivity of these nickel(II) fluoride complexes, we developed a catalytic hydrodefluorination of trifluoromethylarenes using hydrosilanes. A computational study indicated that the electron-rich nickel(0) center supported by two relatively small NHC ligands cleaves the C(sp3)-F bond via a syn-SN2' mechanism.

Direct Transformation of Tetrafluoroethylene to Trifluorovinylzinc via sp2 C-F Bond Activation.

Trifluorovinylzinc is a common synthetic intermediate for trifluorovinyl derivatives, including α,ß,ß-trifluorostyrenes and hexafluorobutadiene. Here, we report a novel synthetic approach for the formation of trifluorovinylzinc chloride via a C-F bond activation of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), which is an industrially cost-effective bulk feedstock with a negligible GWP. The present system provides a practical synthetic route to various trifluorovinyl derivatives with very low energy consumption.

Rotation-Triggered Transmetalation on a Heterobimetallic Cu/Al N-Phosphine-Oxide-Substituted Imidazolylidene Complex.

A novel strategy for the preparation of heterobimetallic N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes is demonstrated using N-phosphine-oxide-substituted imidazolylidenes (PoxIms). In these heterobimetallic Cu/Al complexes, the Cu and Al centers can be either completely separated or brought near each other via the rotation of the N-phosphinoyl group in the PoxIm ligands. Triggered by this rotation, transmetalation to exchange the Cu-OtBu and Al-C6F5 bonds occurs on in situ-generated Cu/Al PoxIm complexes, and the Cu-C6F5 and Al-OtBu bonds are formed in excellent yield. On the basis of the results of mechanistic studies, including the isolation/in situ observation of key complexes and theoretical calculations, a plausible reaction mechanism for an intramolecular transmetalation is proposed to proceed via an activation complex that includes the simultaneous coordination of the phosphinoyl oxygen atom to the Cu as well as the Al centers. Furthermore, the formation of carbon-carbon bonds between Al(C6F5)3 and allyl bromide mediated/catalyzed by Cu/Al PoxIm complexes is demonstrated. Upon the consecutive transfer of three C6F5 groups from a single molecule of Al(C6F5)3, allyl pentafluorobenzene derivatives were obtained. The present results demonstrate the role of phosphine oxide in the activation of organoaluminum reagents for the transmetalation between Cu(I) complexes bearing NHCs as well as the benefit of constructing an intramolecular system based on a heterobimetallic complex to achieve efficient transmetalation by programming the encounter of two organometallic fragments.

Axial Chirality around N-P Bonds Induced by Complexation between E(C6F5)3 (E = B, Al) and an N-Phosphine Oxide-Substituted Imidazolinylidene: A Key Intermediate in the Catalytic Phosphinoylation of CO2.

Complexation-induced axial chirality around an N-P bond occurs upon the predominant coordination of the N-phosphinoyl group in the N-phosphine oxide-substituted imidazolinylidene (SPoxIm) to B(C6F5)3. (Ra) and (Sa) atropisomers of (κ-O-SPoxIm)B(C6F5)3 were observed independently in the single-crystal lattice and the optimized gas-phase structure. Experimental and theoretical studies confirmed that this axial chirality arises from the restricted rotation around the N-P bond, caused by the steric repulsion between the C5-H atoms of the imidazolinylidene ring and the C6F5 rings on the B(C6F5)3 unit. Conversely, this axial chirality was not certainly observed via the complexation between SPoxIm and Al(C6F5)3. The carbene carbon atoms in (κ-O-SPoxIm)E(C6F5)3 (E = B, Al) remain sufficiently nucleophilic to react with CO2, and the phosphinoylation of CO2 with SPoxIm proceeds far more rapidly in the presence of a catalytic amount of Al(C6F5)3 than in the absence of Al(C6F5)3.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Polycyclic γ-Lactams with Multiple Chiral Carbon Centers via Ni(0)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Carbonylative Cycloadditions without Stirring.

γ-Lactam derivatives with multiple contiguous stereogenic carbon centers are ubiquitous in physiologically active compounds. The development of straightforward and reliable synthetic routes to such chiral structural motifs in a stereocontrolled manner should thus be of importance. Herein, we report a strategy to construct polycyclic γ-lactam derivatives that contain more than two contiguous stereogenic centers in an enantioselective as well as atom-economic manner. Moreover, we have achieved the first enantioselective synthesis of strigolactam derivative GR-24, a racemic variant of which is a potential seed germination stimulator and plant-growth regulator. A key of the procedure presented here is a nickel(0)/chiral phosphoramidite-catalyzed asymmetric [2+2+1] carbonylative cycloaddition between readily accessible ene-imines and carbon monoxide, which proceeded enantioselectively to furnish up to 90% ee (>99% ee after recrystallization). The results of mechanistic studies, including the isolation of a chiral heteronickelacycle, support that the enantioselectivity on the two contiguous carbon atoms of the γ-lactams is determined during the oxidative cyclization on nickel(0).

Nickel-catalyzed decarbonylation of N-acylated N-heteroarenes.

Nickel-catalyzed decarbonylation of N-acylated N-heteroarenes is developed. This method can be used to produce a variety of N-aryl heteroarenes, including pyrroles, indoles, carbazoles and phenoxazines, using benzoic acid derivatives as arylating reagents. Arylnickelamide intermediates that are relevant to the catalytic reaction were characterized by X-ray crystallography. When N-acylated benzimidazoles are used as substrates, decarbonylation accompanied 1,2-migration to form 2-arylated benzimidazoles.

Ni(0)-Catalyzed Three-Component Coupling Reaction of Tetrafluoroethylene and N-Sulfonyl-Substituted Imines with Silanes via Aza-Nickelacycles.

A nickel-catalyzed three-component coupling reaction of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and N-sulfonyl-substituted imines with silanes that furnishes a variety of fluorine-containing amines is disclosed. Stoichiometric experiments revealed that the aza-nickelacycles generated upon oxidative cyclization of TFE and N-sulfonyl-substituted imines on Ni(0) were identified as the key intermediates in this catalytic reaction. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of such an aza-nickelacycle revealed that the O atom of the N-sulfonyl group stabilizes the key intermediate via coordination to the nickel center.