Facile N9-Alkylation of Xanthine Derivatives and Their Use as Precursors for N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes.

The xanthine-derivatives 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine, 1,3-dimethyl-7-benzylxanthine and 1,3-dimethyl-7-(4-chlorobenzyl)xanthine are readily ethylated at N9 using the cheap alkylating agents ethyl tosylate or diethyl sulfate. The resulting xanthinium tosylate or ethyl sulfate salts can be converted into the corresponding PF6- and chloride salts. The reaction of these xanthinium salts with silver(I) oxide results in the formation of different silver(I) carbene-complexes. In the presence of ammonia, ammine complexes [Ag(NHC)(NH3)]PF6 are formed, whilst with Et2NH, the bis(carbene) salts [Ag(NHC)2]PF6 were isolated. Using the xanthinium chloride salts neutral silver(I) carbenes [Ag(NHC)Cl] were prepared. These silver complexes were used in a variety of transmetallation reactions to give the corresponding gold(I), ruthenium(II) as well as rhodium(I) and rhodium(III) complexes. The compounds were characterized by various spectroscopic methods as well as X-ray diffraction.

Silver(I) Complexes with Camphorsulfonato and Phosphine Ligands: Structural Diversity and Antibacterial Activity.

A series of silver(I) camphorsulfonato complexes containing various phosphine ligands having the stoichiometry [Ag(camphSO3)(PR3)] [PR3 = PTA (1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane), PASO2 (2-thia-1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane-2,2-dioxide), PPh3, PCy3, P(CH2CH2CN)3, PPyPh2, or P(o-tol)3] were prepared and fully characterized by NMR spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallography. Depending on the nature of the phosphine, a variety of different supramolecular structures, including dimers, macrocycles, and coordination polymers, were observed in the solid state. The in vitro antimicrobial activity in seven different pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii) as well as toxicity in human cells was also examined. While all compounds show some activity against the bacteria, they were especially active against the fungus C. neoformans. The most active and at the same time least toxic compound was found to be the water-soluble complex [Ag(camphSO3)(PTA)2].

Bis[(dialkylamino)cyclopropenimine]-Stabilized P(III) - and P(V) -Centered Dications.

The treatment of bis[(dialkylamino)cyclopropenimines] with dihalophosphines in the presence of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf) to form diimine-stabilized P(III) -centered dications is reported. The structures of the new compounds were determined by using X-ray diffraction analysis and their donor abilities as ligands evaluated through electrochemical methods. Despite the two positive charges that they bear, these compounds depict intermediate behavior between that of phosphines and phosphites. The coordination of the [L2 PR](2+) moiety to Au(I) and Ag(I) is also reported. Even more surprisingly, these phosphorus centers can be oxidized to the corresponding P(V) dications in the presence of strong oxidants such as peroxides or XeF2 .

On the reactivity of tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)cyclopentadienone towards carbon-based Lewis bases.

The reactivitiy of tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)cyclopentadienone towards different C-based Lewis bases, such as N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC), ylides and isonitriles, are reported. While sterically not hindered carbenes were found to yield kinetic adducts by regiospecific nucleophilic attack at the position adjacent to the carbonyl group of the ketone, bulkier nucleophiles afforded the thermodynamically more stable O-bridged zwitterions. Interestingly, isonitriles were found to dimerize and trimerize under the same reaction conditions, forming bicyclic products that evolve differently depending on the nature of the substituents.

Coordination chemistry of cyclopropenylidene-stabilized phosphenium cations: synthesis and reactivity of Pd and Pt complexes.

A straightforward synthesis of cyclopropenylidene-stabilized phosphenium cations 1 a-g through the reaction of [(iPr2N)2C3(+)Cl]BF4 with secondary phosphines is described. Their donor ability was evaluated by analysis of the CO stretching frequency in Rh complexes [RhCl(CO)L2](BF4)2 and electrochemical methods. The cyclopropenium ring induces a phosphite-type behavior that can be tuned by the other two substituents attached to the phosphorus atom. Despite of the positive charge that they bear, phosphenium cations 1 a-g still act as two-electron donor ligands, forming adducts with Pd(II) and Pt(II) precursors. Conversely, in the presence of Pd(0) species, an oxidative insertion of the Pd atom into the Ccarbene-phosphorus bond takes place, providing dimeric structures in which each Pd atom is bonded to a cyclopropenyl carbene while two dialkyl/diaryl phosphide ligands serve as bridges between the two Pd centers. The catalytic performance of the resulting library of Pt(II) complexes was tested; all of the cationic phosphines accelerated the prototype 6-endo-dig cyclization of 2-ethynyl-1,1'-biphenyl to afford pentahelicene. The best ligand 1 g was used in the synthesis of two natural products, chrysotoxene and epimedoicarisoside A.

Synthesis and reactivity of metal complexes with acyclic (amino)(ylide)carbene ligands.

No cycle required: The straightforward synthesis of acyclic (amino)(ylide)carbene gold complexes was achieved by reaction of isocyanide gold complexes with phosphorus and arsenic ylides as well as electron-rich olefins. Their ability to form bimetallic species and to act as ligand-transfer reagents has also been established.

Synthesis, structures and anti-malaria activity of some gold(I) phosphine complexes containing seleno- and thiosemicarbazonato ligands.

A series of both mono- and dinuclear gold(I) phosphine complexes containing monoanionic seleno- and thiosemicarbazones as ligands were prepared and fully characterized by spectroscopic methods and, in some cases, by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The in vitro anti-malaria activity of some of these compounds was investigated in chloroquine sensitive strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The IC(50) results show that the sulfur containing compounds exhibit activity similar to that of chloroquine, whilst the selenium derivatives display only moderate anti-malaria activity.

Tribenzyl{eta(5)-[2-(p-tolyl)prop-2-yl]cyclopentadienyl}zirconium.

The title compound, [Zr(C(7)H(7))(3)(C(15)H(17))], (I), crystallizes from light petroleum with two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. Whereas in the parent molecule, Zr(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(CH(2)Ph)(3), all three Zr-CH(2)Ph angles are equal, in (I), they differ significantly. In spite of their different environments, both independent molecules in (I) exhibit a small, an expected, and a large Zr-CH(2)Ph angle. The angles are similar to those of the closely related tribenzyl[eta(5)-(benzyldimethylsilyl)cyclopentadienyl]zirconium complex. The smallest Zr-CH(2)Ph angle and the consequently relatively short Zr.C(ipso) distance are indicative of eta(2)-bonding of the benzyl group.