Fischer Carbene Complexes as Chemical Multitalents: The Incredible Range of Products from Carbenepentacarbonylmetal alpha,beta-Unsaturated Complexes

Cu/SaBox-Catalyzed Photoinduced Coupling of Acylsilanes with Alkynes

The transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction with Fischer metal carbene intermediates bearing an electron-rich alkoxyl or siloxyl group remains a big challenge due to the lack of readily available corresponding carbene precursors. Herein, we report the coupling of alkynes with the Fischer-type copper carbene species bearing a α-siloxyl group, which could be in situ generated from acylsilanes catalytically under photoirradiation and redox-neutral conditions. The side-arm modified bisoxazoline (SaBox) ligands prove to be crucial for this coupling reaction, which provides the corresponding alkynyl alcohol in high yields with remarkable heterocycle tolerance and broad substrate scope.

α-Aminocarbene-Mediated Si-H Insertion: Deoxygenative Silylation of Aromatic Amides with Silanes

While metal carbene-mediated Si-H insertion reactions have become a powerful strategy to build new C-Si bonds, the utilization of α-aminocarbene intermediates generated from readily available precursors in the Si-H insertion reaction remains a longstanding challenge. Herein, we develop a practical and general strategy to synthesize α-aminosilanes through a deoxygenative cross-coupling of amides and silanes mediated by Sm/SmI₂. Given the simplicity and versatility, this methodology represents a fascinating example for the effective utilization of inert amides as α-aminocarbene precursors in organic synthesis.

Palladium-Catalyzed Siloxycyclopropanation of Alkenes Using Acylsilanes

Currently, catalytically transferable carbenes are limited to electron-deficient and neutral derivatives, and electron-rich carbenes bearing an alkoxy group (i.e., Fischer-type carbenes) cannot be used in catalytic cyclopropanation because of the lack of appropriate carbene precursors. We report herein that acylsilanes can serve as a source of electron-rich carbenes under palladium catalysis, enabling cyclopropanation of a range of alkenes. This reactivity profile is in sharp contrast to that of metal-free siloxycarbenes, which are unreactive toward normal alkenes. The resulting siloxycyclopropanes serve as valuable homoenolate equivalents, allowing rapid access to elaborate β-functionalized ketones.

Recent Advances in Theoretical Studies on Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Carbene Transformations

Metal carbene plays a vital role in modern organic synthesis. The neutral divalent carbon of metal carbene renders it an active intermediate throughout a range of reactions. In experiments, diverse metal carbene-related transformation reactions have been established, including transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions using N-heterocyclic carbenes as ligands, metal carbene insertion into σ bonds, cyclopropanations, ylide formation, and so forth. The remarkable progress achieved in synthetic chemistry, in turn, has increased the demand for mechanistic studies of carbene chemistry. A thorough understanding of reaction mechanisms can extend the application scope of metal carbene compounds and inspire the rational design of new carbene transformation reactions.Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed in our group to gain more mechanistic insights into metal carbene-related reactions. This account focuses on computational studies of transition-metal-catalyzed carbene transformation reactions with nucleophiles. The generation of metal carbene or metal-ligated free carbene and subsequent carbene transformation pathways is discussed. According to our mechanistic studies of carbene transformation with nucleophiles, three generalized reaction models are summarized, including the intramolecular migratory insertion of metal carbene, intermolecular nucleophilic addition toward metal carbene, and outer-sphere nucleophilic addition to the metal-ligated free carbene.In general, the intermolecular nucleophilic addition mechanism is commonly proposed since metal carbene has an electrophilic carbene carbon. From a mechanistic point of view, the intramolecular migratory insertion mechanism is also widely used because metal carbene insertion into σ bonds formally occurs through this mechanism. An outer-sphere nucleophilic addition mechanism is proposed for reactions that form a metal-ligated free carbene complex instead of the commonly proposed metal carbene. The metal-ligated free carbene complex contains a naked carbene carbon that is not coordinated with the metal center. In this case, a transition-metal catalyst is used only as a Lewis acid, and nucleophilic addition occurs directly at the free carbene carbon. Our computational results suggested that outer-sphere nucleophilic addition is a facile step because metal ligation could stabilize the transition state as well as the generated intermediate. The intramolecular migratory insertion mechanism also has a low energy barrier due to the lack of an entropy penalty. Carbene formation from carbene precursors is usually the rate-determining step, except in intermolecular nucleophilic addition, and the reactivity of nucleophiles has a significant influence on the overall reaction rate. We can also envision that the weak nucleophilicity of nucleophiles would suppress outer-sphere nucleophilic addition. These computational studies showcase the characteristics of three carbene transformation models, and we hope that it will spur the development of mechanistic studies of carbene chemistry.

Fischer Carbene Complexes: A Glance at Two Decades of Research on Higher-Order Cycloaddition Reactions

The structure of Fischer carbene complexes (FCCs) is electron deficient. If bearing an α,β-unsaturated system, it can generate a wide variety of compounds by undergoing many different transformations, including higher-order cycloadditions. The latter are described as pericyclic reactions in which more than six electrons participate. These reactions have been employed in various areas of organic synthesis, resulting in highly selective compounds with a broad range of scaffolds. The first studies on higher-order cycloadditions involving FCCs frequently yielded competing byproducts. Many groups have attempted to increase selectivity by exploring distinct reaction conditions, reagents and co-catalysts (e. g., metal-mediated cycloadditions). The present review is the first to focus exclusively on using higher-order cycloadditions involving FCCs to synthesize carbocycles and heterocycles. Based on two decades of reports, an analysis is made of the main aspects of the mechanisms proposed for higher-order cycloadditions and the structural diversity obtained by the substituent effect.

Tetrasubstituted Selenophenes from the Stepwise Assembly of Molecular Fragments on a Diiron Frame and Final Cleavage of a Bridging Alkylidene

A series of 2,3-dicarboxylato-5-acetyl-4-aminoselenophenes, 5a–j, was obtained via the uncommon assembly of building blocks on a diiron platform, starting from commercial [Fe₂Cp₂(CO)₄] through the stepwise formation of diiron complexes [2a–d]CF₃SO₃, 3a–d, and 4a–j. The selenophene-substituted bridging alkylidene ligand in 4a–j is removed from coordination upon treatment with water in air under mild conditions (ambient temperature in most cases), affording 5a–j in good to excellent yields. This process is highly selective and is accompanied by the disruption of the organometallic scaffold: cyclopentadiene (CpH) and lepidocrocite (γ-FeO(OH)) were identified by NMR and Raman analyses at the end of one representative reaction. The straightforward cleavage of the linkage between a bridging Fischer alkylidene and two (or more) metal centers, as observed here, is an unprecedented reaction in organometallic chemistry: in the present case, the carbene function is converted to a ketone which is incorporated into the organic product. DFT calculations and electrochemical experiments were carried out to give insight into the release of the selenophene-alkylidene ligand. Compounds 5a–j were fully characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, IR, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and by X-ray diffraction and cyclic voltammetry in one case.

Metal−metal cooperativity in action! Different fragments are combined on the {Fe₂Cp₂(CO)₂} skeleton to give highly functionalized selenophene ligands, linked to the iron centers through a bridging alkylidene, which is easily removed from coordination by exposure to air/water in ethereal solution.

Cyclization of 5-alkynones with chromium alkylidene equivalents generated in situ from gem-dichromiomethanes

A rare example of cyclization with 5-alkynones, which possess non-polar alkynyl and less electrophilic polar keto carbonyl groups, was demonstrated. The key to promoting carbene/alkyne metathesis followed by alkylidenation with pendant C[double bond, length as m-dash]O double bonds was the Schrock-type nucleophilic reactivity of the generated chromium carbene equivalents from readily available diiodomethanes and CrCl₂ by simple heating.

Fischer Carbene Pentannulation with Alkynes Having Adjacent Carbonate or Acyloxy Groups: Synthesis of 3-Substituted 1-Indanones

Various aryl Fischer carbenes reacted with alkynes having adjacent acyloxy or carbonate groups to regioselectively deliver 3-substituted 1-indanones. The acyloxy or carbonate group probably coordinates with the Cr metal to give a tetra-coordinated chromium complex forming a six-membered ring that retards CO insertion for ketene formation, which is required for benzannulation. Alternatively, the ortho position aryl ring attack results in pentannulation, providing regioselectively 3-substituted 1-indanones. The method is extended to the synthesis of the core structure of 3-epi-mutisianthol.

Selective synthesis of trisubstituted pyrroles through the reactions of alkynyl Fischer carbene complexes with oxazolones

The unexpected reactivity of fluorinated oxazolones with alkynyl Fischer carbenes is reported. The loss of the –CF₃ and a cascade process involving nucleophilic additions were observed.

Understanding exo-selective Diels-Alder reactions involving Fischer-type carbene complexes

The factors controlling the selectivity of the Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions involving Fischer-type carbene complexes and cyclopentadiene have been explored computationally by means of density functional theory calculations. To this end, the influence of the substituents directly attached to the carbene ligand on the endo : exo ratio has been compared to the available experimental data and quantitatively analysed in detail by means of the combination of the activation strain model of reactivity and energy decomposition analysis methods. The insight gained in this computational study may be important for the rational design of exo-selective Diels-Alder reactions.

A rhodium-catalyzed three-component reaction of arylisocyanides, trifluorodiazoethane, and activated methylene isocyanides or azomethine ylides: an efficient synthesis of trifluoroethyl-substituted imidazoles

A novel method for the synthesis of trifluoroethyl-substituted imidazoles is reported via a rhodium-catalyzed three-component reaction of isocyanides, 2,2,2-trifluorodiazoethane and activated methylene isocyanides or azomethine ylides.

α-Diazo oxime ethers for N-heterocycle synthesis

This Feature Article introduces the preparation and synthetic utility of α-diazo oxime ethers. α-Oximino carbenes are useful synthons for N-heterocycles, and can be easily prepared from α-diazo oxime ethers as precursors. We begin with the preparation of α-diazo oxime ethers and their application in [3+2] cycloaddition. It turns out that the nature of metals bound to carbenes plays a crucial role in modulating the reactivity of α-oximino carbenes, in which copper carbenes smoothly react with enamines, whereas the less reactive enol ethers and nitriles require gold carbenes. In Section 3.2, a discussion on N-O and C-H bond activation is presented. Carbenes derived from diazo oxime ethers show unique reactivity towards N-O and C-H bond activation, in which the proximity of the two functionalities, carbene and oxime ether, dictates the preferred reaction pathways toward pyridines, pyrroles, and 2H-azirines. In Section 3.3, the development of tandem reactions based on α-diazo oxime ethers is discussed. The nature of carbenes in which whether free carbenes or metal complexes are involved dissects the pathway and forms different types of 2H-azirines. The 2H-azirine formation turned out to be an excellent platform for the tandem synthesis of N-heterocycles including pyrroles and pyridines. In the last section, we describe the electrophilic activation of 2H-azirines with vinyl carbenes and oximino carbenes. The resulting azirinium species undergo rapid ring expansion rearrangements to form pyridines and pyrazines.

Electronic effect of ligands vs. reduction potentials of Fischer carbene complexes of chromium: a molecular electrostatic potential analysis

Molecular electrostatic potential at the chromium centre (V_Cr) emerges as a powerful predictor of reduction potential (E⁰).

Mechanistic Investigations of the Photochemical Isomerizations of [(CO)5MC(Me)(OMe)] (M = Cr, Mo, and W) Complexes

The mechanisms for the photochemical isomerization reactions are determined theoretically using group 6 Fischer carbene complexes (CO)₅M=C(Me)(OMe) (M = Cr, Mo, and W) and the complete-active-space self-consistent field (CASSCF) (10-orbital/8-electron active space) and second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation (MP2-CAS) methods with the Def2-SVPD basis set. The structures and energies of the singlet/singlet conical intersections and the triplet/singlet intersystem crossings, which play a decisive role in these photoisomerizations, are determined. The former is applied to the chromium and molybdenum systems because their photoproducts are essentially from the singlet excited states. The latter is applied to the tungsten complex because its photoproducts are formed from a low-lying triplet excited state. Two reaction pathways are examined in this work: photocarbonylation (path I) and CO-photoextrusion (path II). The model studies strongly indicate that in the photochemistry of Cr and Mo Fischer carbene systems, the formation of metallaketene intermediates may occur at higher excitation wavenumbers, whereas the five-coordinated complexes that are attached by a solvent molecule are obtained at lower excitation wavenumbers. However, in the W analogue, because the activation barriers for path I are greater than that for path II and path I has more reaction steps than path II, the quantum yields for the metallaketene intermediate should be smaller than those for the five-coordinated species, which is also attached by a solvent molecule. These theoretical studies also suggest that the conical intersection and the spin crossover mechanisms that are identified in this work explain the process well and support the experimental observations.

Transition metal mediated carbonylative benzannulations

This review summarizes novel building blocks recently developed for transition metal-catalyzed carbonylative benzannulations.

Total synthesis of natural products containing benzofuran rings

In this review, various approaches for the construction of benzofurans as an important moiety in different natural products during the total synthesis of the natural of products are underscored.

On the mechanism of imine elimination from Fischer tungsten carbene complexes

(Aminoferrocenyl)(ferrocenyl)carbene(pentacarbonyl)tungsten(0) (CO)5W=C(NHFc)Fc (W(CO) 5 ( E -2)) is synthesized by nucleophilic substitution of the ethoxy group of (CO)5W=C(OEt)Fc (M(CO) 5 (1 (Et) )) by ferrocenyl amide Fc-NH(-) (Fc = ferrocenyl). W(CO) 5 ( E -2) thermally and photochemically eliminates bulky E-1,2-diferrocenylimine ( E -3) via a formal 1,2-H shift from the N to the carbene C atom. Kinetic and mechanistic studies to the formation of imine E -3 are performed by NMR, IR and UV-vis spectroscopy and liquid injection field desorption ionization (LIFDI) mass spectrometry as well as by trapping experiments for low-coordinate tungsten complexes with triphenylphosphane. W(CO) 5 ( E -2) decays thermally in a first-order rate-law with a Gibbs free energy of activation of ΔG (‡) 298K = 112 kJ mol(-1). Three proposed mechanistic pathways are taken into account and supported by detailed (time-dependent) densitiy functional theory [(TD)-DFT] calculations. The preferred pathway is initiated by an irreversible CO dissociation, followed by an oxidative addition/pseudorotation/reductive elimination pathway with short-lived, elusive seven-coordinate hydrido tungsten(II) intermediates cis (N,H)-W(CO) 4 (H)( Z -15) and cis (C,H)-W(CO) 4 (H)( Z -15).