Activation of 2-propyn-1-ol derivatives by (arene)ruthenium(II) complexes: new route to (alkenylcarbene)- and (polyenylcarbene)-metal complexes

Evaluation of arene ruthenium(II) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes as organometallics interacting with thiol and selenol containing biomolecules

Metal complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have been widely used in catalytic chemistry and are now increasingly considered for the development of new chemical tools and metal based drugs. Ruthenium complexes of the type (p-cymene)(NHC)RuCl(2) interacted with biologically relevant thiols and selenols, which resulted in the inhibition of enzymes such as thioredoxin reductase or cathepsin B. Pronounced antiproliferative effects could be obtained provided that an appropriate cellular uptake was achieved. Inhibition of tumor cell growth was accompanied by a perturbation of metabolic parameters such as cellular respiration.

Sequential and Selective Hydrogenation of the Cα−Cβ and M−Cα Double Bonds of an Allenylidene Ligand Coordinated to Osmium: New Reaction Patterns between an Allenylidene Complex and Alcohols

Complex [OsH(=C=C=CPh2)(CH3CN)2(PiPr3)2]BF4 (1) reacts with primary and secondary alcohols to give the corresponding dehydrogenated alcohols and the hydride-carbene derivative [OsH(=CHCH=CPh2)(CH3CN)2(PiPr3)2]BF4 (2), as a result of hydrogen transfer reactions from the alcohols to the Calpha-Cbeta double bond of the allenylidene ligand of 1. The reactions with phenol and t-butanol, which do not contain any beta-hydrogen, afford the alkoxy-hydride-carbyne complexes [OsH(OR)(CCH=CPh2)(CH3CN)(PiPr3)2]BF4 (R = Ph (3), tBu (4)), as a consequence of the 1,3-addition of the O-H bond of the alcohols to the metallic center and the Cbeta atom of the allenylidene of 1. On the basis of the reactions of 1 with these tertiary alcohols, deuterium labeling experiments, and DFT calculations, the mechanism of the hydrogenation is proposed. In acetonitrile under reflux, the Os-C double bond of 2 undergoes hydrogenation to give 1,1-diphenylpropene and [Os{CH2CH(CH3)PiPr2(CH3CN)3(PiPr3)]BF4 (11), containing a metalated phosphine ligand. This reaction is a first-order process with activation parameters of DeltaH = 89.0 +/- 6.3 kJ mol-1 and DeltaS = -43.5 +/- 9.6 J mol-1 K-1. The X-ray structures of 2 and 3 are also reported.

Ruthenium Vinyl Carbene Intermediates in Enyne Metathesis

This review provides an overview of ruthenium vinyl carbene reactivity as it relates to enyne metathesis. Methods for the synthesis of metathesis-active and metathesis-inactive complexes are also summarized. Some of the early hypotheses about vinyl carbene intermediates in enyne metatheses were tested in the arena of synthetic chemistry and subsequently led to mechanistic studies. In these two areas, studies from the author's labs are described. There are still many unresolved questions in enyne metathesis that trace back to vinyl carbene reactivity. Hopefully this review will stimulate further investigation into vinyl carbene reactivity which should further refine our understanding of catalytic enyne metathesis.

Highly Selective Hydrogenation of Carbon-Carbon Multiple Bonds Catalyzed by the Cation [(C6Me6)2Ru2(PPh2)H2]+: Molecular Structure of [(C6Me6)2Ru2(PPh2)(CHCHPh)H]+, a Possible Intermediate in the Case of Phenylacetylene Hydrogenation

The dinuclear cation [(C(6)Me(6))(2)Ru(2)(PPh(2))H(2)](+) (1) has been studied as the catalyst for the hydrogenation of carbon-carbon double and triple bonds. In particular, [1][BF(4)] turned out to be a highly selective hydrogenation catalyst for olefin functions in molecules also containing reducible carbonyl functions, such as acrolein, carvone, and methyljasmonate. The hypothesis of molecular catalysis by dinuclear ruthenium complexes is supported by catalyst-poisoning experiments, the absence of an induction period in the kinetics of cyclohexene hydrogenation, and the isolation and single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of the tetrafluoroborate salt of the cation [(C(6)Me(6))(2)Ru(2)(PPh(2))(CHCHPh)H](+) (2), which can be considered as an intermediate in the case of phenylacetylene hydrogenation. On the basis of these findings, a catalytic cycle is proposed which implies that substrate hydrogenation takes place at the intact diruthenium backbone, with the two ruthenium atoms acting cooperatively in the hydrogen-transfer process.

Metal Vinylidenes and Allenylidenes in Catalysis: Applications in Anti-Markovnikov Additions to Terminal Alkynes and Alkene Metathesis

The involvement of a catalytic metal vinylidene species was proposed for the first time in 1986 to explain the regioselective formation of vinyl carbamates directly from terminal alkynes, carbon dioxide, and amines. Since this initial report, various metal vinylidenes and allenylidenes, which are key activation intermediates, have proved extremely useful for many alkyne transformations. They have contributed to the rational design of new catalytic reactions. This 20th anniversary is a suitable occasion to present the advancement of organometallic vinylidenes and allenylidenes in catalysis.

Simple Synthesis of an Allenylidene Heptavalent Rhenium(d0) Complex

This paper reports a simple way to synthesize an allenylidene rhenium(VII) complex. The diimido adamantyl-thiolato allenylidene rhenium(VII) complex 2 was obtained through a metathetical reaction of phosphonioalkylidyne rhenium complex 1 with diphenylketene and also structurally analyzed with X-ray diffraction. Complex 2 is the first d0 allenylidene complex with structure information.

Reaction of allylsilanes and allylstannanes with alkynes catalyzed by electrophilic late transition metal chlorides

The intramolecular reaction of allylsilanes and allylstannanes with alkynes proceeds catalytically in the presence of Pt(II), Pd(II), Ru(II), and Au(III) chlorides. Although more limited, AgOTf also catalyzes the cyclization. Usually, PtCl2 as the catalyst in methanol or acetone gives the best results. The reaction proceeds by exo attack of the allyl nucleophile on the alkyne to form five- or six-membered ring carbocycles. The reaction generally proceeds with anti stereoselectivity. However, a terminally substituted trimethylsilyl derivative reacts by a syn-type addition. The intermediate alkenylpalladium complex has been trapped with allyl chloride to form an allylated derivative with an additional carbon-carbon bond.

Ruthenium-catalyzed cycloaddition of propargylic alcohols with phenol derivatives via allenylidene intermediates: catalytic use of the allenylidene ligand as the C(3) unit

Novel ruthenium-catalyzed cycloaddition of propargylic alcohols with 2-naphthols and phenols bearing electron-donating groups via allenylidene intermediates has been developed to give the corresponding 1H-naphtho[2,1-b]pyrans and 4H-1-benzopyrans, respectively, in moderate to excellent yields with complete regioselectivity.