Yttrium-Catalyzed Amine–Silane Dehydrocoupling: Extended Reaction Scope with a Phosphorus-Based Ligand

The scope of the catalytic dehydrocoupling of primary and secondary amines with phenylsilanes has been investigated using [Y­{N­(SiMe₃)₂}₃] and a four-coordinate analogue bearing a cyclometalated phosphonium methylide ligand. Inclusion of the phosphorus-based ligand on yttrium results in increased substrate scope in comparison to the tris­(amide) analogue. While reversible C–H bond activation of the cyclometalated ligand was observed in stoichiometric experiments, D-labeling experiments and DFT calculations suggest that reversible ligand activation is not involved in silazane formation under catalytic conditions. We suggest that the extended reaction scope with the four-coordinate yttrium phosphonium methylide complex relative to the three-coordinate yttrium (tris)­amide complex is a result of differences in the ease of amine inhibition of catalysis

Activation of N-heterocyclic carbenes by {BeH₂} and {Be(H)(Me)} fragments

A stable three-coordinate dimethylberyllium species coordinated by the 1,3-bis­(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)­imidazol-2-ylidene (IMes) ligand is readily converted to the corresponding methylhydrido derivative through metathetical reaction with phenylsilane. Attempts to synthesize the corresponding molecular dihydrides are, however, unsuccessful and result in ring opening of an IMes ligand through hydride transfer to the donor carbon atom and the consequent formation of a heterocyclic beryllium organoamide. In agreement with previous calculations, we suggest that this process occurs via a Schlenk-type equilibration process and formation of a four-coordinate bis-NHC beryllium dihydride. These species are not observed, however, as the steric pressure exerted by coordination of the two sterically demanding IMes ligands is sufficient to induce hydride transfer. The latter deduction is supported by the observation that a similar ring-opened product, but derived from methyl and hydride transfer, is available through the introduction of a further equivalent of IMes to the isolated beryllium methyl hydride species. In the latter case the ring-opening process is more facile, which we ascribe to the increased steric pressure achieved upon the formation of four-coordinate beryllium. In a further striking reaction under more forcing thermal conditions, the carbene carbon center of an IMes ligand is observed to be completely eliminated with selective formation of a three-coordinate diamidoberyllium species

Heterobimetallic Rebound: A Mechanism for Diene-to-Alkyne Isomerization with M‑--Zr Hydride Complexes (M = Al, Zn, and Mg)

The reaction of a series of <b>M<b>·</b>Zr</b> heterobimetallic hydride complexes with dienes and alkynes has been investigated (M = Al, Zn, and Mg). Reaction of <b>M<b>·</b>Zr</b> with 1,5-cyclooctadiene led to diene isomerization to 1,3-cyclooctadiene, but for M = Zn also result in an on-metal diene-to-alkyne isomerization. The resulting cyclooctyne fragment is trapped between Zr and Zn metals in a heterobimetallic species that does not form for M = Mg or Al. The scope of diene isomerization and alkyne trapping has been explored leading to the isolation of three new heterobimetallic slipped metallocyclopropene complexes. The mechanism of diene-to-alkyne isomerization was investigated through kinetics. While the reaction is first-order in <b>Zn·Zr</b> at high diene concentration and proceeds with Δ<i>H</i>^‡ = +33.6 ± 0.7 kcal mol^–1, Δ<i>S</i>^‡ = +23.2 ± 1.7 cal mol^–1 K^–1, and Δ<i>G</i>^⧧_298 K = +26.7 ± 1.2 kcal mol^–1, the rate is dependent on the nature of the diene. The positive activation entropy is suggestive of involvement of a dissociative step. On the basis of DFT calculations, a heterobimetallic rebound mechanism for diene-to-alkyne isomerization has been proposed. This mechanism explains the origin of heterobimetallic control over selectivity: Mg---Zr complexes are too strongly bound to generate reactive fragments, while Al---Zr complexes are too weakly bound to compensate for the contrathermodynamic isomerization process. Zn---Zr complexes have favorable energetics for both dissociation and trapping steps