Replacing the Z-phenyl Ring in Tamoxifen® with a para-Connected NCN Pincer-Pt-Cl Grouping by Post-Modification

Post-modification of a series of NCN-pincer platinum(II) complexes [PtX(NCN-R-4)] (NCN = [C6H2(CH2NMe2)2-2,6]–, R = C(O)H, C(O)Me and C(O)Et), X = Cl– or Br–) at the para-position using the McMurry reaction was studied. The synthetic route towards two new [PtCl(NCN-R-4)] (R = C(O)Me and C(O)Et) complexes used above is likewise described. The utility and limitations of the McMurry reaction involving these pincer complexes was systematically evaluated. The predicted “homo-coupling” reaction of [PtBr(NCN-C(O)H-4)] led to the unexpected formation of 3,3′,5,5′-tetra[(dimethylamino)methyl]-4,4′-bis(platinum halide)-benzophenone (halide = Br or Cl), referred to hereafter as the bispincer-benzophenone complex 13. This material was further characterized using X-ray crystal structure determination. The applicability of the pincer complexes in the McMurry reaction is shown to open a route towards the synthesis of tamoxifen-type derivatives of which one phenyl ring of Tamoxifen® itself is replaced by an NCN arylplatinum pincer fragment. The newly synthesized derivatives can be used as potential candidates in anti-cancer drug screening protocols. Two NCN-arylpincer platinum tamoxifen type derivatives, 5 and 6, were successfully synthesized and of 5 the separation of the diastereomeric E-/Z-forms was achieved. Compound 6, which is the pivaloyl protected NCN pincer platinum hydroxy-Tamoxifen® derivative, was obtained as a mixture of E-/Z-isomers. The new derivatives were further analyzed and characterized with 1H-, 13C{1H}- and 195Pt{1H}-NMR, IR, exact mass MS and elemental analysis.This research was partly funded by the Council for Chemical Sciences of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO/CW) G.D.B., M.L

Aminoarenethiolate-Copper(I)-Catalyzed Amination of Aryl Bromides

Aminoarenethiolate-copper(I) complexes are known to be efficient catalysts for carbon-carbon bond formation. Here, we show the first examples that these thiolate-copper(I) complexes are efficient for carbon-nitrogen bond formation reactions as well. N-Arylation of benzylamine and imidazole with bromobenzene was achieved either in NMP as solvent or under solvent-free conditions in the presence of 2.5 mol % of aminoarenethiolate-copper(I) complex only.

Aminoarenethiolato-copper(I) as (pre-)catalyst for the synthesis of diaryl ethers from aryl bromides and sequential C-O/C-S and C-N/C-S cross coupling reactions

A small library of 2-aminoarenethiolato-copper(I) (CuSAr) complexes was tested as (pre-)catalysts in the arylation reaction of phenols with aryl bromides. These copper(I) (pre-)catalysts are thermally stable, soluble in common organic solvents, and allow reactions of 6 h at 160 °C with low catalyst loadings of 2.5 mol %. Among the (pre-)catalysts screened, 2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]benzenethiolato-copper(I) led to the best results and provided good to excellent yields of various substituted diaryl ethers. Mechanistic studies showed that at early stages of the C-O coupling reaction the CuSAr complex is converted into CuBr(PhSAr) via selective coupling of the monoanionic arenethiolato ligand with phenyl bromide with formation of CuBr. In addition, the first results are shown involving a multi-component reaction (MCR) protocol for the in situ synthesis of propargylamines and their subsequent conversion involving a C-O cross coupling reaction. Furthermore, two examples of sequential C-O/C-S and C-N/C-S cross coupling reactions have been carried out on the same dihalo-pyridine substrate in a one-pot process with the same (CuSAr) (pre-)catalyst (overall yields 40-80%).

C–N Coupling of nitrogen nucleophiles with aryl and heteroaryl bromides using aminoarenethiolato–copper(I) (pre-)catalyst

The activity of a library of 2-aminoarenethiolato–copper(I) (CuSAr) (pre-)catalyst was explored in the arylation reaction of amines and N-containing heterocycles with aryl and heteroaryl bromides, respectively. These CuSAr pre-catalysts are thermally stable, are soluble in common organic solvents and show good catalytic activities in these N-arylation reactions with catalyst loadings amounting to 2.5 mol %. The targeted C–N coupling products were obtained in moderate to good yields (40–97%) for a variety of substrates.

The mechanism of the modified Ullmann reaction

The copper-mediated aromatic nucleophilic substitution reactions developed by Fritz Ullmann and Irma Goldberg required stoichiometric amounts of copper and very high reaction temperatures. Recently, it was found that addition of relatively cheap ligands (diamines, aminoalcohols, diketones, diols) made these reactions truly catalytic, with catalyst amounts as low as 1 mol% or even lower. Since these catalysts are homogeneous, it has opened up the possibility to investigate the mechanism of these modified Ullmann reactions. Most authors agree that Cu(I) is the true catalyst even though Cu(0) and Cu(II) catalysts have also shown to be active. It should be noted however that Cu(I) is capable of reversible disproportionation into Cu(0) and Cu(II). In the first step, the nucleophile displaces the halide in the LnCu(I)X complex forming LnCu(I)ZR (Z = O, NR', S). Quite a number of mechanisms have been proposed for the actual reaction of this complex with the aryl halide: 1. Oxidative addition of ArX forming a Cu(III) intermediate followed by reductive elimination; 2. Sigma bond metathesis; in this mechanism copper remains in the Cu(II) oxidation state; 3. Single electron transfer (SET) in which a radical anion of the aryl halide is formed (Cu(I)/Cu(II)); 4. Iodine atom transfer (IAT) to give the aryl radical (Cu(I)/Cu(II)); 5. π-complexation of the aryl halide with the Cu(I) complex, which is thought to enable the nucleophilic substitution reaction. Initially, the radical type mechanisms 3 and 4 where discounted based on the fact that radical clock-type experiments with ortho-allyl aryl halides failed to give the cyclised products. However, a recent DFT study shows that the modified Ullmann reaction between aryl iodide and amines or primary alcohols proceeds either via an SET or an IAT mechanism. It is shown that stalled aminations can be rejuvenated by the addition of Cu(0), which serves to reduce the formed Cu(II) to Cu(I); this also corroborates a Cu(I)/Cu(II) mechanism. Thus the use of radical clock type experiments in these metal catalysed reactions is not reliable. DFT calculations from Hartwig seem to confirm a Cu(I)/Cu(III) type mechanism for the amidation (Goldberg) reaction, although not all possible mechanisms were calculated.

Ligand-free copper(I) catalyzed N- and O-arylation of aryl halides

A simple and industrially viable protocol for C–N and C–O coupling is reported here. Arylation of phenol, benzylamine and imidazole with aryl bromides is achieved using ligand-free Cu(I) halide salts in low catalytic amount (2.5 mol %).