Transition metal complexes of oxazolinylboranes and cyclopentadienyl-bis(oxazolinyl)borates: Catalysts for asymmetric olefin hydroamination and acceptorless alcohol decarbonylation

The research presented and discussed in this dissertation involves the synthesis of transition metal complexes of oxazolinylboranes and cyclopentadienyl-bis(oxazolinyl)borates, and their application in catalytic enantioselective olefin hydroamination and acceptorless alcohol decarbonylation. Neutral oxazolinylboranes are excellent synthetic intermediates for preparing new borate ligands and also developing organometallic complexes. Achiral and optically active bis(oxazolinyl)phenylboranes are synthesized by reaction of 2-lithio-2-oxazolide and 0.50 equiv of dichlorophenylborane. These bis(oxazolinyl)phenylboranes are oligomeric species in solid state resulting from the coordination of an oxazoline to the boron center of another borane monomer. The treatment of chiral bis(oxazolinyl)phenylboranes with sodium cyclopentadienide provide optically active cyclopentadienyl-bis(oxazolinyl)borates H[PhB(C{sub 5}H{sub 5})(Ox{sup R}){sub 2}] [Ox{sup R} = Ox{sup 4S-iPr,Me2}, Ox{sup 4R-iPr,Me2}, Ox{sup 4S-tBu]}. These optically active proligands react with an equivalent of M(NMe{sub 2}){sub 4} (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) to afford corresponding cyclopentadienyl-bis(oxazolinyl)borato group 4 complexes {PhB(C{sub 5}H{sub 4})(Ox{sup R}){sub 2}}M(NMe{sub 2}){sub 2} in high yields. These group 4 compounds catalyze cyclization of aminoalkenes at room temperature or below, providing pyrrolidine, piperidine, and azepane with enantiomeric excesses up to 99%. Our mechanistic investigations suggest a non-insertive mechanism involving concerted C−N/C−H bond formation in the turnover limiting step of the catalytic cycle. Among cyclopentadienyl-bis(oxazolinyl)borato group 4 catalysts, the zirconium complex {PhB(C{sub 5}H{sub 4})(Ox{sup 4S-iPr,Me2}){sub 2}}Zr(NMe{sub 2}){sub 2} ({S-2}Zr(NMe{sub 2}){sub 2}) displays highest activity and enantioselectivity. Interestingly, {S-2}Zr(NMe{sub 2}){sub 2} also desymmetrizes olefin moieties of achiral non-conjugated aminodienes and aminodiynes during cyclization. The cyclization of aminodienes catalyzed by {S-2}Zr(NMe{sub 2}){sub 2} affords diastereomeric mixture of cis and trans cylic amines with high diasteromeric ratios and excellent enantiomeric excesses. Similarly, the desymmetrization of alkyne moieties in {S-2}Zr(NMe{sub 2}){sub 2}-catalyzed cyclization of aminodiynes provides corresponding cyclic imines bearing quaternary stereocenters with enantiomeric excesses up to 93%. These stereoselective desymmetrization reactions are significantly affected by concentration of the substrate, temperature, and the presence of a noncyclizable primary amine. In addition, both the diastereomeric ratios and enantiomeric excesses of the products are markedly enhanced by N-deuteration of the substrates. Notably, the cationic zirconium-monoamide complex [{S-2}Zr(NMe{sub 2})][B(C{sub 6}F{sub 5}){sub 4}] obtained from neutral {S-2}Zr(NMe{sub 2}){sub 2} cyclizes primary aminopentenes providing pyrrolidines with S-configuration; whereas {S-2}Zr(NMe{sub 2}){sub 2} provides R-configured pyrrolidines. The yttrium complex {S-2}YCH{sub 2}SiMe{sub 3} also affords S-configured pyrrolidines by cyclization of aminopentenes, however the enantiomeric excesses of products are low. An alternative optically active yttrium complex {PhB(C{sub 5}H{sub 4})(Ox{sup 4S-tBu}){sub 2}}YCH{sub 2}SiMe{sub 3} ({S-3}YCH{sub 2}SiMe{sub 3}) is synthesized, which displays highly enantioselective in the cyclization of aminoalkenes at room temperature affording S-configured cyclic amines with enantiomeric excesses up to 96%. A noninsertive mechanism involving a six-membered transition state by a concerted C−N bond formation and N−H bond cleavage is proposed for {S-3}YCH{sub 2}SiMe{sub 3} system based on the kinetic, spectroscopic, and stereochemical features. In the end, a series of bis- and tris(oxazolinyl)borato iridium and rhodium complexes are synthesized with bis(oxazolinyl)phenylborane [PhB(Ox{sup Me2}){sub 2}]{sub n}, tris(oxazolinyl)borane [B(Ox{sup Me2}){sub 3}]n, and tris(4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolinyl)phenylborate [To{sup M}]{sup −}. All these new and other known rhodium and iridium complexes were examined in acceptorless dehydrogenative decarbonylation of primary alcohols. The catalysts survey shows that the compound To{sup M}Ir(η{sup 4}- C{sub 8}H{sub 12}) is the most active for the conversion of primary alcohols into alkane, H{sub 2}, and CO at 180 °C in toluene. Several aliphatic and aromatic primary alcohols are decarbonylated in the catalytic conditions. Furthermore, To{sup M}Ir(η{sup 4}-C{sub 8}H{sub 12}) is also able to decarbonylate polyols such as ethylene glycol and glycerol to syngas (H{sub 2} and CO) at 180 °C

Zirconium-Catalyzed Desymmetrization of Aminodialkenes and Aminodialkynes through Enantioselective Hydroamination

The catalytic addition of alkenes and amines (hydroamination) typically provides α- or β-amino stereocenters directly through C–N or C–H bond formation. Alternatively, desymmetrization reactions of symmetrical aminodialkenes or aminodialkynes provide access to stereogenic centers with the position controlled by the substrate’s structure. In the present study of an enantioselective zirconium-catalyzed hydroamination, stereocenters resulting from C–N bond formation and desymmetrization of a prochiral quaternary center are independently controlled by the catalyst and reaction conditions. Using a single catalyst, the method provides selective access to either diastereomer of optically enriched five-, six-, and seven-membered cyclic amines from aminodialkenes and enantioselective synthesis of five-, six-, and seven-membered cyclic imines from aminodialkynes. Experiments on hydroamination of aminodialkenes testing the effects of the catalyst:substrate ratio, the absolute concentration of the catalyst, and the absolute initial concentration of the primary amine substrate show that the latter parameter strongly influences the stereoselectivity of the desymmetrization process, whereas the absolute configuration of the α-amino stereocenter generated by C–N bond formation is not affected by these parameters. Interestingly, isotopic substitution (H2NR vs D2NR) of the substrate enhances the stereoselectivity of the enantioselective and diastereoselective processes in aminodialkene cyclization and the peripheral stereocenter in aminodialkyne desymmetrization/cyclization

Concerted C–N/C–H Bond Formation in Highly Enantioselective Yttrium(III)-Catalyzed Hydroamination

A highly active oxazolinylborato yttrium hydroamination catalyst provides 2-methyl-pyrrolidines with excellent optical purities. The proposed mechanism, in which a yttrium(amidoalkene)amine complex reacts by concerted C–N and C–H bond formation, is supported by the rate law for conversion, substrate saturation under initial rates conditions, kinetic isotope effects, and isotopic perturbation of enantioselectivity. These features are conserved between oxazolinylborato Mg-, Y-, and Zr-mediated aminoalkene cyclizations, suggesting related transition states for all three systems. However, inversion of the products’ absolute configuration between yttrium and zirconium catalysts coordinated by the same 4S-oxazolinylborate ligands highlight dissimilar mechanisms of stereoinduction

Mixed N‑Heterocyclic Carbene−Bis(oxazolinyl)borato Rhodium and Iridium Complexes in Photochemical and Thermal Oxidative Addition Reactions

In order to facilitate oxidative addition chemistry of fac-coordinated rhodium(I) and iridium(I) compounds, carbene–bis(oxazolinyl)phenylborate proligands have been synthesized and reacted with organometallic precursors. Two proligands, PhB(OxMe2)2(ImtBuH) (H[1]; OxMe2 = 4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazoline; ImtBuH = 1-tert-butylimidazole) and PhB(OxMe2)2(ImMesH) (H[2]; ImMesH = 1-mesitylimidazole), are deprotonated with potassium benzyl to generate K[1] and K[2], and these potassium compounds serve as reagents for the synthesis of a series of rhodium and iridium complexes. Cyclooctadiene and dicarbonyl compounds {PhB(OxMe2)2ImtBu}Rh(η4-C8H12) (3), {PhB(OxMe2)2ImMes}Rh(η4-C8H12) (4), {PhB(OxMe2)2ImMes}Rh(CO)2 (5), {PhB(OxMe2)2ImMes}Ir(η4-C8H12) (6), and {PhB(OxMe2)2ImMes}Ir(CO)2 (7) are synthesized along with ToMM(η4-C8H12) (M = Rh (8); M = Ir (9); ToM = tris(4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolinyl)phenylborate). The spectroscopic and structural properties and reactivity of this series of compounds show electronic and steric effects of substituents on the imidazole (tert-butyl vs mesityl), effects of replacing an oxazoline in ToMwith a carbene donor, and the influence of the donor ligand (CO vs C8H12). The reactions of K[2] and [M(μ-Cl)(η2-C8H14)2]2 (M = Rh, Ir) provide {κ4-PhB(OxMe2)2ImMes′CH2}Rh(μ-H)(μ-Cl)Rh(η2-C8H14)2 (10) and {PhB(OxMe2)2ImMes}IrH(η3-C8H13) (11). In the former compound, a spontaneous oxidative addition of a mesityl ortho-methyl to give a mixed-valent dirhodium species is observed, while the iridium compound forms a monometallic allyl hydride. Photochemical reactions of dicarbonyl compounds 5 and 7 result in C–H bond oxidative addition providing the compounds {κ4-PhB(OxMe2)2ImMes′CH2}RhH(CO) (12) and {PhB(OxMe2)2ImMes}IrH(Ph)CO (13). In 12, oxidative addition results in cyclometalation of the mesityl ortho-methyl similar to 10, whereas the iridium compound reacts with the benzene solvent to give a rare crystallographically characterized cis-[Ir](H)(Ph) complex. Alternatively, the rhodium carbonyl 5 or iridium isocyanide {PhB(OxMe2)2ImMes}Ir(CO)CNtBu (15) reacts with PhSiH3 in the dark to form the silyl compound {PhB(OxMe2)2ImMes}RhH(SiH2Ph)CO (14) or {PhB(OxMe2)2ImMes}IrH(SiH2Ph)CNtBu (17). These examples demonstrate the enhanced thermal reactivity of {PhB(OxMe2)2ImMes}-supported iridium and rhodium carbonyl compounds in comparison to tris(oxazolinyl)borate, tris(pyrazolyl)borate, and cyclopentadienyl-supported compounds

Highly Enantioselective Zirconium-Catalyzed Cyclization of Aminoalkenes

Aminoalkenes are catalytically cyclized in the presence of cyclopentadienylbis(oxazolinyl)borato group 4 complexes {PhB(C5H4)(OxR)2}M(NMe2)2 (M = Ti, Zr, Hf; OxR = 4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazoline, 4S-isopropyl-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxazoline, 4S-tert-butyl-2-oxazoline) at room temperature and below, affording five-, six-, and seven-membered N-heterocyclic amines with enantiomeric excesses of \u3e90% in many cases and up to 99%. Mechanistic investigations of this highly selective system employed synthetic tests, kinetics, and stereochemistry. Secondary aminopentene cyclizations require a primary amine (1–2 equiv vs catalyst). Aminoalkenes are unchanged in the presence of a zirconium monoamido complex {PhB(C5H4)(Ox4S-iPr,Me2)2}Zr(NMe2)Cl or a cyclopentadienylmono(oxazolinyl)borato zirconium diamide {Ph2B(C5H4)(Ox4S-iPr,Me2)}Zr(NMe2)2. Plots of initial rate versus [substrate] show a rate dependence that evolves from first-order at low concentration to zero-order at high concentration, and this is consistent with a reversible substrate–catalyst interaction preceding an irreversible step. Primary kinetic isotope effects from substrate conversion measurements (k′obs(H)/k′obs(D) = 3.3 ± 0.3) and from initial rate analysis (k2(H)/k2(D) = 2.3 ± 0.4) indicate that a N–H bond is broken in the turnover-limiting and irreversible step of the catalytic cycle. Asymmetric hydroamination/cyclization of N-deutero-aminoalkenes provides products with higher optical purities than obtained with N-proteo-aminoalkenes. Transition state theory, applied to the rate constant k2 that characterizes the irreversible step, provides activation parameters consistent with a highly organized transition state (ΔS⧧ = −43(7) cal·mol–1 K–1) and a remarkably low enthalpic barrier (ΔH⧧ = 6.7(2) kcal·mol–1). A six-centered, concerted transition state for C–N and C–H bond formation and N–H bond cleavage involving two amidoalkene ligands is proposed as most consistent with the current data

Zirconium-Catalyzed Desymmetrization of Aminodialkenes and Aminodialkynes through Enantioselective Hydroamination

The catalytic addition of alkenes and amines (hydroamination) typically provides α- or β-amino stereocenters directly through C–N or C–H bond formation. Alternatively, desymmetrization reactions of symmetrical aminodialkenes or aminodialkynes provide access to stereogenic centers with the position controlled by the substrate’s structure. In the present study of an enantioselective zirconium-catalyzed hydroamination, stereocenters resulting from C–N bond formation and desymmetrization of a prochiral quaternary center are independently controlled by the catalyst and reaction conditions. Using a single catalyst, the method provides selective access to either diastereomer of optically enriched five-, six-, and seven-membered cyclic amines from aminodialkenes and enantioselective synthesis of five-, six-, and seven-membered cyclic imines from aminodialkynes. Experiments on hydroamination of aminodialkenes testing the effects of the catalyst:substrate ratio, the absolute concentration of the catalyst, and the absolute initial concentration of the primary amine substrate show that the latter parameter strongly influences the stereoselectivity of the desymmetrization process, whereas the absolute configuration of the α-amino stereocenter generated by C–N bond formation is not affected by these parameters. Interestingly, isotopic substitution (H2NR vs D2NR) of the substrate enhances the stereoselectivity of the enantioselective and diastereoselective processes in aminodialkene cyclization and the peripheral stereocenter in aminodialkyne desymmetrization/cyclization.Reprinted (adapted) with permission from Journal of the American Chemical Society 137 (2015): 425, doi: 10.1021/ja511250m. Copyright 2015 American Chemical Society.</p