Regioselective Synthesis of Indene from 3-Aryl Propargylic gem -Dipivalates Catalyzed by N -Heterocyclic Carbene Gold(I) Complexes

International audience1-Aryl-3,3-bis(pivaloyloxy)propynes can be converted in good to high yields into either 1,3-or 1,2-bis(pivaloyloxy)indenes, depending on the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) gold(I) hexafluoroantimonate catalyst used. Almost exclusive formation of 1,3-di(oxycarbonyl)indene derivatives was achieved with cationic gold complexes containing the embracing N,N'-1,3-bis(9-butylfluorenyl)benzimidazolylidene ligand (nBu FNHC). The regioselective issue of the reaction was rationalized by the specific spatial distribution of the steric bulk in the nBu FNHC ligand. In contrast, only modest selectivities in favor of 1,2-disubstituted indenes were observed with more classical NHC gold complexes, the best selectivity being then obtained with N,N'-1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazolylidene gold chloride (SIPrAuCl) as precatalyst

Chimie de coordination de carbènes N-hétérocycliques substitués par des groupements alkyfluorényle : interactions faibles, effets stériques, catalyse

This thesis deals with a series of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands (NHCs) in which the N atoms bear expanded alkylfluorenyl (AF) substituents. Special focus has been put on the steric properties of these new ligands, as well as their influence on catalytic reactions involving Pd and Cu centres.The first part of this work describes the synthesis of a series of AF-substituted azolium salts suitable for the preparation of palladium PEPPSI-NHC complexes. These turned out to be very active in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions between para-substituted aryl chlorides and arylboronic acids. Structural and NMR studies revealed that in all the complexes, the NHC ligand displays a "bimodal pincer" type behaviour, that is functions as a tridentate ligand bound to the metal through both covalent and non covalent bonds, the former involving the carbenic C atom, the latter CH atoms of the wingtips.In the second part of the study, a series of linear [AuCl(NHC)] and [CuCl(NHC)] complexes were prepared. In some of them were observed weak CH•••M interactions involving the alkyl chains fixing the metal centre in a position below the NHC ring plane. This leads to an unusual coordination of the ligand able to freeze out the movement of the metal centre during its natural oscillation about the M-carbene axis.In the last part of this thesis, one of the [CuCl(NHC)] complexes synthesised was shown to be highly efficient in the catalytic hydrosilylation of functionalised/sterically crowded aldehydes and ketones (TONs up to 1000). Its high stability was attributed to the variable encumbrance of the ligand.Cette thèse porte sur l’étude de nouveaux carbènes N-hétérocycliques dont les atomes d'azote sont substitués par des groupes étendus alkylfluorényle (AF). Les caractéristiques principales de ces coordinats sont leur fort encombrement stérique, la modularité de ce dernier, et la proximité créée dans les complexes correspondants entre les groupes AF et le métal coordiné.La première partie de ce travail décrit la synthèse et la caractérisation d'un ensemble de sels d’azolium, précurseurs de cette nouvelle famille de NHCs. Ces composés ont d'abord été utilisés pour la préparation de complexes de palladium de type "Pd-PEPPSI-NHC", complexes qui se sont avérés très efficaces en couplage de Suzuki-Miyaura entre acides arylboroniques et chlorures d’aryle para-substitués. Des études structurales et RMN ont montré que dans leur complexes, les NHC formés agissent comme des pinces bimodales, c'est-à-dire combinant une interaction covalente (la liaison M-Carbène) et deux interactions non-covalentes impliquant les groupes AF. Dans certains complexes linéaires de l’or(I) et du cuivre (I), ces interactions faibles entre le métal et des liaisons C-H alentours ont permis la coordination non-optimale du centre métallique qui, à l’état solide, se retrouve hors de l’axe formé par le doublet non liant du carbène. Enfin, un complexe de type CuCl(NHC) dont l’encombrement stérique est variable a été préparé. Il s’est avéré être un excellent catalyseur d’hydrosilylation d’aldéhydes et de cétones. A ce jour, il possède l’une des plus grandes activité et longévité (TONs jusqu’à 1000) pour ce type de complex

N-Heterocyclic Carbenes Functioning as Monoligating Clamps

International audienceBenzimidazolium salts N,N′-disubstituted with 9-alkylfluorenyl groups (3a-e, alkyl = methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, benzyl) have been synthesised in high yields in three steps from o-phenylenediamine. This amine was treated with fluorenone in the presence of TiCl4 and tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) to form N,N′-bis(9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)benzene-1,2-diamine (1) in 91 % yield. Diamines 2a-e were then obtained in yields superior or equal to 77 % by reacting diimine 1 with the appropriate organolithium reagent. In the final step, diamines 2a-e were treated with ethylorthoformate under acidic conditions to afford benzimidazolium salts 3a-e. These were readily converted into the PEPPSI palladium complexes 4a-e (PEPPSI = pyridine-enhanced precatalyst preparation stabilisation and initiation). NMR and X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the flat fluorenylidene moiety orientates the alkyl groups towards the metal centre and because of its restricted rotational freedom makes the ligand bulkiness time independent. Thus, the metal centre is permanently confined between the two alkyl groups, and thereby forms a monoligating clamp with the carbenic centre. The CH2 groups close to the palladium ion give rise to anagostic C-H***Pd interactions. Catalytic tests revealed that the palladium complexes 4a-e are highly efficient in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions; their activity is equal or superior to the best PEPPSI catalysts reported to date

Crystal structure of trans-[1,3-bis(9-benzyl-9H-fluoren-9-yl) benzimidazol-2-ylidene] pyridine palladium(II) dichloride, C52H39Cl2N3Pd

International audienceC52H39Cl2N3Pd, tetragonal, I4(1)/a (no. 88), a = 40.0310(3) angstrom, c = 10.4211(1) angstrom, V = 16699.6 angstrom(3), Z = 16, R-gt(F) = 0.0292, wR(ref)(F-2) = 0.0709, T = 120 K

N-Alkylfluorenyl-substituted N-heterocyclic carbenes as bimodal pincers

International audienceTwo N-heterocyclic carbene precursors having their nitrogen atoms substituted by the expanded 9-ethyl-9-fluorenyl group, namely imidazolinium chloride 6 and imidazolium chloride 7, have been synthesized in high yields from fluorenone (1). The key intermediate of their syntheses is the new primary amine 9-ethyl-9-fluorenylamine (3), which was prepared in 75% yield. Both salts were readily converted into the corresponding PEPPSI-type palladium complexes, 8 and 9 (PEPPSI: pyridine-enhanced precatalyst preparation stabilisation and initiation). Despite rotational freedom of the ethylfluorenyl moieties about the N–C(fluorenyl) bond in their cationic precursors, the carbene ligands of the Pd(II)-complexes 8 and 9 both behave as bimodal pincers in solution and in the solid state, the resulting confinement being essentially due to (weak) attractive anagostic interactions between the CH2(fluorenyl) groups and the metal centre. Unlike in 8 and 9, there was no indication for similar anagostic interactions in the imidazolylidene chlorosilver complex 11, which could be obtained from 7. In the solid state, however, 11 adopts a remarkable “open sandwich” structure, with the two alkylfluorenilidene planes η2-bonded to the silver, this constituting a further bimodal pincer-type bonding mode of this ligand class. Complexes 8 and 9 were assessed in Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. The imidazolylidene complex 9 displayed high activity towards unencumbered aryl chlorides. Its activity is comparable to that of the previously reported, highly efficient benzimidazolylidene analogue 1

“Hummingbird” Behaviour of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes Stabilises Out-of-Plane Bonding of AuCl and CuCl Units

International audienceAn N-heterocyclic carbene substituted by two expanded 9-ethyl-9-fluorenyl groups was shown to bind an AuCl unit in an unusual manner, namely with the AuX rod sitting out of the plane defined by the heterocyclic carbene unit. As shown by X-ray studies and DFT calculations, the observed large pitch angle (21°) arises from an easy displacement of the gold(I) atom away from the carbene lone-pair axis, combined with the stabilisation provided by weak CH⋅⋅⋅Au interactions involving aliphatic and aromatic H atoms of the NHC wingtips. Weak, intermolecular Cl⋅⋅⋅H bonds are likely to cooperate with the H⋅⋅⋅Au interactions to stabilise the out-of-plane conformation. A general belief until now was that tilt angles in NHC complexes arise mainly from steric effects within the first coordination spher

Alkylfluorenyl substituted N-heterocyclic carbenes in copper(I) catalysed hydrosilylation of aldehydes and ketones

International audienceCopper(I) complexes featuring N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) in which the nitrogen atoms are substituted by a 9-ethyl-9-fluorenyl group (EF) have been synthesised and tested in the hydrosylilation of functionalized and/or sterically demanding ketones and aldehydes. These reactions, carried out with triethylsilane as hydride source, were best achieved with the imidazolylidene copper complex 2d in which the EF substituents can freely rotate about the corresponding N–CEF bonds. The remarkable stability of the active species, which surpasses that of previously reported Cu–NHC catalysts is likely to rely on the ability of the NHC side arms to protect the copper centre during the catalytic cycle by forming sandwich-like intermediates, but also on its steric flexibility facilitating approach of encumbered substrates. TONs up to 1000 were reache

Directional properties of fluorenylidene moieties in unsymmetrically substituted N-heterocyclic carbenes. Unexpected CH activation of a methylfluorenyl group with palladium. Use in palladium catalysed Suzuki- Miyaura cross coupling of aryl chlorides

International audienceBenzimidazolium salts having their two nitrogen atoms substituted by different 9-alkylfluorenyl groups (4a-e and 4g, alkyl(1)/alkyl(2) = Me/Et, Me/Pr, Me/n-Bu, Me/i-Pr, Me/Bn, Me/CH2SMe have been synthesised in high yields in two or three steps from N,N'-bis(9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)benzene-1,2-diamine (1). The imidazolium salts 4a-e were converted readily into the corresponding PEPPSI-type palladium complexes (PEPPSI = pyridine-enhanced precatalyst preparation stabilisation and initiation), while reaction of the methylthioether-substituted salt 4g with PdCl2/K2CO3/pyridine afforded the palladacycle 5g resulting from metallation of the methyl group attached to the fluorenylidene moiety. NMR and X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the carbene ligands in 5a-5e behave as clamp-like ligands, the resulting metal confinement arising from a combination of the orientational properties of the fluorenylidene moieties that push the alkyl groups towards the metal centre and attractive anagostic interactions involving CH2(fluorenyl) groups. Complexes 5a-e were assessed in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. Like their symmetrical analogues they displayed high activity in the coupling of phenyl boronic acid with p-tolyichloride but their performance remained slightly inferior to that of the related, symmetrical Et/Et complex 5h

A stable NH4PO3-glass proton conductor for intermediate temperature fuel cells

A stable and conductive composite material based on NH4PO3 and amorphous oxides (SiO2-P2O5) has been prepared by a wet-chemical route following with firing in ammonia. The composite showed high proton conductivity in both ambient air and humidified 5% H-2/Ar. A total conductivity of 6.0-19 mS/cm in the temperature range of 150-250 degrees C has been achieved. The conductivity (about 19 mS/cm) is stable in humidified 5% H-2/Ar during ageing at 175 degrees C for over 100 h. This material is a potential electrolyte for intermediate temperature fuel cells and other electrochemical devices

Handling Hazards Using Continuous Flow Chemistry: Synthesis of <i>N</i>¹‑Aryl-[1,2,3]-triazoles from Anilines via Telescoped Three-Step Diazotization, Azidodediazotization, and [3 + 2] Dipolar Cycloaddition Processes

The conversion of commercially available anilines into triazole products was realized using a telescoped three-reactor flow diazotization, azidodediazotization, and [3 + 2] dipolar cycloaddition process. The diazotization–azidodediazotization sequence was accelerated by means of an ultrasonic bath resulting in a degassed, segmented effluent. An automated continuous flow unit controlled by custom software created in-house was used to collect the aryl azide stream and restore it to a continuous column of the reagent. When combined with a variety of dipolarophiles, 1-aryl-[1,2,3]-triazoles were thus assembled by either copper catalyzed alkyne–azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) or Huisgen cycloaddition reactions.