Amination reactions Lewis bases

We have considered the addition of three radicals, Cl, H- and CH3, as models for bases. In the Ziegler-Natta reaction, Lewis bases involved are esters of aromatic acids and hindered amines. Bases are supposed either to interact with the support (MgCl2) or to coordinate with Ti [40, 41]. 

A multi-component aza-Henry reaction of an aldehyde (R CHO), aniline and a nitroalkane (R R CHN02) yields -nitroamines (27) in high de, ee, and yield in brine, with an optimal rate at pH 5.5, using a hydrogen-bond donor (a chiral thiourea or squaramide), and a tertiary amine as Lewis base. ... 

Diborane [19287-45-7] the first hydroborating agent studied, reacts sluggishly with olefins in the gas phase (14,15). In the presence of weak Lewis bases, eg, ethers and sulfides, it undergoes rapid reaction at room temperature or even below 0°C (16—18). The catalytic effect of these compounds on the hydroboration reaction is attributed to the formation of monomeric borane complexes from the borane dimer, eg, borane-tetrahydrofuran [14044-65-6] (1) or borane—dimethyl sulfide [13292-87-0] (2) (19—21). Stronger complexes formed by amines react with olefins at elevated temperatures (22—24). 

Many organic syntheses requHe the use of stericaHy hindered and less nucleophilic bases than //-butyUithium. Lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) and lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LHS) are often used (140—142). Both compounds are soluble in a wide variety of aprotic solvents. Presence of a Lewis base, most commonly tetrahydrofuran, is requHed for LDA solubdity in hydrocarbons. A 30% solution of LHS can be prepared in hexane. Although these compounds may be prepared by reaction of the amine with //-butyUithium in the approprite medium just prior to use, they are also available commercially in hydrocarbon or mixed hydrocarbon—THF solvents as 1.0—2.0 M solutions. 

Zirconium tetrachloride is instantly hydrolyzed in water to zirconium oxide dichloride octahydrate [13520-92-8]. Zirconium tetrachloride exchanges chlorine for 0x0 bonds in the reaction with hydroxylic ligands, forming alkoxides from alcohols (see Alkoxides, METAl). Zirconium tetrachloride combines with many Lewis bases such as dimethyl sulfoxide, phosphoms oxychloride and amines including ammonia, ethers, and ketones. The zirconium organometalLic compounds ate all derived from zirconium tetrachloride. 

The reaction between a trinuclear metal carbonyl cluster and trimetbyl amine borane has been investigated (41) and here the cluster anion functions as a Lewis base toward the boron atom, forming a B—O covalent bond (see Carbonyls). Molecular orbital calculations, supported by stmctural characterization, show that coordination of the amine borane causes small changes in the trinuclear framework. 

The most important Lewis bases are tertiary amines or polyamines converted into tertiary amines upon reaction with epoxide groups. 

Basicity nearly always arises from the presence of unshared electron pairs. Consequently, amines produce an alkaline reaction in aqueous solution by functioning as an electron donor (or Lewis base), withdrawing hydrogen ions from water and leaving an excess of hydroxyl ions in the solution. 

The reaction between a Lewis acid R3M and a Lewis base ER3, usually resulting in the formation of a Lewis acid-base adduct R3M—ER3, is of fundamental interest in main group chemistry. Numerous experiments, in particular reactions of alane and gallane MH3 with amines and phosphines ER3, have been performed [14]. Several general coordination modes, as summarized in Fig. 2, have been identified by X-ray diffraction. 

Recently, Manners and co-workers have found another type of reaction, the inorganic process corresponding to Rh-catalysed dehydrocoupling of borane adducts, which is homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysed depending on the substrate, in particular the nature of the Lewis base, phosphine or amine respectively [15]. 

The literature3 contains some limited work on decaborane-based polymer systems. Typically, most utilize the Lewis acid/base reaction between decaborane (Lewis acid, B10H12) and amines and phosphines (Lewis bases, L) resulting in the formation of complexes (see scheme 2) having the general formulas B10H12L2. For example, the... 

As has already been mentioned, boron halides are electron-deficient molecules. As a result, they tend to act as strong Lewis acids by accepting electron pairs from many types of Lewis bases to form stable acid-base adducts. Electron donors such as ammonia, pyridine, amines, ethers, and many other types of compounds form stable adducts. In behaving as strong Lewis acids, the boron halides act as acid catalysts for several important types of organic reactions (see Chapter 9). 

BioH14 is a mdo-polyborane, therefore, it is expected that it forms adducts with Lewis bases. This is indeed the case but with concomitant loss of hydrogen as shown in Eq. (51). These adducts of the type BioHi2-2L (L = amines, pyridine, phosphines, nitriles, dialkylsulfides inter alia) proved to be versatile reagents. For instance, when triethylamine is used to replace acetonitrile from the adduct not only does the expected replacement occur but in preference also a proton shift (most likely prior to the base displacement reaction) with cluster closure to the decahydro-doso-decaborate(2—) (Eq. 52) ... 

Even more effective in hydrogen activation are frustrated Lewis pairs [220] containing NHCs as Lewis bases. In 2008 two research groups reported the activation of hydrogen by frustrated Lewis pairs made up from a suitably Af,A -substituted NHC and B(CgF5)3 (Fig. 30) [221, 222]. The corresponding reaction of the frustrated Lewis pair with primary and secondary alkyl amines resulted in the formation of aminoboranes [222]. 

Cyanation of aldehydes and ketones is an important chemical process for C C bond formation." " Trimethylsilyl cyanide and/or HCN are commonly used as cyanide sources. The intrinsic toxicity and instability of these reagents are problematic in their applications. Acetyl cyanide and cyanoformates were used as cyanide sources in the enantioselective cyanation of aldehydes catalyzed by a chiral Ti complex and Lewis base (Scheme 5.31)." The Lewis base was necessary for the good yields and selectivities of these reactions. The desired products were obtained in the presence of 10mol% triethyl amine and 5mol% chiral titanium catalyst (Figure 5.14). Various aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes could be used in these reactions. 

A boron analog - sodium borohydride - was prepared by reaction of sodium hydride with trimethyl borate [84 or with sodium fluoroborate and hydrogen [55], and gives, on treatment with boron trifluoride or aluminum chloride, borane (diborane) [86. Borane is a strong Lewis acid and forms complexes with many Lewis bases. Some of them, such as complexes with dimethyl sulfide, trimethyl amine and others, are sufficiently stable to have been made commercially available. Some others should be handled with precautions. A spontaneous explosion of a molar solution of borane in tetrahydrofuran stored at less than 15° out of direct sunlight has been reported [87]. 

Proposed mechanisms for polycondensations are essentially the same as those proposed in the organic chemistry of smaller molecules. Here, we will briefly consider several examples to illustrate this similarity between reaction mechanisms for small molecules and those forming polymers. For instance, the synthesis of polyamides (nylons) is envisioned as a simple Sn2 type Lewis acid-base reaction, with the Lewis base nucleophilic amine attacking the electron-poor, electrophilic carbonyl site followed by loss of a proton. 

Ethers, sulfides, amines, carbonyl compounds, and imines are among the frequently encountered Lewis bases in the ylide formation from such metal carbene complex. The metal carbene in the ylide formation can be divided into stable Fisher carbene complex and unstable reactive metal carbene intermediates. The reaction of the former is thus stoichiometric and the latter is usually a transition metal complex-catalyzed reaction of a-diazocarbonyl compounds. The decomposition of a-diazocarbonyl compounds with catalytic transition metal complex has been the most widely used approach to generate reactive metal carbenes. For compressive reviews, see Refs 1,1a. 

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