Carbene complexes formation

The Group VI organometallic chemistry is mainly characterized by the occurrence of N- and C-coordination and carbene complex-formation, as well as by some unique cases of Se- (Te-) coordination, ring opening and deselenation. The Group VII organometallic chemistry is known for the carbene and chelate structures of the derivatized thiazoles. 

Another means of in situ metal-carbene complex formation in an ionic liquid is the direct oxidative addition of the imidazolium cation to a metal center in a low oxidation state (see Scheme 5.2-2, route b)). Cavell and co-workers have observed oxidative addition on heating 1,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate with Pt(PPli3)4 in refluxing THF [32]. The Pt-carbene complex formed can decompose by reductive elimination. Winterton et al. have also described the formation of a Pt-car-bene complex by oxidative addition of the [EMIM] cation to PtCl2 in a basic [EMIM]C1/A1C13 system (free CP ions present) under ethylene pressure [33]. The formation of a Pt-carbene complex by oxidative addition of the imidazolium cation is displayed in Scheme 5.2-4. 

Fig. 3.10. P-Elimination of alkyl ligands can compete with carbene complex formation [433],...

In 1994, Quayle et al. reported the application of this cyclic Fischer-carbene synthesis from 3-butynols to spirolactone synthesis, although the process was stepwise and a stoichiometric amount of the complex was employed [17]. The key transformation was the chromium or tungsten carbene complex formation followed by the CAN oxidation of the complex to give y-lactone. The reaction was further applied to the synthesis of andirolactone and muricatacin, the former being shown in Scheme 5.14. 

B. Competition between Carbene Complex Formation and Phosphenium Complex Formation... 

Fig. 13. Proposed mechanism of carbene complex formation with liver microsomal cytochrome P450 and halothane...

Fig. 14. Reductive dehalogenation of carbon tetrachloride by liver microsomal cytochrome P4S0 under carbene complex formation...

In a general (and generalizing) view on this issue it can be stated that suitably selected ionic liquids are very likely to form catalytically active ionic catalyst solutions with a given transition metal catalyst if the latter is neither extremely electrophilic (acidic) nor extremely nucleophilic (basic). While extremely electrophilic catalyst complexes are likely to coordinate strongly even with those anions of the ionic liquid solvent which are generally regarded as weakly coordinating, extremely nucleophilic catalytic centers are likely to react with the ionic liquid s cation. Carbene complex formation by oxidative addition as well as dealkylation of the cation are possible deactivation pathways of the catalyst in such a case. 

Recently, r 2-diazoalkane complexes X have been synthesized and fully characterized. However, this mode of coordination stabilizes the diazoalkane against N2 evolution and thereby hinders carbene complex formation [9, 10]. 

XI complexes in catalytic reactions might probably lead to free carbene species instead of carbenoids. By contrast, the decomposition of complexes XII, XIII and XIV would in principle permit carbene complex formation. 

Miscellaneous. Rates of palladium-carbene complex formation in reaction (2) depend on solvent nature, increasing in the order acetone dioxan < 1,2-dichloro-... 

The (l-ethynyl)-2-propenyl acetate derivative 111 undergoes an interesting PdCl2(PhCN)2-catalyzed cyclization to form the 2-cyclopentenone 112[47], A Pd-carbene complex is assumed to be an intermediate of the formation of 112. 

The olefins that undergo metathesis include most simple and substituted olefins cycHc olefins give linear high molecular-weight polymers. The mechanism of the reaction is beheved to involve formation of carbene complexes that react via cycHc intermediates, ie, metaHacycles. Industrial olefin metathesis processes are carried out with soHd catalysts (30). 

Silylketenes in formation of (3-lactones and (3-lactams 98JCS(P1)2105. Syntheses of (3-lactams, (3-lactones, and 1,3- and 1,4-diazetidinediones by pho-tochemically induced cycloaddition reactions of chromium carbene complexes with imines, aldehydes, and azo compounds 97T4105. 

In pyridinium chloride ionic liquids and in l,2-dimethyl-3-hexylimida2olium chloride ([HMMIMjCl), where the C(2) position is protected by a methyl group, only [PdClJ was observed, whereas in [HMIMjCl, the EXAFS showed the formation of a bis-carbene complex. In the presence of triphenylphosphine, Pd-P coordination was observed in all ionic liquids except where the carbene complex was formed. During the Heck reaction, the formation of palladium was found to be quicker than in the absence of reagents. Overall, the EXAFS showed the presence of small palladium clusters of approximately 1 nm diameter formed in solution. 

The first reaction pathway for the in situ formation of a metal-carbene complex in an imidazolium ionic liquid is based on the well loiown, relatively high acidity of the H atom in the 2-position of the imidazolium ion [29]. This can be removed (by basic ligands of the metal complex, for example) to form a metal-carbene complex (see Scheme 5.2-2, route a)). Xiao and co-workers demonstrated that a Pd imida-zolylidene complex was formed when Pd(OAc)2 was heated in the presence of [BMIMjBr [30]. The isolated Pd carbene complex was found to be active and stable in Heck coupling reactions (for more details see Section 5.2.4.4). Welton et al. were later able to characterize an isolated Pd-carbene complex obtained in this way by X-ray spectroscopy [31]. The reaction pathway to the complex is displayed in Scheme 5.2-3. 

However, formation of the metal carbene complex was not observed in pure, halide-free [BMIM][Bp4], indicating that the formation of carbene depends on the... 

Scheme 5.2-3 Formation of a Pd-carbene complex by deprotonation of the imidazolium cation.

Scheme 5.2-4 Formation of a Pt-carbene complex by oxidative addition of the imidazolium cation.

The use of imidazolium-based ionic liquids in Pd-catalyzed Heck reactions always carries with it the possibility of in situ formation of Pd-carbene complexes (for more details see Section 5.2.2.3). The formation of these under the conditions of the Heck reaction was confirmed by investigations by Xiao et al. [30], who described a significantly enhanced reactivity of the Heck reaction in [BMIM]Br in relation to the same reaction in [BMIM][Bp4] and explained this difference by the fact that formation of Pd-carbene complexes was observed only in the bromide melt. 

Scheme 5.3-2 Formation of carbene complexes by dialkylimidazolium salt deprotonation.

Scheme 5.3-3 Formation of carbene complexes by oxidative addition to Pt(0).

The ease of formation of the carbene depends on the nucleophilicity of the anion associated with the imidazolium. For example, when Pd(OAc)2 is heated in the presence of [BMIM][Br], the formation of a mixture of Pd imidazolylidene complexes occurs. Palladium complexes have been shown to be active and stable catalysts for Heck and other C-C coupling reactions [34]. The highest activity and stability of palladium is observed in the ionic liquid [BMIM][Brj. Carbene complexes can be formed not only by deprotonation of the imidazolium cation but also by direct oxidative addition to metal(O) (Scheme 5.3-3). These heterocyclic carbene ligands can be functionalized with polar groups in order to increase their affinity for ionic liquids. While their donor properties can be compared to those of donor phosphines, they have the advantage over phosphines of being stable toward oxidation. 

Because in metathesis reactions with most catalyst systems a selectivity of nearly 100% is found, a carbene mechanism seems less likely. Banks and Bailey ( ) reported the formation of small quantities of C3-C6-alkenes, cyclopropane, and methylcyclopropane when ethene was passed over Mo(CO)6-A1203, which suggests reactions involving carbene complexes. However, similar results have not been reported elsewhere most probably the products found by Banks and Bailey were formed by side reactions, typical for their particular catalyst system. 

These carbene (or alkylidene) complexes are used for various transformations. Known reactions of these complexes are (a) alkene metathesis, (b) alkene cyclopropanation, (c) carbonyl alkenation, (d) insertion into C-H, N-H and O-H bonds, (e) ylide formation and (f) dimerization. The reactivity of these complexes can be tuned by varying the metal, oxidation state or ligands. Nowadays carbene complexes with cumulated double bonds have also been synthesized and investigated [45-49] as well as carbene cluster compounds, which will not be discussed here [50]. 

Cocyclizations of internal alkynes and carbene complexes 57 with larger substituents R1 (e.g., R z Pr) not only lead to formation of an increased proportion of the regioisomers 60b, but also to that of the isomeric cyclopentadi-enes 61, which would result from 60a by 1,2-migration of the dimethylamino... 

Recently, Aumann et al. reported that rhodium catalysts enhance the reactivity of 3-dialkylamino-substituted Fischer carbene complexes 72 to undergo insertion with enynes 73 and subsequent formation of 4-alkenyl-substituted 5-dialkylamino-2-ethoxycyclopentadienes 75 via the transmetallated carbene intermediate 74 (Scheme 15, Table 2) [73]. It is not obvious whether this transformation is also applicable to complexes of type 72 with substituents other than phenyl in the 3-position. One alkyne 73, with a methoxymethyl group instead of the alkenyl or phenyl, i.e., propargyl methyl ether, was also successfully applied [73]. 

---