From metal cyanides substitution reactions

Heterocyclic structures analogous to the intermediate complex result from azinium derivatives and amines, hydroxide or alkoxides, or Grignard reagents from quinazoline and orgahometallics, cyanide, bisulfite, etc. from various heterocycles with amide ion, metal hydrides,or lithium alkyls from A-acylazinium compounds and cyanide ion (Reissert compounds) many other examples are known. Factors favorable to nucleophilic addition rather than substitution reactions have been discussed by Albert, who has studied examples of easy covalent hydration of heterocycles. 

Cyano metal complexes are commonly formed by the addition of an excess of cyanide ion (usually as an alkali metal salt) to a transition metal complex in water or a polar organic solvent (equation 1). The completely cyanide-substituted metal complex is usually isolated from these reactions, although one or more steps in the reaction may be relatively slow. In certain cases, cyanide substitution is not complete, resulting in partially substituted cyano metal complexes an example is the addition of CN to Pt alkyl compounds, from which [PtR(CN)3] species are isolated. 

The catalytic activity of cross-linked polymeric sulfoxides differing in the functionality of the polystyrene matrix (the general formula is ( -(CH20CH2) -R, whereby (P) is the polystyrene matrix cross-linked by divinylbenzene, R = H or CH3, and n = 1, 2 or 3), has been studied in nucleophilic substitution reactions between alkyl bromides (1-bromobutane and 1-bromooctane) and phenoxides, iodides, thiocyanates or cyanides of alkaline metals under the conditions of catalytic three-phase reactions in the liquid-solid-liquid system [66]. The reaction is carried out in a toluene-water medium between 70-100°C. In the systems the rate of anion transfer from the liquid phase to the organic phase decreases in the sequence PhO > J > SCN > CN . 

Due to its commercial importance, the synthesis of copper phthalocyanine (PcCu) is the best investigated of all the phthalocyanines. Copper phthalocyanine is prepared from phthalonitrile and copper(I) chloride without solvent137 and also in a melt of urea.229,277 Additionally, the insertion of copper into metal-free phthalocyanine in butan-l-ol and pentan-l-ol is possible. The copper salts used in this case are copper(I) chloride112 and copper(II) acetate.290 Starting from copper(II) acetate, copper phthalocyanine can also be prepared in ethylene glycol.127 As mentioned above, copper phthalocyanine often occurs as a byproduct of the Rosenmund-von Braun reaction. To increase the yield of the phthalocyanine the solvent dimethylformamide can be substituted by quinoline. Due to the higher boiling point of quinoline, the copper phthalocyanine is the main product of the reaction of copper(I) cyanide and 1,2-dibromoben-zene.130... 

Now let me come back to primary substitutions at the ferrocene nucleus. Together with Vil chevskaya, we phosphorylated ferrocene and its derivatives to triferrocenylphosphine oxides [263, 264). An unusual reaction, discovered in collaboration with Perevalova and Yur eva, was the direct cyanation of ferrocene with hydrocyanic acid in the presence of ferric chloride [265,272). Initially, cyanide attacks the iron atom of the ferricinium cation, then the cyanide group transfers to the ring while the iron is simultaneously reduced. The reaction was termed by us as the ricochet (from the metal to the nucleus) substitution it may be applied to many substituted ferrocenes and to the ruthenocenium cation [273), and it is now the simplest route to ferrocene carboxylic acids through their nitriles. Further, ferrocene was studied in acid-medium reactions with oxo compounds. With aldehydes [274), the reaction was complicated by the transformation of ferro-cenylalkyl carbinol formed Initially via the carbonium ion, followed by transformation to a radical which, in its turn, was coupled to 1,2-bis-(ferrocenylalkyl)ethane (27.5). The reaction with acetone led to 2,2-di-ferrocenylpropane (276). 

The electronic absorption spectrum of the cation-radical of thiophene itself has been observed following low-temperature y-radiolysis of the heterocycle in a Freon matrix.The radical has also been implicated in the oxidation of thiophene by dibenzoyl peroxide it is believed to be formed at the contact of certain transition metal layer-silicates with thiophene.The anodic oxidation of 2,5-dimethylthiophene has been studied by Japanese workers who found strong evidence for the formation of the cation-radical as the primary oxidation product.In the presence of strong nucleophiles such as cyanide ion, the cation-radical undergoes nucleophilic attack before further oxidation. In the presence of more basic species such as acetate ion, the cation-radical is deprotonated to give a thienylmethyl radical which undergoes further reaction. The results were compared with similar observations for the oxidation of 2,5-dimethylfuran. Czech workers have also studied the anodic oxidation of substituted thiophenes. This work has focused on the preparative value of anodic oxidations in acidified methanol. Cation-radical formation is implied for the primary step, but the value of the method lies in the fact that sulfur is ultimately eliminated from the substrate and functionalized y-dicarbonyl compounds result. 

Where a reactive lower oxidation state results, a key concern is the necessary protection of the reduced complex from air or other potential oxidants, as they are often readily reoxidized. Usually, this requires their handling in special apparatus such as inert-atmosphere boxes or sealed glassware in the absence of oxygen. Where active metal reducing agents (such as potassium) are employed, special care with choice of solvent is also necessary. The nickel reduction reaction (6.33) can be performed in liquid ammonia as solvent, since the strongly-bound cyanide ions are not substituted by this potential ligand. 

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