Kinetic templation

Two possible roles for the metal ion in a template reaction have been delineated (Thompson Busch, 1964). First, the metal ion may sequester the cyclic product from an equilibrium mixture such as, for example, between products and reactants. In this manner the formation of the macrocycle is promoted as its metal complex. The metal ion is thus instrumental in shifting the position of an equilibrium - such a process has been termed a thermodynamic template effect. Secondly, the metal ion may direct the steric course of a condensation such that formation of the required cyclic product is facilitated. This process has been called the kinetic template effect. 

Due to recent developments in synthesis, the preparation of nanocrystalline polymorphs, which are usually unstable as bulk phases, has been achieved for several materials such as ZrC>2, Ti02 and various perovskites. The appearance of these exotic materials does not necessarily mean that they are thermodynamically stable, since the kinetics (templates and surfactants) are probably more important for the processes than the thermodynamics. Adsorption of water may also play an important role as in the case of alumina, but in the data given in Figure 6.19 the effect of water has been accounted for [25]. 

The ability of a chemical to act as a template is frequently attributed to a combination of thermodynamic and kinetic factors. As has been defined by Busch [3] a thermodynamic template binds more strongly to one of the products present in an equilibrium (i.e. a mixture under thermodynamic control) shifting the reaction towards the formation of this specific product which is then obtained in higher yields. In contrast, kinetic templates operate under irreversible conditions by stabilising the transition state leading to the final product. 

In a recent study, some mechanistic aspects of this templated process have been determined quantitatively [28]. Using UV-Vis spectroscopy to monitor the kinetics of the macrocyclization reaction, it has been established that the rate of ring closure of the cationic precursor to the [ljimidazoliophane (4) is increased up to ten times in the presence of 0.04 mol/1 solution of a chloride source. The chloride stabilizes the transition state (i.e. a kinetic template) favouring the macrocyclization through hydrogen bonding. 

CHEMICAL KINETICS TEMPLATE CHALLENGE METHOD PROCESSIVITY Template-directed assembly, MICROTUBULE ASSEMBLY Template-directed irreversible polymerization,... 

Reactions Predominantly Involving Kinetic Template Effects 439... 

The kinetic template effect is observed in reactions in which the metal ion acts by coordinating the reactants. This effect has also been described as a coordination template effect. A more direct description of a kinetic template reaction is one which involves Combination of two Ligands Attached to the same. Metal ion. Such a description leads to the useful acronym CLAM reaction , which graphically portrays the key reaction step. The process can be generalized and compared with the non-template reaction in Scheme 30. 

An essential feature of template reactions of both the thermodynamic and kinetic type is the formation of a new chelate ring. One of the main difficulties in a discussion of mechanistic aspects of template reactions is the inevitable mixture and overlap of mechanistic effects. Those reactions which clearly exhibit a kinetic template effect could also depend to some extent on a thermodynamic one. Also, in some multistep macrocyclization processes, for example, both effects could be involved. Despite the inherent difficulties, the following discussion in this section will be subdivided into two, to cope predominantly with the thermodynamic and kinetic template effects. A further subdivision of thermodynamic and equilibrium effects will not be made. 

The most important reaction of this type is the formation of imine bonds and Schiff bases. For example, salicylaldehyde and a variety of primary amines undergo reaction to yield the related imines, which can be used as ligands in the formation of metal complexes. However, it is often more desirable to prepare such metal complexes directly by reaction of the amine and the aldehyde in the presence of the metal ion, rather than preform the imine.113 As shown in Scheme 31, imine formation is a reversible process and isolation of the metal complex results from its stability, which in turn controls the equilibrium. It is possible, and quite likely, that prior coordination of the salicylaldehyde to the metal ion results in activation of the carbonyl carbon to amine nucleophilic attack. But it would be impossible for a precoordinated amine to act as a nucleophile and consequently no kinetic template effect could be involved. Numerous macrocyclic chelate systems have been prepared by means of imine bond formation (see Section 61.1.2.1). In mechanistic terms, the whole multistep process could occur without any geometrical influence on the part of the metal ion, which could merely act to stabilize the macrocycle in complex formation. On the other hand,... 

New chelate rings can be formed by the nucleophilic addition of alcohols to imine complexes. For example, the nickel(II) TAAB complex is susceptible to attack by bis-alkoxides (equation 31).127 It is not clear whether or not a kinetic template effect operates by prior coordination of the central oxygen or sulfur atom. However, such an effect is not necessary, as simple alkoxides undergo a similar addition reaction.128... 

Kinetic template effects have been involved in the formation of crown ethers, with respect to the cyclization step involving a nucleophilic displacement of halide or tosylate by alkoxide ions. It has been proposed that cyclization of the linear bifunctional precursor is enhanced by a cyclic conformation in which the alkoxide cation brings the two ends of the molecule into close proximity... 

The situation is even more clear cut in the formation of thioethers by alkylation of thiolate complexes. Such reactions have been described in Section 7.4.2.1.2, but in those examples new chelate rings were not formed. The reaction which led Busch to propose the kinetic template effect is a thiolate complex alkylation, which does indeed produce a new chelate ring (equation 40).110 162 163 This reaction is an example of the general type shown in equation (35) and it has been established clearly that the sulfur atoms remain coordinated to the metal ion throughout the... 

This reaction process is depicted in general terms in equations (51) and (52). It includes the majority of reactions which exhibit a kinetic template effect. A selection of reactions will be given but many areas will be developed further in Chapter 61.1. 

Kinetic template effects have been postulated in more typical organic aldol condensations, where metals such as lithium and zinc are likely to coordinate both the enolate or enamine nucleophile and the aldehyde in the transition state. The examples shown in Schemes 58184 and 59185 are illustrative of these reactions and the degree of selectivity obtained. The carboxylation of ketones and nitroalkanes by methyl magnesium carbonate to produce P-keto acids and a-nitro acids respectively provides early examples of similar reactions (Scheme 60).186 187 See also Section 61.1.4.4. 

Numerous kinetic template reactions have been employed in the formation of porphyrins, corrins and phthalocyanins (see Section 61.1.3). The most instructive examples from a mechanistic point of view are those employed by Eschenmoser and his coworkers in the formation of corrins and... 

Replacement of the hydrogen bonds in oxime complexes with boron bridges leads to macrocyclic complexes such as those from dimethyl glyoxime (equation 59).201,202 This kinetic template technique has been used for the encapsulation of metals inside cage ligands.203 204... 

The most dramatic formation of cages has been provided by kinetic template reactions of ligands attached to cobait(III). The deprotonated amine ligands undergo reaction with formaldehyde to produce bound imines which can be trapped by a variety of nucleophiles (Schemes 66 and 67).205-208 The synthesis of cages of this type will be considered further in Section 61.1.2. 

Simple a-diimines are hydrolytically unstable, but can be stabilized as metal complexes by virtue of the formation of stable five-membered chelate rings.68 69 a-Diketones and glyoxal undergo metal template reactions with amines to yield complexes of multidentate ligands such as (34),70 (35)71 and (36).72>73 In the last case, the metal exerts its stabilizing influence on the a-diimine partner in an equilibrium process (Scheme 5). The same phenomenon occurs with amino alcohols74 75 in addition to amino thiols. The thiolate complexes (37) can be converted to macrocyclic complexes by alkylation in a kinetic template reaction (Scheme 5).76 77... 

Cyclization of coordinated primary amines on to coordinated aminoacetone has also been investigated in bis(l,2-diaminpethane)cobalt(ni) complexes, and the results show selectivity with respect to attack of the monoamine or 1,2-diaminoethane (equation 38).218 A similar complex with two coordinated aminoacetone molecules undergoes the same type of stereoselective kinetic template reactions and yields complexes primarily of a new quadridentate ligand (Scheme 48).219... 

More direct attempts by Eschenmoser and his group to build up corrins at the desired oxidation level have unearthed a wealth of kinetic template cyclization processes. These have in turn developed into techniques which can now be applied to porphinoid compounds as well. A brief summary of the types of template cyclization reactions is relevant here. 

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