NHC ligand

The synthesis of these complexes can easily be accomplished by substitution of one or both PCy3 groups of 3 by NHC ligands. The X-ray structure of 6 shows significantly different bond lengths the Schrock double bond to the CHPh group is 1.821(3) A, while the NHC bond to the l,3-diisopropylimidazolin-2-ylidene is 2.107(3) A. Complexes with imidazolidin-2-ylidenes were also synthesized and screened in an extensive study by Fiirstner [153], who found that the performance of those catalysts depends strongly on the application and that... 

Phosphine-Free Ruthenium Precatalysts with One NHC Ligand. 245... 

The protocol of the allylic alkylation, which proceeds most likely via a c-allyl-Fe-intermediate, could be further improved by replacing the phosphine ligand with an M-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) (Scheme 21) [66]. The addition of a ferf-butyl-substituted NHC ligand 86 allowed for full conversion in the exact stoichiometric reaction between allyl carbonate and pronucleophile. Various C-nucleophiles were allylated in good to excellent regioselectivities conserving the 71 bond geometry of enantiomerically enriched ( )- and (Z)-carbonates 87. Even chirality and prochirality transfer was observed (Scheme 21) [67]. 

Scheme 21 Fe-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective allylic substitution in the presence of NHC-ligand 86 reagent and conditions (1) [Bu4N][Fe(CO)3(NO)] 76-[Bu4N] (cat), MTBE, 80°C [67]...

This schematic overview of NHC ligands found in the literature shows that most are based on five-membered heterocyclic cores. The most common are listed in Section 1.1.3. 

Fig. 1.4 Most common NHC ligands and their respective acronyms...

Fig. 1.10 Schematic illustration of the structural points whose modification can be used to tune the electronic properties of NHC ligands...

These results suggest that imidazolidin- and imidazol-based skeletons transfer similar amounts of electron density to the metal. The conclusion that changes in the bridge of the NHC skeleton have such a small effect on the electronic properties of the NHC is quite surprising, considering that SIMes- and IMes-based catalysts often show remarkably different catalytic behaviour. It is still unclear if these small changes in the electronic properties of the NHC ligand confer such different catalytic behaviours, or other effects (steric, flexibility, etc.) should be invoked. 

Based on the experience with tertiary phosphines, the importance of the steric properties of NHC hgands in determining chemical behaviour has been immediately recognised. The main practical problem, however, is that NHC hgands substantiaUy present a local symmetry axis, whereas phosphines present a local symmetry axis. This imphes that the well-accepted molecular descriptor used to quantify steric properties in phosphines, the Tohnan cone angle [78], cannot be applied to NHC ligands. 

Fig. 1.18 of frequently encountered NHC ligands from the quantum mechanically... 

Fig. 2.1 Chiral NHC ligand designs used in the Rh-catalysed enantioselective hydrogenation of...

Fig. 2.5 Palladium-based hydrogenation catalysts with bidentate normal and abnormal NHC ligands...

Complexes of the type 48-53 (Scheme 2.7) have been targeted as pre-catalysts for the hydrosilylation of alkenes [44]. For example, in the hydrosilylation of 1-octene with (Me3SiO)2Si(Me)H, which was studied in detail as a model reaction, the activity of complexes 48-49 with alkyl substituted NHC ligands, is inferior to that of the Karstedt s system. However, selectivity and conversions are dramatically improved due to the suppression of side-product formation. In this reaction... 

The Rh-catalysed asymmetric hydrosilylation of prochiral ketones has been studied with complexes bearing monodentate or heteroatom functionalised NHC ligands. For example, complexes of the type [RhCl(l,5-cod)(NHC)] and [RhL(l,5-cod)(NHC)][SbFg ], 70, where L = isoquinoline, 3,5-lutidine and NHC are the chiral monodentate ligands 71 (Fig. 2.11). 

Fig. 2.12 Silver, gold and platinum complexes with monodentate NHC ligands as catalysts for the diboration of alkenes and alkynes...

Diboration of terminal alkenes has also been studied with other d " metals (Fig. 2.12) including the Ag and Au complexes 75-77 and the Pt" complexes 78-79. Styrene is diborylated with 100% selectivity and good conversions in THF (46% for 75 and 94% for 77 at 5 mol%, 60 h) using equimolecular amounts of (Bcat)j. The difference in activity between the Ag and Au complexes has been ascribed to the increased lability of the Ag-NHC bond, which may lead to catalyst decomposition under the reaction conditions, hi both catalytic systems it is believed that the active species involves only one coordinated NHC ligand. Complex 77 is less active than 74 and 75, possibly due to steric reasons. The enantioselectivity of 77 in the diboration of prochiral alkenes is very low [63]. 

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