4917-90-2

Halogen-bridged methylnaphthyl (MeNAP) palladium dimers are presented as multipurpose Pd-precursors, ideally suited for catalytic method development and preparative organic synthesis. By simply mixing with phosphine or carbene ligands, they are in situ converted into well-defined monoligated complexes. Their catalytic performance was benchmarked against state-of-the-art systems in challenging Buchwald–Hartwig, Heck, Suzuki and Negishi couplings, and ketone arylations. Their use enabled record-setting activities, beyond those achievable by optimization of the ligand alone. The MeNAP catalysts permit syntheses of tetra-ortho-substituted arenes and bulky anilines in near-quantitative yields at room temperature, allow mono-arylations of small ketones, and enable so far elusive cross-couplings of secondary alkyl boronic acids with aryl chlorides.

Many photoactive metal complexes can act as electron donors or acceptors upon photoexcitation, but hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reactivity is rare. We discovered that a typical representative of a widely used class of iridium hydride complexes acts as an H-atom donor to unactivated olefins upon irradiation at 470 nm in the presence of tertiary alkyl amines as sacrificial electron and proton sources. The catalytic hydrogenation of simple olefins served as a test ground to establish this new photo-reactivity of iridium hydrides. Substrates that are very difficult to activate by photoinduced electron transfer were readily hydrogenated, and structure-reactivity relationships established with 12 different olefins are in line with typical HAT reactivity, reflecting the relative stabilities of radical intermediates formed by HAT. Radical clock, H/D isotope labeling, and transient absorption experiments provide further mechanistic insight and corroborate the interpretation of the overall reactivity in terms of photo-triggered hydrogen atom transfer (photo-HAT). The catalytically active species is identified as an Ir(ii) hydride with an IrII-H bond dissociation free energy around 44 kcal mol-1, which is formed after reductive 3MLCT excited-state quenching of the corresponding Ir(iii) hydride, i.e. the actual HAT step occurs on the ground-state potential energy surface. The photo-HAT reactivity presented here represents a conceptually novel approach to photocatalysis with metal complexes, which is fundamentally different from the many prior studies relying on photoinduced electron transfer. This journal is

Organolithium compounds are amongst the most important organometallic reagents and frequently used in difficult metallation reactions. However, their direct use in the formation of C?C bonds is less established. Although remarkable advances in the coupling of aryllithium compounds have been achieved, Csp2?Csp3 coupling reactions are very limited. Herein, we report the first general protocol for the coupling or aryl chlorides with alkyllithium reagents. Palladium catalysts based on ylide-substituted phosphines (YPhos) were found to be excellently suited for this transformation giving high selectivities at room temperature with a variety of aryl chlorides without the need for an additional transmetallation reagent. This is demonstrated in gram-scale synthesis including building blocks for materials chemistry and pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, the direct coupling of aryllithiums as well as Grignard reagents with aryl chlorides was also easily accomplished at room temperature.

An efficient cobalt-catalyzed migrational isomerization of styrenes was developed using the thiazoline iminopyridine (TIP) ligand. This reaction is operationally simple and atom-economical using readily available starting materials to access trisubstituted alkenes. Even when using a 0.1 mol % catalyst loading, the reaction could be conducted in neat and completed in 1 h with excellent conversion and high E stereoselectivity.

Transition-metal-catalyzed cross-couplings to construct C-C, C-O, and C-N bonds have revolutionized chemical science. Despite great achievements, these metal catalysts also raise certain issues including their high cost, requirement of specialized ligands, sensitivity to air and moisture, and so-called "transition-metal-residue issue". Complementary strategy, which does not rely on the well-established oxidative addition, transmetalation, and reductive elimination mechanistic paradigm, would potentially eliminate all of these metal-related issues. Herein, we show that aryl triflates can be coupled with potassium aryl trifluoroborates, aliphatic alcohols, and nitriles without the assistance of metal catalysts empowered by photoenergy. Control experiments reveal that among all common aryl electrophiles only aryl triflates are competent in these couplings whereas aryl iodides and bromides cannot serve as the coupling partners. DFT calculation reveals that once converted to the aryl radical cation, aryl triflate would be more favorable to ipso substitution. Fluorescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry investigations suggest that the interaction between excited acetone and aryl triflate is essential to these couplings. The results in this report are anticipated to provide new opportunities to perform cross-couplings.

Direct palladium-catalysed cross-couplings between organolithium reagents and (hetero)aryl halides (Br, Cl) proceed fast, cleanly and selectively at room temperature in air, with water as the only reaction medium and in the presence of NaCl as a cheap additive. Under optimised reaction conditions, a water-accelerated catalysis is responsible for furnishing C(sp3)–C(sp2), C(sp2)–C(sp2), and C(sp)–C(sp2) cross-coupled products, in competition with protonolysis, within a reaction time of 20 s, in yields of up to 99 %, and in the absence of undesired dehalogenated/homocoupling side products even when challenging secondary organolithiums serve as the starting material. It is worth noting that the proposed protocol is scalable and the catalyst and water can easily and successfully be recycled up to 10 times, with an E-factor as low as 7.35.

We have developed a family of Ir-P,oxazoline catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation. These catalysts, with a simple modular architecture, have shown a high tolerance to the olefin geometry and substitution pattern, and to the presence of several neighboring polar groups. Thus, they were able to successfully hydrogenate disubstituted, trisubstituted, and tetrasubstituted minimally functionalized olefins (with enantiomeric excess values up to 99%). The excellent catalytic performance was also extended to the hydrogenation of cyclic β-enamides.

The first general catalytic approach to effecting transfer hydrogenation (TH) of unactivated alkenes using ethanol as the hydrogen source is described. A new NCP-type pincer iridium complex (BQ-NCOP)IrHCl containing a rigid benzoquinoline backbone has been developed for efficient, mild TH of unactivated C-C multiple bonds with ethanol, forming ethyl acetate as the sole byproduct. A wide variety of alkenes, including multisubstituted alkyl alkenes, aryl alkenes, and heteroatom-substituted alkenes, as well as O- or N-containing heteroarenes and internal alkynes, are suitable substrates. Importantly, the (BQ-NCOP)Ir/EtOH system exhibits high chemoselectivity for alkene hydrogenation in the presence of reactive functional groups, such as ketones and carboxylic acids. Furthermore, the reaction with C2D5OD provides a convenient route to deuterium-labeled compounds. Detailed kinetic and mechanistic studies have revealed that monosubstituted alkenes (e.g., 1-octene, styrene) and multisubstituted alkenes (e.g., cyclooctene (COE)) exhibit fundamental mechanistic difference. The OH group of ethanol displays a normal kinetic isotope effect (KIE) in the reaction of styrene, but a substantial inverse KIE in the case of COE. The catalysis of styrene or 1-octene with relatively strong binding affinity to the Ir(I) center has (BQ-NCOP)IrI(alkene) adduct as an off-cycle catalyst resting state, and the rate law shows a positive order in EtOH, inverse first-order in styrene, and first-order in the catalyst. In contrast, the catalysis of COE has an off-cycle catalyst resting state of (BQ-NCOP)IrIII(H)[O(Et)···HO(Et)···HOEt] that features a six-membered iridacycle consisting of two hydrogen-bonds between one EtO ligand and two EtOH molecules, one of which is coordinated to the Ir(III) center. The rate law shows a negative order in EtOH, zeroth-order in COE, and first-order in the catalyst. The observed inverse KIE corresponds to an inverse equilibrium isotope effect for the pre-equilibrium formation of (BQ-NCOP)IrIII(H)(OEt) from the catalyst resting state via ethanol dissociation. Regardless of the substrate, ethanol dehydrogenation is the slow segment of the catalytic cycle, while alkene hydrogenation occurs readily following the rate-determining step, that is, β-hydride elimination of (BQ-NCOP)Ir(H)(OEt) to form (BQ-NCOP)Ir(H)2 and acetaldehyde. The latter is effectively converted to innocent ethyl acetate under the catalytic conditions, thus avoiding the catalyst poisoning via iridium-mediated decarbonylation of acetaldehyde.

Transformations of alkene and alkyne substrates relevant to π-Lewis acid catalysis have been performed using low-valent Ga(I) species for the first time. [Ga(I)(PhF)2]+[Al(ORF)4]? and gallium dichloride (i. e. [Ga(I)]+[GaCl4]?) proved to be efficient catalysts for cycloisomerizations, Friedel-Crafts reactions, transfer hydrogenations, and reductive hydroarylations. Their activity is compared to more common Ga(III) complexes. This study shows that even the readily available and yet overlooked gallium dichloride salt can be a more active π-Lewis acid catalyst than gallium trichloride or other Ga(III) species. (Figure presented.).

Presented herein is a general protocol for the alkylation of simple aryl fluorides with unbiased secondary Grignard reagents by means of nickel catalysis. This study revealed a general Thorpe–Ingold effect in the ligand backbone which confers a high degree of selectivity for the secondary carbon center in the C?C coupling event. This protocol is characterized by mild reaction conditions, robustness, and simplicity. Both electron-rich and electron-deficient aryl fluorides are suitable candidates in this transformation. Equally amenable are a variety of heterocycles, permitting the coupling without over alkylation at the electrophilic sites.

A mild and practical Barbier–Negishi coupling of secondary alkyl bromides with aryl and alkenyl triflates and nonaflates has been developed. This challenging reaction was enabled by the use of a very bulky imidazole-based phosphine ligand, which resulted in good yields as well as good chemo- and site selectivities for a broad range of substrates at room temperature and under non-aqueous conditions. This reaction was extended to primary alkyl bromides by using an analogous pyrazole-based ligand.

This study presents a new series of readily accessible iridium- and rhodium-phosphite/oxazoline catalytic systems that can efficiently hydrogenate, for the first time, both minimally functionalized olefins and functionalized olefins (62 examples in total) in high enantioselectivities (ees up to >99%) and conversions. The phosphite-oxazoline ligands, which are readily available in only two synthetic steps, are derived from previous privileged 4-alkyl-2-[2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl]-2-oxazoline (PHOX) ligands by replacing the phosphine moiety by a biaryl phosphite group and/or the introduction of a methylene spacer between the oxazoline and the phenyl ring. The modular design of the ligands has given us the opportunity not only to overcome the limitations of the iridium-PHOX catalytic systems in the hydrogenation of minimally functionalized Z-olefins and 1,1-disubstituted olefins, but also to expand their use to unfunctionalized olefins containing other challenging scaffolds (e.g., exocyclic benzofused and triaryl-substituted olefins) and also to olefins with poorly coordinative groups (e.g., α,β-unsaturated lactams, lactones, alkenylboronic esters, etc.) with enantioselectivities typically >95% ee. Moreover, both enantiomers of the hydrogenation product could be obtained by simply changing the configuration of the biaryl phosphite moiety. Remarkably, the new catalytic systems also provided excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) in the asymmetric hydrogenation of another challenging class of olefins – the functionalized cyclic β-enamides. Again, both enantiomers of the reduced amides could be obtained by changing the metal from Ir to Rh. We also demonstrated that environmentally friendly propylene carbonate can be used with no loss of enantioselectivity. Another advantage of the new ligands over the PHOX ligands is that the best ligands are derived from the affordable (S)-phenylglycinol rather than from the expensive (S)-tert-leucinol. (Figure presented.).

The discovery of an ultrafast cross-coupling of alkyl- and aryllithium reagents with a range of aryl bromides is presented. The essential role of molecular oxygen to form the active palladium catalyst was established; palladium nanoparticles that are highly active in cross-coupling reactions with reaction times ranging from 5 s to 5 min are thus generated in situ. High selectivities were observed for a range of heterocycles and functional groups as well as for an expanded scope of organolithium reagents. The applicability of this method was showcased by the synthesis of the [11C]-labeled PET tracer celecoxib.

A family of 12 modular ferrocenyl planar chiral phosphine-thioethers (P,S) has been studied in the asymmetric hydrogenation of minimally functionalized alkenes. These ligands differ by the substituent on sulfur or by the linker between the ferrocene moiety and the sulfur atom (no linker, methylene or methyl substituted methylene linker bearing an additional element of chirality). The cationic iridium(cod) complexes of the different P,S ligands have been efficiently synthesized. For the majority of the ligands, coordination yielded only a single diastereoisomer with full control of the absolute configuration on sulfur. The different iridium complexes have been used in the hydrogenation of various di, tri, and tetrasubstituted minimally functionalized olefins. Conversions and enantioselectivities are highly dependent on the ligand and substrate structure. Full conversions and low-to-excellent enantioselectivities could be obtained (maximum ee from 14 to 94% for 1,1-disubsituted alkenes, from 17 to 99% for trisubstituted olefins, and 34% for the tetrasubstituted alkene).

Thermal treatment of three monobridged biscyclopentadienes (C5H5)R(C5H5) [R?=?C(CH3)2 (1), C(CH2)5 (2), Si(CH3)2 (3)] with Re2(CO)10 in refluxing mesitylene gave the corresponding complexes [(η5-C5H4)2R][Re(CO)3]2 [R?=?C(CH3)2 (4), C(C5H10) (5), Si(CH3)2 (6)], which were separated by chromatography, and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of complexes 5 and 6 were characterized by X-ray crystal diffraction analysis and show that both are monobridged bis(cyclopentadienyl)rhenium carbonyl complexes in which the molecule consists of two [(η5-C5H4)Re(CO)3] moieties linked by a single bridge, in which each of the two Re(CO)3 units is coordinated to the cyclopentadienyl ring in an η5 mode. All three of these monobridged bis(cyclopentadienyl)rhenium carbonyl complexes have good catalytic activities in Friedel–Crafts alkylation reactions.

We report the development of a Pd-catalyzed process for the stereospecific cross-coupling of unactivated secondary alkylboron nucleophiles and aryl chlorides. This process tolerates the use of secondary alkylboronic acids and secondary alkyltrifluoroborates and occurs without significant isomerization of the alkyl nucelophile. Optically active secondary alkyltrifluoroborate reagents undergo cross-coupling reactions with stereospecific inversion of configuration using this method.

Palladium-catalysed cross-coupling of secondary C(sp3) organometallic reagents has been a long-standing challenge in organic synthesis, due to the problems associated with undesired isomerisation or the formation of reduction products. Based on our recently developed catalytic C-C bond formation with organolithium reagents, herein we present a Pd-catalysed cross-coupling of secondary alkyllithium reagents with aryl and alkenyl bromides. The reaction proceeds at room temperature and on short timescales with high selectivity and yields. This methodology is also applicable to hindered aryl bromides, which are a major challenge in the field of metal catalysed cross-coupling reactions.

An environmentally friendly method for alkylating aromatic compounds with simple alcohols in the presence of a catalytic amount of indium(III) triflate is reported. Ionic liquids are used as solvents and energy-efficient heating is provided by microwave radiation. Good yields are obtained with benzyl, secondary, and tertiary alcohols. Simple primary alcohols are not effective alkylating agents under these conditions. With tertiary alcohols, activated aromatic compounds such as toluene and anisole must be used to obtain good yields. The catalyst, which is immobilized in a water-insoluble ionic liquid, can be easily recycled without significant loss of activity.

Catalytic carbon-carbon bond formation based on cross-coupling reactions plays a central role in the production of natural products, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and organic materials. Coupling reactions of a variety of organometallic reagents and organic halides have changed the face of modern synthetic chemistry. However, the high reactivity and poor selectivity of common organolithium reagents have largely prohibited their use as a viable partner in direct catalytic cross-coupling. Here we report that in the presence of a Pd-phosphine catalyst, a wide range of alkyl-, aryl- and heteroaryl-lithium reagents undergo selective cross-coupling with aryl- and alkenyl-bromides. The process proceeds quickly under mild conditions (room temperature) and avoids the notorious lithium halogen exchange and homocoupling. The preparation of key alkyl-, aryl- and heterobiaryl intermediates reported here highlights the potential of these cross-coupling reactions for medicinal chemistry and material science.

The development of transition metal-catalysed cross-coupling reactions has greatly influenced the manner in which the synthesis of complex organic molecules is approached. A wide variety of methods are now available for the formation of C(sp2)-C(sp2) bonds, and more recent work has focused on the use of C(sp3) electrophiles and nucleophiles. The use of secondary and tertiary alkyl nucleophiles in cross-coupling reactions remains a challenge because of the propensity of these alkyl groups to isomerize under the reaction conditions. Here, we report the development of a general Pd-catalysed process for the stereoretentive cross-coupling of secondary alkyl azastannatrane nucleophiles with aryl chlorides, bromides, iodides and triflates. Coupling partners with a wide range of electronic characteristics are well tolerated. The reaction occurs with minimal isomerization of the secondary alkyltin nucleophile, and with retention of absolute configuration. This process constitutes the first general method to use secondary alkyltin reagents in cross-coupling reactions.

The present application, relates to iron bisphenolate complexes and methods of use and synthesis thereof. The iron complexes are prepared from tridentate or tetradentate ligands of Formula I: wherein R1 and R2 are as defined herein. Also provided are methods and processes of using the iron bisphenolate complexes as catalysts in cross-coupling reactions and in controlled radical polymerizations.

A novel bis(phenol)-functionalized benzimidazolium salt, 1,3-bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)benzimidazolium chloride (H 3LCl, 1), was designed and used to prepare ionic iron(iii) complexes of the type [H3L][FeX4] (X = Cl, 2; X = Br, 3). Both 2 and 3 were characterized by elemental analysis, Raman spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography. The catalytic performances of 2 and 3 in cross-coupling reactions using aryl Grignard reagents with primary and secondary alkyl halides bearing β-hydrogens were studied. This analysis shows that complex 2 has good potential for alkyl chloride-mediated coupling. In comparison, complex 3 showed slightly lower catalytic activity. After decanting the product contained in the ethereal layer, complex 2 could be recycled at least eight times without significant loss of catalytic activity.

Eight (biaryl)phosphite/pyridine ligands 1-2a-d have been prepared by the modular functionalization of positions C-2 and C-3 of two d-glucopyranoside backbones. The chiral ligands were examined in the iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of poorly functionalized alkenes, as a function of the relative position of the coordinating groups and the geometric properties of the biaryl phosphite moieties. Enantiomeric excesses of up to 90% were achieved in the hydrogenation of E-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-butene by using 1a and 1c, which seemingly combine the beneficial effect of the phosphite at the 2-position with the matching (Rax)-configuration of their encumbered biaryl substituents. The results of the hydrogenation of more challenging substrates, such as Z-trisubstituted alkenes, alkenes with a neighboring polar group or demanding 1,1-di-substituted alkenes, generally confirmed this trend, and in some significant cases, the chiral hydrogenated products were isolated with ees of 65-79%. 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

An efficient and high-yielding cross-coupling reaction of various primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl chlorides with aryl Grignard reagents was achieved by using catalytic amounts of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands and iron salts. This reaction is a simple and efficient arylation method having applicability to a wide range of industrially abundant chloroalkanes, including polychloroalkanes, which are challenging substrates under conventional cross-coupling conditions.

The present invention provides compounds according to general formula (I) which are proposed for the treatment of respiratory complaints, particularly asthma and COPD.

Several zwitterionic iridium complexes based on chiral P,N-ligands with imidazoline or oxazoline donors and anionic tetraarylborate or aryltrifluoroborate substituents have been synthesized. The corresponding cationic analogues have also been prepared, to evaluate the effect of the covalent linkage between the anion and the cationic metal complex in catalytic reactions. The respective pairs of structurally analogous precatalysts have been compared for their efficacies in the asymmetric hydrogenation of unfunctionalized olefins. In most cases, the anionic derivatization has virtually no influence on the asymmetric induction of the iridium complex. This is in accordance with X-ray structural studies, which have shown that the chiral environment of the cationic metal center is not affected by the anionic substituent. Depending on the nature of the counterion employed, the zwitterionic catalysts proved to be significantly more reactive than their cationic counterparts in nonpolar solvents. Copyright

High yielding stereo- and chemoselective Pd-catalyzed cross-couplings in THF at room temperature of alkenyl iodides and bromides with primary and secondary alkyl zinc iodides have been developed with the aid of N-methyimidazole as the key additive.

Reaction of n-propylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4-tert-butyl-6-methylphenol), H2L1, n-propylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-di-tert-butylphenol), H2L2, and benzylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4-tert-butyl-6- methylphenol), H2L3, with anhydrous ferric chloride in the presence of base yields the products, [FeL1(μ-Cl)]2 (1), [FeL2(μ-Cl)]2 (2) and [FeL3(μ-Cl)]2 (3). In the solid state, these complexes exist as chloride-bridged dimers giving distorted trigonal bipyramidal iron(iii) ions. Reaction of H2L1 with FeBr 3, however, results in the formation of a tetrahedral iron(iii) complex possessing two bromide ligands. The amine-bis(phenolate) ligand is bidentate in this complex and bonds to the iron(iii) ion via the phenolate O-donors. The central amine donor is protonated, resulting in a quaternized ammonium fragment and the iron(iii) centre possesses a negative formal charge. As a result, this complex is zwitterionic and formulated as FeBr2L1H (4). Complex 1 is an air-stable, non-hygroscopic, single-component catalyst for C-C cross-coupling of aryl Grignard reagents with primary and secondary alkyl halides, including chlorides. Good to excellent yields of cross-coupled products are obtained in diethyl ether at room temperature. In some cases where low yields are obtained under these conditions, the use of microwave-assisted heating of the reaction mixture can improve yields. The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011.

While tertiary boranes undergo efficient protodeboronation with carboxylic acids, tertiary boronic esters do not. Instead, we have discovered that CsF with 1.1 equiv of H2O (on tertiary diarylalkyl boronic esters) or TBAF?3H2O (on tertiary aryldialkyl boronic esters) effect highly efficient protodeboronation of tertiary boronic esters with essentially complete retention of configuration. Furthermore, substituting D2O for H2O provides ready access to deuterium-labeled enantioenriched tertiary alkanes. The methodology has been applied to a short synthesis of the sesquiterpene, (S)-turmerone.

Starting from (R)-N,N-dimethyl-1-ferrocenylethylamine, a diastereoselective ortho-lithiation procedure and a stereoconvergent intramolecular hydrophosphination gave access to P-chiral ferrocenephospholanes. These mono-or bidentate ligands were converted to the corresponding rhodium and iridium complexes, including a chiral version of Crabtree's catalyst, and tested in the asymmetric hydrogenation of functionalized and unfunctionalized olefins. A significant reactivity difference between the rhodium-1,5-cyclooctadiene and the rhodiumnorbornadiene complex was observed during catalyst activation.

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Catalytic cross-coupling of aryl Grignard reagents with primary and secondary alkyl halides bearing β-hydrogens is achieved using Fe(III) amine-bis(phenolate) halide complexes. The Royal Society of Chemistry.

High enantioselectivities and activities are achieved in the Ir-catalyzed hydrogenation of several unfunctionalized olefins using modular biaryl phosphite-oxazoline ligands from hydroxyl aminoacid derivatives; the presence of a biaryl phosphite group is crucial to this success. The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Enantiomerically pure iridium complexes with phosphino- and (phosphinooxy)-substituted N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands were synthesized. Investigation of their electronic properties showed a similar trans influence of the phosphino (or phosphinooxy) and the NHC units. The complexes were tested in iridium-catalyzed hydrogenation. While low conversions were observed with unfunctionalized olefins, the catalysts proved to be suitable for hydrogenation of the α,β-unsaturated ester 20, allylic alcohol 21, and imine 22. The enantioselectivities were, however, moderate.

Iridium complexes derived from chiral P,N ligands are efficient catalysts for the enantioselective hydrogenation of 2-aryl-substituted terminal alkenes. Using 0.1-1 mol % of catalyst at room temperature and ambient hydrogen pressure, high enantioselectivi

Equation presented. New Ir-SimplePHOX complexes Ir-6-Ir-9 catalyze the quantitative, highly enantioselective hydrogenation of a range of unfunctionalized and functionalized olefins. Synthesis, catalytic results, and X-ray crystal structures are presented

The synthesis of a series of phosphine-oxazoline ligands is reported. This ligands are synthesized by reaction of a phosphine chloride with the secondary nitrogen of proline. Upon coordination to iridium the resulting complexes can be used in the asymmetric hydrogenation of simple olefins. The effect of different counter ions and substitution at the oxazoline and the phosphine is reported.

Phosphine oxazoline ligands 1a-j were converted to the corresponding [Ir(cod)(phosphine oxazoline)]+ complexes 2a-j. X-ray diffraction analyses of complexes 2b, 2h, 2i, and 2j were performed. The tert-butyl-, 1,1-diphenylethyl-, and phenyl-oxazoline complexes (2b, 2h, and 2i, respectively) had typical square planar metal environments with chair-like metallocyclic rings. However, the 3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl oxazoline complex 2j was distorted toward a tetrahedral metal geometry. This library of complexes was tested in asymmetric hydrogenations of several arylalkenes. High enantioselectivities and conversions were observed for some substrates. A possible special role for the HPh2C-oxazoline substituent in asymmetric hydrogenations was identified and is discussed. In attempts to rationalize why high enantioselectivities were not observed for some alkenes, a series of deuterium labeling experiments were performed to probe for competing reactions that occurred prior to the hydrogenation step. Double bond migrations were inferred for several substrates, and this is a significant complication in asymmetric hydrogenations of arylalkenes that had not been discussed prior to this study. A mechanistic rationale is proposed involving competing double bond migration for some but not all substrates. Appreciation of this complication will be valuable in further studies aimed at optimization of enantioselection in asymmetric hydrogenations of unfunctionalized alkenes. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, 2001.

Rhenium complexes have been shown to catalyze the alkylation of arenes with alkyl halides. When arenes were reacted with an alkyl chloride in the presence of a catalytic amount of rhenium complexes, such as bromopentacarbonylrhenium(I) [ReBr(CO)5], tricarbonylcyclopentadienylrhenium(I) [Re(C5H5)(CO)3] and decacarbonyldirhenium [Re2(CO)10], alkylation of the arenes proceeded under mild conditions to give a mixture of mono- and dialkyl substituted arenes in moderate-to-good yields.

A catalytic asymmetric reduction process, which, by hydrogenating trisubstituted olefins, yields a corresponding organic compound having a high level of enantiomeric purity is disclosed. The process is also effective for the catalytic asymmetric reduction of certain enamines and related compounds to yield a corresponding amine or related compound, respectively, having a high level of enantiomeric purity. The reduction process utilizes a chiral metal catalyst that includes a metal or metal complex that is selected from groups 3, 4, 5, or 6, lanthanides and actinides. Moreover, the process uses hydrogen as the stoichiometric reducing agent and may be carried out at pressures ranging from about 0.5 to 200 atmospheres. The reaction can also be carried out using an acidic compound as a rate enhancing additive.

A new procedure to prepare superacid perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (POSA) is reported. POSA catalyzed Friedel-Crafts alkylation of aromatic compounds with alkyl halides in liquid-phase reactions. Alkylation gave higher total yields than the corresponding reactions with Nafion-H, without the need of any complex decomposition or work-up. The reactions do not need to be carried out under absolutely anhydrous condition. The catalyst POSA can be easily separated from the reaction mixture and reused or recovered. The reactivity of the alkylation reagents and the mechanism of the reaction are discussed.

3-Arylthiophenes were prepared from 2,5-dichlorothiophene in two steps. 2,5-Dichlorothiophene reacted regioselective with various aromatic compounds in the presence of AlCl3 under mild conditions to give 4-aryl-2-chlorothiophenes.The latter compounds were easily converted to the corresponding 3-arylthiophenes by catalytic dechloronation in good yields.

Several phosphine-palladium and -nickel complexes were examined for their catalytic activity in the reaction of sec-butylmagnesium chloride with bromobenzene, (E)-β-bromostyrene, 4-bromoanisole, and 2-bromotoluene.Dichloropalladium(II) was found to be by far the most active and selective catalyst to give the corresponding sec-butyl derivatives in high yields with no byproducts.The palladium-dppf complex was also found highly effective in catalyzing the reaction of n-butylmagnesium chloride and sec- and n- butylzinc chloride with organic bromides to give the corresponding cross-coupling products in high yields.The structure of PdCl2(dppf) has been determined by an X-ray diffraction study.It is proposed that the high efficiency of PdCl2(dppf) catalyst can be ascribed to its large P-Pd-P angle and small Cl-Pd-Cl angle.