Communications
3H, CHCH3, J = 6.5 Hz), 0.83 ppm (d, 3H, CHCH3, J = 6.5 Hz);
13C NMR (CDCl3, 258C, 125 MHz): d = 192.64 (CH), 144.7, 144.5,
131.7, 129.0, 125.6, 125.1, 120.6 (q, J = 321.6 Hz), 81.6, 58.5, 52.2, 51.0,
45.4, 34.7, 29.9, 29.5, 29.2, 28.1, 27.1, 26.7, 25.5, 22.8, 22.7, 22.3, 22.2,
22.1, 18.7 ppm.
bulky, electron-rich phosphine counterparts. It is generally
believed that in contrast to NHCs, Fischer-type carbenes
would not survive the standard conditions of organometallic
catalysis, because of the cleavage of the metal–carbon
bond;[20,21] moreover they are regarded as weak s-donors
and good p-acceptors. Our work demonstrates that the
readily available CAACs are strong s-donors, weak p-
acceptors, and form highly catalytically active “cyclic Fischer
carbene complexes”. Their unique steric and electronic
properties, in addition to the broad range of structural
features possible, which arise as a result of the presence of a
tertiary carbon in a position a to the carbene center, makes
these carbenes highly desirable as ligands for various catalytic
processes, including asymmetric variants.
Ca–Cc: A 1/1 mixture of LDA and iminium salt 3 (5.0 mmol) was
cooled to À788C and THF was added (30 mL). The suspension was
warmed to room temperature and stirred for 30 min. After evapo-
ration of the solvent under vacuum, a solid residue containing the
corresponding carbene C and LiOTf was obtained and used for the
complexation reaction without further purification, except for Cc. In
this case, the solid residue was extracted with hexane (30 mL), and
after evaporation of the solvent under vacuum, Cc was obtained as a
white microcrystalline solid. Ca: 13C NMR ([D8]THF, 258C,
125 MHz): d = 304.2 (C), 145.8, 137.5, 128.0, 123.8, 82.5, 57.7, 50.3,
29.1, 28.9, 27.5, 21.7 ppm. Cb: 13C NMR ([D8]THF, 258C, 125 MHz):
d = 309.4 (C), 145.8, 137.8, 127.9, 123.6, 81.2, 63.3, 47.7, 35.8, 29.3, 29.1,
26.4, 23.0, 21.5 ppm. Cc: 92%, m.p. 1158C; [a]2D3 = + 1138 (hexane);
1H NMR (C6D6, 258C, 500 MHz): d = 7.13–7.25 (m, 3H, Har), 3.18
(sept, 2H, CHCH3, J = 6.9 Hz), 2.54–2.78 (m, 2H), 2.11 (m, 1H),
1.72–1.97 (m, 4H), 1.41 (dd, 1H, J = 12.3 and J = 3.3 Hz), 1.11–1.27
(m, 21H), 1.06 (d, 3H, CHCH3, J = 6.9 Hz), 1.02 (d, 3H, CHCH3, J =
6.9 Hz), 0.96 ppm (3H, CHCH3, J = 6.6 Hz); 13C NMR ([D8]THF,
258C, 125 MHz): d = 319.0 (C), 146.6, 145.7, 138.1, 127.6, 123.8, 123.3,
79.7, 69.4, 53.1, 52.0, 48.0, 36.9, 30.2, 29.8, 29.1, 29.0, 28.6, 27.7, 27.0,
25.4, 24.1, 23.6, 22.8, 21.9, 21.2, 18.7 ppm.
Experimental Section
All manipulations were performed under an inert atmosphere of
argon using standard Schlenk techniques. Dry, oxygen-free solvents
1
were employed. H and 13C NMR spectra were recorded on Varian
Inova 300, 500, and Brucker Avance 300 spectrometers.
3a,b: A solution of LDA (4.66 g, 43.5 mmol) in Et2O (40 mL) was
added at 08C to a stirred solution of imine 1a or 1b (43.5 mmol) in
Et2O (40 mL). The solution was warmed to room temperature and
stirred for 2 h. After evaporation of the solvent under vacuum, the
residue was dissolved in Et2O (80 mL), and 1,2-epoxy-2-methylpro-
pane (4.06 mL, 45.7 mmol) was added dropwise. After stirring for
12 h at room temperature, trifluoromethane sulfonic anhydride
(7.68 mL, 45.7 mmol) was added at À788C. The solution was
warmed to room temperature and stirred for 1 h. After filtration,
the residue was washed with Et2O (80 mL). Extraction of the solid
with CH2Cl2 (40 mL) afforded 3a,b as white solids. 3a: 58%, m.p.
198–2008C; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 258C, 300 MHz): d = 9.48 (s, 1H, CH),
7.53 (m, 1H, Har), 7.34 (m, 2H, Har), 2.63 (sept, 2H, CHCH3, J =
6.9 Hz), 2.43 (s, 2H, CH2), 1.68 (s, 6H, CH3), 1.54 (s, 6H, CH3), 1.35
(d, 6H, CHCH3, J = 6.9 Hz), 1.17 ppm (d, 6H, CHCH3, J = 6.9 Hz);
13C NMR (CD3CN, 258C, 75 MHz): d = 192.2 (CH), 145.6, 133.1,
130.1, 126.6, 122.2 (q, J = 321.6 Hz), 85.8, 66.3, 48.8, 30.4, 28.5, 26.3,
4c: A solution of carbene Cc (0.34 g, 0.90 mmol) in THF (5 mL)
was added at À788C to a stirred THF solution (5 mL) of [{IrCl(cod)}2]
(0.27 g, 0.41 mmol). The solution was warmed to room temperature
and stirred for 3 h. After evaporation of the solvent under vacuum,
the residue was washed with hexane (15 mL), dissolved in THF
(5 mL), and carbon monoxide was bubbled through the solution
(45 min) at room temperature. After evaporation of the solvent under
vacuum, carbene complex 4c was obtained as a brown powder. 0.42 g,
71%; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 258C, 300 MHz): d = 7.55 (m, 1H, Har), 7.36
(m, 2H, Har), 2.61–2.76 (m, 3H), 2.38 (d, 1H, J = 14.4 Hz), 2.06–2.24
(m, 3H), 1.67–1.95 (m, 6H), 1.64 (s, 3H), 1.60 (s, 3H), 1.36 (d, 6H,
CHCH3, J = 6.6 Hz), 1.19–1.27 (m, 6H), 1.08 (d, 3H, CHCH3, J =
6.9 Hz), 0.97 (d, 3H, CHCH3, J = 5.4 Hz), 0.85 ppm (d, 3H, CHCH3,
J = 6.9 Hz); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 258C, 75 MHz): d = 191.3 (CO), 190.9
(C), 167.8 (CO), 144.8, 144.6, 132.3, 129.0, 126.1, 125.6, 82.4, 58.7, 58.6,
52.3, 51.1, 45.8, 34.6, 30.4, 30.1, 29.7, 28.6, 27.6, 27.4, 26.6, 23.3, 23.0,
1
26.2, 22.2 ppm. 3b: 48%, m.p. 268–2708C; H NMR (CD3CN, 258C,
300 MHz): d = 8.91 (s, 1H, CH), 7.67 (m, 1H, Har), 7.52 (m, 2H, Har),
2.78 (sept, 2H, CHCH3, J = 6.9 Hz), 2.53 (s, 2H, CH2), 1.19–2.11 (m,
10H, CH2), 1.59 (s, 6H, CH3), 1.40 (d, 6H, CHCH3, J = 6.9 Hz),
1.15 ppm (d, 6H, CHCH3, J = 6.9 Hz); 13C NMR (CD3CN, 258C): d =
191.3 (CH), 145.4, 132.9, 130.0, 126.4, 122.2 (q, J = 321.2 Hz), 85.0,
53.6, 45.9, 34.6, 30.2, 28.7, 26.1, 25.3, 22.1 ppm.
22.9, 22.5, 22.2, 19.4 ppm. IR (CH2Cl2): n˜ = 2055, 1971 (n(CO)) cmÀ1
.
5a–c: A solution of carbene C (5.2 mmol) in THF (15 mL) was
added at À788C to a stirred solution of [{Pd(allyl)(Cl)}2](0.95 g,
2.6 mmol) in THF (15 mL). The solution was warmed to room
temperature and stirred for 3 h. After evaporation of the solvent
under vacuum, the solid residue was washed with hexane (40 mL).
Extraction with CH2Cl2 (20 mL) afforded a gray solid, which was
recrystallized in THF (5a) or hexane (5b,c) at À208C. Carbene
complexes 5 were obtained as colorless crystals. 5a: 71%, m.p. 162–
1638C; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 258C, 300 MHz): d = 7.27–7.42 (m, 3H,
Har), 5.05 (m, 1H, Hallyl), 4.18 (d, 1H, Hallyl, J = 7.5 Hz), 3.19 (m, 3H,
CHCH3 and 2Hallyl), 3.01 (m, 1H, CHCH3), 2.02 (s, 3H, Hallyl, CH2),
1.64 (s, 6H, CH3), 1.23–1.40 ppm (m, 18H, CH3); 13C NMR (CDCl3,
258C, 75 MHz): d = 267.4 (C), 146.5, 135.8, 129.1, 125.1, 115.5, 81.5,
76.8, 57.5, 50.5, 48.6, 31.7, 30.6, 29.3, 28.6, 28.1, 27.5, 25.1 ppm. 5b:
3c: A solution of the lithium salt of dimethylamine (1.56 g,
30.5 mmol) in THF (40 mL) was added at 08C to a stirred solution of
imine 1c (10.00 g, 30.5 mmol) in THF (40 mL). The solution was
warmed to room temperature and stirred for 18 h. After evaporation
of the solvent and then heating under vacuum at about 2008C for
10 min, to remove the THF complexed to the lithium, the residue was
dissolved in toluene (100 mL). After adding dropwise 1,2-epoxy-2-
methylpropane (2.85 mL, 32.0 mmol), the solution was stirred for 12 h
at room temperature. Then Tf2O (5.39 mL, 32.0 mmol) was added at
À788C and the suspension was allowed to warm to room temperature
and stirred for 2 h. After filtration, the oily residue was washed with
boiling toluene (90 mL). Extraction of the residue with CH2Cl2
(60 mL) afforded 3c as a white solid, which was recrystallized in
CH2Cl2/Et2O at À208C. 6.65 g, 41%, m.p. 258–2608C; [a]2D3 = À388
1
74%, m.p. 176–1788C; H NMR (CDCl3, 258C, 300 MHz): d = 7.21–
7.63 (m, 3H, Har), 5.04 (m, 1H, Hallyl), 4.18 (d, 1H, Hallyl, J = 7.5 Hz),
3.29 (m, 1H, CHCH3), 3.15 (m, 2H, Hallyl), 2.98 (m, 1H, CHCH3), 2.45
(m, 2H, CH2), 1.22–2.05 (m, 17H, Hallyl, CH2, CH3), 1.30 ppm (d, 12H,
CHCH3, J = 6.9 Hz); 13C NMR (CDCl3, 258C, 75 MHz): d = 267.8
(C), 146.5, 136.3, 129.0, 125.1, 115.6, 80.5, 77.0, 62.9, 48.3, 45.7, 38.8,
37.2, 31.3, 29.5, 28.6, 28.0, 27.0, 25.4, 25.3, 22.9, 22.4 ppm. 5c: 70%,
m.p. 157–1598C; [a]D23 = À18 (CHCl3); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 258C,
300 MHz): d = 7.20–7.38 (m, 3H, Har), 5.04 (m, 1H, Hallyl), 4.21 (d,
1H, Hallyl, J = 7.5 Hz), 3.70 (sept, 1H, CHCH3, J = 6.3 Hz), 3.15 (d,
1
(CHCl3); H NMR (CDCl3, 258C, 500 MHz): d = 9.73 (s, 1H, CH),
7.53 (m, 1H, Har), 7.34 (m, 2H, Har), 2.64 (m, 3H, CH), 2.20 (m, 2H),
2.04 (m, 2H), 1.90 (m, 2H), 1.78 (m, 2H), 1.59 (s, 3H, CH3), 1.55 (s,
3H, CH3), 1.35 (d, 3H, CHCH3, J = 7.0 Hz), 1.34 (d, 3H, CHCH3, J =
6.0 Hz), 1.21 (d, 3H, CHCH3, J = 6.5 Hz), 1.17 (d, 3H, CHCH3, J =
6.0 Hz), 1.06 (d, 3H, CHCH3, J = 7.0 Hz), 1.00–1.10 (m, 2H), 0.94 (d,
5708
ꢀ 2005 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2005, 44, 5705 –5709