The complete basis set method CBS-QB3 was used in conjunction with the CPCM solvation model to predict both the absolute and relative pKa's of 12 nucleophilic carbenes in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), acetonitrile (MeCN), and water. Average absolute pKa values in DMSO ranged from 14.4 +/- 0.16 for 3-methylthiazol-2-ylidene (12) to 27.9 +/- 0.23 in the case of bis(dimethylamino)carbene (11), while values in MeCN were determined to be between 25.7 +/- 0.16 (12) and 39.1 +/- 0.25 (11). Relative pKa calculations yielded similar results. Calculations in aqueous solution gave pKa's between 21.2 +/- 0.2 (12) and 34.0 +/- 0.3 (11). Excellent agreement between calculated and experimental pKa's was obtained for the few cases where experimental numbers are available, confirming that this theoretical approach may be used to calculate highly accurate pKa values.

A number of new methyl-Pd(II) complexes of heterocyclic carbenes of the form [PdMe(tmiy)L(2)]BF(4) have been prepared, and their reaction behavior has been studied (tmiy = 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazolin-2-ylidene, L = cyclooctadiene (8), methyldiphenylphosphine (9), triphenyl phosphite (10), triphenylphosphine (11)). In common with other hydrocarbyl-M carbene complexes (M = Pd, Ni) the complexes are predisposed to a facile decomposition process. A detailed mechanism for the process and of the decomposition pathway followed is presented herein. All complexes decompose with first-order kinetics to yield 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and Pd(0) species. The kinetic investigations combined with density functional studies show that the complexes decompose via a mechanism of concerted reductive elimination of the methyl group and carbene. The reaction represents a new type of reductive elimination from transition metals and also represents a low-energy pathway to catalyst deactivation for catalysts based on heterocyclic carbenes. The theoretical studies indicate extensive involvement of the p(pi) orbital on the carbene carbon in the transition structure. Methods of stabilizing catalysts based on heterocyclic carbene complexes are suggested, and the possibility of involvement of carbene species during catalysis in ionic liquids is discussed.

Oxidative addition of different imidazolium cations to zerovalent group 10 metals, to afford heterocyclic carbene complexes, has been investigated by both density functional theory (DFT) and experimental studies. The theoretical analysis shows that addition of imidazoliums to Pt(0) and Ni(0) is more exothermic than to Pd(0), and Ni(0) is predicted to react with a much lower barrier than either Pt(0) or Pd(0). Strongly basic supporting ligands on the metal, as well as cis-chelating ligands, increase the exothermicity of the reaction and also lower the activation barrier. The addition of 2-H imidazoliums is easier and more exothermic than addition of 2-alkylimidazoliums, and a halo-imidazolium is expected to further lower the barrier to oxidative addition and increase the exothermicity. The DFT results show that all three of the metals should be able to oxidatively add imidazolium cations under appropriate conditions. Experimental studies confirmed that oxidative addition is possible, and a number of Pt- and Pd-carbene complexes were prepared via oxidative addition of imidazolium salts to M(0) precursors. Most significantly, oxidative addition of 2-H azolium salts was found to readily occur, and the reaction of 1,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate with Pt(PPh(3))(2) and Pt(PCy(3))(2) affords [PtH(dmiy)(PPh(3))(2)]BF(4) (10) and [PtH(dmiy)(PCy(3))(2)]BF(4) (11), while reaction between 3,4-dimethylthiazolium tetrafluoroborate and Pt(PCy(3))(2) yields [PtH(dmty)(PCy(3))(2)]BF(4) (12) (dmiy = 1,3-dimethylimidazolin-2-ylidene, dmty = 3,4-dimethylthiazolin-2-ylidene). Addition of 2-iodo-1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate to Pt(PPh(3))(4) or Pd(dcype)(dba) yields [PtI(tmiy)(PPh(3))(2)]BF(4) (9) and [PdI(tmiy)(dcype)]BF(4) (14), respectively (tmiy = 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazolin-2-ylidene, dcype = 1,3-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane)). X-ray crystal structures are reported for complexes 9 and 11 (cis and trans). These studies clearly show for the first time that oxidative addition of imidazolium and thiazolium cations is possible, and the results are discussed in terms of the ramifications for catalysis in imidazolium-based ionic liquids with both carbene-based and non-carbene-based complexes.