A dipyrrin-supported nickel catalyst (AdFL)­Ni­(py) (AdFL: 1,9-di­(1-adamantyl)-5-perfluorophenyldipyrrin; py: pyridine) displays productive intramolecular C–H bond amination to afford N-heterocyclic products using aliphatic azide substrates. The catalytic amination conditions are mild, requiring 0.1–2 mol% catalyst loading and operational at room temperature. The scope of C–H bond substrates was explored and benzylic, tertiary, secondary, and primary C–H bonds are successfully aminated. The amination chemoselectivity was examined using substrates featuring multiple activatable C–H bonds. Uniformly, the catalyst showcases high chemoselectivity favoring C–H bonds with lower bond dissociation energy as well as a wide range of functional group tolerance (e.g., ethers, halides, thioetheres, esters, etc.). Sequential cyclization of substrates with ester groups could be achieved, providing facile preparation of an indolizidine framework commonly found in a variety of alkaloids. The amination cyclization reaction mechanism was examined employing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to determine the reaction kinetic profile. A large, primary intermolecular kinetic isotope effect (KIE = 31.9 ± 1.0) suggests H–atom abstraction (HAA) is the rate-determining step, indicative of H–atom tunneling being operative. The reaction rate has first order dependence in the catalyst and zeroth order in substrate, consistent with the resting state of the catalyst as the corresponding nickel iminyl radical. The presence of the nickel iminyl was determined by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy observed during catalysis. The activation parameters (ΔH‡ = 13.4 ± 0.5 kcal/mol; ΔS‡= −24.3 ± 1.7 cal/mol·K) were measured using Eyring analysis, implying a highly ordered transition state during the HAA step. The proposed mechanism of rapid iminyl formation, rate-determining HAA, and subsequent radical recombination was corroborated by intramolecular isotope labeling experiments and theoretical calculations.

Nickel-supported nitrenoids exhibit iminyl character, as determined by multi-edge XAS and TDDFT analysis, demonstrate efficacy for C–H activation and nitrene transfer chemistry.

The synthesis of the first heteroleptic, two-coordinate Fe(I) complex IPr-Fe-N(SiMe3)DIPP (1) (IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene; DIPP = 2,6-(i)Pr2-C6H3) is reported. Protonation of the Fe(II) bis(amido) complex Fe[N(SiMe3)DIPP]2 followed by addition of IPr and reduction by potassium graphite in a one-pot reaction results in good yields of 1. The redox activity of 1 and comparison between 1 and its reduction product by (57)Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy are discussed, and the reduction was found to be metal-based rather than ligand-based. The activity of 1 toward the catalytic cyclotrimerization of terminal and internal alkynes is described.

The trityl-substituted bisoxazoline ( TrH BOX) was prepared as a chiral analogue to a previously reported nickel dipyrrin system capable of ring-closing amination catalysis. Ligand metalation with divalent NiI 2 (py) 4 followed by potassium graphite reduction afforded the monovalent ( TrH BOX)Ni(py) (4). Slow addition of 1.4 equiv of a benzene solution of 1-adamantylazide to 4 generated the tetrazido ( TrH BOX)Ni(κ 2 -N 4 Ad 2 ) (5) and terminal iminyl adduct ( TrH BOX)Ni(NAd) (6). Investigation of 6 via single-crystal X-ray crystallography, NMR and EPR spectroscopies, and computations revealed a Ni(II)-iminyl radical formulation, similar to its dipyrrinato congener. Complex 4 exhibits enantioselective intramolecular C−H bond amination to afford N-heterocyclic products from 4-aryl-2-methyl-2-azidopentanes. Catalytic C−H amination occurs under mild conditions (5 mol % catalyst, 60 °C) and provides pyrrolidine products in decent yield (29%−87%) with moderate ee (up to 73%). Substrates with a 3,5-dialkyl substitution on the 4-aryl position maximized the observed enantioselectivity. Kinetic studies to probe the reaction mechanism were conducted using 1 H and 19 F NMR spectroscopies. A small, intermolecular kinetic isotope effect (1.35 ± 0.03) suggests an H-atom abstraction step with an asymmetric transition state while the reaction rate is measured to be first order in catalyst and zeroth order in substrate concentrations. Enantiospecific deuterium labeling studies show that the enantioselectivity is dictated by both the H-atom abstraction and radical recombination steps due to the comparable rate between radical rotation and C−N bond formation. Furthermore, the competing elements of the two-step reaction where H-removal from the pro-R configuration is preferred while the preferential radical capture occurs with the Si face of the carboradical likely lead to the diminished ee observed, as corroborated by theoretical calculations. Based on these enantio-determining steps, catalytic enantioselective synthesis of 2,5-bis-tertiary pyrrolidines is demonstrated with good yield (50−78%) and moderate ee (up to 79%).

We report a family of dipyrrinato Cr imido complexes in oxidation states ranging from CrIII to CrV showcasing the influence of the weak-field dipyrrin on the electronic structure and coordination geometries of the Cr imides.

Application of high-resolution Multiwavelength Anomalous Diffraction (MAD) allows the assignment of localized, partly delocalized, and fully delocalized oxidation in a series of trichromium imide isomers.

A new transition-metal-free synthetic method for C-O coupling between various aryl halides and alkoxides is described. This type of transformation is typically accomplished using palladium catalysts containing a specialized phosphine ligand. The reactions reported here can be performed under mild, ambient conditions using certain potassium alkoxides and a range of aryl halides, with iodide and bromide derivatives giving the best results. A likely mechanistic pathway involves the in situ generation of an aryne intermediate, and directing groups on the aryl ring inductively control regioselectivity.

The selective reductive coupling of vinyl heteroarenes with aldehydes and ketones represents a versatile approach for the rapid construction of enantiomerically enriched secondary and tertiary alcohols, respectively. Herein, we demonstrate a CuHcatalyzed regiodivergent coupling of vinyl heteroarenes with carbonyl-containing electrophiles, in which the selectivity is controlled by the ancillary ligand. This approach leverages an in situ generated benzyl-or dearomatized allyl−Cu intermediate, yielding either the dearomatized or exocyclic addition products, respectively. The method exhibits excellent regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivity and tolerates a range of common functional groups and heterocycles. The dearomative pathway allows direct access to a variety of functionalized saturated heterocyclic structures. The reaction mechanism was probed using a combination of experimental and computational approach. Density functional theory studies suggest that the ligand-controlled regioselectivity results from the C−H/π interaction and steric repulsion in transition states, leading to the major and minor regioisomers, respectively. Hydrocupration of vinyl heteroarene pronucleophile is the enantiodetermining step, whereas the diastereoselectivity is enforced by steric interactions between the benzylic or allyl−Cu intermediate and carbonyl-containing substrates in a six-membered cyclic transition state.