Group‐IV‐based selective CH bond activation of a diamondoid—A density functional theory study

Abstract

Selective synthetic modifications on diamondoids (well‐defined molecular nano‐diamonds) are difficult. Group IV organometallic complexes are promising systems for CH bond activation. We study the CH bond activation of the hard‐to‐activate CH2 positions of the adamantyl group (the smallest diamondoid) using density functional theory. As a platform for activation, we tether the adamantyl group to the cyclopentadienyl in a substituted bis‐cyclopentadienyl group IV metal diphenyl complex. The mechanism proposed in the experimental paper reporting the activation of C(Me)2‐Ph or t‐Bu groups using Zr(IV) involves an η2‐benzyne complex intermediate. Our computational work confirms the two‐step mechanism proposed for activation of C(Me)2‐Ph or t‐Bu using Zr(IV) and further extends it to Ti(IV) and Hf(IV). The first step forms the benzyne complex. In the second step, the cyclopentadienyl‐bound group is activated through a mechanism that closely resembles a σ‐bond metathesis when the benzyne complex is described as a metallacyclopropene We demonstrate through computations that the two‐step reaction can be successfully applied to the adamantyl group. CH bond activation of adamantyl is found to be thermodynamically and kinetically feasible. The important question of regioselectivity is addressed. We predict that α‐CH bond activation will be achievable with Ti (thermodynamic control), and selective γ‐CH bond activation with Zr (kinetic or thermodynamic control).