The design and synthesis of multidentate N-heterocyclic carbenes as metathesis catalyst ligands
- Authors: Truscott, Byron John
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Carbenes (Methylene compounds) , Heterocyclic compounds , Ligands , Ligands -- Design , Metathesis (Chemistry) , Catalysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4304 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004962 , Carbenes (Methylene compounds) , Heterocyclic compounds , Ligands , Ligands -- Design , Metathesis (Chemistry) , Catalysis
- Description: This study has focused on the design and preparation of bi– and tridentate N–Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) ligands in order to investigate the effect of a multidentate approach to the formation, stability and catalytic activity of coordination complexes. Chapters 1 – 3 provide background information of relevant catalysis, carbene and coordination chemistry, followed by previous work performed within our research group. In Chapter 4 attention is given to the synthetic aspects of the research conducted, comprising two distinct approaches to the preparation of unsymmetrical saturated and unsaturated NHCs. Firstly, an investigation of the saturated NHC ligands yielded three novel, unsymmetrical pro–ligands, viz., two halopropyl imidazolinium salts and a bidentate hydroxypropyl imidazolinium salt. Secondly, eight imidazolium salts have been generated, including a hydroxypropyl analogue and novel decyl and tridentate malonyl derivatives. These compounds were prepared using microwave–assisted methodology for the alkylation of N– mesitylimidazole – an approach that drastically reduced reaction times (from 8 hours – 7 days to ca. 0.5 – 2 hours) and facilitated isolation of the imidazolium salts. Many of the compounds prepared in this study are novel and were fully characterized using HRMS and 1– and 2–D NMR analysis. Coordination studies using a selection of the prepared pro–ligands afforded an alkoxy–NHC silver derivative and four novel Ru–complexes, viz., Grubbs II–type Ru–complexes containing:– chloropropyl imidazolinylidene; propenyl imidazolylidene; and bidentate alkoxypropyl imidazolylidene ligands. Furthermore, a well–defined benzyl mesitylimidazolylidene Ru–complex has been isolated, which exhibited good stability in air. DFT–level geometry–optimization studies, using the Accelrys DMol3 package have given valuable insights into the likely geometries of the prepared and putative catalysts.
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- Date Issued: 2011
Studies towards the development of novel multidentate ligands
- Authors: Magqi, Nceba
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Density functionals , Ligands , Ligands -- Design , Ligands -- Analysis , Camphor
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4358 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005023 , Density functionals , Ligands , Ligands -- Design , Ligands -- Analysis , Camphor
- Description: In this study, attention has been given to the design and synthesis of novel multidentate ligands for use in the construction of ruthenium-based metathesis catalysts, and their chelating potential has been explored by computer modelling at the Density Functional Theory (DFT) level. Both Kemp’s triacid (1,3,5-trimethyl-1,3,5-cyclohexanetricarboxylic acid) and D-(+)-camphor have been investigated as molecular scaffolds for the development of such ligands. However selective elaboration of the functional groups in Kemp’s triacid proved difficult to achieve, and the research has focused on the development of camphor derivatives. The synthesis of the camphor-based ligands has involved C-8 functionalisation and ring-opening of the bicyclic system to afford tridentate products. The formation of 9-iodocamphorquinone bis(ethylene ketal) together with the desired product, the 8-iodo isomer, has been confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis of both compounds. Formation of the 9-iodo analogue has provided new insights into the intramolecular rearrangement of camphor skeleton, and the mechanistic implications have been assessed by coset analysis. Attempts to effect nucleophilic displacement of the 8-halogeno groups by nucleophilic donor moieties proved unexpectedly difficult and, coupled with the susceptibility of the carbonyl groups to nucleophilic attack, has led to the formation of novel tricyclic products, viz., 1,6-dimethyl-3-(2-pyridylamino)-4-oxatricyclo[4.3.0.0[superscript 3,7]]-2-nonanone and 6,7-dimethyl-3-(2-pyridylamino)-4-oxatricyclo -[4.3.0.0[superscript 3,7]]-2-nonanone. However the diphenylphosphine group was successfully introduced at C-8 and oxidative ring-opening of the camphor skeleton has afforded the tridentate ligands, 2-(diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)-1,2-dimethyl-1,3-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid and 2-(diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)-1,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)1,2-dimethylcyclopentane. One- and two-dimensional NMR and, where appropriate, high-resolution MS methods have been used to characterise the products. Three [superscript 13]C NMR chemical shift prediction programmes, viz., ChemWindow and the MODGRAPH neural network and HOSE (Hierachially Ordered Spherical description of Environment), have been applied to representative compounds to assess their efficacy. While the predicted shifts correlated reasonably well with the experimental data, they proved to be insufficiently accurate to differentiate the isomeric systems examined.
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- Date Issued: 2007