TY - JOUR
T1 - Aromatic versus benzylic CH bond activation of alkylaromatics by a transient η2-cyclopropene complex
AU - Boulho, Cédric
AU - Vendier, Laure
AU - Etienne, Michel
AU - Locati, Abel
AU - Maseras, Feliu
AU - McGrady, John E.
PY - 2011/8/8
Y1 - 2011/8/8
N2 - The methyl cyclopropyl hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate complex TpMe2NbMe(c-C3H5)(MeCCMe) reacts smoothly with different alkylaromatics XH at 308 K to yield methane and TpMe2NbX(c- C3H5)(MeCCMe). NMR data show that for mesitylene and 1,4-dimethylbenzene, selective benzylic CH bond activation is observed, giving the benzyl cyclopropyl complexes TpMe2Nb(CH2Ar′)(c- C3H5)(MeCCMe) (Ar′ = 3,5-Me2C 6H3, 4-MeC6H4, respectively). Selective arene CH bond activation is observed with 1,2-dimethylbenzene, yielding TpMe2Nb(3,4-Me2C6H3)(c- C3H5)(MeCCMe). With 1,3-dimethylbenzene, a 3:1 mixture of arene and benzylic CH activated products, TpMe2Nb(3,5-Me 2C6H3)(c-C3H5)(MeCCMe) and TpMe2Nb(CH2-3-MeC6H4)(c-C 3H5)(MeCCMe), is observed, translating to a 18:1 preference for aromatic versus benzylic CH bond activation on a per CH bond basis. Kinetic studies are consistent with rate-limiting intramolecular β-H abstraction of methane to yield a transient unsaturated η2- cyclopropene intermediate. This intermediate reacts rapidly with the aromatic or benzylic CH bond of the arene via 1,3-addition across a Nb(η2- cyclopropene) bond. DFT calculations suggest that the observed selectivities are a result of the steric influence of the methyl groups on the arene ring, which blocks activation of an ortho C-H bond. © 2011 American Chemical Society.
AB - The methyl cyclopropyl hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate complex TpMe2NbMe(c-C3H5)(MeCCMe) reacts smoothly with different alkylaromatics XH at 308 K to yield methane and TpMe2NbX(c- C3H5)(MeCCMe). NMR data show that for mesitylene and 1,4-dimethylbenzene, selective benzylic CH bond activation is observed, giving the benzyl cyclopropyl complexes TpMe2Nb(CH2Ar′)(c- C3H5)(MeCCMe) (Ar′ = 3,5-Me2C 6H3, 4-MeC6H4, respectively). Selective arene CH bond activation is observed with 1,2-dimethylbenzene, yielding TpMe2Nb(3,4-Me2C6H3)(c- C3H5)(MeCCMe). With 1,3-dimethylbenzene, a 3:1 mixture of arene and benzylic CH activated products, TpMe2Nb(3,5-Me 2C6H3)(c-C3H5)(MeCCMe) and TpMe2Nb(CH2-3-MeC6H4)(c-C 3H5)(MeCCMe), is observed, translating to a 18:1 preference for aromatic versus benzylic CH bond activation on a per CH bond basis. Kinetic studies are consistent with rate-limiting intramolecular β-H abstraction of methane to yield a transient unsaturated η2- cyclopropene intermediate. This intermediate reacts rapidly with the aromatic or benzylic CH bond of the arene via 1,3-addition across a Nb(η2- cyclopropene) bond. DFT calculations suggest that the observed selectivities are a result of the steric influence of the methyl groups on the arene ring, which blocks activation of an ortho C-H bond. © 2011 American Chemical Society.
U2 - 10.1021/om200199e
DO - 10.1021/om200199e
M3 - Article
SN - 0276-7333
VL - 30
SP - 3999
EP - 4007
JO - Organometallics
JF - Organometallics
IS - 15
ER -