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1. Crystal structures of trans -acetyldicarbonyl(η ⁵ -cyclopentadienyl)(1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane)molybdenum(II) and trans -acetyldicarbonyl(η ⁵ -cyclopentadienyl)(3,7-diacetyl-1,3,7-triaza-5-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane)molybdenum(II)

   https://doi.org/10.1107/S2056989020003679  

   Anstey, Mitchell R.; Bost, John L.; Grumman, Anna S.; Kennedy, Nicholas D.; Whited, Matthew T. (April 2020, Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications)

   null (Ed.)

   The title compounds, [Mo(C 5 H 5 )(COCH 3 )(C 6 H 12 N 3 P)(CO) 2 ], (1), and [Mo(C 5 H 5 )(COCH 3 )(C 9 H 16 N 3 O 2 P)(C 6 H 5 ) 2 ))(CO) 2 ], (2), have been prepared by phosphine-induced migratory insertion from [Mo(C 5 H 5 )(CO) 3 (CH 3 )]. The molecular structures of these complexes are quite similar, exhibiting a four-legged piano-stool geometry with trans -disposed carbonyl ligands. The extended structures of complexes (1) and (2) differ substantially. For complex (1), the molybdenum acetyl unit plays a dominant role in the organization of the extended structure, joining the molecules into centrosymmetrical dimers through C—H...O interactions with a cyclopentadienyl ligand of a neighboring molecule, and these dimers are linked into layers parallel to (100) by C—H...O interactions between the molybdenum acetyl and the cyclopentadienyl ligand of another neighbor. The extended structure of (2) is dominated by C—H...O interactions involving the carbonyl groups of the acetamide groups of the DAPTA ligand, which join the molecules into centrosymmetrical dimers and link them into chains along [010]. Additional C—H...O interactions between the molybdenum acetyl oxygen atom and an acetamide methyl group join the chains into layers parallel to (101). 

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2. Proline C−H Bonds as Loci for Proline Assembly via C−H/O Interactions

   https://doi.org/10.1002/cbic.202200409  

   Daniecki, Noah_J; Bhatt, Megh_R; Yap, Glenn_P_A; Zondlo, Neal_J (November 2022, ChemBioChem)

   Abstract Proline residues within proteins lack a traditional hydrogen bond donor. However, the hydrogens of the proline ring are all sterically accessible, with polarized C−H bonds at Hα and Hδ that exhibit greater partial positive character and can be utilized as alternative sites for molecular recognition. C−H/O interactions, between proline C−H bonds and oxygen lone pairs, have been previously identified as modes of recognition within protein structures and for higher‐order assembly of protein structures. In order to better understand intermolecular recognition of proline residues, a series of proline derivatives was synthesized, including 4R‐hydroxyproline nitrobenzoate methyl ester, acylated on the proline nitrogen with bromoacetyl and glycolyl groups, and Boc‐4S‐(4‐iodophenyl)hydroxyproline methyl amide. All three derivatives exhibited multiple close intermolecular C−H/O interactions in the crystallographic state, with H⋅⋅⋅O distances as close as 2.3 Å. These observed distances are well below the 2.72 Å sum of the van der Waals radii of H and O, and suggest that these interactions are particularly favorable. In order to generalize these results, we further analyzed the role of C−H/O interactions in all previously crystallized derivatives of these amino acids, and found that all 26 structures exhibited close intermolecular C−H/O interactions. Finally, we analyzed all proline residues in the Cambridge Structural Database of small‐molecule crystal structures. We found that the majority of these structures exhibited intermolecular C−H/O interactions at proline C−H bonds, suggesting that C−H/O interactions are an inherent and important mode for recognition of and higher‐order assembly at proline residues. Due to steric accessibility and multiple polarized C−H bonds, proline residues are uniquely positioned as sites for binding and recognition via C−H/O interactions. 

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3. Nickel‐Catalyzed Amination of Silyloxyarenes through C–O Bond Activation

   https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201806790  

   Wiensch, Eric M.; Montgomery, John (July 2018, Angewandte Chemie International Edition)

   Abstract Silyloxyarenes were utilized as electrophilic coupling partners with amines in the synthesis of aniline derivatives. A diverse range of amine substrates were used, including cyclic or acyclic secondary amines, secondary anilines, and sterically hindered primary anilines. Additionally, a range of sterically hindered and unhindered primary aliphatic amines were employed, which have previously been challenging with other classes of aryl ether electrophiles. Orthogonal couplings of silyloxyarenes with aryl methyl ethers are illustrated, where selectivity between the two C−O electrophiles is determined by ligand control, thereby allowing complementary and selective late‐stage diversification of either electrophile. Finally, a sequential coupling displays the utility of this amination method along with the reversal in intrinsic reactivity between aryl methyl ethers and silyloxyarenes. 

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4. C(sp ³ )–H cyanation by a formal copper( iii ) cyanide complex

   https://doi.org/10.1039/d2sc06573h  

   Bower, Jamey K.; Reese, Maxwell S.; Mazin, Ilia M.; Zarnitsa, Lina M.; Cypcar, Andrew D.; Moore, Curtis E.; Sokolov, Alexander Yu.; Zhang, Shiyu (February 2023, Chemical Science)

   High-valent metal oxo complexes are prototypical intermediates for the activation and hydroxylation of alkyl C–H bonds. Substituting the oxo ligand with other functional groups offers the opportunity for additional C–H functionalization beyond C–O bond formation. However, few species aside from metal oxo complexes have been reported to both activate and functionalize alkyl C–H bonds. We herein report the first example of an isolated copper( iii ) cyanide complex (LCu III CN) and its C–H cyanation reactivity. We found that the redox potential ( E ox ) of substrates, instead of C–H bond dissociation energy, is a key determinant of the rate of PCET, suggesting an oxidative asynchronous CPET or ETPT mechanism. Among substrates with the same BDEs, those with low redox potentials transfer H atoms up to a million-fold faster. Capitalizing on this mechanistic insight, we found that LCu III CN is highly selective for cyanation of amines, which is predisposed to oxidative asynchronous or stepwise transfer of H + /e − . Our study demonstrates that the asynchronous effect of PCET is an appealing tool for controlling the selectivity of C–H functionalization. 

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5. Synthesis and characterization of a series of CpW(CO)2PR3H, [CpW(CO)2PR3]−, [CpW(CO)2PR3(CH3CN)]+, and [CpW(CO)2PR3]2 complexes

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ica.2024.122238  

   Isaacs, Diane P; Dempsey, Jillian L (October 2024, Inorganica Chimica Acta)

   A series of tungsten cyclopentadienyl carbonyl complexes were prepared and characterized to quantify their thermochemical properties and explore their reactivity. The PR3 ligand was systematically varied across a series of CpW(CO)2PR3H metal hydride complexes, where PR3 = P(OEt)3, P(Bu)3, and P(Cy)3. These complexes are known to undergo multiple proton, electron, and proton-coupled electron transfer reactions to access a variety of species including [CpW(CO)2PR3]–, [CpW(CO)2PR3(CH3CN)]+, and [CpW(CO)2PR3]2. Cyclic voltammograms of the CpW(CO)2PR3H•+/0 and [CpW(CO)2PR3]•0/– couples are chemically irreversible, indicating chemical reactivity upon oxidation; the anodic peak potential shifts to lower potentials as the donating ability of phosphine is increased, agreeing with previous literature on similar complexes. Additionally, voltammograms of [CpW(CO)2P(Cy)3]– become chemically reversible at scan rates above 500 mV/s, indicating that the dimerization of the [CpW(CO)2PR3]• product, formed by the oxidation of [CpW(CO)2PR3]–, is slower with the sterically bulky phosphine P(Cy)3, and at high scan rates the species can be reduced before dimerization occurs. Further, as the donating ability of the phosphine increases, the pKa of the CpW(CO)2PR3H complexes increases. This work shows how ligand sterics and electronics can tune the thermochemical properties that underpin proton, electron, and proton-coupled electron transfer reactivity of these complexes. 

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