More Like this

1. Intermolecular binding preferences of haloethynyl halogen-bond donors as a function of molecular electrostatic potentials in a family of N -(pyridin-2-yl)amides

   https://doi.org/10.1039/d1ob01133b  

   Abeysekera, Amila M.; Averkiev, Boris B.; Le Magueres, Pierre; Aakeröy, Christer B. (January 2021, Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry)

   null (Ed.)

   In order to explore how σ-hole potentials, as evaluated by molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) calculations, affect the ability of halogen atoms to engage in structure-directing intermolecular interactions, we synthesized four series of ethynyl halogen-substituted amide containing pyridines (activated targets); ( N -(pyridin-2-yl)benzamides (Bz-act-X), N -(pyridin-2-yl)picolinamides (2act-X), N -(pyridin-2-yl)nicotinamides (3act-X) and N -(pyridin-2-yl) isonicotinamides (4act-X), where X = Cl/Br/I. The molecules are deliberately equipped with three distinctly different halogen-bond acceptor sites, π, N(pyr), and OC, to determine binding site preferences of different halogen-bond donors. Crystallographic data for ten (out of a possible twelve) new compounds were thus analyzed and compared with data for the corresponding unactivated species. The calculated MEPs of all the halogen atoms were higher in the activated targets in comparison to the unactivated targets and were in the order of iodine ≈ chloroethynyl < bromoethynyl < iodoethynyl. This increased positive σ-hole potential led to a subsequent increase in propensity for halogen-bond formation. Two of the four chloroethynyl structures showed halogen bonding, and all three of the structurally characterized bromoethynyl species engaged in halogen bonding. The analogous unactived species showed no halogen bonds. Each chloroethynyl donor selected a π-cloud as acceptor and the bromoethynyl halogen-bond donors opted for either π or N(pyr) sites, whereas all halogen bonds involving an iodoethynyl halogen-bond donor (including both polymorphs of Bz-act-I ) engaged exclusively with a N(pyr) acceptor site. 

   more » « less
2. Concept of Utilizing Ionic Liquids for the Co‐electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen‐containing Compounds

   https://doi.org/10.1002/cctc.202400966  

   Gurkan, Burcu; Dongare, Saudagar; Kagan_Coskun, Oguz (July 2024, ChemCatChem)

   Formation of C‐N bonds through the electrochemical utilization of CO2 and nitrogen containing compounds (N‐compounds) is appealing for the purpose of converting waste and readily available sources or pollutants into value added chemicals at ambient conditions. Existing research predominantly explores these electrochemical reactions independently, often in aqueous electrolytes, leading to challenges associated with competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), low product selectivity, and yield. Functional electrolytes such as those containing ionic liquids (ILs) present selective solubility to the solute reactants and present unique interactions with the electrode surface that can suppress the undesired side reaction HER while simultaneously co‐catalyzing the conversion of CO2 and N‐compounds such as N2, NO, NO2, andNO3. In this concept paper, we discuss how the microenvironment enabled by ILs can be  leveraged to stabilize reaction intermediates at the electrode‐electrolyte interface, thereby promoting C‐N bond formation on an active electrode surface at reduced overpotential, with the case study of CO2 and N‐compounds co‐catalysis to generate urea. 

   more » « less
3. Orbital analysis of bonding in diarylhalonium salts and relevance to periodic trends in structure and reactivity

   https://doi.org/10.1039/d2sc02332f  

   Karandikar, Shubhendu S.; Bhattacharjee, Avik; Metze, Bryan E.; Javaly, Nicole; Valente, Edward J.; McCormick, Theresa M.; Stuart, David R. (June 2022, Chemical Science)

   Diarylhalonium compounds provide new opportunities as reagents and catalysts in the field of organic synthesis. The three center, four electron (3c–4e) bond is a center piece of their reactivity, but structural variation among the diarylhaloniums, and in comparison with other λ 3 -iodanes, indicates that the model needs refinement for broader applicability. We use a combination of Density Functional Theory (DFT), Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) Theory, and X-ray structure data to correlate bonding and structure for a λ 3 -iodane and a series of diarylchloronium, bromonium, and iodonium salts, and their isoelectronic diarylchalcogen counterparts. This analysis reveals that the s-orbital on the central halogen atom plays a greater role in the 3c–4e bond than previously considered. Finally, we show that our revised bonding model and associated structures account for both kinetic and thermodynamic reactivity for both acyclic phenyl(mesityl)halonium and cyclic dibenzohalolium salts. 

   more » « less
4. Transamidation of Amides and Amidation of Esters by Selective N–C(O)/O–C(O) Cleavage Mediated by Air- and Moisture-Stable Half-Sandwich Nickel(II)–NHC Complexes

   https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26010188  

   Buchspies, Jonathan; Rahman, Md. Mahbubur; Szostak, Michal (January 2021, Molecules)

   null (Ed.)

   The formation of amide bonds represents one of the most fundamental processes in organic synthesis. Transition-metal-catalyzed activation of acyclic twisted amides has emerged as an increasingly powerful platform in synthesis. Herein, we report the transamidation of N-activated twisted amides by selective N–C(O) cleavage mediated by air- and moisture-stable half-sandwich Ni(II)–NHC (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbenes) complexes. We demonstrate that the readily available cyclopentadienyl complex, [CpNi(IPr)Cl] (IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), promotes highly selective transamidation of the N–C(O) bond in twisted N-Boc amides with non-nucleophilic anilines. The reaction provides access to secondary anilides via the non-conventional amide bond-forming pathway. Furthermore, the amidation of activated phenolic and unactivated methyl esters mediated by [CpNi(IPr)Cl] is reported. This study sets the stage for the broad utilization of well-defined, air- and moisture-stable Ni(II)–NHC complexes in catalytic amide bond-forming protocols by unconventional C(acyl)–N and C(acyl)–O bond cleavage reactions. 

   more » « less
5. Thioesterification and Selenoesterification of Amides via Selective N–C Cleavage at Room Temperature: N–C(O) to S/Se–C(O) Interconversion

   https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0039-1690055  

   Rahman, Md. Mahbubur; Li, Guangchen; Szostak, Michal (March 2020, Synthesis)

   The direct nucleophilic addition to amides represents an attractive methodology in organic synthesis that tackles amidic resonance by ground-state destabilization. This approach has been recently accomplished with carbon, nitrogen and oxygen nucleophiles. Herein, we report an exceedingly mild method for the direct thioesterification and selenoesterification of amides by selective N–C(O) bond cleavage in the absence of transition metals. Acyclic amides undergo N–C(O) to S/Se–C(O) interconversion to give the corresponding thioesters and selenoesters in excellent yields at room temperature via a tetrahedral intermediate pathway (cf. an acyl metal). 

   more » « less