Predicting an unconventional facile route to metallaanthracenes

Metallaaromatics have attracted considerable interest from both experimentalists and theoreticians since the first prediction of metallabenzenes, in which a CH group is replaced by a transition metal fragment. In comparison with monocyclic metallabenzenes and bicyclic metallanaphthalenes, tricyclic metallaanthracenes are quite less developed. Thus, it is urgent to explore synthetic methods for this rare system. Here we report a thorough investigation on the formation of metallaanthracenes from transition metal fluorenyl complexes via density functional theory calculations.

Isolation of an Eleven‐Atom Polydentate Carbon‐Chain Chelate Obtained by Cycloaddition of a Cyclic Osmium Carbyne with an Alkyne

Carbon ligands have long played an important role in organometallic chemistry. However, previous examples of all‐carbon chelating ligands are limited. Herein, we present a novel complex with an eleven‐atom carbon chain as a polydentate chelating ligand. This species was formed by the [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction of two equivalents of an alkyne with an osmapentalyne that contains the smallest carbyne bond angle (127.9°) ever observed. Density functional calculations revealed that electron‐donating groups play a key role in the stabilization of this polydentate carbon‐chain chelate.

Rational Design and Synthesis of Unsaturated Se‐Containing Osmacycles with σ‐Aromaticity

Isolation of the simplest 4π three‐membered heterocycles (1H‐azirine, oxirene, thiirene, and selenirene) remains a big challenge due to their π‐antiaromaticity and significant ring strain. Here we demonstrate that the incorporation of a transition‐metal fragment could stabilize the antiaromatic selenirene and pentalene frameworks simultaneously by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Experimental verification leads to the Se‐containing metallapolycycles, osmapentaloselenirenes, with remarkable thermal stability.

Adaptive aromaticity in S0 and T1 states of pentalene incorporating 16 valence electron osmium

Aromaticity is a fundamental chemical concept of ever-increasing diversity. According to Hückel’s and Baird’s rules, cyclic conjugated species with 4n+2 π-electrons are aromatic in the singlet electronic ground state (S0) and antiaromatic in the lowest triplet state (T1), and vice-versa. Thus, species with aromaticity in both states have not yet been reported.

Recent progress in the chemistry of lanthanide-ligand multiple bonds

Metal-ligand multiple bonds have received significant attention in the past few decades. A series of novel species with lanthanide-ligand multiple bonds have recently been isolated. This short review summarizes the synthesis and reactivity of these novel complexes.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040403917316234

Multiyne chains chelating osmium via three metal-carbon σ bonds

Although the formation of metal–carbon σ bonds is a fundamental principle in organometallic chemistry, the direct bonding of one organic molecule with one metal center to generate more than two metal–carbon σ bonds remains a challenge. Herein, we report an aromaticity-driven method whereby multiyne chains are used to construct three metal–carbon σ bonds in a one-pot reaction under mild conditions. In this method, multiyne chains act as ligand precursors capable of chelating an osmium center to yield planar metallapolycycles, which exhibit aromaticity and good stability.

Catalytic hydroboration of aldehydes, ketones, alkynes and alkenes initiated by NaOH

Commercially available NaOH powder is shown to be an efficient transition-metal-free initiator for the catalytic hydroboration of aldehydes, ketones, alkynes and alkenes with HBpin and 9-BBN under mild conditions. Combined experimental and theoretical studies suggest that the catalytically active species is a boron hydride generated in situ from the reaction mixture.

http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2017/gc/c7gc01632h#!divAbstract

To Be Bridgehead or Not to Be? This is a Question of Metallabicycles on the Interplay between Aromaticity and Ring Strain

Transition-metal-containing metallaaromatics have attracted considerable interest from both experimental and computational chemists because they can display properties of both organometallic compounds and aromatic organic compounds. In general, the transition metal in a metallabicycle prefers a nonbridged position to the bridgehead one because of the larger ring strain caused by the rigidity in the bridgehead position, as exemplified by metallanaphthalene and metallanaphthalyne.

Craig-Type Möbius Aromaticity and Antiaromaticity in Dimetalla[10]annulenes: A Metal-Induced Yin-and-Yang Pair

Aromaticity, one of the most fundamental concepts in chemistry, can be classified as Hückel- and Möbius-type according to the electron count and topology. In comparison with numerous Hückel aromatics containing 4n+2 π-electrons, Möbius aromatics with 4n π-electrons, especially the Craig-type species are particularly limited.

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