This paper describes mechanistic studies on the functionalization of arenes with the diboron reagent B(2)pin(2) (bis-pinacolato diborane(4)) catalyzed by the combination of 4,4'-di-tert-butylbipyridine (dtbpy) and olefin-ligated iridium halide or olefin-ligated iridium alkoxide complexes. This work identifies the catalyst resting state as [Ir(dtbpy)(COE)(Bpin)(3)] (COE = cyclooctene, Bpin = 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolanyl). [Ir(dtbpy)(COE)(Bpin)(3)] was prepared by independent synthesis in high yield from [Ir(COD)(OMe)](2), dtbpy, COE, and HBpin. This complex is formed in low yield from [Ir(COD)(OMe)](2), dtbpy, COE, and B(2)pin(2). Kinetic studies show that this complex reacts with arenes after reversible dissociation of COE. An alternative mechanism in which the arene reacts with the Ir(I) complex [Ir(dtbpy)Bpin] after dissociation of COE and reductive elimination of B(2)pin(2) does not occur to a measurable extent. The reaction of [Ir(dtbpy)(COE)(Bpin)(3)] with arenes and the catalytic reaction of B(2)pin(2) with arenes catalyzed by [Ir(COD)(OMe)](2) and dtbpy occur faster with electron-poor arenes than with electron-rich arenes. However, both the stoichiometric and catalytic reactions also occur faster with the electron-rich heteroarenes thiophene and furan than with arenes, perhaps because eta(2)-heteroarene complexes are more stable than the eta(2)-arene complexes and the eta(2)-heteroarene or arene complexes are intermediates that precede oxidative addition. Kinetic studies on the catalytic reaction show that [Ir(dtbpy)(COE)(Bpin)(3)] enters the catalytic cycle by dissociation of COE, and a comparison of the kinetic isotope effects of the catalytic and stoichiometric reactions shows that the reactive intermediate [Ir(dtbpy)(Bpin)(3)] cleaves the arene C-H bond. The barriers for ligand exchange and C-H activation allow an experimental assessment of several conclusions drawn from computational work. Most generally, our results corroborate the conclusion that C-H bond cleavage is turnover-limiting, but the experimental barrier for this bond cleavage is much lower than the calculated barrier.

A series of studies have been conducted by experimental and theoretical methods on the synthesis, structures, and reactions of CpRh boryl complexes that are likely intermediates in the rhodium-catalyzed regioselective, terminal functionalization of alkanes. The photochemical reaction of CpRh(eta(6)-C(6)Me(6)) with pinacolborane (HBpin) generates the bisboryl complex CpRh(H)(2)(Bpin)(2) (2), which reacts with neat HBpin to generate CpRh(H)(Bpin)(3) (3). X-ray diffraction, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and NMR spectroscopy suggest a weak, but measurable, B-H bonding interaction. Both 2 and 3 dissociate HBpin and coordinate PEt(3) or P(p-Tol)(3) to generate the conventional rhodium(III) species CpRh(PEt(3))(H)(Bpin) (4) and CpRh[P(p-tol)(3)](Bpin)(2) (5). Compounds 2 and 3 also react with alkanes and arenes to form alkyl- and arylboronate esters at temperatures similar to or below those of the catalytic borylation of alkanes and arenes. Further, these compounds were observed directly in catalytic reactions. The enthalpies and free energies for generation of the 16-electron intermediate and for the C-H bond cleavage and B-C bond formation have been calculated with DFT. These results strongly suggest that the C-H bond cleavage process occurs by a metal-assisted sigma-bond metathesis mechanism to generate a borane complex that isomerizes if necessary to place the alkyl group cis to the boryl group. This complex with cis boryl and alkyl groups then undergoes B-C bond formation by a second sigma-bond metathesis to generate the final functionalized product.

Cycloaddition reactions compose one of the most important classes of reactions when it comes to the simultaneous formation of several bonds in one reaction step. The de novo construction of carbocyclic aromatic systems from acetylenes was also found as an excellent possibility for the assembly of heteroaromatic systems. The transition metal-catalysed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction constitutes a fascinating tool for the synthesis of pyridines from nitriles and the most recent developments demonstrate the ability to control the substitution pattern as well as the possibility of introducing chirality by the use of achiral substrates and a chiral catalyst under mild conditions. In this tutorial review we are focusing on the de novo construction of pyridine ring systems by the transition metal-catalysed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction. After surveying the mechanistic features and intermediates of the reaction depending on the different metal complexes used, we depict the preparation of achiral pyridine derivatives. The last section describes the advances in the synthesis of chiral pyridines and biaryls using the cyclotrimerization method. The various possibilities of introducing chirality by catalytic means are presented and illustrated by instructive examples. This review will be of interest for people active in: Organic Chemistry, Organometallic Chemistry, Transition Metal Chemistry, Stereoselective Synthesis, Heterocyclic Chemistry.