Schlenk‐Type Equilibria of Grignard‐Analogous Arylberyllium Complexes: Steric Effects**

Abstract

The presence of complex Schlenk equilibria is a central property of synthetically invaluable Grignard reagents substantially affecting their reactivity and selectivity in chemical transformations. In this work, the steric effects of aryl substituents on the Schlenk‐type equilibria of their lighter congeners, arylberyllium bromides, are systematically studied. Combination of diarylberyllium complexes Ar2Be(OEt2) (1Ar, Ar=Tip, Tcpp; Tip=2,4,6‐iPr3C6H3, Tcpp=2,4,6‐Cyp3C6H3, Cyp=c‐C5H9), containing sterically demanding aryl groups, and BeBr2(OEt2)2 (2) affords the Grignard‐analogous arylberyllium bromides ArBeBr(OEt2) (3Ar, Ar=Tip, Tcpp). In contrast, Mes2Be(OEt2) (1Mes, Mes=2,4,6‐Me3C6H3) and 2 exist in a temperature‐dependent equilibrium with MesBeBr(OEt2) (3Mes) and free OEt2. Ph2Be(OEt2) (1Ph) reacts with 2 to afford dimeric [PhBeBr(OEt2)]2 ([3Ph]2). Moreover, the influence of replacing the OEt2 donor by an N‐heterocyclic carbene, IPr2Me2 (IPr2Me2=C(iPrNCMe)2), on the redistribution reactions was investigated. The solution‐ and solid‐state structures of the diarylberyllium and arylberyllium bromide complexes were comprehensively characterized using multinuclear (1H, 9Be, 13C) NMR spectroscopic methods and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, while DFT calculations were employed to support the experimental findings.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Sep 15, 2023
Source ID
10.1002/chem.202302222

Entities

People

  • Cameron Jones
  • Christoph Helling

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
  • Australian Research Council
  • Monash University

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Chemistry

Readers

  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Organic Chemistry