Actinide-Mediated Catalytic Addition of E-H Bonds (E=N, P, S) to Carbodiimides, Isocyanates, and Isothiocyanates

Isabell S.R. Karmel, Matthias Tamm, Moris S. Eisen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Unprecedented catalytic reactivity of actinide coordination complexes toward heterocumulenes, such as carbodiimides, isocyanates, and isothiocyanates is reported. The mono(imidazolin-2-iminato) thorium(IV) complex [Th(ImDippN){N(SiMe3)2}3] (1) was applied as a precatalyst for the addition of E-H (E=N, P, S) bonds to the Y≡C≡X core (Y=R2N; X=NR2, O, S) of carbodiimides, isocyanates, and isothiocyanates. The respective insertion products were obtained in high yields under mild reaction conditions, with complex 1 displaying high tolerance toward functional groups and heteroatoms. New reactivity: The mono(imidazolin-2-iminato) thorium complex [Th(ImDippN){N(SiMe3)2}3] was successfully applied as an active catalyst for the addition of E-H (E=N, P, S) bonds across the central Y≡N≡C≡X linkage of carbodiimides, isocyanates and isothiocyanates, yielding the respective insertion products in high yields and under mild reaction conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)12422-12425
Number of pages4
JournalAngewandte Chemie - International Edition
Volume54
Issue number42
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2015

Keywords

  • actinide catalysis
  • carbodiimides
  • isocyanates
  • nucleophilic insertion
  • thioisocyanates

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • Catalysis

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