Generation of Masked TiII Intermediates from TiIV Amides via β-H Abstraction or Alkyne Deprotonation: An Example of Ti-Catalyzed Nitrene-Coupled Transfer Hydrogenation

Organometallics. 2020 Nov 9;39(21):3771-3774. doi: 10.1021/acs.organomet.0c00577. Epub 2020 Oct 20.

Abstract

Simple Ti amide complexes are shown to act as sources for masked TiII intermediates via several pathways, as demonstrated through the investigation of a unique Ti-catalyzed nitrene-coupled transfer hydrogenation of 3-hexyne. This reaction proceeds through reduction of azobenzene by a masked TiII catalyst, wherein both amines and 3-hexyne can serve as the hydrogen source/reductant for Ti by forming putative titanaziridines via β-H abstraction or putative titanacyclopentynes via protonolysis, respectively.