Organocadmium compound

An organocadmium compound is a organometallic compound containing a carbon to cadmium chemical bond. Organocadmium chemistry describes physical properties, synthesis, reactions and use of these compounds.[1] Cadmium shares group 12 with zinc and mercury and their corresponding chemistries have much in common.

Dimethylcadmium is a linear molecule with C-Cd bond lengths of 211.2 pm. All organocadmiums are sensitive to air, light and moisture.

Contents

Synthesis

The first organocadmium compounds, dimethylcadmium, CH3-Cd-CH3 and diethylcadmium CH3CH2-Cd-CH2CH3 were prepared in 1917 by Erich Krause. In general they are prepared by transmetalation or by an exchange reaction between an organometallic reagent and a cadmium salt.[2]

One procedure for synthesis diethylcadmium is by reaction of cadmium bromide with two equivalents of the Grignard reagent ethylmagnesium bromide in diethyl ether. A byproduct is magnesium bromide. Diethylcadmium is a colorless oil with melting point −21 °C.

Diphenylcadmium can be prepared by reaction of phenyllithium with the same salt . This solid has a melting point of 174 °C

Reactions

The synthetic utility of organocadmiums is limited. The alkyl groups in them are less nucleophilic than the organozincs due to the general increase in electronegativity going down group 12. this reduced reactivity is demonstrated in the conversion of acid chlorides to ketones with these reagents.[3] This reaction was discovered by Henry Gilman in 1936 and was used until less toxic cuprates were available. With other organometallic reagents such reaction would continue to the corresponding alcohol.

An example of the synthetic use of an organocadmium is the reaction of diisoamylcadmium with β-carbomethoxypropionyl chloride to methyl 4-keto-7-methyloctanoate without reacting further with the ketone group or the ester group.[4]

Another example is the use of methyl cadmium in one of the steps leading to cholesterol total synthesis:[5]

Dimethylcadmium is also used in the synthesis of colloidal nanocrystals although its toxic and volatile nature has led researchers to look elsewhere for cadmium precursors such as cadmium oxide.[6][7]

This selectivity exists provided that the reaction is carried out salt free.[8] When the cadmium reagent is generated in situ from a cadmium salt, the presence of a halide salt makes the reagent much more reactive, even to ketones. the same salt effect can be observed in organozinc compounds.

See also

References

  1. ^ Synthetic Methods of Organometallic and Inorganic Chemistry Vol 5, Copper, Silver, Gold, Zinc, Cadmium, and Mercury W.A. Herrmann Ed. ISBN 3-13-103061-5
  2. ^ Erich Krause (1917). "Einfache Cadmiumdialkyle. (I. Mitteilung über organische Cadmium-Verbindungen.)". Berichte der deutschen chemischen Gesellschaft 50 (2): 1813–1822. doi:10.1002/cber.19170500292. 
  3. ^ James Cason (1947). "The Use of Organocadmium Reagents for the Preparation of Ketones". Chemical Reviews 40 (1): 15–32. doi:10.1021/cr60125a002. PMID 20287882. 
  4. ^ Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 3, p.601 (1955); Vol. 28, p.75 (1948) Article
  5. ^ The Total Synthesis of Steroids R. B. Woodward, Franz Sondheimer, David Taub, Karl Heusler, W. M. McLamore J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1952, 74 (17), pp 4223–4251 doi:10.1021/ja01137a001
  6. ^ Formation of High-Quality CdTe, CdSe, and CdS Nanocrystals Using CdO as Precursor Peng and Peng, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 183-184
  7. ^ [1]
  8. ^ The less familiar reactions of organocadmium reagents Paul R. Jones and Peter J. Desio Chem. Rev.; 1978; 78(5) pp 491 - 516 doi:10.1021/cr60315a001
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CLi CBe CB CC CN CO CF Ne
CNa CMg CAl CSi CP CS CCl CAr
CK CCa CSc CTi CV CCr CMn CFe CCo CNi CCu CZn CGa CGe CAs CSe CBr CKr
CRb CSr CY CZr CNb CMo CTc CRu CRh CPd CAg CCd CIn CSn CSb CTe CI CXe
CCs CBa CHf CTa CW CRe COs CIr CPt CAu CHg CTl CPb CBi CPo CAt Rn
Fr Ra Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Uut Uuq Uup Uuh Uus Uuo
↓
CLa CCe CPr CNd CPm CSm CEu CGd CTb CDy CHo CEr CTm CYb CLu
Ac Th Pa CU Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr
Chemical bonds to carbon
Core organic chemistry Many uses in chemistry
Academic research, but no widespread use Bond unknown / not assessed