Modulating Decarboxylative Oxidation Photocatalysis by Ligand Engineering of Atomically Precise Copper Nanoclusters.

Copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) characterized by their well-defined electronic and optical properties are an ideal platform for organic photocatalysis and exploring atomic-level behaviors. However, their potential as greener, efficient catalysts for challenging reactions like decarboxylative oxygenation under mild conditions remains unexplored. Herein, we present Cu13(Nap)3(PPh3)7H10 (hereafter Cu13Nap), protected by 1-naphthalene thiolate (Nap), which performs well in decarboxylative oxidation (90% yield) under photochemical conditions. In comparison, the isostructural Cu13(DCBT)3(PPh3)7H10 (hereafter Cu13DCBT), stabilized by 2,4-dichlorobenzenethiolate (DCBT), yields only 28%, and other previously reported Cu NCs (Cu28, Cu29, Cu45, Cu57, and Cu61) yield in the range of 6-18%. The introduction of naphthalene thiolate to the surface of Cu13 NCs influences their electronic structure and charge transfer in the ligand shell, enhancing visible light absorption and catalytic performance. Density functional theory (DFT) and experimental evidence suggest that the reaction proceeds primarily through an energy transfer mechanism. The energy transfer pathway is uncommon in the context of previous reports for decarboxylative oxidation reactions. Our findings suggest that strategically manipulating ligands holds significant potential for creating composite active sites on atomically precise copper NCs, resulting in enhanced catalytic efficacy and selectivity across various challenging reactions.

Planar Core and Macrocyclic Shell Stabilized Atomically Precise Copper Nanocluster Catalyst for Efficient Hydroboration of C-C Multiple Bond.

Atomically precise metal nanoclusters (NCs) have become an important class of catalysts due to their catalytic activity, high surface area, and tailored active sites. However, the design and development of bond-forming reaction catalysts based on copper NCs are still in their early stages. Herein, we report the synthesis of an atomically precise copper nanocluster with a planar core and unique shell, [Cu45(TBBT)29(TPP)4(C4H11N)2H14]2+ (Cu45) (TBBT: 4-tert-butylbenzenethiol; TPP: triphenylphosphine), in high yield via a one-pot reduction method. The resulting structurally well-defined Cu45 is a highly efficient catalyst for the hydroboration reaction of alkynes and alkenes. Mechanistic studies show that a single-electron oxidation of the in situ-formed ate complex enables the hydroboration via the formation of boryl-centered radicals under mild conditions. This work demonstrates the promise of tailored copper nanoclusters as catalysts for C-B heteroatom bond-forming reactions. The catalysts are compatible with a wide range of alkynes and alkenes and functional groups for producing hydroborated products.

Catalytic reductive aminations using molecular hydrogen for synthesis of different kinds of amines.

Reductive aminations constitute an important class of reactions widely applied in research laboratories and industries for the synthesis of amines as well as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and biomolecules. In particular, catalytic reductive aminations using molecular hydrogen are highly valued and essential for the cost-effective and sustainable production of different kinds of amines and their functionalization. These reactions couple easily accessible carbonyl compounds (aldehydes or ketones) with ammonia, amines or nitro compounds in the presence of suitable catalysts and hydrogen that enable the preparation of linear and branched primary, secondary and tertiary amines including N-methylamines and molecules used in life science applications. In general, amines represent valuable fine and bulk chemicals, which serve as key precursors and central intermediates for the synthesis of advanced chemicals, life science molecules, dyes and polymers. Noteworthily, amine functionalities are present in a large number of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and biomolecules, and play vital roles in the function of these active compounds. In general, reductive aminations are challenging processes, especially for the syntheses of primary amines, which often are non-selective and suffer from over-alkylation and reduction of carbonyl compounds to the corresponding alcohols. Hence, the development of suitable catalysts to perform these reactions in a highly efficient and selective manner is crucial and continues to be important and attracts scientific interest. In this regard, both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts have successfully been developed for these reactions to access various amines. There is a need for a comprehensive review on catalytic reductive aminations to discuss the potential catalysts used and applicability of this methodology in the preparation of different kinds of amines, which are of commercial, industrial and medicinal importance. Consequently, in this review we discuss catalytic reductive aminations using molecular hydrogen and their applications in the synthesis of functionalized and structurally diverse benzylic, heterocyclic and aliphatic primary, secondary and tertiary amines as well as N-methylamines and more complex drug targets. In addition, mechanisms of reductive aminations including selective formation of desired amine products as well as possible side reactions are emphasized. This review aims at the scientific communities working in the fields of organic synthesis, catalysis, and medicinal and biological chemistry.

Visible-Light-Promoted Metal-Free Synthesis of (Hetero)Aromatic Nitriles from C(sp3 )-H Bonds*.

The metal-free activation of C(sp3 )-H bonds to value-added products is of paramount importance in organic synthesis. We report the use of the commercially available organic dye 2,4,6-triphenylpyrylium tetrafluoroborate (TPP) for the conversion of methylarenes to the corresponding aryl nitriles via a photocatalytic process. Applying this methodology, a variety of cyanobenzenes have been synthesized in good to excellent yield under metal- and cyanide-free conditions. We demonstrate the scope of the method with over 50 examples including late-stage functionalization of drug molecules (celecoxib) and complex structures such as l-menthol, amino acids, and cholesterol derivatives. Furthermore, the presented synthetic protocol is applicable for gram-scale reactions. In addition to methylarenes, selected examples for the cyanation of aldehydes, alcohols and oximes are demonstrated as well. Detailed mechanistic investigations have been carried out using time-resolved luminescence quenching studies, control experiments, and NMR spectroscopy as well as kinetic studies, all supporting the proposed catalytic cycle.

Photocatalytic Reductive Radical-Polar Crossover for a Base-Free Corey-Seebach Reaction.

A metal-free generation of carbanion nucleophiles is of prime importance in organic synthesis. Herein we report a photocatalytic approach to the Corey-Seebach reaction. The presented method operates under mild redox-neutral and base-free conditions giving the desired product with high functional group tolerance. The reaction is enabled by the combination of photo- and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) catalysis. This catalytic merger allows a C-H to carbanion activation by the abstraction of a hydrogen atom followed by radical reduction. The generated nucleophilic intermediate is then capable of adding to carbonyl electrophiles. The obtained dithiane can be easily converted to the valuable α-hydroxy carbonyl in a subsequent step. The proposed reaction mechanism is supported by emission quenching, radical-radical homocoupling and deuterium labeling studies as well as by calculated redox-potentials and bond strengths.

A General Catalyst Based on Cobalt Core-Shell Nanoparticles for the Hydrogenation of N-Heteroarenes Including Pyridines.

Herein, we report the synthesis of specific silica-supported Co/Co3 O4 core-shell based nanoparticles prepared by template synthesis of cobalt-pyromellitic acid on silica and subsequent pyrolysis. The optimal catalyst material allows for general and selective hydrogenation of pyridines, quinolines, and other heteroarenes including acridine, phenanthroline, naphthyridine, quinoxaline, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine, and indole under comparably mild reaction conditions. In addition, recycling of these Co nanoparticles and their ability for dehydrogenation catalysis are showcased.

Reusable Nickel Nanoparticles-Catalyzed Reductive Amination for Selective Synthesis of Primary Amines.

The preparation of nickel nanoparticles as efficient reductive amination catalysts by pyrolysis of in situ generated Ni-tartaric acid complex on silica is presented. The resulting stable and reusable Ni-nanocatalyst enables the synthesis of functionalized and structurally diverse primary benzylic, heterocyclic and aliphatic amines starting from inexpensive and readily available carbonyl compounds and ammonia in presence of molecular hydrogen. Applying this Ni-based amination protocol, -NH2 moiety can be introduced in structurally complex compounds, for example, steroid derivatives and pharmaceuticals.

Nickel-catalyzed selective disulfide formation by reductive cross-coupling of thiosulfonates.

Developing innovative methodologies for disulfide preparation is of importance in contemporary organic chemistry. Despite significant advancements in nickel-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling reactions for forming carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds, the synthesis of S-S bonds remains a considerable challenge. In this context, we present a novel approach utilizing nickel catalysts for the reductive cross-coupling of thiosulfonates. This method operates under mild conditions, offering a convenient and efficient pathway to synthesize a wide range of both symmetrical and unsymmetrical disulfides from readily available, bench-stable thiosulfonates with exceptional selectivity. Notably, this approach is highly versatile, allowing for the late-stage modification of pharmaceuticals and the preparation of various targeted compounds. A comprehensive mechanistic investigation has been conducted to substantiate the proposed hypothesis.

Multiple neighboring active sites of an atomically precise copper nanocluster catalyst for efficient bond-forming reactions.

Atomically precise copper nanoclusters (NCs) are an emerging class of nanomaterials for catalysis. Their versatile core-shell architecture opens the possibility of tailoring their catalytically active sites. Here, we introduce a core-shell copper nanocluster (CuNC), [Cu29(StBu)13Cl5(PPh3)4H10]tBuSO3 (StBu: tert-butylthiol; PPh3: triphenylphosphine), Cu29NC, with multiple accessible active sites on its shell. We show that this nanocluster is a versatile catalyst for C-heteroatom bond formation (C-O, C-N, and C-S) with several advantages over previous Cu systems. When supported, the cluster can also be reused as a heterogeneous catalyst without losing its efficiency, making it a hybrid homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyst. We elucidated the atomic-level mechanism of the catalysis using density functional theory (DFT) calculations based on the single crystal structure. We found that the cooperative action of multiple neighboring active sites is essential for the catalyst's efficiency. The calculations also revealed that oxidative addition is the rate-limiting step that is facilitated by the neighboring active sites of the Cu29NC, which highlights a unique advantage of nanoclusters over traditional copper catalysts. Our results demonstrate the potential of nanoclusters for enabling the rational atomically precise design and investigation of multi-site catalysts.

Synthesis of Unnatural α-Amino Acid Derivatives via Photoredox Activation of Inert C(sp3)-H Bonds.

The synthesis of unnatural, tertiary amino acids is a challenging task. While decarboxylation-radical addition has been an important strategy for their formation, the use of alkyl radicals from C(sp3)-H bonds has not been fully explored. Herein, we report a photocatalytic protocol for the synthesis of unnatural α-amino esters employing abundant alkanes and imines retaining full atom economy. When this method is applied, several amino acid derivatives are synthesized in moderate to good yields.

C(sp3)-H Ritter amination by excitation of in situ generated iodine(III)-BF3 complexes.

Visible light excitation of iodine(III)-BF3 complex enables the formation of carbocations from C(sp3)-H bonds. The complexes are generated catalytically from iodoarene, carboxylate ligand, the oxidizing agent Selectfluor, and the Lewis acid BF3. This modular catalytic system allows the formation of synthetically valuable amine derivatives without a metal- or photocatalyst.

General and selective synthesis of primary amines using Ni-based homogeneous catalysts.

The development of base metal catalysts for industrially relevant amination and hydrogenation reactions by applying abundant and atom economical reagents continues to be important for the cost-effective and sustainable synthesis of amines which represent highly essential chemicals. In particular, the synthesis of primary amines is of central importance because these compounds serve as key precursors and central intermediates to produce value-added fine and bulk chemicals as well as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and materials. Here we report a Ni-triphos complex as the first Ni-based homogeneous catalyst for both reductive amination of carbonyl compounds with ammonia and hydrogenation of nitroarenes to prepare all kinds of primary amines. Remarkably, this Ni-complex enabled the synthesis of functionalized and structurally diverse benzylic, heterocyclic and aliphatic linear and branched primary amines as well as aromatic primary amines starting from inexpensive and easily accessible carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) and nitroarenes using ammonia and molecular hydrogen. This Ni-catalyzed reductive amination methodology has been applied for the amination of more complex pharmaceuticals and steroid derivatives. Detailed DFT computations have been performed for the Ni-triphos based reductive amination reaction, and they revealed that the overall reaction has an inner-sphere mechanism with H2 metathesis as the rate-determining step.

Reductive amination using cobalt-based nanoparticles for synthesis of amines.

Reductive aminations are an essential class of reactions widely applied for the preparation of different kinds of amines, as well as a number of pharmaceuticals and industrially relevant compounds. In such reactions, carbonyl compounds (aldehydes, ketones) react with ammonia or amines in the presence of a reducing agent and form corresponding amines. Common catalysts used for reductive aminations, especially for the synthesis of primary amines, are based on precious metals or Raney nickel. However, their drawbacks and limited applicability inspired us to look for alternative catalysts. The development of base-metal nanostructured catalysts is highly preferable and is crucial to the advancement of sustainable and cost-effective reductive amination processes. In this protocol, we describe the preparation of carbon-supported cobalt-based nanoparticles as efficient and practical catalysts for synthesis of different kinds of amines by reductive aminations. Template synthesis of a cobalt-triethylenediamine-terephthalic acid metal-organic framework on carbon and subsequent pyrolysis to remove the organic template resulted in the formation of supported single cobalt atoms and nanoparticles. Applying these catalysts, we have synthesized structurally diverse benzylic, aliphatic and heterocyclic primary, secondary and tertiary amines, including pharmaceutically relevant products, starting from inexpensive and easily accessible carbonyl compounds with ammonia, nitro compounds or amines and molecular hydrogen. To prepare this cobalt-based catalyst takes 26 h, and the reported catalytic reductive amination reactions can be carried out within 18-28 h.

Nickel-Catalyzed Stereodivergent Synthesis of E- and Z-Alkenes by Hydrogenation of Alkynes.

A convenient protocol for stereodivergent hydrogenation of alkynes to E- and Z-alkenes by using nickel catalysts was developed. Simple Ni(NO3 )2 ⋅6 H2 O as a catalyst precursor formed active nanoparticles, which were effective for the semihydrogenation of several alkynes with high selectivity for the Z-alkene (Z/E>99:1). Upon addition of specific multidentate ligands (triphos, tetraphos), the resulting molecular catalysts were highly selective for the E-alkene products (E/Z>99:1). Mechanistic studies revealed that the Z-alkene-selective catalyst was heterogeneous whereas the E-alkene-selective catalyst was homogeneous. In the latter case, the alkyne was first hydrogenated to a Z-alkene, which was subsequently isomerized to the E-alkene. This proposal was supported by density functional theory calculations. This synthetic methodology was shown to be generally applicable in >40 examples and scalable to multigram-scale experiments.

Homogeneous cobalt-catalyzed reductive amination for synthesis of functionalized primary amines.

The development of earth abundant 3d metal-based catalysts continues to be an important goal of chemical research. In particular, the design of base metal complexes for reductive amination to produce primary amines remains as challenging. Here, we report the combination of cobalt and linear-triphos (bis(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)phenylphosphine) as the molecularly-defined non-noble metal catalyst for the synthesis of linear and branched benzylic, heterocyclic and aliphatic primary amines from carbonyl compounds, gaseous ammonia and hydrogen in good to excellent yields. Noteworthy, this cobalt catalyst exhibits high selectivity and as a result the -NH2 moiety is introduced in functionalized and structurally diverse molecules. An inner-sphere mechanism on the basis of the mono-cationic [triphos-CoH]+ complex as active catalyst is proposed and supported with density functional theory computation on the doublet state potential free energy surface and H2 metathesis is found as the rate-determining step.

Cobalt-based nanoparticles prepared from MOF-carbon templates as efficient hydrogenation catalysts.

The development of efficient and selective nanostructured catalysts for industrially relevant hydrogenation reactions continues to be an actual goal of chemical research. In particular, the hydrogenation of nitriles and nitroarenes is of importance for the production of primary amines, which constitute essential feedstocks and key intermediates for advanced chemicals, life science molecules and materials. Herein, we report the preparation of graphene shell encapsulated Co3O4- and Co-nanoparticles supported on carbon by the template synthesis of cobalt-terephthalic acid MOF on carbon and subsequent pyrolysis. The resulting nanoparticles create stable and reusable catalysts for selective hydrogenation of functionalized and structurally diverse aromatic, heterocyclic and aliphatic nitriles, and as well as nitro compounds to primary amines (>65 examples). The synthetic and practical utility of this novel non-noble metal-based hydrogenation protocol is demonstrated by upscaling several reactions to multigram-scale and recycling of the catalyst.

Simple ruthenium-catalyzed reductive amination enables the synthesis of a broad range of primary amines.

The production of primary benzylic and aliphatic amines, which represent essential feedstocks and key intermediates for valuable chemicals, life science molecules and materials, is of central importance. Here, we report the synthesis of this class of amines starting from carbonyl compounds and ammonia by Ru-catalyzed reductive amination using H2. Key to success for this synthesis is the use of a simple RuCl2(PPh3)3 catalyst that empowers the synthesis of >90 various linear and branched benzylic, heterocyclic, and aliphatic amines under industrially viable and scalable conditions. Applying this catalyst, -NH2 moiety has been introduced in functionalized and structurally diverse compounds, steroid derivatives and pharmaceuticals. Noteworthy, the synthetic utility of this Ru-catalyzed amination protocol has been demonstrated by upscaling the reactions up to 10 gram-scale syntheses. Furthermore, in situ NMR studies were performed for the identification of active catalytic species. Based on these studies a mechanism for Ru-catalyzed reductive amination is proposed.

MOF-derived cobalt nanoparticles catalyze a general synthesis of amines.

The development of base metal catalysts for the synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant compounds remains an important goal of chemical research. Here, we report that cobalt nanoparticles encapsulated by a graphitic shell are broadly effective reductive amination catalysts. Their convenient and practical preparation entailed template assembly of cobalt-diamine-dicarboxylic acid metal organic frameworks on carbon and subsequent pyrolysis under inert atmosphere. The resulting stable and reusable catalysts were active for synthesis of primary, secondary, tertiary, and N-methylamines (more than 140 examples). The reaction couples easily accessible carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) with ammonia, amines, or nitro compounds, and molecular hydrogen under industrially viable and scalable conditions, offering cost-effective access to numerous amines, amino acid derivatives, and more complex drug targets.