Ab initio molecular dynamics of solvation effects and reactivity at the interface between water and ascorbic acid covered anatase TiO2 (101).

In this work, we present a detailed study of the interaction between ascorbic acid (L-asc) and anatase TiO2 (101) surface both in gas phase and in contact with water by using density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. In gas phase, L-asc strongly binds the TiO2 (101) surface as a dianion (L-asc2- ), adopting a bridging bidentate coordination mode (BB), with the two acid protons transferred to two surface 2-fold bridging oxygens (O2c). AIMD simulations show that the interaction between the organic ligand and the anatase surface is stable and comparable to the vacuum one despite the possible solvent effects and/or possible structural distortions of the ligand. In addition, during the AIMD simulations hydroxylation phenomena occur forming transient H3 O+ ions at the solid-liquid interface. For the first time, our results provide insight into the role of the ascorbic acid on the electronic properties of the TiO2 (101), the influence of the water environment on the ligand-surface interaction and the nature of the solid-liquid interface.

Rhenium Alkyne Catalysis: Sterics Control the Reactivity.

Metathesis reactions, including alkane, alkene, and alkyne metatheses, have their origins in the fundamental understanding of chemical reactions and the development of specialized catalysts. These reactions stand as transformative pillars in organic chemistry, providing efficient rearrangement of carbon-carbon bonds and enabling synthetic access to diverse and complex compounds. Their impact spans industries such as petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and materials science. In this work, we present a detailed mechanistic study of the Re(V) catalyzed alkyne metathesis through density functional theory calculations. Our findings are in agreement with the experimental evidence from Jia and co-workers and unveil critical factors governing catalyst performance. Our work not only enhances our understanding of alkyne metathesis but also contributes to the broader landscape of catalytic processes, facilitating the design of more efficient and selective transformations in organic synthesis.

Origin of Suppressed Chain Transfer in Phosphinephenolato Ni(II)-Catalyzed Ethylene Polymerization.

Recent breakthroughs in the generation of polar-functionalized and more sustainable degradable polyethylenes have been enabled by advanced phosphinephenolato Ni(II) catalysts. A key has been to overcome this type of catalysts' propensity for extensive chain transfer to enable formation of high-molecular-weight polyethylene chains. We elucidate the mechanistic origin of this paradigm shift by a combined experimental and theoretical study. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis and cyclic voltammetry of a set of six different catalysts with variable electronics and sterics, combined with extensive pressure reactor polymerization studies, suggest that an attractive Ni-aryl interaction of a P-[2-(aryl)phenyl] is responsible for the suppression of chain transfer. This differs from the established picture of steric shielding found for other prominent late transition metal catalysts. Extensive density functional theory studies identify the relevant pathways of chain growth and chain transfer and show how this attractive interaction suppresses chain transfer.

Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling of Amides by N-C Cleavage Mediated by Air-Stable, Well-Defined [Pd(NHC)(sulfide)Cl2] Catalysts: Reaction Development, Scope, and Mechanism.

The Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of amides by selective N-C acyl bond cleavage represents a powerful tool for constructing biaryl ketones from historically inert amide bonds. These amide bond activation reactions hinge upon efficient oxidative addition of the N-C acyl bond to Pd(0). However, in contrast to the well-researched activation of aryl halides by C(sp2)-X oxidative addition, very few studies on the mechanism of C(acyl)-N bond oxidative addition and catalyst effect have been reported. Herein, we report a study on [Pd(NHC)(sulfide)Cl2] catalysts in amide N-C bond activation. These readily prepared, well-defined, air- and moisture-stable Pd(II)-NHC catalysts feature SMe2 (DMS = dimethylsulfide) or S(CH2CH2)2 (THT = tetrahydrothiophene) as ancillary ligands. The reaction development, kinetic studies, and reaction scope are presented. Extensive DFT studies were conducted to gain insight into the mechanism of C(acyl)-N bond oxidative addition and catalyst activation. We expect that [Pd(NHC)(sulfide)Cl2] precatalysts featuring sulfides as well-defined, readily accessible ancillary ligands will find application in C(acyl)-X bond activation in organic synthesis and catalysis.

Mechanistic Insights into Ni(II)-Catalyzed Nonalternating Ethylene-Carbon Monoxide Copolymerization.

Polyethylene materials with in-chain-incorporated keto groups were recently enabled by nonalternating copolymerization of ethylene with carbon monoxide in the presence of Ni(II) phosphinephenolate catalysts. We elucidate the mechanism of this long-sought-for reaction by a combined theoretical DFT study of catalytically active species and the experimental study of polymer microstructures formed in pressure-reactor copolymerizations with different catalysts. The pathway leading to the desired nonalternating incorporation proceeds via the cis/trans isomerization of an alkyl-olefin intermediate as the rate-determining step. The formation of alternating motifs is determined by the barrier for the opening of the six-membered C,O-chelate by ethylene binding as the decisive step. An η2-coordination of a P-bound aromatic moiety axially oriented to the metal center is a crucial feature of these Ni(II) catalysts, which also modulates the competition between the two pathways. The conformational constraints imposed in a 2',6'-dimethoxybiphenyl moiety overall result in a desirable combination of disfavoring ethylene coordination along the alternating incorporation pathway, which is primarily governed by electronics, while not overly penalizing the nonalternating chain growth, which is primarily governed by sterics.

Unravelling Enzymatic Features in a Supramolecular Iridium Catalyst by Computational Calculations.

Non-biological catalysts following the governing principles of enzymes are attractive systems to disclose unprecedented reactivities. Most of those existing catalysts feature an adaptable molecular recognition site for substrate binding that are prone to undergo conformational selection pathways. Herein, we present a non-biological catalyst that is able to bind substrates via the induced fit model according to in-depth computational calculations. The system, which is constituted by an inflexible substrate-recognition site derived from a zinc-porphyrin in the second coordination sphere, features destabilization of ground states as well as stabilization of transition states for the relevant iridium-catalyzed C-H bond borylation of pyridine. In addition, this catalyst appears to be most suited to tightly bind the transition state rather than the substrate. Besides these features, which are reminiscent of the action modes of enzymes, new elementary catalytic steps (i. e. C-B bond formation and catalyst regeneration) have been disclosed owing to the unique distortions encountered in the different intermediates and transition states.

Neutral Unsymmetrical Coordinated Cyclophane Polymerization Catalysts.

Cyclophane structures can control steric pressure in the otherwise open spaces of square-planar d8 -metal catalysts. This elegant concept was so far limited to symmetrical coordinated metals. We report how a cyclophane motif can be generated in ligands that chelate via two different donors. An ancillary second imine in the versatile κ2 -N,O-salicylaldiminato catalyst type enables ring closure via olefin metathesis and selective double bond hydrogenation to yield a 30-membered ring efficiently. Experimental and theoretical analyses show the ancillary imine is directed away from the active site and inert for catalysis. In ethylene polymerization the cyclophane catalyst is more active and temperature stable vs. an open structure reference, notably also in polar solvents. Increased molecular weights and decreased degrees of branching can be traced to an increased energy of sterically demanding transition states by the encircling cyclophane while chain propagation remains highly efficient.

Biodegradable Polyhydroxyalkanoates by Stereoselective Copolymerization of Racemic Diolides: Stereocontrol and Polyolefin-Like Properties.

Bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a unique class of biodegradable polymers because of their biodegradability in ambient environments and structural diversity enabled by side-chain groups. However, the biosynthesis of PHAs is slow and expensive, limiting their broader applications as commodity plastics. To overcome such limitation, the catalyzed chemical synthesis of bacterial PHAs has been developed, using the metal-catalyzed stereoselective ring-opening (co)polymerization of racemic cyclic diolides (rac-8DLR , R=alkyl group). In this combined experimental and computational study, polymerization kinetics, stereocontrol, copolymerization characteristics, and the properties of the resulting PHAs have been examined. Most notably, stereoselective copolymerizations of rac-8DLMe with rac-8DLR (R=Et, Bu) have yielded high-molecular-weight, crystalline isotactic PHA copolymers that are hard, ductile, and tough plastics, and exhibit polyolefin-like thermal and mechanical properties.

Control of Chain Walking by Weak Neighboring Group Interactions in Unsymmetrical Catalysts.

A combined theoretical and experimental study shows how weak attractive interactions of a neighboring group can strongly promote chain walking and chain transfer. This accounts for the previously observed very different microstructures obtained in ethylene polymerization by [κ2-N,O-{2,6-(3',5'-R2C6H3)2C6H3-N═C(H)-(3,5-X,Y-2-O-C6H2)}NiCH3(pyridine)], namely hyperbranched oligomers for remote substituents R = CH3 versus high-molecular-weight polyethylene for R = CF3. From a full mechanistic consideration, the alkyl olefin complex with the growing chain cis to the salicylaldiminato oxygen donor is identified as the key species. Alternative to ethylene chain growth by insertion in this species, decoordination of the monomer to form a cis ß-agostic complex provides an entry into branching and chain-transfer pathways. This release of monomer is promoted and made competitive by a weak η2-coordination of the distal aryl rings to the metal center, operative only for the case of sufficiently electron-rich aryls. This concept for controlling chain walking is underlined by catalysts with other weakly coordinating furan and thiophene motifs, which afford highly branched oligomers with >120 branches per 1000 carbon atoms.

Hydroxylamine-induced oxidation of ferrous carbonylated truncated hemoglobins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Campylobacter jejuni is limited by carbon monoxide dissociation.

Hydroxylamine (HA) is an oxidant of ferrous globins and its action has been reported to be inhibited by CO, even though this mechanism has not been clarified. Here, kinetics of the HA-mediated oxidation of ferrous carbonylated Mycobacterium tuberculosis truncated hemoglobin N and O (Mt-trHbN(II)-CO and Mt-trHbO(II)-CO, respectively) and Campylobacter jejuni truncated hemoglobin P (Cj-trHbP(II)-CO), at pH 7.2 and 20.0 °C, are reported. Mixing Mt-trHbN(II)-CO, Mt-trHbO(II)-CO, and Cj-trHbP(II)-CO solution with the HA solution brings about absorption spectral changes reflecting the disappearance of the ferrous carbonylated derivatives with the concomitant formation of the ferric species. HA oxidizes irreversibly Mt-trHbN(II)-CO, Mt-trHbO(II)-CO, and Cj-trHbP(II)-CO with the 1:2 stoichiometry. The dissociation of CO turns out to be the rate-limiting step for the oxidation of Mt-trHbN(II)-CO, Mt-trHbO(II)-CO, and Cj-trHbP(II)-CO by HA. Values of the second-order rate constant for HA-mediated oxidation of Mt-trHbN(II)-CO, Mt-trHbO(II)-CO, and Cj-trHbP(II)-CO range between 8.8 × 104 and 8.6 × 107 M-1 s-1, reflecting different structural features of the heme distal pocket. This study (1) demonstrates that the inhibitory effect of CO is linked to the dissociation of this ligand, giving a functional basis to previous studies, (2) represents the first comparative investigation of the oxidation of ferrous carbonylated bacterial 2/2 globins belonging to the N, O, and P groups by HA, (3) casts light on the correlation between kinetics of HA-mediated oxidation and carbonylation of globins, and (4) focuses on structural determinants modulating the HA-induced oxidation process.

Proton-Transfer Polymerization by N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Monomer and Catalyst Scopes and Mechanism for Converting Dimethacrylates into Unsaturated Polyesters.

This contribution presents a full account of experimental and theoretical/computational investigations into the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed proton-transfer polymerization (HTP) that converts common dimethacrylates (DMAs) containing no protic groups into unsaturated polyesters. This new HTP proceeds through the step-growth propagation cycles via enamine intermediates, consisting of the proposed conjugate addition-proton transfer-NHC release fundamental steps. This study examines the monomer and catalyst scopes as well as the fundamental steps involved in the overall HTP mechanism. DMAs having six different types of linkages connecting the two methacrylates have been polymerized into the corresponding unsaturated polyesters. The most intriguing unsaturated polyester of the series is that based on the biomass-derived furfuryl dimethacrylate, which showed a unique self-curing ability. Four MeO- and Cl-substituted TPT (1,3,4-triphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene) derivatives as methanol insertion products, (Rx)TPT(MeO/H) (R = MeO, Cl; x = 2, 3), and two free carbenes (catalysts), (OMe2)TPT and (OMe3)TPT, have been synthesized, while (OMe2)TPT(MeO/H) and (OMe2)TPT have also been structurally characterized. The structure/reactivity relationship study revealed that (OMe2)TPT, being both a strong nucleophile and a good leaving group, exhibits the highest HTP activity and also produced the polyester with the highest Mn, while the Cl-substituted TPT derivatives are least active and efficient. Computational studies have provided mechanistic insights into the tail-to-tail dimerization coupling step as a suitable model for the propagation cycle of the HTP. The extensive energy profile was mapped out, and the experimentally observed unicity of the TPT-based catalysts was satisfactorily explained with the thermodynamic formation of key spirocyclic species.

Selective Reduction of CO2 to CH4 by Tandem Hydrosilylation with Mixed Al/B Catalysts.

This contribution reports the first example of highly selective reduction of CO2 into CH4 via tandem hydrosilylation with mixed main-group organo-Lewis acid (LA) catalysts [Al(C6F5)3 + B(C6F5)3] {[Al] + [B]}. As shown by this comprehensive experimental and computational study, in this unique tandem catalytic process, [Al] effectively mediates the first step of the overall reduction cycle, namely the fixation of CO2 into HCOOSiEt3 (1) via the LA-mediated C═O activation, while [B] is incapable of promoting the same transformation. On the other hand, [B] is shown to be an excellent catalyst for the subsequent reduction steps 2-4, namely the hydrosilylation of the more basic intermediates [1 to H2C(OSiEt3)2 (2) to H3COSiEt3 (3) and finally to CH4] through the frustrated Lewis pair (FLP)-type Si-H activation. Hence, with the required combination of [Al] and [B], a highly selective hydrosilylative reduction of CO2 system has been developed, achieving high CH4 production yield up to 94%. The remarkably different catalytic behaviors between [Al] and [B] are attributed to the higher overall Lewis acidity of [Al] derived from two conflicting factors (electronic and steric effects), which renders the higher tendency of [Al] to form stable [Al]-substrate (intermediate) adducts with CO2 as well as subsequent intermediates 1, 2, and 3. Overall, the roles of [Al] and [B] are not only complementary but also synergistic in the total reduction of CO2, which render both [Al]-mediated first reduction step and [B]-mediated subsequent steps catalytic.

The Quest for Converting Biorenewable Bifunctional α-Methylene-γ-butyrolactone into Degradable and Recyclable Polyester: Controlling Vinyl-Addition/Ring-Opening/Cross-Linking Pathways.

α-Methylene-γ-butyrolactone (MBL), a naturally occurring and biomass-sourced bifunctional monomer, contains both a highly reactive exocyclic C═C bond and a highly stable five-membered γ-butyrolactone ring. Thus, all previous work led to exclusive vinyl-addition polymerization (VAP) product P(MBL)VAP. Now, this work reverses this conventional chemoselectivity to enable the first ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of MBL, thereby producing exclusively unsaturated polyester P(MBL)ROP with Mn up to 21.0 kg/mol. This elusive goal was achieved through uncovering the thermodynamic, catalytic, and processing conditions. A third reaction pathway has also been discovered, which is a crossover propagation between VAP and ROP processes, thus affording cross-linked polymer P(MBL)CLP. The formation of the three types of polymers, P(MBL)VAP, P(MBL)CLP, and P(MBL)ROP, can be readily controlled by adjusting the catalyst (La)/initiator (ROH) ratio, which is determined by the unique chemoselectivity of the La-X (X = OR, NR2, R) group. The resulting P(MBL)ROP is degradable and can be readily postfunctionalized into cross-linked or thiolated materials but, more remarkably, can also be fully recycled back to its monomer thermochemically. Computational studies provided the theoretical basis for, and a mechanistic understanding of, the three different polymerization processes and the origin of the chemoselectivity.

Robust Cross-Linked Stereocomplexes and C60 Inclusion Complexes of Vinyl-Functionalized Stereoregular Polymers Derived from Chemo/Stereoselective Coordination Polymerization.

The successful synthesis of highly syndiotactic polar vinyl polymers bearing the reactive pendant vinyl group on each repeat unit, which is enabled by perfectly chemoselective and highly syndiospecific coordination polymerization of divinyl polar monomers developed through this work, has allowed the construction of robust cross-linked supramolecular stereocomplexes and C60 inclusion complexes. The metal-mediated coordination polymerization of three representative polar divinyl monomers, including vinyl methacrylate (VMA), allyl methacrylate (AMA), and N,N-diallyl acrylamide (DAA) by Cs-ligated zirconocenium ester enolate catalysts under ambient conditions exhibits complete chemoselectivity and high stereoselectivity, thus producing the corresponding vinyl-functionalized polymers with high (92% rr) to quantitative (>99% rr) syndiotacticity. A combined experimental (synthetic, kinetic, and mechanistic) and theoretical (DFT) investigation has yielded a unimetallic, enantiomorphic-site-controlled propagation mechanism. Postfunctionalization of the obtained syndiotactic vinyl-functionalized polymers via the thiol-ene click and photocuring reactions readily produced the corresponding thiolated polymers and flexible cross-linked thin-film materials, respectively. Complexation of such syndiotactic vinyl-functionalized polymers with isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) and fullerene C60 generates supramolecular crystalline helical stereocomplexes and inclusion complexes, respectively. Cross-linking of such complexes affords robust cross-linked stereocomplexes that are solvent-resistant and also exhibit considerably enhanced thermal and mechanical properties compared with the un-cross-linked stereocomplexes.

Insights into the Halogen Oxidative Addition Reaction to Dinuclear Gold(I) Di(NHC) Complexes.

Gold(I) dicarbene complexes [Au2 (MeIm-Y-ImMe)2 ](PF6 )2 (Y=CH2 (1), (CH2 )2 (2), (CH2 )4 (4), MeIm=1-methylimidazol-2-ylidene) react with iodine to give the mixed-valence complex [Au(MeIm-CH2 -ImMe)2 AuI2 ](PF6 )2 (1 a(I) ) and the gold(III) complexes [Au2 I4 (MeIm-Y-ImMe)2 ](PF6 )2 (2 c(I) and 4 c(I) ). Reaction of complexes 1 and 2 with an excess of ICl allows the isolation of the tetrachloro gold(III) complexes [Au2 Cl4 (MeIm-CH2 -ImMe)2 ](PF6 )2 (1 c(Cl) ) and [Au2 Cl4 (MeIm-(CH2 )2 -ImMe)2 ](Cl)2 (2 c(Cl) -Cl) (as main product); remarkably in the case of complex 2, the X-ray molecular structure of the crystals also shows the presence of I-Au-Cl mixed-sphere coordination. The same type of coordination has been observed in the main product of the reaction of complexes 3 or 4 with ICl. The study of the reactivity towards the oxidative addition of halogens to a large series of dinuclear bis(dicarbene) gold(I) complexes has been extended and reviewed. The complexes react with Cl2 , Br2 and I2 to give the successive formation of the mixed-valence gold(I)/gold(III) n a(X) and gold(III) n c(X) (excluding compound 1 c(I) ) complexes. However, complex 3 affords with Cl2 and Br2 the gold(II) complex 3 b(X) [Au2 X2 (MeIm-(CH2 )3 -ImMe)2 ](PF6 )2 (X=Cl, Br), which is the predominant species over compound 3 c(X) even in the presence of free halogen. The observed different relative stabilities of the oxidised complexes of compounds 1 and 3 have also been confirmed by DFT calculations.

Direct Synthesis of Telechelic Polyethylene by Selective Insertion Polymerization.

A single-step route to telechelic polyethylene (PE) is enabled by selective insertion polymerization. PdII -catalyzed copolymerization of ethylene and 2-vinylfuran (VF) generates α,ω-di-furan telechelic polyethylene. Orthogonally reactive exclusively in-chain anhydride groups are formed by terpolymerization with carbic anhydride. Combined experimental and theoretical DFT studies reveal the key for this direct approach to telechelics to be a match of the comonomers' different electronics and bulk. Identified essential features of the comonomer are that it is an electron-rich olefin that forms an insertion product stabilized by an additional interaction, namely a π-η3 interaction for the case of VF.

Insights into functional-group-tolerant polymerization catalysis with phosphine-sulfonamide palladium(II) complexes.

Two series of cationic palladium(II) methyl complexes {[(2-MeOC6 H4 )2 PC6 H4 SO2 NHC6 H3 (2,6-R(1) ,R(2) )]PdMe}2 [A]2 ((X) 1(+) -A: R(1) =R(2) =H: (H) 1(+) -A; R(1) =R(2) =CH(CH3 )2 : (DIPP) 1(+) -A; R(1) =H, R(2) =CF3 : (CF3) 1(+) -A; A=BF4 or SbF6 ) and neutral palladium(II) methyl complexes {[(2-MeOC6 H4 )2 PC6 H4 SO2 NC6 H3 (2,6-R(1) ,R(2) )]PdMe(L)} ((X) 1-acetone: L=acetone; (X) 1-dmso: L=dimethyl sulfoxide; (X) 1-pyr: L=pyridine) chelated by a phosphine-sulfonamide were synthesized and fully characterized. Stoichiometric insertion of methyl acrylate (MA) into all complexes revealed that a 2,1 regiochemistry dominates in the first insertion of MA. Subsequently, for the cationic complexes (X) 1(+) -A, ß-H elimination from the 2,1-insertion product (X) 2(+) -AMA-2,1 is overwhelmingly favored over a second MA insertion to yield two major products (X) 4(+) -AMA-1,2 and (X) 5(+) -AMA . By contrast, for the weakly coordinated neutral complexes (X) 1-acetone and (X) 1-dmso, a second MA insertion of the 2,1-insertion product (X) 2MA-2,1 is faster than ß-H elimination and gives (X) 3MA as major products. For the strongly coordinated neutral complexes (X) 1-pyr, no second MA insertion and no ß-H elimination (except for (DIPP) 2-pyrMA-2,1 ) were observed for the 2,1-insertion product (X) 2-pyrMA-2,1 . The cationic complexes (X) 1(+) -A exhibited high catalytic activities for ethylene dimerization, affording butenes (C4 ) with a high selectivity of up to 97.7 % (1-butene: 99.3 %). Differences in activities and selectivities suggest that the phosphine-sulfonamide ligands remain coordinated to the metal center in a bidentate fashion in the catalytically active species. By comparison, the neutral complexes (X) 1-acetone, (X) 1-dmso, and (X) 1-pyr showed very low activity towards ethylene to give traces of oligomers. DFT analyses taking into account the two possible coordination modes (O or N) of the sulfonamide ligand for the cationic system (CF3) 1(+) suggested that the experimentally observed high activity in ethylene dimerization is the result of a facile first ethylene insertion into the O-coordinated PdMe isomer and a subsequent favored ß-H elimination from the N-coordinated isomer formed by isomerization of the insertion product. Steric hindrance by the N-aryl substituent in the neutral systems (CF3) 1 and (H) 1 appears to contribute significantly to a higher barrier of insertion, which accounts for the experimentally observed low activity towards ethylene oligomerization.

A comprehensive mechanistic picture of the isomerizing alkoxycarbonylation of plant oils.

Theoretical studies on the overall catalytic cycle of isomerizing alkoxycarbonylation reveal the steric congestion around the diphosphine coordinated Pd-center as decisive for selectivity and productivity. The energy profile of isomerization is flat with diphosphines of variable steric bulk, but the preference for the formation of the linear Pd-alkyl species is more pronounced with sterically demanding diphosphines. CO insertion is feasible and reversible for all Pd-alkyl species studied and only little affected by the diphosphine. The overall rate-limiting step associated with the highest energetic barrier is methanolysis of the Pd-acyl species. Considering methanolysis of the linear Pd-acyl species, whose energetic barrier is lowest within all the Pd-acyl species studied, the barrier is calculated to be lower for more congesting diphosphines. Calculations indicate that energy differences of methanolysis of the linear versus branched Pd-acyls are more pronounced for more bulky diphosphines, due to involvement of different numbers of methanol molecules in the transition state. Experimental studies under pressure reactor conditions showed a faster conversion of shorter chain olefin substrates, but virtually no effect of the double bond position within the substrate. Compared to higher olefins, ethylene carbonylation under identical conditions is much faster, likely due not just to the occurrence of reactive linear acyls exclusively but also to an intrinsically favorable insertion reactivity of the olefin. The alcoholysis reaction is slowed down for higher alcohols, evidenced by pressure reactor and NMR studies. Multiple unsaturated fatty acids were observed to form a terminal Pd-allyl species upon reaction with the catalytically active Pd-hydride species. This process and further carbonylation are slow compared to isomerizing methoxycarbonylation of monounsaturated fatty acids, but selective.

Breaking the regioselectivity rule for acrylate insertion in the Mizoroki-Heck reaction.

In modern methods for the preparation of small molecules and polymers, the insertion of substrate carbon-carbon double bonds into metal-carbon bonds is a fundamental step of paramount importance. This issue is illustrated by Mizoroki-Heck coupling as the most prominent example in organic synthesis and also by catalytic insertion polymerization. For unsymmetric substrates H(2)C = CHX the regioselectivity of insertion is decisive for the nature of the product formed. Electron-deficient olefins insert selectively in a 2,1-fashion for electronic reasons. A means for controlling this regioselectivity is lacking to date. In a combined experimental and theoretical study, we now report that, by destabilizing the transition state of 2,1-insertion via steric interactions, the regioselectivity of methyl acrylate insertion into palladium-methyl and phenyl bonds can be inverted entirely to yield the opposite "regioirregular" products in stoichiometric reactions. Insights from these experiments will aid the rational design of complexes which enable a catalytic and regioirregular Mizoroki-Heck reaction of electron-deficient olefins.

Tuning the steric hindrance of alkylamines: a predictive model of steric editing of planar amines.

Amines are one of the most prevalent functional groups in chemistry. Perhaps even more importantly, amines represent one of the most ubiquitous moieties within the realm of bioactive natural products and life-saving pharmaceuticals. The archetypal geometrical property of amines is their sp3 hybridization with the lone pair of nitrogen occupying the apex of the pyramid. Herein, we present a blueprint for quantifying the properties of extremely sterically hindered alkylamines. These amines reach planarity around the nitrogen atom due to the excessive steric hindrance, which results in a conformational re-modeling of the amine moiety. Crucially, the steric properties of amines are characterized by the %V Bur index, which we show is a general predictive parameter for evaluating the properties of sterically hindered amines. Computational studies on the acidic nature and the reactivity of organometallic Au and Pd complexes are outlined. Density functional theory calculations permit for predictive catalysis, ordering the mapping of extremely hindered tertiary amines by employing artificial intelligence via machine learning. Overall, the study outlines the correlation between the unusual geometry and the key thermodynamic and kinetic properties of extremely hindered alkylamines. The steric hindrance, as quantified by %V Bur, is the crucial factor influencing the observed trends and the space required to accommodate sterically hindered tertiary amines.