Dialkyl Carbonate Synthesis Using Atmospheric Pressure of CO2.

Dialkyl carbonates (DRCs) are valuable compounds widely used in the industry. The synthesis of DRC from CO2 has attracted interest as an alternative to the current method, which uses phosgene. However, the reported approaches for DRC synthesis from CO2 requires high-pressure and high-concentration CO2, resulting in elevated costs associated with CO2 purification and manufacturing facilities. In this report, we present an environmentally friendly method for producing DRC from low-concentration and low-pressure CO2 via a dehydration condensation approach without the use of halogenated alkylating agents. This method involves the formation of monoalkyl carbonate [BASE-H][ROC(O)O] using a strong organic base and alcohols, tetraalkyl orthosilicates as dehydrating agents, and CeO2 as the catalyst. Using the method, 39 and 30% of diethyl carbonate yields were accomplished with only 100 and 15 vol % CO2 (CO2/N2 = 15:85) gas bubbling at atmospheric pressure, even under reaction conditions with no large excess of either CO2, alcohol, or dehydration agent.

Cationic tetranuclear macrocyclic CaCo3 complexes as highly active catalysts for alternating copolymerization of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide.

We found that a cationic hetero tetranuclear complex including a calcium and three cobalts exhibited high catalytic activity toward alternating copolymerization of propylene oxide (PO) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The tertiary anilinium salt [PhNMe2H][B(C6F5)4] was the best additive to generate the cationic species while maintaining polymer selectivity and carbonate linkage, even under 1.0 MPa CO2. Density functional theory calculations clarified that the reaction pathway mediated by the cationic complex is more favorable than that mediated by the neutral complex by 1.0 kcal mol-1. We further found that the flexible ligand exchange between Ca and Co ions is important for the alternating copolymerization to proceed smoothly.

Diarylcuprates for Selective Syntheses of Multifunctionalized Ketones from Thioesters under Mild Conditions.

Ketones were selectively synthesized from thioesters by using diarylcuprates(I) generated in situ from copper(I) salts and aryl Grignard reagents in a 1 : 1.3-1.5 ratio under ambient temperature. During the ketone synthesis, various functional groups, such as carbonyl (ketones, esters, and amides), O-protecting groups, halogens, and heteroarenes, were tolerated to afford multifunctionalized ketones in excellent yields. This copper-mediated ketone synthesis could be applied to the synthesis of not only gluconolactone-derived ketone 6, a synthetic intermediate in the transformation to the SGLT2 inhibitor canagliflozin, but also thiolactol 8, a valuable synthetic intermediate for (+)-biotin. Control experiments on an isolated diphenylcuprate(I), [CuPh2 ]- (12), and DFT calculations revealed that this ketone synthesis proceeded by oxidative addition of the C-S bond of thioesters to [CuPh2 ]- , while reductive elimination from the CuIII intermediate produced the corresponding ketone and an inactive species [(RS)CuPh]- , the latter reacted with [CuPh]4 (11) to regenerate the reactive diphenylcuprate(I).

Aerobic oxygenation of α-methylene ketones under visible-light catalysed by a CeNi3 complex with a macrocyclic tris(salen)-ligand.

A hetero-tetranuclear CeNi3 complex with a macrocyclic ligand catalysed the aerobic oxygenation of a methylene group adjacent to a carbonyl group under visible-light radiation to produce the corresponding α-diketones. The visible-light induced homolysis of the Ce-O bond of a bis(enolate) intermediate is proposed prior to aerobic oxygenation.

Effects of Silver Carbonate and p-Nitrobenzoic Acid for Accelerating Palladium-Catalyzed Allylic C-H Acyloxylation.

An allylic C-H acyloxylation of terminal alkenes with 4-nitrobenzoic acid was assisted by a bidentate-sulfoxide-ligated palladium catalyst combined with 1,4-benzoquinone and Ag2CO3 under mild reaction conditions. The catalytic activity was remarkably enhanced by Ag2CO3 as an additive and 4-nitrobenzoic acid as a carboxylate source; both components were essential to exhibiting high catalytic activity, high branch selectivity, and a wide substrate scope with low loading of the palladium catalyst. Branch-selective allylic acyloxylation of ethyl 7-octenoate (1a) gave the product which was led to ethyl 6,8-dihydroxyoctanoate (5), a useful synthetic intermediate of (R)-α-lipoic acid.

Syntheses of SGLT2 Inhibitors by Ni- and Pd-Catalyzed Fukuyama Coupling Reactions.

Nickel- and palladium-catalyzed Fukuyama coupling reactions of a d-gluconolactone-derived thioester with arylzinc reagents at ambient temperature provided the corresponding multifunctional aryl ketones in high yield. Ligand screening for the nickel-catalyzed Fukuyama coupling reactions indicated that 1,2-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane (dCype) served as a superior supporting ligand to improve the product yield. In addition, Pd/C was a practical alternative that enabled ligand-free Fukuyama coupling reactions and was efficiently applied to the key C-C bond-forming step to prepare canagliflozin and dapagliflozin, which are diabetic SGLT2 inhibitors of current interest.

Esterification of Tertiary Amides: Remarkable Additive Effects of Potassium Alkoxides for Generating Hetero Manganese-Potassium Dinuclear Active Species.

Invited for the cover of this issue are the groups of Fahmi Himo and Kazushi Mashima at Stockholm University and Osaka University. The image depicts a Mn-K scissor, which is able to break a C-N bond, represented by a tree branch. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.202001447.

Alternating Copolymerization of CO2 and Cyclohexene Oxide Catalyzed by Cobalt-Lanthanide Mixed Multinuclear Complexes.

Heteromultimetallic complexes consisting of three Co(II) ions and one lanthanide ion were synthesized and applied to the alternating copolymerization of CO2 and cyclohexene oxide. Unlike the conventional cobalt(III) salen complexes, the high thermal stability of the present catalyst allowed us to reach a turnover number of 13000, one of the highest values ever reported for multimetallic systems. The chain propagation was first-order to the catalyst, suggesting a cooperative behavior of the metal centers.

Esterification of Tertiary Amides: Remarkable Additive Effects of Potassium Alkoxides for Generating Hetero Manganese-Potassium Dinuclear Active Species.

A catalyst system of mononuclear manganese precursor 3 combined with potassium alkoxide served as a superior catalyst compared with our previously reported manganese homodinuclear catalyst 2 a for esterification of not only tertiary aryl amides, but also tertiary aliphatic amides. On the basis of stoichiometric reactions of 3 and potassium alkoxide salt, kinetic studies, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we clarified a plausible reaction mechanism in which in situ generated manganese-potassium heterodinuclear species cooperatively activates the carbonyl moiety of the amide and the OH moiety of the alcohols. We also revealed details of the reaction mechanism of our previous manganese homodinuclear system 2 a, and we found that the activation free energy (ΔG≠ ) for the manganese-potassium heterodinuclear complex catalyzed esterification of amides is lower than that for the manganese homodinuclear system, which was consistent with the experimental results. We further applied our catalyst system to deprotect the acetyl moiety of primary and secondary amines.

Monohydride-Dichloro Rhodium(III) Complexes with Chiral Diphosphine Ligands as Catalysts for Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Olefinic Substrates.

We report full details of the synthesis and characterization of monohydride-dichloro rhodium(III) complexes bearing chiral diphosphine ligands, such as (S)-BINAP, (S)-DM-SEGPHOS, and (S)-DTBM-SEGPHOS, producing cationic triply chloride bridged dinuclear rhodium(III) complexes (1 a: (S)-BINAP; 1 b: (S)-DM-SEGPHOS) and a neutral mononuclear monohydride-dichloro rhodium(III) complex (1 c: (S)-DTBM-SEGPHOS) in high yield and high purity. Their solid state structure and solution behavior were determined by crystallographic studies as well as full spectral data, including DOSY NMR spectroscopy. Among these three complexes, 1 c has a rigid pocket surrounded by two chloride atoms bound to the rhodium atom together with one tBu group of (S)-DTBM-SEGPHOS for fitting to simple olefins without any coordinating functional groups. Complex 1 c exhibited superior catalytic activity and enantioselectivity for asymmetric hydrogenation of exo-olefins and olefinic substrates. The catalytic activity of 1 c was compared with that of well-demonstrated dihydride species derived in situ from rhodium(I) precursors such as [Rh(cod)Cl]2 and [Rh(cod)2 ]+ [BF4 ]- upon mixing with (S)-DTBM-SEGPHOS under dihydrogen.

Catalytic Cleavage of Amide C-N Bond: Scandium, Manganese, and Zinc Catalysts for Esterification of Amides.

Amide C-N bonds are thermodynamically stable and their fission, such as by hydrolysis and alcoholysis, is considered a long-challenging organic reaction. In general, stoichiometric chemical transformations of amides into the corresponding esters and acids require harsh conditions, such as strong acids/bases at a high reaction temperature. Accordingly, the development of catalytic reactions that cleave not only primary and secondary amides, but also tertiary amides in mild conditions, is in high demand. Herein, we surveyed typical stoichiometric transformations of amides, and highlight our recent achievements in the catalytic esterification of amides using scandium, manganese, and zinc catalysts, together with some recent catalyst systems using late-transition metal reported by other groups.

Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Aryl Perfluoroalkyl Ketones Catalyzed by Rhodium(III) Monohydride Complexes Bearing Josiphos Ligands.

The asymmetric hydrogenation of 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenones and aryl perfluoroalkyl ketones was developed using a unique, well-defined chloride-bridged dinuclear rhodium(III) complex bearing Josiphos-type diphosphine ligands. These complexes were prepared from [RhCl(cod)]2 , Josiphos ligands, and hydrochloric acid. As catalyst precursors, they allow for the efficient and enantioselective synthesis (up to 99 % ee) of chiral secondary alcohols with perfluoroalkyl groups. This system does not require an activating base for the hydrogenation of 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenones. Additionally, the enantioselective C=O hydrogenations of 2-phenyl-3-(haloacetyl)-indoles, a class of privileged structures in medicinal chemistry, is reported for the first time.

Dinuclear manganese alkoxide complexes as catalysts for C-N bond cleavage of simple tertiary N,N-dialkylamides to give esters.

Amide bonds are stable due to the resonance between the nitrogen lone pair and the carbonyl moiety, and therefore the chemical transformation of amides, especially tertiary amides, involving C-N bond fission is considered one of the most difficult organic reactions, unavoidably requiring harsh reaction conditions and strong acids or bases. We report the catalytic C-N bond cleavage of simple tertiary N,N-dialkylamides to give corresponding esters using a catalyst system (2 mol% based on Mn atoms) of a tetranuclear manganese alkoxide, [Mn(acac)(OEt)(EtOH)]4 (1c), combined with four equivalents of 4,7-bis(dimethylamino)-1,10-phenanthroline (L1: Me2N-Phen). Regarding the reaction mechanism, we isolated a dinuclear manganese complex, [Mn(acac)(OEt)(Phen)]2 (6c), which was revealed as the catalytically active species for the esterification of tertiary amides.

Direct ortho-C-H Aminoalkylation of 2-Substituted Pyridine Derivatives Catalyzed by Yttrium Complexes with N,N'-Diarylethylenediamido Ligands.

A mixed ligated amidoyttrium complex, Y(NBn2)(L1)(THF)2 (8, L1 = N, N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)ethylenediamine), served as a catalyst for addition of the ortho-pyridyl C(sp2)-H bond of 2-substituted pyridines to nonactivated imines; complex 8 showed superior catalytic performance compared with Y[N(SiMe3)2]3 (1) and Y[N(SiMe3)2]2(NBn2)(THF) (2). Concerning the reaction mechanism, we conducted a stoichiometric reaction of an alkylyttrium complex, Y(CH2SiMe3)(L1)(THF)2 (7), with 2-ethylpyridine (4e), giving a mixture of (η3-pyridylmethyl)yttrium complex 9 and (η2-pyridyl)yttrium complex 10 along with elimination of SiMe4. Furthermore, addition of N-( tert-butyl)-2-methylpropan-1-imine (5i) to the mixture of 9 and 10 afforded (pyridylmethylamido)yttrium complex 11 as a single product, and the catalytic activity of 11 was comparable to that of complex 8. Kinetic analysis of the aminoalkylation reaction in the presence/absence of HNBn2 revealed that the reaction rate in the presence of HNBn2 was four times faster than that without HNBn2 due to acceleration of the product-eliminating step from complex 11 by HNBn2 to regenerate amidoyttrium complex 8 and the product. In addition, we determined that the catalytic reaction obeyed a first-order rate dependence on the catalyst concentration, independent of the imine concentration, and a second-order rate dependence on the concentration of the pyridine substrate in the reaction system, both with and without HNBn2. An enantiomerically pure N, N'-diaryl-1,2-diphenylethylenediamido ligand was applied for the C(sp2)-H aminoalkylation reaction in combination with Lu(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2 to give chiral aminoalkylated products in moderate yield with good enantioselectivity.

Silica-supported isolated molybdenum di-oxo species: formation and activation with organosilicon agent for olefin metathesis.

A well-defined silica-supported molybdenum dioxo species, ([triple bond, length as m-dash]SiO)2Mo(O)2, is prepared by grafting Mo(O)2[OSi(OtBu)3]2 on partially dehydroxylated silica SiO2-700, followed by thermal treatment under high-vaccum and calcination. Activated by an organosilicon agent the resulting material is active for olefin metathesis at 30 °C.

Lanthanide Complexes Supported by a Trizinc Crown Ether as Catalysts for Alternating Copolymerization of Epoxide and CO2 : Telomerization Controlled by Carboxylate Anions.

A new family of heterometallic catalysts based on trimetalated macrocyclic tris(salen) ligands and rare-earth metals was prepared and structurally characterized. The LaZn3 system containing anionic ligands such as acetate plays a critical role in catalyzing the alternating copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and CO2 with a high proportion of carbonate linkages. Among the lanthanide metals, the CeZn3 system exhibits high catalytic activity with a turnover frequency (TOF) of over 370 h-1 . NMR analysis of the complex and end-group analysis of the polymer suggest that the acetate ligands are rapidly exchanged, not only among coordinated acetates, but also between coordinated acetates and added carboxylate anions. These unique properties make this the first example of telomerization for the copolymerization of CHO and CO2 .

Tantallacyclopentadiene as a unique metal-containing diene ligand coordinated to nickel for preparing tantalum-nickel heterobimetallic complexes.

A mononuclear tantallacyclopentadiene complex, TaCl3(C4H2tBu2) (3), serves as a unique ligand to nickel: the addition of Ni(COD)2 to 3 selectively afforded heterobimetallic Ta-Ni complex 4. The cyclooctadiene ligand bound to the nickel center in complex 4 was readily substituted by monodentate and bidentate phosphine ligands, such as dimethylphenylphosphine, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, and 1,2-bis(diethylphosphino)ethane, to give the corresponding phosphine complexes 5, 6a, and 6b. We also examined a ligand substitution reaction with 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (IPr) to produce the corresponding Ta-Ni complex 7. These newly prepared Ta-Ni heterobimetallic complexes were characterized spectroscopically together with the crystal structures of 4, 6a, and 7.

Tunable Ligand Effects on Ruthenium Catalyst Activity for Selectively Preparing Imines or Amides by Dehydrogenative Coupling Reactions of Alcohols and Amines.

Selective dehydrogenative synthesis of imines from a variety of alcohols and amines was developed by using the ruthenium complex [RuCl2 (dppea)2 ] (6 a: dppea=2-diphenylphosphino-ethylamine) in the presence of catalytic amounts of Zn(OCOCF3 )2 and KOtBu, whereas the selective dehydrogenative formation of amides from the same sources was achieved by using another ruthenium complex, [RuCl2 {(S)-dppmp}2 ] [6 d: (S)-dppmp=(S)-2-((diphenylphosphenyl)methyl)pyrrolidine], in the presence of catalytic amounts of Zn(OCOCF3 )2 and potassium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (KHMDS). Our previously reported ruthenium complex, [Ru(OCOCF3 )2 (dppea)2 ] (8 a), was the catalyst precursor for the imine synthesis, whereas [Ru(OCOCF3 )2 {(S)-dppmp}2 ] (8 d), which was derived from the treatment of 6 d with Zn(OCOCF3 )2 and characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis, was the pre-catalyst for the amide formation. Control experiments revealed that the zinc salt functioned as a reagent for replacing chloride anions with trifluoroacetate anions. Plausible mechanisms for both selective dehydrogenative coupling reactions are proposed based on a time-course study, Hammett plot, and deuterium-labeling experiments.

Arylimido-Bridged Dinuclear Ti(µ-NAr)2 Ti Scaffold for Alkyne Insertion into the ortho-C-H Bond of Arylimido Ligands.

Dinuclear titanium dialkyl complexes bridged by two µ-arylimido ligands, [CpTi(CH2 SiMe3 )(µ-NAr)]2 (Cp=cyclopentadienyl) activated an ortho-aryl C-H bond of an µ-arylimido ligand to form a four-membered titanacycle. The subsequent insertion reaction of 1-(trimethylsilyl)propyne into a metal-carbon bond of the four-membered titanacycle yielded the corresponding six-membered titanacycle. Further ortho-C-H bond activation of the other µ-arylimido ligand and an insertion reaction proceeded to give dinuclear titanium complexes with two six-membered titanacycles. An Eyring plot in the temperature range 130-150 °C revealed activation parameters for the alkenylation reaction, and deuterium-labeling experiments showed that the C-H bond activation step is the rate determining step. Relative Gibbs free energies of the starting complexes, reaction intermediates, and transition states were calculated by using DFT calculations.