Air-Stable Coordinatively Unsaturated Ruthenium(II) Complex for Ligand Binding and Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones from Ethanol.

Coordinatively unsaturated complexes are interesting from a fundamental level for their formally empty coordination site and, in particular, from a catalytic perspective as they provide opportunities for substrate binding and transformation. Here, we describe the synthesis of a novel underligated ruthenium complex [Ru(cym)(N,N')]+, 3, featuring an amide-functionalized pyridylidene amide (PYA) as the N,N'-bidentate coordinating ligand. In contrast to previously investigated underligated complexes, complex 3 offers potential for dynamic modifications, thanks to the flexible donor properties of the PYA ligand. Specifically, they allow both for stabilizing the formally underligated metal center in complex 3 through nitrogen π-donation and for facilitating through π-acidic bonding properties the coordination of a further ligand L to the ruthenium center to yield the formal 18 e- complexes [Ru(cym)(N,N')(L)]+ (4: L = P(OMe)3; 5: L = PPh3; 6: L = N-methylimidazole; 7: L = pyridine) and neutral complex [RuCl(cym)(N,N')] 8. Analysis by 1H NMR and UV-vis spectroscopies reveals an increasing Ru-L bond strength along the sequence pyridine <1-methylimidazole < PPh3 < P(OMe)3 with binding constants varying over 3 orders of magnitude with log(Keq) values between 2.8 and 5.7. The flexibility of the Ru(PYA) unit and the ensuing accessibility of saturated and unsaturated species with one and the same ligand are attractive from a fundamental point of view and also for catalytic applications, as catalytic transformations rely on the availability of transiently vacant coordination sites. Thus, while complex 3 does not form stable adducts with O-donors such as ketones or alcohols, it transiently binds these species, as evidenced by the considerable catalytic activity in the transfer hydrogenation of ketones. Notably, and as one of only a few catalysts, complex 3 is compatible with EtOH as a hydrogen source. Complex 3 shows excellent performance in the transfer hydrogenation of pyridyl-containing substrates, in agreement with the poor coordination strength of this functional group to the ruthenium center in 3.

Ambidentate bonding and electrochemical implications of pincer-type pyridylidene amide ligands in complexes of nickel, cobalt and zinc.

Pincer-type tridentate pyridyl bis(pyridylidene amide) (pyPYA2) ligand systems were coordinated to the Earth-abundant first row transition metals nickel, cobalt and zinc. A one-pot synthesis in water/ethanol afforded octahedral homoleptic bis-PYA complexes, [M(pyPYA2)2](PF6)2, whereas five-coordinate mono-PYA dichloride complexes, [M(pyPYA2)Cl2], were obtained upon slow addition of the ligand to the metal chlorides in DMF. Electrochemical measurements further revealed a facile oxidation of the metal centers from Ni2+ to Ni4+ and Co2+ to Co3+, respectively, while the Zn2+ system was redox inactive. These experiments further allowed for quantification of the much stronger electron donor properties of neutral N,N,N-tridentate pyPYA2 pincer ligands as compared to terpy. Remarkably, ortho-PYA pincer ligands feature amide coordination to the metal center via oxygen or nitrogen. This ambidentate ligand binding constitutes another mode of donor flexibility of the PYA ligand system, complementing the resonance structure dynamics established previously. NMR spectroscopic and MS analysis reveal that the meta-PYA ligand undergoes selective deuteration when coordinated to cobalt. This reactivity suggests the potential of this ligand as a transient proton reservoir for HX bond activation and, moreover, indicates the relevance of several resonance structures and therefore supports the notion that meta-PYA ligands are mesoionic.

Highly Efficient Transfer Hydrogenation Catalysis with Tailored Pyridylidene Amide Pincer Ruthenium Complexes.

The rational optimization of homogeneous catalysts requires ligand platforms that are easily tailored to improve catalytic performance. Here, it is demonstrated that pyridylidene amides (PYAs) provide such a platform to custom-shape transfer hydrogenation catalysts with exceptional activity. Specifically, a series of meta-PYA pincer ligands with differently substituted PYA units has been synthezised and coordinated to ruthenium(II) centres to form bench-stable tris-acetonitrile complexes [Ru(R-PYA-pincer)(MeCN)3 ](PF6 )2 (R=OMe, Me, H, Cl, CF3 ). Analytic studies including 1 H NMR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray crystallography reveal a direct influence of the substituents on the electronic properties of the ruthenium center. The complexes are active in the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of ketones, with activities directly encoded by the PYA substitution pattern. Their perfomance improves further upon exchange of an ancillary MeCN ligand with PPh3 . While complexes [Ru(R-PYA-pincer)(PPh3 )(MeCN)2 ](PF6 )2 were only isolated for R=H, Me, an in situ protocol was developed to generate these complexes in situ for R=OMe, Cl, CF3 by using a 1:2 ratio of the complexes and PPh3 . This in situ protocol together with a short catalyst pre-activation provided highly active catalytic systems. The most active pre-catalyst featured the methoxy-substituted PYA ligand and reached turnover frenquencies of 210 000 h-1 under an exceptionally low catalyst loading of 25 ppm for the benchmark substrate benzophenone, representing one of the most active transfer hydrogenation systems known to date.

Ruthenium Complexes with PYA Pincer Ligands for Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Challenging Substrates.

Here we highlight the potential of a series of ruthenium complexes with tridentate N,N,N pincer-type ligands featuring two pyridylidene amide (PYA) moieties in the ligand skeleton. They were successfully applied in transfer hydrogenation of ketones and C=C double bonds. Rational ligand design was key for increasing the catalytic performance in the reduction of challenging substrates such as potentially chelating acetylpyridines. The specific reaction profiles indicate catalyst poisoning via imine coordination as well as N,O-bidentate coordination of the substrate or the product. Approaches to mitigate this inhibition are presented. Furthermore, these PYA pincer ruthenium complexes accomplish the selective reduction of the C=C over C=O bond of α,ß-unsaturated ketones such as benzylideneacetone, while other α,ß-unsaturated ketones such as trans-chalcone predominantly underwent oxidative C=C bond cleavage.

Modular Pincer-type Pyridylidene Amide Ruthenium(II) Complexes for Efficient Transfer Hydrogenation Catalysis.

A set of bench-stable ruthenium complexes with new N,N,N-tridentate coordinating pincer-type pyridyl-bis(pyridylideneamide) ligands was synthesized in excellent yields, with the pyridylidene amide in meta or in para position ( m-PYA and p-PYA, respectively). While complex [Ru( p-PYA)(MeCN)3]2+ is catalytically silent in transfer hydrogenation, its meta isomer [Ru( m-PYA)(MeCN)3]2+ shows considerable activity with turnover frequencies at 50% conversion TOF50 = 100 h-1. Spectroscopic, electrochemical, and crystallographic analyses suggest considerably stronger donor properties of the zwitterionic m-PYA ligand compared to the partially π-acidic p-PYA analogue, imparted by valence isomerization. Further catalyst optimization was achieved by exchanging the ancillary MeCN ligands with imines (4-picoline), amines (ethylenediamine), and phosphines (PPh3, dppm, dppe). The most active catalyst was comprised of the m-PYA pincer ligand and PPh3, complex [Ru( m-PYA)(PPh3)(MeCN)2]2+, which reached a TOF50 of 430 h-1 under aerobic conditions and up to 4000 h-1 in the absence of oxygen. The presence of oxygen reversibly deactivates the catalytically active species, which compromises activity, but not longevity of the catalyst. Ligand exchange kinetic studies by NMR spectroscopy indicate that the strong trans effect of the phosphine is critical for high catalyst activity. Diaryl, aryl-alkyl, and dialkyl ketones were hydrogenated with high conversion, and α,ß-unsaturated ketones produced selectively the saturated ketone as the only product due to exclusive C═C bond hydrogenation, a distinctly different selectivity from most other transfer hydrogenation catalysts.

Transfer hydrogenation with abnormal dicarbene rhodium(iii) complexes containing ancillary and modular poly-pyridine ligands.

Treatment of an abnormal dicarbene ligated rhodium(iii) dimer with 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) or 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (terpy) results in coordination of the N-donor ligands and concomitant cleavage of the dimeric structure. Depending on the denticity of the pyridyl ligand, this situation retains one (L = terpy) or two (L = bipy, phen) flexible sites for substrate coordination. In the case of the bipy complexes, modification of the electron density at Rh, without directly affecting the steric environment about the metal centre, was achieved by the incorporation of electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents on the bipy backbone. The dicarbene pyridyl complexes were active in transfer hydrogenation catalysis of benzophenone at 0.15 mol% catalyst loading in a iPrOH/KOH mixture. The catalysts displayed a strong characteristic colour change (yellow to purple) after activation which allowed for visual monitoring of the status of the reaction. The colour probe and the robustness of the active catalysts proved useful for catalyst recycling. The catalytic activity sustained over five consecutive substrate batch additions and gave a maximum overall turnover number of 3100.