Hydrogenation of CO2 by a Bifunctional PC(sp3 )P Iridium(III) Pincer Complex Equipped with Tertiary Amine as a Functional Group.

Reversible hydrogen storage in the form of stable and mostly harmless chemical substances such as formic acid (FA) is a cornerstone of a fossil fuels-free economy. In the past, we have reported a primary amine-functionalized bifunctional iridium(III)-PC(sp3 )P pincer complex as a mild and chemoselective catalyst for the additive-free decomposition of neat formic acid. In this manuscript, we report on the successful application of a redesigned complex bearing tertiary amine functionality as a catalyst for mild hydrogenation of CO2 to formic acid. The catalyst demonstrates TON up to 6×104 and TOF up to 1.7×104  h-1 . In addition to the practical value of the catalyst, experimental and computational mechanistic studies provide the rationale for the design of improved next-generation catalysts.

Hybrid Silsesquioxane/Benzoate Cu7-Complexes: Synthesis, Unique Cage Structure, and Catalytic Activity.

A series of phenylsilsesquioxane-benzoate heptacopper complexes 1-3 were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Two parallel routes of toluene spontaneous oxidation (into benzyl alcohol and benzoate) assisted the formation of the cagelike structure 1. A unique multi-ligation of copper ions (from (i) silsesquioxane, (ii) benzoate, (iii) benzyl alcohol, (iv) pyridine, (v) dimethyl-formamide and (vi) water ligands) was found in 1. Directed self-assembly using benzoic acid as a reactant afforded complexes 2-3 with the same main structural features as for 1, namely heptanuclear core coordinated by (i) two distorted pentameric cyclic silsesquioxane and (ii) four benzoate ligands, but featuring other solvate surroundings. Complex 3 was evaluated as a catalyst for the oxidation of alkanes to alkyl hydroperoxides and alcohols to ketones with hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide, respectively, at 50 °C in acetonitrile. The maximum yield of cyclohexane oxidation products as high as 32% was attained. The oxidation reaction results in a mixture of cyclohexyl hydroperoxide, cyclohexanol, and cyclohexanone. Upon the addition of triphenylphosphine, the cyclohexyl hydroperoxide is completely converted to cyclohexanol. The specific regio- and chemoselectivity in the oxidation of n-heptane and methylcyclohexane, respectively, indicate the involvement of of hydroxyl radicals. Complex 3 exhibits a high activity in the oxidation of alcohols.

A Novel Family of Cage-like (CuLi, CuNa, CuK)-phenylsilsesquioxane Complexes with 8-Hydroxyquinoline Ligands: Synthesis, Structure, and Catalytic Activity.

The first examples of metallasilsesquioxane complexes, including ligands of the 8-hydroxyquinoline family 1-9, were synthesized, and their structures were established by single crystal X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation. Compounds 1-9 tend to form a type of sandwich-like cage of Cu4M2 nuclearity (M = Li, Na, K). Each complex includes two cisoid pentameric silsesquioxane ligands and two 8-hydroxyquinoline ligands. The latter coordinates the copper ions and corresponding alkaline metal ions (via the deprotonated oxygen site). A characteristic (size) of the alkaline metal ion and a variation of characteristics of nitrogen ligands (8-hydroxyquinoline vs. 5-chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline vs. 5,7-dibromo-8-hydroxyquinoline vs. 5,7-diiodo-8-hydroxyquinoline) are highly influential for the formation of the supramolecular structure of the complexes 3a, 5, and 7-9. The Cu6Na2-based compound 2 exhibits high catalytic activity towards the oxidation of (i) hydrocarbons by H2O2 activated with HNO3, and (ii) alcohols by tert-butyl hydroperoxide. Studies of kinetics and their selectivity has led us to conclude that it is the hydroxyl radicals that play a crucial role in this process.

A High-Valent Ru-PCP Pincer Catalyst for Hydrogenation of Carbonyl and Carboxyl Compounds under Molecular Hydrogen.

Low-valent metals traditionally dominate the domain of catalytic hydrogenation. However, metal-ligand cooperating (MLC) catalytic systems, operating through heterolytic H-H bond splitting by a Lewis acidic metal and a basic ligand site, do not require an electron-rich metal. On the contrary, high-valent metals that induce weaker back donation facilitate heterolytic bond activation. Here we report, for the first time, the efficient hydrogenation of carbonyl and carboxyl compounds under molecular hydrogen catalyzed by a structurally well-defined RuIV catalyst bearing a bifunctional PCP pincer ligand. The catalyst exhibits reactivity toward molecular hydrogen superior to that of the low-valent analog and allows hydrogen activation even at room temperature.

Heterobimetallic Pd/Mn and Pd/Co complexes as efficient and stereoselective catalysts for sequential Cu-free Sonogashira coupling-alkyne semi-hydrogenation reactions.

A series of heterobimetallic PdII/MII complexes (MII = Mn, Co) were synthesised and tested as precatalysts for sequential Sonogashira coupling-alkyne semi-hydrogenation reactions to form Z-aryl alkenes. The carbometalated heterobimetallic PdII/CoII complex CoPdL3' demonstrated an apparent cooperative effect compared to the corresponding monometallic counterparts. This compound was identified as a potent single-molecule catalyst for the one-pot Cu-free Sonogashira coupling of aryl bromides with terminal alkynes followed by chemo- and stereoselective semi-hydrogenation of the alkyne intermediate using NH3·BH3 as a hydrogen source. Furthermore, different aromatic substrates have been tested to show the generality of the reaction for the synthesis of Z-alkenes, including biologically active combretastatin A-4. In addition, the homogeneous nature of the catalytically active species was demonstrated.

Stereoisomerism as an Origin of Different Reactivities of Ir(III) PC(sp3)P Pincer Catalysts.

Two stereoisomers of pentacoordinate iridium(III) hydridochloride with triptycene-based PC(sp3)P pincer ligand (1,8-bis(diisopropylphosphino)triptycene), 1 and 2, differ by the orientation of hydride ligand relative to the bridgehead ring of triptycene. According to DFT/B3PW91/def2-TZVP calculations performed, an equatorial Cl ligand can relatively easily change its position in 1, whereas that is not the case in 2. Both complexes 1 and 2 readily bind the sixth ligand to protect the empty coordination site. Variable temperature spectroscopic (NMR, IR, and UV-visible) studies show the existence of two isomers of hexacoordinate complexes 1·MeCN, 2·MeCN, and 2·Py with acetonitrile or pyridine coordinated trans to hydride or trans to metalated C(sp3), whereas only the equatorial isomer is found for 1·Py. These complexes are stabilized by various intramolecular noncovalent C-H···Cl interactions that are affected by the rotation of isopropyls or pyridine. The substitution of MeCN by pyridine is slow yielding axial Py complexes as kinetic products and the equatorial Py complexes as thermodynamic products with faster reactions of 1·L. Ultimately, that explains the higher activity of 1 in the catalytic alkenes' isomerization observed for allylbenzene, 1-octene, and pent-4-enenitrile, which proceeds as an insertion/elimination sequence rather than through the allylic mechanism.

Polymer-Anchored Bifunctional Pincer Catalysts for Chemoselective Transfer Hydrogenation and Related Reactions.

A series of polymer-supported cooperative PC(sp3 )P pincer catalysts was synthesized and characterized. Their catalytic activity in the acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols and the transfer hydrogenation of aldehydes with formic acid as a hydrogen source was investigated. This comparative study, examining homogeneous and polymer-tethered species, proved that carefully designing a link between the support and the catalytic moiety, which takes into consideration the mechanism underlying the target transformation, might lead to superior heterogeneous catalysis.

meta-C-H Bromination on Purine Bases by Heterogeneous Ruthenium Catalysis.

Methods for positionally selective remote C-H functionalizations are in high demand. Herein, we disclose the first heterogeneous ruthenium catalyst for meta-selective C-H functionalizations, which enabled remote halogenations with excellent site selectivity and ample scope. The versatile heterogeneous Ru@SiO2 catalyst was broadly applicable and could be easily recovered and reused, which set the stage for the direct fluorescent labeling of purines. In contrast to palladium, rhodium, iridium, or cobalt complexes, solely the ruthenium catalysis manifold provided access to meta-halogenated purine derivatives, illustrating the unique power of ruthenium C-H activation catalysis.

Coordination versatility of p-hydroquinone-functionalized dibenzobarrelene-based PC(sp3)P pincer ligands.

The manuscript describes the synthesis and coordination chemistry of a novel diphosphine pincer ligand based on a p-hydroquinone-functionalized dibenzobarrelene scaffold. The p-hydroquinone fragment of the ligand is oxidatively and coordinatively non-innocent and may render new reactivity to the metal center due to implied reversible redox behavior, tautomeric interconversion and metal-hydroxyl/alkoxide coordination switch of the pendant hydroxyl side-arm. Palladium, platinum and iridium complexes were prepared and characterized. Investigation of their coordination chemistry revealed that while tautomeric equilibrium exists in free ligands and in the chelate non-metalated complexes, it is essentially blocked in the corresponding C(sp3)-pincer compounds due to stabilizing hemilabile coordination of the hydroxyl group. However, its presence in close proximity to the metal center is essential for catalyzing acceptorless dehydrogenation of alcohols by the iridium complexes via the outer-sphere hydrogen transfer mechanism. Remarkably, we found a similar activity for the analogous palladium complexes, which is not characteristic of this metal. This unprecedented reactivity of palladium stresses the fact that besides the choice of an active metal, transformation-oriented design of the ligand is crucial for catalysis.

Single-Component Phosphinous Acid Ruthenium(II) Catalysts for Versatile C-H Activation by Metal-Ligand Cooperation.

Well-defined ruthenium(II) phosphinous acid (PA) complexes enabled chemo-, site-, and diastereoselective C-H functionalization of arenes and alkenes with ample scope. The outstanding catalytic activity was reflected by catalyst loadings as low as 0.75 mol %, and the most step-economical access reported to date to angiotensin II receptor antagonist blockbuster drugs. Mechanistic studies indicated a kinetically relevant C-X cleavage by a single-electron transfer (SET)-type elementary process, and provided evidence for a PA-assisted C-H ruthenation step.

New possible mode of ligand-metal cooperation in PC(sp3)P pincer complexes.

Ligand-metal cooperation in iridium and platinum complexes bearing tricyclic dibenzobarrelene-based PC(sp(3))P pincer ligands is discussed. We demonstrated that the carbon-metal bond in these complexes may be efficiently cleaved and regenerated via 1,2-addition/elimination reactions.

Efficient preparation of photoswitchable dithienylethene-linker-conjugates by palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions of terminal alkynes with thienyl chlorides and other aryl halides.

Three photochromic dithienylethene-linker-conjugates with an adamantane core containing different spacer lengths and footprint areas with carboxylic anchoring groups are synthesized. The synthetic routes start either from the ethynylene-linker 5 or the iodo-substituted linker 8. Reaction conditions for the final Sonogashira coupling step between ethynylene-linker 5 with the chloro-substituted dithienylethene 4 in the presence of [PdCl(2)(CH(3)CN)(2)]/X-Phos and Cs(2)CO(3) or K(3)PO(4) are optimized using 2-chloro-5-methylthiophene (9) and triethylsilylacetylene or triisopropylsilylacetylene (10a,b) as model compounds. Experimental conditions are found to suppress the activation of the C(sp)-Si bond in TIPS-acetylene 10b, a reaction leading to a subsequent cross-coupling reaction to form by-product 12. Furthermore, activation of the C(sp)-Si bond in the presence of the fluorinated backbone of the chloro-substituted dithienylethene 4 can also be prevented. The photochromic properties of the conjugate 3 and its precursor dithienylethene 7b are also investigated.

Diels-Alder cycloaddition as a new approach toward stable PC(sp3)P-metalated compounds.

A straightforward synthetic route toward a new family of dibenzobarrelene-based cyclometalated compounds is described.

Exploring the reactivity of C(sp3)-cyclometalated Ir(III) compounds in hydrogen transfer reactions.

The manuscript describes the synthesis and full characterization of a new PC(sp(3))P-based cyclometalated Ir(III) complex that manifests an exceptional thermal stability, as well as outstanding reactivity in hydrogen transfer reactions. The described compound represents the first example of a new family of stable C(sp(3))-metalated compounds.

Enantio- and regioselective heck-type reaction of arylboronic acids with 2,3-dihydrofuran.

Reported herein is a protocol for the enantioselective Pd(II)-catalyzed Heck-type reaction between arylboronic acids and 2,3-dihydrofuran. The highest chemical and optical yields were obtained when a Pd(OAc)2/(R)-MeO(biphenylphosphine) or a Pd(OAc)2/(R)-(2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl) catalyst and a Cu(OAc)2 reoxidant were employed.

Roof-shaped halide-bridged bimetallic complexes via ring expansion reaction.

Binucleating behavior of rigid triptycene-based ligands has been studied. It has been demonstrated that trans-spanned transition-metal mononuclear complexes bearing 1,8-bis(diisopropylphosphino)triptycene (L1) and 1-diisopropylphosphino-8-diphenylphosphinotriptycene (L2) react with an appropriate transition-metal precursor via a ring-expansion pathway to form unusual bimetallic quasi-closed structures. New palladium and rhodium complexes featuring strongly bent (ca. 115 degrees ) M2(mu-Cl2) cores with very closely spanned metal centers (less than 3 A) have been prepared using the described ring-expansion reaction and have been fully characterized. Despite a constrained arrangement of the binuclear system, halogen bridges in all new compounds were stable in both the solid state and solution showing no tendency for dissociation even in the presence of added Lewis bases. Spontaneous resolution of the dissymmetric Pd2(mu-Cl)2Cl2(1-diisopropylphosphino-8-diphenylphosphinotriptycene) (2) into enantiopure antipodes is discussed as well.

Novel trans-spanned palladium complexes as efficient catalysts in mild and amine-free cyanation of aryl bromides under air.

[reaction: see text] The use of a novel trans-spanned palladium complex as an efficient and selective catalyst in the cyanation of aryl halides is described. The suggested reaction conditions are mild, exhibit good scope of substrates, and circumvent the need for an inert atmosphere and amine co-ligands.

Lanthanide-promoted ethylation of Schiff bases by triethylaluminum.

[reaction: see text] Schiff bases of aromatic aldehydes and anilines that fail to react with triethylaluminum are smoothly alkylated at room temperature in the presence of lanthanide catalysts. The alkylation takes place selectively at the vinylic carbon atom.