Unveiling the Activity and Mechanism Alterations by Pyrene Decoration on a Co(II) Macrocyclic Catalyst for CO2 Reduction.

Mechanistic studies involving characterization of crucial intermediates are desirable for rational optimization of molecular catalysts toward CO2 reduction, while fundamental challenges are associated with such studies. Herein we present the systematic mechanistic investigations on a pyrene-appended CoII macrocyclic catalyst in comparison with its pyrene-free prototype. The comparative results also verify the reasons of the higher catalytic activity of the pyrene-tethered catalyst in noble-metal-free CO2 photoreduction with various photosensitizers, where a remarkable apparent quantum yield of 36±3 % at 425 nm can be obtained for selective CO production. Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies in conjunction with DFT calculations between the two catalysts have characterized the key CO-bound intermediates and revealed their different CO-binding behavior, demonstrating that the pyrene group endows the corresponding CoII catalyst a lower catalytic potential, a higher stability, and a greater ease in CO release, all of which contribute to its better performance.

Redox-Switchable Cycloisomerization of Alkynoic Acids with Napthalenediimide-Derived N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes.

Two naphthalene-diimide (NDI) bis-imidazolium salts have been used as N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors for the preparation of NDI-functionalized complexes of rhodium and iridium of general formula [MCl(NDI-NHC)(COD)] (M=Rh, Ir; NDI-NHC=NDI-functionalized NHC ligand). Comparison of the IR spectra of the complexes [IrCl(NDI-NHC)(CO)2 ] and their related one- and two-electron reduced forms, reveal that each one-electron reduction produces a decrease of the average ν(CO) of 9-10 cm-1 , indicating a significant enhancement of the electron-richness of the metal. The [MCl(NDI-NHC)(COD)] complexes were tested in the catalytic cycloisomerization of alkynoic acids. The one-electron reduced forms showed greatly enhanced activities. For the cyclization of 5-hexynoic acid, the two-electron reduction of the ligand produced further enhancement of the catalytic activity, therefore showing that the catalyst can switch between three redox species with three distinct catalytic activities.

Kinetics of the Trans Effect in Ruthenium Complexes Provide Insight into the Factors That Control Activity and Stability in CO2 Electroreduction.

Comparative kinetic studies of a series of new ruthenium complexes provide a platform for understanding how strong trans effect ligands and redox-active ligands work together to enable rapid electrochemical CO2 reduction at moderate overpotential. After synthesizing isomeric pairs of ruthenium complexes featuring 2'-picolinyl-methyl-benzimidazol-2-ylidene (Mebim-pic) as a strong trans effect ligand and 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (tpy) as a redox-active ligand, chemical and electrochemical kinetic studies examined how complex geometry and charge affect the individual steps and overall catalysis of CO2 reduction. The relative trans effect of picoline vs the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) was quantified through a kinetic analysis of reductively triggered chloride dissociation, revealing that chloride loss is 1000 times faster in the isomer with the NHC trans to chloride. The kinetics of CO dissociation from a site trans to the NHC were examined in a systematic study of isostructural carbonyl complexes across four different overall charges. The rate constants for CO loss span 12 orders of magnitude and are fastest upon two-electron reduction, leading to a hypothesis that redox-active ligands play a key role in promoting reductive CO dissociation during catalysis. Analogous studies of complexes featuring the picoline ligand trans to the carbonyl reveal the importance of the trans effect of the CO ligand itself, with picoline ligand dissociation observed upon reduction. The complexes with NHC trans to the active site proved to be active electrocatalysts capable of selective CO2 electroreduction to CO. In acidic solutions under a N2 atmosphere, on the other hand, H2 evolution proceeds via an intermediate that positions a hydride ligand trans to picoline. The mechanistic insight and quantitative kinetic parameters that arise from these studies help establish general principles for molecular electrocatalyst design.

Gold-catalyzed Cycloisomerization Reactions within Guanidinium M12L24 Nanospheres: the Effect of Local Concentrations.

Gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization reactions have been explored using guanidinium functionalized M12L24 nanospheres that strongly encapsulate gold complexes functionalized with a sulfonate group through hydrogen bonds. As the M12L24 nanospheres can bind up to 24 gold complexes, the effect of local catalyst concentration on the reaction outcome can be easily evaluated. Also, the guanidinium groups of the sphere can weakly interact with the carboxylic group of the substrates, facilitating the pre-organization of the substrate near to the catalytic active site. Both effects can influence the selectivity and rate of the gold-catalyzed transformation. Challenging acetate-containing substrates with internal acetylene functional groups can be cyclized efficiently within the M12L24 nanospheres, where the pre-organization of the substrate plays a crucial role. For 2-alkynyl benzoic acids the selectivity of the reaction can be controlled by adjusting the local concentration of gold catalyst in the guanidinium functionalized M12L24 nanosphere.

The Trans Effect in Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction: Mechanistic Studies of Asymmetric Ruthenium Pyridyl-Carbene Catalysts.

A comprehensive mechanistic study of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction by ruthenium 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (tpy) pyridyl-carbene catalysts reveals the importance of stereochemical control to locate the strongly donating N-heterocyclic carbene ligand trans to the site of CO2 activation. Computational studies were undertaken to predict the most stable isomer for a range of reasonable intermediates in CO2 reduction, suggesting that the ligand trans to the reaction site plays a key role in dictating the energetic profile of the catalytic reaction. A new isomer of [Ru(tpy)(Mebim-py)(NCCH3)]2+ (Mebim-py is 1-methylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene-3-(2'-pyridine)) and both isomers of the catalytic intermediate [Ru(tpy)(Mebim-py)(CO)]2+ were synthesized and characterized. Experimental studies demonstrate that both isomeric precatalysts facilitate electroreduction of CO2 to CO in 95/5 MeCN/H2O with high activity and high selectivity. Cyclic voltammetry, infrared spectroelectrochemistry, and NMR spectroscopy studies provide a detailed mechanistic picture demonstrating an essential isomerization step in which the N-trans catalyst converts in situ to the C-trans variant. Insight into molecular electrocatalyst design principles emerge from this study. First, the use of an asymmetric ligand that places a strongly electron-donating ligand trans to the site of CO2 binding and activation is critical to high activity. Second, stereochemical control to maintain the desired isomer structure during catalysis is critical to performance. Finally, pairing the strongly donating pyridyl-carbene ligand with the redox-active tpy ligand proves to be useful in boosting activity without sacrificing overpotential. These design principles are considered in the context of surface-immobilized electrocatalysis.

Self-assembled M12L24 nanospheres as a reaction vessel to facilitate a dinuclear Cu(i) catalyzed cyclization reaction.

The application of large M12L24 nanospheres allows the pre-concentration of catalysts to reach high local concentrations, facilitating reactions that proceed through dinuclear mechanisms. The mechanism of the copper(i)-catalyzed cyclization of 4-pentynoic acid has been elucidated by means of a detailed mechanistic study. The kinetics of the reaction show a higher order in copper, indicating the formation of a bis-Cu intermediate as the key rate determining step of the reaction. This intermediate was further identified during catalysis by CIS-HRMS analysis of the reaction mixture. Based on the mechanistic findings, an M12L24 nanosphere was applied that can bind up to 12 copper catalysts by hydrogen bonding. This pre-organization of copper catalysts in the nanosphere results in a high local concentration of copper leading to higher reaction rates and turnover numbers as the dinuclear pathway is favored.

Platinum-Based Organometallic Folders for the Recognition of Electron-Deficient Aromatic Substrates.

A series of platinum complexes with cis-oriented polyaromatic N-heterocyclic carbene ligands were prepared and characterized. The relative disposition of the polyaromatic ligands about the metal cause these compounds to behave as metallofolders, featuring a cavity defined by the void space between the polyaromatic functionalities. The complexes were used as receptors of organic molecules, whereby selective affinity was displayed for electron-deficient aromatic substrates, such as 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TCNB), 2,4,7-trinitro-9-fluorenone (TNFLU), and 1,4,5,8-naphtalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (NTCDA). The binding affinities of two of the metallofolders with these substrates were determined by means of 1 H NMR titrations. Electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was also used to assess the affinities. The molecular structure of one of the platinum folders was determined in the presence of TCNB, showing the clear interaction between this guest molecule and the folder formed by the two mutually cis-oriented polyaromatic ligands. This work demonstrates how the presence of the mutually cis-oriented polyaromatic ligands may be a very useful tool for the preparation of metal-based receptors.

Self-assembled nanospheres with multiple endohedral binding sites pre-organize catalysts and substrates for highly efficient reactions.

Tuning reagent and catalyst concentrations is crucial in the development of efficient catalytic transformations. In enzyme-catalysed reactions the substrate is bound-often by multiple non-covalent interactions-in a well-defined pocket close to the active site of the enzyme; this pre-organization facilitates highly efficient transformations. Here we report an artificial system that co-encapsulates multiple catalysts and substrates within the confined space defined by an M12L24 nanosphere that contains 24 endohedral guanidinium-binding sites. Cooperative binding means that sulfonate guests are bound much more strongly than carboxylates. This difference has been used to fix gold-based catalysts firmly, with the remaining binding sites left to pre-organize substrates. This strategy was applied to a Au(I)-catalysed cyclization of acetylenic acid to enol lactone in which the pre-organization resulted in much higher reaction rates. We also found that the encapsulated sulfonate-containing Au(I) catalysts did not convert neutral (acid) substrates, and so could have potential in the development of substrate-selective catalysis and base-triggered on/off switching of catalysis.

Pyrene-based bisazolium salts: from luminescence properties to janus-type bis-N-heterocyclic carbenes.

A series of pyrene-based bisazolium salts have been obtained starting from 4,5,9,10-tetrabromo-2,7-di-tert-butylpyrene. The synthetic procedure to the pyrene-bisazoliums (PBIs) reveals an unexpected behavior, as a consequence of the presence of the alkyl groups (alkyl=Me, Et, n-Pr, and n-Bu) coming from the trisalkoxyformate in the final products, instead of the expected tBu of tAmyl groups from the starting tetra-aminated pyrenes. All bisazoliums show fluorescence properties, with emissions in the range of 370-420 nm, and quantum yields ranging from 0.29 to 0.41. The PBIs were used as bis-NHC precursors in the preparation of a series of dirhodium and diiridium complexes, which have been fully characterized. The electrochemical studies on selected dimetallic complexes reveal that the electronic communication between the metals through the polyaromatic linker is negligible.

Main-chain organometallic microporous polymers bearing triphenylene-tris(N-heterocyclic carbene)-gold species: catalytic properties.

Two triphenylene-based tris(N-heterocyclic carbene)-gold-acetylide main-chain organometallic microporous polymers (MOMPs) were obtained and fully characterized. Both materials show spherical shapes, and their size is highly dependent on the type of acetylene used in the synthetic protocol. The new solids were tested in the catalytic reduction of nitroarenes with NaBH4 and in the three-component Strecker reaction for the synthesis of α-aminonitriles, and showed high activity in both processes. Whereas the activity of the solids in the reduction of nitroarenes may be attributed to the formation of Au nanoparticles due to the use of NaBH4 as reducing agent, the activity in the Strecker reaction may originate from the Lewis acidic activation of the ketone or imine on coordination to Au.

Unveiling the stereoelectronic properties of a triphenylene-based tris N-heterocyclic carbene.

Two rhodium complexes with a triphenylene-based tris-NHC have been fully characterized. DFT and electrochemical studies suggest that the electronic communication between the metals is very weak, and that the electron donating properties of the ligand are very similar to those shown by its benzimidazolylidene analogue.

Highly fluorinated aryl-substituted tris(indazolyl)borate thallium complexes: diverse regiochemistry at the B-N bond.

The synthesis and characterization (mainly by (19)F NMR and X-ray diffraction) of highly fluorinated aryl-4,5,6,7-tetrafluoroindazoles and their corresponding thallium hydrotris(indazolyl)borate complexes are reported [aryl = phenyl, pentafluorophenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]. Thanks to N-H···N hydrogen bonds, the indazoles crystallize as dimers that pack differently depending on the nature of the aryl group. The thallium hydrotris(indazolyl)borate complexes Tl[Fn-Tp(4Bo,3aryl)] resulting from the reaction of aryl-4,5,6,7-tetrafluoroindazoles [aryl = phenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] with thallium borohydride adopt overall C(3v) symmetry with the indazolyl groups bound to boron via their N-1 nitrogen in a conventional manner. When the perfluorinated pentaphenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrafluoroindazole is reacted with thallium borohydride, a single regioisomer of C(s) symmetry having one indazolyl ring bound to boron via its N-2 nitrogen, TlHB(3-pentafluorophenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrafluoroindazol-1-yl)(2)(3-pentafluorophenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrafluoroindazol-2-yl) Tl[F27-Tp((4Bo,3C6F5)*)], is obtained for the first time. Surprisingly, the perfluorinated dihydrobis(indazolyl)borate complex Tl[F(18)-Bp(3Bo,3C6F5)], an intermediate on the way to the hydrotris(indazolyl)borate complex, has C(s) symmetry with two indazolyl rings bound to boron via N-2. The distortion of the coordination sphere around Tl and the arrangement of the complexes in the crystal are discussed.