Interplay between Substrate and Proton Donor Coordination in Reductions of Carbonyls by SmI2-Water Through Proton-Coupled Electron-Transfer.

The reduction of a carbonyl by SmI2-water is the first step in a range of reactions of synthetic importance. Although the reduction is often proposed to proceed through an initial stepwise electron-transfer-proton-transfer (ET-PT), recent work has shown that carbonyls and related functional groups are likely reduced though proton-coupled electron-transfer (PCET). In the present work, the reduction of an activated ester, aldehyde, a linear and cyclic ketone, and related sterically demanding carbonyls by SmI2-H2O was examined through a series of mechanistic experiments. Kinetic studies demonstrate that all substrates exhibit significant increases in the rate of reduction by SmI2 as [H2O] is increased. Under identical conditions, ketones and an aldehyde containing a methyl adjacent to the carbonyl are reduced slower than an unsubstituted variant by an order of magnitude, demonstrating the importance of substrate coordination. In the case of unactivated substrates, rates of reduction show excellent correlation with the calculated bond dissociation free energy of the O-H bond of the intermediate ketyl and the calculated free energy of intermediate ketyl radical anions derived from unhindered substrates: findings consistent with concerted PCET. Activated esters derived from methylbenzoate are likely reduced through stepwise or asynchronous PCET. Overall, this work demonstrates that the combination of the coordination of substrate and water to Sm(II) provides a configuration uniquely suited to a coupled electron- and proton-transfer process.

Experimental and Theoretical Studies on the Implications of Halide-Dependent Aqueous Solvation of Sm(II).

The addition of water to samarium(II) has been demonstrated to have a significant impact on the reduction of organic substrates, with the majority of research dedicated to the most widely used reagent, samarium diiodide (SmI2). The work presented herein focuses on the reducing capabilities of samarium dibromide (SmBr2) and demonstrates how the modest change in halide ligand results in observable mechanistic differences between the SmBr2-water and the SmI2-water systems that have considerable implications in terms of reactivity between the two reagents. Quantum chemical results from Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations show significant differences between SmI2-water and SmBr2-water, with the latter displaying less dissociation of the halide, which results in a lower coordination number for water. Experimental results are consistent with computational results and demonstrate that the coordination sphere of SmBr2 is saturated at lower concentrations of water. In addition, coordination-induced bond-weakening of the O-H bond is demonstrably different for water bound to SmBr2, leading to an estimated O-H bond-weakening of at least 83 kcal/mol, nearly 10 kcal/mol larger than the bond-weakening observed in SmI2-H2O. Experimental results also demonstrate that the use of alcohols in place of water with SmBr2 leads to substrate reduction, albeit several orders of magnitude slower than for SmBr2-water. The difference in rates resulting from the change in proton donor is attributed to a rate-limiting proton-coupled electron transfer in SmBr2-water and a sequential electron transfer then proton transfer in SmBr2-alcohol systems, where electron transfer is rate-limiting.

Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in the Reduction of Carbonyls by Samarium Diiodide-Water Complexes.

Reduction of carbonyls by SmI2 is significantly impacted by the presence of water, but the fundamental step(s) of initial transfer of a formal hydrogen atom from the SmI2-water reagent system to produce an intermediate radical is not fully understood. In this work, we provide evidence consistent with the reduction of carbonyls by SmI2-water proceeding through proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET). Combined rate and computational studies show that a model aldehyde and ketone are likely reduced through an asynchronous PCET, whereas reduction of a representative lactone occurs through a concerted PCET. In the latter case, concerted PCET is likely a consequence of significantly endergonic initial electron transfer.

High-Affinity Proton Donors Promote Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer by Samarium Diiodide.

The relationship between proton-donor affinity for Sm(II) ions and the reduction of two substrates (anthracene and benzyl chloride) was examined. A combination of spectroscopic, thermochemical, and kinetic studies show that only those proton donors that coordinate or chelate strongly to Sm(II) promote anthracene reduction through a PCET process. These studies demonstrate that the combination of Sm(II) ions and water does not provide a unique reagent system for formal hydrogen atom transfer to substrates.

Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in the Reduction of Arenes by SmI2-Water Complexes.

The presence of water has a significant impact on the reduction of substrates by SmI2. The reactivity of the Sm(II)-water reducing system and the relationship between sequential or concerted electron-transfer, proton-transfer is not well understood. In this work, we demonstrate that the reduction of an arene by SmI2-water proceeds through an initial proton-coupled electron transfer. The use of thermochemical data available in the literature shows that upon coordination of water to Sm(II) in THF, significant weakening of the O-H bond occurs. The derived value of nearly 73 kcal/mol for the decrease in the bond dissociation energy of the O-H bond in the Sm(II)-water complex is the largest reported to date for low-valent reductants containing bound water.

Solvent-dependent substrate reduction by {Sm[N(SiMe3)2]2(THF)2}. An alternative approach for accelerating the rate of substrate reduction by Sm(II).

The impact of solvent on electron transfer from Sm(II) to substrates was measured by determining the rate of reduction of 1-bromo-, 1-chlorododecane, and 3-pentanone in THF and hexanes using the highly soluble reductant {Sm[N(SiMe3)2]2(THF)2}. Rates were found to be 3 orders of magnitude faster in hexanes than THF, and reductions of alkyl halides were inverse first order in THF. These findings show the solvent milieu significantly impacts the rate of substrate reduction, a consideration that may prove useful in synthesis.

Secondary Amides as Hydrogen Atom Transfer Promoters for Reactions of Samarium Diiodide.

Two secondary amides (N-methylacetamide and 2-pyrrolidinone) were used as additives with SmI2 in THF to estimate the extent of N-H bond weakening upon coordination. Mechanistic and synthetic studies demonstrate significant bond-weakening, providing a reagent system capable of reducing a range of substrates through formal hydrogen atom transfer.