Transfer hydrogenation of aromatic and linear aldehydes catalyzed using Cp*Ir(pyridinesulfonamide)Cl complexes under base-free conditions

Abstract

Cp*Ir(pyridinesulfonamide)Cl (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) precatalysts 1–7 are active for the transfer hydrogenation of aryl, alkyl, and heterocyclic aldehydes. Catalysis is conducted under base-free conditions in air without dried or degassed substrates and solvents. These reductions occur rapidly in moderate to high conversion (39–100%). Benzaldehyde derivatives are reduced to alcohols within 30 min at 85 °C using 1 mol% iridium precatalyst; reduction also occurs at lower temperatures and loadings (60 °C, 0.50 mol% precatalyst). Benzaldehyde derivatives that possess electron-rich and electron-poor substituents in the para position, including base-sensitive 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, are readily reduced. Aryl aldehydes containing electron-poor groups are reduced faster than substrates possessing electron-rich moieties. Reduction of the positional isomers of methoxybenzaldehyde and isopropylbenzaldehyde shows highest reduction for the ortho isomer, followed by the meta isomer. Heterocyclic substrates, including biomass derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and 2-furfural, were reduced selectively to the alcohol. Decyl aldehyde was reduced to the linear alcohol; importantly self-condensation was not observed. Competition studies demonstrated selective reduction of aldehydes over ketones and a mercury poisoning experiment supports a homogeneous catalyzed pathway.