Olefin Binding Research Articles

Gold(I) Catalysis in Alkyne-Alkene Reactions: A Systematic Exploration through Molecular Electrostatic Potential Analysis.

Gold catalysis enables selective chemical transformations with catalytic activity tunable through ligand selection. This study uses the density functional theory (DFT) to explore the impact of phosphine ligands (PR3) on gold(I)-catalyzed alkyne-alkene cyclobutene formation. We analyze the following key steps: (i) PR3-Au+ complexation, (ii) alkyne binding, (iii) alkene binding, (iv) C-C coupling transition state, (v) cyclobutene formation transition state, and (vi) cyclobutene dissociation. Molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) analysis provided a deeper understanding of electronic effects and revealed a strong correlation between the change in MESP at the gold nucleus (ΔNVAu+) upon complex formation with various ligands and the corresponding complexation energy, as well as between the change in MESP at the alkyne carbon (ΔVC) and the C-C coupling step activation barrier. This establishes MESP as a powerful tool for understanding ligand influence on catalysis. Our findings suggest that electron-donating phosphine ligands, combined with electron-withdrawing alkyne substituents, enhance catalyst turnover, promote cyclobutene product dissociation from the gold(I) complex, and facilitate catalyst regeneration. Solvent effects also play a crucial role. Bulky XPhos, JohnPhos, and CyJohnPhos ligands enhance gold(I) catalysis via steric protection, electron donation, and catalyst regeneration efficiency. In conclusion, this study provides insights into ligand effects in gold(I)-catalyzed cyclobutene formation, guiding future catalyst design.

Vinylic C-H Activation of Styrenes by an Iron-Aluminum Complex.

The oxidative addition of sp2 C-H bonds of alkenes to single-site transition-metal complexes is complicated by the competing π-coordination of the C═C double bond, limiting the examples of this type of reactivity and onward applications. Here, we report the C-H activation of styrenes by a well-defined bimetallic Fe-Al complex. These reactions are highly selective, resulting in the (E)-β-metalation of the alkene. For this bimetallic system, alkene binding appears to be essential for the reaction to occur. Experimental and computational insights suggest an unusual reaction pathway in which a (2 + 2) cycloaddition intermediate is directly converted into the hydrido vinyl product via an intramolecular sp2 C-H bond activation across the two metals. The key C-H cleavage step proceeds through a highly asynchronous transition state near the boundary between a concerted and a stepwise mechanism influenced by the resonance stabilization ability of the aryl substituent. The metalated alkenes can be further functionalized, which has been demonstrated by the (E)-selective phosphination of the employed styrenes.

Iron‐Catalyzed Reductive Cross‐Coupling of Alkyl Electrophiles with Olefins

AbstractIn terms of its abundance and its minimal toxicity, iron has advantages relative to other transition metals. Although alkyl–alkyl bond construction is central to organic synthesis, examples of iron‐catalyzed alkyl–alkyl couplings of alkyl electrophiles are relatively sparse. Herein we report an iron catalyst that achieves cross‐coupling reactions of alkyl electrophiles wherein olefins, in the presence of a hydrosilane, are used in place of alkylmetal reagents. Carbon–carbon bond formation proceeds at room temperature, and the method employs commercially available components (Fe(OAc)2, Xantphos, and Mg(OEt)2); interestingly, this set of reagents can be applied directly to a distinct hydrofunctionalization of olefins, hydroboration. Mechanistic studies are consistent with the generation of an alkyl radical from the alkyl electrophile, as well as with reversibility for elementary steps that precede carbon–carbon bond formation (olefin binding to iron and β‐migratory insertion).

Iron-Catalyzed Reductive Cross-Coupling of Alkyl Electrophiles with Olefins.

In terms of its abundance and its minimal toxicity, iron has advantages relative to other transition metals. Although alkyl-alkyl bond construction is central to organic synthesis, examples of iron-catalyzed alkyl-alkyl couplings of alkyl electrophiles are relatively sparse. Herein we report an iron catalyst that achieves cross-coupling reactions of alkyl electrophiles wherein olefins, in the presence of a hydrosilane, are used in place of alkylmetal reagents. Carbon-carbon bond formation proceeds at room temperature, and the method employs commercially available components (Fe(OAc)2 , Xantphos, and Mg(OEt)2 ); interestingly, this set of reagents can be applied directly to a distinct hydrofunctionalization of olefins, hydroboration. Mechanistic studies are consistent with the generation of an alkyl radical from the alkyl electrophile, as well as with reversibility for elementary steps that precede carbon-carbon bond formation (olefin binding to iron and β-migratory insertion).

Purification of Propylene and Ethylene by a Robust Metal–Organic Framework Mediated by Host–Guest Interactions

AbstractIndustrial purification of propylene and ethylene requires cryogenic distillation and selective hydrogenation over palladium catalysts to remove propane, ethane and/or trace amounts of acetylene. Here, we report the excellent separation of equimolar mixtures of propylene/propane and ethylene/ethane, and of a 1/100 mixture of acetylene/ethylene by a highly robust microporous material, MFM‐520, under dynamic conditions. In situ synchrotron single crystal X‐ray diffraction, inelastic neutron scattering and analysis of adsorption thermodynamic parameters reveal that a series of synergistic host–guest interactions involving hydrogen bonding and π⋅⋅⋅π stacking interactions underpin the cooperative binding of alkenes within the pore. Notably, the optimal pore geometry of the material enables selective accommodation of acetylene. The practical potential of this porous material has been demonstrated by fabricating mixed‐matrix membranes comprising MFM‐520, Matrimid and PIM‐1, and these exhibit not only a high permeability for propylene (≈1984 Barrer), but also a separation factor of 7.8 for an equimolar mixture of propylene/propane at 298 K.

Purification of Propylene and Ethylene by a Robust Metal-Organic Framework Mediated by Host-Guest Interactions.

Industrial purification of propylene and ethylene requires cryogenic distillation and selective hydrogenation over palladium catalysts to remove propane, ethane and/or trace amounts of acetylene. Here, we report the excellent separation of equimolar mixtures of propylene/propane and ethylene/ethane, and of a 1/100 mixture of acetylene/ethylene by a highly robust microporous material, MFM‐520, under dynamic conditions. In situ synchrotron single crystal X‐ray diffraction, inelastic neutron scattering and analysis of adsorption thermodynamic parameters reveal that a series of synergistic host–guest interactions involving hydrogen bonding and π⋅⋅⋅π stacking interactions underpin the cooperative binding of alkenes within the pore. Notably, the optimal pore geometry of the material enables selective accommodation of acetylene. The practical potential of this porous material has been demonstrated by fabricating mixed‐matrix membranes comprising MFM‐520, Matrimid and PIM‐1, and these exhibit not only a high permeability for propylene (≈1984 Barrer), but also a separation factor of 7.8 for an equimolar mixture of propylene/propane at 298 K.

Spatial Recognition Within Terpenes: Redox and H-bond Promoted Linkage Isomerizations and the Selective Binding of Complex Alkenes.

A method for the resolution of η 2-alkene-complex isomers of the type MoTp(NO)(DMAP)(η 2-alkene) and WTp(NO)(PMe3)(η 2-alkene) (where Tp = hydridotris(pyrazolyl)-borate and DMAP = 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine) has been explored. Alkene and polyene compounds form as a mixture of kinetically trapped isomers. For both types of complexes, it was found that addition of either a fluorinated alcohol or one-electron oxidant reduces the number of isomers in solution. Accelerated ligand exchange was also observed, although these reactions were accompanied by significant decomposition.

Engineering alkene affinity

Molecular Separation Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that have open sites on metals have potential applications for separating alkanes and alkenes through preferential adsorption. On the basis of density functional theory calculations, Mohamed et al. substituted Zn2+ with Cu+ to modify the MOF MFU-4 l , in which Zn5Cl4(ta)6 nodes (where ta is triazolate) bridge long fused aromatic ring linkers. These open sites had greater alkene binding affinity and had minimal interactions with each other, so the binding energy was maintained even as more Cu+ sites were introduced. These materials maintained very high separation ratios for ethylene from ethane and propylene from propane separations in which the alkenes were retained from mixtures at room temperature and then released through thermal cycling. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 141 , 13003 (2019).

Desorption Kinetics and Binding Energies of Small Hydrocarbons

Abstract Small hydrocarbons are an important organic reservoir in protostellar and protoplanetary environments. Constraints on desorption temperatures and binding energies of such hydrocarbons are needed for accurate predictions of where these molecules exist in the ice versus gas phase during the different stages of star and planet formation. Through a series of temperature programmed desorption experiments, we constrain the binding energies of 2- and 3-carbon hydrocarbons (C2H2—acetylene, C2H4—ethylene, C2H6—ethane, C3H4—propyne, C3H6—propene, and C3H8—propane) to 2200–4200 K in the case of pure amorphous ices, to 2400–4400 K on compact amorphous H2O, and to 2800–4700 K on porous amorphous H2O. The 3-carbon hydrocarbon binding energies are always larger than the 2-carbon hydrocarbon binding energies. Within the 2- and 3-carbon hydrocarbon families, the alkynes (i.e., least-saturated) hydrocarbons exhibit the largest binding energies, while the alkane and alkene binding energies are comparable. Binding energies are ∼5%–20% higher on water ice substrates compared to pure ices, which is a small increase compared to what has been measured for other volatile molecules such as CO and N2. Thus in the case of hydrocarbons, H2O has a less pronounced effect on sublimation front locations (i.e., snowlines) in protoplanetary disks.

Reversible alkene binding and allylic C-H activation with an aluminium(i) complex.

The monomeric molecular aluminium(i) complex 1 [{(ArNCMe)2CH}Al] (Ar = 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl) reacts with a series of terminal and strained alkenes including ethylene, propylene, allylbenzene and norbornene to form alkene bound products. Remarkably all these reactions are reversible under mild conditions (298-353 K) with alkene binding being disfavoured at higher temperatures due to the positive reaction entropy. Van't Hoff analyses have allowed quantification of the binding events with . Calculations and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies are consistent with the alkene bound species being metallocyclopropane complexes. Alkene binding involves a reversible redox process with changes from the +1 to +3 aluminium oxidation state. Under more forcing conditions the metallocyclopropane complexes undergo non-reversible allylic C-H bond activation to generate aluminium(iii) allyl hydride complexes. This represents a rare example of redox-based main group reactivity in which reversible substrate binding is followed by a further productive bond breaking event. Analysis of the mechanism reveals a reaction network in which alkene dissociation and reformation of 1 is required for allylic C-H activation, a realisation that has important implications for the long-term goal of developing redox-based catalytic cycles with main group compounds.

M2(m-dobdc) (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) Metal-Organic Frameworks as Highly Selective, High-Capacity Adsorbents for Olefin/Paraffin Separations.

The metal-organic frameworks M2(m-dobdc) (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni; m-dobdc4- = 4,6-dioxido-1,3-benzenedicarboxylate) were evaluated as adsorbents for separating olefins from paraffins. Using single-component and multicomponent equilibrium gas adsorption measurements, we show that the coordinatively unsaturated M2+ sites in these materials lead to superior performance for the physisorptive separation of ethylene from ethane and propylene from propane relative to any known adsorbent, including para-functionalized structural isomers of the type M2(p-dobdc) (p-dobdc4- = 2,5-dioxido-1,4-benzenedicarboxylate). Notably, the M2(m-dobdc) frameworks all exhibit an increased affinity for olefins over paraffins relative to their corresponding structural isomers, with the Fe, Co, and Ni variants showing more than double the selectivity. Among these frameworks, Fe2(m-dobdc) displays the highest ethylene/ethane (>25) and propylene/propane (>55) selectivity under relevant conditions, together with olefin capacities exceeding 7 mmol/g. Differential enthalpy calculations in conjunction with structural characterization of ethylene binding in Co2(m-dobdc) and Co2(p-dobdc) via in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveal that the vast improvement in selectivity arises from enhanced metal-olefin interactions induced by increased charge density at the metal site. Moderate olefin binding enthalpies, below 55 and 70 kJ/mol for ethylene and propylene, respectively, indicate that these adsorbents maintain sufficient reversibility under mild regeneration conditions. Additionally, transient adsorption experiments show fast kinetics, with more than 90% of ethylene adsorption occurring within 30 s after dosing. Breakthrough measurements further indicate that Co2(m-dobdc) can produce high purity olefins without a temperature swing, an important test of process applicability. The excellent olefin/paraffin selectivity, high olefin capacity, rapid adsorption kinetics, and low raw materials cost make the M2(m-dobdc) frameworks the materials of choice for adsorptive olefin/paraffin separations.

Nickel Bis(diselenolene) as a Catalyst for Olefin Purification.

Nickel bis(dithiolene) reversibly binds olefins via a known interligand binding mechanism, but the complex has limited practical use, due to a competitive intraligand addition which results in decomposition. The present work examines an alternative nickel-based complex that eliminates the decomposition route. Specifically, we have examined the olefin binding processes of nickel bis(diselenolene) complexes using modern density functional theory. Both the inter- and intraligand adducts of the nickel bis(diselenolenes) are thermodynamically more stable than their dithiolene analogues. We have predicted that nickel bis(diselenolene) complexes do not decompose after the intraligand addition, and that the overall activation energies for the kinetically accessible products are quite small. In short, our computational work predicts that nickel bis(diselenolene) complexes are better electrocatalysts for olefin purification than the previous candidates, superior to the previously studied nickel bis(dithiolene) complexes.

Mechanism of Ethylene Addition to Nickel Bis(oxothiolene) and Nickel Bis(dioxolene) Complexes.

The electrochemically reversible binding of olefins by nickel bis(dithiolene) has been extensively studied, both theoretically and computationally. To optimize a catalyst for this process, we have investigated all possible reaction pathways of ethylene addition onto the related complex nickel bis(dioxolene), and the two isomers (cis and trans) of nickel bis(oxothiolene). Modern DFT calculations predict that the nickel bis(dioxolene) complex has limited practical use due to high barriers to binding. However, each of the two isomers of the nickel bis(oxothiolene) complexes display enhanced properties versus the original nickel bis(dithiolene) complex. Specifically, in nickel bis(dithiolene), the intraligand binding of olefins leads to decomposition, whereas interligand binding is required for reversibility; the two nickel bis(oxothiolene) complexes have greater selectivity toward the formation of the desired interligand adducts. For the full reaction pathways, the new complexes' binding mechanisms are contrasted with the mechanism of the original catalyst.

Metal-Organic Frameworks Stabilize Solution-Inaccessible Cobalt Catalysts for Highly Efficient Broad-Scope Organic Transformations.

New and active earth-abundant metal catalysts are critically needed to replace precious metal-based catalysts for sustainable production of commodity and fine chemicals. We report here the design of highly robust, active, and reusable cobalt-bipyridine- and cobalt-phenanthroline-based metal-organic framework (MOF) catalysts for alkene hydrogenation and hydroboration, aldehyde/ketone hydroboration, and arene C-H borylation. In alkene hydrogenation, the MOF catalysts tolerated a variety of functional groups and displayed unprecedentedly high turnover numbers of ∼2.5 × 10(6) and turnover frequencies of ∼1.1 × 10(5) h(-1). Structural, computational, and spectroscopic studies show that site isolation of the highly reactive (bpy)Co(THF)2 species in the MOFs prevents intermolecular deactivation and stabilizes solution-inaccessible catalysts for broad-scope organic transformations. Computational, spectroscopic, and kinetic evidence further support a hitherto unknown (bpy(•-))Co(I)(THF)2 ground state that coordinates to alkene and dihydrogen and then undergoing σ-complex-assisted metathesis to form (bpy)Co(alkyl)(H). Reductive elimination of alkane followed by alkene binding completes the catalytic cycle. MOFs thus provide a novel platform for discovering new base-metal molecular catalysts and exhibit enormous potential in sustainable chemical catalysis.

Binding of alkenes and ionic liquids to B-H-functionalized boron nanoparticles: creation of particles with controlled dispersibility and minimal surface oxidation.

The interaction of B-H-functionalized boron nanoparticles with alkenes and nitrogen-rich ionic liquids (ILs) is investigated by a combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, thermogravimetric analysis, and helium ion microscopy. Surface B-H bonds are shown to react with terminal alkenes to produce alkyl-functionalized boron particles. The interaction of nitrogen-rich ILs with the particles appears, instead, to be dominated by boron-nitrogen bonding, even for an ILs with terminal alkene functionality. This chemistry provides a convenient approach to producing and capping boron nanoparticles with a protective organic layer, which is shown to protect the particles from oxidation during air exposure. By controlling the capping group, particles with high dispersibility in nonpolar or polar liquids can be produced. For the particles capped with ILs, the effect of particle loading on hypergolic ignition of the ILs is reported.

Addition of ethylene to a π-conjugated two-dimensional nickel-based organometallic framework with implications for olefin separation

We have investigated the mechanism for the reversible addition of ethylene to a periodic 2D network of square-planar nickel centers ([Ni(SC)4]n) using density functional theory. The mechanism is analogous to that for homogeneous olefin binding to metal bis(dithiolene) complexes. We considered periodic boundary calculations (PBC) as well as clusters containing up to 12 nickel atoms using a screened hybrid density functional to obtain accurate reaction barriers. Several different products were analyzed. The lowest-energy route begins with the addition of ethylene across the nickel-sulfur bond, which has previously not been considered for this system. The effect of the addition of several alkene molecules simultaneously on the surface was investigated to determine the potential efficiency of this material. This material is a candidate for alkene purification as it exhibits similar reactivity to its molecular analog in terms of the relative stability of products, energy barriers, and molecular efficiency while also providing the intrinsic technical benefits of heterogeneous catalysis.

Alkene Isomerisation Catalysed by a Ruthenium PNN Pincer Complex

The [Ru(CO)H(PNN)] pincer complex based on a dearomatised PNN ligand (PNN: 2-di-tert-butylphosphinomethyl-6-diethylaminomethylpyridine) was examined for its ability to isomerise alkenes. The isomerisation reaction proceeded under mild conditions after activation of the complex with alcohols. Variable-temperature (VT) NMR experiments to investigate the role of the alcohol in the mechanism lend credence to the hypothesis that the first step involves the formation of a rearomatised alkoxide complex. In this complex, the hemilabile diethylamino side-arm can dissociate, allowing alkene binding cis to the hydride, enabling insertion of the alkene into the metal-hydride bond, whereas in the parent complex only trans binding is possible. During this study, a new uncommon Ru(0) coordination complex was also characterised. The scope of the alkene isomerisation reaction was examined.

Ligand-Based Carbon–Nitrogen Bond Forming Reactions of Metal Dinitrosyl Complexes with Alkenes and Their Application to C–H Bond Functionalization

Over the past few decades, researchers have made substantial progress in the development of transition metal complexes that activate and functionalize C-H bonds. For the most part, chemists have focused on aliphatic and aromatic C-H bonds and have put less effort into complexes that activate and functionalize vinylic C-H bonds. Our groups have recently developed a novel method to functionalize vinylic C-H bonds that takes advantage of the unique ligand-based reactivity of a rare class of metal dinitrosyl complexes. In this Account, we compare and discuss the chemistry of cobalt and ruthenium dinitrosyl complexes, emphasizing alkene binding, C-H functionalization, and catalysis. Initially discovered in the early 1970s by Brunner and studied more extensively in the 1980s by the Bergman group, the cyclopentadienylcobalt dinitrosyl complex CpCo(NO)2 reacts reversibly with alkenes to give, in many cases, stable and isolable cobalt dinitrosoalkane complexes. More recently, we found that treatment with strong bases, such as lithium hexamethyldisilazide, Verkade's base, and phosphazene bases, deprotonates these complexes and renders them nucleophilic at the carbon α to the nitroso group. This conjugate anion of metal dinitrosoalkanes can participate in conjugate addition to Michael acceptors to form new carbon-carbon bonds. These functionalized cobalt complexes can further react through alkene exchange to furnish the overall vinylic C-H functionalized organic product. This stepwise sequence of alkene binding, functionalization, and retrocycloaddition represents an overall vinylic C-H functionalization reaction of simple alkenes and does not require directing groups. We have also developed an asymmetric variant of this reaction sequence and have used this method to synthesize C1- and C2-symmetric diene ligands with high enantioinduction. Building upon these stepwise reactions, we eventually developed a simple one-pot procedure that uses stoichiometric amounts of a cobalt dinitrosoalkane complex for both inter- and intramolecular C-H functionalization. We can achieve catalysis in one-pot intramolecular reactions with a limited range of substrates. Our groups have also reported an analogous ruthenium dinitrosyl complex. In analogy to the cobalt complex, this ruthenium complex reacts with alkenes in the presence of neutral bidentate ligands, such as TMEDA, to give octahedral dinitrosoalkane complexes. Intramolecular functionalization or cyclization of numerous ruthenium dinitrosoalkane complexes proceeds under mild reaction conditions to give the functionalized organic products in excellent yields. However, despite extensive efforts, so far we have not been able to carry out intermolecular reactions of these complexes with a variety of electrophiles or C-H functionalization reactions. Although additional work is necessary to further boost the catalytic capabilities of both cobalt and ruthenium dinitrosyl complexes for vinylic C-H functionalization of simple alkenes, we believe this ligand-based vinylic C-H functionalization reaction has provided chemists with a useful set of tools for organic synthesis.

Structural Diversity of Copper(I)–N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes; Ligand Tuning Facilitates Isolation of the First Structurally Characterised Copper(I)–NHC Containing a Copper(I)–Alkene Interaction

The preparation of a series of imidazolium salts bearing N-allyl substituents, and a range of substituents on the second nitrogen atom that have varying electronic and steric properties, is reported. The ligands have been coordinated to a copper(I) centre and the resulting copper(I)-NHC (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes have been thoroughly examined, both in solution and in the solid-state. The solid-state structures are highly diverse and exhibit a range of unusual geometries and cuprophilic interactions. The first structurally characterised copper(I)-NHC complex containing a copper(I)-alkene interaction is reported. An N-pyridyl substituent, which forms a dative bond with the copper(I) centre, stabilises an interaction between the metal centre and the allyl substituent of a neighbouring ligand, to form a 1D coordination polymer. The stabilisation is attributed to the pyridyl substituent increasing the electron density at the copper(I) centre, and thus enhancing the metal(d)-to-alkene(π*) back-bonding. In addition, components other than charge transfer appear to have a role in copper(I)-alkene stabilisation because further increases in the Lewis basicity of the ligand disfavours copper(I)-alkene binding.

Complete Reaction Pathway of Ruthenium-Catalyzed Olefin Metathesis of Ethyl Vinyl Ether: Kinetics and Mechanistic Insight from DFT

Density functional theory calculations accounting for dispersion, thermochemical, and continuum solvent effects have been applied to study the metathesis of ethyl vinyl ether (EVE) as mediated by ruthenium catalysts L(PCy3)(X)2Ru═CHPh (L = PCy3, IMes (1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene), H2IMes (1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene); X = Cl, Br, I) in toluene. The computational approach has been validated against experimental data for ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalysts and is found to give acceptable accuracy even for weakly bound transition states of phosphine and olefin dissociation and association. All relevant stationary points of the EVE metathesis reaction have been included in the study, allowing comparison with experimental kinetic data (Sanford, M. S.; Love, J. A; Grubbs, R. H.J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 6543). From the active 14-electron complex, the barriers to both phosphine association (at a rate proportional to k–1) and olefin binding (k2) involve contributions from entropy and...