Hydrogen Transfer Research Articles

Unraveling the Metal–Ligand Cooperativity in a Phosphine-Free Mn(II)-Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation of Nitriles to Primary Amines and Dehydrogenation of Dimethylamine Borane

Unraveling the Metal–Ligand Cooperativity in a Phosphine-Free Mn(II)-Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation of Nitriles to Primary Amines and Dehydrogenation of Dimethylamine Borane

Application of enaminone ruthenium(II) complexes as catalysts in the transfer hydrogenation of ketones

This study reported the synthesis of two new ligands (1,2) and their Ru(II)-enaminone complexes (3,4). The Ru(II) complexes were obtained from the reaction of the [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2 dimers with the new enaminone derivative ligands (1,2). The use of standard spectroscopy techniques entirely characterized the compounds. Single crystal studies investigated the crystal structure of ligand (1) and complexes (3,4). X-ray diffraction data analysis was used to confirm the enaminone form of 1. Also, 3 and 4 exhibited the classical three-legged piano stool structure with Ru(II) coordinated by the nitrogen and oxygen atoms of 1 and a chloride ligand as the legs and the η6-π-bound p-cymene ligand occupies the seat of the piano stool. The Ru(II) complexes have been studied as catalysts in the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone and other various ketones in the presence of KOtBu. The catalytic conditions were optimized using different substrate/catalyst and base/catalyst ratios. We found that the complexes show good activities and up to 100 % selectivity. The best turnover frequency (1667 h−1) was found for 3 when using acetophenone as the substrate.

Efficient Synthesis of a C2-Symmetric 2,2'-Bipyridine-α,α'-1-t-butyl-diol Ligand by Stereoselective Double Hydrogen Transfer to a 2,2'-Bipyridine-diketone.

An efficient and practical method was developed for the synthesis of C2-symmetric 2,2'-bipyridine-α,α'-1-t-butyl-diol ligands. The disclosed synthesis involves the Ullmann homocoupling of a keto bromo-pyridine under NiCl2/Zn/PPh3 conditions, followed by the stereoselective double hydrogen transfer to the obtained 2,2'-bipyridine-diketone using RuII Noyori-Ikariya catalysts. This approach allowed the successful synthesis of 2,2'-bipyridine-α,α'-1-t-butyl-diol, i.e (S,S)-Bolm's ligand, with a quantitative yield and an excellent stereoselectivity (ee>99.5 %, de>99.5 %), with an overall yield of 69 % from easily accessible starting materials.

Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of gem-Difluorocyclopropenyl Ketones: The Synthesis and Functionalization of Enantioenriched cis gem-Difluorocyclopropyl Ketones.

The asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of gem-difluorocyclopropenyl ketones, catalyzed by a Noyori-Ikariya ruthenium complex, was developed to access substituted optically enriched cis-disubstituted gem-difluorocyclopropyl ketones, and the value of these latter building blocks was illustrated by the synthesis of heterocycles fused to the difluorocyclopropyl moiety.

Ru-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of racemic β-keto γ-lactams via dynamic kinetic resolution

The enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of racemic β-keto γ-lactams via dynamic kinetic resolution using a chiral Ru(II) catalyst has been developed for the synthesis of optically active β-hydroxyl lactams with excellent conversion (up to 99 %), high diastereomeric ratio (dr 93:07) and enantiomeric selectivity (89 % ee). The reaction proceeded by using HCO2H/Et3N as hydrogen donor and features mild, additive free reaction conditions, fast crystallization, broad substrate scope, and an operationally simpler setup than that for molecular hydrogenation.

Quercetin analogues of kojic acid as strong antioxidant derivatives: Theoretical insights

Kojic acid is a natural product produced by many fungal species and has a wide range of applications. The chelating and antioxidant capacity are associated with their chemical and biological properties. In this study, some molecular modifications were proposed and substituted and hydroxylated phenyl moieties were introduced in the basic structure of kojic acid. The antioxidant capacities were calculated by DFT/B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p). Different antioxidant mechanisms were considered such as frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO, LUMO, and GAP), electron (IP, SET, and SPLET), or hydrogen transfers (BDEOH and HAT) on gas phase and PCM methods. The phenyl increases the antioxidant capacity, especially when an electron donating group (EDG) is found at the para position of the phenyl ring when compared to electron withdrawing groups (EWGs), for all studied mechanisms. The chemical stability agrees with spin density contributions for their cationic free radicals and semiquinones. A structural similarity between hydroxylated derivatives of kojic acid and quercetin was observed on gas phase and water. The lower BDEOH values ​​at the phenol positions are more important for the antioxidant capacity than at the enol position. Phenolic semiquinones are more stables than enolic ones. The chemical stability depends on the number of resonance structures and the positions where the unpaired electron can be found with the highest contributions. In conclusion, phenyl substitution is a valuable molecular modification for the increase on antioxidant capacity of kojic acid. Quercetin analogues of kojic acid were proposed as strong antioxidant derivatives.

Photoredox-catalyzed intramolecular nucleophilic amidation of alkenes with β-lactams.

The direct nucleophilic addition of amides to unfunctionalized alkenes via photoredox catalysis represents a facile approach towards functionalized alkylamides. Unfortunately, the scarce nucleophilicity of amides and competitive side reactions limit the utility of this approach. Herein, we report an intramolecular photoredox cyclization of alkenes with β-lactams in the presence of an acridinium photocatalyst. The approach uses an intramolecular nucleophilic addition of the β-lactam nitrogen atom to the radical cation photogenerated in the linked alkene moiety, followed by hydrogen transfer from the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) catalyst. This process was used to successfully prepare 2-alkylated clavam derivatives.

Coupled CFD modeling and thermal analysis of multi-layered insulation structures in liquid hydrogen storage tanks for various vapor-cooled shields

The present study aims to propose a coupled numerical model for analyzing the influence of the configuration of the vapor-cooled shield tubes on insulation performance. The numerical model is developed to calculate the effective thermal conductivity of multi-layer insulation (MLI) and rigorously evaluated. Specifically, the tank evaporation simulation software BoilFAST is manually coupled with the CFD commercial software of ANSYS FLUENT (2020 R2) to accurately determine the mass flow rate and temperature of boil-off gas in a tank, which is then used as inputs for the CFD simulations. This coupling methodology can be used for reliable calculations of boil-off losses for liquid hydrogen and heat transfer inside the MLI structures. Results demonstrate that the estimated effective thermal conductivity agrees with the earlier published data and that increasing the diameter and number of tubes enhances heat exchange between the VCS tubes and MLI structures. Also, the heat flux into the tank is relatively reduced by 32.04 % by increasing the diameter of the tube and 49.14 % by adding the number of tubes. Moreover, the maximum temperature difference of the VCS is estimated to be less than 1 K, indicating nearly uniform distributions of the VCS.

Hydrazine Oxidation in Aqueous Solutions II: N4H4 Decomposition

AbstractThe reaction mechanism for the N2H4 homogeneous oxidation in aqueous solutions is more complex than its heterogeneous electrochemical oxidation on the electrode surfaces. Homogenous oxidation of a mixture of non‐labeled (14N2H4) and 15N‐labeled (15N2H4) hydrazine in aqueous solutions produces 14N15N, indicating the intermediate existence of N4H6 or N4H4 intermediates with subsequent hydrogen transfers and splitting lateral N─N bonds. To explain the key part of the hydrazine oxidation reaction, the structures, thermodynamics, and electron characteristics of N4H4 in aqueous solution are investigated. Unlike N4H6, we have not found any spontaneous splitting of the bond between the lateral nitrogens in N4H4. The most probable products of N4H4 disproportionation are H2N─NH2 and N2, which are obtained by splitting the bond between the central nitrogen atoms, and so only 15N2 and 14N2 molecules are formed. Additionally, the formation of H3N─NH and N2 products is also preferred to structures without N─N fissions. The formation of H2N═N and HN═NH is energetically less advantageous. Cyclo‐N4H4 structures are stable, without any N─N fissions, but their energies indicate their vanishing abundance in aqueous solution, so their involvement in hydrazine oxidation is highly improbable. Unlike N4H6, the oxidation of hydrazine to 14N15N molecules cannot be explained by N4H4 intermediates.

Base-free transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl substrates catalysed by neutral ruthenium(salicylaldimine) complexes: Inhibitory effect of visible light

In this study, a series of neutral ruthenium salicylaldimine complexes were synthesized and evaluated as catalysts for the base-free transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds, including acetophenone. Under base-free conditions, the complexes demonstrated high catalytic activity, achieving conversions of up to 79 % for acetophenone with a turnover number (TON) of 790 after 2 h at 82 °C. Comparatively, when a base (2 mol% KOH) was used, the conversion dropped to 17–25 %. Extending the reaction time to 3 h under base-free conditions increased the conversion to 90 %, with a TON of 900. The catalysts were also tested on a range of substrates: acetophenone derivatives with electron-donating substituents showed conversions up to 89 %, while electron-withdrawing groups resulted in lower conversions (67 %). Additionally, sterically hindered substrates like benzophenone yielded 72 % conversion. Visible light exposure significantly reduced catalytic activity, resulting in up to a 26 % decrease in conversion due to the formation of an inactive bis(salicylaldimine) ruthenium species. Mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction proceeds via an oxidative addition pathway, with the formation of a ruthenium-hydride intermediate confirmed by NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy.

Indium-captured zirconium-porphyrin frameworks displaying rare multi-selectivity for catalytic transfer hydrogenation of aldehydes and ketones

Indium-captured zirconium-porphyrin frameworks displaying rare multi-selectivity for catalytic transfer hydrogenation of aldehydes and ketones

Synergic catalytic effect of Co nanoparticles and graphitic N on carbon aerogels towards transfer hydrogenation of nitrobenzene

Synergic catalytic effect of Co nanoparticles and graphitic N on carbon aerogels towards transfer hydrogenation of nitrobenzene

Structure sensitivity in the formic acid-driven catalytic transfer hydrogenation of maleic acid to succinic acid over Pd/C catalysts

A series of carbon-supported palladium catalysts (Pd/C) with average particle size in the range from 3 to 7 nm was prepared by varying the Pd loading. These materials and the influence of their physicochemical properties in the catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) of maleic acid (MAc) to succinic acid (SAc) using formic acid (FAc) as H2 donor were evaluated. The chemical, textural, and surface properties were studied by a number of characterization techniques (ICP-OES, XRD, TEM, and XPS). It was found that the intrinsic rate of SAc formation per surface Pd atom (turn-over frequency, TOF Pdsur) is structure-sensitive. The TOF Pdsur rate increases with the particle size following a volcano-type curve, reaching a maximum for an average particle size of ca. 6 nm. Assuming a cuboctahedral shape with a cubic close-packed structure, an approximation frequently adopted for Pd particles, it was found that, for the series of catalysts, neither the calculated TOF of Pd surface atoms at low coordination sites nor at high coordination are constant. This suggests that no geometric effect is responsible for the structure-sensitivity. Among the different Pd species present in the catalysts (i.e., metallic Pd (Pd0), palladium carbide (PdCx), and oxidized Pd), it was observed that the relative number of surface Pd0 sites also follows a volcano-type curve, which indicates that Pd0 sites are necessarily involved in the most active centers. For particles with an average size larger than 4 nm, the TOF rate of surface Pd0 sites was constant and in the range of 0.12 s−1. For smaller sizes, a more accurate determination of their Pd0 surface concentration is required to obtain reliable surface Pd0 TOF rates.

Air-Stable Triazole-Based Ru(II) Complexes Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones and Aldehydes Using Ethanol as a Solvent and a Hydrogen Donor

Abstract. The synthesis and characterization of two air-stable ruthenium (II) complexes from readily available triazole-based ligands are described. Both ruthenium complexes, one bearing a bidentate ligand (C-1) and the other a tridentate ligand (C-2), were tested as catalysts in the transfer hydrogenation of ketones and aldehydes using ethanol as a sustainable hydrogen source under aerobic conditions. Notably, the C-2 complex displayed exceptional efficiency under relatively mild conditions, demonstrating a wide substrate tolerance encompassing both alkyl and aryl ketones, as well as aryl aldehydes. Furthermore, our findings highlight the potential of Ru(II) complexes as effective catalysts for the hydrogenation of carbonyl bonds using ethanol, representing a green and sustainable approach without the necessity for an inert gas. Resumen. En este trabajo se describe la síntesis y caracterización de dos complejos de rutenio(II) estables al aire con ligantes basados en triazoles. En general, los triazoles pueden obtenerse fácilmente a través de reacciones simples utilizando reactivos comercialmente disponibles. Ambos complejos de rutenio, uno con un ligante bidentado (C-1) y el otro con un ligando tridentado (C-2), se probaron como catalizadores en reacciones de hidrogenación por transferencia de cetonas y aldehídos, utilizando etanol como fuente sostenible de hidrógeno en condiciones aeróbicas. En particular, el complejo C-2 mostró una eficiencia excepcional en condiciones relativamente suaves, demostrando una amplia tolerancia tanto con cetonas alquílicas como aromáticas, además de hidrogenar eficientemente aldehídos aromáticos. Estos resultados ponen de manifiesto el potencial de los complejos de Ru(II) como catalizadores eficaces para la hidrogenación de enlaces carbonilo utilizando etanol, lo que representa un enfoque ecológico y sostenible sin necesidad de un gas inerte.

Advances in Sustainable γ-Valerolactone (GVL) Production via Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Levulinic Acid and Its Esters.

γ-Valerolactone (GVL) is a versatile chemical derived from biomass, known for its uses such as a sustainable and environmentally friendly solvent, a fuel additive, and a building block for renewable polymers and fuels. Researchers are keenly interested in the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of levulinic acid and its esters as a method to produce GVL. This approach eliminates the need for H2 pressure and costly metal catalysts, improving the safety, cost effectiveness and environmental sustainability of the process. Our Perspective highlights recent advancements in this field, particularly with respect to catalyst development, categorizing them according to catalyst types, including zirconia-based, zeolites, precious metals, and nonprecious metal catalysts. We discuss factors such as reaction conditions, catalyst characteristics, and hydrogen donors and outline challenges and future research directions in this popular area of research.

Ringing the Changes: Effects of Heterocyclic Ring Size on Stereoselectivity in [(η5-C5Me5)RhCl], [(η5-C5Me5)IrCl] and [Ru(η6-cymene)Cl] Complexes of Chiral 3-Amino-1-Azacycles.

Ring size-dependent diastereoselective coordination of unsymmetrical diamines containing one azacyclic nitrogen and one exocyclic nitrogen to [(η5-C5Me5)MCl]+ cores where M = Rh, Ir and [Ru(η6-cymene)Cl]+ is reported herein. Total stereoselectivity was observed with the six- and seven-membered azacycles, whereas the five-derivative proved poorly selective. All complexes were active for transfer hydrogenation but showed no enantioselectivity with prochiral ketones.

(1,2,5,6-η)-Cyclo-octa-1,5-diene](1-ethyl-4-iso-butyl-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl-idene)(tri-phenyl-phosphane)iridium(I) tetra-fluorido-borate di-chloro-methane hemisolvate.

A new triazole-based N-heterocyclic carbene IrI cationic complex with a tetra-fluorido-borate counter-anion and hemi-solvating di-chloro-methane, [Ir(C8H12)(C8H15N3)(C18H15P)]BF4·0.5CH2Cl2, has been synthesized and structurally characterized. There are two independent ion pairs in the asymmetric unit and one di-chloro-methane solvent mol-ecule per two ion pairs. The cationic complex exhibits a distorted square-planar conformation around the IrI atom, formed by a bidentate cyclo-octa-1,5,diene (COD) ligand, a tri-phenyl-phosphane ligand, and an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC). There are several close non-standard H⋯F hydrogen-bonding inter-actions that orient the tetra-fluorido-borate anions with respect to the IrI complex mol-ecules. The complex shows promising catalytic activity in transfer hydrogenation reactions. The structure was refined as a non-merohedral twin, and one of the COD mol-ecules is statistically disordered.

SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATION OF PHOSPHINITE LIGAND-CONTAINING RUTHENIUM CATALYSTS IN TRANSFER HYDROGENATION

Transfer hydrogenation (TH) is a highly significant reaction in organic chemistry, especially in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and fine chemicals. This method involves the transfer of hydrogen from a donor molecule to an unsaturated substrate, offering a safer and more convenient alternative to direct hydrogenation, which typically requires high-pressure hydrogen gas. TH stands out for its ability to selectively reduce multiple functional groups under milder conditions, thereby reducing the risk of overreduction or damage to sensitive functional groups. This technique is particularly valuable in asymmetric synthesis (AS), where chiral catalysts enable the production of enantiomerically pure compounds, crucial for drug development.Ruthenium complexes are particularly noteworthy for their effectiveness in asymmetric TH. Their stability and adaptability to different reaction environments make them ideal for both laboratory-scale and industrial applications. Phosphinite ligands (P(OR)R'2) are used in synthesis of complexes to improve their properties. These ligands are known for their ability to finely tune the electronic and steric properties of metal centers. The electron-donating nature of the phosphorus atom, combined with the variability in the R and R' groups, allows for significant customization of the catalyst's properties.The purpose of the work is to review up-to-date discoveries in the field of TH.The integration of phosphinite ligands into ruthenium catalysts marks a significant advancement in the field of TH. These catalysts exhibit enhanced efficiency, selectivity, and stability, proving crucial in AS. The study's exploration of various hydrogen sources, bases, and mechanisms has provided deeper insight into the process of TH.

Paving the way to transfer hydrogenation of CO2 with bio-derived glycerol over Ni supported zeolite catalysts

The CO2 transfer hydrogenation with bio-glycerol over a Ni-zeolite was systematically studied to produce formic and lactic acids. The alkaline hydrothermal reactions without a catalyst and with Ni-zeolite heterogeneous catalyst were explored, focusing on the effects of base types and concentrations, reaction atmosphere and temperature. In alkaline hydrothermal reactions without catalyst, NaOH demonstrated superior performance at 1 M. A Ni/NaZSM-5 catalyst showed astounding performance giving 9.3 mol-L−1-g−1 lactic acid and 6.5 mol-L−1-g−1 formic acid at 250 °C after 2 h. Notably, the zeolite showed resistance to the highly basic conditions of the reaction medium. For the first time, CO2 conversion in aqueous phase was reported addressing the complexity of CO2 solubility. A reaction network was proposed including the diverse glycerol transformations not yet studied for this system. Overall, this study sheds light on the understanding of this complex reaction system and the potential of Ni-supported zeolites for sustainable CO2 utilisation.

Advances in Chiral Pincer Complexes: Insights and Applications in Catalytic Asymmetric Reactions.

Chiral pincer complexes, characterized by their rigid tridentate coordination framework, have emerged as powerful catalysts in asymmetric synthesis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the development of chiral pincer-type ligands and their corresponding transition metal complexes. We highlight the latest progress in their application across a range of catalytic asymmetric reactions, including the (transfer) hydrogenation of polar and non-polar bonds, hydrophosphination, alkynylation, Friedel-Crafts reactions, enantioselective reductive cyclization of alkynyl-tethered cyclohexadienones, enantioselective hydrosilylation, as well as Aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reactions. The structural rigidity and tunability of chiral pincer complexes enable precise control over stereoselectivity, resulting in high enantioselectivity and efficiency in complex molecular transformations. As the field advances, innovations in ligand design and the exploration of new metal centers are expected to expand the scope and utility of these catalysts, bearing significant implications for the synthesis of enantioenriched compounds in pharmaceuticals, materials science, and beyond.