Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation Research Articles

Asymmetric and Chemoselective Iridium Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Conjugated Unsaturated Oxime Ethers.

Research on the chemoselective metal-catalyzed hydrogenation of conjugated π-systems has mostly been focussed on enones. Herein, we communicate the understudied asymmetric hydrogenation of enimines catalyzed by N,P-iridium complexes and chemoselective toward the alkene. A number of enoxime ethers underwent hydrogenation smoothly to yield the desired products in high yield and stereopurity (up to 99 % yield, up to 99 % ee). No hydrogenation of the C=N π-bond was observed under the applied reaction conditions (20 bar H2, rt, DCM). It was demonstrated that the chiral oxime ether could be hydrolyzed into the ketone with complete preservation of the installed stereogenity at the α-carbon. At last, a binding mode of the substrate to the active iridium catalyst and the consequence for the stereoselective outcome was proposed.

Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of a Phenoxy Radical to the Phenol: Overcoming Catalyst Deactivation with Visible Light Irradiation.

Piano-stool iridium hydride complexes bearing phenylpyridine ligands are effective precatalysts for promoting the formation of element-hydrogen bonds using H2 as the stoichiometric H-atom source. Irradiation with blue light resulted in a profound enhancement of catalyst turnover for the iridium-catalyzed hydrogenation of the aryloxyl radical 2,4,6-tBu3-C6H2O• to the corresponding phenol. Monitoring the progress of the reaction revealed the formation of an iridium 3,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl compound arising from two C-H activation events following the proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) step. Under thermal conditions, this compound was inactive for catalytic aryloxide hydrogenation, representing a deactivation pathway. Irradiation with blue light under H2 released the free heterocycle and regenerated the piano-stool iridium hydride precatalyst, establishing a pathway for catalyst recovery and overall enhanced turnover.

Hydrogen Isotope Exchange by Homogeneous Iridium Catalysis in Aqueous Buffers with Deuterium or Tritium gas.

We have studied the highly selective homogeneous iridium-catalyzed hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) with deuterium or tritium gas as an isotope source in water and buffers. With an improved water-soluble Kerr-type catalyst, we have achieved first insights to apply HIE reactions in aqueous media with different pH media. DFT calculations gave consistent insights in the calculated energies of transition states and coordination complexes, further explaining the observed reactivity and guidance on the scope and limitations for HIE reactions in water. Finally, we adopted these findings successfully to tritium chemistry.

Hydrogen Transfer Coupling with 100% Atom Economy: Synthesis of 2-Indolyltetrahydronaphthyridine Derivatives.

An iridium-catalyzed hydrogen transfer strategy, enabling straightforward access to tetrahydropyridine derivatives from aryl-1,8-naphthyridines and indolines was developed. This method has unprecedented advantages, including high step economy. In addition, it does not produce any byproducts or require an external high-pressure H2 gas source. The method offers an important platform for the transformation of 1,8-naphthyridines and indolines into functionalized products.

A Plausible Mechanism for the Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of a Bulky N-Aryl Imine in the (S)-Metolachlor Process.

The hydrogenation of N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-1-methoxypropan-2-imine is the largest-scale asymmetric catalytic process for the industrial production of agrochemical (S)-metolachlor. The challenging hydrogenation across the sterically crowded carbon–nitrogen double bond was achieved using a mixture of [IrCl(COD)]2, (R,SFc)-Xyliphos, NBu4I and acetic acid. Acetic acid was critical in achieving excellent productivity and activity. Despite its industrial significance, a mechanism that explains how the sterically hindered bond in the imine is reduced has yet to be proposed. We propose a plausible proton-first, outer-sphere mechanism based on density functional theory calculations that is consistent with the experimentally observed activity and the enantioselectivity of the industrial process. Key findings include transition states involving acetate-assisted dihydrogen splitting, and a hydride transfer from a five-coordinate iridium trihydride directed by a C-H∙∙∙Ir interaction. This article was submitted to a Special Issue in honor of Professor Henri Kagan.

Highly Enantioselective Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of o-Amidophenyl Ketones Enabled by 1,2-Diphenylethylenediamine-Derived P,N,N-Ligands with Tertiary Amine Terminus.

A readily available and highly modular class of chiral P,N,N-ligands based on a structurally flexible nonchiral phosphine-amine framework with an optically active 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine unit bearing a tertiary amine terminus as the chiral source have been developed and successfully applied in the Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of o-amidophenyl ketones. These tridentate P,N,N-ligands exhibited excellent activity, enantioselectivity, and substrate tolerance, thus furnishing various optically active o-amidobenzhydrols in up to 99% yields and with >99% ee. The utility of this protocol has been proven by synthetically diverse product transformation and highly enantioselective production of a rice plant growth regulator, (S)-inabenfide.

Visible-Light-Driven, Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogen Atom Transfer: Mechanistic Studies, Identification of Intermediates, and Catalyst Improvements.

The harvesting of visible light is a powerful strategy for the synthesis of weak chemical bonds involving hydrogen that are below the thermodynamic threshold for spontaneous H2 evolution. Piano-stool iridium hydride complexes are effective for the blue-light-driven hydrogenation of organic substrates and contra-thermodynamic dearomative isomerization. In this work, a combination of spectroscopic measurements, isotopic labeling, structure–reactivity relationships, and computational studies has been used to explore the mechanism of these stoichiometric and catalytic reactions. Photophysical measurements on the iridium hydride catalysts demonstrated the generation of long-lived excited states with principally metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) character. Transient absorption spectroscopic studies with a representative substrate, anthracene revealed a diffusion-controlled dynamic quenching of the MLCT state. The triplet state of anthracene was detected immediately after the quenching events, suggesting that triplet–triplet energy transfer initiated the photocatalytic process. The key role of triplet anthracene on the post-energy transfer step was further demonstrated by employing photocatalytic hydrogenation with a triplet photosensitizer and a HAT agent, hydroquinone. DFT calculations support a concerted hydrogen atom transfer mechanism in lieu of stepwise electron/proton or proton/electron transfer pathways. Kinetic monitoring of the deactivation channel established an inverse kinetic isotope effect, supporting reversible C(sp2)–H reductive coupling followed by rate-limiting ligand dissociation. Mechanistic insights enabled design of a piano-stool iridium hydride catalyst with a rationally modified supporting ligand that exhibited improved photostability under blue light irradiation. The complex also provided improved catalytic performance toward photoinduced hydrogenation with H2 and contra-thermodynamic isomerization.

Development of spirocyclic phosphoramidite-based hybrid diphosphorus ligands for enantioselective iridium-catalyzed hydrogenation of imines.

Unsymmetrical hybrid chiral diphosphorus ligands bearing a spirocyclic phosphoramidite scaffold have been developed and successfully applied in the iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of imines. With this newly developed chiral iridium catalytic system, a wide range of imines including sterically hindered ones could be hydrogenated to give the corresponding optically active amines in high yields (up to >99%) and with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee). The utility of this hydrogenation has been demonstrated by the preparation of the chiral fungicide (S)-benalaxyl.

Hydrosilanes as Hydrogen Source: Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of N-Heteroarenes

Hydrosilanes as Hydrogen Source: Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of <i>N</i>-Heteroarenes

Highly Enantioselective Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Conjugated Trisubstituted Enones.

Asymmetric hydrogenation of conjugated enones is one of the most efficient and straightforward methods to prepare optically active ketones. In this study, chiral bidentate Ir–N,P complexes were utilized to access these scaffolds for ketones bearing the stereogenic center at both the α- and β-positions. Excellent enantiomeric excesses, of up to 99%, were obtained, accompanied with good to high isolated yields. Challenging dialkyl substituted substrates, which are difficult to hydrogenate with satisfactory chiral induction, were hydrogenated in a highly enantioselective fashion.

Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of α-Fluoro Ketones via a Dynamic Kinetic Resolution Strategy.

The discrimination of a fluorine atom from a hydrogen atom has been challenging in asymmetric catalysis. We herein report iridium-catalyzed hydrogenation of α-fluoro ketones using a strategy of dynamic kinetic resolution. Both enantiomeric and diastereomeric selectivities were satisfactory in the preparation of β-fluoro alcohols. The DFT calculation revealed a C-F···Na charge-dipole interaction in the transition state of hydride transfer. This noncovalent interaction would be responsible for the diastereomeric control.

A Vinyl Cyclopropane Ring Expansion and Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogen Borrowing Cascade.

A vinyl cyclopropane rearrangement embedded in an iridium‐catalyzed hydrogen borrowing reaction enabled the formation of substituted stereo‐defined cyclopentanes from Ph* methyl ketone and cyclopropyl alcohols. Mechanistic studies provide evidence for the ring‐expansion reaction being the result of a cascade based on oxidation of the cyclopropyl alcohols, followed by aldol condensation with the pentamethyl phenyl‐substituted ketone to form an enone containing the vinyl cyclopropane. Subsequent single electron transfer (SET) to this system initiates a rearrangement, and the catalytic cycle is completed by reduction of the new enone. This process allows for the efficient formation of diversely substituted cyclopentanes as well as the construction of complex bicyclic carbon skeletons containing up to four contiguous stereocentres, all with high diastereoselectivity.

Iridium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Oxocarbenium Ions: A Case of Ionic Hydrogenation.

Ionic hydrogenation has not been extensively explored, but is advantageous for challenging substrates such as unsaturated intermediates. Reported here is an iridium-catalyzed hydrogenation of oxocarbenium ions to afford chiral isochromans with high enantioselectivities. A variety of functionalities are compatible with this catalytic system. In the presence of a catalytic amount of the Brønsted acid HCl, an α-chloroether is generated in situ and subsequentially reduced. Kinetic studies suggest first-order kinetics in the substrate and half-order kinetics in the catalyst. A positive nonlinear effect, together with the half kinetic order, revealed a dimerization of the catalyst. Possible reaction pathways based on the monomeric iridium catalyst were proposed and DFT computational studies revealed an ionic hydrogenation pathway. Chloride abstraction and the cleavage of dihydrogen occur in the same step.

Asymmetric synthesis of 1,2-fluorohydrin: iridium catalyzed hydrogenation of fluorinated allylic alcohol.

We have developed a simple protocol for the preparation of 1,2-fluorohydrin by asymmetric hydrogenation of fluorinated allylic alcohols using an efficient azabicyclo thiazole-phosphine iridium complex. The iridium-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of chiral 1,2-fluorohydrin molecules was carried out at ambient temperature with operational simplicity, and scalability. This method was compatible with various aromatic, aliphatic, and heterocyclic fluorinated compounds as well as a variety of polyfluorinated compounds, providing the corresponding products in excellent yields and enantioselectivities.

Highly Enantioselective Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of 2-Aryl Allyl Phthalimides.

The iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of 2-aryl allyl phthalimides to afford enantioenriched β-aryl-β-methyl amines is presented. Recently developed Ir-MaxPHOX catalysts are used for this enantioselective transformation. The mild reaction conditions and the feasible removal of the phthalimido group makes this catalytic method easily scalable and of great interest to afford chiral amines. The importance of this new methodology is exemplified by the formal synthesis of (R)-Lorcaserin, OTS514, and enantiomerically enriched 3-methyl indolines.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Cyclic Dipeptides by Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation

Key words cyclic dipeptides - piperazinediones - iridium catalysis - asymmetric hydrogenation - asymmetric catalysis

Diastereo- and Enantioselective Synthesis of Structurally Diverse Succinate, Butyrolactone, and Trifluoromethyl Derivatives by Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Tetrasubstituted Olefins

A highly efficient iridium N,P-ligand-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of functionalized tetrasubstituted olefins lacking a directing group has been developed. Various structural diverse chiral s...

Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation and Dehydrogenation of N-Heterocycles in Water under Mild Conditions.

An efficient catalytic method is presented for the hydrogenation of N-heterocycles. The iridium-based catalyst operates under mild conditions in water without any co-catalyst or stoichiometric additives. The catalyst also promotes the reverse reaction of dehydrogenation of N-heterocycles, hence displaying appropriate characteristics for a future hydrogen economy based on liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs).

Directed Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogen Isotope Exchange Reactions of Phenylacetic Acid Esters and Amides.

For the first time, a catalytic protocol for a highly selective hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) of phenylacetic acid esters and amides under very mild reaction conditions is reported. Using a homogeneous iridium catalyst supported by a bidentate phosphine-imidazolin-2-imine P,N ligand, the HIE reaction on a series of phenylacetic acid derivatives proceeds with high yields, high selectivity, and with deuterium incorporation up to 99 %. The method is fully adaptable to the specific requirements of tritium chemistry, and its effectiveness was demonstrated by direct tritium labeling of the fungicide benalaxyl and the drug camylofine. Further insights into the mechanism of the HIE reaction with catalyst 1 have been provided utilizing DFT calculations, NMR studies, and X-ray diffraction analysis.

Efficient synthesis of chiral β-hydroxy sulfones via iridium-catalyzed hydrogenation.

A highly efficient Ir/f-Amphol-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral β-keto sulfones was successfully developed to prepare a series of chiral β-hydroxy sulfones with good to excellent results (62%->99% conversions, 35%-99% yields and 86%->99% ee). Our Ir/f-Amphol L4 catalytic system exhibited very high activity; the gram-scale asymmetric hydrogenation was performed well with just 0.005 mol% catalyst loading (S/C = 20 000) to afford the desired product 2a with >99% conversion, 99% yield and 93% ee.