Metal-ligand Bifunctional Mechanism Research Articles

Balancing the Seesaw in Mn-Catalyzed N-Heteroarene Hydrogenation: Mechanism-Inspired Catalyst Design for Simultaneous Taming of Activation and Transfer of H2

Recently, Mn-catalyzed hydrogenation reactions have gained significant interest due to their importance in various challenging transformations. Among several classes of organic substrates, including amides, ketones, carbamates, urea-derivatives, (cyclic) carbonates/polycarbonates, CO2, and CO2 derivatives, N-heteroarene hydrogenation using a Mn-based system is severely underdeveloped. Only a handful of reports are known in the literature, which mainly use expensive phosphine-based ligand systems for designing effective Mn catalysts. Mechanistically, for the known pincer Mn catalysts, the H2-activation step was facilitated by a typical metal–ligand bifunctional mechanism through the so-called “Mn-amino”/“Mn-amido” platform, while the H2-transfer step (in the form of hydride and proton transfer) was triggered by judiciously designed stereoelectronically tuned P- and/or N-donor ligands attached at the Mn center. Interestingly, these two steps, i.e., H2-activation and H2-transfer, often counteract owing to opposite stereoelectronic demands at the metal center, and the existing PNP-Mn and NNP-Mn catalysts indeed suffer from disbalanced energetics in the case of these two steps. With a rationally analyzed approach, herein, we show how these two crucial steps can be simultaneously tamed and their energetics can be balanced to optimize the kinetic and thermodynamic demand. Thus, the exchange of both the P and N arms in the PNP/NNP ligand framework with a better σ-donor, moderate π-acceptor, and sterically nonhindering planar ligands such as N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), keeping the central amino/amido-based bifunctional H2-activating motif intact, facilitated both the critical steps in the catalytic cycle by reducing the corresponding activation barriers and balancing the thermodynamic stability of the Mn-hydride species (ΔG# H2-cleavage: 19.2 kcal/mol; ΔG# H2 (hydride/proton)-transfer: 22.2 kcal/mol; ΔG H2-cleavage step: −2.8 kcal/mol). Eventually, the bis-NHC-armed CNC-Mn pincer catalyst, designed through the mechanism-inspired approach, was proved apt in efficient catalytic hydrogenation of a variety of N-heteroarenes, under 10–60 bar of H2 pressure and 60–120 °C temperature within 6–12 h of reaction time.

Borrowing Hydrogen-Mediated N-Alkylation Reactions by a Well-Defined Homogeneous Nickel Catalyst

We report herein a well-defined and bench-stable azo-phenolate ligand-coordinated nickel catalyst which can efficiently execute N-alkylation of a variety of anilines by alcohol. We demonstrate that the redox-active azo ligand can store hydrogen generated during alcohol oxidation and redelivers the same to an in-situ-generated imine bond to result in N-alkylation of amines. The reaction has wide scope, and a large array of alcohols can directly couple to a variety of anilines. Mechanistic studies including deuterium labeling to the substrate establishes the borrowing hydrogen method from alcohols and pinpoints the crucial role of the redox-active azo moiety present on the ligand backbone. Isolation of the ketyl intermediate in its trapped form with a radical quencher and higher kH/kD for the alcohol oxidation step suggest altogether a hydrogen-atom transfer (HAT) to the reduced azo backbone to pave alcohol oxidation as opposed to the conventional metal–ligand bifunctional mechanism. This example clearly de...

Hydrosilane synthesis via catalytic hydrogenolysis of halosilanes using a metal-ligand bifunctional iridium catalyst

Hydrogenolysis of various halosilanes was catalysed by iridium amido complexes to produce hydrosilanes. Selective monohydrogenolysis of di- and trichlorosilanes similarly proceeded, resulting in the formation of chlorohydrosilanes (R2SiHCl or RSiHCl2) as synthetically important building blocks for various organosilicon compounds. A mechanistic study supported the in-situ formation of an iridium hydride species as a key intermediate, which could transfer the hydride to the silicon atom through a metal–ligand bifunctional mechanism. One-pot hydrotrimethylsilylation of olefins was achieved via successive hydrogenolysis and hydrosilylation reactions starting from Me3SiCl.

Mechanistic Aspects of Using Formate as a Hydrogen Donor in Aqueous Transfer Hydrogenation

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones is an important chemical reaction. In aqueous solution, Ru(p-cymene)[TsDPEN] is an efficient catalyst for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation via a metal–ligand bifunctional mechanism with either 2-propanol or formate as hydrogen donors. Here, we provide novel insight for two key steps in the catalytic cycle of transfer hydrogenation cycle, using a computational model of Ru(p-cymene)[TsDPEN] with an explicit aqueous solvent. Employing ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, we model the hydride transfer between formate and the protonated and deprotonated catalyst, and the dissociation of the ruthenium-formato complex. It is shown that the aqueous solvent provides a significant contribution to the reaction barriers, increasing the hydride transfer barrier, while decreasing the dissociation barrier for ruthenium-formato complex, when compared with a gas-phase model. These effects can be attributed to hydrogen-bond structure around the formate, which favors the fo...

Chiral Amino-acids Derivatives-Ruthenium Catalyzed Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones

Benzimidazoles derived from chiral amino acids and benzimidazoles derived from dipeptides were prepared and proved to be efficient ligands in the ruthenium catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone. Employing ligand 2 in the reduction of acetophenone resulted in better activity and enantioselectivity (with 15400 h TOF and 77% ee). Through structure-activity correlations, the corresponding metal-ligand bifunctional mechanism was speculated. In addition, the catalytic system of [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2/2 exhibited reversed temperature effects, which explained through kinetics data. The enantioselectivity was increased from 38% to 43% when LiCl was added in dipeptides derived benzimidazoles 7/[RuCl2(p-cymene)]2 catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation.

Ruthenium-8-quinolinethiolate-phenylterpyridine versus ruthenium-bipyridine-phenyl-terpyridine complexes as homogeneous water and high temperature stable hydrogenation catalysts for biomass-derived substrates

[(4′-Ph-terpy)(bipy)Ru(L)](OTf)n and [(4′-Ph-terpy)(quS)Ru(L)](OTf)n (n=0 or 1 depending on the charge of L, L=labile ligand, e.g., H2O, CH3CN or OTf, bipy=2,2′-bipyridine, quS=quinoline-8-thiolate) have been evaluated as catalysts for the hydrogenation of the biomass-derivable C6-substrates 2,5-dimethylfuran (obtainable from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural) and 2,5-hexanedione (the hydrolysis product of 2,5-dimethylfuran). Operating in aqueous acidic medium at T=175–225°C the bipy complex is only marginally active, while the quinoline-8-thiolate complex realizes yields of hydrogenated products up to 97% starting from 2,5-hexanedione and up to 66% starting from 2,5-dimethylfuran. The catalyst can also convert the 5-HMF derived acetone 4-(5-methyl-2-furanyl)-3-buten-2-one into 2,5,8-nonatriol, a potentially valuable cross-linker for polymer formulations. On the basis of DFT calculations, the higher activity of the quinoline-8-thiolate complex is proposed to be rooted in a metal–ligand bifunctional mechanism for the heterolytic activation and transfer of dihydrogen to the carbonyl substrate with the hydride-thiol complex [(4′-Ph-terpy)(quSH)Ru(H)]+ as the active catalyst.

Unravelling the Mechanism of the Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Acetophenone by [RuX2(diphosphine)(1,2-diamine)] Catalysts

The mechanism of catalytic hydrogenation of acetophenone by the chiral complex trans-[RuCl2{(S)-binap}{(S,S)-dpen}] and KO-t-C4H9 in propan-2-ol is revised on the basis of DFT computations carried out in dielectric continuum and the most recent experimental observations. The results of these collective studies suggest that neither a six-membered pericyclic transition state nor any multibond concerted transition states are involved. Instead, a hydride moiety is transferred in an outer-sphere manner to afford an ion-pair, and the corresponding transition state is both enantio- and rate-determining. Heterolytic dihydrogen cleavage proceeds neither by a (two-bond) concerted, four-membered transition state, nor by a (three-bond) concerted, six-membered transition state mediated by a solvent molecule. Instead, cleavage of the H-H bond is achieved via deprotonation of the η(2)-H2 ligand within a cationic Ru complex by the chiral conjugate base of (R)-1-phenylethanol. Thus, protonation of the generated (R)-1-phenylethoxide anion originates from the η(2)-H2 ligand of the cationic Ru complex and not from NH protons of a neutral Ru trans-dihydride complex, as initially suggested within the framework of a metal-ligand bifunctional mechanism. Detailed computational analysis reveals that the 16e(-) Ru amido complex [RuH{(S)-binap}{(S,S)-HN(CHPh)2NH2}] and the 18e(-) Ru alkoxo complex trans-[RuH{OCH(CH3)(R)}{(S)-binap}{(S,S)-dpen}] (R = CH3 or C6H5) are not intermediates within the catalytic cycle, but rather are off-loop species. The accelerative effect of KO-t-C4H9 is explained by the reversible formation of the potassium amidato complexes trans-[RuH2{(S)-binap}{(S,S)-N(K)H(CHPh)2NH2}] or trans-[RuH2{(S)-binap}{(S,S)-N(K)H(CHPh)2NH(K)}]. The three-dimensional (3D) cavity observed within these molecules results in a chiral pocket stabilized via several different noncovalent interactions, including neutral and ionic hydrogen bonding, cation-π interactions, and π-π stacking interactions. Cooperatively, these interactions modify the catalyst structure, in turn lowering the relative activation barrier of hydride transfer by ~1-2 kcal mol(-1) and the following H-H bond cleavage by ~10 kcal mol(-1), respectively. A combined computational study and analysis of recent experimental data of the reaction pool results in new mechanistic insight into the catalytic cycle for hydrogenation of acetophenone by Noyori's catalyst, in the presence or absence of KO-t-C4H9.

Highly Active, Low‐Valence Molybdenum‐ and Tungsten‐Amide Catalysts for Bifunctional Imine‐Hydrogenation Reactions

The reactions of [M(NO)(CO)4(ClAlCl3)] (M=Mo, W) with (iPr2PCH2CH2)2NH, (PN(H)P) at 90 °C afforded [M(NO)(CO)(PN(H)P)Cl] complexes (M=Mo, 1a; W, 1b). The treatment of compound 1a with KOtBu as a base at room temperature yielded the alkoxide complex [Mo(NO)(CO)(PN(H)P)(OtBu)] (2a). In contrast, with the amide base Na[N(SiMe3 )2 ], the PN(H) P ligand moieties in compounds 1a and 1b could be deprotonated at room temperature, thereby inducing dehydrochlorination into amido complexes [M(NO)(CO)(PNP)] (M=Mo, 3a; W, 3b; PNP=(iPr2PCH2CH2)2N)). Compounds 3a and 3b have pseudo-trigonal-bipyramidal geometries, in which the amido nitrogen atom is in the equatorial plane. At room temperature, compounds 3a and 3b were capable of adding dihydrogen, with heterolytic splitting, thereby forming pairs of isomeric amine-hydride complexes [Mo(NO)(CO)H(PN(H)P)] (4a(cis) and 4a(trans)) and [W(NO)(CO)H(PN(H)P)] (4b(cis) and 4b(trans); cis and trans correspond to the position of the H and NO groups). H2 approaches the Mo/W=N bond in compounds 3a,b from either the CO-ligand side or from the NO-ligand side. Compounds 4a(cis) and 4a(trans) were only found to be stable under a H2 atmosphere and could not be isolated. At 140 °C and 60 bar H2 , compounds 3a and 3b catalyzed the hydrogenation of imines, thereby showing maximum turnover frequencies (TOFs) of 2912 and 1120 h(-1), respectively, for the hydrogenation of N-(4-methoxybenzylidene)aniline. A Hammett plot for various para-substituted imines revealed linear correlations with a negative slope of -3.69 for para substitution on the benzylidene side and a positive slope of 0.68 for para substitution on the aniline side. Kinetics analysis revealed the initial rate of the hydrogenation reactions to be first order in c(cat.) and zeroth order in c(imine). Deuterium kinetic isotope effect (DKIE) experiments furnished a low kH /kD value (1.28), which supported a Noyori-type metal-ligand bifunctional mechanism with H2 addition as the rate-limiting step.

The Hydrogenation/Transfer Hydrogenation Network in Asymmetric Reduction of Ketones Catalyzed by [RuCl2(binap)(pica)] Complexes

Chiral binap/pica-Ru(II) complexes (binap=(S)- or (R)-2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl; pica=alpha-picolylamine) catalyze both asymmetric hydrogenation (AH) of ketones using H(2) and asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) using non-tertiary alcohols under basic conditions. The AH and ATH catalytic cycles are linked by the metal-ligand bifunctional mechanism. Asymmetric reduction of pinacolone is best achieved in ethanol containing the Ru catalyst and base under an H(2) atmosphere at ambient temperature, giving the chiral alcohol in 97-98 % ee. The reaction utilizes only H(2) as a hydride source with alcohol acting as a proton source. On the other hand, asymmetric reduction of acetophenone is attained with both H(2) (ambient temperature) and 2-propanol (>60 degrees C) with relatively low enantioselectivity. The degree of contribution of the AH and ATH cycles is highly dependent on the ketone substrates, solvent, and reaction parameters (H(2) pressure, temperature, basicity, substrate concentration, H/D difference, etc.).

The H 2-hydrogenation of ketones catalysed by ruthenium(II) complexes: A density functional theory study

The catalytic cycle for the H 2-hydrogenation of ketones catalysed by Ru(diphosphine)(diamine) hydride complexes is studied at Density Functional Theory level. A model reaction is tested against a set of exchange–correlation density functionals: PBE, BLYP, B3LYP, B97-2 and BB1K. All methods agree in predicting the forward hydrogen transfer acetone/ i-Propyl alcohol reaction via the metal–ligand bifunctional mechanism to have a low energy barrier (⩽4 kcal/mol). The DFT results also agree with MP2 calculations. The analysis of the transition state structure involved in the hydrogen transfer via the metal–ligand bifunctional mechanism shows that the internuclear distances intimately involved in the reaction are sensitive to the density functional and the basis set employed, particularly the (Ru–)H ⋯ C( O) distance, which could be taken as the “pseudo” reaction coordinate. The PBE, BLYP, B3LYP, B97-2 and BB1K functionals have also been used to characterise the transition state involved in the H 2-splitting at the Ru 16-electron complex, which regenerates the trans-Ru(H) 2(PH 3) 2(en) catalyst. All DFT methods confirm the heterolytic nature of the dihydrogen splitting transition state and predict the H 2-splitting reaction to have higher activation energy.

Mechanism of Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Acetophenone Catalyzed by Chiral η6‐Arene–N‐Tosylethylenediamine–Ruthenium(II) Complexes

Chiral arene-N-tosylethylenediamine-Ru(II) complexes can be made to effect both asymmetric transfer hydrogenation and asymmetric hydrogenation of simple ketones through a slight functional modification and by switching reaction conditions. [Ru(OSO2CF3){(S,S)-TsNCH(C6H5)CH(C6H5)NH2}(eta(6)-p-cymene)] catalyzes the asymmetric hydrogenation of acetophenone in methanol to afford (S)-1-phenylethanol with 96% ee in 100% yield. Like the transfer hydrogenation catalyzed by similar Ru catalysts with basic 2-propanol or a formic acid/triethylamine mixture, this hydrogenation proceeds through a metal-ligand bifunctional mechanism. The reduction of the C=O function occurs via an intermediary 18e RuH species in its outer coordination sphere without metal-substrate interaction. The high catalytic efficiency relies on the facile ionization of the Ru triflate complex in methanol. The turnover rate is dependent on hydrogen pressure and medium acidity and basicity. The RuCl analogue can be used as a precatalyst, albeit less effectively. Unlike the well-known diphosphine-1,2-diamine-Ru(II)-catalyzed hydrogenation that proceeds in a basic alcohol, this reaction takes place under slightly acidic conditions, creating new opportunities for asymmetric hydrogenation.

Metal–ligand bifunctional catalysis for asymmetric hydrogenation

Chiral diphosphine/1,2-diamine-Ru(II) complexes catalyse the rapid, productive and enantioselective hydrogenation of simple ketones. The carbonyl-selective hydrogenation takes place via a non-classical metal-ligand bifunctional mechanism. The reduction of the C=O function occurs in the outer coordination sphere of an 18e trans-RuH2(diphosphine)(diamine) complex without interaction between the unsaturated moiety and the metallic centre. The Ru atom donates a hydride and the NH2 ligand delivers a proton through a pericyclic six-membered transition state, directly giving an alcoholic product without metal alkoxide formation. The enantiofaces of prochiral ketones are differentiated on the chiral molecular surface of the saturated RuH2 species. This asymmetric catalysis manifests the significance of 'kinetic' supramolecular chemistry.

Mechanism of asymmetric hydrogenation of ketones catalyzed by BINAP/1,2-diamine-rutheniumII complexes.

Asymmetric hydrogenation of acetophenone with trans-RuH(eta(1)-BH(4))[(S)-tolbinap][(S,S)-dpen] (TolBINAP = 2,2'-bis(di-4-tolylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl; DPEN = 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine) in 2-propanol gives (R)-phenylethanol in 82% ee. The reaction proceeds smoothly even at an atmospheric pressure of H(2) at room temperature and is further accelerated by addition of an alkaline base or a strong organic base. Most importantly, the hydrogenation rate is initially increased to a great extent with an increase in base molarity but subsequently decreases. Without a base, the rate is independent of H(2) pressure in the range of 1-16 atm, while in the presence of a base, the reaction is accelerated with increasing H(2) pressure. The extent of enantioselection is unaffected by hydrogen pressure, the presence or absence of base, the kind of base and coexisting metallic or organic cations, the nature of the solvent, or the substrate concentrations. The reaction with H(2)/(CH(3))(2)CHOH proceeds 50 times faster than that with D(2)/(CD(3))(2)CDOD in the absence of base, but the rate differs only by a factor of 2 in the presence of KO-t-C(4)H(9). These findings indicate that dual mechanisms are in operation, both of which are dependent on reaction conditions and involve heterolytic cleavage of H(2) to form a common reactive intermediate. The key [RuH(diphosphine)(diamine)](+) and its solvate complex have been detected by ESI-TOFMS and NMR spectroscopy. The hydrogenation of ketones is proposed to occur via a nonclassical metal-ligand bifunctional mechanism involving a chiral RuH(2)(diphosphine)(diamine), where a hydride on Ru and a proton of the NH(2) ligand are simultaneously transferred to the C=O function via a six-membered pericyclic transition state. The NH(2) unit in the diamine ligand plays a pivotal role in the catalysis. The reaction occurs in the outer coordination sphere of the 18e RuH(2) complex without C=O/metal interaction. The enantiofaces of prochiral aromatic ketones are kinetically differentiated on the molecular surface of the coordinatively saturated chiral RuH(2) intermediate rather than in a coordinatively unsaturated Ru template.

Mechanism of the hydrogenation of ketones catalyzed by trans-dihydrido(diamine)ruthenium II complexes.

The complexes trans-RuH(Cl)(tmen)(R-binap) (1) and (OC-6-43)-RuH(Cl)(tmen)(PPh(3))(2) (2) are prepared by the reaction of the diamine NH(2)CMe(2)CMe(2)NH(2) (tmen) with RuH(Cl)(PPh(3))(R-binap) and RuH(Cl)(PPh(3))(3), respectively. Reaction of KHB(sec)Bu(3) with 1 yields trans-Ru(H)(2)(R-binap)(tmen) (5) while reaction of KHB(sec)Bu(3) or KO(t)Bu with 2 under Ar yields the new hydridoamido complex RuH(PPh(3))(2)(NH(2)CMe(2)CMe(2)NH) (4). Complex 4 has a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry with the amido nitrogen in the equatorial plane. Loss of H(2) from 5 results in the related complex RuH(R-binap)(NH(2)CMe(2)CMe(2)NH) (3). Reaction of H(2) with 4 yields the trans-dihydride (OC-6-22)-Ru(H)(2)(PPh(3))(2)(tmen)(6). Calculations support the assignment of the structures. The hydrogenation of acetophenone is catalyzed by 5 or 4 in benzene or 2-propanol without the need for added base. For 5 in benzene at 293 K over the ranges of concentrations [5] = 10(-)(4) to 10(-)(3) M, [ketone] = 0.1 to 0.5 M, and of pressures of H(2) = 8 to 23 atm, the rate law is rate = k[5][H(2)] with k = 3.3 M(-1) s(1), DeltaH++ = 8.5 +/- 0.5 kcal mol(-1), DeltaS++ = -28 +/- 2 cal mol(-1) K(-1). For 4 in benzene at 293 K over the ranges of concentrations [4] = 10(-4) to 10(-3) M, [ketone] 0.1 to 0.7 M, and of pressures of H(2) = 1 to 6 atm, the preliminary rate law is rate = k[4][H(2)] with k = 1.1 x 10(2) M(-1) s(-1), DeltaH++ = 7.6 +/- 0.3 kcal mol(-1), DeltaS++ = -23 +/- 1 cal mol(-1) K(-1). Both theory and experiment suggest that the intramolecular heterolytic splitting of dihydrogen across the polar Ru=N bond of the amido complexes 3 and 4 is the turn-over limiting step. A transition state structure and reaction energy profile is calculated. The transfer of H(delta+)/H(delta-) to the ketone from the RuH and NH groups of 5 in a Noyori metal-ligand bifunctional mechanism is a fast process and it sets the chirality as (R)-1-phenylethanol (62-68% ee) in the hydrogenation of acetophenone. The rate of hydrogenation of acetophenone catalyzed by 5 is slower and the ee of the product is low (14% S) when 2-propanol is used as the solvent, but both the rate and ee (up to 55% R) increase when excess KO(t)Bu is added. The formation of ruthenium alkoxide complexes in 2-propanol might explain these observations. Alkoxide complexes [RuP(2)]H(OR)(tmen), [RuP(2)] = Ru(R-binap) or Ru(PPh(3))(2), R= (i) Pr, CHPhMe, (t)Bu, are observed by reacting the alcohols (i)PrOH, phenylethanol, and (t)BuOH with the dihydrides 5 and 6, respectively, under Ar. In the absence of H(2), the amido complexes 3 and 4 react with acetophenone to give the ketone adducts [RuP(2)]H(O=CPhMe)(NH(2)CMe(2)CMe(2)NH) in equilibrium with the enolate complexes trans- [RuP(2)](H)(OCPh=CH(2))(tmen) and eventually the decomposition products [RuP(2)]H(eta(5)-CH(2)CPhCHCPhO), with the binap complex characterized crystallographically. In general, proton transfer from the weakly acidic molecules dihydrogen, alcohol, or acetophenone to the amido nitrogen of complexes 3 and 4 is favored in two ways when the molecule coordinates to ruthenium: (1) an increase in acidity of the molecule by the Lewis acidic metal and (2) an increase in the basicity of the amido nitrogen caused by its pyramidalization. The formato complexes trans-[RuP(2)]H(OCHO)(tmen) were prepared by reacting the respective complex 4 or 5 with formic acid. The crystal structure of RuH(OCHO)(PPh(3))(2)(tmen) displays similar features to the calculated transition state for H(delta+)/H(delta-) transfer to the ketone in the catalytic cycle.

Asymmetric hydrogenation via architectural and functional molecular engineering

Abstract RuCl2 (phosphine) 2 (1,2-diamine) complexes, coupled with an alkaline base in 2-propanol, allows for preferential hydrogenation of a C=O function over coexisting conjugated or nonconjugated C=C linkages, a nitro group, halogen atoms, and various heterocycles. The functional group selectivity is based on the novel metal-ligand bifunctional mechanism. The use of appropriate chiral diphosphines and diamines results in rapid and productive asymmetric hydrogenation of a range of aromatic, hetero-aromatic, and olefinic ketones. The versatility of this method is manifested by the asymmetric synthesis of various biologically significant chiral compounds.