Ligand-template directed assembly: an efficient approach for the supramolecular encapsulation of transition-metal catalysts

Supramolecular encapsulation of small guest molecules inside well-defined cavities of molecular capsules has witnessed broad attention because of the unusual behaviour of these systems. The molecular capsules generally consist of rigid complementary building blocks that are held together by multiple, complementary non-covalent interactions. Interestingly, it has been shown that chemical transformations can take place inside these capsules and in some examples the reaction is accelerated, while in other cases otherwise instable intermediates could be isolated in the capsulated form. Many reactions of interest require a transition-metal (TM) catalyst, and the creation of new capsules in which such catalysts are implemented within the structure is thus required for the development of resourceful type of catalyst systems for these processes. In this concept article we will discuss new strategies to arrive at such systems, with a focus on a ligand-templated approach. In this approach, multifunctional ligands are used as templates for the encapsulation process by supramolecular building blocks and concomitantly for the formation of TM complexes that are active in catalytic processes. The obtained encapsulated transition-metal catalysts show unusual reactivity and selectivity behaviour that will be discussed in detail.     

Photochemical Deracemization of 3-Substituted Oxindoles

Racemic 3-substituted oxindoles were successfully converted into enantiomerically pure or enriched material (up to 99 % ee) upon irradiation at λ=366 nm in the presence of a chiral benzophenone catalyst (10 mol %). The photochemical deracemization process allows predictable editing of the stereogenic center at carbon atom C3. Light energy compensates for the associated loss of entropy and enables the decoupling of potentially reversible reactions, i.e. a hydrogen atom transfer to (photochemical) and from (thermal) the carbonyl group of the catalyst. The major enantiomer is continuously enriched in several catalytic cycles. The obtained oxindoles were shown to be valuable intermediates for further transformations, which proceeded with complete retention at the stereogenic center.     

Ruthenium-catalysed carbenoid cyclopropanation reactions with diazo compounds

The transition-metal catalysed cyclopropanation of olefinic bonds using diazo compounds as a carbene source is among the best developed and most useful transformations available to the synthetic organic chemist. Nevertheless, the quest for new catalyst/ligand systems continues in order to further extend the scope of this method and to identify more economical catalytic systems. In this tutorial review, several different ruthenium complexes are presented which have recently emerged as suitable catalysts for carbenoid cyclopropanation. For the model reaction--cyclopropanation of styrene(s) with diazoacetates--and also for some intramolecular cyclopropanation reactions highly remarkable results in terms of catalyst efficiency, product yields, dia- and enantioselectivity have been reported.     

Gas-phase catalysis by atomic and cluster metal ions: the ultimate single-site catalysts

Gas-phase experiments with state-of-the-art techniques of mass spectrometry provide detailed insights into numerous elementary processes. The focus of this Review is on elementary reactions of ions that achieve complete catalytic cycles under thermal conditions. The examples chosen cover aspects of catalysis pertinent to areas as diverse as atmospheric chemistry and surface chemistry. We describe how transfer of oxygen atoms, bond activation, and coupling of fragments can be mediated by atomic or cluster metal ions. In some cases truly unexpected analogies of the idealized gas-phase ion catalysis can be drawn with related chemical transformations in solution or the solid state, and so improve our understanding of the intrinsic operation of a practical catalyst at a strictly molecular level.     

Visible-Light-Induced Selective Defluoroborylation of Polyfluoroarenes,gem-Difluoroalkenes,and Trifluoromethylalkenes

Fluorinated organoboranes serve as versatile synthetic precursors for the preparation of value-added fluorinated organic compounds. Recent progress has been mainly focused on the transition-metal catalyzed defluoroborylation. Herein, we report a photocatalytic defluoroborylation platform through direct B−H activation of N-heterocyclic carbene boranes, through the synergistic merger of a photoredox catalyst and a hydrogen atom transfer catalyst. This atom-economic and operationally simple protocol has enabled defluoroborylation of an extremely broad scope of multifluorinated substrates including polyfluoroarenes, gem-difluoroalkenes, and trifluoromethylalkenes in a highly selective fashion. Intriguingly, the defluoroborylation protocol can be transition-metal free, and the regioselectivity obtained is complementary to the reported transition-metal-catalysis in many cases.     

Removable directing groups in organic synthesis and catalysis

Directing groups have been widely used in recent years to achieve control over all aspects of reaction selectivity in a wide range of transformations involving transition-metal catalysis and organometallic reagents. In cases when the existing functional group within a substrate is unsuited to achieve efficient intramolecular delivery of a reagent or catalyst, the specific introduction of an appropriately designed removable reagent-directing group can be a solution to this problem. In this Review we give an overview of the state of the art in this area, including the stoichiometric and catalytic use of directing groups.     

Skeletal diversity in small-molecule synthesis using ligand-controlled catalysis

Two Pd-catalyzed reductive transformations of diynes tethered through a silyl ether linkage were developed, where the reaction outcomes were controlled solely by selection of phosphine ligand. We screened Pd precatalysts, ligands, and additives to optimize conditions selective either for reductive cyclization or hydrogenation of this substrate class. Sixteen silyl ether-tethered diynes were prepared and subjected to the best catalyst/ligand combinations for each pathway. Silacyclic dienes and silyl-tethered enyne products of these reactions were elaborated to densely substituted, stereochemically- and appendage-rich, bicyclic and tricyclic small molecules in 1-3 synthetic steps. These studies illustrate how small modifications to a transition-metal catalyst can be used to access a diverse set of small molecules, in a fashion analogous to biosynthetic pathways such as terpene biosynthesis, where minor changes to enzyme structure direct skeletal differentiation.     

Electrochemical nanogravimetric study of the electropolymerization of 6-aminoindole and the redox transformations of the polymer formed in aqueous media

The electrochemical quartz crystal nanobalance was employed to study the electropolymerization of 6-aminoindole on gold electrodes in acidic media. Potentiostatic or potential cycling electrooxidation of 6-aminoindole below 0.5 V vs. saturated calomel electrode leads to the formation of multilayer polymeric films, while at higher positive potentials, further oxidation takes place resulting in a different material which remains attached to the metal surface but shows decreased or no redox activity. A mechanism of the redox transformations of poly(6-aminoindole) which involves protonation–deprotonation accompanying the electron transfer is suggested. In this potential range, a yellow-green reversible color change occurs. At higher positive potentials blue-purple, indigo-type compounds are formed, and bond-breaking leads to the decrease of the electroactivity.     

主链含双层倍半硅氧烷的C_2-对称双脯氨酰胺手性聚合物催化剂的合成及在不对称Aldol反应中的应用

以双夹板形的笼型倍半硅氧烷(DDSQ)和叔丁基氧羰基(Boc)保护的C2-对称双脯氨酰胺为底物,通过硅氢加成反应和脱Boc反应,制得主链含DDSQ的C2-对称双脯氨酰胺手性聚合物催化剂;对其化学结构、分子量及热失重性能进行了表征.将制备的聚合物催化剂应用于催化不对称Aldol反应,探讨了其催化性能.结果表明,催化产物均具有较高的产率和立体选择性,且该催化剂便于分离纯化,循环使用6次后催化活性未见明显下降.     

Co-immobilization of transition-metal complexes and ionic liquids in a polymeric support for liquid-phase hydrogenations

A new recyclable heterogeneous system is reported for reactions with a transition-metal catalyst in ionic liquid medium. It consists of a polymeric phase in which both the ionic liquid and the transition-metal catalyst are incorporated. The system is readily prepared by simple mixing of the components. In hydrogenations, the polymeric system always outperformed the ‘classical’ biphasic systems with ionic liquids and it could be re-used successfully without loss of activity.     

5-硝基-1-氢-四唑分子热分解反应机理的密度泛函理论研究

利用密度泛函理论研究了5-硝基-1-氢-四唑分子热分解的反应机理。首先用 B3LYP/6-31G（d）方法优化反应中反应物、过渡态、中间体以及产物的几何构型， 通过振动分析得到零点能校正值并确认反应的过渡态。此外，对各个构型作了 CCSD（T）/6-31G（d,p）水平下的单点计算。报道了三条可能的反应途径，即直接 开环途径和质子转移途径；其中N（1）-N（2）键断裂直接开环的机理与文献报道 一致；而涉及质子转移的反应途径则是一个新的发现；另一条关于N（4）-C（5） 键断裂直接开环的途径由于能垒较高，因此发生的几率较小。     

DFT Calculations for Electron Transfer Bond-breakingReaction of CH_3-X

Bond-breaking in electron tansfer (ET) reaction is a powerful synthetic tool to provide alkyl radicals. The reaction RX + e( ? R( + X( in gas-phase yields directly the alkyl radical and the halide ion. Although ab initio calculation has been performed to this kind of reaction for CH3-X1-3, density functional theory (DFT) has not been invoked so far. DFT is gaining popularity recently as a cost-effective procedure for studying physical properties of molecules. The activation energy ((G#) …     

Fabrication of highly active Sn/W mixed transition-metal oxides as solid acid catalysts

Catalytically active Sn/W mixed transition-metal oxides were prepared by calcination of the corresponding Sn/W hydroxide precursors at different temperatures. The obtained mixed oxides were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. With variation of the molar ratios of Sn/W, the prepared Sn/W mixed oxide catalysts had different reaction activities. Thus, the Sn/W-2-800 oxide acted as an effective heterogeneous catalyst for the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of ketones and the Friedel–Crafts reaction. Many ketones, as well as benzyl alcohol and acetic anhydride, were transformed into the corresponding products with high conversion and selectivity. The catalysts can be easily separated from the reaction mixtures and can be reused for at least five cycles without significant loss of activity.     

More than bystanders: the effect of olefins on transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions

Olefins and alkynes are ubiquitous in transition-metal catalysis, whether introduced by the substrate, the catalyst, or as an additive. Whereas the impact of metals and ligands is relatively well understood, the effects of olefins in these reactions are generally underappreciated, even though numerous examples of olefins influencing the outcome of a reaction, through increased activity, stability, or selectivity, have been reported. This Review provides an overview of the interaction of olefins with transition metals and documents examples of olefins influencing the outcome of catalytic reactions, in particular cross-coupling reactions. It should thus provide a basis for the improved understanding and further utilization of olefin and alkyne effects in transition-metal-catalyzed reactions.     

Cooperative multi-catalyst systems for one-pot organic transformations

One-pot co-catalyst systems are covered in this tutorial review. It is divided into three sections according to the reaction types: i) one catalyst performs a desired reaction as the second catalyst restores the first catalytic species back into its original state for the next catalytic cycles, ii) two catalysts carry out sequential organic transformations, in which the first step is carried out by one catalyst to afford certain intermediates being to be subjected to the second catalyst for the next step, and iii) cooperative catalytic actions on both substrates by suitable catalysts proceed in a substrate-selective manner followed by the subsequent coupling of the two activated adducts providing the desired products.     

Stereochemistry of transition metal catalyzed asymmetric intramolecular allyl transfer in chiral α-sulfinyl allylic esters

The stereochemistry of palladium or nickel catalyzed asymmetric intramolecular allyl transfer in chiral α-sulfinyl allylic esters was determined. The participation of the catalyst and the chiral sulfinyl functionality in these transformations, presumably by the coordination of the sulfinyl group to the catalyst, is discussed, and a novel mechanism is proposed for the rationalization of the results obtained.     

Facile approach to enhance the Pt utilization and CO-tolerance of Pt/C catalysts by physically mixing with transition-metal oxide nanoparticles

A very simple and promising method to design the anode catalyst architecture for direct alcohol fuel cells by physically mixing Pt/C catalyst with transition-metal oxide nanoparticles is presented and electrochemical measurements confirm that this unique catalyst structure has excellent activity toward alcohol and CO electro-oxidation.     

Interface Engineering in Two‐Dimensional Heterostructures: Towards an Advanced Catalyst for Ullmann Couplings

The design of advanced catalysts for organic reactions is of profound significance. During such processes, electrophilicity and nucleophilicity play vital roles in the activation of chemical bonds and ultimately speed up organic reactions. Herein, we demonstrate a new way to regulate the electro‐ and nucleophilicity of catalysts for organic transformations. Interface engineering in two‐dimensional heteronanostructures triggered electron transfer across the interface. The catalyst was thus rendered more electropositive, which led to superior performance in Ullmann reactions. In the presence of the engineered 2D Cu₂S/MoS₂ heteronanostructure, the coupling of iodobenzene and para‐chlorophenol gave the desired product in 92 % yield under mild conditions (100 °C). Furthermore, the catalyst exhibited excellent stability as well as high recyclability with a yield of 89 % after five cycles. We propose that interface engineering could be widely employed for the development of new catalysts for organic reactions.     

Multi-component syntheses of heterocycles by transition-metal catalysis

For a long time multi-component syntheses of heterocycles have undeniably been a domain of classical carbonyl condensation chemistry. However, the advent of transition-metal catalysis not only has fertilized strategies in heterocyclic synthesis by uni- and bimolecular transformations but the past decade has also witnessed a rapid development of transition-metal catalysis in new multi-component reactions (MCR). Expectedly, palladium catalyzed processes have received a dominant position, yet, other transition-metal complexes are catching up implying organometallic elementary steps that reach even further than cross-coupling and carbometallation. Besides domino MCRs that are purely based upon organometallic catalysis the sequential and consecutive combination with condensation, addition and cycloaddition steps opens a vast playground for the invention of new sequences in heterocyclic synthesis. This tutorial review outlines the underlying reaction based principles of transition-metal catalysis in multi-component syntheses of heterocycles, summarizes recent developments of palladium catalyzed MCR, and highlights the more recent contributions to MCR based heterocyclic synthesis by virtue of rhodium, ruthenium, and copper catalysis.     

Engineering d-band center of nickel in nickel@nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes array for electrochemical reduction of CO2 to CO and Zn-CO2 batteries

Self-supported transition-metal single-atom catalysts (SACs) facilitate the industrialization of electrochemical CO₂ reduction, but suffer from high structural heterogeneity with limited catalytic selectivity. Here we present a facile and scalable approach for the synthesis of self-supported nickel@nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes grown on carbon nanofiber membrane (Ni@NCNTs/CFM), where the Ni single atoms and nanoparticles (NPs) are anchored on the wall and inside of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes, respectively. The side effect of Ni NPs was further effectively inhibited by alloying Ni with Cu atoms to alter their d-band center, which is theoretically predicted and experimentally proved. The optimal catalyst Ni₉Cu₁@NCNTs/CFM exhibits an ultrahigh CO Faradic efficiency over 97% at ?0.7 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Additionally, this catalyst shows excellent mechanical strength which can be directly used as a self-supporting catalyst for Zn-CO₂ battery with a peak power density of ～0.65 mW/cm² at 2.25 mA/cm² and a long-term stability for 150 cycles. This work opens up a general avenue to facilely prepare self-supported SACs with unitary single-atom site for CO₂ utilization.