Irreversible cleavage of a carbene-rhodium bond in Rh-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: implications for catalysis

Despite the generally accepted belief that carbene-metal bonds are strong and do not dissociate, the reaction of Rh-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes with triphenylphosphine in dichloroethane was determined to take place via cleavage of the Rh-carbene bond. The products of this reaction are Wilkinson’s catalyst and a bisimidazolium salt derived from reaction between dichloroethane and two equivalents of the carbene. The implications of this reaction for catalysis are significant since the carbene complex shows lower activity than Wilkinson’s catalyst in hydrogenation reactions. In non-halogenated solvents, the catalyst shows higher stability, such that the rate of exchange with free phosphine could be measured, and was determined to be ca. 10 times slower than in Wilkinson’s catalyst.     

Application of a stereospecific RhCl(PPh3)3 decarbonylation reaction for the total synthesis of 7-(±)-deoxypancratistatin

A highly efficient total synthesis of 7-deoxypancratistatin is described. The synthesis features the ready preparation of the phenanthridone skeleton by a Stille-IMDAF cycloaddition cascade. The resulting cycloadduct is converted into a key aldehydic intermediate, which is then induced to undergo a stereospecific decarbonylation reaction using Wilkinson’s catalyst to set the trans B-C ring junction of the target molecule.     

The effects of amine and acid catalysts on efficient chelation-assisted hydroacylation of alkene with aliphatic aldehyde

Efficient intermolecular hydroacylation of 1-alkene with aliphatic aldehyde was achieved using a catalyst mixture of cyclohexylamine, p-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid, Wilkinson’s complex and 2-amino-3-picoline. The formation of unwanted aldol side-product was avoided through the conjugate addition of cyclohexylamine to the aldol intermediate that was initially generated, followed by the retro-Mannich-type fragmentation of the resulting β-aminoaldimine.     

Rapid synthesis of kahweofuran and its derivatives, the coffee aroma components

Kahweofuran, as an impact flavor component of roasted coffee and possesses the 6-methyl-2,3-dihydrothieno[2,3-c]furan structure, was rapidly synthesized from 2-acetyl-3-hydroxymethylthiophene by the formal reductive cyclization using the Wilkinson’s catalyst. Similarly, the syntheses of the 4-methyl, 6-ethyl and 4,6-dimethyl derivatives were also achieved in favorable yields.     

Dehydrogenative coupling as an efficient route to ferrocene functionalized siloxanes

Ferrocene grafted siloxanes were prepared in high yields (∼79-97%) via Rh-catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling of a series of monomeric, polymeric, and cyclic hydrosiloxanes with ferrocenemethanol. Wilkinson’s catalyst was the most efficient of those surveyed (Karstedt’s catalyst, H₂PtCl₆, Co₂(CO)₈, 10% Pd/C, 10% Pt/C, 5% Rh/C) with respect to yield and selectivity. Benzene and toluene were better solvents than tetrahydrofuran and methylene chloride.     

Hydrosilylation reactions catalyzed by rhodium complexes with phosphine ligands functionalized with imidazolium salts

Hydrosilylation reactions of styrene with triethoxysilane catalyzed by rhodium complexes with phosphine ligands functionalized with imidazolium salts are reported. In comparison with Wilkinson’s catalyst, Rh(PPh₃)₃Cl, all of the present rhodium complexes with phosphines functionalized with imidazolium salts exhibit higher catalytic activity and selectivity.     

Palladium and rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular [2+2+2] cycloisomerizations in molten tetrabutylammonium bromide

The cycloisomerization reaction of triacetylenic macrocycles 1 was carried out in molten n-Bu₄NBr using either the Wilkinson’s catalyst RhCl(PPh₃)₃, or PdCl₂ leading to good yields of the corresponding cycloisomerized compounds. It was possible to recycle the catalytic system. When PdCl₂/TBAB was used, palladium nanoparticles were identified by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX).     

Homogeneous Catalysis : III. Hydrosilylation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes; regiospecific reduction of CO using Ni0 catalysts

The addition of trialkoxysilanes across the carbonyl bond in crotonaldehyde has been demonstrated for a variety of nickel(0) complexes. The carboncarbon double bond is left intact. This differs from catalysts used previously, such as chloroplatinic acid or Wilkinson's compound, where 1,4-addition is reported for simple α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. The Ziegler system, Ni(acac)₂Et₃Al, proved ineffective as a catalyst, due to competing polymerisation of the crotonaldehyde. The 1,4-addition of trialkoxysilanes to crotonaldehyde, catalysed by Wilkinson's compound, has been confirmed; the new cis- and trans-but-1-enoxytriethoxy-silanes have been isolated and identified.     

Beneficial effect of water as second solvent in ionic liquid biphasic catalytic hydrogenations

When reactions take place in ionic liquids, a solvent is normally used to extract the products after reaction. It is reported here how the presence of the solvent during the reaction already can seriously improve the catalytic performance. Above all, employing water as the added solvent enhanced the catalytic activities significantly, ascribed to the creation of a well mixed ‘emulsion-like’ system. The reductions of methyl 2-acetamidoacrylate with Rh-EtDuPHOS and of 2-cyclohexen-1-one with Wilkinson’s catalyst in bmimPF₆ were thus successfully performed in the presence of water. The complexes were easily recycled and Rh-EtDuPHOS was even no longer air sensitive.     

Reductive Deprotection of Silyl Groups with Wilkinson's Catalyst/Catechol Borane

Traditionally silyl groups are deprotected with acids and fluorides. These methods are, however, less discriminating when multi-silyl groups are present in the same molecule, resulting in lower yields of the desired products. The manipulation of these functions during the total synthesis of natural products, for example, prostaglandins and isoprostanes, requires the selective protection and deprotection of these groups.We are reporting here on a mild, selective and efficient method for the reductive deprotection of silyl groups using Wilkinson’s catalyst/catechol borane or catechol borane alone.     

Rhodium catalysed [2+2+2] cycloadditions of acetylenes

Wilkinson's catalyst RhCl(PPh₃)₃ is an effective catalyst (0.5 – 2 mole %) for the rapid intermolecular trimerisation of 1,6-heptadiynes with monoacetylenes under mild conditions.     

Terminal C≡C triple bond hydrogenation using immobilized Wilkinson’s catalyst

In this work, we try to hydrogenate selectively phenylacetylene to styrene and 3-phenylpropyne to allylbenzene using immobilized or pure Wilkinson’s catalyst. The catalyst was immobilized using two approaches—immobilization using ionic exchange and immobilization using covalent bonding. In the first case, the smectite minerals (hectorite and montmorillonite) were used as the supports. In the second case, MCM-41 and SBA-15 were used as the supports. Both types of immobilization were successful and the solid products were characterized. For the covalent bond formation, it was necessary to first modify the surface of the silica material. The modification was carried out using two substances, one adding an amino group to the silica material, and the second adding a phenyl group to the material. The selectivity of hydrogenation of both substances was higher using heterogeneous catalyst in the case of phenylacetylene. In the case of phenylpropyne, no difference in selectivity using Wilkinson’s catalyst in homogeneous or heterogeneous arrangement was observed. The type of immobilization has no influence on either activity or selectivity of catalyst.     

Rhodium-catalyzed cascade reactions: A methylenation-hydroboration homologative process

A very efficient rhodium-catalyzed cascade process allowing the transformation of aldehydes and ketones into their corresponding one or two-carbon homologated alcohol products through a methylenation-hydroboration sequence is reported. Wilkinson’s complex is used to catalyze both reactions in a one-pot procedure that does not require the isolation of the alkene intermediate.     

Pd/CaCO3 in liquid poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG): an easy and efficient recycle system for partial reduction of alkynes to cis-olefins under a hydrogen atmosphere

Lindlar’s catalyst (Pd/CaCO₃) in PEG (400) has been found to be the most reusable reaction medium for selective reduction of alkynes to cis-olefins. The catalyst and PEG were recycled five times without loss of activity.     

Selective on-line deuteration in gas chromatography - mass spectrometry for the investigation of dissociative ionization of silicon-containing compounds

A method for specific gas-phase deuteration of unsaturated silicon-containing compounds over pre-heterogenized Wilkinson's catalyst (a solution of (Ph₃P)₃RhCl in Carbowax 20M coated on Chromaton) in the reaction column connected to the mass spectrometer is described. This method was employed to study the dissociative ionization of the corresponding saturated analogues. With the aid of the mass spectra of the dideutero derivatives thus obtained, the main electron-impact-induced reactions of 1,1-dimethyl-1-silacyclopentane, 1,1,2,2-tetramethyl-1,2-disilacyclohexane, 1-methyl-1-ethyl-1-silacyclobutane and ethyl triethoxysilane were elucidated.     

A novel light induced Knoevenagel condensation of Meldrum’s acid with aromatic aldehydes in aqueous ethanol

A highly efficient environment-friendly photochemical methodology has been developed for the condensation of Meldrum’s acid with aromatic aldehydes in water-ethanol solution sans any catalyst, support or promoter.     

Direct C2-trifluoromethylation of indole derivatives catalyzed by copper acetate

Direct C2-selective trifluoromethylation of indole derivatives was achieved with Togni’s hypervalent iodine reagent and CuOAc as a catalyst in MeOH under mild conditions, affording the desired C2-trifluoromethylated indoles in good yield (up to 90%).     

Stereoselective hydrogenation of methylcyclohex-2-ene-1,4-diols used in the synthesis of ampelomins and deoxy-carbasugars

Stereoselective hydrogenation of methylcyclohex-2-ene-1,4-diols used as important intermediates for the preparation of ampelomins and deoxy-carbasugars was studied. These olefins were obtained in few steps from a chiral cis-diol resulting from microbial oxidation of toluene. Although the stereoselective hydrogenation of this type of substrates is difficult, high yields were obtained for heterogeneous hydrogenation using Adam’s catalyst, where steric hindrance controlled the stereochemical outcome of the process. On the other hand, for homogeneous hydrogenation of similar olefins using Crabtree’s catalyst, coordination with the allylic alcohols allowed for a controlled hydrogen addition from the more hindered face. In this manner two protocols for the hydrogenation of these types of substrates resulting in complementary stereoselectivities are described.     

Random low vinyl styrene-isoprene copolymers

The present work is to the syntheses and characterization of random, low vinyl copolymers containing styrene and isoprene (SIR’s). The content of these SIR’s ranged from 10% styrene/90% isoprene to 60% styrene/40% isoprene, and all were soluble in hexane solvent. The anionic polymerization of these SIR’s was initiated by a catalyst system of various sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) to n-butyllithium (n-BuLi) ratios. The SDBS allowed for styrene to become randomly incorporated onto the polyisoprene chain without any increase in the 3,4-unit of the isoprene. The glass transition temperature of the resulting polymers could be controlled by the styrene content and microstructure (blocky versus random) in the polymer chain. Kinetic data confirmed that styrene and isoprene have similar reaction kinetics. NMR and ozonolysis confirmed that random, low vinyl SIR’s were indeed being synthesized. The unique features of this system are that it does not metallate the polymers as was seen in the previous publication using the sodium and potassium alkoxides. Molecular weight differences due to SDBS are discussed. Finally, rubber process analyzer (RPA) results were presented for various styrenes content SIR’s.     

A practical enantioselective synthesis of massoialactone via hydrolytic kinetic resolution

An efficient enantioselective synthesis of (R)- and (S)-massoialactone has been achieved. The key steps are the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of a racemic epoxyheptane with (R,R)-(salen)-Co^IIIOAc complex and ring-closing metathesis of homoallylic alcohol derived acrylate esters using Grubb’s catalyst.