Cooperative Catalysis of an Alcohol Dehydrogenase and Rhodium‐Modified Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica

The combined use of a metal‐complex catalyst and an enzyme is attractive, but typically results in mutual inactivation. A rhodium (Rh) complex immobilized in a bipyridine‐based periodic mesoporous organosilica (BPy‐PMO) shows high catalytic activity during transfer hydrogenation, even in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA), while a homogeneous Rh complex exhibits reduced activity due to direct interaction with BSA. The use of a smaller protein or an amino acid revealed a clear size‐sieving effect of the BPy‐PMO that protected the Rh catalyst from direct interactions. A combination of Rh‐immobilized BPy‐PMO and an enzyme (horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase; HLADH) promoted sequential reactions involving the transfer hydrogenation of NAD⁺ to give NADH followed by the asymmetric hydrogenation of 4‐phenyl‐2‐butanone with high enantioselectivity. The use of BPy‐PMO as a support for metal complexes could be applied to other systems consisting of a metal‐complex catalyst and an enzyme.     

Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective anti‐Selective Hydrogenation of α‐Amino‐β‐keto Ester Hydrochlorides and Related Compounds Using Transition‐Metal–Chiral‐Bisphosphine Catalysts

This review describes our recent works on the diastereo‐ and enantioselective synthesis of anti‐β‐hydroxy‐α‐amino acid esters using transition‐metal–chiral‐bisphosphine catalysts. A variety of transition metals, namely ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh),iridium (Ir), and nickel (Ni), in combination with chiral bisphosphines, worked well as catalysts for the direct anti‐selective asymmetric hydrogenation of α‐amino‐β‐keto ester hydrochlorides, yielding anti‐β‐hydroxy‐α‐amino acid esters via dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) in excellent yields and diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities. The Ru‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α‐amino‐β‐ketoesters via DKR is the first example of generating anti‐β‐hydroxy‐α‐amino acids. Complexes of iridium and axially chiral bisphosphines catalyze an efficient asymmetric hydrogenation of α‐amino‐β‐keto ester hydrochlorides via dynamic kinetic resolution. A homogeneous Ni–chiral‐bisphosphine complex also catalyzes an efficient asymmetric hydrogenation of α‐amino‐β‐keto ester hydrochlorides in an anti‐selective manner. As a related process, the asymmetric hydrogenation of the configurationally stable substituted α‐aminoketones using a Ni catalyst via DKR is also described.     

Enantiopure Narrow Bite‐Angle POP Ligands: Synthesis and Catalytic Performance in Asymmetric Hydroformylations and Hydrogenations

Herein is reported the preparation of a set of narrow bite‐angle P–OP ligands the backbone of which contains a stereogenic carbon atom. The synthesis was based on a Corey–Bakshi–Shibata (CBS)‐catalyzed asymmetric reduction of phosphomides. The structure of the resulting 1,1‐P–OP ligands, which was selectively tuned through adequate combination of the configuration of the stereogenic carbon atom, its substituent, and the phosphite fragment, proved crucial for providing a rigid environment around the metal center, as evidenced by X‐ray crystallography. These new ligands enabled very good catalytic properties in the Rh‐mediated enantioselective hydrogenation and hydroformylation of challenging and model substrates (up to 99 % ee). Whereas for asymmetric hydrogenation the optimal P–OP ligand depended on the substrate, for hydroformylation, a single ligand was the highest‐performing one for almost all studied substrates: it contains an R‐configured stereogenic carbon atom between the two phosphorus ligating groups, and an S‐configured 3,3′‐diphenyl‐substituted biaryl unit.     

Calix[4]arene‐based Bis‐phosphonites,Bis‐phosphites,and Bis‐O‐acyl‐phosphites as Ligands in the Rhodium(I)‐catalyzed Hydroformylation of 1‐Octene

New calix[4]arene‐based bis‐phosphonites, bis‐phosphites and bis‐O‐acylphosphites were synthesized and characterized. Treatment of these P‐ligands with selected rhodium and platinum precursors led to mononuclear complexes that were satisfactorily characterized. The solid state structure of the dirhodium(I) complex 14 has been determined by X‐ray diffraction. The two rhodium centres are bridged by two chloro ligands; one rhodium atom is further coordinated by calix[4]arene phosphorus atoms and the other by cyclooctadiene. The new calix[4]arene P‐ligands were tested in the Rh(I) catalyzed hydroformylation of 1‐octene. All Rh(I) complexes catalyzed the reaction leading to high chemoselectivity with regard to the formation of aldehydes. Yields and n/iso‐selectivities depended on the reaction conditions. Average yields of 80 % and n/iso‐ratios of about 1.3 to 1.5 were observed. High yields of aldehydes can be achieved using the methoxy substituted P‐ligands at low Rh:ligand ratios.     

Surface‐Mediated Synthesis of Dimeric Rhodium Catalysts on MgO: Tracking Changes in the Nuclearity and Ligand Environment of the Catalytically Active Sites by X‐ray Absorption and Infrared Spectroscopies

The preparation of dinuclear rhodium clusters and their use as catalysts is challenging because these clusters are unstable, evolving readily into species with higher nuclearities. We now present a novel synthetic route to generate rhodium dimers on the surface of MgO by a stoichiometrically simple surface‐mediated reaction involving [Rh(C₂H₄)₂] species and H₂. X‐ray absorption and IR spectra were used to characterize the changes in the nuclearity of the essentially molecular surface species as they formed, including the ligands on the rhodium and the metal‐support interactions. The support plays a key role in stabilizing the dinuclear rhodium species, allowing the incorporation of small ligands (ethyl, hydride, and/or CO) and enabling a characterization of the catalytic performance of the supported species for the hydrogenation of ethylene as a function of the metal nuclearity and ligand environment. A change in the nuclearity from one to two Rh atoms leads to a 58‐fold increase in the catalytic activity for ethylene hydrogenation, a reaction involving unsaturated, but stable, dimeric rhodium species.     

Automated Quantum Mechanical Predictions of Enantioselectivity in a Rhodium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation

A computational toolkit (AARON: An automated reaction optimizer for new catalysts) is described that automates the density functional theory (DFT) based screening of chiral ligands for transition‐metal‐catalyzed reactions with well‐defined reaction mechanisms but multiple stereocontrolling transition states. This is demonstrated for the Rh‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of (E )‐β‐aryl‐N ‐acetyl enamides, for which a new C ₂‐symmetric phosphorus ligand is designed.     

Rhodium complexes with a new chiral nitrogen‐containing BINOL‐based diphosphite or phosphonite ligand: synthesis and application to hydroformylation of styrene and/or hydrogenation of prochiral olefins

Two new cationic rhodium(I) complexes with a chiral nitrogen‐containing BINOL‐based diphosphite or phosphonite ligand have been synthesized. Chiral diphosphite was prepared by the reaction of N‐phenyldiethanolamine with two equivalents of [(R)‐(1,1′‐binaphthalene‐2,2′‐diyl)]chlorophosphite. In its rhodium complex the ligand is bound to the metal via both phosphorus atoms, and a Rh–N interaction is also possible. Synthesis of the chiral phosphonite was achieved by the reaction of 2‐(N,N‐dimethylaminophenyl)‐bis(diethylamino)phosphine with one equivalent of R‐BINOL. In its rhodium complex, the ligand is P,N‐bonded, forming a five‐membered chelate ring. The first complex was applied to hydroformylation of styrene and displayed high activity and chemo‐ and regioselectivity, but unfortunately no asymmetric induction was found. Both complexes were evaluated in the hydrogenation of prochiral olefins with moderate activities and low enantioselectivities. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of a Supramolecular‐Ligand Library for the Automated Search for Catalysts for the Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Industrially Relevant Substrates

A procedure is described for the automated screening and lead optimization of a supramolecular‐ligand library for the rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of five challenging substrates relevant to industry. Each catalyst is (self‐) assembled from two urea‐functionalized ligands and a transition‐metal center through hydrogen‐bonding interactions. The modular ligand structure consists of three distinctive fragments: the urea binding motif, the spacer, and the ligand backbone, which carries the phosphorus donor atom. The building blocks for the ligand synthesis are widely available on a commercial basis, thus enabling access to a large number of ligands of high structural diversity. The simple synthetic steps enabled the scale‐up of the ligand synthesis to multigram quantities. For the catalyst screening, a library of twelve new chiral ligands was prepared that comprised substantial variation in electronic and steric properties. The automated procedures employed ensured the fast catalyst assembly, screening, and direct acquisition of samples for analysis. It appeared that the most selective catalyst was different for every substrate investigated and that small variations in the building blocks had a major impact on the catalyst performance. For two substrates, a catalyst was found that provided the product with outstanding enantioselectivity. The subsequent automated optimization of these two leads showed that an increase of catalyst loading, dihydrogen pressure, and temperature had a positive effect on the catalyst activity without affecting the catalyst selectivity.     

Mechanism of asymmetric hydrogenation of enamides with [Rh(BisP*)]+ catalyst: Model DFT study

The potential energy profile for the [Rh(R,R)‐Et‐BisP*]⁺‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral enamides, α‐acetamidoacrylonitrile, was studied by the nonlocal density functional method (B3LYP). As illustrated, this hydrogenation is exothermic and goes mainly through association of [Rh(R,R)‐Et‐BisP*]⁺ with α‐acetamidoacrylonitrile, oxidative addition of hydrogen, migratory insertion of an olefin carbon into a Rh? H bond, reductive elimination of the C? H bond from the alkyl hydride, and dissociation of product–catalyst adducts with regeneration of the catalyst. The turnover‐limiting step for this reaction is the oxidative addition of hydrogen. The main product predicted theoretically is the R‐conformer. Our results are consistent with available empirical data and experiments for rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Rhodium(I)‐Catalyzed Decarbonylative Spirocyclization through CC Bond Cleavage of Benzocyclobutenones: An Efficient Approach to Functionalized Spirocycles

The rhodium‐catalyzed formation of all‐carbon spirocenters involves a decarbonylative coupling of trisubstituted cyclic olefins and benzocyclobutenones through C? C activation. The metal–ligand combination [{Rh(CO)₂Cl}₂]/P(C₆F₅)₃ catalyzed this transformation most efficiently. A range of diverse spirocycles were synthesized in good to excellent yields and many sensitive functional groups were tolerated. A mechanistic study supports a hydrogen‐transfer process that occurs through a β‐H elimination/decarbonylation pathway.     

Parahydrogen Induced Polarization: A New Magnifying Glass for Examining Reactions with Hydrogen

Parahydrogen-included polarization (PHIP), its occurrence and mechanistic implications in homogeneous hydrogenation chemistry, and its appearance in the oxidative addition of H₂ to transition metal centers are described and analyzed. The PHIP phenomenon, which is characterized by unusual NMR absorptions and emissions in product spectra, arises when para-enriched H₂ is employed in hydrogenation of unsaturated organic substrates with a homogeneous metal catalyst or when para-enriched H₂ is added to a metal complex to form a metal dihydride. Examples of PHIP are found in ruthenium phosphine-catalyzed hydrogenations, catalysis by binuclear rhodium complexes, and in H₂ oxidative addition to Ir(I) complexes. The decay of polarization has been shown in the case of asymmetric hydrogenation catalyzed by Rh(chiraphos)⁺ to correlate well with the measured rate of reaction. For asymmetric hydrogenation of aprotic substrates using Noyori's Ru(BINAP)(OAc)₂ catalyst (1), PHIP is observed indicating a pairwise hydrogen transfer mechanism. Through the signal enhancement of PHIP, it has been possible to observe Rh hydride species never previously detected including binuclear complexes in the reaction of H₂ with RhCl(CO)(PR₃)₂ (R = Ph, Me) and in hydrogenation catalysis promoted by RhCl(PPh₃)₃. Also observed in the hydrogenation catalysis is the putative olefin dihydride catalytic intermediate.     

Hydroformylation – amidocarbonylation of androstene and pregnene derivatives

Androstene and pregnene derivatives were functionalized by amides with rhodium or binary rhodium–cobalt catalysts. Whereas the Rh–PPh₃ catalyzed reaction results in the unsaturated amido‐methylidene derivatives, the rapid hydrogenation of these compounds takes place in the presence of a basic PR₃ ligand. Using a binary rhodium–cobalt system, amidocarbonylation of the steroids occurs with high chemo‐ and regio‐selectivity. Our experiments did not support literature reports claiming the essential role of a bimetallic cluster as the active catalyst. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inducing Axial Chirality in a Supramolecular Catalyst

A new type of ligand, which is able to form axially chiral, supramolecular complexes was designed using DFT calculations. Two chiral monomers, each featuring a covalently bound chiral auxiliary, form a bidentate phosphine ligand with a twisted, hydrogen‐bonded backbone upon coordination to a transition metal center which results in two diastereomeric, tropos complexes. The ratio of the diastereomers in solution is very temperature‐ and solvent‐dependent. Rhodium and platinum complexes were analyzed through a combination of NMR studies, ESI‐MS measurements, as well as UV‐VIS and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The chiral self‐organized ligands were evaluated in the rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α‐dehydrogenated amino acids and resulted in good conversion and high enantioselectivity. This research opens the way for new ligand designs based on stereocontrol of supramolecular assemblies through stereodirecting chiral centers.     

Rhodium(I)‐Catalyzed Decarbonylative Spirocyclization through C?C Bond Cleavage of Benzocyclobutenones: An Efficient Approach to Functionalized Spirocycles

The rhodium‐catalyzed formation of all‐carbon spirocenters involves a decarbonylative coupling of trisubstituted cyclic olefins and benzocyclobutenones through C C activation. The metal–ligand combination [{Rh(CO)₂Cl}₂]/P(C₆F₅)₃ catalyzed this transformation most efficiently. A range of diverse spirocycles were synthesized in good to excellent yields and many sensitive functional groups were tolerated. A mechanistic study supports a hydrogen‐transfer process that occurs through a β‐H elimination/decarbonylation pathway.     

Design and Synthesis of Isocyanide Ligands for Catalysis: Application to Rh‐Catalyzed Hydrosilylation of Ketones

New isocyanide ligands with meta‐terphenyl backbones were synthesized. 2,6‐Bis[3,5‐bis(trimethylsilyl)phenyl]‐4‐methylphenyl isocyanide exhibited the highest rate acceleration in rhodium‐catalyzed hydrosilylation among other isocyanide and phosphine ligands tested in this study. ¹H NMR spectroscopic studies on the coordination behavior of the new ligands to [Rh(cod)₂]BF₄ indicated that 2,6‐bis[3,5‐bis(trimethylsilyl)phenyl]‐4‐methylphenyl isocyanide exclusively forms the biscoordinated rhodium–isocyanide complex, whereas less sterically demanding isocyanide ligands predominantly form tetracoordinated rhodium–isocyanide complexes. FTIR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic studies on the hydrosilylation reaction mixture with the rhodium–isocyanide catalyst showed that the major catalytic species responsible for the hydrosilylation activity is the Rh complex coordinated with the isocyanide ligand. DFT calculations of model compounds revealed the higher affinity of isocyanides for rhodium relative to phosphines. The combined effect of high ligand affinity for the rhodium atom and the bulkiness of the ligand, which facilitates the formation of a catalytically active, monoisocyanide–rhodium species, is proposed to account for the catalytic efficiency of the rhodium–bulky isocyanide system in hydrosilylation.     

Hydrogenation of Borylated Arenes

A cis‐selective hydrogenation of abundant aryl boronic acids and their derivatives catalyzed by rhodium cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (Rh–CAAC) is reported. The reaction tolerates a variety of boron‐protecting groups and provides direct access to a broad scope of saturated, borylated carbo‐ and heterocycles with various functional groups. The transformation is strategically important because the versatile saturated boronate products are difficult to prepare by other methods. The utility of the saturated cyclic building blocks was demonstrated by post‐functionalization of the boron group.     

1,4‐Migration of Transition Metals in Organic Synthesis

Generation of carbon‐metal species is extremely important in transition metal‐catalyzed organic synthesis. Among the various methods, 1,4‐metal migration is a very useful way to create new carbon‐metal species, which are not readily accessible via classic methods. This review summarized recent advances in transition metal‐catalyzed reactions, which involved one or more steps of 1,4‐metal migration. It focused mostly on the achievements in Pd and Rh‐catalyzed reactions, along with some of the remarkable results in Pt, Ir, Co, Fe‐involved transformations.     

Aqueous phase transfer hydrogenation of aryl ketones catalysed by achiral ruthenium(II) and rhodium(III) complexes and their papain conjugates

Several ruthenium and rhodium complexes including 2,2′‐dipyridylamine ligands substituted at the central N atom by an alkyl chain terminated by a maleimide functional group were tested along with a newly synthesized Rh(III) complex of unsubstituted 2,2′‐dipyridylamine as catalysts in the transfer hydrogenation of aryl ketones in neat water with formate as hydrogen donor. All of them except one led to the secondary alcohol products with conversion rates depending on the metal complex. Site‐specific anchoring of the N‐maleimide complexes to the single free cysteine residue of the cysteine endoproteinase papain endowed this protein with transfer hydrogenase properties towards 2,2,2‐trifluoroacetophenone. Quantitative conversions were reached with the Rh‐based biocatalysts, while modest enantioselectivities were obtained in certain reactional conditions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure 1,2,3,4‐Tetrahydro‐β‐carbolines and N‐Acyl‐1‐aryl Ethylamines by Rhodium‐Catalyzed Hydrogenation

The rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of different enamides, in particular, dihydro‐β‐carboline derivates, was investigated in the presence of chiral phosphorus ligands. Enantioselectivities of up to 99 % ee were obtained after ligand screening and optimization of the reaction conditions. The scope and limitation of the catalysts were shown in the synthesis of optically active tetrahydro‐β‐carbolines and other benchmark N‐acyl‐1‐aryl ethylamines.