Ruthenium‐Catalyzed trans‐Selective Hydrostannation of Alkynes

In contrast to all other transition‐metal‐catalyzed hydrostannation reactions documented in the literature, the addition of Bu₃SnH across various types of alkynes proceeds with excellent trans selectivity, provided the reaction is catalyzed by [Cp*Ru]‐based complexes. This method is distinguished by a broad substrate scope and a remarkable compatibility with functional groups, including various substituents that would neither survive under the conditions of established Lewis acid mediated trans hydrostannations nor withstand free‐radical reactions. In case of unsymmetrical alkynes, a cooperative effect between the proper catalyst and protic functionality in the substrate allows outstanding levels of regioselectivity to be secured as well.     

Highly Efficient Chemical Process To Convert Mucic Acid into Adipic Acid and DFT Studies of the Mechanism of the Rhenium‐Catalyzed Deoxydehydration

The production of bulk chemicals and fuels from renewable bio‐based feedstocks is of significant importance for the sustainability of human society. Adipic acid, as one of the most‐demanded drop‐in chemicals from a bioresource, is used primarily for the large‐volume production of nylon‐6,6 polyamide. It is highly desirable to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly processes for the production of adipic acid from renewable feedstocks. However, currently there is no suitable bio‐adipic acid synthesis process. Demonstrated herein is the highly efficient synthetic protocol for the conversion of mucic acid into adipic acid through the oxorhenium‐complex‐catalyzed deoxydehydration (DODH) reaction and subsequent Pt/C‐catalyzed transfer hydrogenation. Quantitative yields (99 %) were achieved for the conversion of mucic acid into muconic acid and adipic acid either in separate sequences or in a one‐step process.     

Crystal‐Plane‐Controlled Selectivity of Cu2O Catalysts in Propylene Oxidation with Molecular Oxygen

The selective oxidation of propylene with O₂ to propylene oxide and acrolein is of great interest and importance. We report the crystal‐plane‐controlled selectivity of uniform capping‐ligand‐free Cu₂O octahedra, cubes, and rhombic dodecahedra in catalyzing propylene oxidation with O₂: Cu₂O octahedra exposing {111} crystal planes are most selective for acrolein; Cu₂O cubes exposing {100} crystal planes are most selective for CO₂; Cu₂O rhombic dodecahedra exposing {110} crystal planes are most selective for propylene oxide. One‐coordinated Cu on Cu₂O(111), three‐coordinated O on Cu₂O(110), and two‐coordinated O on Cu₂O(100) were identified as the catalytically active sites for the production of acrolein, propylene oxide, and CO₂, respectively. These results reveal that crystal‐plane engineering of oxide catalysts could be a useful strategy for developing selective catalysts and for gaining fundamental understanding of complex heterogeneous catalytic reactions at the molecular level.     

Functionalization of Alkynes by a (Salen)ruthenium(VI) Nitrido Complex

Exploring new reactivity of metal nitrides is of great interest because it can give insights to N₂ fixation chemistry and provide new methods for nitrogenation of organic substrates. In this work, reaction of a (salen)ruthenium(VI) nitrido complex with various alkynes results in the formation of novel (salen)ruthenium(III) imine complexes. Kinetic and computational studies suggest that the reactions go through an initial ruthenium(IV) aziro intermediate, followed by addition of nucleophiles to give the (salen)ruthenium(III) imine complexes. These unprecedented reactions provide a new pathway for nitrogenation of alkynes based on a metal nitride.     

Competitive Reaction Pathways for the Gas‐Phase Reactivity of [Me2AlNH2]3

Reaction energy profiles for [Me₂AlNH₂]₃ have been computationally explored by using density functional theory. Both intra‐ and intermolecular methane elimination reactions, as well as Al?N bond‐breaking pathways, were considered. The results show that the energy required for Al?N bond breaking in cyclic [Me₂AlNH₂]₃ is of the same order of magnitude as the activation energies for the first (limiting) step of methane elimination (for both mono‐ and bimolecular mechanisms). Thus, dissociative and associative reaction pathways are competitive. Low‐temperature/high‐pressure conditions will favor the bimolecular pathway, whereas at high temperatures, either intramolecular methane elimination or Al?N bond‐breaking dissociative pathways will be operational.     

Gas‐Phase Reaction of CeV2O7+ with C2H4: Activation of CC and CH Bonds

The reactivity of metal oxide clusters toward hydrocarbon molecules can be changed, tuned, or controlled by doping. Cerium‐doped vanadium cluster cations CeV₂O₇⁺ are generated by laser ablation, mass‐selected by a quadrupole mass filter, and then reacted with C₂H₄ in a linear ion trap reactor. The reaction is characterized by a reflectron time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer. Three types of reaction channels are observed: 1) single oxygen‐atom transfer , 2) double oxygen‐atom transfer , and 3) C?C bond cleavage. This study provides the first bimetallic oxide cluster ion, CeV₂O₇⁺, which gives rise to C?C bond cleavage of ethene. Neither Ce_xO_y^± nor V_xO_y^± alone possess the necessary topological and electronic properties to bring about such a reaction.     

Reactivity of Metal Catalysts in Glucose–Fructose Conversion

A joint experimental and computational study on the glucose–fructose conversion in water is reported. The reactivity of different metal catalysts (CrCl₃, AlCl₃, CuCl₂, FeCl₃, and MgCl₂) was analyzed. Experimentally, CrCl₃ and AlCl₃ achieved the best glucose conversion rates, CuCl₂ and FeCl₃ were only mediocre catalysts, and MgCl₂ was inactive. To explain these differences in reactivity, DFT calculations were performed for various metal complexes. The computed mechanism consists of two proton transfers and a hydrogen‐atom transfer; the latter was the rate‐determining step for all catalysts. The computational results were consistent with the experimental findings and rationalized the observed differences in the behavior of the metal catalysts. To be an efficient catalyst, a metal complex should satisfy the following criteria: moderate Brønsted and Lewis acidity (pK_a=4–6), coordination with either water or weaker σ donors, energetically low‐lying unoccupied orbitals, compact transition‐state structures, and the ability for complexation of glucose. Thus, the reactivity of the metal catalysts in water is governed by many factors, not just the Lewis acidity.     

The Mechanism of Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Hydroalkoxylation of Alkynes: An Extensive Experimental Study

An extensive experimental study of the mechanism of gold(I)‐catalyzed hydroalkoxylation of internal alkynes has been conducted by using NMR spectroscopy. This study was focused on the organogold intermediates, observations of actual catalytic intermediates in situ, and the reaction kinetics that are involved in this reaction. Based on the experimental results, a complete mechanistic picture was established, including on‐ and off‐cycle processes that explain the role of diaurated species. We have shown that gold‐catalyzed hydroalkoxylation of internal alkynes is a reaction that requires only one gold atom for the catalytic cycle, disproving a recent hypothesis regarding the involvement of cooperative gold catalysis.     

Dynamic Effects Dictate the Mechanism and Selectivity of Dehydration–Rearrangement Reactions of Protonated Alcohols [Me2(R)CCH(OH2)Me]+ (R=Me,Et, iPr) in the Gas Phase

The gas‐phase dehydration–rearrangement (DR) reactions of protonated alcohols [Me₂(R)CCH(OH₂)Me]⁺ [R=Me ( ME ), Et ( ET ), and iPr ( I‐PR )] were studied by using static approaches (intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC), Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus theory) and dynamics (quasiclassical trajectory) simulations at the B3LYP/6‐31G(d) level of theory. The concerted mechanism involves simultaneous water dissociation and alkyl migration, whereas in the stepwise reaction pathway the dehydration step leads to a secondary carbocation intermediate followed by alkyl migration. Internal rotation (IR) can change the relative position of the migrating alkyl group and the leaving group (water), so distinct products may be obtained: [Me(R)CCH(Me)Me ??? OH₂]⁺ and [Me(Me)CCH(R)Me ??? OH₂]⁺. The static approach predicts that these reactions are concerted, with the selectivity towards these different products determined by the proportion of the conformers of the initial protonated alcohols. These selectivities are explained by the DR processes being much faster than IR. These results are in direct contradiction with the dynamics simulations, which indicate a predominantly stepwise mechanism and selectivities that depend on the alkyl groups and dynamics effects. Indeed, despite the lifetimes of the secondary carbocations being short (<0.5 ps), IR can take place and thus provide a rich selectivity. These different selectivities, particularly for ET and I‐PR , are amenable to experimental observation and provide evidence for the minor role played by potential‐energy surface and the relevance of the dynamics effects (non‐IRC pathways, IR) in determining the reaction mechanisms and product distribution (selectivity).     

On the Importance of Decarbonylation as a Side‐Reaction in the Ruthenium‐Catalysed Dehydrogenation of Alcohols: A Combined Experimental and Density Functional Study

We report a density functional study (B97‐D2 level) of the mechanism(s) operating in the alcohol decarbonylation that occurs as an important side‐reaction during dehydrogenation catalysed by [RuH₂(H₂)(PPh₃)₃]. By using MeOH as the substrate, three distinct pathways have been fully characterised involving either neutral tris‐ or bis‐phosphines or anionic bis‐phosphine complexes after deprotonation. α‐Agostic formaldehyde and formyl complexes are key intermediates, and the computed rate‐limiting barriers are similar between the various decarbonylation and dehydrogenation paths. The key steps have also been studied for reactions involving EtOH and iPrOH as substrates, rationalising the known resistance of the latter towards decarbonylation. Kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) were predicted computationally for all pathways and studied experimentally for one specific decarbonylation path designed to start from [RuH(OCH₃)(PPh₃)₃]. From the good agreement between computed and experimental KIEs (observed k_H/k_D=4), the rate‐limiting step for methanol decarbonylation has been ascribed to the formation of the first agostic intermediate from a transient formaldehyde complex.