Oxidative dimerization of primary alcohols to esters catalyzed by iridium complexes

Primary alcohols undergo efficiently oxidative dimerization by iridium complexes under air without any solvent to form esters in fair to good yields. For instance, the reaction of 1-dodecanol in the presence of [IrCl(coe)₂]₂ (3 mol %) at 95 °C for 15 h produced dodecyl dodecanoate in 91% isolated yield. This is the first successful Ir-catalyzed oxidative dimerization of primary alcohols to esters using air as an oxidant. Various primary alcohols are converted to the corresponding esters in fair to good yields.     

Monoalkylation of acetonitrile by primary alcohols catalyzed by iridium complexes

The monoalkylation of acetonitrile by primary alcohols was achieved in a one-pot sequence in the presence of iridium catalysts. A diversity of nitriles has been obtained from aryl- and alkyl-methanols in excellent yield.     

Head-to-tail dimerization of acrylates catalyzed by iridium complexes

Head-to-tail dimerizations of acrylates and vinyl ketone were successfully performed by the use of iridium complexes in good yields. An iridium hydride complex generated in situ from [IrCl(cod)]2 and alcohols in the presence of Na2CO3 and (MeO)3P was found to be an active species promoting the head-to-tail dimerization of acrylates. Thus, butyl acrylate afforded the corresponding head-to-tail dimer in 86% yield.     

Aerobic oxidation of primary alcohols catalyzed by copper complexes of 1,10-phenanthroline-derived ligands

Five copper complexes [(L(1))(2)Cu(H(2)O)](ClO(4))(2) (1), [(L(1))Cu(H(2)O)(3)](ClO(4))(2) (1a), [(L(3))(2)Cu(H(2)O)](ClO(4))(2) (2), [(L(5))(2)Cu(H(2)O)](ClO(4))(2) (3) and [(L(6))(2)Cu](ClO(4)) (4) (where L(1) = 1,10-phenanthroline, L(3) = 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione, L(5) = 1,10-phenanthrolinefuroxan and L(6) = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthrolinefuroxan), and in situ prepared copper complexes of 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (L(2)) or 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthrolinedione (L(4)) were used for aerial oxidation of primary alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes under ambient conditions. The copper catalysts have been found to catalyze a series of primary alcohols including one secondary alcohol with moderate turnover numbers and selectivity towards primary alcohols. Copper(ii) complexes 1 (or 1a) and 2 were found to be the better catalysts among all other systems explored in this study. A copper(ii)-superoxo species is implicated to initiate the oxidation reaction. Structural and electronic factors of 1,10-phenanthroline-based ligands affecting the catalytic results for aerial oxidation of alcohols are discussed.     

Dehydrogenation of aliphatic polyolefins catalyzed by pincer-ligated iridium complexes

We report the first example of the catalytic dehydrogenation of aliphatic polyolefins to give partially unsaturated hydrocarbon polymers.     

Oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes catalyzed by ruthenium compounds

The RuCl₃ and RuO₂·nH₂O catalyzed oxidation of alkanes, aromatic fatty acids, alcohols, citronellol, and hydroxycitronellol by NaOCl was studied in the diphase system CCl₄-aqueous NaOCl at pH 13–13.5. At 60–65°C, using 1–2 mole % of catalyst and a 1.5-fold molar excess of NaOCl, primary alkanols (hexanol-1, 2-ethylhexanol-1, decanol-1, hexadecanol-1) benzyl and 3-phenyl-propyl alcohols, and hydroxycitronellol are converted to the corresponding aldehydes with a selectivity of 70–90% and a yield of over 75%.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 115–121, January, 1991.     

Alkylation of active methylene compounds with alcohols catalyzed by an iridium complex

Base-free catalytic alpha-alkylation of active methylene compounds with primary alcohols was successfully achieved using an [IrCl(cod)](2) complex in the presence of PPh(3) to afford the corresponding saturated alpha-alkylated products in good yields.     

Mechanistic investigations of imine hydrogenation catalyzed by cationic iridium complexes

Complexes [IrH2(eta6-C6H6)(PiPr3)]BF4 (1) and [IrH2(NCMe)3(PiPr3)]BF4 (2) are catalyst precursors for homogeneous hydrogenation of N-benzylideneaniline under mild conditions. Precursor 1 generates the resting state [IrH2{eta5-(C6H5)NHCH2Ph}(PiPr3)]BF4 (3), while 2 gives rise to a mixture of [IrH{PhN=CH(C6H4)-kappaN,C}(NCMe)2(PiPr3)]BF4 (4) and [IrH{PhN=CH(C6H4)-kappaN,C}(NCMe)(NH2Ph)(PiPr3)]BF4 (5), in which the aniline ligand is derived from hydrolysis of the imine. The less hindered benzophenone imine forms the catalytically inactive, doubly cyclometalated compound [Ir{HN=CPh(C6H4)-kappaN,C}2(NH2CHPh2)(PiPr3)]BF4 (6). Hydrogenations with precursor 1 are fast and their reaction profiles are strongly dependent on solvent, concentrations, and temperature. Significant induction periods, minimized by addition of the amine hydrogenation product, are commonly observed. The catalytic rate law (THF) is rate = k[1][PhN=CHPh]p(H2). The results of selected stoichiometric reactions of potential catalytic intermediates exclude participation of the cyclometalated compounds [IrH{PhN=CH(C6H4)-kappaN,C}(S)2(PiPr3)]BF4 [S = acetonitrile (4), [D6]acetone (7), [D4]methanol (8)] in catalysis. Reactions between resting state 3 and D2 reveal a selective sequence of deuterium incorporation into the complex which is accelerated by the amine product. Hydrogen bonding among the components of the catalytic reaction was examined by MP2 calculations on model compounds. The calculations allow formulation of an ionic, outer-sphere, bifunctional hydrogenation mechanism comprising 1) amine-assisted oxidative addition of H2 to 3, the result of which is equivalent to heterolytic splitting of dihydrogen, 2) replacement of a hydrogen-bonded amine by imine, and 3) simultaneous H delta+/H delta- transfer to the imine substrate from the NH moiety of an arene-coordinated amine ligand and the metal, respectively.     

Mechanistic investigations of imine hydrogenation catalyzed by dinuclear iridium complexes

Treatment of [Ir2(mu-H)(mu-Pz)2H3(NCMe)(PiPr3)2] (1) with one equivalent of HBF4 or [PhNH=CHPh]BF4 affords efficient catalysts for the homogeneous hydrogenation of N-benzylideneaniline. The reaction of 1 with HBF4 leads to the trihydride-dihydrogen complex [Ir2(mu-H)(mu-Pz)2H2(eta2-H2)(NCMe)(PiPr3)2]BF4 (2), which has been characterized by NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations on a model complex. Complex 2 reacts with imines such as tBuN=CHPh or PhN=CHPh to afford amine complexes [Ir2(mu-H)(mu-Pz)2H2(NCMe){L}(PiPr3)2]BF4 (L = NH(tBu)CH2Ph, 3; NH(Ph)CH2Ph, 4) through a sequence of proton- and hydride-transfer steps. Dihydrogen partially displaces the amine ligand of 4 to form 2; this complements a possible catalytic cycle for the N-benzylideneaniline hydrogenation in which the amine-by-dihydrogen substitution is the turnover-determining step. The rates of ligand substitution in 4 and its analogues with labile ligands other than amine are dependent upon the nature of the leaving ligand and independent on the incoming ligand concentration, in agreement with dissociative substitutions. Water complex [Ir2(mu-H)(mu-Pz)2H2(NCMe)(OH2)(PiPr3)2]BF4 (7) hydrolyzes N-benzylideneaniline, which eventually affords the poor hydrogenation catalyst [Ir2(mu-H)(mu-Pz)2H2(NCMe)(NH2Ph)(PiPr3)2]BF4 (11). The rate law for the catalytic hydrogenation in 1,2-dichloroethane with complex [Ir2(mu-H)(mu-Pz)2H2(OSO2CF3)(NCMe)(PiPr3)2] (8) as catalyst precursor is rate = k[8]{p(H2)}; this is in agreement with the catalytic cycle deduced from the stochiometric experiments. The hydrogenation reaction takes place at a single iridium center of the dinuclear catalyst, although ligand modifications at the neighboring iridium center provoke changes in the hydrogenation rate. Even though this catalyst system is also capable of effectively hydrogenating alkenes, N-benzylideneaniline can be selectively hydrogenated in the presence of simple alkenes.     

The Guerbet reaction applied to diodone

Summary The Guerbet reaction is a test for the presence of an aromatic nucleus. Diodone acid is found to give a positive test. The reaction has been followed step by step, the reaction products being separated by thin-layer chromatography and identified by mass spectrometry. The loss of the acetic acid group during the nitration step is remarkable.

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Zusammenfassung Die Reaktion von Guerbet dient zum Nachweis eines aromatischen Kernes. Diodonsäure gibt diesen Nachweis. Stufe für Stufe dieser Reaktion wurde verfolgt, wobei die Reaktionsprodukte dünnschicht-chromatographisch getrennt und massenspektroskopisch identifiziert wurden. Bemerkenswert ist der Verlust der Essigsäuregruppe im Verlauf der Nitrierung.

     

Asymmetric hydrogenation of quinolines catalyzed by iridium complexes of BINOL-derived diphosphonites

A chiral diphosphonite, derived from BINOL and with an achiral diphenyl ether backbone, is an excellent ligand for the Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of quinolines; achiral P-ligands serving as possible additives (ee = 73-96%).     

Highly efficient dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols catalyzed by iridium-CNP complexes

A new highly practical method is presented for dehydrogenation of secondary alcohols to the corresponding ketones catalyzed by the iridium-CNP complexes. The reactions are compatible with substrates bearing diverse functional groups and proceed efficiently under mild conditions.     

Direct N-alkylation of amino-azoles with alcohols catalyzed by an iridium complex/base system

The direct and regioselective N-alkylation of amino-azoles to the corresponding 2-N-(alkylamino)azoles using various alcohols as alkylating agents with good to excellent yields has been accomplished by an iridium complex/base system.     

Direct beta-alkylation of secondary alcohols with primary alcohols catalyzed by a CpIr complex

A new catalytic system for beta-alkylation of secondary alcohols has been developed. In the presence of [CpIrCl(2)](2) (Cp = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) catalyst and base, the reactions of various secondary alcohols with primary alcohols give beta-alkylated higher alcohols in good to excellent yields without any hydrogen acceptor or hydrogen donor. This reaction proceeds via successive hydrogen-transfer reactions and aldol condensation. [reaction: see text]     

Base-free Mizoroki-Heck reaction catalyzed by rhodium complexes

A base-free rhodium-catalyzed Mizoroki-Heck (M-H) reaction using potassium aryltrifluoroborates as the arylating agent of alkenes and acetone as a green "oxidant" is described. Thanks to the ready availability of organoboranes, this reaction should constitute an interesting alternative to conventional M-H reactions using aryl halides.     

Copper-catalyzed tandem reaction between imines and alcohols leading to indoles

A copper-catalyzed tandem reaction between 2-alkynyl-N-arylideneanilines and alcohols is found to produce N-(alkoxybenzyl)indoles in good to high yields. A wide variety of substituted N-(alkoxybenzyl)indole derivatives can be synthesized by utilizing this protocol, since the derived indoles are essentially formed by the four-component assemblies of aldehydes, 2-iodoanilines, terminal alkynes, and alcohols.     

Origins of enantioselectivity during allylic substitution reactions catalyzed by metallacyclic iridium complexes

In depth mechanistic studies of iridium catalyzed regioselective and enantioselective allylic substitution reactions are presented. A series of cyclometalated allyliridium complexes that are kinetically and chemically competent to be intermediates in the allylic substitution reactions was prepared and characterized by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopies and single-crystal X-ray difraction. The rates of epimerization of the less thermodynamically stable diastereomeric allyliridium complexes to the thermodynamically more stable allyliridium stereoisomers were measured. The rates of nucleophilic attack by aniline and by N-methylaniline on the isolated allyliridium complexes were also measured. Attack on the thermodynamically less stable allyliridium complex was found to be orders of magnitude faster than attack on the thermodynamically more stable complex, yet the major enantiomer of the catalytic reaction is formed from the more stable diastereomer. Comparison of the rates of nucleophilic attack to the rates of epimerization of the diastereomeric allyliridium complexes containing a weakly coordinating counterion showed that nucleophilic attack on the less stable allyliridium species is much faster than conversion of the less stable isomer to the more stable isomer. These observations imply that Curtin-Hammett conditions are not met during iridium catalyzed allylic substitution reactions by η(3)-η(1)-η(3) interconversion. Rather, these data imply that when these conditions exist for this reaction, they are created by reversible oxidative addition, and the high selectivity of this oxidative addition step to form the more stable diastereomeric allyl complex leads to the high enantioselectivity. The stereochemical outcome of the individual steps of allylic substitution was assessed by reactions of deuterium-labeled substrates. The allylic substitution was shown to occur by oxidative addition with inversion of configuration, followed by an outer sphere nucleophilic attack that leads to a second inversion of configuration. This result contrasts the changes in configuration that occur during reactions of molybdenum complexes studied with these substrates previously. In short, these studies show that the factors that control the enantioselectivity of iridium-catalyzed allylic substitution are distinct from those that control enantioselectivity during allylic substitution catalyzed by palladium or molybdenum complexes and lead to the unique combination of high regioselectivity, enantioselectivity, and scope of reactive nucleophile.     

Mechanism of the mild functionalization of arenes by diboron reagents catalyzed by iridium complexes. Intermediacy and chemistry of bipyridine-ligated iridium trisboryl complexes

This paper describes mechanistic studies on the functionalization of arenes with the diboron reagent B(2)pin(2) (bis-pinacolato diborane(4)) catalyzed by the combination of 4,4'-di-tert-butylbipyridine (dtbpy) and olefin-ligated iridium halide or olefin-ligated iridium alkoxide complexes. This work identifies the catalyst resting state as [Ir(dtbpy)(COE)(Bpin)(3)] (COE = cyclooctene, Bpin = 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolanyl). [Ir(dtbpy)(COE)(Bpin)(3)] was prepared by independent synthesis in high yield from [Ir(COD)(OMe)](2), dtbpy, COE, and HBpin. This complex is formed in low yield from [Ir(COD)(OMe)](2), dtbpy, COE, and B(2)pin(2). Kinetic studies show that this complex reacts with arenes after reversible dissociation of COE. An alternative mechanism in which the arene reacts with the Ir(I) complex [Ir(dtbpy)Bpin] after dissociation of COE and reductive elimination of B(2)pin(2) does not occur to a measurable extent. The reaction of [Ir(dtbpy)(COE)(Bpin)(3)] with arenes and the catalytic reaction of B(2)pin(2) with arenes catalyzed by [Ir(COD)(OMe)](2) and dtbpy occur faster with electron-poor arenes than with electron-rich arenes. However, both the stoichiometric and catalytic reactions also occur faster with the electron-rich heteroarenes thiophene and furan than with arenes, perhaps because eta(2)-heteroarene complexes are more stable than the eta(2)-arene complexes and the eta(2)-heteroarene or arene complexes are intermediates that precede oxidative addition. Kinetic studies on the catalytic reaction show that [Ir(dtbpy)(COE)(Bpin)(3)] enters the catalytic cycle by dissociation of COE, and a comparison of the kinetic isotope effects of the catalytic and stoichiometric reactions shows that the reactive intermediate [Ir(dtbpy)(Bpin)(3)] cleaves the arene C-H bond. The barriers for ligand exchange and C-H activation allow an experimental assessment of several conclusions drawn from computational work. Most generally, our results corroborate the conclusion that C-H bond cleavage is turnover-limiting, but the experimental barrier for this bond cleavage is much lower than the calculated barrier.     

Rearrangement of allyl homoallyl ethers to gamma,delta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds catalyzed by iridium complexes

Iridium complexes were found to promote the conversion of allyl homoallyl ethers to gamma,delta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. For example, treatment of 1-allyl-1-allyloxycyclohexane in the presence of catalytic amounts of [Ir(cod)Cl](2), PCy(3), and Cs(2)CO(3) in toluene at 100 degrees C afforded 4-cyclohexyliden-2, 3-dimethylbutanal in 74% yield. The reaction presumably proceeds through double bond migration to allyl vinyl ethers, which then undergo the Claisen rearrangement.