Orthopalladated and -platinated bulky triarylphosphite complexes: synthesis,reactivity and application as high-activity catalysts for Suzuki and Stille coupling reactions

Bulky triarylphosphite ligands undergo facile orthometallation reactions with palladium and platinum precursors. The crystal structure of an example of the resultant palladacycles has been determined. The reactivity of some of the metallacycles with HCl, monodentate and bidentate phosphines and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate has been investigated, and the crystal structure of a diethyldithiocarbamate adduct of a palladacycle is presented. The palladacyclic complexes prove to be extremely active catalysts for the Suzuki coupling of aryl bromides with aryl boronic acids. They can also be used as catalysts for the coupling of alkylboronic acids. Meanwhile di- and trialkyl phosphine adducts of one of the palladacycles shows very high activity in the Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides and can also be used to good effect for the Stille coupling of these substrates. The role of the phosphite ligand in the Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides seems to be one of increasing catalyst longevity by stabilisation of the Pd(0) resting state.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxidative Intermolecular Difunctionalization of Terminal Alkenes with Organostannanes and Molecular Oxygen

A cationic palladium complex catalyzes the title transformations, which are thought to proceed via a π‐allyl or π‐benzyl intermediate. The regioselectivity of the reaction (1,2‐ or 1,1‐difunctionalization) depends on the type of terminal double bond (conjugated or nonconjugated) in the substrate (see scheme) and appears to be controlled by the relative rates of β‐hydride elimination and transmetalation. DMA=dimethylacetamide, Tf=triflyl.

     

Surface-inspired molecular vanadium oxide catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of alcohols: evidence for metal cooperation and peroxide intermediates

On the basis that thiacalix[4]arene (H(4)T4A) complex (PPh(4) )(2) [H(2)T4A(VO(2))](2) (Ia) was found to be an adequate functional model for surface species occurring on vanadium oxide based catalysts and itself catalyses the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of alcohols, an analogue containing 2,2'-thiobis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenolate), (S)L(2-), as ligand, namely, (PPh(4))(2)[(S)LVO(2)](2) (II) was investigated in the same context. Despite the apparent similarity of Ia and II, studies on II revealed several novel insights, which are also valuable in connection with surfaces of vanadia catalysts: 1) For Ia and II similar turnover numbers (TONs) were found for the ODH of activated alcohols, which indicates that the additional OH units inherent to Ia do not contribute particularly to the activity of this complex, for instance, through prebinding of the alcohol. 2) On dissolution II enters into an equilibrium with a monomeric form, which is the predominant species in solution; nevertheless, ODH proceeds exclusively at the dimeric form, and this stresses the need for cooperation of two vanadium centres. 3) By omitting O(2) from the system during the oxidation of 9-fluorenol, the reduced form of the catalyst could be isolated and fully characterised (including single-crystal X-ray analysis). The corresponding intermediate had been elusive in case of thiacalixarene system Ia. 4) Reoxidation was found to proceed via a peroxide intermediate that also oxidises one alcohol equivalent. As the peroxide can also perform mono- and dioxygenation of the thioether group in II, after a number of turnovers the active catalyst contains a sulfone group. The reduced form of this ultimate catalyst was also isolated and structurally characterised. Possible implications of 1)-4) for the function of heterogeneous vanadia catalysts are discussed.     

Catalytic Activity of Cationic and Neutral Silver(I)–XPhos Complexes with Nitrogen Ligands or Tolylsulfonate for Mannich and Aza‐Diels–Alder Coupling Reactions

Cationic and neutral silver(I)–L complexes (L=Buchwald‐type biaryl phosphanes) with nitrogen co‐ligands or organosulfonate counter ions have been synthesised and characterised through their structural and spectroscopic properties. At room temperature, both cationic and neutral silver(I)–L complexes are extremely active catalysts in the promotion of the single and double A³ coupling of terminal (di)alkynes, pyrrolidine and formaldehyde. In addition, the aza‐Diels–Alder two‐ and three‐component coupling reactions of Danishefsky’s diene with an imine or amine and aldehyde are efficiently catalysed by these cationic or neutral silver(I)–L complexes. The solvent influences the catalytic performance due to limited complex solubility or solvent decomposition and reactivity. The isolation of new silver(I)–L complexes with reagents as ligands lends support to mechanistic proposals for such catalytic processes. The activity, stability and metal–distal arene interaction of these silver(I)–L catalysts have been compared with those of analogous cationic gold(I) and copper(I) complexes.     

Carbonylation of nitrobenzene in methanol with palladium bidentate phosphane complexes: an unexpectedly complex network of catalytic reactions, centred around a Pd-imido intermediate

The reactivity of palladium complexes of bidentate diaryl phosphane ligands (P₂) was studied in the reaction of nitrobenzene with CO in methanol. Careful analysis of the reaction mixtures revealed that, besides the frequently reported reduction products of nitrobenzene [methyl phenyl carbamate (MPC), N,N′‐diphenylurea (DPU), aniline, azobenzene (Azo) and azoxybenzene (Azoxy)], large quantities of oxidation products of methanol were co‐produced (dimethyl carbonate (DMC), dimethyl oxalate (DMO), methyl formate (MF), H₂O, and CO). From these observations, it is concluded that several catalytic processes operate simultaneously, and are coupled via common catalytic intermediates. Starting from a P₂Pd⁰ compound formed in situ, oxidation to a palladium imido compound P₂Pd^II?NPh, can be achieved by de‐oxygenation of nitrobenzene 1) with two molecules of CO, 2) with two molecules of CO and the acidic protons of two methanol molecules, or 3) with all four hydrogen atoms of one methanol molecule. Reduction of P₂Pd^II?NPh to P₂Pd⁰ makes the overall process catalytic, while at the same time forming Azo(xy), MPC, DPU and aniline. It is proposed that the Pd–imido species is the central key intermediate that can link together all reduction products of nitrobenzene and all oxidation products of methanol in one unified mechanistic scheme. The relative occurrence of the various catalytic processes is shown to be dependent on the characteristics of the catalysts, as imposed by the ligand structure.     

Monometallic Ni0 and Heterobimetallic Ni0/AuI Complexes of Tripodal Phosphine Ligands: Characterization in Solution and in the Solid State and Catalysis

The tridentate chelate nickel complexes [(CO)Ni{(PPh₂CH₂)₃CMe}] ( 2 ), [(CO)Ni{(PPh₂CH₂CH₂)₃SiMe}] ( 6 ), and [Ph₃PNi{(PPh₂CH₂CH₂)₃SiMe}] ( 7 ), as well as the bidentate complex [(CO)₂Ni{(PPh₂CH₂)₂CMeCH₂PPh₂}] ( 3 ) and the heterobimetallic complex [(CO)₂Ni{(PPh₂CH₂)₂CMeCH₂Ph₂PAuCl}] ( 4 ), have been synthesized and fully characterized in solution. All ¹H and ¹³C NMR signal assignments are based on 2D‐NMR methods. Single crystal X‐ray structures have been obtained for all complexes. Their ³¹P CP/MAS (cross polarization with magic angle spinning) NMR spectra have been recorded and the isotropic lines identified. The signals were assigned with the help of their chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) data. All complexes have been tested regarding their catalytic activity for the cyclotrimerization of phenylacetylene. Whereas complexes 2 – 4 display low catalytic activity, complex 7 leads to quantitative conversion of the substrate within four hours and is highly selective throughout the catalytic reaction.     

Diaminocarbene- and Fischer-carbene complexes of palladium and nickel by oxidative insertion: preparation, structure, and catalytic activity

Oxidative insertion of [Pd(PPh3)4] or [Ni(cod)2]/PPh3 into the C-Cl bond of various 2-chloroimidazolinium- and other -amidinium salts affords metal-diaminocarbene complexes in good to excellent yields. This procedure is complementary to existing methodology in which the central metal does not change its oxidation state, and therefore allows to incorporate carbene fragments that are difficult to access otherwise. The preparation of a variety of achiral as well as enantiomerically pure, chiral metal-NHC complexes (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) and metal complexes with acyclic diaminocarbene ligands illustrates this aspect. Furthermore it is shown that oxidative insertion also paves a way to prototype Fischer carbenes of Pd(II). Since the required starting materials are readily available from urea- or thiourea derivatives, this novel approach allows for substantial structural variations of the ligand backbone. The catalytic performance of the resulting library of nickel- and palladium-carbene complexes has been evaluated by applications to prototype Suzuki-, Heck-, and Kumada-Corriu cross-coupling reactions as well as Buchwald-Hartwig aminations. It was found that even Fischer carbenes show appreciable catalytic activity. Moreover, representative examples of all types of neutral and cationic metal-carbene complexes formed in this study have been characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

Nickel(II) complexes of bidentate N-heterocyclic carbene/phosphine ligands: efficient catalysts for Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides

Nickel(II) complexes of bidentate N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)/phosphane ligand L were prepared and structurally characterized. Unlike palladium, which forms [PdCl(2)(L)], the stable nickel product isolated is the ionic [Ni(L)(2)]Cl(2). These Ni(II) complexes are highly robust in air. Among different N-substituents on the ligand framework, the nickel complex of ligand L bearing N-1-naphthylmethyl groups (2 a) is a highly effective catalyst for Suzuki cross-coupling between phenylboronic acid and a range of aryl halides, including unreactive aryl chlorides. The activities of 2 a are largely superior to those of other reported nickel NHC complexes and their palladium counterparts. Unlike the previously reported [NiCl(2)(dppe)] (dppe=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane), 2 a can effectively catalyze the cross-coupling reaction without the need for a catalytic amount of PPh(3), and this suggests that the PPh(2) functionality of hybrid NHC ligand L can partially take on the role of free PPh(3). However, for unreactive aryl chlorides at low catalyst loading, the presence of PPh(3) accelerates the reaction.     

UC Pd: A New Form of Pd/C for Sonogashira Couplings

Screening of different sources of Pd/C shows reagents of highly variable nanoparticle sizes and oxidation states of the metal. Typically, catalysts with higher surface area are viewed as likely to be the more reactive. In this paper a new form of Pd/C, “UC Pd” is described that is shown to contain larger nanoparticles yet it is the most reactive catalyst of those sold commercially for Sonogashira coupling reactions. UC Pd functions efficiently in the absence of a copper co‐catalyst, under very mild and “green” conditions using inexpensive 95 % EtOH at 50 °C. It is also the only form of Pd/C that can be recycled. In side‐by‐side reactions with several commercially available forms of Pd/C, none compete successfully with UC Pd under standardized conditions. Physical data obtained from extensive surface analysis using TEM, XRD, XPS, and CO‐TPD measurements lead to an explanation behind the unique reactivity of this new recyclable form of Pd/C.     

Neutral nickel oligo- and polymerization catalysts: the importance of alkyl phosphine intermediates in chain termination

An unconventional chain termination reaction has been explored for the SHOP (Shell higher olefin process)-type, anilinotropone, and salicylaldiminato nickel-based oligo- and polymerization catalysts by using density functional theory (DFT). Starting from the tetracoordinate alkyl phosphine complex, the termination reaction was found to involve a rearrangement of the alkyl chain to form a pentacoordinate β-agostic complex, β-hydride elimination, and olefinic chain dissociation and to compete with propagation at sufficiently high phosphine concentration and/or basicity. It provides the first complete and convincing mechanistic rationale for the decreasing chain lengths observed upon increasing phosphine concentration and basicity. The unconventional reaction was found to be a major termination pathway for the SHOP-type catalyst and is very unlikely to lead to branching and olefin isomerization, which is critical for explaining why the SHOP catalyst, in contrast to the anilinotropone and salicylaldiminato catalysts, tends to lead to the oligomerization of ethylene to form linear α-olefins. Based on our results we have proposed a new and extended catalytic cycle for the SHOP-type ethylene oligomerization catalyst. Finally, the importance of the new termination reaction for the SHOP-type catalyst suggests that this reaction may also operate with other ethylene oligomerization nickel catalysts. This prediction was confirmed for a pyrazolonatophosphine catalyst, for which the new termination route was found to be even more facile, which explains the short oligomers produced by this catalyst.     

Pd/MOF‐199: As an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the Suzukie Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction

Successful deposition of Pd nanoparticles is described using MOF‐199 as a support. Various characterization techniques including FTIR, XRD, SEM, BET‐BJH, TG‐DTA, and NH₃‐TPD were used to verify the efficiency of catalysts. Pd/MOF‐199 is utilized as a catalyst for Suzukie Miyaura reactions with reasonable to excellent reaction yields under reflux conditions in H₂O: ethanol solvent.     

Amination with Pd-NHC complexes: rate and computational studies on the effects of the oxidative addition partner

Pd-PEPPSI-IPent, a recently-developed N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex, has been evaluated in amination reactions with secondary amines and it has shown superb reactivity under the most mildly basic reaction conditions. Rate and computational studies were conducted to provide insight into the mechanism of the transformation. The IPent catalyst coordinates to the amine much more strongly than the IPr variant, thus favouring deprotonation with comparatively weak bases. Indeed the reaction is first order in base and only slightly more than zeroth order in amine.     

Identification of a Highly Efficient Alkylated Pincer Thioimido–Palladium(II) Complex as the Active Catalyst in Negishi Coupling

Pd ^II ate complex : A novel alkylated pincer thioimido–Pd complex generated from a catalyst precursor and basic organometallic reagents (RM) was observed by in situ IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies for the first time and proved to be the active catalyst in stoichiometric and catalytic reactions of aryl iodides with RM (see scheme). The catalyst, as an electron‐rich Pd^II species, promoted the Negishi coupling of aryl iodides and alkylzinc reagents with high efficiency, even at low temperatures (0 or ?20 °C).