Catalysts for monooxygenations made from polyoxometalate: an iron(V)-oxo derivative of the Lindqvist anion

This work uses density functional calculations to design a new high-valent Fe(V)=O catalyst [Mo5O18Fe=O]3-, which is based on the Lindqvist polyoxometalate (Mo6O19(2-)). Because the parent species is stable to oxidative conditions, one may assume that the newly proposed iron-oxo species will be stable, too. The calculated M?ssbauer spectroscopic data may be helpful toward an eventual identification of the species. The calculations of C-H hydroxylation and C=C epoxidation of propene show that, if made, [Mo5O18Fe=O]3- should be a potent oxidant that will be subject to strong solvent effect. Moreover, the Lindqvist catalyst leads to an intriguing result; the reaction that starts along an epoxidation pathway with C=C activation ends with a C-H hydroxylation product ((4)6) due to rearrangement on the catalyst. The origins of this result are analyzed in terms of the structure of the catalyst and the electronic requirements for conversion of an epoxidation intermediate to a hydroxylation product. Thus, if made, the [Mo5O18Fe=O]3 will be a selective C-H hydroxylation reagent.     

Regioselectivity and diasteroselectivity in Pt(II)-mediated "green" catalytic epoxidation of terminal alkenes with hydrogen peroxide: mechanistic insight into a peculiar substrate selectivity

Recently developed electron-poor Pt(II) catalyst 1 with the "green" oxidant 35% hydrogen peroxide displays high activity and complete substrate selectivity in the epoxidation of terminal alkenes because of stringent steric and electronic requirements. In the presence of isolated dienes bearing terminal and internal double bonds, epoxidation is completely regioselective toward the production of terminal epoxides. Insight into the mechanism is gained by means of a reaction progress kinetic analysis approach that underlines the peculiar role of 1 in activating both the alkene and H2O2 in the rate-determining step providing a rare example of nucleophilic oxidation of alkenes by H2O2.     

Ketone Catalyzed Oxidation Reactions

Dioxiranes are important oxidants for organic reactions such as epoxidation, heteroatom oxidation and oxygenation of C-H bonds. We have developed a mild and general method for epoxidation of olefins using dioxiranes generated in situ from ketones and Oxone. This method has not only extended the synthetic utility of dioxiranes, but also allowed us to discover a series of novel cyclic ketones for catalytic oxidation. In particular, we have demonstrated the potential of chiral ketones for catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of trans-olefins and trisubstituted olefins. We have also explored the potential of ketones in catalyzing oxidation of unactivated C-H bonds and decomposition of peroxynitrite.     

Chemospecific chromium[VI] catalyzed oxidation of C-H bonds at -40 degrees C1

H5IO6 in the presence of catalytic chromoyl diacetate is a powerful method for oxidation of C-H bonds. Tertiary and oxygen activated C-H bonds are oxidized to tertiary alcohols or ketones at temperatures as low as -40 degrees C. The putative reagent is neutral dioxoperoxy chromium[VI] which undergoes C-H oxidation with retention of stereochemistry. This reagent appears to be the first reagent capable of oxidation of a C-H bond in the presence of an olefin without concomitant epoxidation.     

Predictable stereoselective and chemoselective hydroxylations and epoxidations with P450 3A4

Enantioselective hydroxylation of one specific methylene in the presence of many similar groups is debatably the most challenging chemical transformation. Although chemists have recently made progress toward the hydroxylation of inactivated C-H bonds, enzymes such as P450s (CYPs) remain unsurpassed in specificity and scope. The substrate promiscuity of many P450s is desirable for synthetic applications; however, the inability to predict the products of these enzymatic reactions is impeding advancement. We demonstrate here the utility of a chemical auxiliary to control the selectivity of CYP3A4 reactions. When linked to substrates, inexpensive, achiral theobromine directs the reaction to produce hydroxylation or epoxidation at the fourth carbon from the auxiliary with pro-R facial selectivity. This strategy provides a versatile yet controllable system for regio-, chemo-, and stereoselective oxidations at inactivated C-H bonds and demonstrates the utility of chemical auxiliaries to mediate the activity of highly promiscuous enzymes.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-kibdelone C

The kibdelones are aromatic polyketide natural products featuring isoquinolinone and tetrahydroxanthone ring systems. They display potent cytotoxicity toward a range of human cancer cell lines. Here, we present an enantioselective total synthesis of kibdelone C that utilizes a Shi epoxidation to establish the absolute and relative stereochemistry, an acid-catalyzed cyclization to form the tetrahydroxanthone, and a C-H arylation to complete the hexacyclic skeleton.     

A unique binaphthyl strapped iron-porphyrin catalyst for the enantioselective epoxidation of terminal olefins

A new chiral binaphthyl-strapped iron-porphyrin 4 b that exhibits unprecedented catalytic activity toward the enantioselective epoxidation of terminal olefins was synthesized. Typical enantiomeric excesses (ee) of 90 % were measured with a maximum of 97 % for the epoxidation of styrene, whereas the turnover numbers (TON) averaged 16000.     

1,4-Cyclohexadienes as mechanistic probes for the Jacobsen epoxidation: evidence for radical pathways

1,4-Cyclohexadienes allow a direct comparison of epoxidation and C-H oxidation within the same molecule and give evidence for radical pathways during the Jacobsen epoxidation.     

Oxo-bridged metal carbene complexes. Synthesis,structure and reactivities of [[Os(Por)(CPh2)]2]O (Por = porphyrinato dianion)

Dinuclear mu-oxo osmium porphyrins containing terminal Os=CPh2 bonds with a linear C=Os-O-Os=C moiety were prepared, which are reactive toward pyridine to form [Os(Por)(CPh2)(py)] and are active catalysts for inter- and intra-molecular cyclopropanation of alkenes and for carbene insertion into saturated C-H bonds.     

First direct evidence for stereospecific olefin epoxidation and alkane hydroxylation by an oxoiron(IV) porphyrin complex

We report in this study that an oxoiron(IV) porphyrin complex bearing electron-deficient porphyrin ligand, (TPFPP)FeIV=O (TPFPP = meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphinato dianion), shows reactivities similar to those found in oxoiron(IV) porphyrin pi-cation radicals. In the epoxidation of olefins by the (TPFPP)FeIV=O complex, epoxides were yielded as major products; cyclohexene oxide was the sole product formed in the epoxidation of cyclohexene, and stilbenes were stereospecifically oxidized to the corresponding epoxide products. More striking results were obtained in alkane hydroxylation reactions; the hydroxylation of adamantane afforded a high degree of selectivity for tertiary C-H bonds over secondary C-H bonds, and the hydroxylation of cis-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane yielded a tertiary alcohol product with >99% retention of stereochemistry. The latter result demonstrates that an oxoiron(IV) porphyrin complex hydroxylates alkanes with a high stereospecificity. Isotope labeling studies performed with H218O and 18O2 in the olefin epoxidation and alkane hydroxylation reactions demonstrated that oxygen atoms in oxygenated products derived from the oxoiron(IV) porphyrin complex.     

Manganese-catalyzed epoxidations of alkenes in bicarbonate solutions

This paper describes a method, discovered and refined by parallel screening, for the epoxidation of alkenes. It uses hydrogen peroxide as the terminal oxidant, is promoted by catalytic amounts (1.0-0.1 mol %) of manganese(2+) salts, and must be performed using at least catalytic amounts of bicarbonate buffer. Peroxymonocarbonate, HCO(4)(-), forms in the reaction, but without manganese, minimal epoxidation activity is observed in the solvents used for this research, that is, DMF and (t)BuOH. More than 30 d-block and f-block transition metal salts were screened for epoxidation activity under similar conditions, but the best catalyst found was MnSO(4). EPR studies show that Mn(2+) is initially consumed in the catalytic reaction but is regenerated toward the end of the process when presumably the hydrogen peroxide is spent. A variety of aryl-substituted, cyclic, and trialkyl-substituted alkenes were epoxidized under these conditions using 10 equiv of hydrogen peroxide, but monoalkyl-alkenes were not. To improve the substrate scope, and to increase the efficiency of hydrogen peroxide consumption, 68 diverse compounds were screened to find additives that would enhance the rate of the epoxidation reaction relative to a competing disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide. Successful additives were 6 mol % sodium acetate in the (t)BuOH system and 4 mol % salicylic acid in the DMF system. These additives enhanced the rate of the desired epoxidation reaction by 2-3 times. Reactions performed in the presence of these additives require less hydrogen peroxide and shorter reaction times, and they enhance the yields obtained from less reactive alkene substrates. Possible mechanisms for the reaction are discussed.     

Relative reactivity of peracids versus dioxiranes (DMDO and TFDO) in the epoxidation of alkenes. A combined experimental and theoretical analysis

Comparative analysis of the calculated gas-phase activation barriers (DeltaE++) for the epoxidation of ethylene with dimethyldioxirane (DMDO) and peroxyformic acid (PFA) [15.2 and 16.4 kcal/mol at QCISD(T)// QCISD/6-31+G(d,p)] and E-2-butene [14.3 and 13.2 kcal/mol at QCISD(T)/6-31G(d)//B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)] suggests similar oxygen atom donor capacities for both oxidants. Competition experiments in CH(2)Cl(2) solvent reveal that DMDO reacts with cyclohexene much faster than peracetic acid/acetic acid under scrupulously dried conditions. The rate of DMDO epoxidation is catalyzed by acetic acid with a reduction in the classical activation barrier of 8 kcal/mol. In many cases, the observed increase in the rate for DMDO epoxidation in solution may be attributed to well-established solvent and hydrogen-bonding effects. This predicted epoxidative reactivity for DMDO is not consistent with what has generally been presumed for a highly strained cyclic peroxide. The strain energy (SE) of DMDO has been reassessed and its moderated value (about 11 kcal/mol) is now more consistent with its inherent gas-phase reactivity toward alkenes in the epoxidation reaction. The unusual thermodynamic stability of DMDO is largely a consequence of the combined geminal dimethyl- and dioxa-substitution effects and unusually strong C-H and C-CH(3) bonds. Methyl(trifluoromethyl)dioxirane (TFDO) exhibits much lower calculated activation barriers than DMDO in the epoxidation reaction (the average DeltaDeltaE++ values are about 7.5 kcal/mol). The rate increase relative to DMDO of approximately 10(5), while consistent with the higher strain energy for TFDO (SE approximately 19 kcal/mol) is attributed largely to the inductive effect of the CF(3) group. We have also examined the effect of alkene strain on the rate of epoxidation with PFA. The epoxidation barriers are only slightly higher for the strained alkenes cyclopropene (DeltaE++ = 14.5 kcal/mol) and cyclobutene (DeltaE++ = 13.7 kcal/mol) than for cyclopentene (DeltaE++ = 12.1 kcal/mol), reflecting the fact there is little relief of strain in the transition state. Alkenes strained by twist or pi-bond torsion do exhibit much lower activation barriers.     

Partial oxidation of propene on oxygen-covered Au(111)

Partial oxidation of propene is promoted by Au following deposition of atomic oxygen (0.3 ML) via O3 decomposition on Au(111) at 200 K. Several partial oxidation products--acrolein, acrylic acid, and carbon suboxide (O=C=C=C=O)-are produced in competition with combustion to CO2 and H2O. Acrolein is the primary partial oxidation product, and it is further oxidized to the other products by excess oxygen. We propose that acrolein is derived from allyloxy intermediate that is formed via insertion of oxygen into the allylic C-H bond. While no propene epoxide formation is detected from oxidation of C3H6, a small amount of epoxidation is observed during reaction of C3D6 and CD3CH=CH2. These results are strong indications that small changes in the energy required for allylic C-H activation, in this case due to a kinetic isotope effect, may dramatically change the selectivity; thus, small modifications of the properties of oxygen on Au may lead to the more desirable epoxidation process. Our results are discussed in the context of the origin of activity of Au-based catalysts.     

Gas-phase models for catalysis: alkane activation and olefin epoxidation by the triatomic cation Ag2O+

Electrospray ionization of aqueous silver nitrate is used for the preparation of the disilver-oxide cation Ag2O+ in the gas phase. The mass-selected cation is capable of activating C-H bonds of simple alkanes other than methane via H-atom abstraction, i.e., Ag2O+ + R-H --> Ag2OH+ + R* (R = C2H5, C3H7, C4H9). Clean O-atom transfer from Ag2O+ is observed with ethene as a neutral reagent, whereas oxygenation and allylic C-H abstraction compete in the case of propene. The gaseous Ag2O+ cation can thus be regarded as a minimalist model for the problems associated with the silver-mediated epoxidation of olefins more complex than ethene itself. The experimental findings are fully supported by the results of quantum chemical studies, thereby providing deep mechanistic insight into the reactions in the idealized gas phase, which also might have implications for further improvements in applied catalysis.     

External electric field will control the selectivity of enzymatic-like bond activations

Controlling the selectivity of a chemical reaction is a Holy Grail in chemistry. This paper reports theoretical results of unprecedented effects induced by moderately strong electric fields on the selectivity of two competing nonpolar bond activation processes, C-H hydroxylation vs C=C epoxidation, promoted by an active species that is common to heme-enzymes and to metallo-organic catalysts. The molecular system by itself shows no selectivity whatsoever. However, the presence of an electric field induces absolute selectivity that can be controlled at will. Thus, the choice of the orientation and direction of the field vis-à-vis the molecular axes drives the reaction in the direction of complete C-H hydroxylation or complete C=C epoxidation.     

A simple and effective catalytic system for epoxidation of aliphatic terminal alkenes with manganese(II) as the catalyst

A simple catalytic system that uses commercially available manganese(II) perchlorate as the catalyst and peracetic acid as the oxidant is found to be very effective in the epoxidation of aliphatic terminal alkenes with high product selectivity at ambient temperature. Many terminal alkenes are epoxidised efficiently on a gram scale in less than an hour to give excellent yields of isolated product (>90 %) of epoxides in high purity. Kinetic studies with some C9-alkenes show that the catalytic system is more efficient in epoxidising terminal alkenes than internal alkenes, which is contrary to most commonly known epoxidation systems. The reaction rate for epoxidation decreases in the order: 1-nonene>cis-3-nonene>trans-3-nonene. ESI-MS and EPR spectroscopic studies suggest that the active form of the catalyst is a high-valent oligonuclear manganese species, which probably functions as the oxygen atom-transfer agent in the epoxidation reaction.     

Silver-mediated C-H activation: oxidative coupling/cyclization of N-arylimines and alkynes for the synthesis of quinolines

A silver-mediated tandem protocol for the synthesis of quinolines involving the oxidative coupling/cyclization of N-arylimines and alkynes has been developed. We demonstrated that scenario-dependent metalation could occur either at the ortho C-H bond of an N-arylimine through protonation-driven enhancement of acidity or at the terminal C-H bond of an alkyne by virtue of the carbophilic π-acidity of silver. The diverse set of mechanistic manifolds implemented with a single type of experimental protocol points toward the importance of stringent reactivity analysis of each individual potentially reactive molecular site. Importantly, the direct arene C-H bond activation provides a unique and distinct mechanistic handle for the expansion of reactivity paradigms for silver. As expected, the protocol allows for the incorporation of both internal and terminal alkynes into the products, and in addition, both electron-withdrawing and -donating groups are tolerated on N-arylimines, thus enabling the vast expansion of substituent architectures on quinoline framework. Further, an intriguing phenomenon of structural isomerization and chemical bond cleavage has been observed for aliphatic internal alkynes.     

Mono-lacunary PrIII-Polyoxotungstate： Epoxidation of Alkenes with Unusual Selectivity

The utilization of polyoxometalates (POMs) or their derivatives as homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysts in alkene epoxidation is a subject of considerable research activity[1]. The limitation to the use of POMs in these catalytic reactions is either their relatively low selectivity in epoxide formation or applicability for a rather limited type of alkenes. Therefore, it would be beneficial if the catalysts bear high selectivity for epoxidation and are applicable for a rather wide variety of alkenes, which is desirable in industrial processes and also vital for the selection of an ideal catalyst[2]. In search for an efficient and practical epoxidation method to utilize aqueous H2O2 as terminal oxidant, we focus on the rare-earth complexes with lacunary POM ligands.     

Metalloporphyrin-catalyzed diastereoselective epoxidation of allyl-substituted alkenes

By using [Mn(2,6-Cl(2)TPP)Cl] (1) as a catalyst and Oxone/H(2)O(2) as an oxidant, we have developed an efficient method for erythro-selective epoxidation of acyclic allyl-substituted alkenes, including allylic alcohols, amines, and esters. Up to 9:1 erythro selectivities for terminal allyllic alkenes could be achieved, which are significantly higher than that achieved using m-CPBA as an oxidant. In addition, the synthetic utilities of this epoxidation method were highlighted in stereoselective synthesis of key anti-HIV drug intermediates and epoxidation of glycals.     

Ligand and pH influence on manganese-mediated peracetic acid epoxidation of terminal olefins

[reaction: see text] Nineteen Mn(II) complexes were screened for the catalytic epoxidation of terminal olefins using peracetic acid. Few of these complexes are efficient catalysts at pH < 2, but many are effective at 1 mol % catalyst loading at pH 4. With 0.1 mol % loading, four complexes epoxidize 1-octene in approximately 80% yield in 5 min. The relative reactivity of the catalysts toward different olefins was probed using a multicomponent intermolecular competition reaction.