Scope, mechanism and diene inhibition of isomerization of allylic alcohols to saturated ketones catalyzed by ruthenium(II)-cyclopentadienyl complexes

The isomerization of 3-buten-2-ol to butanone catalyzed by Ru(II)Cp-complexes (Cp = η⁵-cyclopentadienyl) with phosphine and amine ligands is described. The reaction catalyzed by [RuCp(MeCN)₃](PF₆) and two equivalents of triphenylphospine is first order in substrate with a k_ini of 0.43 h⁻¹ and an initial TOF of 13,000 h⁻¹. The catalyst precursor complex [RuClCp(dppb)] (dppb = bis(diphenylphosphino)butane) has been characterized by X-ray diffraction. This compound features a seven-membered ring incorporating the ruthenium centre and the dppb ligand.Combination of two equivalents of primary, secondary or tertiary amines and [RuCp(MeCN)₃](PF₆) results in active catalyst precursors. Within each group, increasing the bulk of the ligand gives lower isomerization rates. The combined effects of optimal pK_a, nucleophilicity and steric bulk make RuCp-complexes with secondary amines the most active precursors. With di-n-butylamine, 745 turnovers can be reached after 1 h. ³¹P NMR spectra indicate that the resting state in the catalytic cycle is a complex in which 3-buten-2-ol is η²-coordinated through the alkene moiety. This implies that coordination of the oxygen moiety and concomitant β-hydrogen abstraction is the rate-limiting step. A counterintuitive result is that allylic alcohols bind stronger to RuCp complexes with phosphine ligands than dienes. Inhibition of the catalyst appears to be a result of interaction of the diene with a ruthenium-allyl alcohol complex, which is sufficiently strong to prevent coordination of the oxygen moiety of the allylic alcohol. This hinders orientation of the allylic alcohol substrate in a suitable way to undergo β-hydrogen abstraction, thereby blocking isomerization catalysis.     

On the PdCl2-catalyzed synthesis of allylic azides and allylic sulfonamides from homoallylic alcohols

According to experimental and literature data, the one-pot formation of allylic azides or sulfonamides from catalytic amounts of PdCl₂, homoallylic alcohols and TMSN₃ or TsNH₂ occurs through CC migration followed by regioselective nucleophilic addition on the Pd^II-activated CC bond and β-OH elimination.     

Iridium-catalyzed isomerization of primary allylic alcohols under mild reaction conditions

The isomerization of primary allylic alcohols into the corresponding aldehydes has been accomplished using an analogue of Crabtree’s iridium hydrogenation catalyst and by adequately tuning the experimental conditions. A wide range of substrates is converted quantitatively into the desired aldehyde at room temperature in expedient reaction times by using catalyst loading as low as 0.25 mol %.     

Homogeneously catalysed isomerisation of allylic alcohols to carbonyl compounds

Isomerisation of allylic alcohols forms an elegant shortcut to carbonyl compounds in a completely atom-economical process that offers several useful applications in natural-product synthesis and in bulk chemical processes. This review focuses on the heart of isomerisation catalysis: the catalyst. Combinations of transition metals (from Group 4 to 10), ligands and reaction conditions are compared with respect to yield, turnovers, rate and selectivity. A selected number of clever solutions to synthetic problems are highlighted, such as the synthesis of enols and enolates, chiral carbonyl compounds and silyl substituted ketones. Furthermore, a general overview of the mechanisms proposed for the isomerisation of allylic alcohols is given while some catalyst systems are singled out to discuss mechanistic research.     

Dichloro(dodeca-2,6,10-triene-1,12-diyl)ruthenium(IV): a highly efficient catalyst for the isomerization of allylic alcohols into carbonyl compounds in organic and aqueous media

The catalytic activity of the bis(allyl)-ruthenium(iv) complex [Ru([small eta](3):[small eta](2):[small eta](3)-C(12)H(18))Cl(2)] in the transposition of allylic alcohols into carbonyl compounds, both in THF and H(2)O as solvent, is reported.     

Redox isomerisation of allylic alcohols catalysed by water-soluble ruthenium complexes in aqueous systems

The process of catalytic isomerisation of various allylic alcohols (alk-1-en-3-ols) into saturated ketones under mild conditions is reported. The water-soluble Na₄[{RuCl₂(mtppms)₂}₂] complex, previously reported by us as a precursor to very active hydrogenation catalysts was also found an active catalyst of the redox isomerisation of allylic alcohols in aqueous media. The new Na[Ru(CO)Cp(mtppms)₂] as well as Na₄[{RuCl(μ-Cl)(CCCPh₂)(mtppms)₂}₂] and Na₂[RuClCp(mtppms)₂] also showed good to excellent catalytic activities for redox isomerisations in aqueous systems at 50-80 °C under inert atmosphere.     

Regioselective dehydroxytrifluoromethylthiolation of allylic and propargylic alcohols with AgSCF3

The reaction of easily available Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) alcohols with AgSCF₃ in the presence of n-Bu₄NI and KI affords primary allylic SCF₃ products in high yields and excellent regioselectivities. This regioselective dehydroxytrifluoromethylthiolation protocol could also be extended to propargylic alcohols for the preparation of the primary propargylic SCF₃ products.     

Direct palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylations of alcohols with enamines: Synthesis of homoallyl ketones

An efficient, direct nucleophilic allylic substitution of α-, β- and γ-substituted alcohols with enamines, using the Pd(OAc)_2/PPh₃ catalyst system and ZnBr₂ as a promoter in CH₂Cl₂ at reflux, is reported. The reaction course was dependent on the steric hindrance at the α- or γ-positions with respect to the functionalized α-carbon, selectively affording in moderate to good yields, α- or γ-homoallyl ketones, the so-called “linear” and “branched” products, respectively.     

CuI-catalyzed tandem carbomagnesiation/carbonyl addition of Grignard reagents with acetylenic ketones: Convenient access to tetrasubstituted allylic alcohols

Highly functionalized tetrasubstituted allylic alcohols were prepared conveniently by CuI-catalyzed tandem carbomagnesiation/carbonyl addition of Grignard reagents with acetylenic ketones. The obtained allylic alcohols can be further transformed to polysubstituted indenes by intramolecular cyclization.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed redox isomerization of trifluoromethylated allylic alcohols: mechanistic evidence for an enantiospecific pathway

Transfer news: A synthetic approach to chiral β-CF(3)-substituted saturated carbonyl compounds has been developed in which ruthenium complexes efficiently catalyze the redox isomerization of CF(3)-bearing allylic alcohols by an intramolecular suprafacial enantiospecific 1,3-hydrogen transfer (see scheme). This method was used for the enantioselective synthesis of (S)-CF(3)-citronellol.     

Supported ruthenium catalyst as an effective catalyst for selective oxidation of toluene

The investigation comprised an evaluation of the use of the catalyst 1%Ru/TiO₂ in the liquid-phase conversion of toluene to benzyl alcohol and benzaldehyde. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms were deployed to delineate the properties of the supported catalysts. The findings indicated a good catalytic performance by 1%Ru/TiO₂ under green reaction conditions. This performance was deemed a consequence of the spread and loading of Ru on the TiO₂. The reaction conditions such as temperature, reaction time, type of support, catalyst preparation method, and activating quantity) were optimized to achieve superior reaction parameters. Catalyst produced via sol-immobilization has higher activity than the one prepared with the wet-impregnation method, which lead to a transformation rate of up to 9.5%, with the selectivity for benzyl alcohol at 92%.     

Highly efficient and regioselective allylic amination of allylic alcohols catalyzed by [Mo3PdS4] cluster

A highly efficient and regioselective allylation reaction of amines with allylic alcohols under mild conditions catalyzed by the cubane-type sulfido cluster [(Cp∗Mo)₃S₄Pd(dba)][PF₆] with H₃BO₃ as an additive has been developed. A variety of amines and allylic alcohols are investigated, and in the case of allylic alcohols bearing substituents at either α- or γ-position only linear allylic amination products are obtained.     

Highly efficient redox isomerization of allylic alcohols at ambient temperature catalyzed by novel ruthenium-cyclopentadienyl complexes--new insight into the mechanism

A range of ruthenium cyclopentadienyl (Cp) complexes have been prepared and used for isomerization of allylic alcohols to the corresponding saturated carbonyl compounds. Complexes bearing CO ligands show higher activity than those with PPh3 ligands. The isomerization rate is highly affected by the substituents on the Cp ring. Tetra(phenyl)methyl-substituted catalysts rapidly isomerize allylic alcohols under very mild reaction conditions (ambient temperature) with short reaction times. Substituted allylic alcohols have been isomerized by employing Ru-Cp complexes. A study of the isomerization catalyzed by [Ru(Ph5Cp)(CO)2H] (14) indicates that the isomerization catalyzed by ruthenium hydrides partly follows a different mechanism than that of ruthenium halides activated by KOtBu. Furthermore, the lack of ketone exchange when the isomerization was performed in the presence of an unsaturated ketone (1 equiv), different from that obtained by dehydrogenation of the starting allylic alcohol, supports a mechanism in which the isomerization takes place within the coordination sphere of the ruthenium catalyst.     

Magnetically recoverable supported ruthenium catalyst for hydrogenation of alkynes and transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds

A ruthenium (Ru) catalyst supported on magnetic nanoparticles (NiFe₂O₄) has been successfully synthesized and used for hydrogenation of alkynes at room temperature as well as transfer hydrogenation of a number of carbonyl compounds under microwave irradiation conditions. The catalyst shows excellent selectivity toward the desired products with very high yield even after five repeated uses.     

Direct allylic substitution of allyl alcohols by carbon pronucleophiles in the presence of a palladium/carboxylic acid catalyst under neat conditions

The reaction of allylic alcohols with carbon pronucleophiles in the presence of the Pd(PPh₃)₄/carboxylic acid combined catalytic system, under neat conditions (without an organic solvent or without water as the solvent) enabled the direct allylation of the pronucleophiles, giving the corresponding allylated products in high yields.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed reduction of allylic alcohols: an efficient isomerization/transfer hydrogenation tandem process

A simple and highly efficient method for the selective reduction of the C=C bond in allylic alcohols has been developed using the ruthenium(II) catalyst [{RuCl(mu-Cl)(eta(6)-C(6)Me(6)}2].     

Highly active phosphine-free carbene ruthenium catalyst for cross-metathesis of acrylonitrile with functionalized olefins

The carbene ruthenium complex [1,3-bis(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene](C₅H₅N)₂(Cl)₂RuCHPh (8) was prepared by the reaction of [1,3-bis (2,6-dimethylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene](PPh₃)(Cl)₂RuCHPh (7) with pyridine and used as a highly effective catalyst for the cross-metathesis of acrylonitrile with various functionalized olefins.     

Selective isomerization of 1-alkenes by binary metal carbonyl compounds

An efficient and selective isomerization of 1-alkenes to their corresponding 2-alkenes is achieved by using binary metal carbonyls such as Ru₃(CO)₁₂ as catalysts. Possible mechanisms are discussed. Substituents on the 1-alkene have a significant effect on the isomerization.     

Bis(allyl)-ruthenium(IV) complexes as highly efficient catalysts for the redox isomerization of allylic alcohols into carbonyl compounds in organic and aqueous media: scope, limitations, and theoretical analysis of the mechanism

The catalytic activity of the bis(allyl)-ruthenium(IV) dimer [[Ru(eta(3):eta(3)-C(10)H(16))(mu-Cl)Cl](2)] (C(10)H(16) = 2,7-dimethylocta-2,6-diene-1,8-diyl) (1), and that of its mononuclear derivatives [Ru(eta(3):eta(3)-C(10)H(16))Cl(2)(L)] (L = CO, PR(3), CNR, NCR) (2) and [Ru(eta(3):eta(3)-C(10)H(16))Cl(NCMe)(2)][SbF(6)] (3), in the redox isomerization of allylic alcohols into carbonyl compounds, both in tetrahydrofuran and in water, is reported. In particular, a variety of allylic alcohols have been quantitatively isomerized using [[Ru(eta(3):eta(3)-C(10)H(16))(mu-Cl)Cl](2)] (1) as catalyst, the reactions proceeding in all cases faster in water. Remarkably, complex 1 has been found to be the most efficient catalyst reported to date for this particular transformation, leading to TOF and TON values up to 62,500 h(-1) and 1 500,000, respectively. Moreover, catalyst 1 can be recycled and is capable of performing allylic alcohol isomerizations even in the presence of conjugated dienes, which are known to be strong poisons in isomerization catalysis. On the basis of both experimental data and theoretical calculations (DFT), a complete catalytic cycle for the isomerization of 2-propen-1-ol into propenal is described. The potential energy surfaces of the cycle have been explored at the B3LYP/6-311 + G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) + LAN2DZ level. The proposed mechanism involves the coordination of the oxygen atom of the allylic alcohol to the metal. The DFT energy profile is consistent with the experimental observation that the reaction only proceeds under heating. Calculations predict the catalytic cycle to be strongly exergonic, in full agreement with the high yields experimentally observed.     

An immobilized vanadium-binaphthylbishydroxamic acid complex as a reusable catalyst for the asymmetric epoxidation of allylic alcohols

An immobilized polymer-supported vanadium-binaphthylbishydroxamic acid (PS-VBHA) has been developed as an efficient, reusable catalyst for the asymmetric epoxidation of allylic alcohols. This PS-VBHA catalyst shows comparable catalytic performance to that of the parent V-BBHA catalyst and can be reused five times without significant loss of enantioselectivity.