Carbon–Carbon Bond Formation in a Weak Ligand Field: Leveraging Open‐Shell First‐Row Transition‐Metal Catalysts

Unique features of earth‐abundant transition‐metal catalysts are reviewed in the context of catalytic carbon–carbon bond‐forming reactions. Aryl‐substituted bis(imino)pyridine iron and cobalt dihalide compounds, when activated with alkyl aluminum reagents, form highly active catalysts for the polymerization of ethylene. Open‐shell iron and cobalt alkyl complexes have been synthesized that serve as single‐component olefin polymerization catalysts. Reduced bis(imino)pyridine iron and cobalt dinitrogen compounds have also been discovered that promote the unique [2+2] cycloaddition of unactivated terminal alkenes. Studies of the electronic structure support open‐shell intermediates, a deviation from traditional strong‐field organometallic compounds that promote catalytic C−C bond formation.     

Highly Active Phosphine‐Free Bifunctional Iron Complex for Hydrogenation of Bicarbonate and Reductive Amination

Based on a “transition metal frustrated Lewis pair” approach, a cyclopentadienone iron tricarbonyl complex has been designed and applied in the reductive amination and hydrogenation of bicarbonate. This well‐defined phosphine‐free complex displays the best activities reported to date for an iron complex in the reduction of bicarbonate into formate and in reductive amination.     

Base–Metal‐Catalyzed Regiodivergent Alkene Hydrosilylations

A complementary set of base metal catalysts has been developed for regiodivergent alkene hydrosilylations: iron complexes of phosphine‐iminopyridine are selective for anti‐Markovnikov hydrosilylations (linear/branched up to >99:1), while the cobalt complexes bearing the same type of ligands provide an unprecedented high level of Markovnikov selectivity (branched/linear up to >99:1). Both systems exhibit high efficiency and wide functional group tolerance.     

Highly Regio‐ and Stereoselective Hydrosilylation of Alkynes Catalyzed by Tridentate Cobalt Complexes

Several cobalt complexes bearing tridentate (NNN) ligands were synthesized and served as precatalysts for alkyne hydrosilylation with Ph₂SiH₂. For terminal alkynes, the catalyst L2 b‐CoCl₂ was selected, and resulted in the corresponding α‐vinylsilanes with high (Markovnikov) regioselectivity and extensive functional‐group tolerance. For internal diaryl alkynes, the catalyst L2 c‐CoCl₂ exhibited the best activity, and afforded E‐selective vinylsilanes through syn‐addition in excellent yield under mild conditions.     

Manganese Complexes for (De)Hydrogenation Catalysis: A Comparison to Cobalt and Iron Catalysts

The sustainable use of the resources on our planet is essential. Noble metals are very rare and are diversely used in key technologies, such as catalysis. Manganese is the third most abundant transition metal of the Earth's crust and based on the recently discovered impressive reactivity in hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions, is a potentially useful noble‐metal “replacement”. The hope of novel selectivity profiles, not possible with noble metals, is also an aim of such a “replacement”. The reactivity of manganese complexes in (de)hydrogenation reactions was demonstrated for the first time in 2016. Herein, we summarize the work that has been published since then and especially discuss the importance of homogeneous manganese catalysts in comparison to cobalt and iron catalysts.     

Tailored Cobalt‐Catalysts for Reductive Alkylation of Anilines with Carboxylic Acids under Mild Conditions

The first cobalt‐catalyzed hydrogenative N‐methylation and alkylation of amines with readily available carboxylic acid feedstocks as alkylating agents and H₂ as ideal reductant is described. Combination of tailor‐made triphos ligands with cobalt(II) tetrafluoroborate significantly improved the efficiency, thus promoting the reaction under milder conditions. This novel protocol allows for a broad substrate scope with good functional group tolerance, even in the presence of reducible alkenes, esters, and amides.     

Z‐Selective (Cross‐)Dimerization of Terminal Alkynes Catalyzed by an Iron Complex

Efficient iron‐catalyzed homocoupling of terminal alkynes and cross‐dimerization of aryl acetylenes with trimethylsilylacetylene is reported. The complex [Fe(H)(BH₄)(iPr‐PNP)] ( 1 ) catalyzed the (cross‐)dimerization of alkynes at room temperature, with no need for a base or other additives, to give the corresponding dimerized products with Z selectivity in excellent yields (79–99 %).     

Amorphous Polyethylene by Tandem Action of Cobalt and Titanium Single‐Site Catalysts

Summary: A variety of branched polyethylenes, spanning from semicrystalline LLDPE to completely amorphous, rubbery PE, was obtained from ethylene by homogeneous tandem catalysis using combinations of CoCl₂(N) ( 1 ) (N = [1‐(6‐benzo[b]thiophen‐2‐yl‐pyridin‐2‐yl)‐ethylidlene)‐(2,6‐diisopropyl‐phenyl)‐amine) and [(η⁵‐C₅Me₄)SiMe₂(tBuN)]TiCl₂ ( 2 ) in the presence of MAO at 30 °C. The productivity reached a maximum of 4 570 kg PE (mol Ti · h)⁻¹ at χ_Co = 0.50, yielding a rubbery material with d₂₅ = 0.868 g · cm⁻³ and T_g = −55 °C.

Conversion of ethylene into branched polyethylene using Co^II iminopyridyl complex CoCl₂(N) ( 1 ) and TiCl₂[(η⁵‐C₅Me₄)SiMe₂(tBuN)] ( 2 ).     

Toward Greener Oxidative Transformations: Base‐Metal Catalysts and Metal‐Free Reactions

In this account, the advances in base‐metal‐catalyzed oxidative transformations and metal‐free oxidation reactions developed in our group are summarized and discussed. Related achievements from other research groups are also discussed.     

Iron Borohydride Pincer Complexes for the Efficient Hydrogenation of Ketones under Mild,Base‐Free Conditions: Synthesis and Mechanistic Insight

The new, structurally characterized hydrido carbonyl tetrahydridoborate iron pincer complex [(iPr‐PNP)Fe(H)(CO)(η¹‐BH₄)] ( 1 ) catalyzes the base‐free hydrogenation of ketones to their corresponding alcohols employing only 4.1 atm hydrogen pressure. Turnover numbers up to 1980 at complete conversion of ketone were reached with this system. Treatment of 1 with aniline (as a BH₃ scavenger) resulted in a mixture of trans‐[(iPr‐PNP)Fe(H)₂(CO)] ( 4 a ) and cis‐[(iPr‐PNP)Fe(H)₂(CO)] ( 4 b ). The dihydrido complexes 4 a and 4 b do not react with acetophenone or benzaldehyde, indicating that these complexes are not intermediates in the catalytic reduction of ketones. NMR studies indicate that the tetrahydridoborate ligand in 1 dissociates prior to ketone reduction. DFT calculations show that the mechanism of the iron‐catalyzed hydrogenation of ketones involves alcohol‐assisted aromatization of the dearomatized complex [(iPr‐PNP*)Fe(H)(CO)] ( 7 ) to initially give the Fe⁰ complex [(iPr‐PNP)Fe(CO)] ( 21 ) and subsequently [(iPr‐PNP)Fe(CO)(EtOH)] ( 38 ). Concerted coordination of acetophenone and dual hydrogen‐atom transfer from the PNP arm and the coordinated ethanol to, respectively, the carbonyl carbon and oxygen atoms, leads to the dearomatized complex [(iPr‐PNP*)Fe(CO)(EtO)(MeCH(OH)Ph)] ( 32 ). The catalyst is regenerated by release of 1‐phenylethanol, followed by dihydrogen coordination and proton transfer to the coordinated ethoxide ligand.     

Improving Singlet Oxygen Resistance during Photochemical Water Oxidation by Cobalt Porphyrin Catalysts

Enabling the production of solar fuels on a global scale through artificial photosynthesis requires the development of water oxidation catalysts with significantly improved stability. The stability of photosystems is often reduced owing to attack by singlet oxygen, which is produced during light harvesting. Here, we report photochemical water oxidation by CoFPS , a fluorinated Co‐porphyrin designed to resist attack by singlet oxygen. CoFPS exhibits significantly improved stability relative to its non‐fluorinated analogue, as shown by a large increase in turnover numbers. This increased stability results from resistance of CoFPS to attack by singlet oxygen, the formation of which was monitored in situ by using 9,10‐diphenylanthracene as a chemical probe. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) confirms that CoFPS remains homogeneous, proving its stability during water oxidation catalysis.     

An Environmentally Benign Process for the Hydrogenation of Ketones with Homogeneous Iron Catalysts

Iron complexes generated in situ catalyze homogeneously the transfer hydrogenation of aliphatic and aromatic ketones by utilizing 2‐propanol as a hydrogen donor in the presence of base. The influence of different reaction parameters on the catalytic activity is investigated in detail by applying a three‐component catalyst system composed of an iron salt, 2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine, and PPh₃. The scope and limitations of the described catalyst is shown in the reduction of 11 different ketones. In most cases, high conversion and excellent chemoselectivity are obtained. Mechanistic studies indicate a monohydride reaction pathway for the homogeneous iron catalyst.     

Synthesis of Novel Monodentate Phosphoramidites and Their Application in Iridium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenations

New monodentate H₈‐binaphthol based phosphoramidites 6 b–i have been prepared. Starting from (S)‐3,3′‐dibromo‐5,5′,6,6′,7,7′,8,8′‐octahydro‐1,1′‐binaphthyl‐2,2′‐diol 3 , a general protocol for the synthesis of ligands 6 is presented. A small ligand library bearing aryl substituents in the 3,3′‐position of the binaphthol core was synthesized and successfully tested in the iridium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of 2‐amidocinnamates to obtain different α‐amino acid derivatives in up to 99 % ee.     

Isolation of a Non‐Heteroatom‐Stabilized Gold–Carbene Complex

Gold–carbene complexes are essential intermediates in many gold‐catalyzed organic‐synthetic transformations. While gold–carbene complexes with direct, vinylogous, or phenylogous heteroatom substitution have been synthesized and characterized, the observation in the condensed phase of electronically non‐stabilized gold–carbenes has so far remained elusive. The sterically extremely shielded, emerald‐green complex [IPr**Au=CMes₂]⁺[NTf₂]^? has now been synthesized, isolated, and fully characterized. Its absorption maximum at 642 nm, in contrast to 528 nm of the red‐purple carbocation [Mes₂CH]⁺, clearly demonstrates that gold is more than just a “soft proton”.     

Werner Complexes with ω‐Dimethylaminoalkyl Substituted Ethylenediamine Ligands: Bifunctional Hydrogen‐Bond‐Donor Catalysts for Highly Enantioselective Michael Additions

The racemic carbonate complex [Co(en)₂O₂CO]⁺ Cl^? (en=1,2‐ethylenediamine) and (S)‐[H₃NCH((CH₂)_nNHMe₂)CH₂NH₃]³⁺ 3 Cl^? (n=1–4) react (water, charcoal, 100 °C) to give [Co(en)₂((S)‐H₂NCH((CH₂)_nNHMe₂)CH₂NH₂)]⁴⁺ 4 Cl^? ( 3 a – d H⁴⁺ 4 Cl^?) as a mixture of Λ/Δ diastereomers that separate on chiral‐phase Sephadex columns. These are treated with NaOH/Na⁺ BAr_f^? (BAr_f=B(3,5‐C₆H₃(CF₃)₂)₄) to give lipophilic Λ‐ and Δ‐ 3 a–d ³⁺ 3 BAr_f^?, which are screened as catalysts (10 mol %) for additions of dialkyl malonates to nitroalkenes. Optimal results are obtained with Λ‐ 3 c ³⁺ 3 BAr_f^? (CH₂Cl₂, ?35 °C; 98–82 % yields and 99–93 % ee for six β‐arylnitroethenes). The monofunctional catalysts Λ‐ and Δ‐[Co(en)₃]³⁺ 3 BAr_f^? give enantioselectivities of <10 % ee with equal loadings of Et₃N. The crystal structure of Δ‐ 3 a H⁴⁺ 4 Cl^? provides a starting point for speculation regarding transition‐state assemblies.