N‐Heterocyclic Carbene–Ytterbium Amide as a Recyclable Homogeneous Precatalyst for Hydrophosphination of Alkenes and Alkynes

The N‐heterocyclic carbene–ytterbium(II) amides (NHC)₂Yb[N(SiMe₃)₂]₂ ( 1 : NHC: 1,3,4,5‐tetramethylimidazo‐2‐ylidene (IMe₄); 2 : NHC: 1,3‐diisopropyl‐4,5‐dimethylimidazol‐2‐ylidene (IiPr)) and the NHC‐stabilized rare‐earth phosphide (IMe₄)₃Yb(PPh₂)₂ ( 3 ) have been synthesized and fully characterized. Complexes 1 – 3 are active precatalysts for the hydrophosphination of alkenes, alkynes, and dienes and exhibited much superior catalytic activity to that of the NHC‐free amide (THF)₂Yb[N(SiMe)₂]₂. Complex 1 is the most active precursor among the three complexes. In particular, complex 1 can be recycled and recovered from the reaction media after the catalytic reactions. Furthermore, it was found that complex 3 could catalyze the polymerization of styrene to yield atactic polystyrenes with low molecular weights. To the best of our knowledge, complex 1 represents the first rare‐earth complex that can be recovered after catalytic reactions.     

Highly Active Multidentate Ligand‐Based Alkyne Metathesis Catalysts

Alkyne metathesis catalysts composed of molybdenum(VI) propylidyne and multidentate tris(2‐hydroxylbenzyl)methane ligands have been developed, which exhibit excellent stability (remains active in solution for months at room temperature), high activity, and broad functional‐group tolerance. The homodimerization and cyclooligomerization of monopropynyl or dipropynyl substrates, including challenging heterocycle substrates (e.g., pyridine), proceed efficiently at 40–55 °C in a closed system. The ligand structure and catalytic activity relationship has been investigated, which shows that the ortho groups of the multidentate phenol ligands are critical to the stability and activity of such a catalyst system.     

CaII,YbII and SmII Bis(Amido) Complexes Coordinated by NHC Ligands: Efficient Catalysts for Highly Regio- and Chemoselective Consecutive Hydrophosphinations with PH3

The first example of intermolecular hydrophosphination of styrene, 2-vinylpyridine and phenylacetylene with PH₃ catalyzed by bis-(amido) complexes [(Me₃Si)₂N]₂M(NHC)₂ (M=Ca, Yb, Sm) coordinated by NHC ligands is described. The reactions of styrene with PH₃ proceed under mild conditions in quantitative yields to afford only anti-Markovnikov product and allow for the chemoselective synthesis of primary, secondary and tertiary phosphines. Addition of phenylacetylene to PH₃ regardless the initial molar substrates ratio results in the exclusive formation of a tertiary tris-(Z-styryl)-phosphine. Crucial effect of the Lewis base coordinated to the metal ion in precatalyst on catalytic activity in styrene hydrophosphination with PH₃ was demonstrated. Free NHCs were also found to be able to promote addition of PH₃ to styrene, however they provide much lower reaction rates compared to the metal complexes.     

Rapid Synthesis of Chiral 1,2‐Bisphosphine Derivatives through Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Conjugate Hydrophosphination

1,2‐Bisphosphines have been identified as one class of important and powerful chiral ligands in asymmetric catalysis with transition metals. Herein, a copper(I)‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrophosphination of α,β‐unsaturated phosphine sulfides was developed with the assistance of “soft–soft” interaction between copper(I)‐catalyst and the phosphine sulfide moiety, which afforded 1,2‐bisphosphine derivatives with diversified electronic nature and steric hindrance in high to excellent yields with high to excellent enantioselectivity. Moreover, the challenging catalytic asymmetric hydrophosphination/protonation reaction was achieved with excellent enantioselectivity. Strikingly, the dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic diarylphosphines was also successfully carried out with high to excellent diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities. Interestingly, the nucleophilic copper(I)‐diphenylphosphide species was characterized by ³¹P NMR spectrum and mass spectrum. At last, three products were transformed to chiral 1,2‐bisphosphines, which were employed as ligands in Rh‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α‐amino‐α,β‐unsaturated ester. The α‐amino acid derivative was produced in high enantioselectivity, which demonstrated the utility of the present methodology.     

Highly Active Catalysts for the Transfer Dehydrogenation of Alkanes: Synthesis and Application of Novel 7–6–7 Ring‐Based Pincer Iridium Complexes

A series of Ir–PCP pincer precatalysts [(7–6–7‐^RPCP)Ir(H)(Cl)] and [(7–6–7‐^ArPCP)Ir(H)(Cl)(MeCN)] bearing a novel “7–6–7” fused‐ring skeleton have been synthesized based upon the postulate that the catalytic species would have durability due to their rather rigid structure and high activity owing to the low but sufficient flexibility of their backbones, which are not completely fixed. Treatment of these precatalysts with NaOtBu gave rise to the active 14 electron (14e) species [(7–6–7‐^iPrPCP)Ir] and [(7–6–7‐^PhPCP)Ir], which can trap hydrogen and were spectroscopically characterized as the tetrahydride complexes. Both [(7–6–7‐^iPrPCP)Ir] and [(7–6–7‐^PhPCP)Ir] were found to be highly effective in the transfer dehydrogenation of cyclooctane with tert‐butylethylene as the hydrogen acceptor, the initial reaction rate at high temperature (230 °C) being higher for [(7–6–7‐^iPrPCP)Ir] than [(7–6–7‐^PhPCP)Ir], and the turnover number (TON) of the overall hydrogen transfer being higher for the latter. Nonetheless, the estimated TONs were as high as 4600 and 4820 for the two complexes at this temperature, respectively, which are unprecedented absolute values. In terms of durability, the [(7–6–7‐^PhPCP)Ir] complex is the catalyst of choice for this reaction. Structural analysis and computational studies support the importance of the low flexibility of the ligand core.     

Highly Chemo‐, Regio‐, and Stereoselective Cobalt‐Catalyzed Markovnikov Hydrosilylation of Alkynes

A highly chemo‐, regio‐ and stereoselective cobalt‐catalyzed Markovnikov hydrosilylation of alkynes was developed. Various functionalized groups, such as halides, free alcohols, free aniline, ketones, esters, amides, and nitriles are tolerated, which may lead to further applications and late‐stage derivatizations. To date, this is the most efficient cobalt catalytic system (TOF=65 520 h^?1; TOF=turnover frequency) for hydrosilylation of alkynes. The Hiyama–Denmark cross‐coupling reactions of vinylsilanes with aryl iodides underwent smoothly to afford 1,1‐diarylethenes. A unique regioselectivity‐controllable hydrosilylation/hydroboration reaction of alkynes was also described.     

Phosphine‐ and Hydrogen‐Free: Highly Regioselective Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Hydroaminomethylation of Olefins

A highly regioselective ruthenium‐catalyzed hydroaminomethylation of olefins is reported. Using easily available trirutheniumdodecacarbonyl an efficient sequence consisting of a water‐gas shift reaction, hydroformylation of olefins, with subsequent imine or enamine formation and final reduction is realized. This novel procedure is highly practical (ligand‐free, one pot) and economic (low catalyst loading and inexpensive metal). Bulk industrial as well as functionalized olefins react with various amines to give the corresponding tertiary amines generally in high yields (up to 92 %), excellent regioselectivities (n/iso>99:1), and full chemoselectivity in favor of terminal olefins.     

User‐Friendly Platinum Catalysts for the Highly Stereoselective Hydrosilylation of Alkynes and Alkenes

With a view to addressing the shortcomings of traditional catalysts, a new generation of outstanding N‐ heterocyclic carbene platinum(0) complexes for the hydrosilylation of unsaturated carbon–carbon bonds is reported. Their discovery and application to the stereoselective addition of various silanes to silylated alkynes, terminal acetylenes, and olefins is presented. Insights into the catalytic cycle and the origin of the stereoselectivity are also discussed.     

Design of a Highly Active Pd Catalyst with P,N Hemilabile Ligands for Alkoxycarbonylation of Alkynes and Allenes: A Density Functional Theory Study

In the palladium-catalysed methoxycarbonylation of technical propyne, the presence of propadiene poisons the hemilabile Pd(P,N) catalyst. According to density functional theory calculations (B3PW91-D3/PCM level), a highly stable π-allyl intermediate is the reason for this catalyst poisoning. Predicted regioselectivities suggest that at least 11 % of propadiene should yield this allyl intermediate, in which the reaction gets stalled under the turnover conditions due to an insurmountable methanolysis barrier of 25.8 kcal mol⁻¹. The results obtained for different ligands and substrates are consistent with the available experimental data. A new ligand, (6-Cl-3-Me-Py)PPh₂, is proposed, which is predicted to efficiently control the branched/linear selectivity, avoiding rapid poisoning (with only 0.2 % of propadiene being trapped as the Pd allyl complex), and to tremendously increase the catalytic activity by decreasing the overall barrier to 9.1 kcal mol⁻¹.     

Spiroketal‐Based Phosphorus Ligands for Highly Regioselective Hydroformylation of Terminal and Internal Olefins

A new class of bidentate phosphoramidite ligands, based on a spiroketal backbone, has been developed for the rhodium‐catalyzed hydroformylation reactions. A range of short‐ and long‐chain olefins, were found amenable to the protocol, affording high catalytic activity and excellent regioselectivity for the linear aldehydes. Under the optimized reaction conditions, a turnover number (TON) of up to 2.3×10⁴ and linear to branched ratio (l/b) of up to 174.4 were obtained in the Rh^I‐catalyzed hydroformylation of terminal olefins. Remarkably, the catalysts were also found to be efficient in the isomerization–hydroformylation of some internal olefins, to regioselectively afford the linear aldehydes with TON values of up to 2.0×10⁴ and l/b ratios in the range of 23.4–30.6. X‐ray crystallographic analysis revealed the cis coordination of the ligand in the precatalyst [Rh( 3 d )(acac)], whereas NMR and IR studies on the catalytically active hydride complex [HRh(CO)₂( 3 d )] suggested an eq–eq coordination of the ligand in the species.     

Hydrophosphination of CO2 and Subsequent Formate Transfer in the 1,3,2‐Diazaphospholene‐Catalyzed N‐Formylation of Amines

Hydrophosphination of CO₂ with 1,3,2‐Diazaphospholene (NHP‐H; 1 ) afforded phosphorus formate (NHP‐OCOH; 2 ) through the formation of a bond between the electrophilic phosphorus atom in 1 and the oxygen atom from CO₂, along with hydride transfer to the carbon atom of CO₂. Transfer of the formate from 2 to Ph₂SiH₂ produced Ph₂Si(OCHO)₂ ( 3 ) in a reaction that could be carried out in a catalytic manner by using 5 mol % of 1 . These elementary reactions were applied to the metal‐free catalytic N‐formylation of amine derivatives with CO₂ in one pot under ambient conditions.