A Manganese Pre‐Catalyst: Mild Reduction of Amides,Ketones, Aldehydes,and Esters

A new (N ‐phosphinoamidinate)manganese complex is shown to be a useful pre‐catalyst for the hydrosilative reduction of carbonyl compounds, and in most cases at room temperature. The Mn‐catalyzed reduction of tertiary amides to tertiary amines, with a useful scope, is demonstrated for the first time by use of this catalyst, and is competitive with the most effective transition‐metal catalysts known for such transformations. Ketones, aldehydes, and esters were also successfully reduced under mild conditions by using this new Mn catalyst.     

Characterization and Activity of MnO/γ‐Al2O3 for Hydrogenation of Methyl Benzoate to Benzaldehyde

The activities of a MnO/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst for the selective reduction of methyl benzoate to benzaldehyde have been studied in a continuous flow reactor. Characterization of the catalyst has been conducted by XRD, XPS, NH₃‐TPD and TPD‐IR. XRD and XPS results revealed that the steady state catalyst is mainly MnO₂/γ‐AlO₃ before reduction and MnO/γ‐Al₂O₃ after reduction. Monolayer dispersion capacity obtained by XPS method is about w (Mn)11.3% TPD‐IR results revealed that there are only L acidic centers on the catalytic surface. NH₃‐TPD determinations have verified that the catalyst with a certain number of moderate strength acidic sites is advantageous to hydrogenation of methyl benzoate to benzaldehyde.     

Ruthenium‐Immobilized Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica: Synthesis,Characterization, and Catalytic Application for Selective Oxidation of Alkanes

Periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) is a unique material that has a crystal‐like wall structure with coordination sites for metal complexes. A Ru complex, [RuCl₂(CO)₃]₂, is successfully immobilized onto 2,2’‐bipyridine (BPy) units of PMO to form a single‐site catalyst, which has been confirmed by various physicochemical analyses. Using NaClO as an oxidant, the Ru‐immobilized PMO oxidizes the tertiary C?H bonds of adamantane to the corresponding alcohols at 57 times faster than the secondary C?H bonds, thereby exhibiting remarkably high regioselectivity. Moreover, the catalyst converts cis‐decalin to cis‐9‐decalol in a 63 % yield with complete retention of the substrate stereochemistry. The Ru catalyst can be separated by simple filtration and reused without loss of the original activity and selectivity for the oxidation reactions.     

Electrocatalytic and Solar‐Driven CO2 Reduction to CO with a Molecular Manganese Catalyst Immobilized on Mesoporous TiO2

Electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction to CO was achieved with a novel Mn complex, fac‐[MnBr(4,4′‐bis(phosphonic acid)‐2,2′‐bipyridine)(CO)₃] ( MnP ), immobilized on a mesoporous TiO₂ electrode. A benchmark turnover number of 112±17 was attained with these TiO₂| MnP electrodes after 2 h electrolysis. Post‐catalysis IR spectroscopy demonstrated that the molecular structure of the MnP catalyst was retained. UV/vis spectroscopy confirmed that an active Mn–Mn dimer was formed during catalysis on the TiO₂ electrode, showing the dynamic formation of a catalytically active dimer on an electrode surface. Finally, we combined the light‐protected TiO₂| MnP cathode with a CdS‐sensitized photoanode to enable solar‐light‐driven CO₂ reduction with the light‐sensitive MnP catalyst.     

Asymmetric Michael Addition/Intramolecular Cyclization Catalyzed by Bifunctional Tertiary Amine–Squaramides: Construction of Chiral 2‐Amino‐4H‐chromene‐3‐Carbonitrile Derivatives

The efficient asymmetric Michael addition/intramolecular cyclization of malononitrile with dienones catalyzed by a chiral bifunctional tertiary amine–squaramide catalyst for the synthesis of chiral 2‐amino‐4H‐chromene‐3‐carbonitrile derivatives was developed. The corresponding products were obtained in good to excellent yields (up to 99 %) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98 % ee) for most of the bisarylidenecyclopentanones.     

N-磺化手性β-氨基醇修饰的钛试剂催化下的酮的不对称炔基化反应研究

The easily prepared and recoverable chiral N-sulfonylated fl-amino alcohol 2 in combination with Ti（OPr-i）4 was found to be an effective chiral catalyst for the enantioselective addition of alkynylzinc to ketones, which gave the useful products, i.e. chiral tertiary propargyl alcohols, with the ee up to 92%.     

Noncovalent Bifunctional Organocatalysts: Powerful Tools for Contiguous Quaternary‐Tertiary Stereogenic Carbon Formation,Scope, and Origin of Enantioselectivity

Relying on the assembly of commercially available catalyst building blocks, highly stereocontrolled quaternary carbon (all carbon substituted) formation has been achieved with unmatched substrate diversity. For example, the in situ assembly of a tricomponent catalyst system allows α‐branched aldehyde addition to nitroalkene or maleimide electrophiles (Michael products), while addition to an α‐iminoester affords Mannich reaction products. Very good yields are observed and for fifteen of the eighteen examples 96–99 % ee is observed. Using racemic α‐branched aldehydes, two contiguous (quaternary–tertiary) stereogenic centers can be formed in high diastereo‐ and enantiomeric excess (eight examples) via an efficient in situ dynamic kinetic resolution, solving a known shortcoming for maleimide electrophiles in particular. The method is of practical value, requiring only 1.2 equiv of the aldehyde, a 5.0 mol % loading of each catalyst component, for example, O‐tBu‐L ‐threonine (O‐tBu‐L ‐Thr), sulfamide, DMAP or O‐tBu‐L ‐Thr, KOH, and room temperature reactions. As a highlight, the first demonstration of ethylisovaleraldehyde ( 7 ) addition is disclosed, providing the most congested quaternary stereogenic carbon containing succinimide product ( 8 ) known to date. Finally, mechanistic insight, via DFT calculations, support a noncovalent assembly of the catalyst components into a bifunctional catalyst, correctly predict two levels of product stereoselectivity, and suggest the origin of the tricomponent catalyst system’s exceptionality: an alternative hydrogen bond motif for the donor‐acceptor pair than currently suggested for non‐assembled catalysts.     

A Porphyrin‐Based Porous rtl Metal–Organic Framework as an Efficient Catalyst for the Cycloaddition of CO2 to Epoxides

A porous rtl metal–organic framework (MOF) [Mn₅L(H₂O)₆?(DMA)₂]?5DMA?4C₂H₅OH ( 1? Mn) (H₁₀L=5,10,15,20‐tetra(4‐(3,5‐dicarboxylphenoxy)phenyl)porphyrin; DMA=N,N′‐dimethylacetamide) was synthesized by employing a new porphyrin‐based octacarboxylic acid ligand. 1? Mn exhibits high Mn^II density in the porous framework, providing it great Lewis‐acid heterogeneous catalytic capability for the cycloaddition of CO₂ with epoxides. Strikingly, 1? Mn features excellent catalytic activity to the cycloaddition of CO₂ to epoxides, with a remarkable initial turnover frequency 400 per mole of catalyst per hour at 20 atm. As‐synthesized 1? Mn also exhibits size selectivity to different epoxide substrates on account of their steric hindrance. The high catalytic activity, size selectivity, and stability toward the epoxides on catalytic cycloaddition of CO₂ make 1? Mn a promising heterogeneous catalyst for fixation and utilization of CO₂.     

Polymeric ionic liquid material‐anchored Mn–porphyrin anion: Heterogeneous catalyst for aerobic oxidation of olefins

P(APTMACl)‐[Mn(TPPS)(OAc)] heterogeneous catalyst system comprised of anionic [Mn(tetrakis(4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin)(OAc)] ([Mn(TPPS)(OAc)]) embedded within cationic cross‐linked polymeric ionic liquid (poly[(3‐acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride], p(APTMACl)) hydrogel matrices was used for the selective aerobic oxidation of olefins. P(APTMACl)‐[Mn(TPPS)(OAc)] hydrogel was synthesized by radical polymerization in a solution of cationic APTMACl as an ionic liquid monomer, N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide as cross‐linking agent, ammonium persulfate as initiator and N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylmethylenediamine as accelerator in the presence of anionic [Mn(TPPS)(OAc)]. P(APTMACl)‐[Mn(TPPS)(OAc)] was characterized using Fourier transform infrared, diffuse reflectance UV–visible and atomic absorption spectroscopies and scanning electron microscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry was used for measuring the glass transition temperature. Catalytic activity of p(APTMACl)‐[Mn(TPPS)(OAc)] was investigated in the aerobic oxidation of olefins with emphasis on the effect of various parameters such as temperature, catalyst amount, substituent effect, etc. The catalyst was easily recovered from the reaction medium and could be re‐used for another seven runs without significant loss of activity.     

Kinetic studies on the hydrosilylation of phenylacetylene with R3SiH (R3 = PhMe2, Ph2Me,Ph3, Et3) using bis(1,2‐diphenylphosphinoethane)norbornadiene rhodium(I) hexafluorophosphate as catalyst

Product distribution and kinetic studies on the hydrosilylation of phenylacetylene by Ph₃SiH, Ph₂MeSiH, PhMe₂SiH and Et₃SiH were performed using bis‐[1,2‐diphenylphosphinoethane]norbornadienerhodium(I) hexafluorophosphate, 1, as catalyst. Pre‐equilibration of the catalyst with the acetylene produced hydrosilylations, pre‐equilibration with the silane did not. The catalyst showed a pronounced selectivity for cis‐addition to form β‐products, t‐PhCH­CHSiR₃, unlike most hydrosilylation catalysts. The kinetic studies showed a hydrosilylation reaction that is zero order with respect to both acetylene and the silane, with a dependency upon catalyst concentration. The k_obs value is directly influenced by the substituents on the silane: k(PhMe₂SiH) > k (Et₃SiH > k (Ph₂MeSiH) > k (Ph₃SiH). Intercalation of the catalyst in hectorite was not useful, since either no reaction occurred in non‐polar solvents, or extraction of the catalyst occurred in polar solvents to produce the same product distributions. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

2,2,2‐Trifluoroacetophenone as an Organocatalyst for the Oxidation of Tertiary Amines and Azines to N‐Oxides

A cheap, mild and environmentally friendly oxidation of tertiary amines and azines to the corresponding N‐oxides is reported by using polyfluoroalkyl ketones as efficient organocatalysts. 2,2,2‐Trifluoroacetophenone was identified as the optimum catalyst for the oxidation of aliphatic tertiary amines and azines. This oxidation is chemoselective and proceeds in high‐to‐quantitative yields utilizing 10 mol % of the catalyst and H₂O₂ as the oxidant.     

Cross‐Coupling of Secondary Amides with Tertiary Amides: The Use of Tertiary Amides as Surrogates of Alkyl Carbanions for Ketone Synthesis

In recent years, exciting progress has been made in the field of direct transformation of amides, nevertheless, the condensation between two amides remains rare and restricted to homo‐coupling reactions. Herein, we report the cross‐coupling of secondary amides with tertiary amides, which provides a synthesis of ketones under mild conditions, and features the use of tertiary amides as surrogates of alkyl carbanions. The method relies on the coupling of enamines, generated from tertiary amides by catalytic partial reduction of tertiary amides with Vaska's catalyst, with nitrilium ions, formed in situ from secondary amides via activation with trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, and on the subsequent deformylation.     

A practical innovative method for highly selective oxidation of alkenes and alkanes using Fe (III) and Mn (III) porphyrins supported onto multi‐wall carbon nanotubes as reusable heterogeneous catalysts

Functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes were used for covalent immobilization of meso‐tetrakis(4‐carboxyphenyl) porphyrinatoiron (III) chloride [Fe (TCPP)Cl] and meso‐tetrakis(4‐carboxyphenyl) porphyrinatomanganese (III) acetate [Mn (TCPP)OAc]. The full characterization of the hybrid porphyrinic nanomaterials, by Fourier transform‐infrared and UV–Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetry and flame atomic absorption spectrometry is described. The oxidation of alkenes and alkanes with molecular oxygen as green oxidant in the presence of Mn‐ and Fe‐catalysts has been studied in a comparative manner. The Fe‐catalyst was shown to have higher catalytic activity compared with the Mn‐catalyst. In addition, both separable solid catalysts can be recovered and reused at least 10 times along with good yields.     

Characterization and Activity of Cu‐MnOx/γ‐Al2O3 Catalyst for Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide

The effect of manganese on the dispersion, reduction behavior and active states of surface of supported copper oxide catalysts have been investigated by XRD, temperature‐programmed reduction and XPS. The activity of methanol synthesis from CO₂/H₂ was also investigated. The catalytic activity over CuO‐MnO_x/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst for CO₂ hydrogenation is higher than that of CuO/γ‐Al₂O₃. The adding of manganese is beneficial in enhancing the dispersion of the supported copper oxide and make the TPR peak of the CuO‐MnK_x/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst different from the individual supported copper and manganese oxide catalysts, which indicates that there exists strong interaction between the copper and manganese oxide. For the CuO/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst there are two reducible copper oxide species; α and β peaks are attributed to the reduction of highly dispersed copper oxide species and bulk CuO species, respectively. For the CuO‐MnO_x/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst, four reduction peaks are observed, α peak is attributed to the dispersed copper oxide species; β peak is ascribed to the bulk CuO; γ peak is attributed to the reduction of high dispersed CuO interacting with manganese; δ peak may be the reduction of the manganese oxide interacting with copper oxide. XPS results show that Cu⁺ mostly existed on the working surface of the Cu‐Mn/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalysts. The activity was promoted by Cu with positive charge which was formed by means of long path exchange function between Cu? O? Mn. These results indicate that there is synergistic interaction between the copper and manganese oxide, which is responsible for the high activity of CO₂ hydrogenation.     

Direct Estimation of the Surface Location of Immobilized Functional Groups for Concerted Catalysis Using a Probe Molecule

The location of active sites during concerted catalysis by a metal complex and tertiary amine on a SiO₂ surface is discussed based on the interaction between the functionalized SiO₂ surface and a probe molecule, p‐formyl phenylboronic acid. The interactions of the probe molecule with the surface functionalities, diamine ligand, and tertiary amine, were analyzed by FT‐IR and solid‐state ¹³C and ¹¹B MAS NMR. For the catalyst exhibiting high 1,4‐addition activity, the diamine ligand and tertiary amine base exist in closer proximity than in the catalyst with low activity.     

Methyl‐Selective α‐Oxygenation of Tertiary Amines to Formamides by Employing Copper/Moderately Hindered Nitroxyl Radical (DMN‐AZADO or 1‐Me‐AZADO)

Methyl‐selective α‐oxygenation of tertiary amines is a highly attractive approach for synthesizing formamides while preserving the amine substrate skeletons. Therefore, the development of efficient catalysts that can advance regioselective α‐oxygenation at the N‐methyl positions using molecular oxygen (O₂) as the terminal oxidant is an important subject. In this study, we successfully developed a highly regioselective and efficient aerobic methyl‐selective α‐oxygenation of tertiary amines by employing a Cu/nitroxyl radical catalyst system. The use of moderately hindered nitroxyl radicals, such as 1,5‐dimethyl‐9‐azanoradamantane N‐oxyl (DMN‐AZADO) and 1‐methyl‐2‐azaadamanane N‐oxyl (1‐Me‐AZADO), was very important to promote the oxygenation effectively mainly because these N‐oxyls have longer life‐times than less hindered N‐oxyls. Various types of tertiary N‐methylamines were selectively converted to the corresponding formamides. A plausible reaction mechanism is also discussed on the basis of experimental evidence, together with DFT calculations. The high regioselectivity of this catalyst system stems from steric restriction of the amine‐N‐oxyl interactions.     

Proton Tunneling Distances for Metal Hydrides Formation Manage the Selectivity of Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Reaction

A series of manganese polypyridine complexes were prepared as CO₂ reduction electrocatalysts. Among these catalysts, the intramolecular proton tunneling distance for metal hydride formation (PTD-MH) vary from 2.400 to 2.696 Å while the structural, energetic, and electronic factors remain essentially similar to each other. The experimental and theoretical results revealed that the selectivity of CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) is dominated by the intramolecular PTD-MH within a difference of ca. 0.3 Å. Specifically, the catalyst functionalized with a pendent phenol group featuring a slightly longer PTD-MH favors the binding of proton to the [Mn−CO₂] adduct rather than the Mn center and results in ca. 100 % selectivity for CO product. In contrast, decreasing the PTD-MH by attaching a dangling tertiary amine in the same catalyst skeleton facilitates the proton binding on the Mn center and switches the product from CO to HCOOH with a selectivity of 86 %.     

Formal Asymmetric Catalytic Thiolation with a Bifunctional Catalyst at a Water–Oil Interface: Synthesis of Benzyl Thiols

The enantioselective conjugated addition of tritylthiol to in situ generated ortho‐quinone methides (o‐QMs) is catalyzed by an acid–base bifunctional squaramide organocatalyst. The transformation proceeds with high yield (up to 99 %) and stereoselectivity (up to 97:3 e.r.) using water as solvent under mild conditions. The catalyst system provides a new strategy for the synthesis of optically active benzyl mercaptans. Control experiments suggested that o‐QMs are generated by the tertiary amine moiety of the squaramide organocatalyst and that the water–oil biphase is crucial for achieving high reactivity and stereoselectivity.     

The Direct Electron Transfer of Iron‐containing Metal Organic Frameworks (Mil‐100) and Its Catalysis for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Room‐Temperature Alkaline Media on a Glass Carbon Electrode

The most common electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are platinum‐based ones. This work demonstrates the performance of iron‐containing metal organic frameworks (MOFs) as non‐platinum‐based nano‐electrocatalysts for ORR in an alkaline medium. As a new non‐platinum catalyst to achieve the active sites for the ORR, Mil‐100 (Fe) nanoparticles were used in aqueous KOH by the rotating‐disk electrode method. The main objectives of this study are the investigations on the electron transfer number (n ), Tafel slope, and catalytic performance. The particles size of the obtained powders is in the nanoscale range (approximately 25 nm). The electron transfer number for the ORR on the surface of iron‐containing catalyst is approximately 4, and the Tafel slope of diffusion‐corrected kinetic current density is ~50.7 mV per decade at low overpotential. This work might extend a new non‐precious‐metal catalyst structure for ORR for use in low‐temperature fuel cells.     

Exploration of tertiary aminosquaramide bifunctional organocatalyst in controlled/living ring‐opening polymerization of l‐lactide

A series of tertiary aminosquaramides as bifunctional organocatalysts in the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of l ‐lactide (l ‐LA) were developed, allowing the activation of both the l ‐LA monomer and the alcohol group of the initiator/propagating species. Further, the impact of tertiary nitrogen substituents on catalytic activity in ROP of l ‐LA was explored. The tertiary aminosquaramide— an air‐stable and moisture‐stable catalyst—exhibited superior activity in contest with thiourea counterpart when both were equipped with a similar tertiary amine group. Kinetic and chain‐extension experiments indicated that the formed poly(l ‐LA) is featured with narrow polydispersity and high end‐group fidelity, hallmarks of a living polymerization process. The initiator efficiency was further executed at ease by preparation of an ABA triblock copolymer poly (l ‐LA)‐b‐poly (ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly (l ‐LA) in the presence of a dual‐headed PEG macroinitiator. ¹H NMR titration experiments suggested a bifunctional catalytic mechanism, wherein both the l ‐LA monomer and the propagating hydroxyl group were activated en route to polymerization. The ¹H NMR, SEC, and MALDI‐TOF MS measurements validated the quantitative incorporation of the initiator in the polymeric chains and enchainment over competitive trans‐esterification reaction. Overall, the structure‐activity relationships were surveyed to uncover aminosquaramide as a new bifunctional dual hydrogen‐bond donor catalyst for living ROP of l ‐LA. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2483–2493