Rapid ketone transfer hydrogenation by employing simple, in situ prepared iridium(I) precatalysts supported by "non-N--H" P,N ligands

The catalytic utility in ketone transfer hydrogenation (TH) of the preformed complexes [Ir(cod)(kappa(2)-2-NMe(2)-3-PiPr(2)-indene)](+)X(-) ([2 a](+)X(-); X: PF(6), BF(4), and OTf; cod: eta(4)-1,5-cyclooctadiene; OTf: trifluoromethanesulfonate), [Ir(cod)(kappa(2)-1-PiPr(2)-2-NMe(2)-indene)](+)OTf(-) ([2 b](+)OTf(-)), [Ir(cod)(kappa(2)-2-NMe(2)-3-PiPr(2)-indenide)] (3), and [Ir(cod)(kappa(2)-o-tBu(2)P-C(6)H(4)-NMe(2))](+)PF(6) (-) ([4](+)PF(6) (-)), as well as of related mixtures prepared from [{IrCl(cod)}(2)] and various P,N-substituted indene or phenylene ligands, was examined. Whereas [2 a](+)X(-), [2 b](+)OTf(-), 3, and related in situ prepared Ir catalysts derived from P,N-indenes proved to be generally effective in mediating the reduction of acetophenone to 1-phenylethanol in basic iPrOH at reflux (0.1 mol % Ir; 81-99 % conversion) in a preliminary catalytic survey, the structurally related Ir catalysts prepared from (o-R(2)P-C(6)H(4))NMe(2) (R: Ph, iPr, or tBu) were observed to outperform the corresponding P,N-indene ligands under similar conditions. In the course of such studies, it was observed that alteration of the substituents at the donor fragments of the supporting P,N ligand had a pronounced influence on the catalytic performance of the derived catalysts, with ligands featuring bulky dialkylphosphino donors proving to be the most effective. Notably, the crystallographically characterized complex [4](+)PF(6) (-), either preformed or prepared in situ from a mixture of [{IrCl(cod)}(2)], NaPF(6), and (o-tBu(2)P-C(6)H(4))NMe(2), proved to be highly effective in mediating the catalytic transfer hydrogenation (TH) of ketones in basic iPrOH, with near quantitative conversions for a range of alkyl and/or aryl ketones and with very high turnover-frequency values (up to 230 000 h(-1) at >50 % conversion); this thereby enabled the use of Ir loadings ranging from 0.1 to 0.004 mol %. Catalyst mixtures prepared from [{IrCl(cod)}(2)], NaPF(6), and the chiral (alphaS,alphaS)-1,1'-bis[alpha-(dimethylamino)benzyl]-(R,R)-2,2'-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ferrocene (Cy-Mandyphos) ligand proved capable of mediating the asymmetric TH of aryl alkyl ketones, including that of the hindered substrate 2,2-dimethylpropiophenone with an efficiency (0.5 mol % Ir; 95 % conversion, 95 % ee) not documented previously in TH chemistry.     

A General and Mild Catalytic α‐Alkylation of Unactivated Esters Using Alcohols

Catalytic α‐alkylation of esters with primary alcohols is a desirable process because it uses low‐toxicity agents and generates water as the by‐product. Reported herein is a NCP pincer/Ir catalyst which is highly efficient for α‐alkylation of a broad scope of unactivated esters under mild reaction conditions. For the first time, alcohols alkylate unactivated α‐substituted acyclic esters, lactones, and even methyl and ethyl acetates. This method can be applied to the synthesis of carboxylic acid derivatives with diverse structures and functional groups, some of which would be impossible to access by conventional enolate alkylations with alkyl halides.     

Novel Base‐Free Catalytic Wittig Reaction for the Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Alkenes

A highly efficient catalyst system for base‐free catalytic Wittig reactions has been developed and optimized. Initially, several potential (pre)catalysts as well as different silanes as reducing agents were screened. A system based on a readily available phosphine oxide as precatalyst and trimethoxy silane as reducing agent proved to be optimal. The effect of various Brønsted acidic additives was studied. Subsequently, the reaction conditions were optimized and standard reaction conditions were determined. Under these conditions the scope of this new protocol was evaluated. Nine activated olefins and 33 aldehydes were converted into 42 highly functionalized alkenes. Notably, aromatic, aliphatic as well as heteroaromatic aldehydes could be converted, giving the desired products in isolated yields up to 99 % and with good to excellent E/Z selectivities. These results underline the remarkable efficiency of this protocol considering the complexity of the reaction mixture and the four reaction steps that proceed in parallel in one pot.     

Iridicycle‐Catalysed Imine Reduction: An Experimental and Computational Study of the Mechanism

The mechanism of imine reduction by formic acid with a single‐site iridicycle catalyst has been investigated by density functional theory (DFT), NMR spectroscopy, and kinetic measurements. The NMR and kinetic studies suggest that the transfer hydrogenation is turnover‐limited by the hydride formation step. The calculations reveal that, amongst a number of possibilities, hydride formation from the iridicycle and formate probably proceeds by an ion‐pair mechanism, whereas the hydride transfer to the imino bond occurs in an outer‐sphere manner. In the gas phase, in the most favourable pathway, the activation energies in the hydride formation and transfer steps are 26–28 and 7–8 kcal mol^?1, respectively. Introducing one explicit methanol molecule into the modelling alters the energy barrier significantly, reducing the energies to around 18 and 2 kcal mol^?1 for the two steps, respectively. The DFT investigation further shows that methanol participates in the transition state of the turnover‐limiting hydride formation step by hydrogen‐bonding to the formate anion and thereby stabilising the ion pair.     

Part I: The Development of the Catalytic Wittig Reaction

We have developed the first catalytic (in phosphane) Wittig reaction (CWR). The utilization of an organosilane was pivotal for success as it allowed for the chemoselective reduction of a phosphane oxide. Protocol optimization evaluated the phosphane oxide precatalyst structure, loading, organosilane, temperature, solvent, and base. These studies demonstrated that to maintain viable catalytic performance it was necessary to employ cyclic phosphane oxide precatalysts of type 1 . Initial substrate studies utilized sodium carbonate as a base, and further experimentation identified N,N‐diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) as a soluble alternative. The use of DIPEA improved the ease of use, broadened the substrate scope, and decreased the precatalyst loading. The optimized protocols were compatible with alkyl, aryl, and heterocyclic (furyl, indolyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, and thienyl) aldehydes to produce both di‐ and trisubstituted olefins in moderate‐to‐high yields (60–96 %) by using a precatalyst loading of 4–10 mol %. Kinetic E/Z selectivity was generally 66:34; complete E selectivity for disubstituted α,β‐unsaturated products was achieved through a phosphane‐mediated isomerization event. The CWR was applied to the synthesis of 54 , a known precursor to the anti‐Alzheimer drug donepezil hydrochloride, on a multigram scale (12.2 g, 74 % yield). In addition, to our knowledge, the described CWR is the only transition‐/heavy‐metal‐free catalytic olefination process, excluding proton‐catalyzed elimination reactions.     

Catalytic ionic hydrogenations

Catalytic ionic hydrogenation of ketones occurs by proton transfer to a ketone from a cationic metal dihydride, followed by hydride transfer from a neutral metal hydride. This contrasts with traditional catalysts for ketone hydrogenation that require binding of the ketone to the metal and subsequent insertion of the ketone into a M-H bond. Ionic hydrogenation catalysts based on the inexpensive metals molybdenum and tungsten have been developed based on mechanistic understanding of the individual steps required in the catalytic reaction.     

Oxydifluoromethylation of Alkenes by Photoredox Catalysis: Simple Synthesis of CF2H‐Containing Alcohols

We have developed a novel and simple protocol for the direct incorporation of a difluoromethyl (CF₂H) group into alkenes by visible‐light‐driven photoredox catalysis. The use of fac‐[Ir(ppy)₃] (ppy=2‐pyridylphenyl) photocatalyst and shelf‐stable Hu's reagent, N‐tosyl‐S‐difluoromethyl‐S‐phenylsulfoximine, as a CF₂H source is the key to success. The well‐designed photoredox system achieves synthesis of not only β‐CF₂H‐substituted alcohols but also ethers and an ester from alkenes through solvolytic processes. The present method allows a single‐step and regioselective formation of C(sp³)–CF₂H and C(sp³)?O bonds from C=C moiety in alkenes, such as hydroxydifluoromethylation, regardless of terminal or internal alkenes. Moreover, this methodology tolerates a variety of functional groups.     

Pincer‐Type Complexes for Catalytic (De)Hydrogenation and Transfer (De)Hydrogenation Reactions: Recent Progress

Pincer complexes are becoming increasingly important for organometallic chemistry and organic synthesis. Since numerous applications for such catalysts have been developed in recent decades, this Minireview covers progress in their use as catalysts for (de)hydrogenation and transfer (de)hydrogenation reactions during the last four years. Aside from noble‐metal‐based pincer complexes, the corresponding base metal complexes are also highlighted and their applications summarized.