A recyclable dendritic osmium catalyst for homogeneous dihydroxylation of olefins

A series of osmate (OsO₄²⁻) core dendrimers was prepared by an ion-exchange technique through the mixing of K₂OsO₄ and a bis(quaternary ammonium bromide) core dendrimer, which consisted of poly(benzyl ether) dendron. By employing an osmate core dendrimer as a homogeneous catalyst, dihydroxylation reactions of olefins proceeded rapidly, and the dendritic osmium catalyst was recovered by reprecipitation and then reused. Furthermore, a dendritic effect on the recyclability of a catalyst was observed. In the case of asymmetric dihydroxylation reactions, the corresponding diol was obtained in a high chemical yield with a fair enantiomeric excess (ee). In this case, not only the dendritic osmium catalyst but also the chiral ligand could be recovered by reprecipitation and reused efficiently up to five times.     

“Olefin metathesis” reactions of (η5-C5H5)NiRu3(μ-H)(CO)9-(μ4-η2)-(CCHBut) and related complexes

The complex (η⁵-C₅H₅)NiRu₃(μ-H)(CO)₉(μ₄-η²-CCHBu^t) (1a) reacts with olefins to give several organic products, including species derived from the coupling of the vinylidene ligand with an olefin-derived =CRR′ fragment, representing the first example of a (non catalytic) olefin metathesis reaction involving a metal cluster; other complexes structurally or chemically related to the compound 1a have also been treated with olefins and alkynes.     

Recycling of osmium catalyst in oxidative olefin cleavage: a chemoentrapment approach

A new chemoentrapment strategy for recycling osmium in the catalytic olefin cleavage reaction is reported. The new strategy utilizes KOH/i-PrOH to generate water-soluble Os(VI) species as a recyclable metal catalyst after the oxidative cleavage reaction. For the recycling of the catalyst, NaIO₄-NaClO₂ was found to be the best combination of secondary oxidants and acetonitrile-water was chosen as an optimal solvent for the best recycling results. The new method allows for an efficient recycling of osmium in the reactions involving mono- and di-substituted olefins with 1 mol % of OsO₄ without any significant side reactions and loss of yield.     

‘A rendezvous with an old flame’: revisiting olefin hydrogenation with new rhodium and iridium catalysts

A novel tridentate hemilabile ligand 2 containing phosphine, imine and pyridyl donor groups has been prepared in analogy with the synthesis of the known related ligand 1. The reaction of 1 or 2 with 〚Rh(COE)₂Cl〛₂ resulted in the formation of the neutral complexes 〚Rh(L)Cl〛. By a method using 〚M(diene)Cl〛₂ as starting material, cationic complexes of the type 〚M(diene)(L)〛X were also obtained (M = Rh, diene = NBD, L = 1, 2; M = Ir, diene = COD, L = 1; X = BF₄, OTf). A comparative study of the catalytic activity of the new complexes towards the hydrogenation of various olefins has been reported. In particular, the catalysts of the type 〚Rh(L)Cl〛 are remarkably active when prepared in situ, especially for the reduction of hindered olefins.     

Synthesis of 1,3-diaryl-1H-benzo[g]indazoles

A facile three-step synthetic route toward 1,3-diaryl-1H-benzo[g]indazoles 1a–1n starting with 3,4-dimethoxy-2-allylbenzaldehyde (6) in modest total yield is described. The facile route was carried by aldol condensation of aldehyde 6 with aryl methyl ketones 5a–5d in alkaline MeOH at reflux, Knorr pyrazole synthesis of the resulting chalcones 4a–4d with aryl hydrazines 3a–3e in EtOH at reflux followed by DDQ-mediated aromatization in toluene at reflux, and oxidative cleavage annulation of olefins 2a–2n with the one-pot combination of OsO₄/NaIO₄/HOAc in the aqueous THF at reflux.     

Synthesis, structure and catalytic activity of the first iridium(I) siloxide versus chloride complexes with 1,3-mesitylimidazolin-2-ylidene ligand

The first iridium(I) complex containing siloxyl and N-heterocyclic carbene ligand such as [Ir(cod)(IMes)(OSiMe₃)] (1) and [Ir(CO)₂(IMes)(OSiMe₃)] (3) have been synthesized and their structures solved by spectroscopy and X-ray methods as well as catalytic properties in selected hydrogenation reactions have been presented in comparison to their chloride analogues, i.e. [Ir(Cl)(cod)(IMes)] (2) and [Ir(Cl)(CO)₂(IMes)] (4). The attempts at synthesis of iridium(I) complex with tert-butoxyl ligand has failed as leading instead to the iridium hydroxide complex [Ir(cod)(OH)(IMes)] (5) whose X-ray structure has also been solved. All complexes (1)-(5) show square planar geometry typical of the four-coordinated iridium complexes. Catalytic activity of complexes 1 and 2 was tested in transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone and hydrogenation of olefins.     

Catalytic asymmetric Simmons-Smith cyclopropanation of unfunctionalized olefins

This paper describes a catalytic asymmetric cyclopropanation system for unfunctionalized olefins using readily available dipeptide N-Boc-l-Val-l-Pro-OMe (1) as ligand.     

Ruthenium Catalyst Dichotomy: Selective Catalytic Diene Cycloisomerization or Metathesis

Ruthenium based catalysts are versatile promoters of a large variety of reactions. A catalytic system active in metathesis has been generated in situ from [RuCl₂(p‐cymene)]₂, 1,3‐bismesitylimidazolinium chloride, as precursor of a bulky carbene ligand, and cesium carbonate. We report that this three component catalytic system exhibits dichotomous reactivity for the transformation of dienes, providing an active catalytic system for the cycloisomerization of dienes to methylidene five‐membered cyclic molecules, whereas, in the presence of acetylene, a metathesis catalyst is generated that transforms the same dienes into cyclic olefins with loss of ethylene.     

Catalytic activity of Pd(II) and Pd(II)/DAB-R systems for the Heck arylation of olefins

Palladium-catalyzed reactions of aryl bromides with various olefins involving Pd(II)/diazabutadiene (DAB-R) systems have been investigated. The scope of a coupling process using Pd(II) sources and an α-diimine as ligand in the presence of Cs₂CO₃ as base was tested using various substrates. The Pd(OAc)₂/DAB-Cy (1, DAB-Cy=1,4-dicyclohexyl-diazabutadiene) system presents the highest activity with respect to electron-neutral and electron-deficient aryl bromides in coupling with electron rich olefins. The synthesis and X-ray characterization of a Pd(II)-diazabutadiene ligand is reported. Extensive optimization experiments showed that another Pd(II) source, Pd(acac)₂ (acac=acetylacetonate), proved to activate aryl bromides at high temperatures, low catalyst loadings when the appropriate concentration of ⁿBu₄NBr additive was employed. The effect of the DAB-Cy ligand is important at very low catalyst loadings and high temperatures. Pd(acac)₂ and Pd(acac)₂/DAB-Cy precatalysts were very effective for the arylation of various olefins with aryl bromides with respect to reaction rate, catalyst loadings, and functional group tolerance.     

Ligandgesteuerte Ringkontraktion von Nickela-fünf- in Vierringkomplexe—neuartige startsysteme für die präparative chemie

Nickela-compounds with a five-membered ring, 4, are formed on Ni⁰ from CO₂ and alkenes in the presence of the heterodifunctional ligand (cyclo-C₆H₁₁)₂PCH₂CH₂-2-pyridyl (2). A ring contraction occurs on addition of a promoteor, such as BeCl₂, or on heating. The greater reactivity of the nickela-complex with a four-membered ring, 6, can be used in the former reactions with CO₂, CO or CH₂CH₂. Such a sequence of reactions can be employed for the catalytic reaction of ethene with acrylic anilide on a (C₆H₁₁)₃P/Ni⁰ system.     

New synthesis of β-lactams

α-Methylene-β-lactams 3 were synthesized from the various 2-bromoallylamine derivatives 2 using a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)₂ or PD(acac)₂ and PPh₃, under 1–4 atom pressure of CO in good yields. Similarly, α-alkylidene-β-lactams 20 were synthesized from 3-alkyl-2-bromoallylamines 19, which were easily prepared from the olefins 14, in the same manner.     

Exploration of amino‐functionalized ionic liquids as ligand and base for Heck reaction

A kind of amino‐functionalized ionic liquid has been prepared and investigated as ligand and base for the Heck reactions between aryl iodides and bromides with olefins in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd submicron powder in [Bmim]PF₆. The reactions generated the corresponding products in excellent yields under mild reaction conditions. The generality of this catalytic system to the different substrates also gave satisfactory results. The key feature of the reaction is that Pd species and ionic liquids were easily recovered and reused six times with constant activity. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ethylene (co-)polymerization by long-lifetime half-sandwich zirconium catalyst bearing a [SSO]-carborane ligand

Half-sandwich zirconium complex 3 containing tridentate carborane [S,S,O] ligand 2 [(HOC6H2R2-4,6)(CH2)SC(B10H10) C(Ph)2P=S, R=tBu] was synthesized by the reaction of CpZrCl3(Cp=η5-C5H5) with sodium salt of ligand 2. Zirconium complex 3 was characterized by elemental and NMR analyses. DFT calculations were also performed on complex 3 to analyze the stereochemistry. The results from DFT calculations indicate that structure S1, in which no sulfur atom bonds to the zirconium atom, exists at the lowest energy level. In the presence of methylaluminoxane(MAO), complex 3 exhibited good catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization and long life-time up to 10 h. Moreover, the complex 3/MAO system displayed excellent catalytic activities toword ethylene copolymerization with 1-hexene or polar olefins.     

Novel neutral arylnickel(II) phosphine catalysts containing 2-oxazolinylphenolato N-O chelate ligands for ethylene oligomerization and propylene dimerization

A series of new neutral arylnickel(II) phosphine complexes 1 bearing 2-oxazolinylphenolato ligands [2-(4-R¹-5-R²-C₃H₂NO)-C₆H₄O]Ni(2-R⁴-4-R³-C₆H₃)(PPh₃) were synthesized by reactions of sodium salts of 2-(4,5-dihydro-2-oxazolyl)phenol derivatives with trans-Ni(Ar)(Cl)(PPh₃)₂ or by direct reactions of the ligands with trans-Ni(Ar)(Cl)(PPh₃)₂ in the presence of NEt₃. These neutral Ni(II) complexes 1 exhibited high activities and selectivities in ethylene oligomerization and propylene dimerization. The catalytic activities and the product distributions were dependent on the selection of various organoaluminum cocatalysts and phosphine scavenger (Ni(COD)₂). The effects of various reaction conditions on ethylene oligomerization were also examined. The highest activity of 5.51 × 10⁵ g oligomers/(mol Ni · h) and 83% selectivity of C₆ internal olefins were obtained in 1a/MAO catalytic system in ethylene oligomerization. The oligomers consisted mainly of lower carbon olefins in the range of C₄-C₈. Complexes 1 showed the moderate tolerance of polar additives in ethylene oligomerization. The highest activity of 1a/MAO in propylene dimerization reached to 1.32 × 10⁵ g oligomers/(mol Ni · h).     

A theoretical evaluation of steric and electronic effects on the structure of [OSO4 (NR3)] (NR3 = bulky chiral alkaloid derivative) complexes

Summary The novel theoretical scheme IMOMM, integrating ab initio and molecular mechanics contributions in a single geometry optimization process, is applied to the structural determination of different [OsO₄(NR₃)] (NR₃ = bulky chiral alkaloid derivative) species closely related to active catalysts for the asymmetric dihydroxylation of olefins. Computed values compare in a satisfactory way with available X-ray data, the relationship between the Os-N distance and the nature of the NR₃, ligand being properly reproduced. The computational scheme allows the separate quantification of electronic and steric effects, as well as the identification of the specific steric repulsions responsible for the difference.     

The OsO4-mediated oxidative cleavage of olefins catalyzed by alternative osmium sources

The OsO₄-mediated oxidative cleavage of olefins is compatible with alternative, easier-to-handle osmium sources. Four different osmium sources were employed with favorable results.     

Synthesis of diverse 6-(1,2-disubstituted ethyl)purine bases and nucleosides via 6-(oxiran-2-yl)purines

Dihydroxylation of 6-vinylpurines with t-BuOOH and OsO₄ gave 6-(1,2-dihydroxyethyl)purines 2, while the epoxidation with H₂WO₄ and t-BuOOH afforded 6-(oxiran-2-yl)purines 3. Oxirane ring-opening reactions of 3 with diverse nucleophiles gave a series of title 6-(1,2-disubstituted ethyl)purine bases and nucleosides, which were tested for cytostatic and antiviral activities.     

Catalytic efficacy of Schiff-base copper(II) complexes: Synthesis,X-ray structure and olefin oxidation

Three copper(II) Schiff-base complexes, [Cu(L¹)(H₂O)](ClO₄) (1), [Cu(L²)] (2) and [Cu(L³)] (3) have been synthesized and characterized [where HL¹ = 1-(N-ortho-hydroxy-acetophenimine)-2-methyl-pyridine], H₂L² = N,N′-(2-hydroxy-propane-1,3-diyl)-bis-salicylideneimine and H₂L³ = N,N′-(2,2-dimethyl-propane-1,3-diyl)-bis-salicylideneimine]. The structure of complex 1 has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In complex 1, the copper(II) ion is coordinated to one oxygen atom and two nitrogen atoms of the tridentate Schiff-base ligand, HL¹. The fourth coordination site of the central metal ion is occupied by the oxygen atom from a water molecule. All the complexes exhibit high catalytic activity in the oxidation reactions of a variety of olefins with tert-butyl-hydroperoxide in acetonitrile. The catalytic efficacy of the copper(II) complexes towards olefin oxidation reactions has been studied in different solvent media.     

Imidazolidinium ferrate complexes: Synthesis and catalytic properties

The new well-defined and air stable anionic iron complexes bearing an imidazolidinium ligand (2a–d) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Starting from FeBr₂, [imidazolidinium][FeBr₄] complexes 2a and 2b were prepared. The reaction of imidazolidinium chlorides with Fe(OAc)₂, followed by a recrystallization in the air led to bis(imidazolidinium) μ-oxido-bis[trichloroferrate(III)] complexes 2c and 2d. The catalytic activity of these novel complexes has been evaluated in the cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides with Grignard reagents.     

Komplexe von Osmium (VIII) und Rhenium (VII) mit fünffach koordiniertem Metallatom Kristallstruktur von PPh4[OsO4Cl] · CH2Cl2

Five-coordinated Complexes of Osmium (VIII) and Rhenium (VII). Crystal Structure of PPh₄[OsO₄Cl] · CH₂Cl₂ The five-coordinated anionic complexes [OsO₄Cl]^?, [OsO₄N₃]^?, and [ReO₃Cl₂]^? were isolated as tetraphenylphosphonium salts from reactions of OsO₄ and ReO₃Cl with PPh₄Cl and PPh₄N₃, respectively, in dichloromethane solution. The compounds which are characterized by their i.r. spectra, are thermally sensitive and form crystalline powders with colours ranging from orange to violet. The crystal structure of PPh₄[OsO₄Cl] · CH₂Cl₂ was determined and refined with X-ray diffraction data. (4212 independent, observed reflexions, R = 0.032). It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2/b with four formula units per unit cell. The cell dimensions are at ?110°C a = 1754, b = 2184 pm, c = 692 and γ = 106.7°. The structure consists of tetraphenylphosphonium cations and anions [OsO₄Cl]^? with five-coordinated Os atoms in a trigonal bipyramidal geometry with the chlorine ligand in an axial position. The anion can also be regarded as a OsO₄ tetrahedron, monocapped by a chloride ion. Each chloride ion is linked with two CH₂Cl₂ molecules via hydrogen bridges, forming chains in the direction c. The Os? Cl bond length (276 pm) is very long; the average OsO distance (172 pm) corresponds to that in the OsO₄ molecule (170 pm).