A novel and efficient method for the catalytic direct oxidative carbonylation of 1,2- and 1,3-diols to 5-membered and 6-membered cyclic carbonates

In the presence of a PdI₂-based catalytic system, 1,2-diols undergo an oxidative carbonylation process to afford 5-membered cyclic carbonates in good to excellent yields (84-94%) and with unprecedented catalytic efficiencies for this kind of reaction (up to ca. 190 mol of product per mol of PdI₂). Under similar conditions, 6-membered cyclic carbonates are obtained for the first time through a direct catalytic oxidative carbonylation of 1,3-diols (66-74% yields).     

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative heterocyclodehydration-alkoxycarbonylation of 3-yne-1,2-diols: a novel and expedient approach to furan-3-carboxylic esters

A novel and convenient approach to furan-3-carboxylic esters 2 is presented, based on palladium-catalyzed direct oxidative carbonylation of readily available 3-yne-1,2-diols 1. The process, corresponding to a sequential combination between a 5-endo-dig heterocyclodehydration step and an oxidative alkoxycarbonylation stage, is catalyzed by PdI₂ in conjunction with an excess of KI under relatively mild conditions (100 °C in ROH under 40 atm of a 4:1 mixture of CO-air).     

The mechanism of transition metal catalyzed carbonylation of allyl halides: A theoretical investigation

The mechanism of the carbonylation reaction of allyl halides catalyzed by nickel (Ni(CO)₄) and palladium (Cl₂Pd(PPh₃)₂) complexes is theoretically investigated at the DFT level using the hybrid B3LYP functional. The favored reaction path to carbonylation corresponds, for both catalysts, to a direct attack of the halogen on the metal. This affords η¹ intermediates that can undergo the final carbonylation step. It is also possible to obtain the acyl product (β,γ-unsaturated acyl halides) from η² and/or η³ intermediates. However, in this case, the barrier of the rate-determining step to carbonylation is much higher. Since a channel on the potential surface connects rather easily the η² or η³ intermediates to the η¹ intermediates, an alternative and competitive path leading to the acyl products can originate from the η² or η³ intermediates, follow the η²/η³ → η¹ transformation, then undergo the final carbonylation step.     

Mononuclear,dinuclear and hydroxo-bridged tetranuclear complexes from reactions of Cu ions,mandelic acid and diimine ligands

The reaction of copper(II) hydroxocarbonate, mandelic acid (H₂MANO) and 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) in water affords [Cu(bpy)(μ₂-MANO)]₂ · 8H₂O (1), [Cu(bpy)(MANO)] · 4H₂O (2) and the opened tetranuclear hydroxo-bridged copper(II) complexes of formulae [Cu₄(μ₃-OH)₂(μ₂-MANO)₂(bpy)₄](phglyo)₂ · 8H₂O (3) (phglyo = phenylglyoxylate) or [Cu₄(μ₃-OH)₂(μ₂-OH)₂(OH₂)₂(phen)₄](Bza)₂(OH)₂ · 5H₂O (4) (Bza = benzoate), respectively. The compounds have been characterized by spectroscopic techniques and studied by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. The formation of 3 and 4 takes place in basic media through dehydrogenation or oxidative dehydrogenation followed by in situ oxidative decarboxylation of mandelic acid to phenylglyoxylate or benzoate, respectively. These results indicate that cooperative catalysis of diimine ancillary ligands and copper(II) is essential.     

Theoretical studies of the oxidative addition of PhBr to Pd(PX3)2 and Pd(X2PCH2CH2PX2) (X = Me, H, Cl)

The density functional theory calculations were used to study the influence of the substituent at P on the oxidative addition of PhBr to Pd(PX₃)₂ and Pd(X₂PCH₂CH₂PX₂) where X = Me, H, Cl. It was shown that the C_ipso-Br activation energy by Pd(PX₃)₂ correlates well with the rigidity of the X₃P-Pd-PX₃ angle and increases via the trend X = Cl < H < Me. The more rigid the X₃P-Pd-PX₃ angle is, the higher the oxidative addition barrier is. The exothermicity of this reaction also increases via the same sequence X = Cl < H < Me. The trend in the exothermicity is a result of the Pd(II)-PX₃ bond strength increasing faster than the Pd(0)-PX₃ bond strength upon going from X = Cl to Me. Contrary to the trend in the barrier to the oxidative addition of PhBr to Pd(PX₃)₂, the C_ipso-Br activation energy by Pd(X₂PCH₂CH₂PX₂) decreases in the following order X = Cl > H > Me. This trend correlates well with the filled d_π orbital energy of the metal center. For a given X, the oxidative addition reaction energy was found to be more exothermic for the case of X₂PCH₂CH₂PX₂ than for the case of PX₃. This effect is especially more important for the strong electron donating phosphine ligands (X = Me) than for the weak electron donating phosphine ligands (X = Cl).     

Preparation of cobalt-tetraphenylporphyrin/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite and its application on hydrogen peroxide biosensor

A novel cobalt-tetraphenylporphyrin/reduced graphene oxide (CoTPP/RGO) nanocomposite was prepared by a π–π stacking interaction and characterized by ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy (UV–vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The CoTPP/RGO nanocomposite exhibited high electrocatalytic activity both for oxidation and reduction of H₂O₂. The current response was linear to H₂O₂ concentration with the concentration range from 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 2.4 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ (R = 0.998) at the reductive potential of −0.20 V and from 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 4.6 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ (R = 0.996) at the oxidative potential of +0.50 V. The H₂O₂ biosensor showed good anti-interfering ability towards oxidative interferences at the oxidative potential of +0.50 V and good anti-interfering ability towards reductive interferences at the reductive potential of −0.20 V.     

Preparation and properties of covalently cross-linked sulfonated copolyimide membranes containing benzimidazole groups

A series of sulfonated copolyimides containing benzimidazole groups (SPIs) were synthesized by random copolymerization of 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (NTDA), 2-(4-aminophenyl)-5-aminobenzimidazole (APABI), 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether-2,2′-disulfonic acid (ODADS) and 9,9-bis(4-aminophenyl)fluorene (BAPF) in m-cresol in the presence of benzoic acid and triethylamine at 180 °C for 20 h. Membranes with good mechanical properties were prepared by solution cast method. Proton exchange treatment resulted in ionic cross-linking and the membranes were further covalently cross-linked by treating them in polyphosphoric acid (PPA) at 180 °C for 6 h. The covalently cross-linked membranes displayed slightly lower ion exchange capacities (IECs) and proton conductivities than the corresponding covalently uncross-linked ones because small part of the sulfonic acid groups had been consumed during the cross-linking process. Fenton’s test (3% H₂O₂ + 3 ppm FeSO₄, 80 °C) revealed that benzimidazole groups played an important role in the radical oxidative stability of the membranes, while the cooperative effect of benzimidazole groups and covalent cross-linking led to much more significant enhancements in the radical oxidative stability of the membranes than each alone. The membrane 4 (ODADS/APABI/BAPF = 2/1/1, by mol), for example, after covalent cross-linking could maintain membrane form within 8 h measurement, which was much longer than that (3 h) before covalent cross-linking under the same conditions. The membrane 5 (ODADS/BAPF = 3/1, by mol) without benzimidazole groups, however, after covalent cross-linking started to break into pieces after 85 min measurement, which was only slightly longer than that (60 min) before cross-linking under the same conditions.     

Palladium-catalyzed ring closure to a naphthofuranoneacetic ester by selective carbonylation of diacetylenic precursors

The new naphthofuranoneacetic acid methyl ester IX can be obtained catalytically with fair selectivity from the carbonylation of the diacetylenic alcohol I. The use of the soluble complex Pd(thiourea)₄I₂ leads to a catalytic reaction resulting from the combination of oxidative carbonylation and hydrogenolysis steps in an additive carbonylation.     

Unexplored capabilities of chemiluminescence and thermoanalytical methods in characterization of intact and degraded hyaluronans

Three intact and four degraded hyaluronans were investigated by using chemiluminometry, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetry. Degradation of hyaluronan was induced by a system containing H₂O₂ alone (882 mM); 55 mM H₂O₂plus 1.25 μM CuCl₂; NaOCl alone (10 mM); and NaOCl plus CuCl₂ and ascorbic acid (10 mM, 0.1 μM, and 100 μM, respectively). The four different oxidative systems yielded biopolymer fragments represented by similar viscosity characteristics. The results obtained by using chemiluminescence and thermoanalytical methods indicate that hyaluronans of similar rheological properties could be distinguished from each other.     

Capillary zone electrophoresis with pre-column NDA derivatization and amperometric detection for the analysis of four aliphatic diamines

A method was developed for the analysis of four aliphatic diamines by capillary zone electrophoresis using pre-column derivatization with naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde (NDA)/CN⁻ and amperometric detection. The pre-column derivatization reaction conditions including the molar ratio of NDA to amines, the cyanide concentration, the pH value of derivatization buffer, and the reaction time, were investigated. The separation of four derivatives of aliphatic diamines has been optimized by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) using end-column amperometric detection with a carbon fiber microelectrode, at a constant potential of 0.7 V versus SCE. The optimum conditions for the separation were 10 mM Tris-H₃PO₄ (pH 4.0) for the running buffer solution, 15 kV for the separation voltage. The detection limits for diaminopropane, putrescine, cadaverine, diaminohexane were 6.7×10⁻⁸, 5.1×10⁻⁸, 1.9×10⁻⁷ and 3.8×10⁻⁷ M, respectively (S/N=3). The proposed method was applied to the determination of aliphatic diamines in a lake water sample by the standard addition method. The recovery of these amines in water was 89.9-107%.     

1,4-Carbonylative addition of arylboronic acids to methyl vinyl ketone: a new synthetic tool for rapid furan and pyrrole synthesis

The rhodium catalysed 1,4-carbonylative addition of arylboronic acids to methyl vinyl ketone under carbon monoxide pressure was studied. High yields of 1,4-diketones were obtained using a catalytic system formed from Rh(COD)₂BF₄ (COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene) and triphenylphosphine even at very low catalyst loading (0.02 mol %). A short synthetic procedure combining this carbonylation reaction with a subsequent cyclisation step affords pyrroles or furans.     

Synthesis of copper(I) bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane olefin complexes and their reactivity towards carbon monoxide

The chemistry of bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane complexes of copper(I) has been investigated and a dinuclear copper(I) derivative of formula {Cu₂[μ-CH₂(3,5-Me₂Pz)₂]₂}(TfO)₂ [TfO = trifluoromethanesulphonate anion, ], characterized by an uncommon bridging coordination of the bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligands, has been isolated and characterized by X-ray diffraction methods. Moreover, new olefin derivatives of general formula [Cu[CH₂(3,5-Me₂Pz)₂](olefin)]TfO have been prepared (olefin: coe = cyclooctene, van = 4-vinylanisole, nbe = norbornene), their carbonylation reactions, {Cu[CH₂(3,5-Me₂Pz)₂](olefin)}TfO + CO ? {Cu[CH₂(3,5-Me₂Pz)₂](CO)}TfO + olefin, have been studied gas volumetrically and the thermodynamical parameters of the equilibria for the displacement of the coordinated olefin by carbon monoxide have been determined.     

Some phosphinite complexes of Rh and Ir, their intramolecular reactivity and DFT calculations about their application in biphenyl metathesis

Biphen(OPR₂) (with R: Ph, iPr, Cy) is reacted with [Rh(COE)₂Cl]₂. The corresponding μ-chloro-bridged dimers are received. An X-ray analysis of [Biphen(OPCy₂)RhCl]₂ is included. This compound shows a dynamic behaviour in solution, ascribed to a monomer/dimer equilibrium. The difference of the Biphen ligands to Milsteins PCP pincer-type ligand is shown. A catalytic cycle for biphenyl metathesis containing the coupling of oxidative addition and reductive elimination of the bridging C-C single bond in the biphenyl fragment using Rh^I/III complexes and the concept of chelating assistance was calculated using DFT (B3PW91/LANL2DZ). According to the calculations the activation energy of the oxidative addition is about 30 kcal/mol and for the reductive elimination about 19 kcal/mol. The fac-Rh^III complex is by far the most stable compound, but the formation of it is kinetically strongly disfavoured. Pre-catalysts (COD)M(Ph-O-PR₂) (M: Rh, Ir) were synthesized by pre-coordinating the phosphinite to the metal (X-ray structures of four such compounds included) followed by treatment with 2 equiv. of sec. BuLi (X-ray structures of two such compounds included). In case of Ir this synthesis is complicated by C-H activation (X-ray structure of (COD)Ir(H)(Cl)(2-Br-phenyl-O-(diisopropylphosphinite)) included) and fast oxidative addition of the Ph-C-Halide bond. For (COD)Ir(H)(Cl)(2-phenyl-O-(diisopropylphosphinite)) the C-H activation is reversible and thermodynamic parameters for the ring closure reaction were determined by VT-NMR measurement (ΔH = −21.1 ± 0.5 kJ/mol, ΔS = −62.8 ± 1.7 J/(mol K)). The pre-catalysts were reacted with Biphen(OPR₂) to enter the calculated catalytic cycle. With Rh as center metal this reaction works out cleanly to give new complexes with the three P-atoms coordinated to one Rh center. No hemi-labile character was found for these P-donors even at 105 °C in toluene. If (COD)Rh(2-phenyl-O-(diisopropylphosphinite)) is reacted with 2 equiv. of 2-iodo-phenyl-O-(diisopropylphosphinite) oxidative addition of one C-Iodo bond is observed and the corresponding mer-Rh^III complex is received. Upon treatment with 2 equiv. of sec. BuLi the resulting product is(Biphen(OPiPr₂))Rh^I(2-phenyl-O-(diisopropylphosphinite)) rather than mer-Rh^III(2-phenyl-O-(diisopropylphosphinite))₃. Reaction of [Rh(COD)Cl]₂ with 3 equiv. of 2-bromo-phenyl-O-(diphenylphosphinite) shows a fast scrambling of the chlorine into all possible ortho positions of the phenolate rings in the final Rh^III reaction product.     

Oxidative condensation and chemiluminescence of 5-amino-2,3-dihydro-1,4-phtalazinedione

The oxidative condensation of (5-amino-2,3-dihydro-1,4-phtalazinedione) luminol was carried out under their oxidation by (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ and KIO₃ in the mixed water-organic (namely dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) or N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (MPD)) solvent under the volume ratio 1:9. The structure of the products was studied by IR and Raman spectroscopy, elemental analysis and the derivatographic method. It was determined that oxidation by KIO₃ (E = 1.085 V) occurs on the amide nitrogen atoms, while in the case of (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ (E = 2.05 V) it occurs on the amino-group. The structure and thermal stability of the obtained products is determined by the nature of the oxidant. The active decomposition of luminol begins at t_d = 334.5 °C, while for the specimens of the polyluminols, which were synthesized in the water-DMSO and water-MPD mixtures, t_d equals 356.7 and 409.1 °C respectively. The worst thermal stability has products of luminol oxidation by KIO₃ (t_d = 282.5 °C). The mechanism of the luminol oxidative polymerization by (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ and KIO₃ has been proposed.     

Remarks on the process of homogeneous carbonylation of rhodium compounds by N,N-dimethylformamide

Reductive carbonylation of rhodium(III) chloride complexes, commercial RhCl₃ · nH₂O neutralized with BaCO₃, (Me₂NH₂)₂[RhCl₅(DMF)], (PPh₄)[RhCl₄(H₂O)₂], RhCl₃(DMF)₃, RhCl₃(CH₃CN)₃, RhCl₃(CH₃CN)₂(DMF), [Rh(CO)₂Cl₃]₂, and rhodium(I) complex, Rh(PPh₃)₃Cl, by N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) is studied. The data obtained support the conception of direct carbonyl group transfer from DMF molecule to the Rh metal center. The mechanistic scheme of carbonylation process is refined and discussed with regard of new experimental results.     

Step by step palladium mediated syntheses of new 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-6-R-nicotinic acids and esters

Taking advantage of palladium peculiar “rollover” C,N cyclometallation, it is possible to promote C(3) functionalization of 6-alkyl-substituted-2,2′-bipyridines. The carbonylation reaction of rollover species [Pd(Lⁿ)Cl]₂, (HL¹ = 6-isopropyl-2,2′-bipy, 1; HL² = 6-neopentyl-2,2′-bipy, 2; HL³ = 6-ethyl-2,2′-bipy, 3; HL⁴ = 6-methyl-2,2′-bipy, 4) allowed the synthesis of 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-6-alkyl-nicotinic acids or esters. These nicotinic derivatives are extremely rare and, as far as we know, quite unreported in the case of the 6-substituted molecules.     

Iridium-catalyzed oxidative esterification reaction of aliphatic aldehydes and olefinic alcohols with precoordination of the double bond of alcohols to iridium

A novel iridium-catalyzed oxidative esterification reaction of aliphatic aldehydes and olefinic alcohols in toluene was found under mild conditions of [IrCl(cod)]₂ (5 mol %) in combination with K₂CO₃ (10 mol %) at rt.     

Synthesis and characterization of a new chloro-di-phenyltin(IV) complex with 2-mercapto-nicotinic acid: Study of its influence upon the catalytic oxidation of linoleic acid to hydroperoxylinoleic acid by the enzyme lipoxygenase

The complex [(C₆H₅)₂SnCl(HMNA)] (1) where H₂MNA is thioamide 2-mercapto-nicotinic acid has been synthesized by reacting a methanolic solution of di-chloro-di-phenyltin(IV) Ph₂SnCl₂ with an aqueous solution of 2-mercapto-nicotinic acid, containing twofold amount of potassium hydroxide. The Sn/ligand molar ratio is 2:1. The complex was characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR and Mössbauer spectroscopic techniques. In addition the crystal structure of the molecule was determined by an X-ray diffraction at 293(2) K. C₁₈H₁₄ClNO₂SSn is monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a = 15.089(3) Å, b = 15.846(3) Å, c = 16.691(3) Å, β = 105.57(3)°, Z = 8. The ligand coordinates to the metal center through the exocyclic sulfur and the heterocyclic nitrogen atoms, forming a four membered ring. The coordination sphere around the tin(IV) ion is completed with two carbon atoms from the two phenyl groups and one chlorine atom. The geometry around the tin atom can be described either as trigonal bipyramidal or tetragonal pyramidal. Finally, the influence of the complex [(C₆H₅)₂SnCl(HMNA)] (1) upon the catalytic peroxidation of linoleic acid to hydroperoxylinoleic acid by the enzyme lipoxygenase (LOX) was also kinetically and theoretically studied and the results compared with the ones of the corresponding binuclear complex [(C₆H₅)₃Sn(MNA)Sn(C₆H₅)₃ · (acetone)] (2) reported in the literature.     

[Pd(H)(SnCl3)L2]: The key active species in the catalyzed alkoxycarbonylation reaction of terminal alkenes

The four complexes [Pd(H)(Cl)L₂] and [Pd(H)(SnCl₃)L₂], L = PPh₃, PCy₃, have been synthesized and fully characterized by multinuclear NMR. They represent the active species of the hydride palladium-catalyzed alkoxycarbonylation of terminal alkenes. Isolation of the model acylplatinum complex, resulting from the carbonylation of dihydromyrcene, clearly shows that SnCl₂ as co-catalyst produces a SnCl₃ ligand which modulates the metal center electron density.