Cover Picture

The cover picture shows a rhodium catalyst (green) that is encapsulated by three porphyrin molecules (black; the van der Waals radii are shown in yellow). The hemispherical assembly is obtained by a self‐assembly process using readily available pyridylphosphane and zinc‐porphyrin building blocks. Its exclusive formation is based on selective coordination of the nitrogen atom to the zinc atom and the phosphane group to the rhodium center. The catalyst assemblies show a higher activity than the free rhodium catalyst in the rhodium‐catalyzed hydroformylation of 1‐octene, and the branched product is now the main product. In a similar way, the assembly of porphyrin building blocks to pyridylphosphane can regulate the performance of palladium catalysts in the Heck reaction. Further details about these catalyst assemblies can be found in the article by Reek et al. on p. 4271ff.     

Size-Selective Hydroformylation by a Rhodium Catalyst Confined in a Supramolecular Cage

Size-selective hydroformylation of terminal alkenes was attained upon embedding a rhodium bisphosphine complex in a supramolecular metal–organic cage that was formed by subcomponent self-assembly. The catalyst was bound in the cage by a ligand-template approach, in which pyridyl–zinc(II) porphyrin interactions led to high association constants (>10⁵ m ⁻¹) for the binding of the ligands and the corresponding rhodium complex. DFT calculations confirm that the second coordination sphere forces the encapsulated active species to adopt the ee coordination geometry (i.e., both phosphine ligands in equatorial positions), in line with in situ high-pressure IR studies of the host–guest complex. The window aperture of the cage decreases slightly upon binding the catalyst. As a result, the diffusion of larger substrates into the cage is slower compared to that of smaller substrates. Consequently, the encapsulated rhodium catalyst displays substrate selectivity, converting smaller substrates faster to the corresponding aldehydes. This selectivity bears a resemblance to an effect observed in nature, where enzymes are able to discriminate between substrates based on shape and size by embedding the active site deep inside the hydrophobic pocket of a bulky protein structure.     

Encapsulation of transition metal catalysts by ligand-template directed assembly

Encapsulated transition metal catalysts are presented that are formed by templated self-assembly processes of simple building blocks such as porphyrins and pyridylphosphine and phosphite ligands, using selective metal-ligand interactions. These ligand assemblies coordinate to transition metals, leading to a new class of transition metal catalysts. The assembled catalyst systems were characterized using NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy and were identified under catalytic conditions using high-pressure infrared spectroscopy. Tris-3-pyridylphosphine binds three mesophenyl zinc(II) porphyrin units and consequently forms an assembly with the phosphorus donor atom completely encapsulated. The encapsulated phosphines lead exclusively to monoligated transition metal complexes, and in the rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of 1-octene the encapsulation of the catalysts resulted in a 10-fold increase in activity. In addition, the branched aldehyde was formed preferentially (l/b = 0.6), a selectivity that is highly unusual for this substrate, which is attributed to the encapsulation of the transition metal catalysts. An encapsulated rhodium catalyst based on ruthenium(II) porphyrins and tris-meta-pyridyl phosphine resulted in an even larger selectivity for the branched product (l/b = 0.4). These encapsulated catalysts can be prepared easily, and various template ligands and porphyrins, such as tris-3-pyridyl phosphite and ruthenium(II) porphyrins, have been explored, leading to catalysts with different properties.     

Rh(Ⅱ)催化吲哚衍生物[3+3]环化机理及产物性质分析

采用密度泛函理论研究了双铑催化3-重氮吲哚啉-2-亚胺与2H-吖丙因[3+3]内环化反应过程. 该过程主要包含铑金属卡宾体形成、 C―N键活化裂解和吲哚啉[3+3]内环化反应. 研究结果表明, 双铑催化剂发生偶联作用, 促进C-N偶联及2H-吖丙因C―N键裂解; 反应控速步骤为吲哚[3+3]环化反应过程, 铑催化剂在[3+3]环化前脱出. 对产物吡嗪并吲哚类化合物光电性质的分析表明产物具有较低空穴重组能, 吸收与荧光发射光谱存在较大斯托克斯位移. 因此该产物可作为潜在的空穴传输材料和荧光发射材料.     

Phosphinerhodium complexes as homogeneous catalysts : VIII. Enantioselective hydrogenation of ketones: evidence for several mechanisms with catalysts containing diop

Optical yields obtained in the hydrogenation of acetophenone with cationic and in situ rhodium complex catalysts depend on the P/Rh ratio and on the ionic or non-ionic character of the active species. The enantioselectivity of the in situ catalyst containing (+)-DIOP is reversed by addition of achiral tri-n-alkyl-phosphines. On the basis of these observations and the amount of H₂ consumed in preforming the catalysts, several different mechanisms are suggested: for example: cycles involving cationic rhodium complexes containing two (or three) phosphorus ligands and cycles involving non-ionic rhodium complexes with two phosphorus ligands in cis or trans positions. In the in situ catalyst with a Rh/(+)-DIOP/P-n-Bu₃  1/1/1 ratio (+)-DIOP functions as a monodentate ligand.     

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H alkylation of heterocycles with allylic alcohols in water: A reusable catalytic system for the synthesis of β-aryl ketones

A highly efficient, green and sustainable protocol for rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H alkylation of heterocycles with allylic alcohols has been achieved, which affords a series of β-aryl ketones in high yields. The reaction proceeds smoothly in water under air, and works well with heterocycles such as indoles, indolines, pyrroles and carbazoles. Notably, the expensive rhodium catalyst in water could be easily separated from the organic products, and reused for at least five times without loss of its catalytic activity and selectivity, which is a promising, green and sustainable pathway for the synthesis of β-aryl ketones. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example for the reuse of expensive rhodium catalyst in water.     

Density functional calculations for Rh(I)‐catalyzed C–C bond activation of siloxyvinylcyclopropanes and diazoesters

Density functional theory was employed to investigate rhodium(I)‐catalyzed C–C bond activation of siloxyvinylcyclopropanes and diazoesters. The B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) level (LANL2DZ(f) for Rh) was used to optimize completely all intermediates and transition states. The computational results revealed that the most favorable pathway was the channel forming the methyl‐branched acyclic product p1 in path A (cyclooctadiene (cod) as the ligand), and the oxidative addition was the rate‐determining step for this channel. It proceeded mainly through the complexation of diazoester to rhodium, rhodium–carbene formation, coordination of siloxyvinylcyclopropane, oxidative addition (C2–C3 bond cleavage) of siloxyvinylcyclopropane, carbene migratory insertion, β‐hydrogen elimination and reductive elimination. The complexation of diazoester to rhodium occurred prior to the coordination of siloxyvinylcyclopropane. Also, the role of the ligands cod, chlorine and 1,4‐dioxane, the effect of di‐rhodium catalyst and the solvent effect are discussed in detail.     

Asymmetric conjugate 1,4-addition of arylboronic acids to alpha, beta-unsaturated esters catalyzed by Rhodium(I)/(S)-binap

Arylboronic acids underwent the conjugate 1,4-addition to alpha, beta-unsaturated esters to give beta-aryl esters in high yields in the presence of a rhodium(I) catalyst. The addition of arylboronic acids to isopropyl crotonate resulted in high yields and high enantioselectivity exceeding 90% ee in the presence of 3 mol % of Rh(acac)(C(2)H(4))(2) and (S)-binap at 100 degrees C. The rhodium/(S)-binap complex provided (R)-3-phenylbutanoate in the addition of phenylboronic acid to benzyl crotonate. The effects on the enantioselectivity of chiral phosphine ligands, rhodium precursors, and substituents on alpha,beta-unsaturated esters are discussed, as well as the mechanistic aspect of the catalytic cycle.     

长链烷基二苯基膦—铑配合物催化烯烃氢甲酰化反应研究

研究了烷基二苯基膦-铑配合物RhCl(CO0(n-C8H17PPh2)2(1)和RhCl(Co)(n-C12H25PPh2)2（2）对1-辛烯氢甲酰化反应的催化性能。结果表明,配合物1比2具有更高的催化活性,而配合物2对生成正构醛的选择性更好;当催化剂浓度或膦/铑比增加时,配合物2催化成正构醛的选择性呈下降趋势,显示出与以PPh3为配体时的不同的性能。     

OTPPTS对烯烃氢甲酰化反应的影响

 研究了水/有机两相体系中TPPTS(磺化三苯基膦)氧化为OTPPTS(氧化的TPPTS)对Rh/TPPTS催化烯烃氢甲酰化反应的影响. 结果表明,在己烯-1、辛烯-1和十二烯-1氢甲酰化反应中,当n(OTPPTS)/n(TPPTS)＜1时,对催化剂体系性能的影响较小,但当n(OTPPTS)/n(TPPTS)＞1时,将引起催化剂体系的活性、选择性和稳定性下降; 如果保持体系中TPPTS的含量一定,使n(TPPTS)/n(Rh)≥18,当n(OTPPTS)/n(Rh)＝20时,则对催化剂体系性能的影响不明显. 这说明生成的OTPPTS不是铑催化剂的毒物. TPPTS氧化为OTPPTS致使铑催化剂的活性和生成醛的选择性下降, 是由于TPPTS浓度的降低导致n(TPPTS)/n(Rh)值过低,使催化循环中各活性物种的平衡发生变化及铑配合物的稳定性变差所造成的结果.     

A novel dicationic phenoxaphosphino-modified Xantphos-type ligand: a ligand for highly active and selective, biphasic, rhodium catalysed hydroformylation in ionic liquids

A highly active and regioselective catalyst obtained from a novel dicationic ligand (1) and Rh(CO)2(acac) for hydroformylation of 1-hexene and 1-octene in ionic liquids is reported. Optimisation studies of various reaction parameters led to an unprecedentedly active (TOFs > 6200 mol mol(-1) h(-1), T= 100 degrees C), selective (l/b ratios > 40) and stable hydroformylation procedure. No catalyst leaching (Rh-loss < 0.07% of initial rhodium intake, P-loss < 0.4% of the initial phosphorus intake) or losses in performance could be measured during 1-octene hydroformylation recycle experiments in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate. At low catalyst loadings activities and regioselectivities competitive with one-phase catalysis in conventional solvents were observed. At high catalyst loadings the system is extremely stable and has a long shelf-life as a result of the formation of stable, if inactive rhodium dimers.     

Anthranil: An Aminating Reagent Leading to Bifunctionality for Both C(sp3)−H and C(sp2)−H under Rhodium(III) Catalysis

Previous direct C?H nitrogenation suffered from simple amidation/amination with limited atom‐economy and is mostly limited to C(sp²)?H substrates. In this work, anthranil was designed as a novel bifunctional aminating reagent for both C(sp²)?H and C(sp³)?H bonds under rhodium(III) catalysis, thus affording a nucleophilic aniline tethered to an electrophilic carbonyl. A tridendate rhodium(III) complex has been isolated as the resting state of the catalyst, and DFT studies established the intermediacy of a nitrene species.     

Hydrosilylation of aromatic nitriles promoted by solvated rhodium atom-derived catalysts

Rhodium metal particles, isolated as supported or unsupported powder starting from mesitylene solvated rhodium atoms, catalyse the hydrosilylation of aromatic nitriles to N,N-disilylamines in high conversion at 100°C. Different hydrosilanes (HSiMe₃, HSi(OEt)₃) can be employed. In the case of cinnamonitrile, the chemoselectivity of the reaction to 2-trimethylsilyl-3-phenylpropionitrile and (E)- and (Z)-1-di(trimethylsilyl)amino-3-phenyl-1-propene is strongly dependent on the reaction temperature. The commercial rhodium on γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst is considerably less active and selective than the analogous catalyst prepared via Metal Vapour Synthesis (MVS) probably owing to the different dimension and distribution of the metal particles in the two samples as shown by HRTEM analysis.     

Mechanism of C[bond]H bond activation/C[bond]C bond formation reaction between diazo compound and alkane catalyzed by dirhodium tetracarboxylate

The B3LYP density functional studies on the dirhodium tetracarboxylate-catalyzed C-H bond activation/C-C bond formation reaction of a diazo compound with an alkane revealed the energetics and the geometry of important intermediates and transition states in the catalytic cycle. The reaction is initiated by complexation between the rhodium catalyst and the diazo compound. Driven by the back-donation from the Rh 4d(xz) orbital to the C[bond]N sigma*-orbital, nitrogen extrusion takes place to afford a rhodium[bond]carbene complex. The carbene carbon of the complex is strongly electrophilic because of its vacant 2p orbital. The C[bond]H activation/C[bond]C formation proceeds in a single step through a three-centered hydride transfer-like transition state with a small activation energy. Only one of the two rhodium atoms works as a carbene binding site throughout the reaction, and the other rhodium atom assists the C[bond]H insertion reaction. The second Rh atom acts as a mobile ligand for the first one to enhance the electrophilicity of the carbene moiety and to facilitate the cleavage of the rhodium[bond]carbon bond. The calculations reproduce experimental data including the activation enthalpy of the nitrogen extrusion, the kinetic isotope effect of the C[bond]H insertion, and the reactivity order of the C[bond]H bond.     

Polymer-bound bulky-phosphite modified rhodium hydroformylation catalysts

Attachment of phosphites to styrene copolymers is described which are used as rhodium hydroformylation catalysts. The influence of the chain loading on the activity and complex formation of three types of copolymer-bound rhodium hydroformylation catalysts in comparison with their low molecular weight analogues has been studied. The catalytic activity of the polystyrene-bound system with the most bulky phosphite, the first system studied, is identical to that of the low molecular weight analogue. The catalysts show a high activity towards the hydroformylation of the otherwise unreactive cyclooctene. It was found that only one phosphite is coordinated to the rhodium complex in its active form. An equilibrium between this complex and an inactive complex without phosphite ligands prohibits its use in continuous flow reactors. Secondly, as polymer support a perfectly random copolymer of styrene and less bulky 3,3′,5,5′-tetra-tert-butylbiphenyl-2,2′-diyl p-vinylphenylphosphite was used. The chain loading α of this copolymer with phosphite ligands has a large influence on the complex formation of the catalyst. With high chain loadings moderately active bis-phosphite catalysts are formed. Low chain loadings give active, easily accessible, monophosphite complexes. The active species in the hydroformylation of sterically hindered alkenes is a mono-phosphite rhodium complex. The activity of the copolymer-bound catalyst towards the hydroformylation of cyclooctene is found to be as high as the activity of its low molecular weight analogue. For styrene, this polymer catalyst yields a slower catalyst than the low-molecular weight analogue. The third part demonstrates that silica-grafted polymer-bound phosphite modified rhodium complexes can be used in continuous flow reactors. The hydroformylation of styrene was carried out at moderate pressure (pCO/H₂ = 3 MPa) and temperature (T = 100°C), yielding constant conversions over a period of at least ten days. These positive results were obtained in benzene as a solvent and for a ligand to rhodium ratio of only four.     

Catalyst and substituent effects on the rhodium(II)-catalysed intramolecular Buchner reaction

Intramolecular rhodium(II)-catalysed aromatic addition (Buchner) reactions of a range of α- and β-substituted α-diazoketones are reported. Both steric and electronic effects are evident for the aromatic additions investigated. In general, highly efficient aromatic addition is achieved through use of rhodium carboxylates bearing electronegative ligands, such as rhodium trifluoroacetate, while aromatic addition employing rhodium catalysts with more electron-donating ligands, such as rhodium caprolactam, is less efficient. Excellent levels of diastereoselectivity are possible for this process in the presence of rhodium acetate and rhodium caprolactam, however, a reduction in diastereocontrol is generally associated with use of the more reactive, electronegative catalysts. Interestingly, these catalyst effects can be overcome through the steric effects of the substituents on the α-diazoketone substrates, with the presence of sterically bulky substituents at the 2- or 3-position rendering the aromatic addition essentially catalyst independent in terms of efficiency and diastereocontrol.     

Cover Feature: Rh-Catalyzed Hydroheteroarylation of Styrenes: Access to Alkylated Heteroarenes with All-Carbon Quaternary Centers (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 34/2023)

Heteroarenes are common moieties in pharmaceuticals and naturally bioactive compounds. In this work, an efficient and atom-economic rhodium and thiophenol co-catalyzed hydroheteroarylation of styrenes with heteroarenes is reported. Alkylated unprotected heteroarenes are accessed under low catalyst loading. This protocol provides straightforward access to indoles bearing an all-carbon quaternary center at the C3-position.     

A rhodium complex-linked β-barrel protein as a hybrid biocatalyst for phenylacetylene polymerization

Our group recently prepared a hybrid catalyst containing a rhodium complex, Rh(Cp)(cod), with a maleimide moiety at the peripheral position of the Cp ligand. This compound was then inserted into a β-barrel protein scaffold of a mutant of aponitrobindin (Q96C) via a covalent linkage. The hybrid protein is found to act as a polymerization catalyst and preferentially yields trans-poly(phenylacetylene) (PPA), although the rhodium complex without the protein scaffold normally produces cis PPA.     

钒促铑基催化剂上合成气反应中的H2／D2同位素效应

铑基催化剂可催化合成气生成甲烷、乙醇等,CO中C—O键断裂是该反应的关键步骤。Ⅴ助剂可显著提高Rh的催化活性,其作用本质被认为是促进了CO的直接解离。本文考察了Ⅴ助剂对Rh催化性能的影响及Rh/SiO_2、Rh-V(1:1)/SiO_2上合成气反应的H_2/D_2同位素效应,根据实验结果及键级守恒-Morse势法的计算结果初步探讨了Ⅴ助剂的作用本质。     

Regioselective synthesis of 1,2-dihydropyridines by rhodium-catalyzed hydroboration of pyridines

Pyridine undergoes addition of pinacolborane at 50 °C in the presence of a rhodium catalyst, giving N-boryl-1,2-dihydropyridine in a high yield. The selective 1,2-hydroboration also takes place in the reactions of substituted pyridines. In the reaction of 3-substituted pyridines, 3-substituted N-boryl-1,2-dihydropyridines are formed regioselectively.