Oxide- and zeolite-supported isostructural ir(c(2)h(4))(2) complexes: molecular-level observations of electronic effects of supports as ligands

Zeolite Hβ- and γ-Al(2)O(3)-supported mononuclear iridium complexes were synthesized by the reaction of Ir(C(2)H(4))(2)(acac) (acac is acetylacetonate) with each of the supports. The characterization of the surface species by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and infrared (IR) spectroscopies demonstrated the removal of acac ligands during chemisorption, leading to the formation of essentially isostructural Ir(C(2)H(4))(2) complexes anchored to each support by two Ir-O(support) bonds. Atomic-resolution aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) images confirm the spectra, showing only isolated Ir atoms on the supports with no evidence of iridium clusters. These samples, together with previously reported Ir(C(2)H(4))(2) complexes on zeolite HY, zeolite HSSZ-53, and MgO supports, constitute a family of isostructural supported iridium complexes. Treatment with CO led to the replacement of the ethylene ligands on iridium with CO ligands, and the ν(CO) frequencies of these complexes and white line intensities in the X-ray absorption spectra at the Ir L(III) edge show that the electron density on iridium increases in the following order on these supports: zeolite HY < zeolite Hβ < zeolite HSSZ-53 ? γ-Al(2)O(3) < MgO. The IR spectra of the iridium carbonyl complexes treated in flowing C(2)H(4) show that the CO ligands were replaced by C(2)H(4), with the average number of C(2)H(4) groups per Ir atom increasing as the amount of iridium was increasingly electron-deficient. In contrast to the typical supported catalysts incorporating metal clusters or particles that are highly nonuniform, the samples reported here, incorporating uniform isostructural iridium complexes, provide unprecedented opportunities for a molecular-level understanding of how supports affect the electronic properties, reactivities, and catalytic properties of supported metal species.     

A site-isolated rhodium-diethylene complex supported on highly dealuminated Y zeolite: synthesis and characterization

The reaction of Rh(C2H4)2(acac) with the partially dehydroxylated surface of dealuminated zeolite Y (calcined at 773 K) and treatments of the resultant surface species in various atmospheres (He, CO, H2, and D2) were investigated with infrared (IR), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), and 13C NMR spectroscopies. The IR spectra show that Rh(C2H4)2(acac) reacted readily with surface OH groups of the zeolite, leading to loss of acac ligands from the Rh(C2H4)2(acac) and formation of supported mononuclear rhodium complexes, confirmed by the lack of Rh-Rh contributions in the EXAFS spectra; each Rh atom was bonded on average to two oxygen atoms of the zeolite surface with a Rh-O distance of 2.19 A. IR, EXAFS, and 13C NMR spectra show that the ethylene ligands remained bonded to the Rh center in the supported complex. Treatment of the sample in CO led to the formation of site-isolated Rh(CO)2 complexes bonded to the zeolite. The sharpness of the nu(CO) bands in the IR spectrum gives evidence of a nearly uniform supported Rh(CO)2 complex and, by inference, the near uniformity of the mononuclear rhodium complex with ethylene ligands from which it was formed. The supported complex with ethylene ligands reacted with H2 to give ethane, and it also catalyzed ethylene hydrogenation at 294 K.     

Hydrogenation of arenes over silica-supported catalysts that combine a grafted rhodium complex and palladium nanoparticles: evidence for substrate activation on Rh(single-site)-Pd(metal) moieties

The complex Rh(cod)(sulfos) (Rh(I); sulfos = (-)O(3)S(C(6)H(4))CH(2)C(CH(2)PPh(2))(3); cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene), either free or supported on silica, does not catalyze the hydrogenation of benzene in either homogeneous or heterogeneous phase. However, when silica contains supported Pd metal nanoparticles (Pd(0)/SiO(2)), a hybrid catalyst (Rh(I)-Pd(0)/SiO(2)) is formed that hydrogenates benzene 4 times faster than does Pd(0)/SiO(2) alone. EXAFS and DRIFT measurements of in situ and ex situ prepared samples, batch catalytic reactions under different conditions, deuterium labeling experiments, and model organometallic studies, taken together, have shown that the rhodium single sites and the palladium nanoparticles cooperate with each other in promoting the hydrogenation of benzene through the formation of a unique entity throughout the catalytic cycle. Besides decreasing the extent of cyclohexa-1,3-diene disproportionation at palladium, the combined action of the two metals activates the arene so as to allow the rhodium sites to enter the catalytic cycle and speed up the overall hydrogenation process by rapidly reducing benzene to cyclohexa-1,3-diene.     

Supported molecular iridium catalysts: resolving effects of metal nuclearity and supports as ligands

The performance of a supported catalyst is influenced by the size and structure of the metal species, the ligands bonded to the metal, and the support. Resolution of these effects has been lacking because of the lack of investigations of catalysts with uniform and systematically varied catalytic sites. We now demonstrate that the performance for ethene hydrogenation of isostructural iridium species on supports with contrasting properties as ligands (electron-donating MgO and electron-withdrawing HY zeolite) can be elucidated on the basis of molecular concepts. Spectra of the working catalysts show that the catalytic reaction rate is determined by the dissociation of H(2) when the iridium, either as mono- or tetra-nuclear species, is supported on MgO and is not when the support is the zeolite. The neighboring iridium sites in clusters are crucial for activation of both H(2) and C(2)H(4) when the support is MgO but not when it is the zeolite, because the electron-withdrawing properties of the zeolite support enable even single site-isolated Ir atoms to bond to both C(2)H(4) and H(2) and facilitate the catalysis.     

Rhodium complex with ethylene ligands supported on highly dehydroxylated MgO: synthesis, characterization, and reactivity

Mononuclear rhodium complexes with reactive olefin ligands, supported on MgO powder, were synthesized by chemisorption of Rh(C(2)H(4))(2)(C(5)H(7)O(2)) and characterized by infrared (IR), (13)C MAS NMR, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopies. IR spectra show that the precursor adsorbed on MgO with dissociation of acetylacetonate ligand from rhodium, with the ethylene ligands remaining bound to the rhodium, as confirmed by the NMR spectra. EXAFS spectra give no evidence of Rh-Rh contributions, indicating that site-isolated mononuclear rhodium species formed on the support. The EXAFS data also show that the mononuclear complex was bonded to the support by two Rh-O bonds, at a distance of 2.18 A, which is typical of group 8 metals bonded to oxide supports. This is the first simple and nearly uniform supported mononuclear rhodium-olefin complex, and it appears to be a close analogue of molecular catalysts for olefin hydrogenation in solution. Correspondingly, the ethylene ligands bonded to rhodium in the supported complex were observed to react with H(2) to form ethane, and the supported complex was catalytically active for the ethylene hydrogenation at 298 K. The ethylene ligands also underwent facile exchange with C(2)D(4), and exposure of the sample to carbon monoxide led to the formation of rhodium gem dicarbonyls.     

Highly selective hydrogenation of carbon-carbon multiple bonds catalyzed by the cation [(C(6)Me(6))(2)Ru(2)(PPh(2))H(2)](+): molecular structure of [(C(6)Me(6))(2)Ru(2)(PPh(2))(CHCHPh)H](+), a possible intermediate in the case of phenylacetylene hydrogenation

The dinuclear cation [(C(6)Me(6))(2)Ru(2)(PPh(2))H(2)](+) (1) has been studied as the catalyst for the hydrogenation of carbon-carbon double and triple bonds. In particular, [1][BF(4)] turned out to be a highly selective hydrogenation catalyst for olefin functions in molecules also containing reducible carbonyl functions, such as acrolein, carvone, and methyljasmonate. The hypothesis of molecular catalysis by dinuclear ruthenium complexes is supported by catalyst-poisoning experiments, the absence of an induction period in the kinetics of cyclohexene hydrogenation, and the isolation and single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of the tetrafluoroborate salt of the cation [(C(6)Me(6))(2)Ru(2)(PPh(2))(CHCHPh)H](+) (2), which can be considered as an intermediate in the case of phenylacetylene hydrogenation. On the basis of these findings, a catalytic cycle is proposed which implies that substrate hydrogenation takes place at the intact diruthenium backbone, with the two ruthenium atoms acting cooperatively in the hydrogen-transfer process.     

Synthesis of silica supported AuCu nanoparticle catalysts and the effects of pretreatment conditions for the CO oxidation reaction

Supported gold nanoparticles have generated an immense interest in the field of catalysis due to their extremely high reactivity and selectivity. Recently, alloy nanoparticles of gold have received a lot of attention due to their enhanced catalytic properties. Here we report the synthesis of silica supported AuCu nanoparticles through the conversion of supported Au nanoparticles in a solution of Cu(C(2)H(3)O(2))(2) at 300 °C. The AuCu alloy structure was confirmed through powder XRD (which indicated a weakly ordered alloy phase), XANES, and EXAFS. It was also shown that heating the AuCu/SiO(2) in an O(2) atmosphere segregated the catalyst into a Au-CuO(x) heterostructure between 150 °C to 240 °C. Heating the catalyst in H(2) at 300 °C reduced the CuO(x) back to Cu(0) to reform the AuCu alloy phase. It was found that the AuCu/SiO(2) catalysts were inactive for CO oxidation. However, various pretreatment conditions were required to form a highly active and stable Au-CuO(x)/SiO(2) catalyst to achieve 100% CO conversion below room-temperature. This is explained by the in situ FTIR result, which shows that CO molecules can be chemisorbed and activated only on the Au-CuO(x)/SiO(2) catalyst but not on the AuCu/SiO(2) catalyst.     

High hydride count rhodium octahedra, [Rh6(PR3)6H12][BArF4]2: synthesis, structures, and reversible hydrogen uptake under mild conditions

A new class of transition metal cluster is described, [Rh(6)(PR(3))(6)H(12)][BAr(F)(4)](2) (R = (i)Pr (1a), Cy (2a); BAr(F)(4) = [B{C(6)H(3)(CF(3))(2)}(4)](-)). These clusters are unique in that they have structures exactly like those of early transition metal clusters with edge-bridging pi-donor ligands rather than the structures expected for late transition metal clusters with pi-acceptor ligands. The solid-state structures of 1a and 2a have been determined, and the 12 hydride ligands bridge each Rh-Rh edge of a regular octahedron. Pulsed gradient spin-echo NMR experiments show that the clusters remain intact in solution, having calculated hydrodynamic radii of 9.5(3) A for 1a and 10.7(2) A for 2a, and the formulation of 1a and 2a was unambiguously confirmed by ESI mass spectrometry. Both 1a and 2a take up two molecules of H(2) to afford the cluster species [Rh(6)(P(i)Pr(3))(6)H(16)][BAr(F)(4)](2) (1b) and [Rh(6)(PCy(3))(6)H(16)][BAr(F)(4)](2) (2b), respectively, as characterized by NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS, and, for 2b, X-ray crystallography using the [1-H-CB(11)Me(11)](-) salt. The hydride ligands were not located by X-ray crystallography, but (1)H NMR spectroscopy showed a 15:1 ratio of hydride ligands, suggesting an interstitial hydride ligand. Addition of H(2) is reversible: placing 1b and 2b under vacuum regenerates 1a and 2a. DFT calculations on [Rh(6)(PH(3))(6)H(x)()](2+) (x = 12, 16) support the structural assignments and also show a molecular orbital structure that has 20 orbitals involved with cluster bonding. Cluster formation has been monitored by (31)P{(1)H} and (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and mechanisms involving heterolytic H(2) cleavage and elimination of [HP(i)Pr(3)](+) or the formation of trimetallic intermediates are discussed.     

XPS and 1H NMR study of thermally stabilized Rh/CeO2 catalysts submitted to reduction/oxidation treatments

Rh/CeO2 catalysts submitted to different H2 reduction, Ar+ sputtering, and oxidation treatments have been studied by X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. Depending on the reduction temperature, two stages have been identified in the reduction of the catalyst: below 473 K, reduction increases the amount of OH and Ce3+ species; above this temperature, reduction produces oxygen vacancies at the surface of the support. Volumetric and microcalorimetric techniques have been used to study hydrogen adsorption on the catalyst, and 1H NMR spectroscopy was used to differentiate hydrogen adsorbed on the metal from that adsorbed on the support. From 1H NMR and TEM results, the main metal particle size (38 A) in the Rh/CeO2 catalyst has been estimated. The influence of the support reduction on the metal adsorption capacity has also been investigated, showing that formation of oxygen vacancies at the metal-support interface enhances the electronic perturbation and decreases the hydrogen adsorption on metal particles. The comparison of data reported on catalysts of high and low surface area supports has shown that both processes are shifted to higher temperatures in the Rh/CeO2 catalyst of lower surface area.     

Development of a generic mechanism for the dehydrocoupling of amine-boranes: a stoichiometric, catalytic, and kinetic study of H3B·NMe2H using the [Rh(PCy3)2]+ fragment

The multistage Rh-catalyzed dehydrocoupling of the secondary amine-borane H(3)B·NMe(2)H, to give the cyclic amino-borane [H(2)BNMe(2)](2), has been explored using catalysts based upon cationic [Rh(PCy(3))(2)](+) (Cy = cyclo-C(6)H(11)). These were systematically investigated (NMR/MS), under both stoichiometric and catalytic regimes, with the resulting mechanistic proposals for parallel catalysis and autocatalysis evaluated by kinetic simulation. These studies demonstrate a rich and complex mechanistic landscape that involves dehydrogenation of H(3)B·NMe(2)H to give the amino-borane H(2)B═NMe(2), dimerization of this to give the final product, formation of the linear diborazane H(3)B·NMe(2)BH(2)·NMe(2)H as an intermediate, and its consumption by both B-N bond cleavage and dehydrocyclization. Subtleties of the system include the following: the product [H(2)BNMe(2)](2) is a modifier in catalysis and acts in an autocatalytic role; there is a parallel, neutral catalyst present in low but constant concentration, suggested to be Rh(PCy(3))(2)H(2)Cl; the dimerization of H(2)B═NMe(2) can be accelerated by MeCN; and complementary nonclassical BH···HN interactions are likely to play a role in lowering barriers to many of the processes occurring at the metal center. These observations lead to a generic mechanistic scheme that can be readily tailored for application to many of the transition-metal and main-group systems that catalyze the dehydrocoupling of H(3)B·NMe(2)H.     

Entrapment of an organometallic complex within a metal: a concept for heterogeneous catalysis

A novel family of composite materials, organically doped metals, has been recently introduced. Here, we demonstrate their use as a new platform for heterogeneous catalysis, namely the doping of a metal with a catalytic organometallic complex. Specifically, a rhodium(I) catalyst, (RhCl(COD)(Ph2P(C6H4SO3Na))), ([Rh]), was physically entrapped within silver, thus creating a new type of catalytic material: [Rh]@Ag. Several aspects were demonstrated with the development of this heterogeneous catalyst: a metal can be used as a support for heterogenizing a homogeneous catalyst; the homogeneous catalyst is stabilized by the entrapment within the metal; the products of the composite catalyst are different compared to those obtained from the homogeneous one; and the adsorption of [Rh] on the surface of Ag and its entrapment are very different processes only the latter provided appreciable catalytic activity. Thus, while homogeneous [Rh] was entirely destroyed after converting styrene to ethylbenzne at 50%, [Rh]@Ag remained active after effecting the same reaction to a yield of 85% (compared to only 7% for [Rh] adsorbed on Ag), and while homogeneous [Rh] hydrogenated diphenylacetylene to bibenzyl (and was completely deactivated after one cycle) with no trace of cis-stilbene, [Rh]@Ag afforded that compound as the main product and could be reused.     

有机-无机杂化L-Rh/SiO2氢甲酰化催化剂的研究Ⅰ.PPh3-Rh/SiO2的催化性能及表征

 利用有机-无机杂化的概念,以三苯基膦直接修饰Rh/SiO2制备了PPh3-Rh/SiO2多相催化剂. 在浆态床烯烃氢甲酰化反应中,该催化剂在10 MPa,373 K温和条件下的活性和选择性远高于Rh/SiO2的活性和选择性,与相应的均相催化剂HRhCO(PPh3)3的性能相当,且具有易分离的优点. 31P MAS NMR和XPS技术表征结果表明,催化剂中的配体PPh3与高度分散的Rh之间存在配位作用,形成了兼具多相和均相催化性能的有机-无机杂化催化剂. 该催化剂对不同碳数烯烃的氢甲酰化反应都具有较好的催化性能.     

Catalysis by oxide-supported clusters of iridium and rhodium: hydrogenation of ethene, propene, and toluene

The hydrogenation reactions of ethene, propene, and toluene were used as probes of the catalytic properties of small clusters of rhodium (Rh6) and of iridium (Ir4 and Ir6) (as well as of larger aggregates of these metals) on oxide supports (gamma-Al2O3, MgO, and La2O3). The catalysts were characterized in the working state by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, providing evidence of the cluster structures and cluster-support interactions; by infrared spectroscopy, providing evidence of hydrocarbon adsorbates and possible reaction intermediates on the clusters; and by kinetics of the hydrogenation reactions. The EXAFS data indicate that the metal clusters, while remaining intact and maintaining their bonding to the support during catalysis, underwent slight rearrangements to accommodate reactive intermediates. As the concentrations of reactive intermediates such as pi-bonded alkenes and alkyls on the clusters increased, the cluster frames swelled, and the clusters flexed away from the support. The data indicate self-inhibition of reaction by adsorbed hydrocarbons and differences between ethene hydrogenation and propene hydrogenation that may arise primarily from different adsorbate-adsorbate interactions.     

The origin of living polymerization with an o-fluorinated catalyst: NMR spectroscopic characterization of chain-carrying species

To characterize the origin of living polymerization with nonmetallocene titanium-based catalysts containing o-fluoroaryl substituents, ethene polymerization by an o-fluorinated bis(enolatoimine) titanium catalyst and its nonfluorinated counterpart has been studied by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy by using methylaluminoxane (MAO) or AlMe(3)/CPh(3)B(C(6)F(5))(4) as activators. Formation of ion pairs of the type [TiL(2)Me][MeMAO] and [TiL(2)Me][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] has been observed for both catalysts. These ion pairs react with ethene to afford the chain-propagating species [TiL(2)P][MeMAO] and [TiL(2)P][B(C(6)F(5))(4)], respectively (P = growing polymeryl chain). For the o-F-substituted catalyst species of the second type, NMR spectroscopy provides evidence that the o-F substituents interact with the metal center. This interaction is proposed to keep the polymerization catalysis living by suppressing chain transfer to AlMe(3) and β-hydrogen transfer processes.     

Supported metallocene catalysts by surface organometallic chemistry. Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity in ethylene polymerization of oxide-supported mono- and biscyclopentadienyl zirconium alkyl complexes: establishment of structure/reactivity relationships

The reactions of CpZr(CH(3))(3), 1, and Cp(2)Zr(CH(3))(2), 2, with partially dehydroxylated silica, silica-alumina, and alumina surfaces have been carried out with careful identification of the resulting surface organometallic complexes in order to probe the relationship between catalyst structure and polymerization activity. The characterization of the supported complexes has been achieved in most cases by in situ infrared spectroscopy, surface microanalysis, qualitative and quantitative analysis of evolved gases during surface reactions with labeled surface, solid state (1)H and (13)C NMR using (13)C-enriched compounds, and EXAFS. 1 and 2 react with silica(500) and silica-alumina(500) by simple protonolysis of one Zr-Me bond by surface silanols with formation of a single well-defined neutral compound. In the case of silica-alumina, a fraction of the supported complexes exhibits some interactions with electronically unsaturated surface aluminum sites. 1 and 2 also react with the hydroxyl groups of gamma-alumina(500), leading to several surface structures. Correlation between EXAFS and (13)C NMR data suggests, in short, two main surface structures having different environments for the methyl group: [Al](3)-OZrCp(CH(3))(2) and [Al](2)-OZrCp(CH(3))(mu-CH(3))-[Al] for the monoCp series and [Al](2)-OZrCp(2)(CH(3)) and [Al]-OZrCp(2)(mu-CH(3))-[Al] for the bisCp series. Ethylene polymerization has been carried out with all the supported complexes under various reaction conditions. Silica-supported catalysts in the absence of any cocatalyst exhibited no activity whatsoever for ethylene polymerization. When the oxide contained Lewis acidic sites, the resulting surface species were active. The activity, although improved by the presence of additional cocatalysts, remained very low by comparison with that of the homogeneous metallocene systems. This trend has been interpreted on the basis of various possible parameters, including the (p-pi)-(d-pi) back-donation of surface oxygen atoms to the zirconium center.     

Pentasubstituted ferrocene and dirhodium(II) tetracarboxylate as building blocks for discrete fullerene-like and extended supramolecular structures

The synthesis of a penta(1-methylpyrazole)ferrocenyl phosphine oxide ligand (1) [Fe(C(5)(C(3)H(2)N(2)CH(3))(5))(C(5)H(4)PO(t-C(4)H(9))(2))] is reported together with its X-ray crystal structure. Its self-assembly behavior with a dirhodium(II) tetraoctanoate linker (2) [Rh(2)(O(2)CC(7)H(15))(4)] was investigated for construction of fullerene-like assemblies of composition [(ligand)(12)(linker)(30)]. Reaction between 1 and 2 in acetonitrile resulted in the formation of a light purple precipitate (3). Evidence for the ligand-to-linker ratio of 1:2.5 expected for a fullerene-like structure [Fe(C(5)(C(3)H(2)N(2)CH(3))(5))(C(5)H(4)PO(t-C(4)H(9))(2))](12)[Rh(2)(O(2)CC(7)H(15))(4)](30) was obtained from (1)H NMR and elemental analysis. IR and Raman studies confirmed the diaxially bound coordination environment of the dirhodium linker by comparing the stretching frequencies of the carboxylate group and the rhodium-rhodium bond with those in model compound (5), [Rh(2)(O(2)CC(7)H(15))(4)](C(3)H(3)N(2)CH(3))(2), the bis-adduct of linker 2 with 1-methylpyrazole. X-ray powder diffraction and molecular modeling studies provide additional support for the formation of a spherical molecule topologically identical to fullerene with a diameter of approximately 38 ? and a molecular formula of [(1)(12)(2)(30)]. Dissolution of 3 in tetrahydrofuran (THF) followed by layering with acetonitrile afforded purple crystals of [(1)(2)(2)](∞) (6) [Fe(C(5)(C(3)H(2)N(2)CH(3))(5))(C(5)H(4)PO(t-C(4)H(9))(2))][Rh(2)(O(2)CC(7)H(15))(4)](2) with a two-dimensional polymeric structure determined by X-ray crystallography. The dirhodium linkers link ferrocenyl units by coordination to the pyrazoles but only four of the five pyrazole moieties of the pentapyrazole ligand are coordinated. The ligand-to-linker ratio of 1:2 in 6 was confirmed by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis, while results from IR and Raman are in agreement with the diaxially coordinated environment of the linker observed in the solid state.     

Head-to-head right-handed cross-links of the antitumor-active bis(mu-N,N'-di-p-tolylformamidinato)dirhodium(II,II) unit with the dinucleotides d(GpA) and d(ApG)

Reactions of cis-[Rh(2)(DTolF)(2)(NCCH(3))(6)](BF(4))(2) with the dinucleotides d(GpA) and d(ApG) proceed to form [Rh(2)(DTolF)(2){d(GpA)}] and [Rh(2)(DTolF)(2){d(ApG)}], respectively, with bridging purine bases spanning the Rh-Rh unit in the equatorial positions. Both dirhodium adducts exhibit head-to-head (HH) arrangement of the bases, as indicated by the presence of H8/H8 NOE cross-peaks in the 2D ROESY NMR spectra. The guanine bases bind to the dirhodium core at positions N7 and O6, a conclusion that is supported by the absence of N7 protonation at low pH values and the notable increase in the acidity of the guanine N1H sites (pK(a) approximately 7.4 in 4:1 CD(3)CN/D(2)O), inferred from the pH-dependence titrations of the guanine H8 proton resonances. In both dirhodium adducts, the adenine bases coordinate to the metal atoms through N6 and N7, which induces stabilization of the rare imino tautomer of the bases with a concomitant substantial decrease in the basicity of the N1H adenine sites (pK(a) approximately 7.0-7.1 in 4:1 CD(3)CN/D(2)O), as compared to the imino form of free adenosine. The presence of the adenine bases in the rare imino form is further corroborated by the observation of DQF-COSY H2/N1H and ROE N1H/N6H cross-peaks in the 2D NMR spectra of [Rh(2)(DTolF)(2){d(GpA)}] and [Rh(2)(DTolF)(2){d(ApG)}] in CD(3)CN at -38 degrees C. The 2D NMR spectroscopic data and the molecular modeling results suggest the presence of right-handed variants, HH1R, in solution for both adducts (HH1R refers to the relative base canting and the direction of propagation of the phosphodiester backbone with respect to the 5' base). Complete characterization of [Rh(2)(DTolF)(2){d(GpA)}] and [Rh(2)(DTolF)(2){d(ApG)}] by 2D NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling supports anti-orientation of the sugar residues for both adducts about the glycosyl bonds as well as N- and S-type conformations for the 5'- and 3'-deoxyribose residues, respectively.     

Isolation, characterization, and DNA binding kinetics of three dirhodium(II,II) carboxyamidate complexes: Rh2(μ-L)(HNOCCF3)3 where L= [OOCCH3]-, [OOCCF3]-, or [HNOCCF3]-

Several transition metal compounds are effective antitumor drugs whose biological activity can be attributed to their ability to bind deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In this study, DNA-binding experiments reveal that changing one bridging ligand on compounds with the general formula Rh(2)(μ-L)(HNOCCF(3))(3) alters the rate of DNA-binding by greater than 100-fold with μ-L = trifluoroacetate ? acetate > trifluoroacetamidate. These three dirhodium compounds are isolated as the major products of the reaction between Rh(2)(OOCCH(3))(4) and trifluoroacetamide in either refluxing chlorobenzene or molten trifluoroacetamide and have been characterized by NMR and LC/MS. By using (15)N-enriched trifluoroacetamide, NMR spectroscopy was used to assign the cis-(2,1) orientations of Rh(2)(μ-L)(HNOCCF(3))(3) compounds where μ-L = trifluoroacetate or acetate. This is the first report of Rh(2)(OOCCF(3))(HNOCCF(3))(3), a novel compound that may play a significant role in the biological and/or catalytic activity of compound mixtures commonly isolated as "Rh(2)(HNOCCF(3))(4)".     

para-Hydrogen-induced polarization in heterogeneous hydrogenation reactions

We demonstrate the creation and observation of para-hydrogen-induced polarization in heterogeneous hydrogenation reactions. Wilkinson's catalyst, RhCl(PPh3)3, supported on either modified silica gel or a polymer, is shown to hydrogenate styrene into ethylbenzene and to produce enhanced spin polarizations, observed through NMR, when the reaction was performed with H2 gas enriched in the para spin isomer. Furthermore, gaseous phase para-hydrogenation of propylene to propane with two catalysts, the Wilkinson's catalyst supported on modified silica gel and Rh(cod)(sulfos) (cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene; sulfos = -O3S(C6H4)CH2C(CH2PPh2)3) supported on silica gel, demonstrates heterogeneous catalytic conversion resulting in large spin polarizations. These experiments serve as a direct verification of the mechanism of heterogeneous hydrogenation reactions involving immobilized metal complexes and can be potentially developed into a practical tool for producing catalyst-free fluids with highly polarized nuclear spins for a broad range of hyperpolarized NMR and MRI applications.     

Coordination and organometallic chemistry of relevance to the rhodium-based catalyst for ethylene hydroamination

The RhCl(3)·3H(2)O/PPh(3)/nBu(4)PI catalytic system for the hydroamination of ethylene by aniline is shown to be thermally stable by a recycle experiment and by a kinetic profile study. The hypothesis of the reduction under catalytic conditions to a Rh(I) species is supported by the observation of a high catalytic activity for complex [RhI(PPh(3))(2)](2). New solution equilibrium studies on [RhX(PPh(3))(2)](2) (X = Cl, I) in the presence of ligands of relevance to the catalytic reaction (PPh(3), C(2)H(4), PhNH(2), X(-), and the model Et(2)NH amine) are reported. Complex [RhCl(PPh(3))(2)](2) shows broadening of the (31)P NMR signal upon addition of PhNH(2), indicating rapid equilibrium with a less thermodynamically stable adduct. The reaction with Et(2)NH gives extensive conversion into cis-RhCl(PPh(3))(2)(NHEt(2)), which is however in equilibrium with the starting material and free Et(2)NH. Excess NHEt(2) yields a H-bonded adduct cis-RhCl(PPh(3))(2)(Et(2)NH)···NHEt(2), in equilibrium with the precursors, as shown by IR spectroscopy. The iodide analogue [RhI(PPh(3))(2)](2) shows less pronounced reactions (no change with PhNH(2), less extensive addition of Et(2)NH with formation of cis-RhI(PPh(3))(2)(NHEt(2)), less extensive reaction of the latter with additional Et(2)NH to yield cis-RhI(PPh(3))(2)(Et(2)NH)···NHEt(2). The two [RhX(PPh(3))(2)](2) compounds do not show any evidence for addition of the corresponding X(-) to yield a putative [RhX(2)(PPh(3))(2)](-) adduct. The product of C(2)H(4) addition to [RhI(PPh(3))(2)](2), trans-RhI(PPh(3))(2)(C(2)H(4)), has been characterized in solution. Treatment of the RhCl(3)·3H(2)O/PPh(3)/nBu(4)PI/PhNH(2) mixture under catalytic conditions yields mostly [RhCl(PPh(3))(2)](2), and no significant halide exchange, demonstrating that the promoting effect of iodide must take place at the level of high energy catalytic intermediates. The equilibria have also been investigated at the computational level by DFT with treatment at the full QM level including solvation effects. The calculations confirm that the bridge splitting reaction is slightly less favorable for the iodido derivative. Overall, the study confirms the active role of rhodium(I) species in ethylene hydroamination catalyzed by RhCl(3)·3H(2)O/PPh(3)/nBu(4)PI and suggest that the catalyst resting state is [RhCl(PPh(3))(2)](2) or its C(2)H(4) adduct, RhCl(PPh(3))(2)(C(2)H(4)), under high ethylene pressure.