Amide Synthesis from Alcohols and Amines Catalyzed by Ruthenium N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes

The direct synthesis of amides from alcohols and amines is described with the simultaneous liberation of dihydrogen. The reaction does not require any stoichiometric additives or hydrogen acceptors and is catalyzed by ruthenium N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes. Three different catalyst systems are presented that all employ 1,3‐diisopropylimidazol‐2‐ylidene (IiPr) as the carbene ligand. In addition, potassium tert‐butoxide and a tricycloalkylphosphine are required for the amidation to proceed. In the first system, the active catalyst is generated in situ from [RuCl₂(cod)] (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene), 1,3‐diisopropylimidazolium chloride, tricyclopentylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate, and base. The second system uses the complex [RuCl₂(IiPr)(p‐cymene)] together with tricyclohexylphosphine and base, whereas the third system employs the Hoveyda–Grubbs 1st‐generation metathesis catalyst together with 1,3‐diisopropylimidazolium chloride and base. A range of different primary alcohols and amines have been coupled in the presence of the three catalyst systems to afford the corresponding amides in moderate to excellent yields. The best results are obtained with sterically unhindered alcohols and amines. The three catalyst systems do not show any significant differences in reactivity, which indicates that the same catalytically active species is operating. The reaction is believed to proceed by initial dehydrogenation of the primary alcohol to the aldehyde that stays coordinated to ruthenium and is not released into the reaction mixture. Addition of the amine forms the hemiaminal that undergoes dehydrogenation to the amide. A catalytic cycle is proposed with the {(IiPr)Ru^II} species as the catalytically active components.     

Selective Acceptorless Dehydrogenation of Primary Amines to Imines by Core–Shell Cobalt Nanoparticles

Core–shell nanocatalysts are attractive due to their versatility and stability. Here, we describe cobalt nanoparticles encapsulated within graphitic shells prepared via the pyrolysis of a cationic poly‐ionic liquid (PIL) with a cobalt(II) chloride anion. The resulting material has a core–shell structure that displays excellent activity and selectivity in the self‐dehydrogenation and hetero‐dehydrogenation of primary amines to their corresponding imines. Furthermore, the catalyst exhibits excellent activity in the synthesis of secondary imines from substrates with various reducible functional groups (C=C, C≡C and C≡N) and amino acid derivatives.     

Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Oxidation of Secondary Alcohols Catalysed by Cp*IrIII–NHC Complexes

A series of new Ir^III complexes with carbene ligands that contain a range of benzyl wingtip groups have been prepared and fully characterised by NMR spectroscopy, HRMS, elemental analysis and X‐ray diffraction. All the complexes were active in the acceptorless dehydrogenation of alcohol substrates in 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol to give the corresponding carbonyl compounds. The most active complex bore an electron‐rich carbene ligand; this complex was used to catalyse the highly efficient and chemoselective dehydrogenation of a wide range of secondary alcohols to their respective ketones, with turnover numbers up to 1660. Mechanistic studies suggested that the turnover of the dehydrogenation reaction is limited by the H₂‐formation step.     

Stepwise Metal–Ligand Cooperation by a Reversible Aromatization/Deconjugation Sequence in Ruthenium Complexes with a Tetradentate Phenanthroline‐Based Ligand

The synthesis and reactivity of ruthenium complexes containing the tetradentate phenanthroline‐based phosphine ligand 2,9‐bis((di‐tert‐butylphosphino)methyl)‐1,10‐phenanthroline (PPhenP) is described. The hydrido chloro complex [RuHCl(PPhenP)] ( 2 ) undergoes facile dearomatization upon deprotonation of the benzylic position, to give [RuH(PPhenP‐H)] ( 4 ). Addition of dihydrogen to 4 causes rearomatization of the phenanthroline moiety to trans‐[Ru(H)₂(PPhenP)] ( 5 ), followed by hydrogenation of an aromatic heterocycle in the ligand backbone, to give a new dearomatized and deconjugated complex [RuH(PPhenP*‐H)] ( 6 ). These aromatization/deconjugation steps of the coordinated ligand were demonstrated to be reversible and operative in the dehydrogenation of primary alcohols without the need for a hydrogen acceptor. This aromatization/deconjugation sequence constitutes an unprecedented mode of a stepwise cooperation between the metal center and the coordinated ligand.     

System with Potential Dual Modes of Metal–Ligand Cooperation: Highly Catalytically Active Pyridine‐Based PNNH–Ru Pincer Complexes

Metal–ligand cooperation (MLC) plays an important role in catalysis. Systems reported so far are generally based on a single mode of MLC. We report here a system with potential for MLC by both amine–amide and aromatization–dearomatization ligand transformations, based on a new class of phosphino–pyridyl ruthenium pincer complexes, bearing sec‐amine coordination. These pincer complexes are effective catalysts under unprecedented mild conditions for acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols to esters at 35 °C and hydrogenation of esters at room temperature and 5 atm H₂. The likely actual catalyst, a novel, crystallographically characterized monoanionic de‐aromatized enamido–Ru^II complex, was obtained by deprotonation of both the N?H and the methylene proton of the N‐arm of the pincer ligand.     

New Iridium Catalysts for the Selective Alkylation of Amines by Alcohols under Mild Conditions and for the Synthesis of Quinolines by Acceptor‐less Dehydrogenative Condensation

A novel family of iridium catalysts stabilised by P,N‐ligands have been introduced. The ligands are based on imidazo[1,5‐b]pyridazin‐7‐amines and can be synthesised with a broad variety of substitution patterns. The catalysts were synthesised quantitatively from the protonated ligands and a commercially available iridium precursor. The catalysts mediate the alkylation of amines by alcohols under mild conditions (70 °C). In addition, the synthesis of quinolines from secondary or primary alcohols and amino alcohols is reported. This sustainable synthesis proceeds through the liberation of two equivalents of water and two equivalents of dihydrogen. The investigations indicate that catalysts suitable for hydrogen autotransfer or borrowing hydrogen chemistry might also be suitable for acceptor‐less dehydrogenative condensation reactions.     

Rechargeable Hydrogen Storage System Based on the Dehydrogenative Coupling of Ethylenediamine with Ethanol

A novel and simple hydrogen storage system was developed, based on the dehydrogenative coupling of inexpensive ethylenediamine with ethanol to form diacetylethylenediamine. The system is rechargeable and utilizes the same ruthenium pincer catalyst for both hydrogen loading and unloading procedures. It is efficient and uses a low catalyst loading. Repetitive reversal reactions without addition of new catalyst result in excellent conversions in both the dehydrogenation and hydrogenation procedures in three cycles.     

Metal‐Free I2‐Catalyzed Highly Selective Dehydrogenative Coupling of Alcohols and Cyclohexenones

The I₂ catalyzed highly selective oxidative condensation of cyclohexenones and alcohols for the synthesis of aryl alkyl ethers has been described. DMSO is employed as the mild terminal oxidant. This novel methodology offers a metal‐free reaction condition, operational simplicity and broad substrate scope to afford valuable products from inexpensive reagents. Various meta‐substituted aromatic ethers which are hardly synthesized from the reported methods requiring meta‐substituted phenols, are efficiently prepared by the present protocol.     

Selective and Efficient Cycloisomerization of Alkynols Catalyzed by a New Ruthenium Complex with a Tetradentate Nitrogen–Phosphorus Mixed Ligand

The new ruthenium complex [Ru(N₃P)(OAc)][BPh₄] ( 4 ), in which N₃P is the N,P mixed tetradentate ligand N,N‐bis[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]‐[2‐(diphenylphosphino)phenyl]methanamine was synthesized. The complex was found to be catalytically active for the endo cycloisomerization of alkynols. The catalytic reactions can be used to synthesize five‐, six‐, and seven‐membered endo‐cyclic enol ethers in good to excellent yields. A catalytic cycle involving a vinylidene intermediate was proposed for the catalytic reactions. Treatment of complex 4 with PhC?CH and H₂O gave the alkyl complex [Ru(CH₂Ph)(CO)(N₃P)][BPh₄] ( 30 ), which supports the assumption that the catalytic reactions involve addition of a hydroxyl group to the C?C bond of vinylidene ligands.     

Controlling Metal–Ligand–Metal Oxidation State Combinations by Ancillary Ligand (L) Variation in the Redox Systems [L2Ru(μ‐boptz)RuL2]n,boptz=3,6‐bis(2‐oxidophenyl)‐1,2,4,5‐tetrazine,and L=acetylacetonate, 2,2′‐bipyridine,or 2‐phenylazopyridine

The new compounds [(acac)₂Ru(μ‐boptz)Ru(acac)₂] ( 1 ), [(bpy)₂Ru(μ‐boptz)Ru(bpy)₂](ClO₄)₂ ( 2 ‐(ClO₄)₂), and [(pap)₂Ru(μ‐boptz)Ru(pap)₂](ClO₄)₂ ( 3 ‐(ClO₄)₂) were obtained from 3,6‐bis(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1,2,4,5‐tetrazine (H₂boptz), the crystal structure analysis of which is reported. Compound 1 contains two antiferromagnetically coupled (J=?36.7 cm^?1) Ru^III centers. We have investigated the role of both the donor and acceptor functions containing the boptz^2? bridging ligand in combination with the electronically different ancillary ligands (donating acac^?, moderately π‐accepting bpy, and strongly π‐accepting pap; acac=acetylacetonate, bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine pap=2‐phenylazopyridine) by using cyclic voltammetry, spectroelectrochemistry and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy for several in situ accessible redox states. We found that metal–ligand–metal oxidation state combinations remain invariant to ancillary ligand change in some instances; however, three isoelectronic paramagnetic cores Ru(μ‐boptz)Ru showed remarkable differences. The excellent tolerance of the bpy co ‐ ligand for both Ru^III and Ru^II is demonstrated by the adoption of the mixed ‐ valent form in [L₂Ru(μ‐boptz)RuL₂]³⁺, L=bpy, whereas the corresponding system with pap stabilizes the Ru^II states to yield a phenoxyl radical ligand and the compound with L=acac^? contains two Ru^III centers connected by a tetrazine radical‐anion bridge.     

Sterically‐Directed Consecutive and Size‐Selective Self‐Assembly of Palladium Diphosphane Complexes with an Ar‐BIAN Ligand: Unexpected Formation of Pentameric and Hexameric Aggregates

The coordination properties of N,N′‐bis[4‐(4‐pyridyl)phenyl]acenaphthenequinonediimine (L¹) and N,N′‐bis[4‐(2‐pyridyl)phenyl]acenaphthenequinonediimine (L²) were investigated in self‐assembly with palladium diphosphane complexes [Pd(P^P)(H₂O)₂](OTf)₂ (OTf=triflate) by using various analytical techniques, including multinuclear (¹H, ¹⁵N, and ³¹P) NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (P^P=dppp, dppf, dppe; dppp=bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane, dppf= bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ferrocene, and dppe=bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ethane). Beside the expected trimeric and tetrameric species, the interaction of an equimolar mixture of [Pd(dppp)]²⁺ ions and L¹ also generates pentameric aggregates. Due to the E/Z isomerism of L¹, a dimeric product was also observed. In all of these species, which correspond to the general formula [Pd(dppp)L¹]_n(OTf)_2n (n=2–5), the L¹ ligand is coordinated to the Pd center only through the terminal pyridyl groups. Introduction of a second equivalent of the [Pd(dppp)]²⁺ tecton results in coordination to the internal, sterically more encumbered chelating site and induces enhancement of the higher nuclearity components. The presence of higher‐order aggregates (n=5, 6), which were unexpected for the interaction of cis‐protected palladium corners with linear ditopic bridging ligands, has been demonstrated both by mass‐spectrometric and DOSY NMR spectroscopic analysis. The sequential coordination of the [Pd(dppp)]²⁺ ion is attributed to the dissimilar steric properties of the two coordination sites. In the self‐assembled species formed in a 1:1:1 mixture of [Pd(dppp)]²⁺/[Pd(dppe)]²⁺/L¹, the sterically more demanding [Pd(dppp)]²⁺ tectons are attached selectively to the pyridyl groups, whereas the more hindered imino nitrogen atoms coordinate the less bulky dppe complexes, thus resulting in a sterically directed, size‐selective sorting of the metal tectons. The propensity of the new ligands to incorporate hydrogen‐bonded solvent molecules at the chelating site was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction studies.     

N‐Substituted Hydrazones by Manganese‐Catalyzed Coupling of Alcohols with Hydrazine: Borrowing Hydrogen and Acceptorless Dehydrogenation in One System

An unprecedented one‐step synthesis of N‐substituted hydrazones by coupling of alcohols with hydrazine is reported. This partial hydrogen‐borrowing reaction is catalyzed by a new manganese pincer complex under mild reaction conditions, thus liberating water and dihydrogen as the only byproducts. Mechanistic insight, based on the observation of intermediates, is provided.     

A Reusable Unsupported Rhenium Nanocrystalline Catalyst for Acceptorless Dehydrogenation of Alcohols through γ‐C–H Activation

Rhenium nanocrystalline particles (Re NPs), of 2 nm size, were prepared from NH₄ReO₄ under mild conditions in neat alcohol. The unsupported Re NPs convert secondary and benzylic alcohols to ketones and aldehydes, respectively, through catalytic acceptorless dehydrogenation (AD). The oxidant‐ and acceptor‐free neat dehydrogenation of alcohols to obtain dihydrogen gas is a green and atom‐economical process for making carbonyl compounds. Secondary aliphatic alcohols give quantitative conversion and yield. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Re K‐edge X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES), and X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data confirmed the characterization of the Re NPs as metallic rhenium with surface oxidation to rhenium(IV) oxide (ReO₂). Isotope labeling experiments revealed a novel γ‐CH activation mechanism for AD of alcohols.     

Protic N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Versus Pyrazole: Rigorous Comparison of Proton‐ and Electron‐Donating Abilities in a Pincer‐Type Framework

Evaluation of the acidity of proton‐responsive ligands such as protic N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) bearing an NH‐wingtip provides a key to understanding the metal–ligand cooperation in enzymatic and artificial catalysis. Here, we design a CNN pincer‐type ruthenium complex 2 bearing protic NHC and isoelectronic pyrazole units in a symmetrical skeleton, to compare their acidities and electron‐donating abilities. The synthesis is achieved by direct C?H metalation of 2‐(imidazol‐1‐yl)‐6‐(pyrazol‐3‐yl)pyridine with [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃]. ¹⁵N‐Labeling experiments confirm that deprotonation of 2 occurs first at the pyrazole side, indicating clearly that the protic pyrazole is more acidic than the NHC group. The electrochemical measurements as well as derivatization to carbonyl complexes demonstrate that the protic NHC is more electron‐donating than pyrazole in both protonated and deprotonated forms.     

A Highly Active Bifunctional Iridium Complex with an Alcohol/Alkoxide‐Tethered N‐Heterocyclic Carbene for Alkylation of Amines with Alcohols

A series of new iridium(III) complexes containing bidentate N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) functionalized with an alcohol or ether group (NHC? OR, R=H, Me) were prepared. The complexes catalyzed the alkylation of anilines with alcohols as latent electrophiles. In particular, biscationic Ir^III complexes of the type [Cp*(NHC‐OH)Ir(MeCN)]²⁺2[BF₄^?] afforded higher‐order amine products with very high efficiency; up to >99 % yield using a 1:1 ratio of reactants and 1–2.5 mol % of Ir, in short reaction times (2–16 h) and under base‐free conditions. Quantitative yields were also obtained at 50 °C, although longer reaction times (48–60 h) were needed. A large variety of aromatic amines have been alkylated with primary and secondary alcohols. The reactivity of structurally related iridium(III) complexes was also compared to obtain insights into the mechanism and into the structure of possible catalytic intermediates. The Ir^III complexes were stable towards oxygen and moisture, and were characterized by NMR, HRMS, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, and elemental analyses.