Homo-metathesis of vinylsilanes catalysed by ruthenium carbene complexes

Effective homo-metathesis of a series of dichloro-substituted vinylsilanes H₂C = C(H)SiCl₂R (where R = Me, OSiMe₃, C₆H₅, C₆H₄–Me-4, C₆H₄–CF₃-4) in the presence of second generation Grubbs catalyst [Cl₂(PCy₃)(IMesH₂)Ru(=CHPh)] (I) and Hoveyda–Grubbs catalyst (II) leads to selective formation of E-1,2-bis(silyl)ethenes and ethene. On the basis of the results of experiments with deuterium-labelled reagents, a metallacarbene mechanism has been suggested for these reactions.     

Mechanistic studies of ethylene hydrophenylation catalyzed by bipyridyl Pt(II) complexes

Cationic platinum(II) complexes [((t)bpy)Pt(Ph)(L)](+) [(t)bpy =4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridyl; L = THF, NC(5)F(5), or NCMe] catalyze the hydrophenylation of ethylene to generate ethylbenzene and isomers of diethylbenzene. Using ethylene as the limiting reagent, an 89% yield of alkyl arene products is achieved after 4 h at 120 °C. Catalyst efficiency for ethylene hydrophenylation is diminished only slightly under aerobic conditions. Mechanistic studies support a reaction pathway that involves ethylene coordination to Pt(II), insertion of ethylene into the Pt-phenyl bond, and subsequent metal-mediated benzene C-H activation. Studies of stoichiometric benzene (C(6)H(6) or C(6)D(6)) C-H/C-D activation by [((t)bpy)Pt(Ph-d(n))(THF)](+) (n = 0 or 5) indicate a k(H)/k(D) = 1.4(1), while comparative rates of ethylene hydrophenylation using C(6)H(6) and C(6)D(6) reveal k(H)/k(D) = 1.8(4) for the overall catalytic reaction. DFT calculations suggest that the transition state for benzene C-H activation is the highest energy species along the catalytic cycle. In CD(2)Cl(2), [((t)bpy)Pt(Ph)(THF)][BAr'(4)] [Ar' = 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] reacts with ethylene to generate [((t)bpy)Pt(CH(2)CH(2)Ph)(η(2)-C(2)H(4))][BAr'(4)] with k(obs) = 1.05(4) × 10(-3) s(-1) (23 °C, [C(2)H(4)] = 0.10(1) M). In the catalytic hydrophenylation of ethylene, substantial amounts of diethylbenzenes are produced, and experimental studies suggest that the selectivity for the monoalkylated arene is diminished due to a second aromatic C-H activation competing with ethylbenzene dissociation.     

Reaction pathways of zirconocene-catalyzed silylation of alkenes with chlorosilanes

Reaction pathways as well as stereochemistries and stoichiometries of zirconocene-catalyzed silylation of olefins with chlorosilanes in the presence of ⁿBuMgCl were studied and discussed in detail. Rate determining steps were examined by kinetic studies and labeling experiments.     

Hypochlorite-oxyfunctionalization of saturated hydrocarbons catalysed by ruthenium(II) complexes

Hydroxylation or ketonization of alkanes is achieved using lithium or sodium hypochlorite in the presence of catalytic amounts of ruthenium(II) complexes in a biphasic dichloromethane—water system, at room temperature. The oxidation of cyclooctane is first order both in substrate and in catalyst: a kinetic isotope effect (k_H/k_D) = 5.6 was measured using cyclohexane-d₁₂. A discussion is included concerning the origin of the different regioselectivities.     

Titanocene-catalyzed double silylation of dienes and aryl alkenes with chlorosilanes

Double silylation of 1,3-butadienes with chlorosilanes was found to proceed by using titanocene dichloride as the catalyst in the presence of ⁿBuMgCl, giving rise to 1,4-disilylated 2-butenes in good yields. Aryl substituted alkenes also afforded 1,2-disilylated products under similar conditions.     

Kharasch addition catalysed by half-sandwich ruthenium complexes. Enhanced activity of ruthenacarboranes

Ruthenium complexes of the type [RuH(η⁵-CB)(PPh₃)₂] {CB is a monoanionic charge-compensated carborane ligand such as [9-SR₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀]⁻ and [9-SR₂-7-CH₃-7,8-C₂B₉H₉]⁻} efficiently catalyse the Kharasch addition of CCl₄ across olefins and, with maximum total turnover numbers of 9000 and initial turnover frequencies of 1900 h⁻¹ at 40°C, highly surpass their Ru-Cp^# analogues in these reactions.     

Enantioselective reduction of aromatic ketones catalysed by chiral ruthenium(II) complexes

The catalytic enantioselective reduction of aromatic ketones in 2-propanol is carried out by using ruthenium(II) complexes prepared from [Ru(p-cymene)Cl₂]₂ and a variety of chiral diamines and β-aminoalcohols derived from α-amino acids. Good conversions (>99%) and enantioselectivities (=96%) are observed under mild reaction conditions.     

Redox isomerisation of allylic alcohols catalysed by water-soluble ruthenium complexes in aqueous systems

The process of catalytic isomerisation of various allylic alcohols (alk-1-en-3-ols) into saturated ketones under mild conditions is reported. The water-soluble Na₄[{RuCl₂(mtppms)₂}₂] complex, previously reported by us as a precursor to very active hydrogenation catalysts was also found an active catalyst of the redox isomerisation of allylic alcohols in aqueous media. The new Na[Ru(CO)Cp(mtppms)₂] as well as Na₄[{RuCl(μ-Cl)(CCCPh₂)(mtppms)₂}₂] and Na₂[RuClCp(mtppms)₂] also showed good to excellent catalytic activities for redox isomerisations in aqueous systems at 50-80 °C under inert atmosphere.     

Electrochemical studies on monomeric ruthenium complexes.

Voltammetric studies on monomeric Ru(II) and Ru(III) complexes establish $\text{inter}$$\text{alia}$ reversible one-electron reduction and irreversible oxidation of [RuCl₃L₃] in contrast to [RuCl₄L₂]^?, and reversible one-electron oxidation of [RuCl₂(CO)_xL_4?x] (X = 1,2) for L = a variety of neutral ligands.     

Further studies on reactions of organic halides with disilanes catalysed by transition metal complexes

The interaction of a range of organic halides with (Cl₃Si)₂ or (Me₃Si)₂ in the presence of a variety of transition metal catalysts (very predominantly Pd⁰ or Pd^II complexes) have been examined. PhSiMe₃ was formed from PhCl[m.y., 15%] (m.y. - maximum yield), PhBr (m.y., 92%, with [PdL₂Br₂] as catalyst (L - PPh₃)), and (contrary to earlier reports) PhI (m.y. 51%, with [PdL₂I₂]). MeSiCl₃ was formed from MeBr (m.y., 78% with [PdL₄]) and MeI (m.y., 91% with [PdL₄]), and EtSiCl₃ from EtBr (m.y., 49%, with [PdL₂“Br₂]; L” - P(C₆H₄OMe-p)₃) and EtI (m.y. 45%, with [PdL₄]). Me₄Si was satisfactorily formed from MeBr (m.y. 42%, with [PdL₄]). Evidence was obtained for the formation of Me₃SiCF₃ from CF₃I. Very poor yields of XC₆H₄CH₂SiMe₃ were obtained from XC₆H₄CH2Br (X - H orp-Me) (with X - H some PhSiMe₃ was formed), butp-O₂NC₆H₄CH₂SiMe₃ was formed in 48% yield fromp-O₂NC₆H₄CH₂Cl with [PdL“₄] as catalyst. PhCOSiMe₃ was formed from PhCOCl (m.y. 52% with [PdL₂I₂]. The nickel complex [NiL₄] was moderately effective as a catalyst for reactions between (Cl₃Si)₂ and MeBr, EtBr, or PhCH₂Br. The new complex [PdL₂(SiCl₃)₂] was prepared by treatment of [PdL₄] with (Cl₃Si)₂ or Cl₃SiH, and shown to catalyse the reaction between MeBr and (Cl₃Si)₂.     

Aqueous hydrogenation of carbon dioxide catalysed by water-soluble ruthenium aqua complexes under acidic conditions

Hydrogenation of carbon dioxide (P(H2/CO2)= 5.5/2.5 MPa) into formic acid (HCOOH) under acidic conditions (pH 2.5-5.0) in water has been achieved by using water-soluble ruthenium aqua catalysts [(eta6-C6Me6)RuII(L)(OH2)]SO4 (L = 2,2'-bipyridine or 4,4'-dimethoxy-2,2' bipyridine).     

Selective oxidation of alkenes catalysed by ruthenium(II) complexes containing coordinated perchlorate

Ruthenium(II) perchlorate complexes, [Ru(dppm)₃(ClO₄)]ClO₄ 1, [Ru(dppe)₃(ClO₄)]ClO₄ 2, and [Ru(dpae)₃(ClO₄)]ClO₄ 3, catalyse the selective homogeneous oxidation of alkenes with TBHP and H₂O₂ as oxidizing agents. Oxidation of cyclohexene with TBHP gave 2-cyclohexene-1-ol, 2-cyclohexenone and 1-(tert-butylperoxy)-2-cyclohexene. The homogeneous liquid phase oxidation of cyclohexene with TBHP shows appreciable solvent effect. Styrene on oxidation with TBHP gave benzaldehyde as the major product and styrene oxide as the minor product. Oxidation with H₂O₂ is radical-initiated and gives low conversion to products. TBHP and H₂O₂ are compared for their oxidizing ability and TBHP is more effective than H₂O₂ as an oxidizing agent. Linear and long chain alkenes are not efficiently oxidized. Cyclooctene and trans-stilbene are oxidized to the corresponding epoxides.     

Mechanistic studies on 14-electron ruthenacyclobutanes: degenerate exchange with free ethylene

The phosphonium alkylidene [(NHC)Cl2Ru=CH(PCy3)]+[B(C6F5)4]-, 1, (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene, Cy = cyclohexyl, C6H11) reacts with 2.2 equiv of ethylene at -50 degrees C to form the 14-electron ruthenacyclobutane (NHC)Cl2Ru(CH2CH2CH2), 2. NMR spectroscopic data indicates that 2 has a C2v symmetric structure with a flat, kite shaped ruthenacyclobutane ring with significant Calpha-Cbeta agostic interactions with the Ru center. Intramolecular exchange of Calpha and Cbeta is fast (14(2) s-1 at 223 K) as measured by EXSY spectroscopy. Intermolecular exchange of Calpha and Cbeta with the methylene groups of free ethylene is much slower and first order in both [Ru] and [H2C=CH2] (4.8(3) x 10-4 M-1 s-1). Activation parameters for this process are DeltaH++ = 13.2(5) kcal mol-1 and DeltaS++ = -15(2) cal mol-1 K-1, also consistent with a rate limiting associative substitution as the key step in this exchange process. On the basis of this observation, mechanisms for the intermolecular exchange process are proposed and the implications for the mechanism of the propagation steps in catalytic olefin metathesis as mediated by Grubbs catalysts are discussed.     

The stereospecific epoxidation of olefins catalysed by ruthenium

Epoxidation of olefins by sodium periodate is effected by the catalysis of RuCl₃, (H₂O)_n associated with bipyridyl. The reaction is stereospecific for both cis and trans alkenes.     

Mechanistic studies of the selective reduction of ruthenium(III) containing trinuclear oxo complexes by l-ascorbic acid in aqueous solution

The reduction of the Ru(III) oxo-centred trinuclear acetate cations, [Ru₃(??₃-O)(??₂-CH₃CO₂)₆(H₂O)₃]⁺ and [Ru₂Cr(??₃-O)(??₂-CH₃CO₂)₆(H₂O)₃]⁺, by the biological reductant l-ascorbic acid was studied spectrophotometrically under pseudo first-order conditions over the ranges 3.05????pH????4.83 (acetate buffer), 15?°C??????????30?°C and at I?=?0.5?mol?dm^?3 (NaClO₄). The first electron transfer in the redox process resulted in mixed-valence species [Ru₂M(??₃-O)(??₂-CH₃CO₂)₆(H₂O)₃]⁰, where M?=?Ru or Cr, followed by the slow consecutive reduction of other Ru(III) ions. The kinetics of the formation of the mixed-valence species was studied in detail, and a mechanism in support of these data is proposed. The intricate mechanistic details of the subsequent reactions are unclear as the spectral characteristics of the species involved could not be resolved from those of the first intermediate. The final products, however, were found to be Ru(II) (and Cr(III) for the mixed-metal species) in acetate buffer. The electron-transfer mechanism has been proposed to be inner-sphere, as deduced from Marcus cross-relationship. In an aqueous acetate buffer at I?=?1.0?mol?dm^?3 (NaClO₄), the cyclic voltammograms of the complexes were found to be quasi-reversible and pH dependent and have values of 0.18 and 0.19?V (relative to SHE) at pH?=?3.41 for the [Ru₃(??₃-O)(??₂-CH₃CO₂)₆(H₂O)₃]⁺ and [Ru₂Cr(??₃-O)(??₂-CH₃CO₂)₆(H₂O)₃]⁺ cations, respectively.     

Spectroscopic and magnetic studies on electrogenerated mixed-valence ruthenium complexes

Electrochemical synthesis has enabled several sequences of triple chloride bridged diruthenium complexes of general type [L_3?xCl_xRuCl₃RuCl_yL_3?y]^z/z+1/z+2 (L = soft neutral ligand) to be generated. The intervalence charge transfer bands in the optical spectra of the mixed-valence Ru^II,III₂ compounds and variable temperature magnetic measurements for the corresponding Ru^III.III₂ complexes reveal that the degree of metal—metal interaction in these confacial bioctahedral systems decreases as the molecular asymmetry (y?x) increases.     

Alkane hydroperoxidation with peroxides catalysed by copper complexes

Various copper(I) and copper(II) derivatives, both "simple" ones (copper acetate, perchlorate and a complex with CH3CN) and compounds containing N,O-chelating ligands, catalyse very efficient (turnover numbers attain 2200) oxidation of saturated hydrocarbons with peroxyacetic acid (PAA) or tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) in acetonitrile solution at 60 degrees C. Alkyl hydroperoxide, alcohol and ketone are formed, the main product being an alkyl hydroperoxide in the oxidation with PAA and an alcohol for the case of TBHP. It has been proposed that the oxidation with PAA is induced via the attack of species r* [HO* or CH3C(=O)O*] on the alkane, RH. A competitive attack of r* on the solvent, CH3CN, also occurs. It has been assumed that in the case of the reaction catalysed by complex Cu(CH3CN)4BF4, copper is present mainly in the form of Cu+ cation, and the rate-limiting step of the oxidation process is the formation of r* via reaction (1): CH3C(=O)OOH + Cu+ --> CH3C(=O)O* + HO- + Cu2+ or/and CH3C(=O)OOH + Cu+ --> CH3C(=O)O- + HO* + Cu2+ with initial rate W1 = k1[PAA][Cu(CH3CN)4BF4] and k1 = 1.7 mol(-1) dm3 s(-1) at 60 degrees C. The activity of the Cu-catalyst is dramatically changed on a small modification of N,O-chelating ligands in the catalyst.     

Mechanistic aspects of vanadium catalysed oxidations with peroxides

The enhancement of the reactivity of peroxides, particularly hydrogen peroxide and alkylhydroperoxides, in the presence of vanadium catalysis is a very well known process. The catalytic effect is determined by the formation of an intermediate whose nature depends on the peroxides used and on its interaction with the metal precursor, high-valent peroxo vanadium species being usually the reactive oxidants. During the last decades the mechanistic details for several types of oxidation reactions have been elucidated. Interestingly, in a number of cases theoretical calculations offered support to the proposed reaction pathways.In general, V(V) peroxo species behave as electrophilic oxygen transfer reagents thus reacting preferentially with the more nucleophilic functional group present in the molecule. In several instances the chemoselectivity observed in such processes is very high when not absolute. As far as vanadium peroxides are concerned, a radical oxidative reactivity toward alkanes and aromatics has been also observed; also for this latter chemistry, diverse research groups studied in detail the mechanism. On the other hand, no clear-cut evidence of nucleophilic reactivity of vanadium peroxo complexes has been obtained.Here we collect a selection of recent achievements concerning the reaction mechanisms in the vanadium catalysed oxidation and bromination reactions with peroxides.     

Rate studies of silylation with silylamides

The rates of silylation of p-nitrophenol with N,O-bis(trialkylsilyl)acetamides in dioxane have been measured, the reaction shown to be slowed down by replacing methyl by ethyl in the trialkylsilyl group. The rates of methanolysis of some N,O-bis(aryldimethylsilyl)acetamides (I) and N-aryldimethylsilylacetamides (II) have been measured. The reactions of compounds II were found to be acid catalyzed and accelerated by electron-withdrawing substituents in the benzene ring. At 30°C the methanolysis was shown to be entropy controlled. Compounds of series I were found to be aproximately 1000 times more reactive than those of series II. Introducing a methyl at nitrogen in the monosilylamides produced a similar rate enhancing effect as introduction of a second silyl group. Promotion of (p-d)π coordination of silicon to oxygen or nitrogen in the ground state of the silylamide molecule is suggested as the factor responsible for this effect.