Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of benzaldehydes

A combined system of RuCl[(R, R)-YCH(C(6)H(5))CH(C(6)H(5))NH(2)](eta(6)-arene) (Y = NSO(2)C(6)H(4)-4-CH(3) or O) and t-C(4)H(9)OK catalyzes the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of various benzaldehyde-1-d derivatives with 2-propanol to yield (R)-benzyl-1-d alcohols in 95-99% ee and with >99% isotopic purity. Reaction of benzaldehydes with a DCO(2)D-triethylamine mixture and the R,R catalyst affords the S deuterated alcohols in 97-99% ee.     

Cycloruthenated primary and secondary amines as efficient catalyst precursors for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

[reaction: see text] Ruthenacycles obtained by cyclometalation of enantiopure aromatic primary or secondary amines with [(eta6-benzene)RuCl2]2 or with [(eta6-p-cymene)RuCl2]2 are efficient catalysts for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (TOF up to 190 h(-1) at room temperature). Enantioselectivities in the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone ranged from 38% to 89%. It is possible to prepare the catalysts in situ, which allows the use of high throughput experimentation.     

Selective hydrogenation of benzophenones to benzhydrols. Asymmetric synthesis of unsymmetrical diarylmethanols

[reaction: see text] trans-RuCl2[P(C6H4-4-CH3)3]2(NH2CH2CH2NH2) acts as a highly effective precatalyst for the hydrogenation of a variety of benzophenone derivatives to benzhydrols that proceeds smoothly at 8 atm and 23-35 degrees C in 2-propanol containing t-C4H9OK with a substrate/catalyst ratio of 2000-20000. Use of a BINAP/chiral diamine Ru complex effects asymmetric hydrogenation of various ortho-substituted benzophenones and benzoylferrocene to chiral diarylmethanols with consistently high ee.     

A chiral rhodium complex for rapid asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of imines with high enantioselectivity

[formula: see text] A chiral rhodium complex, (R)-Cp*RhCl[(1S,2S)-p-TsNCH(C6H5)CH(C6H5)NH2] (1a, (S,S)-Cp*RhClTsDPEN), generated from [Cp*RhCl2]2 and (1S,2S)-N-p-toluenesulfonyl-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine [(S,S)-TsDPEN], and its enantiomer 1b were found to provide superior catalysts for the rapid, high-yielding, asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of some heterocyclic imines, using an HCO2H-Et3N azeotrope as the hydrogen source.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes containing bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl) ether and their catalytic activity in hydrogenation reactions

The half-sandwich complexes [(eta5-C5H5)RuCl(DPEphos)] (1) and [{(eta6-p-cymene)RuCl2}2(mu-DPEphos)] (2) were synthesized by the reaction of bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl) ether (DPEphos) with a mixture of ruthenium trichloride trihydrate and cyclopentadiene and with [(eta6-p-cymene)RuCl2]2, respectively. Treatment of DPEphos with cis-[RuCl2(dmso)4] afforded fac-[RuCl2(kappa3-P,O,P-DPEphos)(dmso)] (3). The dmso ligand in 3 can be substituted by pyridine, 2,2'-bipyridine, 4,4'-bipyridine, and PPh3 to yield trans,cis-[RuCl2(DPEphos)(C5H5N)2] (4), cis,cis-[RuCl2(DPEphos)(2,2'-bipyridine)] (5), trans,cis-[RuCl2(DPEphos)(mu-4,4'-bipyridine)]n (6), and mer,trans-[RuCl2(kappa3-P,P,O-DPEphos)(PPh3)] (7), respectively. Refluxing [(eta6-p-cymene)RuCl2]2 with DPEphos in moist acetonitrile leads to the elimination of the p-cymene group and the formation of the octahedral complex cis,cis-[RuCl2(DPEphos)(H2O)(CH3CN)] (8). The structures of the complexes 1-5, 7, and 8 are confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The catalytic activity of these complexes for the hydrogenation of styrene is studied.     

Effect of chelating ring size in catalytic ketone hydrogenation: facile synthesis of ruthenium(II) precatalysts containing an N-heterocyclic carbene with a primary amine donor for ketone hydrogenation and a DFT study of mechanisms

A half-sandwich ruthenium(II) complex, [Ru(η(6)-p-cymene)(C-NH(2))Cl]PF(6) (4·PF(6)), containing an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) with a primary amine donor (C-NH(2)) which chelates through the carbene carbon and the amine nitrogen to form a 6-membered ring was synthesized in a one-pot reaction starting from a primary-amine functionalized imidazolium salt 2. Complex 4·PF(6) catalyzed the hydrogenation of ketones using 2-propanol or H(2) as the reductant. A maximum turnover frequency of 1062 h(-1) and a turnover number of 1140 at 5 h were achieved for the transfer hydrogenation of 3'-chloroacetophenone in 2-propanol at 75 °C. A cationic hydride-amine complex 5, [Ru(η(6)-p-cymene)(C-NH(2))H]PF(6), was synthesized, and this reacted very slowly with acetophenone unless first activated by an alkoxide base. Computational studies by DFT methods suggested that the poor reactivity of the hydride-amine complex 5 was attributed to a large barrier for the transfer of its H(+)/H(-) couple to a ketone for bifunctional catalysis. An inner-sphere mechanism, which involves a decoordinated amine group of the C-NH(2) ligand, was computed to be a feasible energetic pathway in comparison to the computed outer-sphere bifunctional mechanism. This explains the catalytic activity and selectivity that is observed for the newly synthesized ruthenium(II) catalysts.     

Highly enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of fluoroalkyl ketones

[Structure: see text] The asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of fluoroalkyl ketones mediated by [Ru(eta6-arene)((S,S)-R2NSO2DPEN)] catalysts using HCO2H-Et3N afforded the corresponding alcohols with high ee's and in excellent yields.     

Mechanistic investigations of imine hydrogenation catalyzed by cationic iridium complexes

Complexes [IrH2(eta6-C6H6)(PiPr3)]BF4 (1) and [IrH2(NCMe)3(PiPr3)]BF4 (2) are catalyst precursors for homogeneous hydrogenation of N-benzylideneaniline under mild conditions. Precursor 1 generates the resting state [IrH2{eta5-(C6H5)NHCH2Ph}(PiPr3)]BF4 (3), while 2 gives rise to a mixture of [IrH{PhN=CH(C6H4)-kappaN,C}(NCMe)2(PiPr3)]BF4 (4) and [IrH{PhN=CH(C6H4)-kappaN,C}(NCMe)(NH2Ph)(PiPr3)]BF4 (5), in which the aniline ligand is derived from hydrolysis of the imine. The less hindered benzophenone imine forms the catalytically inactive, doubly cyclometalated compound [Ir{HN=CPh(C6H4)-kappaN,C}2(NH2CHPh2)(PiPr3)]BF4 (6). Hydrogenations with precursor 1 are fast and their reaction profiles are strongly dependent on solvent, concentrations, and temperature. Significant induction periods, minimized by addition of the amine hydrogenation product, are commonly observed. The catalytic rate law (THF) is rate = k[1][PhN=CHPh]p(H2). The results of selected stoichiometric reactions of potential catalytic intermediates exclude participation of the cyclometalated compounds [IrH{PhN=CH(C6H4)-kappaN,C}(S)2(PiPr3)]BF4 [S = acetonitrile (4), [D6]acetone (7), [D4]methanol (8)] in catalysis. Reactions between resting state 3 and D2 reveal a selective sequence of deuterium incorporation into the complex which is accelerated by the amine product. Hydrogen bonding among the components of the catalytic reaction was examined by MP2 calculations on model compounds. The calculations allow formulation of an ionic, outer-sphere, bifunctional hydrogenation mechanism comprising 1) amine-assisted oxidative addition of H2 to 3, the result of which is equivalent to heterolytic splitting of dihydrogen, 2) replacement of a hydrogen-bonded amine by imine, and 3) simultaneous H delta+/H delta- transfer to the imine substrate from the NH moiety of an arene-coordinated amine ligand and the metal, respectively.     

Mechanism of asymmetric hydrogenation of ketones catalyzed by BINAP/1,2-diamine-rutheniumII complexes

Asymmetric hydrogenation of acetophenone with trans-RuH(eta(1)-BH(4))[(S)-tolbinap][(S,S)-dpen] (TolBINAP = 2,2'-bis(di-4-tolylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl; DPEN = 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine) in 2-propanol gives (R)-phenylethanol in 82% ee. The reaction proceeds smoothly even at an atmospheric pressure of H(2) at room temperature and is further accelerated by addition of an alkaline base or a strong organic base. Most importantly, the hydrogenation rate is initially increased to a great extent with an increase in base molarity but subsequently decreases. Without a base, the rate is independent of H(2) pressure in the range of 1-16 atm, while in the presence of a base, the reaction is accelerated with increasing H(2) pressure. The extent of enantioselection is unaffected by hydrogen pressure, the presence or absence of base, the kind of base and coexisting metallic or organic cations, the nature of the solvent, or the substrate concentrations. The reaction with H(2)/(CH(3))(2)CHOH proceeds 50 times faster than that with D(2)/(CD(3))(2)CDOD in the absence of base, but the rate differs only by a factor of 2 in the presence of KO-t-C(4)H(9). These findings indicate that dual mechanisms are in operation, both of which are dependent on reaction conditions and involve heterolytic cleavage of H(2) to form a common reactive intermediate. The key [RuH(diphosphine)(diamine)](+) and its solvate complex have been detected by ESI-TOFMS and NMR spectroscopy. The hydrogenation of ketones is proposed to occur via a nonclassical metal-ligand bifunctional mechanism involving a chiral RuH(2)(diphosphine)(diamine), where a hydride on Ru and a proton of the NH(2) ligand are simultaneously transferred to the C=O function via a six-membered pericyclic transition state. The NH(2) unit in the diamine ligand plays a pivotal role in the catalysis. The reaction occurs in the outer coordination sphere of the 18e RuH(2) complex without C=O/metal interaction. The enantiofaces of prochiral aromatic ketones are kinetically differentiated on the molecular surface of the coordinatively saturated chiral RuH(2) intermediate rather than in a coordinatively unsaturated Ru template.     

Water-soluble ruthenium(II) catalysts [RuCl2(eta6-arene)[P(CH2OH)3]] for isomerization of allylic alcohols and alkyne hydration

The novel water-soluble ruthenium(II) complexes [RuCl(2)(eta(6)-arene)[P(CH(2)OH)(3)]]2a-c and [RuCl(eta(6)-arene)[P(CH(2)OH)(3)](2)][Cl]3a-c have been prepared in high yields by reaction of dimers [[Ru(eta(6)-arene)(micro-Cl)Cl](2)](arene = C(6)H(6)1a, p-cymene 1b, C(6)Me(6)1c) with two or four equivalents of P(CH(2)OH)(3), respectively. Complexes 2/3a-c are active catalysts in the redox isomerization of several allylic alcohols into the corresponding saturated carbonyl compounds under water/n-heptane biphasic conditions. Among them, the neutral derivatives [RuCl(2)(eta(6)-C(6)H(6))[P(CH(2)OH)(3)]]2a and [RuCl(2)(eta(6)-p-cymene)[P(CH(2)OH)(3)]]2b show the highest activities (TOF values up to 600 h(-1); TON values up to 782). Complexes 2/3a-c also catalyze the hydration of terminal alkynes.     

Cyclodiphosphazanes with hemilabile ponytails: synthesis, transition metal chemistry (Ru(II), Rh(I), Pd(II), Pt(II)), and crystal and molecular structures of mononuclear (Pd(II), Rh(I)) and bi- and tetranuclear rhodium(I) complexes

Cyclodiphosphazanes having hemilabile ponytails such as cis-[(t)()BuNP(OC(6)H(4)OMe-o)](2) (2), cis-[(t)()BuNP(OCH(2)CH(2)OMe)](2) (3), cis-[(t)BuNP(OCH(2)CH(2)SMe)](2) (4), and cis-[(t)BuNP(OCH(2)CH(2)NMe(2))](2) (5) were synthesized by reacting cis-[(t)()BuNPCl](2) (1) with corresponding nucleophiles. The reaction of 2 with [M(COD)Cl(2)] afforded cis-[MCl(2)(2)(2)] derivatives (M = Pd (6), Pt (7)), whereas, with [Pd(NCPh)(2)Cl(2)], trans-[MCl(2)(2)(2)] (8) was obtained. The reaction of 2 with [Pd(PEt(3))Cl(2)](2), [{Ru(eta(6)-p-cymene)Cl(2)](2), and [M(COD)Cl](2) (M = Rh, Ir) afforded mononuclear complexes of Pd(II) (9), Ru(II) (11), Rh(I) (12), and Ir(I) (13) irrespective of the stoichiometry of the reactants and the reaction condition. In the above complexes the cyclodiphosphazane acts as a monodentate ligand. The reaction of 2 with [PdCl(eta(3)-C(3)H(5))](2) afforded binuclear complex [(PdCl(eta(3)-C(3)H(5)))(2){((t)BuNP(OC(6)H(4)OMe-o))(2)-kappaP}] (10). The reaction of ligand 3 with [Rh(CO)(2)Cl](2) in 1:1 ratio in CH(3)CN under reflux condition afforded tetranuclear rhodium(I) metallamacrocycle (14), whereas the ligands 4 and 5 afforded bischelated binuclear complexes 15 and 16, respectively. The crystal structures of 8, 9, 12, 14, and 16 are reported.     

New chiral ruthenium(II) catalysts containing 2,6-bis(4'-(R)-phenyloxazolin-2'-yl)pyridine (Ph-pybox) ligands for highly enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of ketones

Treatment of complex trans-[RuCl(2)(eta(2)-C(2)H(4))[kappa(3)-N,N,N-(R,R)-Ph-pybox]] [(R,R)-Ph-pybox = 2,6-bis[4'-(R)-phenyloxazolin-2'-yl]pyridine] with phosphines or phosphites in dichloromethane at 50 degrees C leads to the formation of novel ruthenium(II)-pybox complexes trans-[RuCl(2)(L)[kappa(3)-N,N,N-(R,R)-Ph-pybox]] [L = PPh(3) (1 a), PPh(2)Me (2 a), PPh(2)(C(3)H(5)) (3 a), PPh(2)(C(4)H(7)) (4 a), PMe(3) (5 a), PiPr(3) (6 a), P(OMe)(3) (7 a) and P(OPh)(3) (8 a)]. Likewise, reaction of trans-[RuCl(2)(eta(2)-C(2)H(4))[kappa(3)-N,N,N-(R,R)-Ph-pybox]] with PPh(3) or PiPr(3) in refluxing methanol leads to the complexes cis-[RuCl(2)(L)(kappa(3)-N,N,N-(R,R)-Ph-pybox] [L = PPh(3) (1 b), PiPr(3) (6 b)]. No trans-cis isomerisation of complexes 1 a-8 a has been observed. Complexes 1 a-8 a, 1 b, 6 b together with the analogous trans-[RuCl(2)[P(OMe)(3)][kappa(3)-N,N,N-(S,S)-iPr-pybox]] (10 a) and the previously reported trans- and cis-[RuCl(2)(PPh(3))[kappa(3)-N,N,N-(S,S)-iPr-pybox]] (9 a and 9 b, respectively) are active catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone in 2-propanol in the presence of NaOH (ketone/cat/NaOH 500:1:6). cis-Ph-pybox derivatives are the most active catalysts. In particular, cis complexes 1 b and 6 b led to almost quantitative conversions in less than 5 min with a high enantioselectivity (up to 95 %). A variety of aromatic ketones have also been reduced to the corresponding secondary alcohols with very high TOF and ee up to 94 %. The overall catalytic performance seems to be a subtle combination of the steric and/or electronic properties both the phosphines and the ketones. A high TOF (27 300 h(-1)) and excellent ee (94 %) have been found for the reduction of 3-bromoacetophenone with catalyst 6 b. Reductions of alkyl ketones also proceed with high and rapid conversions but low enantioselectivities are achieved.     

Homolysis of the Ln-N (Ln = Yb, Eu) bond. Synthesis, structural characterization and catalytic activity of ytterbium(II) and europium(II) complexes with methoxyethyl functionalized indenyl ligands

The interaction of methoxyethyl functionalized indene compounds (C(9)H(6)-1-R-3-CH(2)CH(2)OMe, R =t-BuNHSiMe(2)(1), Me(3)Si (2), H (3)) with [(Me(3)Si)(2)N](3)Ln(mu-Cl)Li(THF)(3)(Ln=Yb (4), Eu (5)) produced a series of new ytterbium(II) and europium(II) complexes via tandem silylamine elimination/homolysis of the Ln-N (Ln=Yb, Eu) bond. Treatment of the lanthanide(III) amides [(Me(3)Si)(2)N](3)Ln(mu-Cl)Li(THF)(3)(Ln=Yb (4), Eu (5) with 2 equiv. of, 1,2 and 3, respectively, produced, after workup, the ytterbium(II) complexes [eta5:eta1-Me(2)Si(MeOCH(2)CH(2)C(9)H(5))(NHBu-t)](2)Yb(II) (6), (eta5:eta1-MeOCH(2)CH(2)C(9)H(5)SiMe(3))(2)Yb(II) (7), (eta5:eta1-MeOCH(2)CH(2)C(9)H(6))(2)Yb(II)(8) and the corresponding europium(II) complexes [eta5:eta1-Me(2)Si(MeOCH(2)CH(2)C(9)H(5))(NHBu-t)](2)Eu(II)(9), (eta5:eta1-MeOCH(2)CH(2)C(9)H(5)SiMe(3))(2)Eu(II)(10) and (eta5:eta1-MeOCH(2)CH(2)C(9)H(6))(2)Eu(II)(11) in moderate to good yield. In contrast, interaction of the corresponding indene compounds 1, 2 or 3 with the lanthanide amides [(Me(3)Si)(2)N](3)Ln (Ln = Yb, Eu) was not observed, while addition of 0.5 equiv. of anhydrous LiCl to the corresponding reaction mixture produced, after workup, the corresponding ytterbium(II) or europium(II) complexes. All the new compounds were fully characterized by spectroscopic and elemental analyses. The structures of complexes, and were determined by single-crystal X-ray analyses. The catalytic activity of all the ytterbium(II) and europium(II) complexes on MMA polymerization was examined. It was found that all the ytterbium(II) and europium(II) complexes can function as single-component MMA polymerization catalysts. The temperature, solvent and ligand effects on the catalytic activity were studied.     

Asymmetric Catalysis by Architectural and Functional Molecular Engineering: Practical Chemo- and Stereoselective Hydrogenation of Ketones

Hydrogenation is a core technology in chemical synthesis. High rates and selectivities are attainable only by the coordination of structurally well-designed catalysts and suitable reaction conditions. The newly devised [RuCl(2)(phosphane)(2)(1,2-diamine)] complexes are excellent precatalysts for homogeneous hydrogenation of simple ketones which lack any functionality capable of interacting with the metal center. This catalyst system allows for the preferential reduction of a C=O function over a coexisting C=C linkage in a 2-propanol solution containing an alkaline base. The hydrogenation tolerates many substituents including F, Cl, Br, I, CF(3), OCH(3), OCH(2)C(6)H(5), COOCH(CH(3))(2), NO(2), NH(2), and NRCOR as well as various electron-rich and -deficient heterocycles. Furthermore, stereoselectivity is easily controlled by the electronic and steric properties (bulkiness and chirality) of the ligands as well as the reaction conditions. Diastereoselectivities observed in the catalytic hydrogenation of cyclic and acyclic ketones with the standard triphenylphosphane/ethylenediamine combination compare well with the best conventional hydride reductions. The use of appropriate chiral diphosphanes, particularly BINAP compounds, and chiral diamines results in rapid and productive asymmetric hydrogenation of a range of aromatic and heteroaromatic ketones and gives a consistently high enantioselectivity. Certain amino and alkoxy ketones can be used as substrates. Cyclic and acyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones can be converted into chiral allyl alcohols of high enantiomeric purity. Hydrogenation of configurationally labile ketones allows for the dynamic kinetic discrimination of diastereomers, epimers, and enantiomers. This new method shows promise in the practical synthesis of a wide variety of chiral alcohols from achiral and chiral ketone substrates. Its versatility is manifested by the asymmetric synthesis of some biologically significant chiral compounds. The high rate and carbonyl selectivity are based on nonclassical metal-ligand bifunctional catalysis involving an 18-electron amino ruthenium hydride complex and a 16-electron amido ruthenium species.     

Is it homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysis? Compelling evidence for both types of catalysts derived from [Rh(eta5-C5Me5)Cl2]2 as a function of temperature and hydrogen pressure

Addressed herein is the 20+ year-old question of whether the true benzene and cyclohexene hydrogenation catalysts derived from the organometallic precursor [Rh(eta5-C5Me5)Cl2]2, 1, are homogeneous or heterogeneous. The methodology employed is that developed earlier (Lin, Y.; Finke, R. G. Inorg Chem. 1994, 33, 4891, "A More General Approach to Distinguishing Homogeneous from Heterogeneous Catalysis..."). The kinetic evidence especially, but also the metal product (nanoclusters plus bulk metal), Hg0 poisoning and other experiments, provide compelling evidence that Rh0 nanoclusters are the true benzene hydrogenation heterogeneous catalyst derived from [Rh(eta5-C5Me5)Cl2]2, 1, at the required more vigorous conditions of 50-100 degrees C and 50 atm H2. However, the same methods reveal that the cyclohexene hydrogenation catalyst derived from 1 at the milder conditions of 22 degrees C and 3.7 atm H2 is a nonnanocluster, homogeneous catalyst, most likely the previously identified complex, [Rh(eta5-C5Me5)(H)2(solvent)] (Gill, D. S.; White, C.; Maitlis, P. M J. C. S. Dalton Trans. 1978, 617). In short, the present results solve the two-decade-old problem of identifying the true benzene and cyclohexene hydrogenation catalysts derived from [Rh(eta5-C5Me5)Cl2]2. Perhaps most significant is the demonstration that the methodology employed has the ability to identify both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts from the same catalyst precursor.     

Mechanistic investigation of CO2 hydrogenation by Ru(II) and Ir(III) aqua complexes under acidic conditions: two catalytic systems differing in the nature of the rate determining step

Ruthenium aqua complexes [(eta(6)-C(6)Me(6))Ru(II)(L)(OH(2))](2+) {L = bpy (1) and 4,4'-OMe-bpy (2), bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, 4,4'-OMe-bpy = 4,4'-dimethoxy-2,2'-bipyridine} and iridium aqua complexes [Cp*Ir(III)(L)(OH(2))](2+) {Cp* = eta(5)-C(5)Me(5), L = bpy (5) and 4,4'-OMe-bpy (6)} act as catalysts for hydrogenation of CO(2) into HCOOH at pH 3.0 in H(2)O. The active hydride catalysts cannot be observed in the hydrogenation of CO(2) with the ruthenium complexes, whereas the active hydride catalysts, [Cp*Ir(III)(L)(H)](+) {L = bpy (7) and 4,4'-OMe-bpy (8)}, have successfully been isolated after the hydrogenation of CO(2) with the iridium complexes. The key to the success of the isolation of the active hydride catalysts is the change in the rate-determining step in the catalytic hydrogenation of CO(2) from the formation of the active hydride catalysts, [(eta(6)-C(6)Me(6))Ru(II)(L)(H)](+), to the reactions of [Cp*Ir(III)(L)(H)](+) with CO(2), as indicated by the kinetic studies.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation of tert-alkyl ketones

A combined system of RuCl2(tolbinap)(pica) and an alkaline or organic phosphazene base catalyzes asymmetric hydrogenation of sterically congested tert-alkyl ketones (TolBINAP = 2,2'-bis(di-4-tolylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl, PICA = alpha-picolylamine). Hydrogenation with RuH(eta1-BH4)(tolbinap)(pica) does not require any strong base. Alcoholic solvents strongly affect the catalytic efficiency. The reaction proceeds smoothly in ethanol under 1-20 atm of H2 and at room temperature with a substrate to catalyst molar ratio of up to 100 000. Various aliphatic, aromatic, heteroaromatic, and olefinic tert-alkyl ketones are convertible to the corresponding chiral carbinols in high enantiomeric purity. Olefinic and heteroaromatic functions are left intact. Certain cyclic ketones are also usable. The mode of enantioface selection is consistent and predictable.     

Chiral bisphosphinite metalloligands derived from a P-chiral secondary phosphine oxide

Interaction of PdCl(2)(MeCN)(2) with 2 equiv of (S(P))-(t)BuPhP(O)H (1H) followed by treatment with Et(3)N gave [Pd((1)(2)H)](2)(micro-Cl)(2) (2). Reaction of 2 with Na[S(2)CNEt(2)] or K[N(PPh(2)S)(2)] afforded Pd[(1)(2)H](S(2)CNEt(2)) (3) or Pd[(1)(2)H)[N(PPh(2)S)(2)] (4), respectively. Treatment of 3 with V(O)(acac)(2) (acac = acetylacetonate) and CuSO(4) in the presence of Et(3)N afforded bimetallic complexes V(O)[Pd(1)(2)(S(2)CNEt(2))](2) (5) or Cu[Pd(1)(2)(S(2)CNEt(2))](2) (6), respectively. X-ray crystallography established the S(P) configuration for the phosphinous acid ligands in 3 and 6, indicating that 1H binds to Pd(II) with retention of configuration at phosphorus. The geometry around Cu in 6 is approximately square planar with the average Cu-O distance of 1.915(3) A. Treatment of 2 with HBF(4) gave the BF(2)-capped compound [Pd((1)(2)BF(2))](2)(micro-Cl)(2) (7). The solid-state structure of 7 containing a PdP(2)O(2)B metallacycle has been determined. Chloride abstraction of 7 with AgBF(4) in acetone/water afforded the aqua compound [Pd((1)(2)BF(2))(H(2)O)(2)][BF(4)] (8) that reacted with [NH(4)](2)[WS(4)] to give [Pd((1)(2)BF(2))(2)](2)[micro-WS(4)] (9). The average Pd-S and W-S distances in 9 are 2.385(3) and 2.189(3) A, respectively. Treatment of [(eta(6)-p-cymene)RuCl(2)](2) with 1H afforded the phosphinous acid adduct (eta(6)-p-cymene)RuCl(2)(1H) (10). Reduction of [CpRuCl(2)](x)() (Cp = eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)) with Zn followed by treatment with 1H resulted in the formation of the Zn(II) phosphinate complex [(CpRu(eta(6)-C(6)H(5)))(t)BuPO(2))](2)(ZnCl(2))(2) (11) that contains a Zn(2)O(4)P(2) eight-membered ring.     

Enantioselective hydrogenation of aromatic ketones catalyzed by Ru complexes of Goodwin-Lions-type sp2N/sp3N hybrid ligands R-BINAN-R'-Py

Goodwin-Lions-type sp2N/sp3N hybrid ligands R-BINAN-R'-Py possessing a C2 axis binaphthyl skeleton have been designed and synthesized. Combination of the new non-phosphine ligand with Ru(pi-CH2C(CH3)CH2)2(cod) has been revealed to catalyze the hydrogenation of aromatic ketones with high enantioselectivity of up to 99% ee. The reaction proceeds essentially without the need for any bases, but the reactivity is enhanced by the addition of KOt-C4H9 attaining an S/C ratio of up to 10 000. The success should expand the range of possibilities in designing catalysts not only for hydrogenation but also for many other reactions.     

Mechanism of palladium-catalyzed diene cyclization/hydrosilylation: direct observation of intramolecular carbometalation

The results of kinetic, deuterium-labeling, and low-temperature NMR studies have established a mechanism for the palladium-catalyzed cyclization/hydrosilylation of dimethyl diallylmalonate (1) with triethylsilane involving rapid, irreversible conversion of the palladium silyl complex [(phen)Pd(SiEt(3))(NCAr)](+) [BAr(4)](-) [Ar = 3,5-C(6)H(3)(CF(3))(2)] (4b) and 1 to the palladium 5-hexenyl chelate complex [(phen)Pd[eta(1),eta(2)-CH(CH(2)SiEt(3))CH(2)C(CO(2)Me)(2)CH(2)CH=CH(2)]](+) [BAr(4)](-) (5), followed by intramolecular carbometalation of 5 to form the palladium cyclopentylmethyl complex trans-[(phen)Pd[CH2CHCH2C(CO2Me)2CH2CHCH2SiEt3](NCAr)]+ [BAr4]- (6), and associative silylation of 6 to release 3 and regenerate 4b.