Synthesis of a chiral N-heterocyclic carbene bearing a m-terphenyl-based phosphate moiety as an anionic N-substituent and its application to copper-catalyzed enantioselective boron conjugate additions

A chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand 1a bearing a m-terphenyl-based phosphate moiety as an anionic N-substituent has been developed. A rhodium complex [Rh(1a)(cod)]₂ was synthesized and its structure was characterized by NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopy. This ligand gave high enantioselectivities in copper-catalyzed enantioselective boron conjugate additions to an α,β-unsaturated ester to give a chiral β-boryl ester.     

Catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of indoles using a rhodium complex with a chiral bisphosphine ligand PhTRAP

Highly enantioselective hydrogenation of N-protected indoles was successfully developed by use of the rhodium catalyst generated in situ from [Rh(nbd)₂]SbF₆ and the chiral bisphosphine PhTRAP, which can form a trans-chelate complex with a transition metal atom. The PhTRAP–rhodium catalyst required a base (e.g., Cs₂CO₃) for the achievement of high enantioselectivity. Various 2-substituted N-acetylindoles were converted into the corresponding chiral indolines with up to 95% ee. The hydrogenations of 3-substituted N-tosylindoles yielded indolines possessing a stereogenic center at the 3-position with high enantiomeric excesses (up to 98% ee).     

Mono- and di-nuclear rhodium complexes of meso- and dl-1,1,4,7,10,10-hexaphenyl-1,4,7,10-tetraphosphadecane. Stereochemical control of reactivity and complexation geometry

Thermolysis of meso- and dl-1,1,4,7,10,10-hexaphenyl-1,4,7,10-tetraphosphadecane (200°C, 10 min) followed by fractional crystallisation from ethanol/dichloromethane gives two sharp-melting diastereomers. The higher melting compound, herein shown to be the meso-isomer, reacts with 1,5-cyclooctadiene-2,4-pentanedionatorhodium and HBF₄ to give the dinuclear rhodium complex (3). This underwent hydrogenation slowly in methanol solution with deposition of rhodium metal and formation of a mononuclear complex (5) with four coordinated phosphorus nuclei, also obtained by independent synthesis. This proved to be highly susceptible to oxidation, forming a dioxygen complex (6) with P(1) and P(3) mutually trans. The lower melting dl-isomer likewise formed a dinuclear rhodium complex (4) on reaction with 1,5-cyclooctadiene-2,4-pentanedionatorhodium and HBF₄. This reacted more rapidly than complex 3 with hydrogen forming a mononuclear dihydride (7) and metallic rhodium. In the presence of cyclohexene, a tetracoordinate phosphinerhodium complex (9) was formed. This reacted with oxygen to give dioxygen complex (10), although here P(1) and P(4) are mutually trans, and with carbon monoxide to give a five-coordinate monocarbonyl (11).The corresponding dirhodium bis-cyclooctadiene complex of 1,1,4,8,11,11-hexaphenyl-1,4,8,11-tetraphosphaundecane (13) (a single diastereomer of unknown stereochemistry), reacted with hydrogen in methanol to form a dinuclear solvate without reductive degradation.     

Structural evolution of a recoverable rhodium hydrogenation catalyst

A recoverable, water soluble, hydrogenation catalyst was synthesized by reacting poly-N-isopropylacrylamide containing a terminal amino group (H₂N-CH₂CH₂-S-pNIPAAm) with [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂ in organic solvents to form the square planar rhodium complex (Rh(CO)₂Cl(H₂N-CH₂CH₂-S-pNIPAAm)). The catalyst-ligand structure was characterized using in situ multinuclear NMR, XAFS and IR spectroscopic methods. Model complexes containing glycine (H₂NCH₂COOH), cysteamine (H₂NCH₂CH₂SH) and methionine methyl ester (H₂NCH(CH₂CH₂SCH₃)COOCH₃) ligands were studied to aid in the interpretation of the coordination sphere of the rhodium catalyst. The spectroscopic data revealed a switch in ligation from the amine bound (Rh-NH₂-CH₂CH₂-S-pNIPAAm) to the thioether bound (Rh-S(-CH₂CH₂NH₂)(-pNIPAAm)) rhodium when the complex was dissolved in water. The evolution of the structure of the rhodium complex dissolved in water was followed by XAFS. The structure changed from the expected monomeric complex to form a rhodium cluster of up to four rhodium atoms containing one SRR′ ligand and one CO ligand per rhodium center. No metallic rhodium was observed during this transformation. The rhodium-rhodium interactions were disrupted when an alkene (3-butenol) was added to the aqueous solution. The kinetics of the hydrogenation reaction were measured using a novel high-pressure flow-through NMR system and the catalyst was found to have a TOF of 3000/Rh/h at 25 °C for the hydrogenation of 3-butenol in water.     

Asymmetric 1,4-addition of alkenylzirconium reagents to α,β-unsaturated ketones catalyzed by chiral rhodium complexes

Highly enantioselective 1,4-addition of alkenylzirconocene chlorides to α,β-enones was found to be catalyzed by a chiral rhodium complex generated from [Rh(cod)(MeCN)₂]BF₄ and (S)-BINAP. The reaction can be applied to either cyclic or acyclic enones and the optical yield was up to 99% ee. The reaction mechanism would involve the transmetalation between the alkenylzirconocene chloride and the rhodium complex to give the alkenylrhodium species as a key intermediate.     

Bridge functionalized bis-N-heterocyclic carbene rhodium(I) complexes and their application in catalytic hydrosilylation

A series of chelating bridge functionalized bis-N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) complexes of rhodium (I) were prepared by reacting the corresponding imidazolium salts with [Rh(COD)Cl]₂ in an in-situ reaction. For the N-methyl substituted complex with a PF₆-anion an X-ray crystal structure was exemplary obtained. All complexes were spectroscopically characterized and tested for the hydrosilylation of acetophenone.     

Rhodium(III), palladium(II), and platinum(II) complexes with 2-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)-N-methylhydrazinecarbothioamide: Syntheses,structures, and spectral characteristics

The syntheses and spectral (IR, UV-VIS, XPS, and ¹H and ¹³C NMR) characteristics of the rhodium(III), palladium(II), and platinum(II) complexes with 2-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)-N-methylhydrazinecarbothioamide (HBMHCTA) are described. The coordination of HBMHCTA to the central metal ion and its intraligand rearrangement in the complex formation of rhodium(III) ions are studied. The structure of the mixed-ligand complex [Pd(H₂L)PPh₃] is determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Nitrous Oxide as a Hydrogen Acceptor for the Dehydrogenative Coupling of Alcohols

The oxidation of alcohols with N₂O as the hydrogen acceptor was achieved with low catalyst loadings of a rhodium complex that features a cooperative bis(olefin)amido ligand under mild conditions. Two different methods enable the formation of either the corresponding carboxylic acid or the ester. N₂ and water are the only by‐products. Mechanistic studies supported by DFT calculations suggest that the oxygen atom of N₂O is transferred to the metal center by insertion into the Rh?H bond of a rhodium amino hydride species, generating a rhodium hydroxy complex as a key intermediate.     

Structure of di-μ-N-Phenylanthranilato-di-1, 5-cyclooctadiene dirhodium(I)

The reaction of [RhCl(COD)]₂ (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) with sodium N-phenylanthranilate leads to the formation of the new crystalline rhodium(I) complex [RhFA(COD)]₂ (FA = N-phenylanthranilate anion). The compound is a dimer with two N-phenylanthranilate ions bridging and COD ligands terminally bonded to rhodium with an Rh … Rh distance equal to 3.424(3) Å. Strong intramolecular hydrogen bonding occurs between the hydrogen of the NH group and the closest carbonyl oxygen in the FA ligands. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, with a = 11.246(8), b = 14.999(9), c = 21.82(2) Å, β = 105.11(6)°. The structure was solved by the heavy-atom method and refined by least squares to R = 0.035 for 4260 diffractometer data.     

Rhodium-catalyzed addition of arylstannanes to carbon-heteroatom double bond

The addition of arylstannanes to the carbon-heteroatom double bond in the presence of a catalytic amount of a cationic rhodium complex ([Rh(cod)(MeCN)₂]BF₄) was examined. The reactions of aldehydes, α-dicarbonyl compounds, and N-substituted aldimines with the arylstannanes gave corresponding alcohols, α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds, and amines, respectively. An arylrhodium complex generated by the transmetalation with the arylstannane was probably the active catalytic species.     

Hydroformylation activity of multinuclear rhodium complexes coordinated to dendritic iminopyridyl and iminophosphine scaffolds

The synthesis of poly(propyleneimine)-iminopyridyl and iminophosphine rhodium(I) metallodendrimers, with rhodium coordinated to monodentate (N-donor) and chelating, heterobidentate (P,N) moieties respectively located on the periphery, has been accomplished in order to evaluate their potential as hydroformylation catalysts. Related mononuclear complexes were obtained in a similar manner to model the multinuclear complexes. The multinuclear rhodium(I) complexes were found to be effective catalyst precursors in the hydroformylation of 1-octene, achieving higher conversions, faster reaction rates and slightly enhanced catalytic activity when compared with analogous mononuclear rhodium complexes. Hydroformylation reactions using the tetra- and octanuclear rhodium complexes generally show a chemoselective formation of aldehydes, together with a small amount of isomerisation products.     

Synthesis of B-trisubstituted borazines via the rhodium-catalyzed hydroboration of alkenes with N,N′,N″-trimethyl or N,N′,N″-triethylborazine

Hydroboration of terminal and internal alkenes with N,N′,N″-trimethyl- and N,N′,N″-triethylborazine was carried out at 50 °C in the presence of a rhodium(I) catalyst. Addition of dppb or DPEphos (1 equiv.) to RhH(CO)(PPh₃)₃ gave the best catalyst for hydroboration of ethylene at 50 °C, resulting in a quantitative yield of B,B′,B″-triethyl-N,N′,N″-trimethylborazine. On the other hand, a complex prepared from (t-Bu)₃P (4 equiv.) and [Rh(coe)₂Cl]₂ gave the best yield for hydroboration of terminal or internal alkenes.     

Control of chemo- and regio-selectivity in rhodium catalysed reactions of unsaturated amines with H2CO

The rhodium catalysed reactions of N-allyl- and N-butenyl-1,3-diaminopropanes give single products arising from exclusive hydroformylation at the terminal carbon when the hindered bisphosphite ligand, BIPHEPHOS is used. Reactions using a high carbon monoxide: hydrogen ratio (9:1) and triphenylphosphine as ligand give predominantly lactams arising from carbonylation but with poor control of regioselectivity.     

NH3 Synthesis in the N2/H2 Reaction System using Cooperative Molecular Tungsten/Rhodium Catalysis in Ionic Hydrogenation: A DFT Study

The ionic hydrogenation of N₂ with H₂ to give NH₃ is investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT) computations using a cooperatively acting catalyst system. In this system, N₂ binds to a neutral tungsten pincer complex of the type [(PNP)W(N₂)₃] (PNP=pincer ligand) and is reduced to NH₃. The protons and hydride centers necessary for the reduction are delivered by heterolytic cleavage of H₂ between the N₂–tungsten complex and the cationic rhodium complex [Cp*Rh{2‐(2‐pyridyl)phenyl}(CH₃CN)]⁺. Successive transfer of protons and hydrides to the bound N₂, as well as all N_xH_y units that occur during the reaction, enable the computation of closed catalytic cycles in the gas and in the solvent phase. By optimizing the pincer ligands of the tungsten complex, energy spans as low as 39.3 kcal mol^?1 could be obtained, which is unprecedented in molecular catalysis for the N₂/H₂ reaction system.     

Preparation and characterization of a new SNO ligand derived from ethanebis(thioamide) and 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and its Cu(II), Co(II), and Rh(III) metal complexes

A new Schiff base N-[(E)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]-N’-[(Z)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]ethanebis(thioamide) (L_C) containing sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen atoms has been synthesized by condensation of ethanebis(thioamide) with 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde. Metal complexes were synthesized by reaction of the new ligand with copper(II) and cobalt(II) as nitrate salts and with rhodium(III) as chloride salt, using hot absolute ethanol as solvent. All the new compounds were characterized by use of different physicochemical techniques including UV–visible spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility, IR spectroscopy, molar conductance, and determination of metal content. It is proposed the paramagnetic copper and cobalt complexes adopt octahedral geometry whereas the diamagnetic rhodium complex has octahedral geometry.     

Rhodium catalyzed synthesis of isoindolinones via C-H activation of N-benzoylsulfonamides

An efficient approach to a wide range of isoindolinones, including 3-monosubstituted and 3,3-disubstituted isoindolinones, from the annulation of N-benzoylsulfonamides with olefins and diazoacetate has been developed. The transformation is broadly compatible with both terminal and internal olefins. Moreover, diazoacetate is for the first time incorporated into an amide-directed C-H functionalization reaction. Specifically, the rhodium complex [{RhCl₂Cp*}₂] enables the in situ dimerization of diazoacetate in addition to its role in catalyzing C-H functionalization/cross-coupling.     

Symmetrically bridged bis-N-heterocyclic carbene rhodium (I) complexes and their catalytic application for transfer hydrogenation reaction

Bridged rhodium(I) bis(NHC) complexes of the formula [bis-(NHC)Rh(I)PF₆] (1c-5c) were synthesized and applied as catalysts in the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone in 2-propanol. The activity of the rhodium(I) complexes largely depends on the nature of the N-substituents and the applied bases. The synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR-spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The structure of complex 2c was exemplary determined by X-ray analysis.     

Novel rhodium complexes with ferrocene-based N-heterocylic carbenes: Synthesis,structure and catalysis

The synthesis of a chiral N-heterocyclic carbene with an oxazolinyl ferrocenyl substituent is reported. The X-ray crystal structure of a rhodium complex reveals the chelating properties of the ligand, and catalysis studies demonstrate the capability of the rhodium complexes to catalyze hydrosilylations of ketones.     

Chiral Bis(imidazolidine)‐Derived NCN Pincer Rh Complex for Catalytic Asymmetric Mannich Reaction of Malononitrile with N‐Boc Imines

Chiral bis(imidazolidine)‐derived NCN–rhodium complexes ([PhBidine‐RhX₂] and [tBu‐PhBidine‐RhX₂]) were prepared by a C?H insertion method, and the structures were unequivocally determined by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. The [tBu‐PhBidine‐Rh(OAc)₂] complex smoothly catalyzed an asymmetric Mannich reaction of malononitrile with N‐Boc imines to give products in up to 94 % ee, which are useful for the synthesis of chiral α‐amino acids.     

[RhIII(Cp*)]‐Catalyzed ortho‐Selective Direct C(sp2)H Bond Amidation/Amination of Benzoic Acids by N‐Chlorocarbamates and N‐Chloromorpholines. A Versatile Synthesis of Functionalized Anthranilic Acids

A Rh^III‐catalyzed direct ortho‐C?H amidation/amination of benzoic acids with N‐chlorocarbamates/N‐chloromorpholines was achieved, giving anthranilic acids in up to 85 % yields with excellent ortho‐selectivity and functional‐group tolerance. Successful benzoic acid aminations were achieved with carbamates bearing various amide groups including NHCO₂Me, NHCbz, and NHTroc (Cbz=carbobenzyloxy; Troc=trichloroethylchloroformate), as well as secondary amines, such as morpholines, piperizines, and piperidines, furnishing highly functionalized anthranilic acids. A stoichiometric reaction of a cyclometallated rhodium(III) complex of benzo[h]quinoline with a silver salt of N‐chlorocarbamate afforded an amido–rhodium(III) complex, which was isolated and structurally characterized by X‐ray crystallography. This finding confirmed that the C?N bond formation results from the cross‐coupling of N‐chlorocarbamate with the aryl–rhodium(III) complex. Yet, the mechanistic details regarding the C?N bond formation remain unclear; pathways involving 1,2‐aryl migration and rhodium(V)– nitrene are plausible.