Theoretical study on the reaction mechanism of Pd(OAc)2-catalyzed trifluoroethylation: Role of additive CF3COOH

The mechanism of Pd(OAc)₂-catalyzed trifluoroethylation of aromatic systems is explored using the density function theory (DFT) computations. The calculation results indicate that the whole catalytic cycle involves a coordinated process of catalyst Pd(OAc)₂ with acetanilide 1a, a C–H bond activation and a two-step migration of CF₃CH₂– group. The interesting role of additive (CF₃COOH) is that it can react with substrate 2a (mesityl(trifluoroethyl)iodonium triflate) to form an active species mesityl(trifluoroethyl)iodonium trifluoroacetate 2a′. 2a′ can assist the C–H activation to decrease the rate-limiting free energy barrier of the catalytic reaction by changing the rate-limiting step from the transferring process of CF₃CH₂– group to the C–H bond activation.     

Reaction of Methyl Diazoacetate with Amines Catalyzed by Ru<Subscript>2</Subscript>(OAc)<Subscript>4</Subscript>Cl

Reactions of primary and secondary amines with methyl diazoacetate in the presence of Ru₂(OAc)₄Cl gave the corresponding N-substituted glycine methyl esters in almost quantitative yield. Catalytic decomposition of methyl diazoacetate generates methoxycarbonylcarbene which is inserted into the N-H bond of amines with high regioselectivity.     

Pd(OAc)2-catalyzed oxidative coupling reaction of benzenes with olefins in the presence of molybdovanadophosphoric acid under atmospheric dioxygen and air

The direct oxidative coupling reaction of benzenes with alkenes bearing an electron-withdrawing group was successfully achieved by the use of Pd(OAc)(2)/molybdovanadophosphoric acid (HPMoV) as the key catalyst under O(2) or air atmosphere. Thus, the reaction of benzene with ethyl acrylate under air (1 atm) assisted by Pd(OAc)(2)/HPMoV afforded ethyl cinnamate as a major product in satisfactory yield (74%). This catalytic system could be extended to the coupling reactions between various substituted benzenes and alkenes through the direct aromatic C-H bond activation. In the reaction of benzene with ethyl acrylate under O(2) (1 atm), the best turn-over number (TON) of Pd(OAc)(2) reached was 121. This reaction provides a green route to cinnamate derivatives, which are important precursors of a variety of pharmaceuticals.     

Preparation of Pd/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>@silicalite-1 core-shell beads and their application to hydrogenation reactions

Core-shell composite beads comprising a Pd-loaded Al₂O₃ core and a shell of inter-grown silicalite-1 (siliceous ZSM-5) crystals were synthesised. The incompatibility between the Pd/Al₂O₃ core and the zeolite shell was circumvented by a layer-by-layer self-assembly of polyelectrolyte to adsorb nanosized silicalite-1 seeds onto the core surface, followed by a secondary solvo-thermal treatment to form the continuous and well-intergrown silicalite-1 shell. The thickness of the outer zeolite shell could be tuned by monitoring the secondary growth time. When employed as catalyst for the hydrogenation reaction of alkenes to explore its full potential use, the Pd/Al₂O₃@silicalite-1 core-shell catalyst exhibited excellent size-selectivity, poison-resistance and leaching-proof properties. Such a catalyst@zeolite core-shell structure is expected to find promising applications in heterogeneous catalysis and adsorption.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Pyrazole‐Directed sp3 C−H Bond Arylation for the Synthesis of β‐Phenethylamines

We have developed a method for palladium‐catalyzed, pyrazole‐directed sp³ C−H bond arylation by aryl iodides. The reaction employs a Pd(OAc)₂ catalyst at 5–10 mol % loading and silver(I) oxide as a halide‐removal agent, and it proceeds in acetic acid or acetic acid/hexafluoroisopropanol solvent. Ozonolysis of the pyrazole moiety affords pharmaceutically important β‐phenethylamines.     

Imidazole‐coordinated monodentate NHC–Pd(II) complex derived from proline and its application to the coupling reaction of arylboronic acids with carboxylic acid anhydrides in water at room temperature

Cleavage of a C N bond of imidazolium salt derived from N‐phenyl‐substituted proline was observed in this laboratory. A novel imidazole‐coordinated monodentate NHC–Pd(II) complex 5 was obtained as the sole product in good yield in the reaction of imidazolium salt 4 with Pd(OAc)₂ in refluxing THF. The structure of complex 5 was determined unambiguously by an X‐ray diffraction. The complex was found to be a good catalyst in the cross‐coupling reaction of arylboronic acids with carboxylic acid anhydrides in water at room temperature. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pd(II)-catalyzed monoarylation of 2-phenylpyridine N-oxide with iodobenzene in water

A Pd(II)-catalyzed activation and arylation of C(sp²)–H bond directed by pyridine N-oxide in water is achieved with high regioselectivity to form monoarylated products in yields up to 91%. The wide substrate scope highlights the flexibility of the catalyst. The reaction mechanism was proposed and the application of this method was taken as an example by the synthesis of COX-2 inhibitor analog.     

A novel highly regio- and diastereoselective haloamination of alkenes catalyzed by divalent palladium

From the readily available allylic alcohols or allylic amines, a novel Pd(II)-CuCl₂-catalyzed haloamination reaction of alkenes with high chemo-, regio-, and diastereo-selectivity was developed. The reaction proceeds through trans-aminopalladation of alkenes, followed by oxidative cleavage of the carbon-palladium bond with retention of configuration.     

Pd-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine with arenes

A facile method for direct Pd(OAc)₂-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of unactivated imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine with simple arenes has been developed. The reaction shows good reaction efficiency, high regioselectivity, and good functional-group compatibility. This approach provides a useful protocol for the preparation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine–arene structure of interest in biological and pharmaceutical materials.     

Pd(OAc)2@SBA‐15/PrEn nanoreactor: a highly active,reusable and selective phosphine‐free catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction in aqueous media

A series of ordered mesoporous organic–inorganic hybrid material was designed by using the amine‐functionalized SBA‐15 (PdX₂@SBA‐15/N_Y, Y = 1, 2) as solid support for palladium complexes. Among them, the Pd(OAc)₂/ethylenediamine complex encapsulated into SBA‐15 (Pd(OAc)₂@SBA‐15/PrEn or Pd(OAc)₂@SBA‐15/PrNHEtNH₂) exhibits higher activity and selectivity toward Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction under aerobic conditions and water solvent mixture. The SBA‐15/PrEn supported palladium pre‐catalyst could be separated easily from reaction products and used repetitively several times, showing its superiority over homogeneous catalysts for industrial and chemical applications. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical investigation of Ni(PMe<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript>-catalyzed intermolecular hydroacylation of alkynes with benzaldehydes

Density functional theory (DFT) was used to investigate the Ni(PMe₃)₄-catalyzed intermolecular hydroacylation of alkynes with benzaldehyde. All intermediates and transition states were optimized completely at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level. The results indicate that oxidative addition of benzaldehyde to the nickel center occurs prior to the coordination of the alkyne. In the five-coordinate Ni(PMe₃)₂(H)(benzoyl)(alkyne) complexes, hydrogen migration occurs prior to C–C bond formation. In the resulting four-coordinate Ni(PMe₃)₂(benzoyl)(alkenyl) complexes, reductive elimination to give the four-coordinate Ni(PMe₃)₂(enone) is more dominant than the carbonyl elimination reaction to the five-coordinate Ni(PMe₃)₂(phenyl)(CO)(alkenyl) complexes. Hence, hydroacylation is more favorable than decarbonylation. The theoretically predicted dominant product is the (E)-α,β-enone, which is consistent with experimental data.     

Study of the Transient Reactive Pd(IV) Intermediate in the Pd(OAc)2‐Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling Reaction System by Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Pd‐catalyzed oxidative coupling reaction was of great importance in the aromatic C? H activation and the formation of new C? O and C? C bonds. Sanford has pioneered practical, directed C? H activation reactions employing Pd(OAc)₂ as catalyst since 2004. However, until now, the speculated reactive Pd(IV) transient intermediates in these reactions have not been isolated or directly detected from reaction solution. Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS/MS) was used to intercept and characterize the reactive Pd(IV) transient intermediates in the solutions of Pd(OAc)₂‐catalyzed oxidative coupling reactions. In this study, the Pd(IV) transient intermediates were detected from the solution of Pd(OAc)₂‐catalyzed oxidative coupling reactions by ESI‐MS and the MS/MS of the intercepted Pd(IV) transient intermediate in reaction system was the same with the synthesized authentic Pd(IV) complex. Our ESI‐MS(/MS) studies confirmed the presence of Pd(IV) reaction transient intermediates. Most interestingly, the MS/MS of Pd(IV) transient intermediates showed the reductive elimination reactivity to Pd(II) complexes with new C? O bond formation into product in gas phase, which was consistent with the proposed reactivity of the Pd(IV) transient intermediates in solution.     

N-Heterocyclic carbenes as ligands in palladium-catalyzed Tsuji–Trost allylic substitution

A Pd(0)-catalyzed allylic substitution (i.e., Tsuji–Trost reaction) using N-heterocyclic carbene as a ligand was investigated. It has been proven that an imidazolium salt 2d having bulky aromatic rings attached to the nitrogens in its imidazol-2-ylidene skeleton is suitable as a ligand precursor and that a Pd₂dba₃–imidazolium salt 2d–Cs₂CO₃ system is highly efficient for producing a Pd–NHC catalyst in this reaction. Allylic substitution using a Pd–NHC complex differed from that using a Pd–phosphine complex as follows: (1) the reaction using a Pd–NHC complex required elevated temperature (50 °C or reflux in THF), (2) allylic carbonates were inert to a Pd–NHC complex, and (3) nitrogen nucleophiles such as sulfonamide and amine did not react with allylic acetate. It was also found that allylic substitution with a soft nucleophile using a Pd–NHC catalyst proceeds via overall retention of configuration to give the product in a stereospecific manner, the stereochemical reaction course obviously being the same as that of the reaction using a Pd–phosphine complex.     

Aluminium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate as an efficient catalyst for the intramolecular hydroalkoxylation of unactivated olefins: experimental and theoretical approaches

The Al(OTf)(3)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of unactivated unsaturated alcohols was studied from experimental and theoretical points of view. A series of cyclic ethers was obtained in excellent yields and regioselectivities. This catalyst system provides one of the most straightforward routes to cyclic ethers with Markovnikov-type regioselectivity under mild conditions. Theoretical and NMR studies were carried out in order to better determine the mechanism of this reaction. The NMR studies were in agreement with preferential complexation of Al(OTf)(3) to the oxygen atom of the unsaturated alcohol, but did not exclude complexation to the double bond of the alcohol. Theoretical calculations indicated strong acidification of the hydroxyl proton when Al(OTf)(3) was complexed to the alcohol oxygen atom. A plausible catalytic cycle for the Al(OTf)(3)-catalyzed intramolecular hydroalkoxylation of unactivated olefins is proposed.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Aerobic Intermolecular Cyclization of Acrylic Acid with 1‐Octene to Afford α‐Methylene‐γ‐butyrolactones: The Remarkable Effect of Continuous Water Removal from the Reaction Mixture and Analysis of the Reaction by Kinetic,ESI‐MS,and XAFS Measurements

Further study of our aerobic intermolecular cyclization of acrylic acid with 1‐octene to afford α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactones, catalyzed by the Pd(OCOCF₃)₂/Cu(OAc)₂ ? H₂O system, has clarified that the accumulation of water generated from oxygen during the reaction causes deactivation of the Cu cocatalyst. This prevents regeneration of the active Pd catalyst and, thus, has a harmful influence on the progress of the cyclization. As a result, both the substrate conversion and product yield are efficiently improved by continuous removal of water from the reaction mixture. Detailed analysis of the kinetic and spectroscopic measurements performed under the condition of continuous water removal demonstrates that the cyclization proceeds in four steps: 1) equilibrium coordination of 1‐octene to the Pd acrylate species, 2) Markovnikov‐type acryloxy palladation of 1‐octene (1,2‐addition), 3) intramolecular carbopalladation, and 4) β‐hydride elimination. Byproduct 2‐acryloxy‐1‐octene is formed by β‐hydride elimination after step 2). These cyclization steps fit the Michaelis–Menten equation well and β‐hydride elimination is considered to be a rate‐limiting step in the formation of the products. Spectroscopic data agree sufficiently with the existence of the intermediates bearing acrylate (Pd? O bond), η³‐C₈H₁₅ (Pd? C bond), or C₁₁H₁₉O₂ (Pd? C bond) moieties on the Pd center as the resting‐state compounds. Furthermore, not only Cu^II, but also Cu^I, species are observed during the reaction time of 2–8 h when the reaction proceeds efficiently. This result suggests that the Cu^II species is partially reduced to the Cu^I species when the active Pd catalytic species are regenerated.     

Study of the Influence Exerted by Zinc Additive on the Structure and Catalytic Properties of Pd/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> Catalysts for Liquid-Phase Hydrogenation of Acetylene

Effect of the phase composition of aluminum oxide [γ- and (δ + θ) phase] and introduction of zinc additives on the catalytic properties of 0.5% Pd/Al₂O₃ systems in the reaction of liquid-phase hydrogenation of acetylene into ethylene under an elevated pressure in a flow-through mode was studied. An increase in the activity of the Pd catalyst upon modification with zinc is only observed in the case of a system supported by the mixed phase of (δ + θ) aluminum oxide. XAFS spectroscopy was used to find that the increase in the activity and selectivity with respect to ethylene (in the presence of carbon monoxide) on the (0.5% Pd–0.62% Zn)/(δ + θ)-Al2O3 catalyst is correlated with the formation of the PdZn intermetallic compound.     

A Useful,Reliable and Safer Protocol for Hydrogenation and the Hydrogenolysis of O‐Benzyl Groups: The In Situ Preparation of an Active Pd0/C Catalyst with Well‐Defined Properties

A simple, highly reproducible protocol for the hydrogenation of alkenes and alkynes and for the hydrogenolysis of O‐benzyl ethers has been developed. The method features the in situ preparation of an active Pd⁰/C catalyst from Pd(OAc)₂ and charcoal, in methanol. The mild reaction conditions (25 °C) and low catalyst loading required (0.025 mol %), as well as the absence of contamination of the product by palladium residues (<4 ppb), make this a sustainable, useful process for organic chemists. Alternatively, the protocol can be carried out under microwave activation, to shorten the reaction times, with cyclohexene as the hydrogen source.     

A Facile Synthesis of Novel Cyclic Esters of γ‐Keto Acid Derivatives by Heck Coupling Reaction

γ‐Keto acids and esters are highly useful compounds in organic synthesis, because a number of five‐membered carbocycles and various other heterocycles can be readily obtained from them. A number of γ‐keto acids derivatives have been synthesized with high yield by Heck coupling reaction with different alkenes using Pd(OAc)₂ as catalyst in dioxane solvent. The obtained products were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, proton NMR, and mass spectral studies.     

Mn(OAc)3-promoted sulfur-directed addition of an active methylene compound to alkenes

Various alkenes substituted at the 1,2-positions by phenyl, thiophene and furan rings were reacted with 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxopropanenitrile in the presence of Mn(OAc)₃·2H₂O. The exact structure and configuration of the dihydrofuran derivatives formed were determined. In all cases only one regioisomer was formed. The observed regioselectivity was explained on the basis of the formation of a complex between Mn(OAc)₃, alkene, and 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxopropanenitrile, which directs the mode of the addition to the double bond.     

Palladium clusters Pd<Subscript>4</Subscript>(SR)<Subscript>4</Subscript>(OAc)<Subscript>4</Subscript> and Pd<Subscript>6</Subscript>(SR)<Subscript>12</Subscript> (R = Bu,Ph): Structure and properties

The structures of the Pd₄(SBu)₄(OAc)₄ (I) and Pd₆ (SBu)₁₂ (II) palladium clusters are determined by the X-ray diffraction method. For cluster I: a = 8.650(2), b = 12.314(2), c = 17.659(4) Å, α = 78.03(3)°, β = 86.71(2)°, γ = 78.13(3)°, V = 1800.8(7) ų, ρcalcd = 1.878 g/cm³, space group P \(\bar 1\), Z = 4, N = 3403, R = 0.0468; for structure II: a = 10.748(2), b = 12.840(3), c = 15.233(3) Å, α = 65.31(3)°, β = 70.10(3)°, γ = 72.91(3)°, V = 1767.4(6) ų, ρ calcd = 1.605 g/cm³, space group P \(\bar 1\), Z = 1, N = 3498, R = 0.0729. In cluster I, four Pd atoms form a planar cycle. The neighboring Pd atoms are bound by two acetate or two mercaptide bridges (Pd…Pd 2.95–3.23 Å, Pd…Pd angles 87.15°–92.85°). In cluster II, the Pd atoms form a planar six-membered cycle with Pd···Pd distances of 3.09–3.14 Å, the PdPdPd angles being 118.95°–120.80°. The Pd atoms are linked in pairs by two mercaptide bridges. The formation of clusters I and II in solution is proved by IR spectroscopy and calorimetry. Analogous clusters are formed in solution upon the reaction of palladium(II) diacetate with thiophenol.