Pyrene: hydrogenation, hydrogen evolution, and π-band model

We present a theoretical investigation of the hydrogenation of pyrene and of the subsequent molecular hydrogen evolution. Using density functional theory (DFT) at the GGA-PBE level, the chemical binding of atomic hydrogen to pyrene is found to be exothermic by up to 1.6 eV with a strong site dependence. The edge C atoms are found most reactive. The barrier for the formation of the hydrogen-pyrene bond is small, down to 0.06 eV. A second hydrogen binds barrierless at many sites. The most stable structure of dihydrogenpyrene is more stable by 0.64 eV than pyrene plus a molecular hydrogen molecule and a large barrier of 3.7 eV for the molecular hydrogen evolution is found. Using a simple tight-binding model we demonstrate that the projected density of π-states can be used to predict the most stable binding sites for hydrogen atoms and the model is used to investigate the most favorable binding sites on more hydrogenated pyrene molecules and on coronene. Some of the DFT calculations were complemented with hybrid-DFT (PBE0) showing a general agreement between the DFT and hybrid-DFT results.     

Synthesis and application in enantioselective hydrogenation of new free and chromium complexed aminophosphine–phosphinite ligands

A straightforward synthesis of new free and Cr(CO)₃ complexed AMPP ligands (4–7) is described starting from (S)-indoline-2-carboxylic acid. The ligands were applied successfully in the asymmetric hydrogenation of α-functionalized ketones i.e. a ketolactone 8, a ketoamide 9 and an aminoketone 10 leading to the corresponding optically active alcohols in 99, 97, and 99% ee respectively.     

Catalytic activity of the VIII Group metals in the hydrogenation and isomerization of α- and β-pinenes

The kinetic regularities of the liquid-phase hydrogenation and isomerization of α- and β-pinenes over the Pd/C, Ru/C, Rh/C, Pt/C, and Ir/C catalysts were studied at temperatures ranging from 20 to 100 °C and at hydrogen pressures of 1–11 bar using n-octane as the solvent. The hydrogenation and isomerization of α- and β-pinenes occur simultaneously on the Ru/C, Rh/C, Pt/C, and Ir/C catalysts, and the reaction mixture contains the products of double bond hydrogenation, viz., cis- and trans-pinanes. The Ru, Rh, and Pd metals have a higher catalytic activity in β-pinene isomerization than Ir and Pt. Among the VIII Group metals studied, the Pd-based catalyst has the highest catalytic activity in double bond isomerization of α- and β-pinenes. The general scheme of the mechanism of hydrogenation and isomerization of α- and β-pinenes on the Pd/C catalyst was proposed.     

Deprotonation of the peptide NH groups and diastereoselective hydrogenation of N-acetyl-α,-dehydrodipeptides

The peptide protons in N-acetyl-,-dehydrodipeptides (DHDP) dissociate in aqueous methanol in the presence of magnesium salts upon the addition of alkali, which favors the diastereoselectivities of their hydrogenation over Pd/C. By contrast, the N—H bonds of the N-acetyl groups in DHDP seem not to dissociate under these conditions. The dissociation of the peptide N—H bonds in strongly alkaline solutions was studied by ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy for model compounds containing the 4-FC₆H₄ fragment.     

Liquid-phase catalytic transfer hydrogenation and cyclization of levulinic acid and its esters to γ-valerolactone over metal oxide catalysts

Levulinic acid and its esters are converted to γ-valerolactone over metal oxide catalysts by catalytic transfer hydrogenation via the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reaction.     

Synthesis and diastereoselective catalytic hydrogenation of optically active cyclobutyl α,β-dehydro-α-dipeptides

Optically active cyclobutyl (Z)-α,β-dehydro-α-dipeptides have been efficiently synthesized through the coupling of conveniently protected glycine or (S)-phenylalanine residues with a (Z)-dehydro-α-amino acid derivative prepared, in turn, from (−)-verbenone as a chiral precursor. The alternative use of (R,R)- and (S,S)-Et–duphos–Rh as the hydrogenation catalyst led to the stereoselective production of both diastereomeric saturated dipeptides in each case. Thus, the chirality of the catalyst employed has been shown to be the factor governing the configuration of the newly created stereogenic centre. Regarding structural features, both NMR and CD data establish a marked conformational bias for both the unsaturated and the saturated peptides synthesized herein.     

A novel liquid system of catalytic hydrogenation

On the basis that endothermic aqueous-phase reforming of oxygenated hydrocarbons for H2 produc- tion and exothermic liquid phase hydrogenation of organic compounds are carried out under extremely close conditions of temperature and pressure over the same type of catalyst, a novel liquid system of catalytic hydrogenation has been proposed, in which hydrogen produced from aqueous-phase re- forming of oxygenated hydrocarbons is in situ used for liquid phase hydrogenation of organic com- pounds. The usage of active hydrogen generated from aqueous-phase reforming of oxygenated hy- drocarbons for liquid catalytic hydrogenation of organic compounds could lead to increasing the se- lectivity to H2 in the aqueous-phase reforming due to the prompt removal of hydrogen on the active centers of the catalyst. Meanwhile, this novel liquid system of catalytic hydrogenation might be a po- tential method to improve the selectivity to the desired product in liquid phase catalytic hydrogenation of organic compounds. On the other hand, for this novel liquid system of catalytic hydrogenation, some special facilities for H2 generation, storage and transportation in traditional liquid phase hydrogenation industry process are yet not needed. Thus, it would simplify the working process of liquid phase hy- drogenation and increase the energy usage and hydrogen productivity.     

Structure sensitivity of alkynol hydrogenation on shape- and size-controlled palladium nanocrystals: which sites are most active and selective?

The activity and selectivity of structure-sensitive reactions are strongly correlated with the shape and size of the nanocrystals present in a catalyst. This correlation can be exploited for rational catalyst design, especially if each type of surface atom displays a different behavior, to attain the highest activity and selectivity. In this work, uniform Pd nanocrystals with cubic (in two different sizes), octahedral, and cuboctahedral shapes were synthesized through a solution-phase method with poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) serving as a stabilizer and then tested in the hydrogenation of 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol (MBY). The observed activity and selectivity suggested that two types of active sites were involved in the catalysis--those on the planes and at edges--which differ in their coordination numbers. Specifically, semihydrogenation of MBY to 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol (MBE) occurred preferentially at the plane sites regardless of their crystallographic orientation, Pd(111) and/or Pd(100), whereas overhydrogenation occurred mainly at the edge sites. The experimental data can be fit with a kinetic modeling based on a two-site Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism. By considering surface statistics for nanocrystals with different shapes and sizes, the optimal catalyst in terms of productivity of the target product MBE was predicted to be cubes of roughly 3-5 nm in edge length. This study is an attempt to close the material and pressure gaps between model single-crystal surfaces tested under ultra-high-vacuum conditions and real catalytic systems, providing a powerful tool for rational catalyst design.     

Study on the hydrogenation coupling of methane

At atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature, the hydrogenation coupling of methane was studied by using pulse corona plasma and its synergism with catalyst. The results showed that (i) under pulse corona plasma, the coupling of methane could be fulfilled by the addition of hydrogen, and with the increase of the amount of hydrogen, the conversion of methane and the yield of C2 hydrocarbon increased, and the deposit of carbon decreased; (ii) the conversion of methane was affected by pulse voltage and repeated frequency; (iii) in the system, the addition of Ni/y-AI203 could improve the distribution of C2 hydrocarbon; (iv) the activity of Ni/y-AI2O3 prepared by cold plasma was better than that by chemical methods. The experiment opened up a new technical route of the coupling of methane.     

Asymmetric hydrogenation reactions with Rh and Ru complexes bearing phosphine–phosphites with an oxymethylene backbone

Phosphine–phosphites 3a and 3b, derived from diphenylhydroxymethyl phosphine have been prepared. From these ligands [Rh(COD)(3a)]BF₄ 5a and RuCl₂(3b)[(S,S)-DPEN] 6b (DPEN = 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine) were synthesized and their structure determined by X-ray diffraction. Ligands 3 are characterized by a small bite angle of 83°. In addition, 5a led to an active catalyst for the hydrogenation of olefins, giving enantioselectivities of up to 96% ee. Likewise, compound 6b showed good activity and enantioselectivity in the hydrogenation of N-1-phenyl ethylidene aniline and a completed reaction at S/C = 500 in 24 h with 83% ee.     

Rhodium-catalyzed and zinc(II)-triflate-promoted asymmetric hydrogenation of tetrasubstituted α,β-unsaturated ketones

The asymmetric hydrogenation of tetrasubstituted α,β-unsaturated ketones has been accomplished using an in situ formed rhodium-Josiphos catalyst. The reaction is enhanced by addition of catalytic zinc(II) triflate, which significantly improves turnover frequency while suppressing epimerization of the products.     

Chiral pyrophosphites—synthesis and application as ligands in Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

Enantiopure pyrophosphites have been prepared for the first time based upon two independent synthetic pathways. The new ligands based on binaphthols, which are remarkably stable towards oxidation, were tested in the Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of functionalized olefins, where up to 70% ee could be achieved.     

Enantioselective synthesis of optically pure β-amino ketones and γ-aryl amines by Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

A series of optically pure β-amino ketones have been synthesized in high enantioselectivities (ee > 99%) by Rh-DuanPhos-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of readily prepared β-keto enamides. Further reduction of these β-amino ketones with hydrogen and Pd/C leads to the formation of a variety of protected enantiomerically pure γ-aryl amines (ee > 99%), which are key building blocks in many bioactive molecules.     

Enantioselective synthesis of β-hydroxy amines and aziridines using asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of α-amido ketones

A rapid, expedient and enantioselective method for the synthesis of β-hydroxy amines and monosubstituted aziridines in up to 99% e.e., via asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of α-amido ketones, is described.     

Selective hydrogenation of phenol in supercritical carbon dioxide

Liquid phase hydrogenation of phenol over Pt/C catalysts was investigated under conventional conditions and supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2). The equivalent ration of hydrogen to phenol shows a significant effect on the product selectivity. Hydrogenation of phenol in different solvents was also studied, the experimental results show that polarity of solvents influences the yield of cyclohexanone remarkably, scCO2 has the highest one. Catalytic hydrogenation of phenol in scCO2 or sub-sc…     

Ruthenium catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of β-ketoesters

Chemoselective transfer hydrogenation of β-ketoesters to the corresponding alcohols is achieved in the presence of catalytic combinations of [RuCl₂(η⁶-arene)]₂ and ephedrine or diamino type chiral ligands with activities up to 190 h⁻¹ at 20°C and moderate to good enantiomeric excesses ranging from 36 to 94%.