How Absorbed Hydrogen Affects the Catalytic Activity of Transition Metals

Heterogeneous catalysis is commonly governed by surface active sites. Yet, areas just below the surface can also influence catalytic activity, for instance, when fragmentation products of catalytic feeds penetrate into catalysts. In particular, H absorbed below the surface is required for certain hydrogenation reactions on metals. Herein, we show that a sufficient concentration of subsurface hydrogen, H^sub, may either significantly increase or decrease the bond energy and the reactivity of the adsorbed hydrogen, H^ad, depending on the metal. We predict a representative reaction, ethyl hydrogenation, to speed up on Pd and Pt, but to slow down on Ni and Rh in the presence of H^sub, especially on metal nanoparticles. The identified effects of subsurface H on surface reactivity are indispensable for an atomistic understanding of hydrogenation processes on transition metals and interactions of hydrogen with metals in general.     

Combining metal–metal cooperativity,metal–ligand cooperativity and chemical non-innocence in diiron carbonyl complexes

Several metalloenzymes, including [FeFe]-hydrogenase, employ cofactors wherein multiple metal atoms work together with surrounding ligands that mediate heterolytic and concerted proton–electron transfer (CPET) bond activation steps. Herein, we report a new dinucleating PNNP expanded pincer ligand, which can bind two low-valent iron atoms in close proximity to enable metal–metal cooperativity (MMC). In addition, reversible partial dearomatization of the ligand''s naphthyridine core enables both heterolytic metal–ligand cooperativity (MLC) and chemical non-innocence through CPET steps. Thermochemical and computational studies show how a change in ligand binding mode can lower the bond dissociation free energy of ligand C(sp³)–H bonds by ∼25 kcal mol⁻¹. H-atom abstraction enabled trapping of an unstable intermediate, which undergoes facile loss of two carbonyl ligands to form an unusual paramagnetic (S = ) complex containing a mixed-valent iron(0)–iron(i) core bound within a partially dearomatized PNNP ligand. Finally, cyclic voltammetry experiments showed that these diiron complexes show catalytic activity for the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction. This work presents the first example of a ligand system that enables MMC, heterolytic MLC and chemical non-innocence, thereby providing important insights and opportunities for the development of bimetallic systems that exploit these features to enable new (catalytic) reactivity.

The PNNP expanded pincer ligand can bind two iron centers in close proximity and display heterolytic and homolytic metal–ligand cooperativity.     

Stoichiometric and catalytic reactivity of organometallic fragments supported on inorganic oxides

The reaction of some organometallic complexes with the surfaces of inorganic oxides leads to the formation of surface organometallic complexes, chemically bound to the surface yet retaining many features of their molecular structure. These surface organometallic complexes can therefore be considered to belong to both the molecular and solid states. In cases where such complexes have been structurally characterised, their reactivity can be interpreted with molecular concepts. In this review article, the stoichiometric and catalytic reactivity of some relatively well-defined surface organometallic fragments is surveyed. Many elementary steps which have precedent in molecular organometallic chemistry and homogeneous catalysis have now been demonstrated with surface organometallic fragments, including reversible ligand binding, oxidative addition, reductive elimination, protonation, heterolytic metal—carbon bond cleavage, electrophilic CH bond activation and insertion into metal—carbon bonds. In some cases, the supported organometallic complexes are highly effective low temperature catalysts, a phenomenon which is not always observed with molecular analogues nor with conventionally prepared heterogeneous catalysts. Applications of surface organometallic chemistry to catalytic alkane hydrogenolysis, olefin isomerisation and hydrogenation, the Fischer—Tropsch synthesis and the water—gas shift reaction are discussed. Proposed mechanisms for several representative catalytic cycles are presented.     

CO_(2)加氢制甲酸理论研究及高效铁基催化剂设计北大核心CSCD

CO_(2)加氢制甲酸由于需同时活化惰性氢气及CO_(2)而富有挑战性,同时此过程原子经济性100%,具有很好的理论和现实研究价值,但文献中报道的活性较好的催化剂均为贵金属催化剂.为了开发活性更高的用于CO_(2)加氢制甲酸的铁基催化剂,我们采用理论计算方法研究了12种不同种类的PNP-Fe(PNP=2,6-(二-叔丁基-磷甲基)吡啶)化合物催化CO_(2)加氢制甲酸的过程.理论研究结果表明,CO_(2)加氢制甲酸反应过程包括H2活化及CO_(2)插入金属氢键两个步骤,H_(2)活化过程是整个反应的速控步骤.催化剂吡啶环上进行P原子取代可以显著降低H_(2)活化能垒.基于以上发现,我们设计了一种新颖的高效铁基催化剂,使用此催化剂催化CO_(2)加氢制甲酸反应,速控步骤能垒只有85.6 kJ/mol,催化活性与贵金属的比较接近.我们研究的12种铁基催化剂速控步骤能垒范围为85.6~126.4 kJ/mol,显示了配体良好的调控催化活性能力.     

Rational Optimization of Supramolecular Catalysts for the Rhodium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation Reaction

Rational design of catalysts for asymmetric transformations is a longstanding challenge in the field of catalysis. In the current contribution we report a catalyst in which a hydrogen bond between the substrate and the catalyst plays a crucial role in determining the selectivity and the rate of the catalytic hydrogenation reaction, as is evident from a combination of experiments and DFT calculations. Detailed insight allowed in silico mutation of the catalyst such that only this hydrogen bond interaction is stronger, predicting that the new catalyst is faster. Indeed, we experimentally confirmed that optimization of the catalyst can be realized by increasing the hydrogen bond strength of this interaction by going from a urea to phosphine oxide H‐bond acceptor on the ligand.     

A computational investigation of the hydrogenation of imines catalyzed by rhodium thiolate complexes

The mechanism of imine hydrogenation catalyzed by thiolate complexes of Rh(III) bearing a hydrotris(3,5‐dimethylpyrazolyl)borato ligand has been investigated via the density functional theory calculations. The overall catalytic cycle for heterolytic cleavage of H₂ and hydrogenation of N‐benzylidenemethylamine by the model catalyst [TpRh(bdt)MeCN)] is presented in detail. The results show that the reaction proceeds via an ionic mechanism through three steps: formation of dihydrogen complex, protonation of imine and the hydride transfer process. Protonation of imine occurs after the formation of Rh(H)‐S(H) moiety. For the whole catalytic cycle, the heterolytic splitting of dihydrogen is the step with the highest free energy barrier. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Mimicking transition metals in borrowing hydrogen from alcohols

Borrowing hydrogen from alcohols, storing it on a catalyst and subsequent transfer of the hydrogen from the catalyst to an in situ generated imine is the hallmark of a transition metal mediated catalytic N-alkylation of amines. However, such a borrowing hydrogen mechanism with a transition metal free catalytic system which stores hydrogen molecules in the catalyst backbone is yet to be established. Herein, we demonstrate that a phenalenyl ligand can imitate the role of transition metals in storing and transferring hydrogen molecules leading to borrowing hydrogen mediated alkylation of anilines by alcohols including a wide range of substrate scope. A close inspection of the mechanistic pathway by characterizing several intermediates through various spectroscopic techniques, deuterium labelling experiments, and DFT study concluded that the phenalenyl radical based backbone sequentially adds H⁺, H˙ and an electron through a dearomatization process which are subsequently used as reducing equivalents to the C–N double bond in a catalytic fashion.

An efficient method is developed for harvesting hydrogen, its storage and catalytic transfer by an odd alternant hydrocarbon. The strategy is reminiscent of transition metals in borrowing hydrogen mediated processes.     

Methandiide as a Non‐Innocent Ligand in Carbene Complexes: From the Electronic Structure to Bond Activation Reactions and Cooperative Catalysis

The synthesis of a ruthenium carbene complex based on a sulfonyl‐substituted methandiide and its application in bond activation reactions and cooperative catalysis is reported. In the complex, the metal–carbon interaction can be tuned between a Ru?C single bond with additional electrostatic interactions and a Ru?C double bond, thus allowing the control of the stability and reactivity of the complex. Hence, activation of polar and non‐polar bonds (O?H, H?H) as well as dehydrogenation reactions become possible. In these reactions the carbene acts as a non‐innocent ligand supporting the bond activation as nucleophilic center in the 1,2‐addition across the metal–carbon double bond. This metal–ligand cooperativity can be applied in the catalytic transfer hydrogenation for the reduction of ketones. This concept opens new ways for the application of carbene complexes in catalysis.     

Half‐sandwich ruthenium‐based versatile catalyst for both alcohol oxidation and catalytic hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds in aqueous media

A series of half‐sandwich ruthenium‐based catalysts for both alcohol oxidation and carbonyl compounds hydrogenation have been synthesized through metal‐induced C–H bond activation based on benzothiazole ligands. The neutral ruthenium complexes 1 – 4 were fully characterized by UV–vis, NMR, IR, and elemental analysis. Molecular structures of complexes 1 and 3 were further confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis. All complexes exhibited high activity for the catalytic oxidation of a variety of alcohols with ^tBuOOH as oxidants to give carbonyl compounds with high yields in water. Moreover, these half‐sandwich complexes also showed high efficiency for the catalytic hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds in a methanol–water mixture. The catalyst could be reused for at least five cycles without any loss of activity. The catalytic system also worked well for various kinds of substrates with either electron‐donating or electron‐withdrawing groups.     

Bringing Homogeneous Iron Catalysts on the Heterogeneous Side: Solutions for Immobilization

Noble metal catalysts currently dominate the landscape of chemical synthesis, but cheaper and less toxic derivatives are recently emerging as more sustainable solutions. Iron is among the possible alternative metals due to its biocompatibility and exceptional versatility. Nowadays, iron catalysts work essentially in homogeneous conditions, while heterogeneous catalysts would be better performing and more desirable systems for a broad industrial application. In this review, approaches for heterogenization of iron catalysts reported in the literature within the last two decades are summarized, and utility and critical points are discussed. The immobilization on silica of bis(arylimine)pyridyl iron complexes, good catalysts in the polymerization of olefins, is the first useful heterogeneous strategy described. Microporous molecular sieves also proved to be good iron catalyst carriers, able to provide confined geometries where olefin polymerization can occur. Same immobilizing supports (e.g., MCM-41 and MCM-48) are suitable for anchoring iron-based catalysts for styrene, cyclohexene and cyclohexane oxidation. Another excellent example is the anchoring to a Merrifield resin of an Fe^II-anthranilic acid complex, active in the catalytic reaction of urea with alcohols and amines for the synthesis of carbamates and N-substituted ureas, respectively. A SILP (Supported Ionic Liquid Phase) catalytic system has been successfully employed for the heterogenization of a chemoselective iron catalyst active in aldehyde hydrogenation. Finally, Fe^III ions supported on polyvinylpyridine grafted chitosan made a useful heterogeneous catalytic system for C–H bond activation.     

Kinetics of the Hydrogenation of Pinane Hydroperoxide to Pinanol on Pd/C

The liquid-phase hydrogenation of pinane hydroperoxide (PHP) to pinanol on a Pd/C catalyst at 20–80°C and hydrogen pressures of 1–11 atm was studied. It was found that the rate of hydrogenation decreased with PHP concentration. The rate of PHP hydrogenation dramatically increased as the pressure of hydrogen was increased in a range of 2.5–3 atm. A mechanism was proposed for the hydrogenation of PHP. According to this mechanism, the step of hydrogen activation (homolytic or heterolytic addition) depends on the redox properties of the catalyst surface (the ratio between adsorbed PHP species and H₂). It was found that pinanol can be prepared with high selectivity by the hydrogenation of PHP on a Pd/C catalyst under mild conditions.     

Computational mechanistic study of the hydrogenation of carbonate to methanol catalyzed by the Ru(II)PNN complex

Density functional theory computations have been carried out to study the mechanism of hydrogenation-based transformation of dimethyl carbonate to methanol, catalyzed by Ru(II)PNN catalyst. The energetic results show that the catalytic transformation includes three sequential stages consistently involving the catalyst: (stage I) transformation of dimethyl carbonate (3) to methyl formate (5) and methanol; (stage II) transformation of methyl formate 5 to formaldehyde and methanol; (stage III) hydrogenation of formaldehyde to methanol. Stages I and II proceed similarly and follow three steps: hydrogen activation, formation of a hemiacetal intermediate via stepwise hydrogen transfer to dimethyl carbonate in stage I or methyl fomate in stage II, and subsequent decomposition of the hemiacetal intermediate to afford methanol. Hydrogenation via carbonyl insertion into the Ru-H bond is less favorable than the stepwise hydrogen-transfer mechanism. Decomposition of hemiacetal takes places by first breaking the hemiacetal O-H bond to give an alkoxide complex, followed by deprotonation of the benzylic arm ligand to the adjacent methoxy group. Comparing the hydrogenation steps in the three stages, hydrogenation in stage I is most difficult, that in stage II is less difficult, and that in stage III is easiest in terms of both kinetics and thermodynamics. This can be ascribed to the stronger electrophilicity of the carbonyl group in methyl formate or formaldehyde than that in dimethyl carbonate and fewer steric effects between the catalyst and methyl formate or formaldehyde than that between the catalyst and dimethyl carbonate. Thermodynamically, both stages I and II are uphill, but stage III is downhill significantly, which is the driving force for the catalytic transformation. The study indicates that the methanol product could facilitate the hydrogen activation involved in the transformation, implying that transformation could be accelerated by initially adding methanol.     

Calcium-Ligand Cooperation Promoted Activation of N2O,Amine, and H2 as well as Catalytic Hydrogenation of Imines,Quinoline, and Alkenes

Bond activation and catalysis using s-block metals are of great significance. Herein, a series of calcium pincer complexes with deprotonated side arms have been prepared using pyridine-based PNP and PNN ligands. The complexes were characterized by NMR and X-ray crystal diffraction. Utilizing the obtained calcium complexes, unprecedented N₂O activation by metal-ligand cooperation (MLC) involving dearomatization-aromatization of the pyridine ligand was achieved, generating aromatized calcium diazotate complexes as products. Additionally, the dearomatized calcium complexes were able to activate the N−H bond as well as reversibly activate H₂, offering an opportunity for the catalytic hydrogenation of various unsaturated molecules. DFT calculations were applied to analyze the electronic structures of the synthesized complexes and explore possible reaction mechanisms. This study is an important complement to the area of MLC and main-group metal chemistry.     

Direct Visualization of Substitutional Li Doping in Supported Pt Nanoparticles and Their Ultra-selective Catalytic Hydrogenation Performance

It has only recently been established that doping light elements (lithium, boron, and carbon) into supported transition metals can fill interstitial sites, which can be observed by the expanded unit cell. As an example, interstitial lithium (^intLi) can block H filling octahedral interstices of palladium metal lattice, which improves partial hydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes under hydrogen. In contrast, herein, we report ^intLi is not found in the case of Pt/C. Instead, we observe for the first time a direct ‘substitution’ of Pt with substitutional lithium (^subLi) in alternating atomic columns using scanning transmission electron microscopy-annular dark field (STEM-ADF). This ordered substitutional doping results in a contraction of the unit cell as shown by high-quality synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD). The electron donation of d-band of Pt without higher orbital hybridizations by ^subLi offers an alternative way for ultra-selectivity in catalytic hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds by suppressing the facile CO bond breakage that would form alcohols.     

Metal–Ligand Cooperation in Catalytic Intramolecular Hydroamination: A Computational Study of Iridium–Pyrazolato Cooperative Activation of Aminoalkenes

The present study comprehensively explores diverse mechanistic pathways for intramolecular hydroamination of prototype 2,2‐dimethyl‐4‐penten‐1‐amine by Cp*Ir chloropyrazole ( 1 ; Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) in the presence of KOtBu base with the aid of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The most accessible mechanistic pathway for catalytic turnover commences from Cp*Ir pyrazolato (Pz) substrate adduct 2 ?S, representing the catalytically competent compound and proceeds via initial electrophilic activation of the olefin C?C bond by the metal centre. It entails 1) facile and reversible anti nucleophilic amine attack on the iridium–olefin linkage; 2) Ir? C bond protonolysis via stepwise transfer of the ammonium N? H proton at the zwitterionic [Cp*IrPz–alkyl] intermediate onto the metal that is linked to turnover‐limiting, reductive, cycloamine elimination commencing from a high‐energy, metastable [Cp*IrPz–hydrido–alkyl] species; and 3) subsequent facile cycloamine liberation to regenerate the active catalyst species. The amine–iridium bound 2 a ?S likely corresponds to the catalyst resting state and the catalytic reaction is expected to proceed with a significant primary kinetic isotope. This study unveils the vital role of a supportive hydrogen‐bonded network involving suitably aligned β‐basic pyrazolato and cycloamido moieties together with an external amine molecule in facilitating metal protonation and reductive elimination. Cooperative hydrogen bonding thus appears pivotal for effective catalysis. The mechanistic scenario is consonant with catalyst performance data and furthermore accounts for the variation in performance for [Cp*IrPz] compounds featuring a β‐ or γ‐basic pyrazolato unit. As far as the route that involves amine N? H bond activation is concerned, a thus far undocumented pathway for concerted amidoalkene → cycloamine conversion through olefin protonation by the pyrazole N? H concurrent with N? C ring closure is disclosed as a favourable scenario. Although not practicable in the present system, this pathway describes a novel mechanistic variant in late transition metal–ligand bifunctional hydroamination catalysis that can perhaps be viable for tailored catalyst designs. The insights revealed herein concerning the operative mechanism and the structure–reactivity relationships will likely govern the rational design of late transition metal–ligand bifunctional catalysts and facilitate further conceptual advances in the area.     

Enolate generation under hydrogenation conditions: catalytic aldol cycloreduction of keto-enones

[reaction: see text] Formal heterolytic activation of elemental hydrogen under Rh catalysis enables the reductive generation of enolates from enones under hydrogenation conditions. Enolates generated in this fashion participate in catalytic C-C bond formation via carbonyl addition to aldehyde and, as demonstrated in this account, ketone partners. Notably, the use of appendant dione partners enables diastereoselective formation of cycloaldol products possessing 3-stereogenic centers, including 2-contiguous quaternary centers.     

In Situ Raman Monitoring and Manipulating of Interfacial Hydrogen Spillover by Precise Fabrication of Au/TiO2/Pt Sandwich Structures

The spillover of hydrogen species and its role in tuning the activity and selectivity in catalytic hydrogenation have been investigated in situ using surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with 10 nm spatial resolution through the precise fabrication of Au/TiO₂/Pt sandwich nanostructures. In situ SERS study reveals that hydrogen species can efficiently spillover at Pt‐TiO₂‐Au interfaces, and the ultimate spillover distance on TiO₂ is about 50 nm. Combining kinetic isotope experiments and density functional theory calculations, it is found that the hydrogen spillover proceeds via the water‐assisted cleavage and formation of surface hydrogen–oxygen bond. More importantly, the selectivity in the hydrogenation of the nitro or isocyanide group is manipulated by controlling the hydrogen spillover. This work provides molecular insights to deepen the understanding of hydrogen activation and boosts the design of active and selective catalysts for hydrogenation.     

Computational Study of Formic Acid Dehydrogenation Catalyzed by AlIII–Bis(imino)pyridine

The mechanism of formic acid dehydrogenation catalyzed by the bis(imino)pyridine‐ligated aluminum hydride complex (PDI^2?)Al(THF)H (PDI=bis(imino)pyridine) was studied by density functional theory calculations. The overall transformation is composed of two stages: catalyst activation and the catalytic cycle. The catalyst activation begins with O?H bond cleavage of HCOOH promoted by aluminum–ligand cooperation, followed by HCOOH‐assisted Al?H bond cleavage, and protonation of the imine carbon atom of the bis(imino)pyridine ligand. The resultant doubly protonated complex (^H,HPDI)Al(OOCH)₃ is the active catalyst for formic acid dehydrogenation. Given this, the catalytic cycle includes β‐hydride elimination of (^H,HPDI)Al(OOCH)₃ to produce CO₂, and the formed (^H,HPDI)Al(OOCH)₂H mediates HCOOH to release H₂.     

Coordinational activation of methane and other alkanes by metal complexes

A highly significant challenge for chemistry is the search of the selective catalytic processes for the direct methane transformation into valuable products. The review discusses activation of inert alkane molecule by coordination to a metal atom via three-center two-electron bond involving donor-acceptor and dative interactions. This coordination weakens the C—H bond and opens up new possibilities for homolytic and heterolytic methane reactions.     

Highly Active and Selective Manganese C=O Bond Hydrogenation Catalysts: The Importance of the Multidentate Ligand,the Ancillary Ligands,and the Oxidation State

The replacement of expensive noble metals by earth‐abundant transition metals is a central topic in catalysis. Herein, we introduce a highly active and selective homogeneous manganese‐based C=O bond hydrogenation catalyst. Our catalyst has a broad substrate scope, it is able to hydrogenate aryl–alkyl, diaryl, dialkyl, and cycloalkyl ketones as well as aldehydes. A very good functional group tolerance including the quantitative and selective hydrogenation of a ketone in the presence of a non‐shielded olefin is observed. In Mn hydrogenation catalysis, the combination of the multidentate ligand, the oxidation state of the metal, and the choice of the right ancillary ligand is crucial for high activity. This observation emphasizes an advantage and the importance of homogeneous catalysts in 3d‐metal catalysis. For coordination compounds, fine‐tuning of a complex coordination environment is easily accomplished in comparison to enzyme and/or heterogeneous catalysts.