Synthesis of beta-lactones: a highly active and selective catalyst for epoxide carbonylation

A new highly active and selective catalyst for the synthesis of beta-lactones from CO and epoxides is reported. The catalyst, [(N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene) phenylenediamino)Al(THF)2][Co(CO)4] ([(salph)Al(THF)2][Co(CO)4]) is easily prepared from the corresponding (salph)AlCl and NaCo(CO)4. At 50 degrees C and 880 psi of CO, the catalyst (1 mol %) carbonylates epoxides such as propylene oxide, 1-butene oxide, epichlorohydrin, and isobutylene oxide to the lactones beta-butyrolactone, beta-valerolactone, gamma-chloro-beta-butyrolactone, and beta-methyl-beta-butyrolactone in high yield. (R)-Propylene oxide was carbonylated to (R)-beta-butyrolactone with retention of stereochemistry.     

Chromium(III) octaethylporphyrinato tetracarbonylcobaltate: a highly active, selective, and versatile catalyst for epoxide carbonylation

The development of a highly active and selective porphyrin-based epoxide carbonylation catalyst, [(OEP)Cr(THF)2][Co(CO)4] (1; OEP = octaethylporphyrinato; THF = tetrahydrofuran), is detailed. Complex 1 is a separated ion pair composed of a tetracarbonylcobaltate anion and an octahedral chromium porphyrin complex axially ligated by two THF ligands. Regarding the carbonylation of epoxides to beta-lactones, catalyst 1 exhibits excellent turnover numbers (up to 10,000) and turnover frequencies (up to 1670 h(-1)), with regioselective carbonyl insertion occurring between the oxygen and the sterically less hindered carbon of the epoxide substrate. Complex 1 is highly tolerant of nonprotic functional groups, carbonylating an array of aliphatic and cycloaliphatic epoxides, as well as epoxides with pendant ethers, esters, and amides. With careful control of reaction conditions in the carbonylation of glycidyl esters, the exclusive production of either the beta- or gamma-lactone isomer was achieved. Through analysis of reaction stereochemistry, a mechanism for the formation of gamma-lactone products was proposed. Overall, a broad array of synthetically useful lactones has been synthesized in a rapid and selective fashion by catalytic carbonylation using [(OEP)Cr(THF)2][Co(CO)4].     

PtCl2/XPhos: a highly efficient and readily available catalyst for the hydrosilylation of propargylic alcohols

A highly regioselective hydrosilylation of propargylic alcohols has been developed using an in situ prepared PtCl(2)/XPhos catalyst system. The reaction is tolerant of many functional groups and exhibits excellent regio and geometric selectivity.     

Catalytically active metal organic framework based on a porphyrin modified by electron-withdrawing groups

One metal-free porphyrin, modified by electron-withdrawing groups, was synthesized by introduction of two peripheral pyridyl substituents and two metal coordination polymers, {[Zn(C₄₂H₁₆F₁₀N₆)]·2C₂H₇ N}_n (1) and {[Co(C₄₂H₁₆F₁₀N₆)]·C₂H₇ N}_n (2), were synthesized solvothermally. In 1, each porphyrin connected four other porphyrin molecules to construct a 2-D network through coordination bonds. Similarly, in 2 every Co(II) porphyrin coordinated with four adjacent molecules to form a 2-D framework. Thermogravimetric analyses indicate that both 1 and 2 show high-thermal stabilities. The fluorescence data of 1 and 2 show that 1 may be a candidate for potential inorganic–organic photoactive materials. Catalytic oxidation results show that 2 displays high activity with the only product acetophenone quantitatively in 81.4%, and after six cycles, the catalytic activity slightly decreases. These features of 2, including the exceptional stability, and high catalytic activity, make it outstanding among MOFs reported in the literature.     

Zinc oxide nanoparticles:A highly efficient and readily recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of xanthenes

A novel and efficient route for the synthesis of 1,8-dioxooctahydroxanthenes and 14-aryl-14H-dibenzo[a,j]xanthenes is described through one-pot multi-component reaction of dimedone and 2-naphthol with various aryl aldehydes using ZnO nanoparticles under solvent-free conditions.This method provides a novel and improved pathway for the synthesis of xanthenes in the terms of excellent yields,short reaction times,reusability and low catalyst loading.     

(Tetramethyltetraazaannulene)chromium chloride: a highly active catalyst for the alternating copolymerization of epoxides and carbon dioxide

A tetramethyltetraazaannulene complex incorporating a chromium(III) metal center has been shown to be highly active toward the copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and carbon dioxide to afford poly(cyclohexene carbonate) in the presence of [PPN]N3 [PPN+=bis(triphenylphosphoranylidene)ammonium] as a cocatalyst. An asymptotical rate increase was observed, leveling at 2 equiv of cocatalyst with a maximum turnover frequency of 1300 h(-1) at 80 degrees C. A benefit of this new catalyst system over that of the previously studied less-active (salen)CrX system is that the (tmtaa)CrCl catalyst has a much lower propensity toward the formation of a cyclic carbonate byproduct throughout the copolymerization reaction.     

Colloidal cobalt nanoparticles: a highly active and reusable Pauson-Khand catalyst

A new Pauson-Khand catalyst based on colloidal cobalt nanoparticles has been developed; the catalyst is highly effective for many intra- and inter-molecular Pauson-Khand reactions and can be recycled and reused many times without losing catalytic activity.     

A highly active catalyst system for the heteroarylation of acetone

A highly active catalyst system for the heteroarylation of acetone has been identified. The coupling between the in situ generated tributyltin enolate of acetone and a variety of heteroaromatic bromides, chlorides, and triflates in the presence of this catalyst system provided arylacetones in good yields.     

A highly active zinc catalyst for the controlled polymerization of lactide

We report the preparation, structural characterization, and detailed lactide polymerization behavior of a new Zn(II) alkoxide complex, (L(1)ZnOEt)(2) (L(1) = 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-{[(2'-dimethylaminoethyl)methylamino]methyl}phenolate). While an X-ray crystal structure revealed the complex to be dimeric in the solid state, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometric analyses showed that the monomeric form L(1)ZnOEt predominates in solution. The polymerization of lactide using this complex proceeded with good molecular weight control and gave relatively narrow molecular weight distribution polylactide, even at catalyst loadings of <0.1% that yielded M(n) as high as 130 kg mol(-)(1). The effect of impurities on the molecular weight of the product polymers was accounted for using a simple model. Detailed kinetic studies of the polymerization reaction enabled integral and nonintegral orders in L(1)ZnOEt to be distinguished and the empirical rate law to be elucidated, -d[LA]/dt = k(p)[L(1)ZnOEt][LA]. These studies also showed that L(1)ZnOEt polymerizes lactide at a rate faster than any other Zn-containing system reported previously. This work provides important mechanistic information pertaining to the polymerization of lactide and other cyclic esters by discrete metal alkoxide complexes.     

Crystal structure of meso‐substituted pyrazolyl porphyrin complexes and their highly active catalyst for oxidation of alkylbenzenes

During the past few years, a great deal of effort has been devoted to the anchoring of catalytic oxidation. In this work, three new catalysts CuPp, MnPp and ZnPp by solvothermal methods with 5, 10, 15, 20‐tetrakis(4‐N‐pyrazolyl)‐phenyl porphyrin (H₂Pp) and the corresponding metal salts have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The single crystal structures determined by X‐ray diffraction show the bond distances of M‐N in porphyrin cores determined the conformation of porphyrin rings. We explored the catalytic activity of CoPp, CuPp, MnPp and ZnPp for oxidation of alkylbenzenes. The experimental results display these products exhibit high catalytic activities and selectivities for oxidation of ethylbenzene to acetophenone, and can be reused by filtration without appreciable decrease in catalytic activity and selectivity.     

Design of highly active binary catalyst systems for CO2/epoxide copolymerization: polymer selectivity, enantioselectivity, and stereochemistry control

Asymmetric, regio- and stereoselective alternating copolymerization of CO(2) and racemic aliphatic epoxides proceeds effectively under mild temperature and pressure by using a binary catalyst system of a chiral tetradentate Schiff base cobalt complex [SalenCo(III)X] as the electrophile in conjunction with an ionic organic ammonium salt or a sterically hindered strong organic base as the nucleophile. The substituent groups on the aromatic rings, chiral diamine backbone, and axial X group of the electrophile, as well as the nucleophilicity, leaving ability, and coordination ability of the nucleophile, all significantly affect the catalyst activity, polymer selectivity, enantioselectivity, and stereochemistry. A bulky chiral cyclohexenediimine backbone complex [SalcyCo(III)X] with an axial X group of poor leaving ability as the electrophile, combined with a bulky nuclephile with poor leaving ability and low coordination ability, is an ideal binary catalyst system for the copolymerization of CO(2) and a racemic aliphatic epoxide to selectively produce polycarbonates with relatively high enantioselectivity, >95% head-to-tail connectivity, and >99% carbonate linkages. A fast copolymerization of CO(2) and epoxides was observed when the concentration of the electrophile or/and the nucleophile was increased, and the number of polycarbonate chains was proportional to the concentration of the nucleophile. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, in combination with a kinetic study, showed that the copolymerization involved the coordination activation of the monomer by the electrophile and polymer chain growth predominately occurring in the nucleophile. Both the enantiomorphic site effect resulting from the chiral electrophile and the polymer chain end effect mainly from the bulky nucleophile cooperatively control the stereochemistry of the CO(2)/epoxide copolymerization.     

Accommodation of alpha-substituted residues in the beta-peptide 12-helix: expanding the range of substitution patterns available to a foldamer scaffold

Beta-amino acid oligomers composed exclusively of homochiral trans-2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (ACPC) residues and/or related pyrrolidine-based residues are known to favor a specific helical secondary structure that is defined by 12-membered ring C=O(i)- -H-N(i+3) hydrogen bonds ("12-helix"). The 12-helix is structurally similar to the familiar alpha-helix and therefore represents a source of potential alpha-helix-mimics. The 12-helix will be most useful in this regard if this conformational scaffold can be employed to arrange specific sets of protein-like side chains in space. Here we examine whether the 12-helix tolerates insertion of acyclic beta-amino acid residues bearing a substituent in the alpha-position ("beta(2)-residues"). Seventeen homologous beta-peptide heptamers have been prepared in which one to four beta(2)-residues reside among ACPC and/or pyrrolidine residues. Circular dichroism comparisons suggest that beta(2)-residues have a lower 12-helical propensity than do residues preorganized by a five-membered ring, as expected, but that beta-peptides containing beta(2)-residues at one or two of the seven positions retain a significant preference for 12-helix formation. These results indicate that a limited number of beta(2)-residues can be used to introduce side chains at specific positions along the surface of a 12-helix.     

Copper supported on phenanthroline-functionalized porous polymer as an active catalyst for the oxidative carbonylation of methanol

Porous organic polymer has recently attracted tremendous interest because of its potential to combine the best features of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. In this study, copper supported on phenanthroline-functionalized porous polymer (Cu@PCP-Phen) was prepared by a co-polymerization method and used as a heterogeneous catalyst for dimethyl carbonate synthesis via the oxidative carbonylation of methanol. The catalyst was characterized by N₂ adsorption, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ¹³C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which suggested that it possessed a big surface area, hierarchical porous structure, and strong electron-donating effect toward copper species. The Cu@PCP-Phen catalyst showed high catalytic activity, which was significantly higher than those achieved with Cu-based catalysts under similar reaction conditions. In addition, the catalyst can be easily separated and reused at least six times with only a slight decrease in activity. The salient features of this protocol are the simplicity in handling of the catalyst, high catalytic activity, excellent selectivity, low copper leaching, and good catalyst recyclability.     

A highly active Suzuki catalyst for the synthesis of sterically hindered biaryls: novel ligand coordination

A catalyst system for the preparation of biaryls containing four ortho substituents via Suzuki coupling is described. The combination of a catalytic quantity of Pd2(dba)3 with either an electron-rich biarylphosphine or DPEPhos is effective using a wide range of substrates. The X-ray crystal structure of (dba)Pd(2-(9-phenanthryl)phenyl-dicyclohexylphosphine), in which the Pd is coordinated to the 9,10-double bond of the phenanthryl group, is also reported.     

A highly active nano-palladium catalyst for the preparation of aromatic azos under mild conditions

A worm-like Pd nanocatalyst has been prepared and used in the preparation of azo compounds from nitroaromatics under mild reaction conditions. This highly dispersible nano-Pd catalyst shows high activity toward the synthesis of both symmetric aromatic azo compounds and a range of asymmetric aromatic azo compounds.     

Pd immobilized on thiol-modified magnetic nanoparticles: A complete magnetically recoverable and highly active catalyst for hydrogenation reactions

A palladium-based catalyst supported on thiol-modified superparamagnetic nanoparticles was successfully prepared by co-precipitation method. These magnetic nanomaterials were characterized by elemental analysis (EA), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The conversions of various aromatic nitro and unsaturated compounds can receive a really high yield with the existence of magnetic nanomaterials. The turn-over frequency (TOF) can be 66.46 h⁻¹ in ethanol under a H₂ atmosphere at room temperature. In this paper, the conversions of aromatic nitro bearing a variety of substituents were 93.56–100%, moreover, the catalyst afforded over 90% yield in the reducing unsaturated compounds. Another advantage is that the magnetite nanoparticles modified by thiol group can be separated just through the external magnetic force and can be reused atleast ten times without any significant loss in activity.     

A chromium catalyst for the polymerization of ethylene as a homogeneous model for the phillips catalyst

A structurally characterized cationic chromium(III) alkyl featuring a bulky nacnac ligand catalyzes the polymerization of ethylene as well as the copolymerization of ethylene with alpha-olefins. This well-characterized homogeneous catalyst constitutes a structural as well as functional model of the widely used heterogeneous Phillips olefin polymerization catalyst.