An efficient Stille cross‐coupling reaction catalyzed by ortho‐palladated complex of tribenzylamine under microwave irradiation

The catalytic activity of [Pd{C₆H₄(CH₂N(CH₂Ph)₂)}(μ‐Br)]₂ complex as an efficient, stable and catalyst that is non‐sensitive to air and moisture was investigated in the Stille cross‐coupling reaction of various aryl halides with phenyltributyltins under microwave irradiation. The substituted biaryls were produced in excellent yield in short reaction times using a catalytic amount of this complex in DMF at 100 C. The combination of dimeric complex as homogeneous catalyst and microwave irradiation and also DMF as microwave‐active polar solvent gave higher yields in shorter reaction times. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

ε‐Caprolactone polymerization under air by the biocatalyst: Magnesium 2,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methylphenoxide

This study investigated the synthesis of the biocatalyst, magnesium 2,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methylphenoxide (Mg(BHT)₂) complex, and the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐caprolactone (CL). The complex demonstrates high catalytic activity and controllable of molecular weight for the ROP of CL in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature, even when polymerization was performed under air. Before this study, the polymerization of CL had never been performed using a magnesium catalyst under air at room temperature. Various forms of alcohols with different purposes were also used as initiators with Mg(BHT)₂. The results show that the magnesium complex acts as a perfect catalyst because of its high catalytic activity and control ability without any cytotoxicity in the polymerization of CL, making it suitable for biomedical applications. In addition, nanoparticle formation, cytotoxicity, and phototoxicity of tri‐2‐hydroxyethyl ester [Ce6‐(CH₂CH₂OPCL)₃] were also studied in this article and Ce6‐(CH₂CH₂OPCL)₃ formed nanoparticle can act as a nanophotosensitizer for photodynamic therapy. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Thiol‐Assisted Synthesis of Carbon‐Supported Metal Nanoparticles for Efficient Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction

The typical preparation route of carbon‐supported metallic catalyst is complex and uneconomical. Herein, we reported a thiol‐assisted one‐pot method by using 3‐mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) to synthesize carbon‐supported metal nanoparticles catalysts for efficient electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂RR). We found that the synthesized Au?MPA/C catalyst achieves a maximum CO faradaic efficiency (FE) of 96.2% with its partial current density of ?11.4 mA/cm², which is much higher than that over Au foil or MPA‐free carbon‐supported Au (Au/C). The performance improvement in CO₂RR over the catalyst is probably derived from the good dispersion of Au nanoparticles and the surface modification of the catalyst caused by the specific interaction between Au nanoparticles and MPA. This thiol‐assisted method can be also extended to synthesize Ag?MPA/C with enhanced CO₂RR performance.     

Improved Molecular Weight Control in Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) Reactions with Ru‐Based Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Using N Donors and Acid: A Kinetic and Mechanistic Investigation

The effect of the addition of H₃PO₄ on the ROMP activity of cyclooctene (COE) with first‐ [Cl₂(PCy₃)₂Ru?CHPh] and second‐generation [(H₂IMes)Cl₂(PCy₃)Ru?CHPh] Grubbs’ catalysts 1 and 4 (Cy=cyclohexyl, Ph=phenyl, Mes=2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl (mesityl)), their inhibited mixtures with 1‐methylimidazole (MIM), as well as their isolated bis‐N,N′‐dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) derivatives [Cl₂(PCy₃)(DMAP)₂Ru?CHPh)] ( 5 b ) and [Cl₂(H₂IMes)(DMAP)₂Ru?CHPh] ( 7 b ) (DMAP=dimethylaminopyridine), a novel catalyst, has been investigated. The studies include the determination of their initiation rates, as well as a determination of the molecular weights and molecular weight distributions of the polymers obtained with these catalysts and catalyst mixtures from the exo‐7‐oxanorbornene derivative 11 . The structure of catalyst 7 b was confirmed by means of X‐ray diffraction. All N‐donor‐bearing catalysts or N‐donor‐containing catalyst mixtures not only exhibited elevated activity in the presence of acid, but also increased initiation rates. Using the reversible inhibition/activation protocol with MIM and H₃PO₄ enabled us to conduct controlled ROMP with catalyst 4 producing the isolated exo‐7‐oxanorbornene‐based polymer 12 with predetermined molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. This effect was based on fast and efficient catalyst initiation in contrast to the parent catalyst 4 . Hexacoordinate complex 5 b also experienced a dramatic increase in initiation rates upon acid‐addition and the ROMP reactions became well‐controlled in contrast to the acid‐free reaction. In contrast, complex 7 b performs well‐controlled ROMP in the absence of acid, whereas the polymerization of the same monomer becomes less controlled in the presence of H₃PO₄. The closer evaluation of catalysts 5 b and 7 b demonstrated that their initiation rates exhibit a linear dependency on the substrate concentration in contrast to catalysts 1 and 4 . As a consequence, their initiation rates are determined by an associative step, not a dissociative step as seen for catalysts 1 and 4 . A feasible associative metathesis initiation mechanism is proposed.     

Application of a dimeric ortho‐palladated complex of tribenzylamine as an efficient catalyst in microwave‐assisted Hiyama coupling reactions

The activity of [Pd{C₆H₄(CH₂N(CH₂Ph)₂)}(μ‐Br)]₂ complex was investigated in cross‐coupling reactions of triethoxy(phenyl)silane with various aryl halides under microwave irradiation. This complex is an efficient and stable catalyst for the synthesis of substituted biphenyls that is non‐sensitive to air and moisture. The combination of dimeric complex as homogenous catalyst, microwave irradiation, DMF as microwave‐active polar solvent and TBAF as microwave‐active additive led to excellent yields in short reaction times. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Noble‐Metal‐Free Nickel(II) Polypyridyl Catalyst for Visible‐Light‐Driven Hydrogen Production from Water

The complex [Ni(bpy)₃]²⁺ (bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine) is an active catalyst for visible‐light‐driven H₂ production from water when employed with [Ir(dfppy)₂(Hdcbpy)] [dfppy=2‐(3,4‐difluorophenyl)pyridine, Hdcbpy=4‐carboxy‐2,2′‐bipyridine‐4′‐carboxylate] as the photosensitizer and triethanolamine as the sacrificial electron donor. The highest turnover number of 520 with respect to the nickel(II) catalyst is obtained in a 8:2 acetonitrile/water solution at pH 9. The H₂‐evolution system is more stable after the addition of an extra free bpy ligand, owing to faster catalyst regeneration. The photocatalytic results demonstrate that the nickel(II) polypyridyl catalyst can act as a more effective catalyst than the commonly utilized [Co(bpy)₃]²⁺. This study may offer a new paradigm for constructing simple and noble‐metal‐free catalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen production.     

N‐heterocyclic carbene–palladium(II) complex supported on magnetic mesoporous silica for Heck cross‐coupling reaction

Magnetic mesoporous silica was prepared via embedding magnetite nanoparticles between channels of mesoporous silica (SBA‐15). The prepared composite (Fe₃O₄@SiO₂‐SBA) was then reacted with 3‐chloropropyltriethoxysilane, sodium imidazolide and 2‐bromopyridine to give 3‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐iumpropyl‐functionalized Fe₃O₄@SiO₂‐SBA as a supported pincer ligand for Pd(II). The functionalized magnetic mesoporous silica was further reacted with [PdCl₂(SMe₂)₂] to produce a supported N‐heterocyclic carbene–Pd(II) complex. The obtained catalyst was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis, vibrating sample magnetometry, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area measurement and X‐ray diffraction. The amount of the loaded complex was 80.3 mg g^?1, as calculated through thermogravimetric analysis. The formation of the ordered mesoporous structure of SBA‐15 was confirmed using low‐angle X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Also, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the presence of the Pd(II) complex on the magnetic support. The prepared magnetic catalyst was then effectively used in the coupling reaction of olefins with aryl halides, i.e. the Heck reaction, in the presence of a base. The reaction parameters, such as solvent, base, temperature, amount of catalyst and reactant ratio, were optimized by choosing the coupling reaction of 1‐bromonaphthalene and styrene as a model Heck reaction. N‐Methylpyrrolidone as solvent, 0.25 mol% catalyst, K₂CO₃ as base, reaction temperature of 120°C and ultrasonication of the catalyst for 10 min before use provided the best conditions for the Heck cross‐coupling reaction. The best results were observed for aryl bromides and iodides while aryl chlorides were found to be less reactive. The catalyst exhibited noticeable stability and reusability.     

Chemo‐ and Enantioselective Oxidative α‐Azidation of Carbonyl Compounds

We report high‐performance I⁺/H₂O₂ catalysis for the oxidative or decarboxylative oxidative α‐azidation of carbonyl compounds by using sodium azide under biphasic neutral phase‐transfer conditions. To induce higher reactivity especially for the α‐azidation of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds, we designed a structurally compact isoindoline‐derived quaternary ammonium iodide catalyst bearing electron‐withdrawing groups. The nonproductive decomposition pathways of I⁺/H₂O₂ catalysis could be suppressed by the use of a catalytic amount of a radical‐trapping agent. This oxidative coupling tolerates a variety of functional groups and could be readily applied to the late‐stage α‐azidation of structurally diverse complex molecules. Moreover, we achieved the enantioselective α‐azidation of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds as the first successful example of enantioselective intermolecular oxidative coupling with a chiral hypoiodite catalyst.     

Oxidation of alkanes and secondary alcohols to ketones with tert‐butyl hydroperoxide catalyzed by a water‐soluble ruthenium complex under solvent‐free conditions

An easily synthesized water‐soluble ruthenium complex, [C₆H₅CH₂N(CH₃)₂H]₂[Ru(dipic)Cl₃] (dipic =2,6‐pyridinedicarboxylate), as a catalyst showed high efficiency in the oxidation of alkanes and secondary alcohols to their corresponding ketones under solvent‐free and low‐catalyst‐loading conditions. This catalytic system could tolerate a variety of substrates and gave the corresponding ketones in good to excellent yields. The products were easily separated and purified due to the water solubility of the ruthenium complex.     

From Surface‐Inspired Oxovanadium Silsesquioxane Models to Active Catalysts for the Oxidation of Alcohols with O2—The Cinnamic Acid/Metavanadate System

Silsesquioxane dioxovanadate(V) complexes were investigated with respect to their potential as a catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of alcohols with O₂ as an oxidant. The turnover frequencies determined were comparatively low, but during the oxidation of cinnamic alcohol an increase in activity was observed in the course of the process, which was inspected more closely. It turned out that during the oxidation of cinnamic alcohol, not only was the aldehyde formed but also cinnamic acid, which in turn reacts with the silsesquioxane complex employed to give NBu₄[O₂V(O₂CC₂H₂Ph)₂], which can also be obtained from NBu₄VO₃ and cinnamic acid and represents a far more active catalyst, not only for cinnamic alcohol but also for other activated alcohols and hydrocarbons. The rate‐determining step of the conversion corresponds to an hydrogen‐atom abstraction from the C? H units, as shown by the determination of the kinetic isotope effect in case of 9‐hydroxyfluorene, and the reoxidation of the reduced catalyst proceeds via a peroxo intermediate, which is also capable of oxidizing one alcohol equivalent. Furthermore the influence of the organic residues at the carboxylate ligands on the catalyst performance was investigated, which showed that the activity increases with decreasing pK_s value. Moreover, it was found that during the oxidation the catalyst slowly decomposes, but can be regenerated by addition of excessive carboxylic acid.     

Synthesis of heterocycles from molecular nitrogen as a nitrogen source

Nitrogen fixation is a very attractive process. We succeeded in nitrogen fixation using a TiCl₄‐ or Ti(O‐i‐Pr)₄‐Li‐TMSCl system. Nitrogen fixation proceeds at room temperature under 1 atmosphere pressure of nitrogen to give a mixture of titanium nitride complex 12 , titanium nitrogen complex 13 , and N(TMS)₄. Using the titanium nitrogen complexes 1 , various heterocycles were synthesized from the corresponding ketocarbonyl compounds. Nitrogen in air could be fixed using this method. The total syntheses of lycopodine and monomolin I were achieved from nitrogen in air as the nitrogen source. On the other hand, transmetalation of the nitrogen moiety of titanium nitrogen complexes 1 to a palladium complex was realized, and the non‐substituted anilines could be synthesized from ArX and N₂ in the presence of the palladium catalyst. Furthermore, amide could be synthesized from ArX, CO, and N₂ using the palladium catalyst.     

Heterogeneous copper‐catalyzed oxidative coupling of oxime acetates with sodium sulfinates: An efficient and practical synthesis of β‐keto sulfones

An efficient and practical route to β‐keto sulfones has been developed through heterogeneous oxidative coupling of oxime acetates with sodium sulfinates by using an MCM‐41‐supported Schiff base‐pyridine bidentate copper (II) complex [MCM‐41‐Sb,Py‐Cu (OAc)₂] as the catalyst and oxime acetates as an internal oxidant, followed by hydrolysis. The reaction generates a variety of β‐keto sulfones in good to excellent yields. This new heterogeneous copper (II) catalyst can be easily prepared via a simple procedure from readily available and inexpensive reagents and exhibits the same catalytic activity as Cu (OAc)₂. MCM‐41‐Sb,Py‐Cu (OAc)₂ is also easy to recover and is recyclable up to eight times with almost consistent activity.     

Iron carbonyl complex containing bis[2‐(diphenylphosphino)phenyl]ether enhancing efficiency in the palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura reaction

The reaction of [Fe₃(CO)₁₂] with bis[2‐(diphenylphosphino)phenyl]ether (DPEphos) in refluxing THF afforded a mononuclear complex, [Fe(CO)₄(η¹‐P‐DPEphos)] (1), as major product and a binuclear complex, [Fe₂(CO)₆(μ‐CO)(μ‐P,P‐DPEphos)] (2), as minor product respectively. The DPEphos ligand acts as a terminal P‐donor in complex 1 and a bridging P,P‐donor in complex 2. Complexes 1 and 2 were characterized by elemental analysis, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, FT‐IR, ¹H and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy. The structure of complex 1 has been tentatively assigned by density functional theory calculations and its analogy with reported complexes. Combination of complex 1 and PdCl₂ furnished an active catalyst for the Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reactions of various aryl halides with arylboronic acids. Interestingly, under the same experimental condition, complex 1/PdCl₂ as catalyst showed superior activity over the DPEphos/PdCl₂ system. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Water‐Soluble Copper–Polypyridine Complex as a Homogeneous Catalyst for both Photo‐Induced and Electrocatalytic O2 Evolution

The water‐soluble polypyridine copper complex [Cu(F₃TPA)(ClO₄)₂] [ 1 ; F₃TPA=tris(2‐fluoro‐6‐pyridylmethyl)amine] catalyzes water oxidation in a pH 8.5 borate buffer at a relatively low overpotential of 610 mV. Assisted by photosensitizer and an electron acceptor, 1 also exhibits activity as a homogeneous catalyst for photo‐induced O₂ evolution with a maximum turnover frequency (TOF) of (1.58±0.03)×10^?1 s^?1 and a maximum turnover number (TON) of 11.61±0.23. In comparison, the reference [Cu(TPA)(ClO₄)₂] [TPA=tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine] displayed almost no activity under either set of conditions, implying the crucial role of the ligand in determining the behavior of the catalyst. Experimental evidence indicate the molecular catalytic nature of 1 , leading to a potentially practical strategy to apply the copper complex in a photoelectrochemical device for water oxidation.     

Nano‐Zn[2‐boromophenylsalicylaldiminemethylpyranopyrazole]Cl2 as a novel nanostructured Schiff base complex and catalyst for the synthesis of pyrano[2,3‐d]pyrimidinedione derivatives

Nano‐Zn[2‐boromophenylsalicylaldiminemethylpyranopyrazole]Cl₂ (nano‐[Zn‐2BSMP]Cl₂) as a novel nanostructured Schiff base complex was prepared and characterized using several techniques. Nano‐[Zn‐2BSMP]Cl₂ was used as an effective catalyst for the preparation of some pyrano[2,3‐d]pyrimidinedione derivatives by the multicomponent reaction of malononitrile, aryl aldehydes and barbituric acid derivatives. The novelty and efficiency of nano‐[Zn‐2BSMP]Cl₂ as a catalyst, in comparison with some other reported catalysts, for this synthetic transformation are the main features of this work.     

A novel hydrophobic copper complex supported on γ‐Fe2O3 as a magnetically heterogeneous catalyst for one‐pot three‐component synthesis of α‐aminophosphonates

A novel hydrophobic copper complex supported on γ‐Fe₂O₃ is synthesized and characterized by different methods such as FT‐IR, XRD, TEM, SEM, TGA, VSM, ICP and CHN analysis. It was used as a magnetically recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the efficient synthesis of α‐aminophosphonates via a one‐pot three‐component reaction under solvent‐free conditions. The present catalytic system worked extremely well for the synthesis of α‐aminophosphonates even up to five subsequent trails without significant loss of its catalytic activity or copper leaching. The TEM image and FT‐IR spectrum of the catalyst after five times recovery showed that the structure of the catalyst was stable under the reaction conditions with no change being observed. The strong magnetic properties of the reused catalyst were revealed by complete and easy attraction using an external magnet and also by VSM curve. This work represents the first and unique example of a hydrophobic copper complex for catalysis in water generating reactions.     

Polymerization of alkenes with a post‐metallocene catalyst containing a titanium complex with an oxyquinolinyl ligand

Polymerization reactions of ethylene, propylene, higher 1‐alkenes (1‐hexene, 1‐octene, 1‐decene, vinyl cyclohexane, 3‐methyl‐1‐butene), and copolymerization reactions of ethylene with 1‐octene with a post‐metallocene catalyst containing an oxyquinolinyl complex of Ti and a combination of Al(C₂H₅)₂Cl and Mg(C₄H₉)₂ as a cocatalyst were studied. The catalyst is highly active and, judging by the broad molecular weight distribution of the polymers, contains several active center populations. The active centers differ not only in their kinetic parameters but also in stereospecificity. Most of the active centers produce essentially atactic polypropylene but a small fraction of the centers produces polypropylene of moderate isotacticity degree. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 1844–1854     

Chemoselective hydrogenation of nitriles to primary amines catalyzed by water‐soluble transition metal catalysts

The water‐soluble rhodium complex generated in situ from [Rh (COD)Cl]₂ in aqueous ammonia has been revealed as a highly efficient catalyst for the hydrogenation of aromatic nitriles, to primary amines with excellent yields. The catalyst is also highly selective towards primary amines in the case of sterically hindered aliphatic nitriles. The catalytic system can also be recycled and re‐used with no significant loss of activity.     

Accelerated Heck reaction using ortho‐palladated complex in a nonaqueous ionic liquid with controlled microwave heating

The activity of {Pd[C₆H₂(CH₂CH₂NH₂)‐(OMe)₂,3,4] (µ‐Br)}₂ complex was investigated in the Heck–Mizoroki C C cross‐coupling reaction under conventional heating and microwave irradiation conditions in molten salt tetrabutylammonium bromide as the solvent and promoter at 130 °C. This complex in these conditions is an active and efficient catalyst for the Heck reaction of aryl iodides, bromides and even chlorides, and also arenesulfonyl chlorides. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,characterization and immobilization of a novel mononuclear vanadium (V) complex on modified magnetic nanoparticles as catalyst for epoxidation of allyl alcohols

The 2,4,6‐tris(2‐pyridyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine (tptz) undergoes hydrolysis in the presence of VO(SO₄) in an alkaline solution, affording mainly the bis(2‐pyridyl carbonyl)amid ) VO₂ complex, designated as [VO₂(bpca)]. Single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography revealed that the coordination of V in complex is a distorted square‐pyramid coordinated with three nitrogen of bis(2‐pyridyl carbonyl)amid ) ligand and two binding oxygen atoms. The prepared complex which successfully supported on modified Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles using tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and (3‐aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane(APTMS)was designated as Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@APTMS@[VO₂(bpca)] complex (nanocatalyst). The complex and nanocatalyst were characterized by means of FT‐IR, XRD, VSM, SEM and TEM. The catalytic activity of [VO₂(bpca)] complex and Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@APTMS@complex as catalysts 1 and 2 were evaluated by the epoxidation of geraniol , 3‐methyl‐2‐buten‐1‐ol , trans‐2‐hexen‐1‐ol and 1‐octen‐3‐ol with 70–98% conversions and 95–100% selectivities. Based on the obtained results, the heterogeneity and reusability of the catalyst seems promising. In addition, the in vitro antibacterial activity of [VO₂ (bpca)] complex have also been evaluated and compared to the activities of other vanadium complexes, tptz ligand and two standard antibacterial drugs, Nalidixic acid and Vancomycin.