Direct synthesis of Cbz-protected β-amino ketones by iodine-catalyzed three-component condensation of aldehydes, ketones and benzyl carbamate

Iodine has been found to be very effective catalyst for a Mannich reaction between an aryl aldehyde, an aryl ketone and benzyl carbamate, even though this is a less reactive amine, to produce Cbz-protected β-aryl β-amino carbonyl compounds in high yields.     

Microkinetic modelling of the formation of C1 and C2 products in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis over cobalt catalysts

The heats of adsorption of different C₁ and C₂ molecules assumed to be present during the initial steps of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and activation energies for elementary steps envisioned to occur in the synthesis are calculated for Co by using the unity bond index-quadratic exponential potential (UBI-QEP) method. The preexponential factors for the elementary steps are calculated from transition-state theory, and the rate constants are calculated according to the Arrhenius equation. The activation barrier for hydrogenation of CO is found to be lower compared to hydrogen assisted dissociation of CO, which has a smaller activation barrier than direct dissociation of CO. The reaction steps with high activation barriers are eliminated. Based on this elimination two sets of elementary steps for formation of C₁ and C₂ alkenes and alkanes in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis are established: one based on hydrogen assisted CO dissociation (carbide mechanism) and one based on CO hydrogenation (CO insertion mechanism). In addition, one mechanism of producing CO₂ from the water-gas shift reaction is proposed. The resulting mechanisms are combined and used in the microkinetic model, which are fitted to experimental results at methanation conditions (T = 483 K or 493 K, p = 1.85 bar and H₂/CO = 10) over a Co/Al₂O₃ Fischer-Tropsch catalyst. A good tuning is obtained by adjusting the C-Co and H-Co binding strengths. The microkinetic modelling based on these assumptions indicates that CO is mainly converted through hydrogenation of CO and that C₂ compounds are mainly produced by insertion of CO into a metal-methyl bond. Thus, from the surface coverages and reaction rates predicted by the microkinetic modelling the mechanism can be further reduced to only include the CO insertion mechanism. Hydrogenation of CHO to CH₂O is found to be the rate determining initiation step, and insertion of CO into a metal-methyl bond is found to be the rate determining step for chain growth. By using the UBI-QEP method for calculation of activation energies, the activation barriers for dissociation of CO and hydrogenation of surface carbon are found to be too large for the carbide mechanisms to occur. However, experimental data or another theoretical method is necessary in order to support or disprove the calculated activation energies in this work.     

Acceleration of the DABCO-promoted Baylis-Hillman reaction using a recoverable H-bonding organocatalyst

It has been shown that catalytic amounts (20-40 mol %) of bis-aryl (thio)ureas greatly accelerate the DABCO-promoted Baylis-Hillman reaction between a range of aromatic aldehydes and methyl acrylate in the absence of solvent. These robust organocatalysts are superior mole per mole promoters of the reaction than either methanol or water and are recoverable in high yield after the reaction by column chromatography.     

Phospha-palladacycles and N-heterocyclic carbene palladium complexes: efficient catalysts for CC-coupling reactions

Due to the great importance of palladium-catalyzed Heck-type reactions in scientific and industrial chemistry, a lot of publications and reviews have been published during the last years describing this matter under different aspects. This article presents a summary of catalytic applications of palladium complexes with phosphorus ligands containing a metallated sp³-carbon centre (“palladacycles”) or with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands in C-C and C-N coupling reactions of aryl halides including recent results of mechanistic discussions about their role in the catalytic cycle.     

A first-principles study of surface and subsurface H on and in Ni(1 1 1): diffusional properties and coverage-dependent behavior

Periodic, self-consistent, density functional theory (GGA-PW91) calculations are performed for both surface and subsurface atomic hydrogen on and in Ni(1 1 1). At a low coverage (θ=0.25 ML), the binding energies (BEs) of a hydrogen atom in surface fcc, subsurface octahedral (first layer), and subsurface octahedral (second layer) sites are −2.89, −2.18, and −2.11 eV, respectively. The activation energy barriers for hydrogen diffusion from the surface to the first subsurface layer and from the first to the second subsurface layer are estimated to be 0.88 and 0.52 eV, respectively. In the entire coverage range studied, hydrogen occupies surface fcc and hcp sites and subsurface octahedral sites. In addition, the magnitude of the BE per hydrogen atom and the magnetization of the nickel slabs both decrease as hydrogen coverage increases. Vibrational frequencies of hydrogen at various surface and subsurface sites are calculated and are in reasonable agreement with experimental data. A phase stability calculation with a 2 × 2 surface unit cell shows that a p(2 × 2)-2H overlayer structure (θ=0.5 ML) and a p(1 × 1)-1H structure (θ=1.0 ML) are stable at low hydrogen pressures, in agreement with numerous experimental results. A very large increase in pressure is required to populate subsurface sites. After such an increase occurs, the first subsurface layer is filled completely.     

Synthesis of double silylene-bridged binuclear titanium complexes and their use as catalysts for ethylene polymerization

Five new double silylene-bridged binuclear titanium complexes were synthesized by the reaction of RCpTiCl₃ and Li₂[μ,μ-(SiMe₂)₂ (C₅H₃)₂] in toluene. They were all well characterized. These complexes activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO) are highly active catalysts (2.33 × 10⁵ g PE/mol Cat h) for the polymerization of ethylene even at low Al/Ti (Al/Ti = 300). The molecular weight distribution of the polymer indicates broad or bimodal (MWD = 26.76) distribution.     

Synthesis of benzofurans via Pd-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of 2-allylphenols

Substituted 2-methylbenzofurans were obtained from 2-allylphenols via Pd²⁺-catalyzed oxidative cyclization using Cu(OAc)₂–LiCl as a reoxidant and wet DMF as a solvent.     

氯化π-单取代环戊二烯基镍(Ⅱ)的双齿膦配合物合成和催化

合成了化学式为[(η~5一RC_5H_4)NiPh_2P(CH_2).PPh_2]Cl的六个配合物(式中R=Me,Et;n=2(dppe ).n=3(dppp),n=4(dppb).并用IR和~1H NMR对其进行了表征.考察并讨论了它们对苯基溴化镁与氯化苄和反式-均二氯乙烯交叉偶联反应的催化活性.     

Palladacycles in catalysis - a critical survey

The application of palladacycles as catalysts for cross-coupling and similar reactions is reviewed. In the majority of cases palladacycles are likely to serve as a source of highly active but unstable zero-valent palladium species. In this respect the palladacycles resemble the so-called phosphine-free catalysts. The advantages and limitations of palladacycle catalysts are discussed.     

Platinum carbonyl derived catalysts on inorganic and organic supports: a comparative study

Fumed silica, silica gel, silica-alumina and cross-linked (5.5%) polystyrene have been functionalized with quaternary ammonium groups and the Chini cluster [Pt₁₂(CO)₂₄]²⁻ has been anchored onto these functionalized materials by ion pairing. A catalyst has also been prepared by the adsorption of Na₂[Pt₁₂(CO)₂₄] on unfunctionalized fumed silica. The catalytic activities of the resultant materials, and that of commercially purchased 5% platinum on alumina have been studied for the hydrogenation of a variety of unsaturated compounds. The substrates studied are: α-acetamidocinnamic acid, cyclohexanone, acetophenone, methyl pyruvate, ethyl acetoacetate, nitrobenzene and benzonitrile. Compared to the polystyrene supported catalyst, the inorganic oxide supported catalysts have higher surface areas and for most of the substrates have notably higher activities. The functionalized fumed silica-based catalyst gives higher conversions than functionalized silica gel and silica-alumina-based catalysts. In the hydrogenation of acetophenone and ethyl acetoacetate, the functionalized fumed silica-based catalyst show superior activity compared to the commercial platinum catalyst, and the catalyst made by conventional adsorption method. In benzonitrile hydrogenation with all the cluster-derived catalysts a hydrazine derivative is selectively formed, but when the commercial platinum catalyst is used benzyl amine is the main product.