Rapid ruthenium-catalyzed synthesis of pyranopyrandiones by reconstructive carbonylation of cyclopropenones involving C[bond]C bond cleavage

Pyranopyrandiones were prepared by a novel ruthenium-catalyzed carbonylative dimerization of cyclopropenones via C-C bond cleavage. For example, treatment of dipropylcyclopropenone with a catalytic amount of Ru3(CO)12 and NEt3 in THF under 15 atm of carbon monoxide at 140 degrees C for 20 h gave a novel functional monomer, 3,4,7,8-tetrapropylpyrano[6,5-e]pyran-2,6-dione, in an isolated yield of 81%. Unsymmetrically substituted pyranopyrandiones were also obtained by ruthenium-catalyzed carbonylative coupling of cyclopropenones with alkynes under similar reaction conditions.     

Synthesis of 2-alkylidenetetrahydrofurans by Ru-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective codimerization of dihydrofurans with alpha,beta-unsaturated esters

2-(1-Alkoxycarbonyl)alkylidenetetrahydrofurans were readily synthesized by the codimerization of 2,3- or 2,5-dihydrofurans with alpha,beta-unsaturated esters using a zerovalent Ru catalyst, Ru(cod)(cot), with high regio- and stereoselectivity.     

A highly stereoselective synthesis of the C10–C31 (BCDEF ring) portion of pinnatoxin A

An efficient, highly stereoselective synthesis of the C10–C31 (BCDEF ring) portion of pinnatoxin A has been achieved utilizing tandem double hemiketal formation/intramolecular hetero-Michael addition to construct the 6,5,6-dispiroketal (BCD ring) system and subsequent intramolecular ketalization to form the 5,6-bicycloketal (EF ring) system as key steps.     

Fine Tunable,Redox Active Octapalladium Chains Supported by Linear Tetraphosphines,Leading to Dynamically 1D Self-Assembled Coordination Polymers

A series of the octapalladium chains supported by meso-Ph₂PCH₂P(Ph)CH₂P(Ph)CH₂PPh₂ (meso-dpmppm) ligands, [Pd₈(meso-dpmppm)₄(L)₂](BF₄)₄ (L=none ( 1 ), solvents: CH₃CN ( 2 a ), dmf ( 2 b ), dmso ( 2 c ), RN≡C: R=Xyl ( 3 a ), Mes ( 3 b ), Dip ( 3 c ), ^tBu ( 3 d ), Cy ( 3 e ), CH₃(CH₂)₇ ( 3 f ), CH₃(CH₂)₁₁ ( 3 g ), CH₃(CH₂)₁₇ ( 3 h )) and [Pd₈(meso-dpmppm)₄(X)₂](BF₄)₂ (X=Cl ( 4 a ), N₃ ( 4 b ), CN ( 4 c ), SCN ( 4 d )), were synthesized by using 2 a as a stable good precursor, and characterized by spectroscopic (IR, ¹H and ³¹P NMR, UV-vis-NIR, ESI-MS) measurements and X-ray crystallographic analyses (for 1 , 2 a , b , 3 a , b , e , f , 4 a – d ). On the basis of DFT calculations on the X-ray determined structure of 2 b ( [2b-Pd₈]⁴⁺ ) and the optimized models [Pd₈(meso-Ph₂PCH₂P(H)CH₂P(H)CH₂PH₂)₄(CH₃CN)₂]⁴⁺ ( [Pd₈Ph₈]⁴⁺ ) and [Pd₈(meso-H₂PCH₂P(H)CH₂P(H)CH₂PH₂)₄(CH₃CN)₂]⁴⁺ ( [Pd₈H₈]⁴⁺ ), with and without empirically calculating dispersion force stabilization energy (B3LYP-D3, B3LYP), the formation energy between the two Pd₄ fragments is assumed to involve mainly noncovalent interactions (ca. −70 kcal/mol) with four sets of interligand C−H/π interactions and Pd⋅⋅⋅Pd metallophilic one, while electron shared covalent interactions are almost canceled out within the Pd₈ chain. All the compounds isolated are stable in solution and exhibit characteristic absorption at ∼900 nm, which is assignable to a spin allowed HOMO to LUMO transition, and shows temperature dependent intensity change with variable absorption coefficients presumably due to coupling with some thermal vibrations. The structures and electronic states of the Pd₈ chains are found finely tunable by varying the terminal capping ligands. In particular, theoretical calculations elucidated that the HOMO-LUMO energy gap is systematically related to the central Pd−Pd distance (2.7319(6)–2.7575(6) Å) by two ways with neutral ligands L ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) and with anionic ligands X ( 4 ), which are reflected on the NIR absorption energy of 867–954 nm. The isocyanide terminated Pd₈ complexes ( 3 ) further reacted with excess of RNC (6 eq) to afford the Pd₄ complexes, [Pd₄(meso-dpmppm)₂(RNC)₂](BF₄)₂ ( 13 ), and the cyclic voltammograms of 2 a (L=CH₃CN), 3 , and 13 (R=Xyl, Mes, ^tBu, Cy) demonstrated wide range redox behaviors from 2{Pd₄}⁴⁺ to 2{Pd₄}⁰ through 2{Pd₄}²⁺↔{Pd₈}⁴⁺, {Pd₈}³⁺, and {Pd₈}²⁺ strings. The oxidized complexes, [Pd₄(meso-dpmppm)₂(RNC)₃](BF₄)₄ ( 16 ), were characterized by X-ray analyses, and the two-electron reduced chain of [Pd₈(meso-dpmppm)₄](BF₄)₂ ( 7 ) was analyzed by spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques and DFT calculations. Reactions of 2 a with 1 equiv. of aromatic linear bisisocyanide (BI) in CH₂Cl₂ deposited insoluble coordination polymers, {[Pd₈(meso-dpmppm)₄(BI)](BF₄)₄}_n ( 5 ), and interestingly, they were soluble in acetonitrile, ³¹P{¹H} and ¹H DOSY NMR spectra as well as SAXS curves suggesting that the coordination polymers may exist in acetonitrile as dynamically 1D self-assembled coordination polymers comprising ca. 50 units of the Pd₈ rod averaged within the timescale.     

Alloyed Tetranuclear Metal Chains of Pd4−nPtn (n=0–3) Scaffolded by a New Linear Tetraphosphine Containing a PNP Bridge

A new linear tetraphosphine containing a PNP phosphazane bridge, rac-bis[(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphino]phenylamine (rac-dpmppan), was synthesized and utilized to support a series of Pd/Pt mixed metal tetranuclear chains, [Pd_4−nPt_n(μ-rac-dpmppan)₂(XylNC)₂](PF₆)₂ (XylNC=xylyl isocyanide; n=0: Pd₄ ( 1 ), 1: PtPd₃ ( 2 ), 2: PtPd₂Pt ( 3 ), 2: Pt₂Pd₂ ( 4 ), 3: Pt₂PdPt ( 5 )), in which the number and positions of additional Pt atoms were successfully controlled depending on the respective synthetic procedures using transformations from 1 to 3 through 2 and from 4 to 5 by redox-coupled exchange reactions. The ³¹P{¹H} NMR and ESI mass spectra and X-ray diffraction analyses revealed almost identical tetranuclear structures, with slight contraction of metal-metal bonds according to incorporation of Pt atoms. The electronic absorption spectra of 1 – 5 exhibited characteristic bands at 635–510 nm with an energy propensity depending on the number and positions of Pt centres, which were assigned to HOMO (dσ*σσ*) to LUMO (dσ*σ*σ*) transition by theoretical calculations. The present results demonstrated that the electronic structures of Pd/Pt mixed-metal tetranuclear complexes are finely tuned as orbital-overlapping alloyed metal chains by atomically precise Pt incorporation in the Pd₄ chain.     

Ketonization of Secondary Hydroxy Groups of Alcohols and Diols with Hydrogen Peroxide Under the Influence of Tricetylpyridinium-12-Tungstophosphate

Molydbenum and tungsten-catalyzed oxidations of alcohols with dilute hydrogen peroxide under phase-transfer conditions have been focused in recent years 1–3. In a previous paper, we have reported that tricetylpyridinium-12-molybdophosphate(CMP), [π - C₅H₅N+(CH_{2 15}CH₃]₃ (PMO₁₂O₄₀)³-, prepared from 12-molybdophosphoric acid (MPA) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), catalyzed the oxidation of secondary alcohols to carbonyl compounds with tert-butylhydroperoxide(t-BuOOH)⁴. When hydrogen peroxide in place of t-BuOOH was employed as the oxidant for the above oxidation, however, alcohols were oxidized with difficulty to give carbonyl compounds in poor yields. In continuation of this study, we wish to report here the selective oxidation of secondary hydroxy group of alcohols and diols and diols with H₂O₂ under the influence to tricetylpyridinium-12 tungstophosphate (CWP), [π-C₅H₅N+ (CH₂) 15 CH₃]₃(PW₁₂O₄₀)³-, derived from 12-tungstophosporic acid (WPA) and CPC.     

Facile Insertion of Carbon Dioxide into Cu2(μ‐H) Dinuclear Units Supported by Tetraphosphine Ligands

Reactions of meso‐bis[(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphino]methane (dpmppm) with Cu^I species in the presence of NaBH₄ afforded di‐ and tetranuclear copper hydride complexes, [Cu₂(μ‐H)(μ‐dpmppm)₂]X ( 1 ) and [Cu₄(μ‐H)₂(μ₄‐H)(μ‐dpmppm)₂]X ( 2 ) (X=BF₄, PF₆). Complex 1 undergoes facile insertion of CO₂ (1 atm) at room temperature, leading to a formate‐bridged dicopper complex [Cu₂(μ‐HCOO)(dpmppm)₂]X ( 3 ). The experimental and DFT theoretical studies clearly demonstrate that CO₂ insertion into the Cu₂(μ‐H) unit occurred with the flexible dicopper platform. Complex 2 also undergoes CO₂ insertion to give a formate‐bridged complex, [Cu₄(μ‐HCOO)₃(dpmppm)₂]X, during which the square Cu₄ framework opened up to a linear tetranuclear chain.     

Promoted ternary CuO-ZrO2-Al2O3 catalysts for methanol synthesis

Ternary CuO-ZrO₂-Al₂O₃ catalysts promoted by palladium or gold were prepared and tested in CO hydrogenation reaction at 260°C under elevated pressure (4.8 MPa). The promotion effect of palladium or gold addition on the physicochemical and catalytical properties of CuO-ZrO₂-Al₂O₃ catalysts in methanol synthesis (MS) was studied. The catalysts were characterized by BET, XRD, TPR-H₂, TPD-NH₃ methods. The BET results showed that the ternary system CuO-ZrO₂-Al₂O₃ had the largest specific surface area, cumulative pore volume and average pore size in comparison with the promoted catalysts. The yield of methanol can be given through the following sequence: 5%Pd/CuO-ZrO₂-Al₂O₃ > CuO-ZrO₂-Al₂O₃ > 2%Au/CuO-ZrO₂-Al₂O₃. We also found that the presence of gold or palladium on catalyst surface has strong influence on the reaction selectivity. The high selectivity of gold doped ternary catalyst is explained by the gold-oxide interface sites created on the catalyst surface and the acidity of those systems. The higher selectivity to methanol in the case of the palladium catalyst is explained by the spillover effect between Pd and CuO.      

Synergistic effect of Thiourea and HCl on Palladium (II) recovery: An investigation on Chemical structures and thermodynamic stability via DFT

This work duly investigates the recovery of Pd (II) chlorocomplexes from industrial wastewater. Chemical structures and thermodynamic stabilities of the complex formed are evaluated via density functional theory (DFT). By applying synergistic solutions of thiourea mixed with hydrochloric acid (HCl), the stripping reaction of Pd (II) in the loaded Aliquat 336 occurs and Pd (II) chlorocomplexes coordinated thiourea ligands are formed, thus 80.19% of Pd (II) chlorocomplexes can be recovered. The aim of this study is to gain a better understanding of the stripping mechanisms and the structure of the complexes formed via the synergistic system. Such an understanding is still limited since little research has been conducted in this field. Owing to their molecular geometry, ligand coordination and donor groups play a vital role in the reactivity of palladium (II) complex. Quantum models have been developed to evaluate the chemical structure and thermodynamics stability of ((NH₂)₂CS·PdCl₂) namely: (i) DFT with B3LYP/6-31g(d,p) and MP2/6-31g(d,p) basis set, (ii) MP2 with cc-pVTZ basis set and (iii) CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ. Results demonstrate that the highest geometric stability exhibited is the structure of Pd-S bonding with 180° Cl-Pd-Cl. The distance (r) and angle (a) of the selected geometrical parameters for (NH₂)₂CS·PdCl₂ complex are reported. Additionally, FTIR and UV–vis spectroscopies have been conducted to analyze the sampling solutions. Further, the calculated vibrational frequencies and experimental spectroscopic results show good agreement with the optimized geometry.