Search Results
Efficient methylation of anilines with methanol catalysed by cyclometalated ruthenium complexes
Cyclometalated ruthenium complexes4-10allow the effective methylation of anilines with methanol to selectively giveN-methylanilines. This hydrogen autotransfer procedure proceeds under mild conditions (60 °C) in a practical manner (NaOH as base). Mechanistic investigations suggest an active homogenous ruthenium complex and β-hydride elimination of methanol as the rate determining step. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2021.
Homogeneous cobalt-catalyzed reductive amination for synthesis of functionalized primary amines
The development of earth abundant 3d metal-based catalysts continues to be an important goal of chemical research. In particular, the design of base metal complexes for reductive amination to produce primary amines remains as challenging. Here, we report the combination of cobalt and linear-triphos (bis(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)phenylphosphine) as the molecularly-defined non-noble metal catalyst for the synthesis of linear and branched benzylic, heterocyclic and aliphatic primary amines from carbonyl compounds, gaseous ammonia and hydrogen in good to excellent yields. Noteworthy, this cobalt catalyst exhibits high selectivity and as a result the -NH2 moiety is introduced in functionalized and structurally diverse molecules. An inner-sphere mechanism on the basis of the mono-cationic [triphos-CoH]+ complex as active catalyst is proposed and supported with density functional theory computation on the doublet state potential free energy surface and H2 metathesis is found as the rate-determining step.
Efficient palladium-catalyzed synthesis of 2-aryl propionic acids
A flexible two-step, one-pot procedure was developed to synthesize 2-aryl propionic acids including the anti-inflammatory drugs naproxen and flurbiprofen. Optimal results were obtained in the presence of the novel ligand neoisopinocampheyldiphenylphosphine (NISPCPP) (9) which enabled the efficient sequential palladium-catalyzed Heck coupling of aryl bromides with ethylene and hydroxycarbonylation of the resulting styrenes to 2-aryl propionic acids. This cascade transformation leads with high regioselectivity to the desired products in good yields and avoids the need for additional purification steps. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Cooperative catalytic methoxycarbonylation of alkenes: Uncovering the role of palladium complexes with hemilabile ligands
Mechanistic studies of the catalyst [Pd2(dba)3/1,1′-bis(tert-butyl(pyridin-2-yl)phosphanyl)ferrocene, L2] for olefin alkoxycarbonylation reactions are described. X-ray crystallography reveals the coordination of the pyridyl nitrogen atom in L2 to the palladium center of the catalytic intermediates. DFT calculations on the elementary steps of the industrially relevant carbonylation of ethylene (the Lucite α-process) indicate that the protonated pyridyl moiety is formed immediately, which facilitates the formation of the active palladium hydride complex. The insertion of ethylene and CO into this intermediate leads to the corresponding palladium acyl species, which is kinetically reversible. Notably, this key species is stabilized by the hemilabile coordination of the pyridyl nitrogen atom in L2. The rate-determining alcoholysis of the acyl palladium complex is substantially facilitated by metal-ligand cooperation. Specifically, the deprotonation of the alcohol by the built-in base of the ligand allows a facile intramolecular nucleophilic attack on the acyl palladium species concertedly. Kinetic measurements support this mechanistic proposal and show that the rate of the carbonylation step is zero-order dependent on ethylene and CO. Comparing CH3OD and CH3OH as nucleophiles suggests the involvement of (de)protonation in the rate-determining step.
The role of allyl ammonium salts in palladium-catalyzed cascade reactions towards the synthesis of spiro-fused heterocycles
There is a continuous need for designing new and improved synthetic methods aiming at minimizing reaction steps while increasing molecular complexity. In this respect, catalytic, one-pot cascade methodologies constitute an ideal tool for the construction of complex molecules with high chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity. Herein, we describe two general and efficient cascade procedures for the synthesis of spiro-fused heterocylces. This transformation combines selective nucleophilic substitution (SN2′), palladium-catalyzed Heck and C–H activation reactions in a cascade manner. The use of allylic ammonium salts and specific Pd catalysts are key to the success of the transformations. The synthetic utility of these methodologies is showcased by the preparation of 48 spiro-fused dihydrobenzofuranes and indolines including a variety of fluorinated derivatives.
3,3-Difluoroallyl ammonium salts: highly versatile, stable and selective gem-difluoroallylation reagents
The selective synthesis of fluorinated organic molecules continues to be of major importance for the development of bioactive compounds (agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals) as well as unique materials. Among the established synthetic toolbox for incorporation of fluorine-containing units, efficient and general reagents for introducing -CF2- groups have been largely neglected. Here, we present the synthesis of 3,3-difluoropropen-1-yl ammonium salts (DFPAs) as stable, and scalable gem-difluoromethylation reagents, which allow for the direct reaction with a wide range of fascinating nucleophiles. DFPAs smoothly react with N-, O-, S-, Se-, and C-nucleophiles under mild conditions without necessity of metal catalysts with exclusive regioselectivity. In this way, the presented reagents also permit the straightforward preparation of many analogues of existing pharmaceuticals.
Highly active and efficient catalysts for alkoxycarbonylation of alkenes
Carbonylation reactions of alkenes constitute the most important industrial processes in homogeneous catalysis. Despite the tremendous progress in this transformation, the development of advanced catalyst systems to improve their activity and widen the range of feedstocks continues to be essential for new practical applications. Herein a palladium catalyst based on 1,2-bis((tert-butyl(pyridin-2-yl)phosphanyl)methyl)benzene L3 (py t bpx) is rationally designed and synthesized. Application of this system allows a general alkoxycarbonylation of sterically hindered and demanding olefins including all kinds of tetra-, tri-and 1,1-disubstituted alkenes as well as natural products and pharmaceuticals to the desired esters in excellent yield. Industrially relevant bulk ethylene is functionalized with high activity (TON: >1,425,000; TOF: 44,000 h-1 for initial 18 h) and selectivity (>99%). Given its generality and efficiency, we expect this catalytic system to immediately impact both the chemical industry and research laboratories by providing a practical synthetic tool for the transformation of nearly any alkene into a versatile ester product.