PNN′ & P2NN′ ligands via reductive amination with phosphine aldehydes: synthesis and base-metal coordination chemistry

Phosphorus-donor “arms” are readily added to amines in order to enable sturdy base metal coordination.

First-Row Transition Metal (De)Hydrogenation Catalysis Based On Functional Pincer Ligands

The use of 3d metals in de/hydrogenation catalysis has emerged as a competitive field with respect to "traditional" precious metal catalyzed transformations. The introduction of functional pincer ligands that can store protons and/or electrons as expressed by metal-ligand cooperativity and ligand redox-activity strongly stimulated this development as a conceptual starting point for rational catalyst design. This review aims at providing a comprehensive picture of the utilization of functional pincer ligands in first-row transition metal hydrogenation and dehydrogenation catalysis and related synthetic concepts relying on these such as the hydrogen borrowing methodology. Particular emphasis is put on the implementation and relevance of cooperating and redox-active pincer ligands within the mechanistic scenarios.

Ni-Catalyzed α-Alkylation of Unactivated Amides and Esters with Alcohols by Hydrogen Auto-Transfer Strategy

A transition-metal-catalyzed borrowing hydrogen/hydrogen auto-transfer strategy allows the utilization of feedstock alcohols as an alkylating partner, which avoids the formation of stoichiometric salt waste and enables a direct and benign approach for the construction of C-N and C-C bonds. In this study, a nickel-catalyzed α-alkylation of unactivated amides and ester (tert-butyl acetate) is carried out by using primary alcohols under mild conditions. This C-C bond-forming reaction is catalyzed by a new, molecularly defined nickel(II) NNN-pincer complex (0.1-1 mol %) and proceeds through hydrogen auto-transfer, thereby releasing water as the sole byproduct. In addition, N-alkylation of cyclic amides under Ni-catalytic conditions is demonstrated.

Isoelectronic Manganese and Iron Hydrogenation/Dehydrogenation Catalysts: Similarities and Divergences

Sustainable processes that utilize nontoxic, readily available, and inexpensive starting materials for organic synthesis constitute a major objective in modern chemical research. In this context, it is highly important to perform reactions under catalytic conditions and to replace precious metal catalysts by earth-abundant nonprecious metal catalysts. In particular, iron and manganese are promising candidates, as these are among the most abundant metals in the earth's crust, are inexpensive, and exhibit a low environmental impact. As far as chemical processes are concerned, hydrogenations and acceptorless alcohol dehydrogenation (AAD), sometimes in conjunction with hydrogen autotransfer reactions, are becoming important areas of research. While the first is a very important synthetic process representing a highly atom-efficient and clean methodology, AAD is an oxidant-free, environmentally benign reaction where carbonyl compounds together with dihydrogen as a valuable product and/or reactant (autotransfer) and water are formed. Carbonyl compounds, typically generated in situ, can be converted into other useful organic materials such as amines, imines, or heterocycles. In 2016 several groups, including ours, discovered for the first time the potential of hydride biscarbonyl Mn(I) complexes bearing strongly bound PNP pincer ligands or related tridentate ligands as highly effective and versatile catalysts for hydrogenation, transfer hydrogenation, and dehydrogenation reactions. These complexes are isoelectronic analogues of the respective hydride monocarbonyl Fe(II) PNP compounds and display similar reactivities but also quite divergent behavior depending on the coligands. Moreover, manganese compounds show improved long-term stability and high robustness toward harsh reaction conditions. In light of these recent achievements, this Account contrasts Mn(I) and Fe(II) PNP pincer catalysts, highlighting specific features that are connected to particular structural and electronic properties. It also addresses opportunities and restrictions in their catalytic applications. Apart from classical hydrogenations, it also covers the most recent developments of these catalysts for AAD resulting in the synthesis of complex organic molecules such as heterocycles via multicomponent reactions. The ambivalent hydrogen-based redox chemistry provides access to a variety of synthetically valuable reductive and oxidative coupling reactions. Hence, these catalysts cover a broad scope of catalytic applications and exhibit activities and productivities that are becoming competitive with those of well-established precious metal catalysts. The knowledge about the nature and characteristics of active Mn(I)- and Fe(II)-based systems paves the way for conceptually and mechanistically well-founded research, which might lead to further developments and the discovery of novel catalysts extending the current scope and limitations of reactivity. It underlines that base metal catalysts are beginning to challenge precious metal catalysts and contributes to the further advancement of waste-free sustainable base metal catalysis.

Mechanistic studies on the N-alkylation of amines with alcohols catalysed by iridium(i) complexes with functionalised N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

Experimental and theoretical studies give support for an iridium-catalyzed C–N bond formation.

Ni-Catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling of primary and secondary alcohols with methyl-N-heteroaromatics

Here we report the first base-metal catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling of primary (aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic) and secondary alcohols with methyl-N-heteroaromatics to form various C(sp³)-alkylated N-heteroaromatics.

Catalytic (de)hydrogenation promoted by non-precious metals – Co, Fe and Mn: recent advances in an emerging field

This review is aimed at introducing the remarkable progress made in the last three years in the development of base metal catalysts for hydrogenations and dehydrogenative transformations.

Crystal structure of the tetra-hydro-furan disolvate of a 94:6 solid solution of [N2,N6-bis-(di-tert-butyl-phosphan-yl)pyridine-2,6-di-amine]-dibromido-manganese(II) and its monophosphine oxide analogue

The MnBr2 complex of N2,N6-bis-(di-tert-butyl-phosphan-yl)pyridine-2,6-di-amine (1·MnBr2) co-crystallizes with 5.69% of the monophosphine oxide analogue (1O·MnBr2) and two tetra-hydro-furan (THF) mol-ecules, namely [N2,N6-bis-(di-tert-butyl-phosphan-yl)pyridine-2,6-di-amine]-dibromido-manganese(II)-[bis-(di-tert-butyl-phosphan-yl)({6-[(di-tert-butyl-phosphan-yl)amino]-pyridin-2-yl}amino)-phosphine oxide]di-bromido-manganese(II)-tetra-hydro-furan (0.94/0.06/2), [MnBr2(C21H41N3P2)]0.94[MnBr2(C21H41N3OP2)]0.06·2C4H8O. The 1·MnBr2 and 1O·MnBr2 complexes are occupationally disordered about general positions. Both complexes feature square-pyramidal coordination of the MnII atoms. They are connected by weak N-H⋯Br hydrogen bonding into chains extending along [001]. The THF mol-ecules are located between the layers formed by these chains. One THF mol-ecule is involved in hydrogen bonding to an amine H atom.

One-pot Reductive Amination of carbonyl Compounds with Nitro Compounds by Transfer Hydrogenation over Co-Nx as catalyst

A new method was developed for the synthesis of secondary amines through the one-pot reductive amination of carbonyl compounds with nitro compounds using formic acid as the hydrogen donor over a heterogeneous non-noble-metal catalyst (Co-N_x /C-800-AT, generated by the pyrolysis of the cobalt phthalocyanine/silica composite at 800°C under a N₂ atmosphere and subsequent etching by HF). Both nitrogen and cobalt were of considerable importance in the transfer hydrogenation reactions with formic acid.

Environmentally friendly synthesis of secondary amines via one-pot reductive amination over a heterogeneous Co–Nx catalyst

The application of earth-abundant transition metal catalysts in the mild and selective synthesis of secondary amines via the reductive amination method is very challenging.

A triazine-based Ni(II) PNP pincer complex as catalyst for Kumada-Corriu and Negishi cross-coupling reactions

ABSTRACT

Kumada-Corriu and Negishi cross-coupling reactions, catalyzed efficiently by a Ni(II) PNP pincer complex containing a triazine backbone, are described. The catalyst is able to react with both activated and inactivated aryl halides including chlorides as well as phenol derivatives such as tosylates and mesylates to give the corresponding cross-coupling products in good to excellent isolated yields. A high diversity of substrates was tested under moderate conditions for both types of reactions.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT