Radical-Type Reactivity and Catalysis by Single-Electron Transfer to or from Redox-Active Ligands

Copper catalysis with redox-active ligands

Copper catalysis finds applications in various synthetic fields by utilizing the ability of copper to sustain mono- and bielectronic elementary steps. Further to the development of well-defined copper complexes with classical ligands such as phosphines and N-heterocyclic carbenes, a new and fast-expanding area of research is exploring the possibility of a complementing metal-centered reactivity with electronic participation by the coordination sphere. To achieve this electronic flexibility, redox-active ligands can be used to engage in a fruitful “electronic dialogue” with the metal center, and provide additional venues for electron transfer. This review aims to present the latest results in the area of copper-based cooperative catalysis with redox-active ligands.

Optimizing Group Transfer Catalysis by Copper Complex with Redox-Active Ligand in an Entatic State

Metalloenzymes use earth-abundant non-noble metals to perform high-fidelity transformations in the biological world. To ensure chemical efficiency, metalloenzymes have acquired evolutionary reactivity-enhancing tools. Among these, the entatic state model states that a strongly distorted geometry induced by ligands around a metal center gives rise to an energized structure called entatic state, strongly improving the reactivity. However, the original definition refers both to the transfer of electrons or chemical groups, whereas the chemical application of this concept in synthetic systems has mostly focused on electron transfer, therefore eluding chemical transformations. Here we report that a highly strained redox-active ligand enables a copper complex to perform catalytic nitrogen- and carbon-group transfer in as fast as 2 min, thus exhibiting a strong increase in reactivity compared with its unstrained analogue. This report combines two reactivity-enhancing features from metalloenzymes, entasis and redox cofactors, applied to group-transfer catalysis.

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We design a catalyst interfacing two reactivity-enhancing tools from metalloenzymes

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This work merges redox-active cofactors and entatic state reactivity

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The modifications in the coordination sphere lead to enhanced catalytic behavior

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These results open perspectives in bioinspired catalysis and group-transfer reactions

Electrochemical properties and catalytic reactivity of cobalt complexes with redox-active meso-substituted porphycene ligands

The cobalt complexes of meso-aryl substituted porphycenes were synthesized and characterized. The reduction potentials of the complexes were shifted to the positive side depending on the strength of the electron-withdrawing properties of the meso-substituents, while the optical properties, such as the absorption spectra of these complexes, were similar. This suggests that the energy levels of the molecular orbitals of the complexes were changed by the meso-substituents while the gaps of the orbitals were not significantly changed. The one-electron reduction of the complex did not afford the Co(I) species, but the ligand-reduced radical anion, which was characterized by electrospectrochemistry. The generated ligand-reduced species reacted with alkyl halides to form the Co(III)-alkyl complex. As a result, the reduction potential of the electrolytic reaction could be directly controlled by the substituents of the porphycene. The catalytic reaction with trichloromethylbenzene was also performed and it was found that the ratio of the obtained products was changed by the reduction potentials of the catalyst, [Formula: see text]. the cobalt porphycenes.

Evidence for Non-Innocence of a β-Diketonate Ligand

β-Diketonates, such as acetylacetonate, are amongst the most common bidentate ligands towards elements across the entire periodic table and are considered wholly redox-inactive in their complexes. Herein we show that complexation of 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate (hfac^- ) to Cr^II spontaneously affords Cr^III and a reduced β-diketonate radical ligand scaffold, as evidenced by crystallographic analysis, magnetic measurements, optical spectroscopy, reactivity studies, and DFT calculations. The possibility of harnessing β-diketonates as electron reservoirs opens up possibilities for new metal-ligand concerted reactivity in the ubiquitous β-diketonate coordination chemistry.

Reductive Electrophotocatalysis: Merging Electricity and Light To Achieve Extreme Reduction Potentials

We describe a new electrophotocatalytic strategy that harnesses the power of light and electricity to generate an excited radical anion with a reducing potential of -3.2 V vs SCE, which can be used to activate substrates with very high reduction potentials (E_red ≈ -1.9 to -2.9 V). The resultant aryl radicals can be engaged in various synthetically useful transformations to furnish arylboronate, arylstannane, and biaryl products.

Tuning of the redox potential and catalytic activity of a new Cu(ii) complex byo-iminobenzosemiquinone as an electron-reservoir ligand

The synthesis and characterization of a new Cu(ii) complex, LNIS2Cu^II(L^NIS=o-iminobenzosemiquinone), are reported.

Syntheses and characterizations of iron complexes of bulky o-phenylenediamide ligand

We report the reactivity of the iron complexes of a bulky phenylenediamide ligand.

A biradical oxo-molybdenum complex containing semiquinone and o-aminophenol benzoxazole-based ligands

We report a new mononuclear molybdenum(iv) complex, MoOL^BISL^SQ, in which L^SQ (2,4-di-tert-butyl o-semibenzoquinone ligand) has been prepared from the reaction of the o-iminosemibenzoquinone form of a tridentate non-innocent benzoxazole ligand, L^BIS, and MoO₂(acac)₂. The complex was characterized by X-ray crystallography, elemental analysis, IR and UV-vis spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The crystal structure of MoOL^BISL^SQ revealed a distorted octahedral geometry around the metal centre, surrounded by one O and two N atoms of L^BIS and two O atoms of L^SQ. The effective magnetic moment (μ_eff) of MoOL^BISL^SQ decreased from 2.36 to 0.2 μ_B in the temperature range of 290 to 2 K, indicating a singlet ground state caused by antiferromagnetic coupling between the metal and ligand centred unpaired electrons. Also, the latter led to the EPR silence of the complex. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies indicate both ligand and metal-centered redox processes. MoOL^BISL^SQ was applied as a catalyst for the oxidative cleavage of cyclohexene to adipic acid and selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfones with aqueous hydrogen peroxide.

Biradical molybdenum(iv) complex, MoOL^BISL^SQ, has been prepared from the reaction of the o-iminosemibenzoquinone form of a tridentate non-innocent benzoxazole ligand, L^BIS, and MoO₂(acac)₂ and used as catalyst in oxidation reaction..

Electronic characterization of redox (non)-innocent Fe2S2 reference systems: a multi K-edge X-ray spectroscopic study

Di-iron dithiolate hydrogenase model complexes are promising systems for electrocatalytic production of dihydrogen and have therefore been spectroscopically and theoretically investigated in this study. The direct effect of ligand substitution on the redox activity of the complex is examined. In order to understand and eventually optimize such systems, we characterised both metal and ligand in detail, using element specific X-ray absorption Fe- and S-K edge XAS. The (electronic) structure of three different [Fe₂S₂] hydrogenase systems in their non-reduced state was investigated. The effect of one- and two-electron reduction on the (electronic) structure was subsequently investigated. The S K-edge XAS spectra proved to be sensitive to delocalization of the electron density into the aromatic ring. The earlier postulated charge and spin localization in these complexes could now be measured directly using XANES. Moreover, the electron density (from S K-edge XANES) could be directly correlated to the Fe–CO bond length (from Fe K-edge EXAFS), which are in turn both related to the reported catalytic activity of these complexes. The delocalization of the electron density into the conjugated π-system of the aromatic moieties lowers the basicity of the diiron core and since protonation occurs at the diiron (as a rate determining step), lowering the basicity decreases the extent of protonation and consequently the catalytic activity.

Di-iron dithiolate hydrogenase model complexes are promising systems for electrocatalytic production of dihydrogen and have therefore been spectroscopically and theoretically investigated in this study.

Strategies and mechanisms of metal–ligand cooperativity in first-row transition metal complex catalysts

The use of metal–ligand cooperation (MLC) by transition metal bifunctional catalysts has emerged at the forefront of homogeneous catalysis science.

Ligand Redox Noninnocence in [CoIII(TAML)]0/- Complexes Affects Nitrene Formation

The redox noninnocence of the TAML scaffold in cobalt-TAML (tetra-amido macrocyclic ligand) complexes has been under debate since 2006. In this work, we demonstrate with a variety of spectroscopic measurements that the TAML backbone in the anionic complex [Co^III(TAML^red)]^– is truly redox noninnocent and that one-electron oxidation affords [Co^III(TAML^sq)]. Multireference (CASSCF) calculations show that the electronic structure of [Co^III(TAML^sq)] is best described as an intermediate spin (S = 1) cobalt(III) center that is antiferromagnetically coupled to a ligand-centered radical, affording an overall doublet (S = ¹/₂) ground-state. Reaction of the cobalt(III)-TAML complexes with PhINNs as a nitrene precursor leads to TAML-centered oxidation and produces nitrene radical complexes without oxidation of the metal ion. The ligand redox state (TAML^red or TAML^sq) determines whether mono- or bis-nitrene radical complexes are formed. Reaction of [Co^III(TAML^sq)] or [Co^III(TAML^red)]^– with PhINNs results in the formation of [Co^III(TAML^q)(N^•Ns)] and [Co^III(TAML^q)(N^•Ns)₂]^–, respectively. Herein, ligand-to-substrate single-electron transfer results in one-electron-reduced Fischer-type nitrene radicals (N^•Ns^–) that are intermediates in catalytic nitrene transfer to styrene. These nitrene radical species were characterized by EPR, XANES, and UV–vis spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, magnetic moment measurements, and supporting CASSCF calculations.

Nickel complexes of ligands derived from (o-hydroxyphenyl) dichalcogenide: delocalised redox states of nickel and o-chalcogenophenolate ligands

Two monoanionic nickel complexes Bu4N[Ni(LSeO)2] (1) and Bu4N[Ni(LSO)2] (2) (H2LSeO = 3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyselenophenol and H2LSO = 3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxythiophenol) were synthesised by reductive cleavage of the respective 2,2'-dichalcogenobis(4,6-di-tert-butylphenol) (H2LX-X; X = Se, S) with nickel(ii) salts. The crystal structures of 1 and 2 confirm the reductive X-X bond cleavage with the concomitant formation of the corresponding monoanionic square planar complex, where quinoidal distortions of the aromatic rings are observed. The monoanionic complexes (1 and 2) are paramagnetic (S = 1/2), exhibiting rhombic EPR signals, and the g anisotropies are well correlated with the spin-orbit coupling of chalcogenides. The spectral data indicate that the ligands H2LXO in 1 and 2 are redox non-innocent and stabilise the square planar S = 1/2 nickel complexes with a highly delocalised unpaired electron. DFT calculations further support the delocalised electronic structures of the nickel complexes.

Merging Regiodivergent Catalysis with Atom-Economical Radical Arylation

A titanocene‐catalyzed regiodivergent radical arylation is described that allows access to either enantiomerically pure tetrahydroquinolines or indolines from a common starting material. The regioselectivity of epoxide opening that results in the high selectivity of heterocycle formation is controlled by two factors, the absolute configuration of the enantiopure ligands of the (C₅H₄R)₂TiX₂ catalyst and the inorganic ligand X (X=Cl, OTs). The overall reaction is atom‐economical and constitutes a radical Friedel–Crafts alkylation.

Reactivity Modes of Cp*M-Type Half-Sandwich Dichalcogenolate Complexes with 2,6-Disubstituted Aryl Azides: The Effects of the Metal Center, Chalcogen, and Ligand Moiety on Product Formation

Cp*M-type half-sandwich dichalcogenolate complexes bearing either carborane or benzene moieties show diverse reactivity patterns toward two selected 2,6-disubstituted aryl azides under thermal or photolytic conditions. The chalcogen (S and Se) has little effect on the formation of final products. However, the effects of both the metal center and the ligand moiety of the metal precursor on the reactions were significant. Compared to iridium precursor Cp*IrS₂C₂B₁₀H₁₀ (1a), rhodium and cobalt analogues (1b: Cp*RhS₂C₂B₁₀H₁₀, 1c: Cp*CoS₂C₂B₁₀H₁₀) demonstrated no reactivity toward aryl azides. The reaction of Cp*IrSe₂C₂B₁₀H₁₀ (1d) with 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃N₃ led to the clean formation of complex 2 with C(sp³)-H activation of one methyl group of the Cp* ligand and loss of N₂ along with the rearrangement of the benzene ring of the original azide ligand, whereas the treatment of Cp*IrS₂C₆H₄ (1e) with 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃N₃ under the same reaction conditions gave a 16-electron half-sandwich complex 5 featuring C-N coupling on one methyl group from the Cp* ligand. When 2-Me-6-NO₂C₆H₃N₃ was employed, the same reaction patterns for forming products (3 and 6) with the nitro group migrating to the para-position versus the original aryl azide were observed. In addition, the reaction with metal precursor 1d generated another product 4 featuring the exchange of nitro and azido groups, while the reaction with 1e afforded another complex 7 with the formation of the N-NO₂ moiety. All new complexes were characterized by spectroscopy methods, and single-crystal X-ray analyses were performed for complexes 2 and 5-7. Furthermore, radical mechanisms for the formation of complexes 2-7 were proposed.

Selective Carbanion-Pyridine Coordination of a Reactive P,N Ligand to RhI

Ligands with reactive carbon sites in the periphery of a metal center have emerged as a powerful approach for metal-ligand bond activation. These reactive carbon sites are commonly generated by deprotonation strategies. Carbon-silicon bond cleavage is a potential alternative to access such constructs. Herein, the monodesilylation of bis-silyl-substituted P,N scaffold PNSi2 in the coordination sphere of [RhI (Cl)(CO)(PNSi2 )] (1) with sodium azide is disclosed. This affords a unique dinucleating anionic κ2 -C,N-κ1 -P ligand with a carbanionic methine carbon atom directly bound to rhodium as part of a four-membered Rh-N-C-C rhodacycle. This dimer undergoes meta-pyridine C-H activation facilitated by weak bases, which leads to a desymmetrization of the system and provides a σ,π-bridging 3-pyridyl fragment bound to RhI . The facile Si-C cleavage strategy may pave the way to studying the reactivity and functionalization of a variety of κ2 -C,N-coordinated pyridine scaffolds for selective transformations.

Radical-Type Reactivity and Catalysis by Single-Electron Transfer to or from Redox-Active Ligands

Controlled ligand-based redox-activity and chemical non-innocence are rapidly gaining importance for selective (catalytic) processes. This Concept aims to provide an overview of the progress regarding ligand-to-substrate single-electron transfer as a relatively new mode of operation to exploit ligand-centered reactivity and catalysis based thereon.

Reversible multi-electron storage in dual-site redox-active supramolecular cages

Redox-active M₆L₄ cages display multiple reversible redox-events, enabling switching from overall +12 to −4 charged species with reversible storage of 16 electrons.

A coordinatively unsaturated iridium complex with an unsymmetrical redox-active ligand: (spectro)electrochemical and reactivity studies

Metal–ligand cooperativity can be used in iridium complexes with an unsymmetrically substituted redox-active diamidobenzene ligand for bond activation reactions.

Di-tert-butylcatecholate derivatives of titanocene

Titanocene dichloride reacts with sodium 3,5-di-tert-butyl-catecholate to give the mixed-valence binuclear Ti(iii,iv) complex Cp₂Ti(μ-Cat³⁵)₂TiCp.

Stabilization of different redox levels of a tridentate benzoxazole amidophenoxide ligand when bound to Co(iii) or V(v)

The electronic structure of Co and V complexes of a tridentate benzoxazole-containing aminophenol ligand NNOH2 were characterized by both experimental and theoretical methods.

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.