Mn(I) and Fe(II)/PN(H)P Catalysts for the Hydrogenation of Ketones: A Comparison by Experiment and Calculation

Mechanochemical Synthesis of Chromium(III) Complexes Containing Bidentate PN and Tridentate P-NH-P and P-NH-P' Ligands

Chromium(III) complexes bearing bidentate {NH2(CH2)2PPh2: PN, (S,S)-[NH2(CHPh)2PPh2]: P'N} and tridentate [Ph2P(CH2)2N(H)(CH2)2PPh2: P-NH-P, (S,S)-(iPr)2PCH2CH2N(H)CH(Ph)CH(Ph)PPh2: P-NH-P'] ligands have been synthesized using a mechanochemical approach. The complexes {cis-[Cr(PN)Cl2]Cl (1), cis-[Cr(P'N)Cl2]Cl (2), mer-Cr(P-NH-P)Cl3 (3), and mer-Cr(P-NH-P')Cl3 (4)} were obtained in high yield (95-97%) via the grinding of the respective ligands andthe solid Cr(III) ion precursor [CrCl3(THF)3] with the aid of a pestle and mortar, followed by recrystallization in acetonitrile. The isolated complexes are high spin. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of 2 revealed a cationic chromium complex with two P'N ligands in a cis configuration with P' trans to P' with chloride as the counteranion. The X-ray study of 4 shows a neutral Cr(III) complex with the P-NH-P' ligand in a mer configuration. The difference in molecular structures and bulkiness of the ligands influence the electronic, magnetic, and electrochemical properties of the complexes as exhibited by the bathochromic shifts in the electronic absorption peaks of the complexes and the relative increase in the magnetic moment of 3 (4.19 μβ) and 4 (4.15 μβ) above the spin only value (3.88 μβ) for a d3 electronic configuration. Complexes 1-4 were found to be inactive in the hydrogenation of an aldimine [(E)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-phenylmethanimine] under a variety of activating conditions. The addition of magnesium and trimethylsilyl chloride in THF did cause hydrogenation at room temperature, but this occurred even in the absence of the chromium complex. The hydrogen in the amine product came from the THF solvent in this novel reaction, as determined by deuterium incorporation into the product when deuterated THF was used.

Impact of the Methylene Bridge Substitution in Chelating NHC-Phosphine Mn(I) Catalyst for Ketone Hydrogenation

Systematic modification of the chelating NHC-phosphine ligand (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) in highly efficient ketone hydrogenation Mn(I) catalyst fac-[(Ph2PCH2NHC)Mn(CO)3Br] has been performed and the catalytic activity of the resulting complexes was evaluated using acetophenone as a benchmark substrate. While the variation of phosphine and NHC moieties led to inferior results than for a parent system, the incorporation of a phenyl substituent into the ligand methylene bridge improved catalytic performance by ca. 3 times providing maximal TON values in the range of 15000-20000. Mechanistic investigation combining experimental and computational studies allowed to rationalize this beneficial effect as an enhanced stabilization of reaction intermediates including anionic hydride species fac-[(Ph2PC(Ph)NHC)Mn(CO)3H]- playing a crucial role in the hydrogenation process. These results highlight the interest of such carbon bridge substitution strategy being rarely employed in the design of chemically non-innocent ligands.

HiREX: High-Throughput Reactivity Exploration for Extended Databases of Transition-Metal Catalysts

A method is introduced for the automated analysis of reactivity exploration for extended in silico databases of transition-metal catalysts. The proposed workflow is designed to tackle two key challenges for bias-free mechanistic explorations on large databases of catalysts: (1) automated exploration of the chemical space around each catalyst with unique structural and chemical features and (2) automated analysis of the resulting large chemical data sets. To address these challenges, we have extended the application of our previously developed ReNeGate method for bias-free reactivity exploration and implemented an automated analysis procedure to identify the classes of reactivity patterns within specific catalyst groups. Our procedure applied to an extended series of representative Mn(I) pincer complexes revealed correlations between structural and reactive features, pointing to new channels for catalyst transformation under the reaction conditions. Such an automated high-throughput virtual screening of systematically generated hypothetical catalyst data sets opens new opportunities for the design of high-performance catalysts as well as an accelerated method for expert bias-free high-throughput in silico reactivity exploration.

Recyclable Mn(I) Catalysts for Base‐Free Asymmetric Hydrogenation: Mechanistic, DFT and Catalytic Studies

We report here a mechanistic, DFT and catalytic study on a series of Mn(I) complexes 1, 2(a–d), 3, 4. The studies apprehended the requirements for Mn(I) complexes to be active in both asymmetric direct (AH) and transfer hydrogenations (ATH). The investigations disclosed 6 vital factors accelerating the formation of a resting species, which plays a significant role in lowering the activities of the Mn(I) complex 1 in ATH and AH, respectively. In addition, we also report here a base free Mn(I) catalyzed ATH of aryl alkyl ketones with high enantioselectivity (up to 98 % ee) and improved activity. More significantly, a novel and simple single‐step process for recycling the resting species from the catalytic leftover has been discovered. Notably, the studies provide evidence for the existence of two different temperature dependent mechanisms for AH and ATH, in contrast to previous studies on related systems.

Silyl formates as hydrosilane surrogates for the transfer hydrosilylation of ketones

A transfer hydrosilylation of ketones employing silyl formates as hydrosilane surrogates under mild conditions is presented. A total of 24 examples of ketones have been successfully converted to their corresponding silyl ethers with 61-99% yields in the presence of a PN^HP-based ruthenium catalyst and silyl formate reagent. The crucial role of the ligand for the transformation is demonstrated.

Manganese-catalyzed hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, and hydroelementation reactions

The emerging field of organometallic catalysis has shifted towards research on Earth-abundant transition metals due to their ready availability, economic advantage, and novel properties. In this case, manganese, the third most abundant transition-metal in the Earth's crust, has emerged as one of the leading competitors. Accordingly, a large number of molecularly-defined Mn-complexes has been synthesized and employed for hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, and hydroelementation reactions. In this regard, catalyst design is based on three pillars, namely, metal-ligand bifunctionality, ligand hemilability, and redox activity. Indeed, the developed catalysts not only differ in the number of chelating atoms they possess but also their working principles, thereby leading to different turnover numbers for product molecules. Hence, the critical assessment of molecularly defined manganese catalysts in terms of chelating atoms, reaction conditions, mechanistic pathway, and product turnover number is significant. Herein, we analyze manganese complexes for their catalytic activity, versatility to allow multiple transformations and their routes to convert substrates to target molecules. This article will also be helpful to get significant insight into ligand design, thereby aiding catalysis design.

Basic Promotors Impact Thermodynamics and Catalyst Speciation in Homogeneous Carbonyl Hydrogenation

Homogeneously catalyzed reactions often make use of additives and promotors that affect reactivity patterns and improve catalytic performance. While the role of reaction promotors is often discussed in view of their chemical reactivity, we demonstrate that they can be involved in catalysis indirectly. In particular, we demonstrate that promotors can adjust the thermodynamics of key transformations in homogeneous hydrogenation catalysis and enable reactions that would be unfavorable otherwise. We identified this phenomenon in a set of well-established and new Mn pincer catalysts that suffer from persistent product inhibition in ester hydrogenation. Although alkoxide base additives do not directly participate in inhibitory transformations, they can affect the equilibrium constants of these processes. Experimentally, we confirm that by varying the base promotor concentration one can control catalyst speciation and inflict substantial changes to the standard free energies of the key steps in the catalytic cycle. Despite the fact that the latter are universally assumed to be constant, we demonstrate that reaction thermodynamics and catalyst state are subject to external control. These results suggest that reaction promotors can be viewed as an integral component of the reaction medium, on its own capable of improving the catalytic performance and reshaping the seemingly rigid thermodynamic landscape of the catalytic transformation.

Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Catalyzed by Binuclear LRe2(CO)6Cl2 and LMn2(CO)6Br2 Complexes with an Internal Proton Source

The synthesis of certain commodity chemicals, e.g., methanol and acetic acid, relies on CO, which is currently mainly produced by the combustion of carbon or natural gas. Photo- or electrochemical conversion of atmospheric CO₂ to CO represents an attractive alternative strategy as this approach is carbon-neutral. Such photo- or electrochemically formed CO can also be used in the Fischer-Tropsch process forming liquid hydrocarbons for energy storage applications. The multiple electroreduction of CO₂ is preferably coupled with proton transfer steps as this requires less energy than the single outer-sphere 1e^- reduction of CO₂.In 1984 and 2011, it was shown that [(L^bpy)Re(CO)₃Cl] (1) and [(L^bpy)Mn(CO)₃Br] (2), respectively, mediate the electrochemical 2e^-/2H⁺ reduction of CO₂ forming CO and water (L^bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine). Since proton management is crucial for catalysis, recently the impact of internal proton sources close to the axial position in such complexes has been investigated. However, binuclear complexes have been used rarely as mediators although it has been shown very early for 1 that electron management is also important: the 2e^-/2H⁺ reduction pathway with 1 exhibits a higher reaction rate than going via the singly reduced species, though the pathway requires a higher overpotential. In this Account, we focus on recent developments of binuclear LMn₂(CO)₆ and LRe₂(CO)₆ mediators with an internal phenol group in the electroreduction of CO₂. In contrast to mononuclear derivatives, for which the impact of the internal proton source on catalysis is very diverse, we always observed a higher reaction rate and for the Mn complexes also a lower overpotential with the binuclear complexes compared to the mononuclear variants. Spectroscopic, electrochemical, and computational studies on the mono- and binuclear complexes shed light on their reactivity under reductive conditions, elucidated the structure of reduced species, unraveled the kinetics for catalytically productive and unproductive (side) reactions, and allowed us to derive some hypothesis on the CO₂ reduction mechanism. Finally, I emphasize that the electrohydrogenation of the polar double bonds by the binuclear complex LMn₂(CO)₆ with a central phenol unit is not restricted to CO₂ but is also applicable to organic compounds with C═O bonds.

The Rise of Manganese-Catalyzed Reduction Reactions

Recent developments in manganese-catalyzed reducing transformations—hydrosilylation, hydroboration, hydrogenation, and transfer hydrogenation—are reviewed herein. Over the past half a decade (i.e., 2016 to the present), more than 115 research publications have been reported in these fields. Novel organometallic compounds and new reduction transformations have been discovered and further developed. Significant challenges that had historically acted as barriers for the use of manganese catalysts in reduction reactions are slowly being broken down. This review will hopefully assist in developing this research area, by presenting a clear and concise overview of the catalyst structures and substrate transformations published so far.

1 Introduction

2 Hydrosilylation

3 Hydroboration

4 Hydrogenation

5 Transfer Hydrogenation

6 Conclusion and Perspective

Same ligand, three first-row metals: comparing M-amido bifunctional reactivity (Mn, Fe, Co)

The bifunctional reactivity of three metal SNS (bis)amido complexes was computationally assessed by comparing the nucleophilicity of the M-N_amido donor (Mn, Fe, Co). Hirshfeld charges identified the Mn-N_amido donor as most nucleophilic and Fe as most electrophilic metal. Reaction energy profiles of a model bifunctional H₂ activation showed Mn with the lowest reaction barrier (17 kcal mol^-1), followed by Fe and Co (21 and 29 kcal mol^-1).

Mn(I) phosphine-amino-phosphinites: a highly modular class of pincer complexes for enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of aryl-alkyl ketones

A series of Mn(I) catalysts with readily accessible and more π-accepting phosphine-amino-phosphinite (P'(O)N(H)P) pincer ligands have been explored for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aryl-alkyl ketones which led to good to high enantioselectivities (up to 98%) compared to other reported Mn-based catalysts for such reactions. The easy tunability of the chiral backbone and the phosphine moieties makes P'(O)N(H)P an alternative ligand framework to the well-known PNP-type pincers.

Hydricity of 3d Transition Metal Complexes from Density Functional Theory: A Benchmarking Study

A range of modern density functional theory (DFT) functionals have been benchmarked against experimentally determined metal hydride bond strengths for three first-row TM hydride complexes. Geometries were found to be produced sufficiently accurately with RI-BP86-D3(PCM)/def2-SVP and further single-point calculations with PBE0-D3(PCM)/def2-TZVP were found to reproduce the experimental hydricity accurately, with a mean absolute deviation of 1.4 kcal/mol for the complexes studied.

Chiral Tridentate Ligands in Transition Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation

Asymmetric hydrogenation (AH) of double bonds has been one of the most effective methods for the preparation of chiral molecules and for the synthesis of important chiral building blocks. In the past 60 years, noble metals with bidentate ligands have shown marvelous reactivity and enantioselectivity in asymmetric hydrogenation of a series of prochiral substrates. In recent years, developing chiral tridentate ligands has played an increasingly important role in AH. With modular frameworks and a variety of functionalities on the side arms, chiral tridentate ligand complexes enable both reactivities and stereoselectivities. Although great achievements have been made for noble metal catalysts with chiral tridentate ligands since the 1990s, the design of chiral tridentate ligands for earth abundant metal catalysts has still been in high demand. This review summarizes the development of chiral tridentate ligands for homogeneous asymmetric hydrogenation. The philosophy of ligand design and the reaction mechanisms are highlighted and discussed as well.

Enantioselective direct, base-free hydrogenation of ketones by a manganese amido complex of a homochiral, unsymmetrical P–N–P′ ligand

Base-free direct hydrogenation of ketones using a Mn(PNP′)(CO)₂ complex is more enantioselective than that of a related base-activated iron complex.

Beyond hydrogen bonding: recent trends of outer sphere interactions in transition metal catalysis

The implementation of interactions beyond hydrogen bonding in the 2^nd coordination sphere of transition metal catalysts is rare. However, it has already shown great promise in last 5 years, providing new tools to control the activity and selectivity as here reviewed.

Chemoselective Electrochemical Hydrogenation of Ketones and Aldehydes with a Well-Defined Base-Metal Catalyst

Hydrogenation reactions are fundamental functional group transformations in chemical synthesis. Here, we introduce an electrochemical method for the hydrogenation of ketones and aldehydes by in situ formation of a Mn-H species. We utilise protons and electric current as surrogate for H2 and a base-metal complex to form selectively the alcohols. The method is chemoselective for the hydrogenation of C=O bonds over C=C bonds. Mechanistic studies revealed initial 3 e- reduction of the catalyst forming the steady state species [Mn2 (H-1 L)(CO)6 ]- . Subsequently, we assume protonation, reduction and internal proton shift forming the hydride species. Finally, the transfer of the hydride and a proton to the ketone yields the alcohol and the steady state species is regenerated via reduction. The interplay of two manganese centres and the internal proton relay represent the key features for ketone and aldehyde reduction as the respective mononuclear complex and the complex without the proton relay are barely active.

Manganese-Catalyzed anti-Selective Asymmetric Hydrogenation of α-Substituted β-Ketoamides

A Mn-catalyzed diastereo- and enantioselective hydrogenation of α-substituted β-ketoamides has been realized for the first time under dynamic kinetic resolution conditions. anti-α-Substituted β-hydroxy amides, which are useful building blocks for the synthesis of bioactive molecules and chiral drugs, were prepared in high yields with excellent selectivity (up to >99 % dr and >99 % ee) and unprecedentedly high activity (TON up to 10000). The origin of the excellent stereoselectivity was clarified by DFT calculations.

Configurational landscape of chiral iron(ii) bis(phosphane) complexes

An [FeH(η²-H₂){Me-DuPhos}₂]⁺ complex reacts with ethers and halides to give cis- and trans-dihydrogen substituted isomers and [FeX{Me-DuPhos}₂]⁺ (X = Cl, I) complexes.

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.