Noncovalent CH-π and π-π Interactions in Phosphoramidite Palladium(II) Complexes with Strong Conformational Preference

The weak noncovalent interactions and flexibility of ligands play a key role in enantioselective metal-catalyzed reactions. In transition metal complexes and their catalytic applications, the experimental assessment and the design of key interactions is as difficult as the prediction of the enantioselectivities, especially for flexible, privileged ligands such as chiral phosphoramidites. Therefore, the interligand interactions in cis-PdII L2 Cl2 phosphoramidite complexes were investigated by NMR spectroscopy and computations. We were able to induce a strong conformational preference by breaking the symmetry of the C2 -symmetric side chain of one of the ligands, and shift the equilibrium between hetero- and homocomplexes towards heterocomplexes because of interligand interactions in the cis-complexes. The modulation of aryl substituents was exploited, along with the solvent effect. The combined CH-π and π-π interactions reveal design patterns for binding and folding of chiral ligands and catalysts.

Urea-Substituted Tetramethylcyclopentadienyl Ligands for Supramolecularly Accelerated RhIII -Catalyzed ortho-C-H Olefination of Benzoic Acid Derivatives

The design and synthesis of air‐stable and conveniently crystallizable Rh^III‐cyclopentadienyl catalysts substituted with a urea moiety, which are able to accelerate the C−H olefination of benzoic acid derivatives, is reported. Through kinetic studies and NMR titration experiments, the catalysts’ substrate recognition ability mediated by hydrogen bonding was identified to be the reason for this effect. Introduction of pyridone‐phosphine ligands capable of forming additional H‐bond interactions increased the catalytic performance even further. By unveiling a proportionality between reaction rate and relative complex formation enthalpy the hypothesis of a supramolecular catalyst preformation was supported. Its application to a variety of substrates proved the catalyst system's advantages, generally increasing the yields when compared to the results obtained with widely used [RhCp*Cl₂]₂.

Structural Characterization and Lifetimes of Triple-Stranded Helical Coinage Metal Complexes: Synthesis, Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Calculations

This work reports on a series of polynuclear complexes containing a trinuclear Cu, Ag, or Au core in combination with the fac-isomer of the metalloligand [Ru(pypzH)3 ](PF6 )2 (pypzH=3-(pyridin-2-yl)pyrazole). These (in case of the Ag and Au containing species) newly synthesized compounds of the general formula [{Ru(pypz)3 }2 M3 ](PF6 ) (2: M=Cu; 3: M=Ag; 4: M=Au) contain triple-stranded helical structures in which two ruthenium moieties are connected by three N-M-N (M=Cu, Ag, Au) bridges. In order to obtain a detailed description of the structure both in the electronic ground and excited states, extensive spectroscopic and quantum chemical calculations are applied. The equilateral coinage metal core triangle in the electronic ground state of 2-4 is distorted in the triplet state. Furthermore, the analyses offer a detailed description of electronic excitations. By using time-resolved IR spectroscopy from the microsecond down to the nanosecond regime, both the vibrational spectra and the lifetime of the lowest lying electronically excited triplet state can be determined. The lifetimes of these almost only non-radiative triplet states of 2-4 show an unusual effect in a way that the Au-containing complex 4 has a lifetime which is by more than a factor of five longer than in case of the Cu complex 2. Thus, the coinage metals have a significant effect on the electronically excited state, which is localized on a pypz ligand coordinated to the Ru atom indicating an unusual cooperative effect between two moieties of the complex.

Gold-catalyzed Cycloisomerization Reactions within Guanidinium M12L24 Nanospheres: the Effect of Local Concentrations

Gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization reactions have been explored using guanidinium functionalized M12L24 nanospheres that strongly encapsulate gold complexes functionalized with a sulfonate group through hydrogen bonds. As the M12L24 nanospheres can bind up to 24 gold complexes, the effect of local catalyst concentration on the reaction outcome can be easily evaluated. Also, the guanidinium groups of the sphere can weakly interact with the carboxylic group of the substrates, facilitating the pre-organization of the substrate near to the catalytic active site. Both effects can influence the selectivity and rate of the gold-catalyzed transformation. Challenging acetate-containing substrates with internal acetylene functional groups can be cyclized efficiently within the M12L24 nanospheres, where the pre-organization of the substrate plays a crucial role. For 2-alkynyl benzoic acids the selectivity of the reaction can be controlled by adjusting the local concentration of gold catalyst in the guanidinium functionalized M12L24 nanosphere.

Cofactor Controlled Encapsulation of a Rhodium Hydroformylation Catalyst

Supramolecular approaches in transition-metal catalysis, including catalyst encapsulation, have attracted considerable attention. Compared to enzymes, supramolecular catalysts in general are less complex. Enzyme activity is often controlled by the use of smaller cofactor molecules, which is important in order to control reactivity in complex mixtures of molecules. Interested in increasing complexity and allowing control over supramolecular catalyst formation in response to external stimuli, we designed a catalytic system that only forms an efficient supramolecular complex when a small cofactor molecule is added to the solution. This in turn affects both the activity and selectivity when applied in a hydroformylation reaction. This contribution shows that catalyst encapsulation can be controlled by the addition of a cofactor, which affects crucial catalyst properties.

Rational Optimization of Supramolecular Catalysts for the Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation Reaction

Rational design of catalysts for asymmetric transformations is a longstanding challenge in the field of catalysis. In the current contribution we report a catalyst in which a hydrogen bond between the substrate and the catalyst plays a crucial role in determining the selectivity and the rate of the catalytic hydrogenation reaction, as is evident from a combination of experiments and DFT calculations. Detailed insight allowed in silico mutation of the catalyst such that only this hydrogen bond interaction is stronger, predicting that the new catalyst is faster. Indeed, we experimentally confirmed that optimization of the catalyst can be realized by increasing the hydrogen bond strength of this interaction by going from a urea to phosphine oxide H-bond acceptor on the ligand.

Chemo-, Regio-, and Enantioselective Rhodium-Catalyzed Allylation of Pyridazinones with Terminal Allenes

The rhodium-catalyzed addition of pyridazinones to terminal allenes furnished the corresponding branched N²-allylated products in good yields with high regio- and enantioselectivities. A broad functional group compatibility was observed, and assorted synthetic transformations of the N-allylpyridazinones led to the preparation of a small library of N²-functionalized pyridazinones. Labeling experiments with deuterated substrates provided insights into the underlying reaction mechanism.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Diastereoselective Cyclization of Allenyl-Sulfonylcarbamates: A Stereodivergent Approach to 1,3-Aminoalcohol Derivatives

A diastereoselective and stereodivergent rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular coupling of sulfonylcarbamates with terminal allenes is described and it provides selective access to 1,3-aminoalcohol derivatives, scaffolds found in bioactive compounds. The reaction is compatible with a large range of different functional groups, thus furnishing products with high diastereoselectivities and yields. Moreover, multigram scale reactions, as well as the application of suitable product transformations were demonstrated.

Riding the Wave of Monodentate Ligand Revival: From the A/B Concept to Noncovalent Interactions

The rediscovery of chiral monodentate ligands made in the period 1999-2003 had important consequences in enantioselective transition-metal catalysis, such as the introduction of the A/B concept (i.e., use of monodentate ligand mixtures) and, later, a renewed interest in supramolecular ligands capable of ligand-ligand and ligand-substrate interactions. This Personal Account summarizes the contributions made by our research group in this area in the period 2004-2015, which reflect the abovementioned developments. Within this area, we introduced some original concepts, such as 1) the use of chiral tropos ligand mixtures; 2) the development of new strategies to maximize heterocomplex formation from combinations of simple monodentate ligands; 3) the investigation of new ligand-ligand interactions to achieve selective heterocomplex formation; and 4) the development of highly efficient and synthetically accessible supramolecular ligands.

London dispersion in molecular chemistry--reconsidering steric effects

London dispersion, which constitutes the attractive part of the famous van der Waals potential, has long been underappreciated in molecular chemistry as an important element of structural stability, and thus affects chemical reactivity and catalysis. This negligence is due to the common notion that dispersion is weak, which is only true for one pair of interacting atoms. For increasingly larger structures, the overall dispersion contribution grows rapidly and can amount to tens of kcal mol(-1) . This Review collects and emphasizes the importance of inter- and intramolecular dispersion for molecules consisting mostly of first row atoms. The synergy of experiment and theory has now reached a stage where dispersion effects can be examined in fine detail. This forces us to reconsider our perception of steric hindrance and stereoelectronic effects. The quantitation of dispersion energy donors will improve our ability to design sophisticated molecular structures and much better catalysts.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Hydroformylation of 1,1-Disubstituted Allenes Employing the Self-Assembling 6-DPPon System

A rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of 1,1-disubstituted allenes is reported. Using a Rh(I)/6-DPPon catalyst system, one can obtain β,γ-unsaturated aldehydes in high regio- and chemoselectivity. The Z-configured product is formed with up to >95% selectivity when unsymmetrically 1,1-disubstituted allenes are submitted to the reaction conditions. This is the first time that these interesting building blocks are accessible by hydroformylation of allenes. The utility of this methodology is demonstrated by further transformations of one of the obtained products.

Asymmetric rhodium-catalyzed addition of thiols to allenes: synthesis of branched allylic thioethers and sulfones

A highly regio- and enantioselective hydrothiolation of terminal allenes, a reaction which fulfills the criteria of atom economy, is reported. Applying two chiral rhodium catalyst systems, a wide variety of thiols and allenes could be coupled. Oxidation gave access to the corresponding allylic sulfones in essentially enantiomerically pure form. The reaction tolerates a variety of functional groups and labeling experiments gave first insights into the reaction mechanism of this new methodology.

System with potential dual modes of metal-ligand cooperation: highly catalytically active pyridine-based PNNH-Ru pincer complexes

Metal-ligand cooperation (MLC) plays an important role in catalysis. Systems reported so far are generally based on a single mode of MLC. We report here a system with potential for MLC by both amine-amide and aromatization-dearomatization ligand transformations, based on a new class of phosphino-pyridyl ruthenium pincer complexes, bearing sec-amine coordination. These pincer complexes are effective catalysts under unprecedented mild conditions for acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols to esters at 35 °C and hydrogenation of esters at room temperature and 5 atm H2. The likely actual catalyst, a novel, crystallographically characterized monoanionic de-aromatized enamido-Ru(II) complex, was obtained by deprotonation of both the N-H and the methylene proton of the N-arm of the pincer ligand.

Hydrogen-bond-assisted activation of allylic alcohols for palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions

We report direct activation of allylic alcohols using a hydrogen-bond-assisted palladium catalyst and use this for alkylation and amination reactions. The novel catalyst comprises a palladium complex based on a functionalized monodentate phosphoramidite ligand in combination with urea additives and affords linear alkylated and aminated allylic products selectively. Detailed kinetic analysis show that oxidative addition of the allyl alcohol is the rate-determining step, which is facilitated by hydrogen bonds between the alcohol, the ligand functional group, and the additional urea additive.

The N-H functional group in organometallic catalysis

The organometallic approach is one of the most active topics in catalysis. The application of NH functionality in organometallic catalysis has become an important and attractive concept in catalyst design. NH moieties in the modifiers of organometallic catalysts have been shown to have various beneficial functions in catalysis by molecular recognition through hydrogen bonding to give catalyst-substrate, ligand-ligand, ligand-catalyst, and catalyst-catalyst interactions. This Review summarizes recent progress in the development of the organometallic catalysts based on the concept of cooperative catalysis by focusing on the NH moiety.