Zero-Valent Amino-Olefin Cobalt Complexes as Catalysts for Oxygen Atom Transfer Reactions from Nitrous Oxide

Coordination chemistry of alkali metal dimesityl-thio- and dimesityl-selenophosphinites [(L)2A-EPMes2]2 (A = Li, Na, K; E = S, Se; L = THF, THP) and [(18C6)K-SPMes2]

The reactions of dimesitylphosphane oxide Mes2P(O)H with Lawessons reagent and dimesitylphoshane with selenium yield Mes2P(E)H with E = S (1a) and E = Se (1b), respectively, with moderate yields. Metalation of dimesitylphosphane sulfide 1a with n-butyllithium, sodium hydride or potassium hydride in THF allows the isolation of dinuclear dimesityl-thiophosphinites of the type [(thf)2A-S-PMes2]2 [A = Li (4), Na (5), K (2a)] with central four-membered A2S2 rings. The weaker base THP leads to the very similar aggregate [(thp)2K-S-PMes2]2 (3a) as has also been observed for the homologous potassium dimesityl-selenophosphinites of the type [(L)2K-Se-PMes2]2 [L = thf (2b), thp (3b)]. Addition of 18-crown-6 ether leads to deaggregation and expectedly to formation of mononuclear [(18C6)K-S-PMes2] (6). Moderate yields have been obtained due to dismutation reactions that yield the corresponding phosphinates AE2PMes2 and phosphanides APMes2, a degradation process which has been observed earlier also for Li-O-PMes2. This side reaction hampers the application of these thio- and selenophosphinites as catalysts in the addition of phosphane sulfides and selenides across alkynes.

C(sp2)-H Hydroxylation via Catalytic 1,4-Ni Migration with N2O

Herein, we report a Ni-catalyzed C(sp2)-H hydroxylation of aryl bromides with N2O as an oxygen-atom donor. The reaction is enabled by a 1,4-Ni translocation that results in ipso/ortho difunctionalized products. Regioselectivity and stereocontrol are dictated by a judicious choice of the ligand backbone, thus giving access to either carbonyl or phenol derivatives and offering an opportunity to repurpose hazardous substances en route to valuable oxygen-containing building blocks.

Rhodium and ruthenium complexes of methylene-bridged, P-stereogenic, unsymmetrical diphosphanes

Enantiopure P-stereogenic methylphosphane-boranes (S_P)-P(BH₃)PhArMe (ArMe; Ar = 1-naphthyl (NpMe), and 2-biphenylyl (BiphMe)) have been used to prepare diphosphanes of the type ArPhPCH₂PR₂ (R = Ph, iPr or tBu; ArR). The ligands have been reacted with [Rh(COD)₂]BF₄ to furnish the corresponding six monochelated [Rh(COD)(ArR)]BF₄ organometallic compounds (RhArR) or, depending on the reaction conditions, the bis(chelated) coordination compound [Rh(BiphiPr)₂]BF₄ as a mixture of cis and trans isomers. The crystal structure of cis-[Rh(BiphiPr)₂]BF₄ was obtained. The coordination of the BiphR with [RuCl(μ-Cl)(η⁶-p-cymene)₂]₂ under different conditions produced cationic chelated complexes of the type [RuCl(η⁶-p-cymene)(κ²-BiphR)]PF₆ (RuBiphR) and the neutral monocoordinated complex [RuCl₂(η⁶-p-cymene)(κ¹-BiphPh)] (RuBiphPh') with the uncoordinated P-stereogenic moiety. The Rh(I) complexes were used in the catalytic hydrogenation of functionalized olefins and the Ru(II) complexes were tested in the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone. Both precursors displayed good activities with moderate enantioselectivities.

Electrochemical oxidative N-H/P-H cross-coupling with H2 evolution towards the synthesis of tertiary phosphines

Tertiary phosphines(iii) find widespread use in many aspects of synthetic organic chemistry. Herein, we developed a facile and novel electrochemical oxidative N-H/P-H cross-coupling method, leading to a series of expected tertiary phosphines(iii) under mild conditions with excellent yields. It is worth noting that this electrochemical protocol features very good reaction selectivity, where only a 1 : 1 ratio of amine and phosphine was required in the reaction. Moreover, this electrochemical protocol proved to be practical and scalable. Mechanistic insights suggested that the P radical was involved in this reaction.

Bismuth Redox Catalysis: An Emerging Main-Group Platform for Organic Synthesis

Bismuth has recently been shown to be able to maneuver between different oxidation states, enabling access to unique redox cycles that can be harnessed in the context of organic synthesis. Indeed, various catalytic Bi redox platforms have been discovered and revealed emerging opportunities in the field of main group redox catalysis. The goal of this perspective is to provide an overview of the synthetic methodologies that have been developed to date, which capitalize on the Bi redox cycling. Recent catalytic methods via low-valent Bi(II)/Bi(III), Bi(I)/Bi(III), and high-valent Bi(III)/Bi(V) redox couples are covered as well as their underlying mechanisms and key intermediates. In addition, we illustrate different design strategies stabilizing low-valent and high-valent bismuth species, and highlight the characteristic reactivity of bismuth complexes, compared to the lighter p-block and d-block elements. Although it is not redox catalysis in nature, we also discuss a recent example of non-Lewis acid, redox-neutral Bi(III) catalysis proceeding through catalytic organometallic steps. We close by discussing opportunities and future directions in this emerging field of catalysis. We hope that this Perspective will provide synthetic chemists with guiding principles for the future development of catalytic transformations employing bismuth.

A Predictive Chemistry DFT Study of the N2O Functionalization for the Preparation of Triazolopyridine and Triazoloquinoline Scaffolds

The whole reaction mechanism of the functionalization of N2O for the synthesis of triazolopyridine and triazoloquinoline scaffolds has been unveiled by means of DFT calculations. The rate determining step of...

Deoxygenation of Nitrous Oxide and Nitro Compounds Using Bis(N-Heterocyclic Silylene)Amido Iron Complexes as Catalysts

Herein, we report the efficient degradation of N₂ O with a well-defined bis(silylene)amido iron complex as catalyst. The deoxygenation of N₂ O using the iron silanone complex 4 as a catalyst and pinacolborane (HBpin) as a sacrificial reagent proceeds smoothly at 50 °C to form N₂ , H₂ , and (pinB)₂ O. Mechanistic studies suggest that the iron-silicon cooperativity is the key to this catalytic transformation, which involves N₂ O activation, H atom transfer, H₂ release and oxygenation of the boron sites. This approach has been further developed to enable catalytic reductions of nitro compounds, producing amino-boranes with good functional-group tolerance and excellent chemoselectivity.

Nitrous oxide as a diazo transfer reagent: the synthesis of triazolopyridines

Nitrous oxide is a potential diazo transfer reagent, but its applications in organic chemistry are scarce. Here, we show that triazolopyridines and triazoloquinolines are formed in the reactions of metallated 2-alkylpyridines or 2-alkylquinolines with N₂O. The reactions can be performed under mild conditions and give synthetically interesting triazoles in moderate to good yields.

Catalytic Activation of N2O at a Low-Valent Bismuth Redox Platform

Herein we present the catalytic activation of N₂O at a Bi^I⇄Bi^III redox platform. The activation of such a kinetically inert molecule was achieved by the use of bismuthinidene catalysts, aided by HBpin as reducing agent. The protocol features remarkably mild conditions (25 °C, 1 bar N₂O), together with high turnover numbers (TON, up to 6700) and turnover frequencies (TOF). Analysis of the elementary steps enabled structural characterization of catalytically relevant intermediates after O-insertion, namely a rare arylbismuth oxo dimer and a unique monomeric arylbismuth hydroxide. This protocol represents a distinctive example of a main-group redox cycling for the catalytic activation of N₂O.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes of Copper, Nickel, and Cobalt

The emergence of N-heterocyclic carbenes as ligands across the Periodic Table had an impact on various aspects of the coordination, organometallic, and catalytic chemistry of the 3d metals, including Cu, Ni, and Co, both from the fundamental viewpoint but also in applications, including catalysis, photophysics, bioorganometallic chemistry, materials, etc. In this review, the emergence, development, and state of the art in these three areas are described in detail.

Lewis Acid-Mediated One-Electron Reduction of Nitrous Oxide

The one-electron reduction of nitrous oxide (N₂ O) was achieved using strong Lewis acids E(C₆ F₅ )₃ (E=B or Al) in combination with metallocenes. In the case of B(C₆ F₅ )₃ , electron transfer to N₂ O required a powerful reducing agent such as Cp*₂ Co (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl). In the presence of Al(C₆ F₅ )₃ , on the other hand, the reactions could be performed with weaker reducing agents such as Cp*₂ Fe or Cp₂ Fe (Cp=cyclopentadienyl). The Lewis acid-mediated electron transfer from the metallocene to N₂ O resulted in cleavage of the N-O bond, generating N₂ and the oxyl radical anion [OE(C₆ F₅ )₃ ]^⋅- . The latter is highly reactive and engages in C-H activation reactions. It was possible to trap the radical by addition of the Gomberg dimer, which acts as a source of the trityl radical.

Nitrous Oxide-Promoted Pauson-Khand Cycloadditions

A Pauson-Khand cycladdition of alkynes, alkenes, and carbon monoxide, promoted by cobalt carbonyl and nitrous oxide to furnish cyclopentenones is described. Preliminary mechanistic experiments suggest that nitrous oxide functions in a similar manner to the N-oxide promoters typically employed in Pauson-Khand reactions. Only dinitrogen and carbon dioxide are produced as a consequence of the activation mechanism, thus avoiding high molecular weight reagents and the build up of basic byproducts. The chemistry is done using equimolar amounts of alkyne, alkene, and dicobalt octacarbonyl, and is performed directly from the acetylenic component without having to presynthesize a cobalt-alkyne complex. Terminal acetylenes were suitable substrates, as was solid calcium carbide, and the corresponding adducts were isolated in good yields. Furthermore, two sequential [4+3] and [2+2+1] cycloadditions were performed, generating funtionalized cyclopentenones in only two steps from readily available starting materials.

CO Oxidation by N2O Homogeneously Catalyzed by Ruthenium Hydride Pincer Complexes Indicating a New Mechanism

Both CO and N₂O are important, environmentally harmful industrial gases. The reaction of CO and N₂O to produce CO₂ and N₂ has stimulated much research interest aimed at degradation of these two gases in a single step. Herein, we report an efficient CO oxidation by N₂O catalyzed by a (PNN)Ru–H pincer complex under mild conditions, even with no added base. The reaction is proposed to proceed through a sequence of O-atom transfer (OAT) from N₂O to the Ru–H bond to form a Ru–OH intermediate, followed by intramolecular OH attack on an adjacent CO ligand, forming CO₂ and N₂. Thus, the Ru–H bond of the catalyst plays a central role in facilitating the OAT from N₂O to CO, providing an efficient and novel protocol for CO oxidation.

Hydrogenation and Hydrosilylation of Nitrous Oxide Homogeneously Catalyzed by a Metal Complex

Due to its significant contribution to stratospheric ozone depletion and its potent greenhouse effect, nitrous oxide has stimulated much research interest regarding its reactivity modes and its transformations, which can lead to its abatement. We report the homogeneously catalyzed reaction of nitrous oxide (N₂O) with H₂. The reaction is catalyzed by a PNP pincer ruthenium complex, generating efficiently only dinitrogen and water, under mild conditions, thus providing a green, mild methodology for removal of nitrous oxide. The reaction proceeds through a sequence of dihydrogen activation, "O"-atom transfer, and dehydration, in which metal-ligand cooperation plays a central role. This approach was further developed to catalytic O-transfer from N₂O to Si-H bonds.

One-pot synthesis of N-substituted pyrroles from nitro compounds and 2,5-hexadione over a heterogeneous cobalt catalyst

One-pot synthesis of N-substituted pyrroles with highly stable CoN_x catalysts and HCOOH as hydrogen donor.