PNNP-Ligated RuIIComplexes as Efficient Catalysts for Mild Benzylic CH Oxidation

Triazolyl-phosphole and triazolyl-azaphosphole: synthesis, transition metal complexes and catalytic studies

Phosphole and azaphosphole derivatives with triazole functionalities, [C6H5{1,2,3-N3CC6H4C(PPh)}] (L1) and [C6H4{1,2,3-N3C(Ph)C(PPh)}] (L2) were synthesized by reacting [(C6H5)(1,2,3-N3C = CH-o-Br-C6H4)] and [(o-Br-C6H4)(1,2,3-N3C = CHC6H5)] with nBuLi followed by the addition of dichlorophenylphosphine. The reactions of L1 and L2 with an excess of 30% H2O2 afforded phosphole oxides [C6H5{1,2,3-N3CC6H4C(P(O)Ph)}] (L1O) and [C6H4{1,2,3-N3C(Ph)C(P(O)Ph)}] (L2O) as white crystalline solids. Stoichiometric reactions of L1 and L2 with [Ru(η6-p-cymene)Cl2]2 in CH2Cl2 yielded [RuCl2(η6-p-cymene)(L1-κ1-P)] (1) and [RuCl2(η6-p-cymene)(L2-κ1-P)] (2), respectively. Similar reactions of L1 and L2 with [Pd(COD)Cl2] and [Pd(η3-C3H5)Cl]2 produced the corresponding complexes, trans-[PdCl2(L1-κ1-P)2] (3), trans-[PdCl2(L2-κ1-P)2] (4), [Pd(η3-C3H5)Cl(L1-κ1-P)] (5), and [Pd(η3-C3H5)Cl(L2-κ1-P)] (6). Treatment of L1 with [AuCl(SMe2)] in dichloromethane afforded [AuCl(L1-κ1-P)] (7). Ruthenium complex 1 showed moderate to good catalytic activity towards benzylic C-H oxidation, and the proposed mechanism for the catalysis was supported by spectroscopic data.

Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskite for Ferroelectric Catalysis

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite ferroelectric has gained significant attention for its structural flexibility and diversity. They can directly utilize metal nodes and organic groups as active sites in catalysis. Additionally, their ferroelectric polarization occurs around these active sites, significantly enhancing catalytic activity and demonstrating immense potential for applications. However, their catalytic applications remain underexplored. This work marks the first utilization of the molecular perovskite ferroelectric [3,3-difluorocyclobutylammonium]2CuCl4 (Cu-DFCBA) as a catalyst for alkane oxidation. Under ultrasonic stimulation, it achieved a remarkable turnover number as high as 2402. Compared to inorganic ferroelectrics like lithium niobate (LiNbO3), the molecular ferroelectric exhibited a 1200-fold increase in catalytic activity. This highlights Cu-DFCBA's robust ferroelectric properties and underscores the vast potential of molecular ferroelectrics in catalysis, guiding future system designs.

Oxygen-Free Csp3-H Oxidation of Pyridin-2-yl-methanes to Pyridin-2-yl-methanones with Water by Copper Catalysis

Aromatic ketones are important pharmaceutical intermediates, especially the pyridin-2-yl-methanone motifs. Thus, synthetic methods for these compounds have gained extensive attention in the last few years. Transition metals catalyze the oxidation of Csp3-H for the synthesis of aromatic ketones, which is arresting. Here, we describe an efficient copper-catalyzed synthesis of pyridin-2-yl-methanones from pyridin-2-yl-methanes through a direct Csp3-H oxidation approach with water under mild conditions. Pyridin-2-yl-methanes with aromatic rings, such as substituted benzene, thiophene, thiazole, pyridine, and triazine, undergo the reaction well to obtain the corresponding products in moderate to good yields. Several controlled experiments are operated for the mechanism exploration, indicating that water participates in the oxidation process, and it is the single oxygen source in this transformation. The current work provides new insights for water-involving oxidation reactions.

pH-Controlled Intramolecular Decarboxylative Cyclization of Biarylacetic Acids: Implication on Umpolung Reactivity of Aroyl Radicals

A simple approach for the intramolecular aroylation of electron-rich arenes under mild conditions has been developed. A pH-controlled polarity umpolung strategy can be used to synthesize different fluorenones, which are important building blocks for biological applications. Unlike previous acylation reactions involving nucleophilic aroyl radicals, this approach likely relies on in situ generated electrophilic aroyl radicals. Detailed mechanistic and computational investigations provide detailed insights into the reaction mechanism and support the hypothesis of a pH-mediated umpolung.

Formic Acid as a Potential On-Board Hydrogen Storage Method: Development of Homogeneous Noble Metal Catalysts for Dehydrogenation Reactions

Hydrogen can be used as an energy carrier for renewable energy to overcome the deficiency of its intrinsically intermittent supply. One of the most promising application of hydrogen energy is on-board hydrogen fuel cells. However, the lack of a safe, efficient, convenient, and low-cost storage and transportation method for hydrogen limits their application. The feasibility of mainstream hydrogen storage techniques for application in vehicles is briefly discussed in this Review. Formic acid (FA), which can reversibly be converted into hydrogen and carbon dioxide through catalysis, has significant potential for practical application. Historic developments and recent examples of homogeneous noble metal catalysts for FA dehydrogenation are covered, and the catalysts are classified based on their ligand types. The Review primarily focuses on the structure-function relationship between the ligands and their reactivity and aims to provide suggestions for designing new and efficient catalysts for H₂ generation from FA.

A Cyanide-Free Synthesis of Acylcyanides through Ru-Catalyzed C(sp3)-H-Oxidation of Benzylic Nitriles

A practical method for generation of acylcyanides devoid of any external cyanide sources is presented that relies on a mild Ru‐catalyzed selective C−H‐oxidation of benzylic nitriles. The starting materials are smoothly generated through condensation of the corresponding carboxylic acid amides using silanes. The obtained acylcyanides can be employed in a plethora of transformation as exemplified to some larger extend in the sequence of C−H‐oxidation‐Tischenko‐rearrangement for the generation of structurally diverse benzoyloxycyanohydrines.

A Cu-Doped ZIF-8 metal organic framework as a heterogeneous solid catalyst for aerobic oxidation of benzylic hydrocarbons

Cu(ii) ions doped into ZIF-8 MOFs are shown to activate C–H bonds in benzylic hydrocarbons to their corresponding alcohol/ketone products.

Cobalt(ii)-catalyzed benzylic oxidations with potassium persulfate in TFA/TFAA

A cobalt-catalyzed C(sp³)–H oxygenation reaction to furnish aldehyde was herein reported. This transformation demonstrated high chemo-selectivity, and tolerated various methylarenes bearing electron-withdrawing substituents. This reaction provided rapid access to diverse aldehydes form methylarenes. Notably, TFA/TFAA was used for the first time as a mixed solvent in cobalt-catalyzed oxygenation of benzylic methylenes.

A Co-catalyzed C(sp³)–H oxygenation reaction to furnish diverse aldehydes from methylarenes in TFA/TFAA is reported. This transformation demonstrated high chemo-selectivity, and tolerated with various methylarenes bearing electron-withdrawing substituents.

Flexible Analogues of Azaindole DYRK1A Inhibitors Elicit Cytotoxicity in Glioblastoma Cells

DYRK1A is a novel target for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-dependent glioblastoma and it represents a promising strategy for cancer therapy. DYRK1A inhibition has been found to promote EGFR degradation in glioblastoma cells by triggering endocytosis and lysosomal degradation, thus reducing the self-renewal ability of tumorigenic cells. Using a deconstruction approach of a DYRK1A lead molecule DANDY (1a), a set of novel ring-opened compounds was prepared. Despite showing no activity towards DYRK1A, a reduction in the viability of glioblastoma cells was observed with some of the compounds. This suggests other mechanistic pathways are leading to the apoptosis of glioblastoma cells.

Synergistic H4NI-AcOH Catalyzed Oxidation of the Csp(3)-H Bonds of Benzylpyridines with Molecular Oxygen

The oxidation of benzylpyridines forming benzoylpyridines was achieved based on a synergistic H4NI-AcOH catalyst and molecular oxygen in high yield under solvent-free conditions. This is the first nonmetallic catalytic system for this oxidation transformation using molecular oxygen as the oxidant. The catalytic system has a wide scope of substrates and excellent chemoselectivity, and this procedure can also be scaled up. The study of a preliminary reaction mechanism demonstrated that the oxidation of the Csp(3)-H bonds of benzylpyridines was promoted by the pyridinium salts formed by AcOH and benzylpyridines. The synergistic effect of H4NI-AcOH was also demonstrated by control experiments.

Selective transfer hydrogenation and hydrogenation of ketones using a defined monofunctional (P^N(Bn)^N(Bn)^P)-Ru(II) complex

A defined (P^N^N^P)-Ru complex possessing tertiary amines within the ligand backbone proved to be highly active both in transfer hydrogenations and hydrogenations of a variety of ketones. As compared to the existing catalytic systems, no bifunctional activation of H2 or of the substrate by the metal center and a secondary amine within the ligand backbone is required to obtain high activities at catalyst loadings of down to 10 ppm.