Mild and Selective Carbon Dioxide Hydroboration to Methoxyboranes Catalyzed by Mn(I) PNP Pincer Complexes

Hydroboration of Terminal Alkynes Catalyzed by a Mn(I) Alkyl PCP Pincer Complex Following Two Diverging Pathways

A stereo- and regioselective Mn(I)-catalyzed hydroboration of terminal alkynes with pinacolborane (HBPin) is described. The hydroboration reaction is highly Z-selective in the case of aryl alkynes and E-selective in the case of aliphatic alkynes. The reaction requires no additives or solvents and proceeds with a catalyst loading of 1 mol % at 50-70 °C. The most active precatalyst is the bench-stable alkyl Mn(I) complex cis-[Mn(PCP-iPr)(CO)2(CH2CH2CH3)]. The catalytic process is initiated by the migratory insertion of a CO ligand into the Mn-alkyl bond to yield an acyl intermediate. This species undergoes C-H and B-H bond cleavage of the alkyne (aromatic alkynes) and HBPin (in the case of aliphatic alkynes) forming the active Mn(I) alkynyl and boryl catalysts [Mn(PCP-iPr)(CO)(C≡CR)] and [Mn(PCP-iPr)(CO)(BPin)], respectively. A broad variety of aromatic and aliphatic alkynes was efficiently and selectively borylated. Mechanistic insights are provided based on experimental data and DFT calculations. The functionalized alkenes can be used for further applications in cross-coupling reactions.

Zinc-Catalyzed Hydroboration of Carbon Dioxide Amplified by Borane-Tethered Heteroscorpionate Bis(Pyrazolyl)methane Ligands

The borane-functionalized (BR2) bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane (LH) ligands 1a (BR2: 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane or 9-BBN), 1b (BR2: BCy2), and 1c (BR2: B(C6F5)2) were synthesized by the allylation-hydroboration of LH. Metalation of 1a,b with ZnCl2 yielded the heteroscorpionate dichloride complexes [(1a,b)ZnCl2] 3a,b. The reaction of 1a with ZnEt2 led to the formation of the zwitterionic complex [Et(1a)ZnEt(THF)] 5. The reaction of complex 3a with two equivalents of KHBEt3 under a carbon dioxide (CO2) atmosphere gave rise to the formation of the dimeric bis(formate) complex [(1a)Zn(OCHO)2]2 8, in which its borane moieties intermolecularly stabilize the formate ligands of opposite metal centers. The allylated precursor Lallyl and its zinc dichloride, diethyl and bis(formate) complexes [(Lallyl)ZnCl2] 2, [(Lallyl)ZnEt2] 4, and [(Lallyl)Zn(OCHO)2] 7 were also isolated. The catalyst systems composed of 1 mol % of 3a or 3b and two equivalents of KHBEt3 hydroborated CO2 at 1 bar with pinacolborane (HBPin) to the methanol-level product H3COBPin (and PinBOBPin) in yields of 42 or 86%, respectively. The catalyst systems using the unfunctionalized complex [(LH)ZnCl2] 6 and KHBEt3 or KHBEt3/nOctBR2 (BR2: 9-BBN or BCy2) hydroborated CO2 to H3COBPin but in 2.5- to 6-fold lower activities than those exhibited by 3a,b/KHBEt3. The hydroboration of CO2 using 8 as a catalyst led to yields of 39-43%, comparable to those obtained with 3a/KHBEt3. The results confirmed that the catalytic intermediates benefit from the incorporated boranes' intra- or intermolecular stabilizations.

Ligand-free MnBr2-Catalyzed Chemo- and Stereoselective Hydroboration of Terminal Alkynes

Developing simple and benign protocols for synthesizing alkenylboronates is crucial as they are synthetically valuable compounds in various organic transformations. In this work, we report a straightforward ligand-free protocol for synthesizing alkenylboronates via atom-economical hydroboration of alkynes with HBpin catalyzed by a manganese salt. The reaction shows a high level of chemo and regioselectivity for the terminal alkynes and exclusively produces E-selective alkenylboronates. The hydroboration scope is vast, with the resilience of a range of synthetically beneficial functionalities, such as halides, ether, alkenyl, silyl and thiophenyl groups. This reaction proceeds through the involvement of a metal-hydride intermediate. The developed alkenylboronate can be smoothly converted to useful C-C, C-N and C-I bond-forming reactions.

Mechanistic Study and Conceptual Chemical Reactivity Analysis of Hydroboration of Carbon Dioxide Catalyzed by a Manganese(I)-PNP-Pincer Complex

Designing efficient and selective catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction is an intensive research area in the recent literature on homogeneous catalysis. In this work, we study the catalytic activity of a newly reported Mn(I)-PNP-pincer catalyst with an embedded aromatic ring. First, we systematically examine its capability to yield different products and highlight the importance of ligand aromaticity and steric effects on metal-ligand cooperativity. We then further conceptually probe its reactivity with descriptors from both conceptual density functional theory and an information-theoretic approach, thereby proposing a novel partitioning of the reaction coordinate into three relevant regions. Our results show that the reactivity in these different regions is governed by different properties such as steric effects, electrophilicity/nucleophilicity, or aromaticity. We anticipate that this methodology, with the analytical tools employed in this study, can be generalized and extended to other catalytic systems and find applications in designing better catalysts.

Base- and Additive-Free Carbon Dioxide Hydroboration to Methoxyboranes Catalyzed by Non-Pincer-Type Mn(I) Complexes

Well-defined, bench stable Mn(I) non-pincer-type complexes were tested as earth-abundant transition metal catalysts for the selective reduction of CO₂ to boryl-protected MeOH in the presence of pinacolborane (HBpin). Essentially, quantitative yields were obtained under mild reaction conditions (1 bar CO₂, 60 °C), without the need of any base or additives, in the presence of the alkylcarbonyl Mn(I) bis(phosphine) complexes fac-[Mn(CH₂CH₂CH₃)(dippe)(CO)₃] [Mn1, dippe = 1,2-bis(diisopropylphosphino)ethane] and [Mn(dippe)(CO)₂{(μ-H)₂(Bpin)}] (Mn4), that is obtained by reaction of the bench-stable precatalyst Mn1 with HBpin via elimination of butanal. Preliminary mechanistic details were obtained by a combination of NMR experiments and monitoring of the catalytic reactions.

Manganese Salan Complexes as Catalysts for Hydrosilylation of Aldehydes and Ketones

Manganese has attracted significant recent attention due to its abundance, low toxicity, and versatility in catalysis. In the present study, a series of manganese (III) complexes supported by salan ligands have been synthesized and characterized, and their activity as catalysts in the hydrosilylation of carbonyl compounds was examined. While manganese (III) chloride complexes exhibited minimal catalytic efficacy without activation of silver perchlorate, manganese (III) azide complexes showed good activity in the hydrosilylation of carbonyl compounds. Under optimized reaction conditions, several types of aldehydes and ketones could be reduced with good yields and tolerance to a variety of functional groups. The possible mechanisms of silane activation and hydrosilylation were discussed in light of relevant experimental observations.

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.

Hydroboration of CO2 to Methyl Boronate Catalyzed by a Manganese Pincer Complex: Insights into the Reaction Mechanism and Ligand Effect

The conversion of carbon dioxide to fuels, polymers, and chemicals is an attractive strategy for the synthesis of high-value-added products and energy-storage materials. Herein, the density functional theory method was employed to investigate the reaction mechanism of CO₂ hydroboration catalyzed by manganese pincer complex, [Mn(Ph₂PCH₂SiMe₂)₂NH(CO)₂Br]. The carbonyl association and carbonyl dissociation mechanisms were investigated, and the calculated results showed that the carbonyl association mechanism is more favorable with an energetic span of 27.0 kcal/mol. Meanwhile, the solvent effect of the reaction was explored, indicating that the solvents could reduce the catalytic activity of the catalyst, which was consistent with the experimental results. In addition, the X ligand effect (X = CO, Br, H, PH₃) on the catalytic activity of the manganese complex was explored, indicating that the anionic complexes [Mn^I - Br]^- and [Mn^I - H]^- have higher catalytic activity. This may not only shed light on the fixation and conversion of CO₂ catalyzed by earth-abundant transition-metal complexes but also provide theoretical insights to design new transition-metal catalysts.

Acceleration Effect of Bases on Mn Pincer Complex-Catalyzed CO2 Hydroboration

Herein, we report a comprehensive study of CO₂ hydroboration catalyzed by Mn pincer complexes. The traditional metal-ligand cooperation (MLC) mechanism based on the H-Mn-N-Bpin pincer complex is not viable due to the competing abstraction of the Bpin group from the H-Mn-N-Bpin complex by NaO^tBu. Instead, we propose an ionic mechanism based on the H-Mn-N-Na species with a low energy span (22.5 kcal/mol) and unveil the acceleration effect of bases. The X groups in the H-Mn-N-X catalyst models are further modulated, and the steric hindrance and H→B donor-acceptor interactions of the X group increase the energy barrier of the hydride transfer. The hydrogen bond and electrostatic interactions of the X group can accelerate the hydride transfer to HCOOBpin and HCHO molecules except for the nonpolar CO₂ molecule. Based on these discoveries, we designed a pyridine-based Mn pincer catalyst system, which could achieve CO₂ hydroboration in low-temperature and base-free conditions through a metal-ligand cooperation mechanism.

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

The transition metal-catalysed hydroboration reaction

This review covers the development of the transition metal-catalysed hydroboration reaction, from its beginnings in the 1980s to more recent developments including earth-abundant catalysts and an ever-expanding array of substrates.

Hydroboration of Terminal Alkenes and trans-1,2-Diboration of Terminal Alkynes Catalyzed by a Manganese(I) Alkyl Complex

A Mn^I‐catalyzed hydroboration of terminal alkenes and a 1,2‐diboration of terminal alkynes with pinacolborane (HBPin) is described. For alkenes, anti‐Markovnikov hydroboration takes place; for alkynes the reaction proceeds with excellent trans‐1,2‐selectivity. The most active pre‐catalyst is bench‐stable alkyl bisphosphine Mn^I complex fac‐[Mn(dippe)(CO)₃(CH₂CH₂CH₃)]. The catalytic process is initiated by migratory insertion of a CO ligand into the Mn–alkyl bond to yield an acyl intermediate, which undergoes B−H bond cleavage of HBPin (for alkenes) and rapid C−H bond cleavage (for alkynes), forming the active Mn^I boryl and acetylide catalysts [Mn(dippe)(CO)₂(BPin)] and [Mn(dippe)(CO)₂(C≡CR)], respectively. A broad variety of aromatic and aliphatic alkenes and alkynes was efficiently and selectively borylated. Mechanistic insights are provided based on experimental data and DFT calculations revealing that an acceptorless reaction is operating involving dihydrogen release.

Hydroboration of Terminal Alkenes and trans-1,2-Diboration of Terminal Alkynes Catalyzed by a Manganese(I) Alkyl Complex

A MnI-catalyzed hydroboration of terminal alkenes and a 1,2-diboration of terminal alkynes with pinacolborane (HBPin) is described. For alkenes, anti-Markovnikov hydroboration takes place; for alkynes the reaction proceeds with excellent trans-1,2-selectivity. The most active pre-catalyst is bench-stable alkyl bisphosphine MnI complex fac-[Mn(dippe)(CO)3(CH2CH2CH3)]. The catalytic process is initiated by migratory insertion of a CO ligand into the Mn-alkyl bond to yield an acyl intermediate, which undergoes B-H bond cleavage of HBPin (for alkenes) and rapid C-H bond cleavage (for alkynes), forming the active MnI boryl and acetylide catalysts [Mn(dippe)(CO)2(BPin)] and [Mn(dippe)(CO)2(C≡CR)], respectively. A broad variety of aromatic and aliphatic alkenes and alkynes was efficiently and selectively borylated. Mechanistic insights are provided based on experimental data and DFT calculations revealing that an acceptorless reaction is operating involving dihydrogen release.

Reduction of Carbon Dioxide with Ammonia-Borane under Ambient Conditions: Maneuvering a Catalytic Way

In the development of alternatives to the traditional catalytic hydrogenation of CO₂ with gaseous H₂, employing nongaseous H₂ storage compounds as potential reductants for catalytic transfer hydrogenation of CO₂ is promising. Ammonia-borane, due to its high hydrogen storage capacity (19.6 wt %), has been used for catalytic transfer hydrogenation of several organic unsaturated compounds. However, a similar protocol involving catalytic transfer hydrogenation of less reactive CO₂ with NH₃BH₃ is yet to be realized experimentally. Herein, we demonstrate the first catalytic CO₂ transfer hydrogenation process for generating formate salt with NH₃BH₃ under ambient conditions (1 atm and 30 °C) employing a cationic "Ir(III)-abnormal NHC" catalyst via an electrophilic NH₃BH₃ activation route. It exhibited an initial turnover frequency of 686 h^-1 and a high turnover number (TON) of ≈1300 in just 4 h. Most significantly, the catalyst was durable enough to maintain long-term activity, and upon only periodic recharging of NH₃BH₃, it furnished a total TON of >4200 in 10 h.

Manganese-Catalyzed Hydroborations with Broad Scope

Reductive transformations of easily available oxidized matter are at the heart of synthetic manipulation and chemical valorization. The applications of catalytic hydrofunctionalization benefit from the use of liquid reducing agents and operationally facile setups. Metal‐catalyzed hydroborations provide a highly prolific platform for reductive valorizations of stable C=X electrophiles. Here, we report an especially facile, broad‐scope reduction of various functions including carbonyls, carboxylates, pyridines, carbodiimides, and carbonates under very mild conditions with the inexpensive pre‐catalyst Mn(hmds)₂. The reaction could be successfully applied to depolymerizations.

Bringing Homogeneous Iron Catalysts on the Heterogeneous Side: Solutions for Immobilization

Noble metal catalysts currently dominate the landscape of chemical synthesis, but cheaper and less toxic derivatives are recently emerging as more sustainable solutions. Iron is among the possible alternative metals due to its biocompatibility and exceptional versatility. Nowadays, iron catalysts work essentially in homogeneous conditions, while heterogeneous catalysts would be better performing and more desirable systems for a broad industrial application. In this review, approaches for heterogenization of iron catalysts reported in the literature within the last two decades are summarized, and utility and critical points are discussed. The immobilization on silica of bis(arylimine)pyridyl iron complexes, good catalysts in the polymerization of olefins, is the first useful heterogeneous strategy described. Microporous molecular sieves also proved to be good iron catalyst carriers, able to provide confined geometries where olefin polymerization can occur. Same immobilizing supports (e.g., MCM-41 and MCM-48) are suitable for anchoring iron-based catalysts for styrene, cyclohexene and cyclohexane oxidation. Another excellent example is the anchoring to a Merrifield resin of an FeII-anthranilic acid complex, active in the catalytic reaction of urea with alcohols and amines for the synthesis of carbamates and N-substituted ureas, respectively. A SILP (Supported Ionic Liquid Phase) catalytic system has been successfully employed for the heterogenization of a chemoselective iron catalyst active in aldehyde hydrogenation. Finally, FeIII ions supported on polyvinylpyridine grafted chitosan made a useful heterogeneous catalytic system for C-H bond activation.

Recent Advances in Metal Catalyst Design for CO2 Hydroboration to C1 Derivatives

The use of CO2 as a C1 building block for chemical synthesis is receiving growing attention, due to the potential of this simple molecule as an abundant and cheap renewable feedstock. Among the possible reductants used in the literature to bring about CO2 reduction to C1 derivatives, hydroboranes have found various applications, in the presence of suitable homogenous catalysts. The current minireview article summarizes the main results obtained since 2016 in the synthetic design of main group, first and second row transition metals for use as catalysts for CO2 hydroboration.