Racemization of Secondary Alcohols Catalyzed by Cyclopentadienylruthenium Complexes: Evidence for an Alkoxide Pathway by Fast β-Hydride Elimination–Readdition

Chemoenzymatic Dynamic Kinetic Asymmetric Transformations of β-Hydroxyketones

Herein we report on the development and application of chemoenzymatic Dynamic Kinetic Asymmetric Transformation (DYKAT) of α-substituted β-hydroxyketones (β-HKs), using Candida antartica lipase B (CALB) as transesterification catalyst and a ruthenium complex as epimerization catalyst. An operationally simple protocol allows for an efficient preparation of highly enantiomerically enriched α-substituted β-oxoacetates. The products were obtained in yields up to 95 % with good diastereomeric ratios.

In Situ Structural Determination of a Homogeneous Ruthenium Racemization Catalyst and Its Activated Intermediates Using X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy

The activation process of a known Ru‐catalyst, dicarbonyl(pentaphenylcyclopentadienyl)ruthenium chloride, has been studied in detail using time resolved in situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy. The data provide bond lengths of the species involved in the process as well as information about bond formation and bond breaking. On addition of potassium tert‐butoxide, the catalyst is activated and an alkoxide complex is formed. The catalyst activation proceeds via a key acyl intermediate, which gives rise to a complete structural change in the coordination environment around the Ru atom. The rate of activation for the different catalysts was found to be highly dependent on the electronic properties of the cyclopentadienyl ligand. During catalytic racemization of 1‐phenylethanol a fast‐dynamic equilibrium was observed.

A ruthenium racemisation catalyst for the synthesis of primary amines from secondary amines

A Ru-based half sandwich complex used in amine and alcohol racemization reactions was found to be active in the splitting of secondary amines to primary amines using NH3. Conversions up to 80% along with very high selectivities were achieved. However, after about 80% conversion the catalyst lost activity. Similar to Shvo's catalyst, the complex might deactivate under the influence of ammonia. It was revealed that not NH3 but mainly the primary amine is responsible for the deactivation.

Evaluation of a new protocol for enzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution of 3-hydroxy-3-(aryl)propanoic acids

The application of tandem metal–enzyme dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) is a powerful tool for the manufacture of high-value chemical commodities.

Mechanistic aspects on cyclopentadienylruthenium complexes in catalytic racemization of alcohols

Cyclopentadienylruthenium complexes commonly serve as efficient transition metal catalysts in the racemization of alcohols. The combination of the racemization reaction with enzymatic resolution leads to dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR). In DKR, a theoretical yield of 100% is possible, making it a powerful tool for enantioselective synthesis. In this Account, we summarize the most important mechanistic aspects of racemization of alcohols reported over the past decade based on both experimental and computational results. Precatalyst activation is often necessary, either by heating the reaction or by adding an alkoxide-type base. The subsequent alcohol-alkoxide exchange is rapid and introduces the substrate into the catalytic cycle. This exchange requires a free coordination site, which may be created via several different mechanisms. Following alkoxide formation, racemization occurs via β-hydride elimination and subsequent readdition. In cyclopentadienyldicarbonylruthenium alkoxide complexes, which are 18-electron complexes, researchers originally considered two mechanisms for the creation of the free coordination site required for β-hydride elimination: a change in hapticity of the cyclopentadienyl ligand from η5 to η3 and dissociation of a CO ligand. Based on computational and experimental results, we have found strong support for the pathway involving CO dissociation. Researchers had also wondered if the substrate remains coordinated to the metal center (the inner-sphere mechanism) during the hydrogen transfer step(s). Using competition and crossover experiments, we found strong evidence for an inner-sphere mechanism. In summary, we have obtained a detailed picture of the racemization of alcohols by cyclopentadienylruthenium catalysts, leading to the development of more efficient catalytic systems for racemization.

A computational study of the CO dissociation in cyclopentadienyl ruthenium complexes relevant to the racemization of alcohols

The formation of an active 16-electron ruthenium sec-alkoxide complex via loss of the CO ligand is an important step in the mechanism of the racemization of sec-alcohols by (η(5)-Ph(5)C(5))Ru(CO)(2)X ruthenium complexes with X = Cl and O(t)Bu. Here we show with accurate DFT calculations the potential energy profile of the CO dissociation pathway for a series of relevant (η(5)-Ph(5)C(5))Ru(CO)(2)X complexes, where X = Cl, O(t)Bu, H and COO(t)Bu. We have found that the CO dissociation energy increases in the following order: O(t)Bu (lowest), Cl, COO(t)Bu and H (highest). Using the distance between ruthenium and C(CO), r = Ru-C(CO), as a constraint, and by optimizing all other degrees of freedom for a range of Ru-CO distances, we obtained relative energies, ΔE(r) and geometries of a sufficient number of transient structures with the elongated Ru-CO bond up to r = 3.4 Å. Our calculations provide a quantitative understanding of the CO ligand dissociation in (η(5)-Ph(5)C(5))Ru(CO)(2)Cl and (η(5)-Ph(5)C(5))Ru(CO)(2)(O(t)Bu) complexes, which is relevant to the mechanism of their catalytic activity in the racemization of alcohols. We recently reported that exchange of the CO ligand by isotopically labeled (13)CO in the Ru-O(t)Bu complex occurs twenty times faster than that in the Ru-Cl complex. This corresponds to a difference of 1.8 kcal mol(-1) in the CO dissociation energy (at room temperature). This is in very good agreement with the calculated difference between the two potential energy curves for Ru-O(t)Bu and Ru-Cl complexes, which is about 1.8-2 kcal mol(-1) around the corresponding transition states of the CO dissociation. The calculated difference in the total energy for CO dissociation in (η(5)-Ph(5)C(5))Ru(CO)(2)X complexes is related to the stabilization provided by the X group in the final 16-electron complexes, which are formed via product-like transition states. In addition to the calculated transition states of CO dissociation in Ru-O(t)Bu and Ru-Cl complexes, the calculated transient structures with the elongated Ru-CO bond provide insight into how the geometry of the ruthenium complex with a potent heteroatom donor group (X) gradually changes when one of the COs is dissociating.

Mechanistic investigation of the iridium-catalysed alkylation of amines with alcohols

The [Cp*IrCl(2)](2)-catalysed alkylation of amines with alcohols was investigated using a combination of experimental and theoretical methods. A Hammett study involving a series of para-substituted benzyl alcohols resulted in a line with a negative slope. This clearly documents that a positive charge is built up in the transition state, which in combination with the measurement of a significant kinetic isotope effect determines hydride abstraction as being the selectivity-determining step under these conditions. A complementary Hammett study using para-substituted anilines was also carried out. Again, a line with a negative slope was obtained suggesting that nucleophilic attack on the aldehyde is selectivity-determining. A computational investigation of the entire catalytic cycle with full-sized ligands and substrates was performed using density functional theory. The results suggest a catalytic cycle where the intermediate aldehyde stays coordinated to the iridium catalyst and reacts with the amine to give a hemiaminal which is also bound to the catalyst. Dehydration to the imine and reduction to the product amine also takes place without breaking the coordination to the catalyst. The fact that the entire catalytic cycle takes place with all the intermediates bound to the catalyst is important for the further development of this synthetic transformation.

Efficient dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic secondary alcohols by a chemoenzymatic system using bifunctional iridium complexes with C-N chelate amido ligands

The combined catalyst system of bifunctional amidoiridium complexes derived from benzylic amines with CALB was found to provide a range of chiral acetates from racemic secondary alcohols in excellent yields with nearly perfect enantioselectivities via dynamic kinetic resolution.

Amide synthesis from alcohols and amines catalyzed by ruthenium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

The direct synthesis of amides from alcohols and amines is described with the simultaneous liberation of dihydrogen. The reaction does not require any stoichiometric additives or hydrogen acceptors and is catalyzed by ruthenium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes. Three different catalyst systems are presented that all employ 1,3-diisopropylimidazol-2-ylidene (IiPr) as the carbene ligand. In addition, potassium tert-butoxide and a tricycloalkylphosphine are required for the amidation to proceed. In the first system, the active catalyst is generated in situ from [RuCl(2)(cod)] (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene), 1,3-diisopropylimidazolium chloride, tricyclopentylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate, and base. The second system uses the complex [RuCl(2)(IiPr)(p-cymene)] together with tricyclohexylphosphine and base, whereas the third system employs the Hoveyda-Grubbs 1st-generation metathesis catalyst together with 1,3-diisopropylimidazolium chloride and base. A range of different primary alcohols and amines have been coupled in the presence of the three catalyst systems to afford the corresponding amides in moderate to excellent yields. The best results are obtained with sterically unhindered alcohols and amines. The three catalyst systems do not show any significant differences in reactivity, which indicates that the same catalytically active species is operating. The reaction is believed to proceed by initial dehydrogenation of the primary alcohol to the aldehyde that stays coordinated to ruthenium and is not released into the reaction mixture. Addition of the amine forms the hemiaminal that undergoes dehydrogenation to the amide. A catalytic cycle is proposed with the {(IiPr)Ru(II)} species as the catalytically active components.

New benzo[h]quinoline-based ligands and their pincer Ru and Os complexes for efficient catalytic transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds

New benzo[h]quinoline ligands (HCN'N) containing a CHRNH2 (R=H (a), Me (b), tBu (c)) function in the 2-position were prepared starting from benzo[h]quinoline N-oxide (in the case of ligand a) and 2-chlorobenzo[h]quinoline (for ligands b and c). These compounds were used to prepare ruthenium and osmium complexes, which are excellent catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation (TH) of ketones. The reaction of a with [RuCl2(PPh3)3] in 2-propanol at reflux afforded the terdentate CN'N complex [RuCl(CN'N)(PPh3)2] (1), whereas the complexes [RuCl(CN'N)(dppb)] (2-4; dppb=Ph2P(CH2)4PPh2) were obtained from [RuCl2(PPh3)(dppb)] with a-c, respectively. Employment of (R,S)-Josiphos, (S,R)-Josiphos*, (S,S)-Skewphos, and (S)-MeO-Biphep in combination with [RuCl2(PPh3)3] and ligand a gave the chiral derivatives [RuCl(CN'N)(PP)] (5-8). The osmium complex [OsCl(CN'N)(dppb)] (12) was prepared by treatment of [OsCl2(PPh3)3] with dppb and ligand a. Reaction of the chloride 2 and 12 with NaOiPr in 2-propanol/toluene afforded the hydride complexes [MH(CN'N)(dppb)] (M=Ru 10, Os 14), through elimination of acetone from [M(OiPr)(CN'N)(dppb)] (M=Ru 9, Os 13). The species 9 and 13 easily reacted with 4,4'-difluorobenzophenone, via 10 and 14, respectively, affording the corresponding isolable alkoxides [M(OR)(CN'N)(dppb)] (M=Ru 11, Os 15). The complexes [MX(CN'N)(P2)] (1-15) (M=Ru, Os; X=Cl, H, OR; P=PPh3 and P2=diphosphane) are efficient catalysts for the TH of carbonyl compounds with 2-propanol in the presence of NaOiPr (2 mol %). Turnover frequency (TOF) values up to 1.8x10(6) h(-1) have been achieved using 0.02-0.001 mol % of catalyst. Much the same activity has been observed for the Ru--Cl, --H, --OR, and the Os--Cl derivatives, whereas the Os--H and Os--OR derivatives display significantly lower activity on account of their high oxygen sensitivity. The chiral Ru complexes 5-8 catalyze the asymmetric TH of methyl-aryl ketones with TOF approximately 10(5) h(-1) at 60 degrees C, up to 97 % enatiomeric excess (ee) and remarkably high productivity (0.005 mol % catalyst loading). High catalytic activity (TOF up to 2.2x10(5) h(-1)) and enantioselectivity (up to 98 % ee) have also been achieved with the in-situ-generated catalysts prepared from [MCl2(PPh3)3], (S,R)-Josiphos or (S,R)-Josiphos*, and the benzo[h]quinoline ligands a-c.