The Wacker Process: Inner- or Outer-Sphere Nucleophilic Addition? New Insights from Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics

Supported Noble Metal Catalysts and Adsorbents with Soft Lewis Acid Functions

Heterogeneous noble metal catalysts exhibit various functions. Although their redox functions have been extensively studied, we focused on their soft Lewis acid functions. Supported Au, Pt, and Pd catalysts electrophilically attack the π-electrons of soft bases such as alkynes, alkenes, and aromatic compounds to perform addition and substitution reactions. Hydroamination, intramolecular cyclization of alkynyl carboxylic acids, isomerization of allylic esters, vinyl exchange reactions, Wacker oxidation, and oxidative homocoupling of aromatics are introduced based on a discussion of the active species and reaction mechanisms. Furthermore, the adsorption of sulfur compounds, which are soft bases, onto the supported AuNPs is discussed. The adsorption and removal of 1,3-dimethyltrisulfane (DMTS), which is the compound responsible for the stale odor of "hine-ka" in alcoholic beverages, particularly Japanese sake, is described.

Dehydrogenative ester synthesis from enol ethers and water with a ruthenium complex catalyzing two reactions in synergy

We report the dehydrogenative synthesis of esters from enol ethers using water as the formal oxidant, catalyzed by a newly developed ruthenium acridine-based PNP(Ph)-type complex. Mechanistic experiments and density functional theory (DFT) studies suggest that an inner-sphere stepwise coupled reaction pathway is operational instead of a more intuitive outer-sphere tandem hydration-dehydrogenation pathway.

Beyond Continuum Solvent Models in Computational Homogeneous Catalysis

In homogeneous catalysis solvent is an inherent part of the catalytic system. As such, it must be considered in the computational modeling. The most common approach to include solvent effects in quantum mechanical calculations is by means of continuum solvent models. When they are properly used, average solvent effects are efficiently captured, mainly those related with solvent polarity. However, neglecting atomistic description of solvent molecules has its limitations, and continuum solvent models all alone cannot be applied to whatever situation. In many cases, inclusion of explicit solvent molecules in the quantum mechanical description of the system is mandatory. The purpose of this article is to highlight through selected examples what are the reasons that urge to go beyond the continuum models to the employment of micro-solvated (cluster-continuum) of fully explicit solvent models, in this way setting the limits of continuum solvent models in computational homogeneous catalysis. These examples showcase that inclusion of solvent molecules in the calculation not only can improve the description of already known mechanisms but can yield new mechanistic views of a reaction. With the aim of systematizing the use of explicit solvent models, after discussing the success and limitations of continuum solvent models, issues related with solvent coordination and solvent dynamics, solvent effects in reactions involving small, charged species, as well as reactions in protic solvents and the role of solvent as reagent itself are successively considered.

The Reims Journey Towards Discovery and Understanding of Pd-Catalyzed Oxidations

This review recounts the development by the authors of the Pd-catalyzed procedures devoted to various kinds of oxidation. Starting with reactions assisted with UV light, the research has explored reactions under light-free conditions: allylic oxidation, alcohol oxidation, etherification, Wacker oxidation and dehydrogenations with, always, accompanying efforts towards mechanism determination.

Nickel Pincer Complexes with Frequent Aliphatic Alkoxo Ligands [(iPrPCP)Ni-OR] (R = Et, nBu, iPr, 2-hydroxyethyl). An Assessment of the Hydrolytic Stability of Nickel and Palladium Alkoxides

A series of nickel pincer complexes with terminal alkoxo ligands [(^iPrPCP)Ni-OR] (R = Et, nBu, iPr, CH₂CH₂OH; ^iPrPCP is the 2,6-bis(diisopropylphosphinomethyl)phenyl pincer ligand) was synthesized and fully characterized. Together with the previously reported methoxo analogues of Ni and Pd, these complexes constitute a unique series of isostructural late transition-metal alkoxides. Spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction data provide direct indications of the strong polarization of their covalent Ni-OR bonds. One of the most salient features of this class of compounds is their facile hydrolysis with traces of moisture, leading to equilibrium mixtures with the corresponding hydroxides [(^iPrPCP)M-OH] (M = Ni or Pd) and alcohols, ROH. To compare the hydrolytic stability of nickel and palladium alkoxides, we performed NMR titrations of both hydroxides with several alcohols and determined the corresponding equilibrium constants. In general, these constants are ca. 1 order of magnitude smaller for M = Ni than Pd, indicating that Ni alkoxide complexes are more readily hydrolyzed than their Pd counterparts. For alkoxide complexes containing heteroatom-free R groups, the tendency to hydrolyze decreases as the parent alcohol ROH becomes more acidic, that is, R = Me > Et > iPr. This intuitive trend is broken for 2-methoxyethanol, the most acidic alcohol investigated. The hydroxo/2-methoxyethanol exchange equilibrium constants are comparable to those of ethanol (M = Ni) or methanol (M = Pd), showing that the corresponding 2-methoxyethoxide complexes are more prone to hydrolysis than anticipated. These experimental observations were rationalized in the light of density functional theory calculations.

First-Principles Molecular Dynamics Studies of Organometallic Complexes and Homogeneous Catalytic Processes

Computational chemistry is a valuable aid to complement experimental studies of organometallic systems and their reactivity. It allows probing mechanistic hypotheses and investigating molecular structures, shedding light on the behavior and properties of molecular assemblies at the atomic scale. When approaching a chemical problem, the computational chemist has to decide on the theoretical approach needed to describe electron/nuclear interactions and the composition of the model used to approximate the actual system. Both factors determine the reliability of the modeling study. The community dedicated much effort to developing and improving the performance and accuracy of theoretical approaches for electronic structure calculations, on which the description of (inter)atomic interactions rely. Here, the importance of the model system used in computational studies is highlighted through examples from our recent research focused on organometallic systems and homogeneous catalytic processes. We show how the inclusion of explicit solvent allows the characterization of molecular events that would otherwise not be accessible in reduced model systems (clusters). These include the stabilization of nascent charged fragments via microscopic solvation (notably, hydrogen bonding), transfer of charge (protons) between distant fragments mediated by solvent molecules, and solvent coordination to unsaturated metal centers. Furthermore, when weak interactions are involved, we show how conformational and solvation properties of organometallic complexes are also affected by the explicit inclusion of solvent molecules. Such extended model systems may be treated under periodic boundary conditions, thus removing the cluster/continuum (or vacuum) boundary, and require a statistical mechanics simulation technique to sample the accessible configurational space. First-principles molecular dynamics, in which atomic forces are computed from electronic structure calculations (namely, density functional theory), is certainly the technique of choice to investigate chemical events in solution. This methodology is well established and thanks to advances in both algorithms and computational resources simulation times required for the modeling of chemical events are nowadays accessible, though the computational requirements use to be high. Specific applications reviewed here include mechanistic studies of the Shilov and Wacker processes, speciation in Pd chemistry, hydrogen bonding to metal centers, and the dynamics of agostic interactions.

Catalytic Enantioselective Functionalization of Unactivated Terminal Alkenes

Terminal alkenes are readily available functional groups which appear in α-olefins produced by the chemical industry, and they appear in the products of many contemporary synthetic reactions. While the organic transformations that apply to alkenes are amongst the most studied reactions in all of chemical synthesis, the number of reactions that apply to nonactivated terminal alkenes in a catalytic enantioselective fashion is small in number. This Minireview highlights the cases where stereocontrol in catalytic reactions of 1-alkenes is high enough to be useful for asymmetric synthesis.

Prebiotic NH3 Formation: Insights from Simulations

Simulations of prebiotic NH₃ synthesis from NO₃⁻ and NO₂⁻ on pyrite surfaces under hydrothermal conditions are reported. Ab initio metadynamics calculations have successfully explored the full reaction path which explains earlier experimental observations. We have found that the reaction mechanism can be constructed from stepwise single atom transfers which are compatible with the expected reaction time scales. The roles of the hot-pressurized water and of the pyrite surfaces have been addressed. The mechanistic picture that emerged from the simulations strengthens the theory of chemoautotrophic origin of life by providing plausible reaction pathways for the formation of ammonia within the iron-sulfur-world scenario.

The syn/anti-dichotomy in the palladium-catalyzed addition of nucleophiles to alkenes

In this review the stereochemistry of palladium-catalyzed addition of nucleophiles to alkenes is discussed, and examples of these reactions in organic synthesis are given. Most of the reactions discussed involve oxygen and nitrogen nucleophiles; the Wacker oxidation of ethylene has been reviewed in detail. An anti-hydroxypalladation in the Wacker oxidation has strong support from both experimental and computational studies. From the reviewed material it is clear that anti-addition of oxygen and nitrogen nucleophiles is strongly favored in intermolecular addition to olefin-palladium complexes even if the nucleophile is coordinated to the metal. On the other hand, syn-addition is common in the case of intramolecular oxy- and amidopalladation as a result of the initial coordination of the internal nucleophile to the metal.

Challenges in modelling homogeneous catalysis: new answers from ab initio molecular dynamics to the controversy over the Wacker process

We present here a review of the mechanistic studies of the Wacker process stressing the long controversy about the key reaction steps. We give an overview of the previous experimental and theoretical studies on the topic. Then we describe the importance of the most recent Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics (AIMD) calculations in modelling organometallic reactivity in water. As a prototypical example of homogeneous catalytic reactions, the Wacker process poses serious challenges to modelling. The adequate description of the multiple role of the water solvent is very difficult by using static quantum chemical approaches including cluster and continuum solvent models. In contrast, such reaction systems are suitable for AIMD, and by combining with rare event sampling techniques, the method provides reaction mechanisms and the corresponding free energy profiles. The review also highlights how AIMD has helped to obtain a novel understanding of the mechanism and kinetics of the Wacker process.

Mechanistic studies on the Pd-catalyzed vinylation of aryl halides with vinylalkoxysilanes in water: the effect of the solvent and NaOH promoter

The mechanism of the Pd-catalyzed vinylation of aryl halides with vinylalkoxysilanes in water has been studied using different catalytic precursors. The NaOH promoter converts the initial vinylalkoxysilane into a highly reactive water-soluble vinylsilanolate species. Similarly, deuterium-labeling experiments have shown that, irrespective of the catalytic precursor used, vinylation occurs exclusively at the CH vinylic functionality via a Heck reaction and not at the C-Si bond via a Hiyama cross-coupling. The involvement of a Heck mechanism is interpreted in terms of the reduced nucleophilicity of the base in water, which disfavors the transmetalation step. The Heck product (β-silylvinylarene) undergoes partial desilylation, with formation of a vinylarene, by three different routes: (a) hydrolytic desilylation by the aqueous solvent (only at high temperature); (b) transmetalation of the silyl olefin on the PdH Heck intermediate followed by reductive elimination of vinylarene; (c) reinsertion of the silyl olefin into the PdH bond of the Heck intermediate followed by β-Si syn-elimination. Both the Hiyama and Heck catalytic cycles and desilylation mechanisms b and c have been computationally evaluated for the [Pd(en)Cl2] precursor in water as solvent. The calculated Gibbs energy barriers support the reinsertion route proposed on the basis of the experimental results.

Imparting catalyst control upon classical palladium-catalyzed alkenyl C-H bond functionalization reactions

The functional group transformations carried out by the palladium-catalyzed Wacker and Heck reactions are radically different, but they are both alkenyl C-H bond functionalization reactions that have found extensive use in organic synthesis. The synthetic community depends heavily on these important reactions, but selectivity issues arising from control by the substrate, rather than control by the catalyst, have prevented the realization of their full potential. Because of important similarities in the respective selectivity-determining nucleopalladation and β-hydride elimination steps of these processes, we posit that the mechanistic insight garnered through the development of one of these catalytic reactions may be applied to the other. In this Account, we detail our efforts to develop catalyst-controlled variants of both the Wacker oxidation and the Heck reaction to address synthetic limitations and provide mechanistic insight into the underlying organometallic processes of these reactions. In contrast to previous reports, we discovered that electrophilic palladium catalysts with noncoordinating counterions allowed for the use of a Lewis basic ligand to efficiently promote tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP)-mediated Wacker oxidation reactions of styrenes. This discovery led to the mechanistically guided development of a Wacker reaction catalyzed by a palladium complex with a bidentate ligand. This ligation may prohibit coordination of allylic heteroatoms, thereby allowing for the application of the Wacker oxidation to substrates that were poorly behaved under classical conditions. Likewise, we unexpectedly discovered that electrophilic Pd-σ-alkyl intermediates are capable of distinguishing between electronically inequivalent C-H bonds during β-hydride elimination. As a result, we have developed E-styrenyl selective oxidative Heck reactions of previously unsuccessful electronically nonbiased alkene substrates using arylboronic acid derivatives. The mechanistic insight gained from the development of this chemistry allowed for the rational design of a similarly E-styrenyl selective classical Heck reaction using aryldiazonium salts and a broad range of alkene substrates. The key mechanistic findings from the development of these reactions provide new insight into how to predictably impart catalyst control in organometallic processes that would otherwise afford complex product mixtures. Given our new understanding, we are optimistic that reactions that introduce increased complexity relative to simple classical processes may now be developed based on our ability to predict the selectivity-determining nucleopalladation and β-hydride elimination steps through catalyst design.

The nature of [PdCl(2)(C(2)H(4))(H(2)O)] as an active species in the Wacker process: new insights from ab initio molecular dynamics simulations

First-principles molecular dynamics coupled with metadynamics have been used to gain a deeper insight into the reaction mechanism of the Wacker process by determining the nature of the active species. An explicit and dynamic representation of the aqueous solvent, which was essential for modeling this reaction, was efficiently included into the simulations. Prompted by our earlier results, which showed that the configuration of the catalytically active species [PdCl(2)(H(2)O)(C(2)H(4))] was crucial in the subsequent steps of the Wacker process, herein we focused on the preceding equilibria that led to the formation of both the cis and trans isomers. Starting from the initial catalyst, [PdCl(4)](2-), the free-energy barriers for the forward and backward reactions were calculated. These results confirmed the relevance of the trans intermediate in the reaction mechanism, whilst conversely, they showed that the cis configuration played no role in it. This sole participation of the trans intermediate has some very important implications; besides the mechanistic interpretation of the initial steps in the Wacker reaction mechanism, the analysis of these equilibria provides additional information about the chemical nature of these ligand-substitution processes.

On the mechanism of the palladium-catalyzed tert-butylhydroperoxide-mediated Wacker-type oxidation of alkenes using quinoline-2-oxazoline ligands

The mechanism of the tert-butylhydroperoxide-mediated, Pd(Quinox)-catalyzed Wacker-type oxidation was investigated to evaluate the hypothesis that a selective catalyst-controlled oxidation could be achieved by rendering the palladium coordinatively saturated using a bidentate amine ligand. The unique role of the Quinox ligand framework was probed via systematic ligand modifications. The modified ligands were evaluated through quantitative Hammett analysis, which supports a "push-pull" relationship between the electronically asymmetric quinoline and oxazoline ligand modules.

H2CO3 forms via HCO3- in water

According to the generally accepted picture of CO(2) dissolution in water, the formation of H(2)CO(3) proceeds in a single step that involves the attack of a water oxygen on the CO(2) carbon in concert with a proton transfer to a CO(2) oxygen. In the present work, a series of ab initio molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out along with the metadynamics technique which reveals a stepwise mechanism: the reaction of a water molecule with CO(2) yields HCO(3)(-) as an intermediate and a hydronium ion, whereas the protonation of the CO(2) moiety occurs in a separate step representing a well-defined activation barrier toward the H(2)CO(3) molecule. This alternative scenario was already taken into consideration decades ago, but subsequent experiments and calculations have given preference to the concerted mechanism. Employing extended periodic models of the CO(2)-water system that mimic the bulk aqueous environment, the present simulations yield the complete free energy profile of the stepwise mechanism and provide a detailed microscopic mechanism of the elementary steps. HCO(3)(-) formation is found to be the rate-determining step of the entire CO(2) hydration process.

Experimental and computational study of a direct O2-coupled Wacker oxidation: water dependence in the absence of Cu salts

The kinetics of the Pd[(-)-sparteine]Cl(2) catalyzed oxidation of decene using oxygen as the sole oxidant have been studied in the absence of copper salts and high [Cl(-)]. Saturation kinetics are observed for [decene] as well as a third order dependence on [water]. A mechanism is proposed involving the dissociation of two chlorides and rate-limiting formation of a three-water hydrogen bridged network and subsequent oxypalladation as supported by computational studies.