Scientific Deep Machine Learning Concepts for the Prediction of Concentration Profiles and Chemical Reaction Kinetics: Consideration of Reaction Conditions

Emerging concepts from scientific deep machine learning such as physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) enable a data-driven approach for the study of complex kinetic problems. We present an extended framework that combines the advantages of PINNs with the detailed consideration of experimental parameter variations for the simulation and prediction of chemical reaction kinetics. The approach is based on truncated Taylor series expansions for the underlying fundamental equations, whereby the external variations can be interpreted as perturbations of the kinetic parameters. Accordingly, our method allows for an efficient consideration of experimental parameter settings and their influence on the concentration profiles and reaction kinetics. A particular advantage of our approach, in addition to the consideration of univariate and multivariate parameter variations, is the robust model-based exploration of the parameter space to determine optimal reaction conditions in combination with advanced reaction insights. The benefits of this concept are demonstrated for higher-order chemical reactions including catalytic and oscillatory systems in combination with small amounts of training data. All predicted values show a high level of accuracy, demonstrating the broad applicability and flexibility of our approach.

Fluorescent organometallic dyads and triads: establishing spatial relationships

FRET pairs involving up to three different Bodipy dyes are utilized to provide information on the assembly/disassembly of organometallic complexes. Azolium salts tagged with chemically robust and photostable blue or green or red fluorescent Bodipy, respectively, were synthesized and the azolium salts used to prepare metal complexes [(NHC_blue)ML], [(NHC_green)ML] and [(NHC_red)ML] (ML = Pd(allyl)Cl, IrCl(cod), RhCl(cod), AuCl, Au(NTf₂), CuBr). The blue and the green Bodipy and the green and the red Bodipy, respectively, were designed to allow the formation of efficient FRET pairs with minimal cross-talk. Organometallic dyads formed from two subunits enable the transfer of excitation energy from the donor dye to the acceptor dye. The blue, green and red emission provide three information channels on the formation of complexes, which is demonstrated for alkyne or sulfur bridged digold species and for ion pairing of a red fluorescent cation and a green fluorescent anion. This approach is extended to probe an assembly of three different subunits. In such a triad, each component is tagged with either a blue, a green or a red Bodipy and the energy transfer blue →green → red proves the formation of the triad. The tagging of molecular components with robust fluorophores can be a general strategy in (organometallic) chemistry to establish connectivities for binuclear catalyst resting states and binuclear catalyst decomposition products in homogeneous catalysis.

Organic reaction mechanism classification using machine learning

A mechanistic understanding of catalytic organic reactions is crucial for the design of new catalysts, modes of reactivity and the development of greener and more sustainable chemical processes^1-13. Kinetic analysis lies at the core of mechanistic elucidation by facilitating direct testing of mechanistic hypotheses from experimental data. Traditionally, kinetic analysis has relied on the use of initial rates¹⁴, logarithmic plots and, more recently, visual kinetic methods^15-18, in combination with mathematical rate law derivations. However, the derivation of rate laws and their interpretation require numerous mathematical approximations and, as a result, they are prone to human error and are limited to reaction networks with only a few steps operating under steady state. Here we show that a deep neural network model can be trained to analyse ordinary kinetic data and automatically elucidate the corresponding mechanism class, without any additional user input. The model identifies a wide variety of classes of mechanism with outstanding accuracy, including mechanisms out of steady state such as those involving catalyst activation and deactivation steps, and performs excellently even when the kinetic data contain substantial error or only a few time points. Our results demonstrate that artificial-intelligence-guided mechanism classification is a powerful new tool that can streamline and automate mechanistic elucidation. We are making this model freely available to the community and we anticipate that this work will lead to further advances in the development of fully automated organic reaction discovery and development.

Bimolecular Coupling in Olefin Metathesis: Correlating Structure and Decomposition for Leading and Emerging Ruthenium-Carbene Catalysts

Bimolecular catalyst decomposition is a fundamental, long-standing challenge in olefin metathesis. Emerging ruthenium-cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) catalysts, which enable breakthrough advances in productivity and general robustness, are now known to be extraordinarily susceptible to this pathway. The details of the process, however, have hitherto been obscure. The present study provides the first detailed mechanistic insights into the steric and electronic factors that govern bimolecular decomposition. Described is a combined experimental and theoretical study that probes decomposition of the key active species, RuCl2(L)(py)(═CH2) 1 (in which L is the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) H2IMes, or a CAAC ligand: the latter vary in the NAr group (NMes, N-2,6-Et2C6H3, or N-2-Me,6-iPrC6H3) and the substituents on the quaternary site flanking the carbene carbon (i.e., CMe2 or CMePh)). The transiently stabilized pyridine adducts 1 were isolated by cryogenic synthesis of the metallacyclobutanes, addition of pyridine, and precipitation. All are shown to decompose via second-order kinetics at -10 °C. The most vulnerable CAAC species, however, decompose more than 1000-fold faster than the H2IMes analogue. Computational studies reveal that the key factor underlying accelerated decomposition of the CAAC derivatives is their stronger trans influence, which weakens the Ru-py bond and increases the transient concentration of the 14-electron methylidene species, RuCl2(L)(═CH2) 2. Fast catalyst initiation, a major design goal in olefin metathesis, thus has the negative consequence of accelerating decomposition. Inhibiting bimolecular decomposition offers major opportunities to transform catalyst productivity and utility, and to realize the outstanding promise of olefin metathesis.

The Impact of Water on Ru-Catalyzed Olefin Metathesis: Potent Deactivating Effects Even at Low Water Concentrations

Ruthenium catalysts for olefin metathesis are widely viewed as water-tolerant. Evidence is presented, however, that even low concentrations of water cause catalyst decomposition, severely degrading yields. Of 11 catalysts studied, fast-initiating examples (e.g., the Grela catalyst RuCl2(H2IMes)(=CHC6H4-2-O i Pr-5-NO2) were most affected. Maximum water tolerance was exhibited by slowly initiating iodide and cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) derivatives. Computational investigations indicated that hydrogen bonding of water to substrate can also play a role, by retarding cyclization relative to decomposition. These results have important implications for olefin metathesis in organic media, where water is a ubiquitous contaminant, and for aqueous metathesis, which currently requires superstoichiometric "catalyst" for demanding reactions.

Challenging Metathesis Catalysts with Nucleophiles and Brønsted Base: Examining the Stability of State-of-the-Art Ruthenium Carbene Catalysts to Attack by Amines

Critical to advancing the uptake of olefin metathesis in leading contexts, including pharmaceutical manufacturing, is identification of highly active catalysts that resist decomposition. Amines constitute an aggressive challenge to ruthenium metathesis catalysts. Examined here is the impact of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), morpholine, n-butylamine, and triethylamine on Ru metathesis catalysts that represent the current state of the art, including cyclic alkyl amino carbene (CAAC) and N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes. Accordingly, the amine-tolerance of the nitro-Grela catalyst RuCl2(H2IMes)(=CHAr) (nG; Ar = C6H4-2-O i Pr-5-NO2) is compared with that of its CAAC analogues nGC1 and nGC2, and the Hoveyda-class catalyst RuCl2(C2)(=CHAr') HC2 (Ar' = C6H4-2-O i Pr). In C1, the carbene carbon is flanked by an N-2,6-Et2C6H3 group and a CMePh quaternary carbon; in C2, by an N-2- i Pr-6-MeC6H3 group and a CMe2 quaternary carbon. The impact of 1 equiv amine per Ru on turnover numbers (TONs) in ring-closing metathesis of diethyl diallylmalonate was assessed at 9 ppm Ru, at RT and 70 °C. The deleterious impact of amines followed the trend NEt3 ∼ NH2 n Bu ≪ DBU ∼ morpholine. Morpholine is shown to decompose nGC1 by nucleophilic abstraction of the methylidene ligand; DBU, by proton abstraction from the metallacyclobutane. Decomposition was minimized at 70 °C, at which nGC1 enabled TONs of ca. 60 000 even in the presence of morpholine or DBU, vs ca. 80 000 in the absence of base. Unexpectedly, H2IMes catalyst nG delivered 70-90% of the performance of nGC1 at high temperatures, and underwent decomposition by Brønsted base at a similar rate. Density functional theory (DFT) analysis shows that this similarity is due to comparable net electron donation by the H2IMes and C1 ligands. Catalysts bearing the smaller C2 ligand were comparatively insensitive to amines, owing to rapid, preferential bimolecular decomposition.

Activation of olefin metathesis complexes containing unsymmetrical unsaturated N-heterocyclic carbenes by copper and gold transmetalation

The activation of ruthenium-indenylidene complexes containing two unsymmetrical unsaturated N-heterocyclic carbenes (u2-NHCs) by a transmetalation process is reported. The use of copper(i) or gold(i) chlorides promotes the rapid trapping of one NHC ligand, which releases the catalytically active Ru-species. Impressive initiation rates with full-conversions are observed within one minute. This practical protocol demonstrates excellent catalytic performances in various ring-closing metathesis (RCM) and self-metathesis (SM) reactions.

Integrating Activity with Accessibility in Olefin Metathesis: An Unprecedentedly Reactive Ruthenium-Indenylidene Catalyst

Access to leading olefin metathesis catalysts, including the Grubbs, Hoveyda, and Grela catalysts, ultimately rests on the nonscaleable transfer of a benzylidene ligand from an unstable, impure aryldiazomethane. The indenylidene ligand can be reliably installed, but to date yields much less reactive catalysts. A fast-initiating, dimeric indenylidene complex (Ru-1) is reported, which reconciles high activity with scaleable synthesis. Each Ru center in Ru-1 is stabilized by a state-of-the-art cyclic alkyl amino carbene (CAAC, C1) and a bridging chloride donor: the lability of the latter elevates the reactivity of Ru-1 to a level previously attainable only with benzylidene derivatives. Evaluation of initiation rate constants reveals that Ru-1 initiates >250× faster than indenylidene catalyst M2 (RuCl₂(H₂IMes)(PCy₃)(Ind)), and 65× faster than UC (RuCl₂(C1)₂(Ind)). The slow initiation previously regarded as characteristic of indenylidene catalysts is hence due to low ligand lability, not inherently slow cycloaddition at the Ru=CRR' site. In macrocyclization and "ethenolysis" of methyl oleate (i.e., transformation into α-olefins via cross-metathesis with C₂H₄), Ru-1 is comparable or superior to the corresponding, breakthrough CAAC-benzylidene catalyst. In ethenolysis, Ru-1 is 5× more robust to standard-grade (99.9%) C₂H₄ than the top-performing catalyst, probably reflecting steric protection at the quaternary CAAC carbon.

Natural products and ring-closing metathesis: synthesis of sterically congested olefins

This review highlights RCM reactions towards the synthesis of sterically congested natural products throughout the recent evolution of catalysts.

From Resting State to the Steady State: Mechanistic Studies of Ene-Yne Metathesis Promoted by the Hoveyda Complex

The kinetics of intermolecular ene-yne metathesis (EYM) with the Hoveyda precatalyst (Ru1) has been studied. For 1-hexene metathesis with 2-benzoyloxy-3-butyne, the experimental rate law was determined to be first-order in 1-hexene (0.3-4 M), first-order in initial catalyst concentration, and zero-order for the terminal alkyne. At low catalyst concentrations (0.1 mM), the rate of precatalyst initiation was observed by UV-vis and the alkyne disappearance was observed by in situ FT-IR. Comparison of the rate of precatalyst initiation and the rate of EYM shows that a low, steady-state concentration of active catalyst is rapidly produced. Application of steady-state conditions to the carbene intermediates provided a rate treatment that fit the experimental rate law. Starting from a ruthenium alkylidene complex, competition between 2-isopropoxystyrene and 1-hexene gave a mixture of 2-isopropoxyarylidene and pentylidene species, which were trappable by the Buchner reaction. By varying the relative concentration of these alkenes, 2-isopropoxystyrene was found to be 80 times more effective than 1-hexene in production of their respective Ru complexes. Buchner-trapping of the initiation of Ru1 with excess 1-hexene after 50% loss of Ru1 gave 99% of the Buchner-trapping product derived from precatalyst Ru1. For the initiation process, this shows that there is an alkene-dependent loss of precatalyst Ru1, but this does not directly produce the active catalyst. A faster initiating precatalyst for alkene metathesis gave similar rates of EYM. Buchner-trapping of ene-yne metathesis failed to deliver any products derived from Buchner insertion, consistent with rapid decomposition of carbene intermediates under ene-yne conditions. An internal alkyne, 1,4-diacetoxy-2-butyne, was found to obey a different rate law. Finally, the second-order rate constant for ene-yne metathesis was compared to that previously determined by the Grubbs second-generation carbene complex: Ru1 was found to promote ene-yne metathesis 62 times faster at the same initial precatalyst concentration.

Nitro-Grela-type complexes containing iodides - robust and selective catalysts for olefin metathesis under challenging conditions

Iodide-containing nitro-Grela-type catalysts have been synthesized and applied to ring closing metathesis (RCM) and cross metathesis (CM) reactions. These new catalysts have exhibited improved efficiency in the transformation of sterically, non-demanding alkenes. Additional steric hindrance in the vicinity of ruthenium related to the presence of iodides ensures enhanced catalyst stability. The benefits are most apparent under challenging conditions, such as very low reaction concentrations, protic solvents or with the occurrence of impurities.

The Key Role of the Nonchelating Conformation of the Benzylidene Ligand on the Formation and Initiation of Hoveyda-Grubbs Metathesis Catalysts

Experimental studies of Hoveyda-Grubbs metathesis catalysts reveal important consequences of substitution at the 6-position of the chelating benzylidene ligand. The structural modification varies conformational preferences of the ligand that affects its exchange due to the interaction of the coordinating site with the ruthenium center. As a consequence, when typical S-chelated systems are formed as kinetic trans-Cl2 products, for 6-substituted benzylidenes the preference is altered toward direct formation of thermodynamic cis-Cl2 isomers. Activity data and reactions with tricyclohexylphosphine (PCy3 ) support also a similar scenario for O-chelated complexes, which display fast trans-Cl2 ⇄cis-Cl2 equilibrium observed by NMR EXSY studies. The presented conformational model reveals that catalysts, which cannot adopt the optimal nonchelating conformation of benzylidene ligand, initiate through a high-energy associative mechanism.

Microwave-ultrasound simultaneous irradiation: a hybrid technology applied to ring closing metathesis

Glycerol micelles were suitable nanoreactors for ring-closing metathesis reaction activated by a hybrid microwave-ultrasound reactor. Nine different Ru-catalysts were investigated.