Unravelling the reaction mechanism for the Claisen–Tishchenko condensation catalysed by Mn(I)-PNN complexes: a DFT study

Manganese catalyzed chemo-selective synthesis of acyl cyclopentenes: a combined experimental and computational investigation

Cyclopentenes serve as foundational structures in numerous natural products and pharmaceuticals. Consequently, the pursuit of innovative synthetic approaches to complement existing protocols is of paramount importance. In this context, we present a novel synthesis route for acyl cyclopentenes through a cascade reaction involving an acceptorless-dehydrogenative coupling of cyclopropyl methanol with methyl ketone, followed by a radical-initiated ring expansion rearrangement of the in situ formed vinyl cyclopropenone intermediate. The reaction, catalyzed by an earth-abundant metal complex, occurs under milder conditions, generating water and hydrogen gas as byproducts. Rigorous control experiments and detailed computational studies were conducted to unravel the underlying mechanism. The observed selectivity is explained by entropy-driven alcohol-assisted hydrogen liberation from an Mn-hydride complex, prevailing over the hydrogenation of unsaturated cyclopentenes.

Mechanistic Investigations of Ruthenium Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Thioester Synthesis and Thioester Hydrogenation

We have recently reported the previously unknown synthesis of thioesters by coupling thiols and alcohols (or aldehydes) with liberation of H₂, as well as the reverse hydrogenation of thioesters, catalyzed by a well-defined ruthenium acridine-9H based pincer complex. These reactions are highly selective and are not deactivated by the strongly coordinating thiols. Herein, the mechanism of this reversible transformation is investigated in detail by a combined experimental and computational (DFT) approach. We elucidate the likely pathway of the reactions, and demonstrate experimentally how hydrogen gas pressure governs selectivity toward hydrogenation or dehydrogenation. With respect to the dehydrogenative process, we discuss a competing mechanism for ester formation, which despite being thermodynamically preferable, it is kinetically inhibited due to the relatively high acidity of thiol compared to alcohol and, accordingly, the substantial difference in the relative stabilities of a ruthenium thiolate intermediate as opposed to a ruthenium alkoxide intermediate. Accordingly, various additional reaction pathways were considered and are discussed herein, including the dehydrogenative coupling of alcohol to ester and the Tischenko reaction coupling aldehyde to ester. This study should inform future green, (de)hydrogenative catalysis with thiols and other transformations catalyzed by related ruthenium pincer complexes.

Computational Insight into the Mechanism of Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed α-Alkylation of Arylmethyl Nitriles Using Alcohols

The ruthenium(II)-catalyzed α-alkylation reaction of arylmethyl nitriles (phenylacetonitrile) using alcohols (ethanol) in toluene has been extensively investigated by means of SMD-M06-2X/6-311G(d,p)-LANL2dz (LAnL2dz for Ru, 6-311G(d,p) for other atoms) calculations. Detailed mechanistic schemes have been proposed and discussed. The catalytically active Ru(II) complex was generated by the base-induced KCl elimination from the catalyst precursor [(PNP^Ph)RuHCl(CO)]. The overall Ru(II) catalytic cycle consists of three basic processes: (1) ethanol-to-aldehyde transformation catalyzed by the 16-electron unsaturated ruthenium pincer catalyst; (2) a 16-electron unsaturated ruthenium pincer catalyst catalyzed condensation reaction of arylmethyl nitrile with aldehyde, which leads to PhC(CN)=CHCH₃; (3) hydrogenation of PhC(CN)=CHCH₃, which leads to the formation of the α-alkylated arylmethyl nitrile product (PhCH(CH₂CH₃)CN). The DFT results revealed that the rate-determining barrier of the overall reaction was 23.9 kcal/mol of the H-transfer step in the third process. The reaction of PhC(CN)=CHCH₃ with the dihydride Ru complex, which is generated in the ethanol-to-aldehyde transformation process, is the more preferable hydrogenation mechanism than hydrogenation of vinyl nitrile-Ru complex by H₂. Using alcohol as the reactant not only fulfills the requirement of the borrowing-H strategy but also lowers the barriers of the H-migration steps.

Diastereoselective diazenyl formation: the key for manganese-catalysed alcohol conversion into (E)-alkenes

The proposed reaction mechanism for the unprecedented direct transformation of primary alcohols into alkenes catalysed by Mn(i)-PNP complexes consists of two cycles.