Manganese(II)-Induced Oxidation of Limonene by Dioxygen

The [(Bn-tpen)FeII]2+ Complex as a Catalyst for the Oxidation of Cyclohexene and Limonene with Dioxygen

[(Bn-tpen)FeII(MeCN)](ClO4)2, containing the pentadentate Bn-tpen-N-benzyl-N,N',N'-tris(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-diaminoethane ligand, was studied in the oxygenation of cyclohexene and limonene using low-pressure dioxygen (0.2 atm air or 1 atm pure O2) in acetonitrile. 2-Cyclohexen-1-one and 2-cyclohexen-1-ol are the main products of cyclohexene oxidations, with cyclohexene oxide as a minor product. Limonene is oxidized to limonene oxide, carvone, and carveol. Other oxidation products such as perillaldehyde and perillyl alcohol are found in trace amounts. This catalyst is slightly less active than the previously reported [(N4Py)FeII(MeCN)](ClO4)2 (N4Py-N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N-(bis-2-pyridylmethyl)amine). Based on cyclic voltammetry experiments, it is postulated that [(Bn-tpen)FeIV=O]2+ is the active species. The induction period of approx. 3 h during cyclohexene oxygenation is probably caused by deactivation of the reactive Fe(IV)=O species by the parent Fe(II) complex. Equimolar mixtures of Fe(II) salt and the ligand (in situ-formed catalyst) gave catalytic performance similar to that of the synthesized catalyst.

DFT Studies of the Activity and Reactivity of Limonene in Comparison with Selected Monoterpenes

Nowadays, the effective processing of natural monoterpenes that constitute renewable biomass found in post-production waste into products that are starting materials for the synthesis of valuable compounds is a way to ensure independence from non-renewable fossil fuels and can contribute to reducing global carbon dioxide emissions. The presented research aims to determine, based on DFT calculations, the activity and reactivity of limonene, an organic substrate used in previous preparative analyses, in comparison to selected monoterpenes such as cymene, pinene, thymol, and menthol. The influence of the solvent model was also checked, and the bonds most susceptible to reaction were determined in the examined compounds. With regard to EHOMO, it was found that limonene reacts more easily than cymene or menthol but with more difficultly than thymol and pienene. The analysis of the global chemical reactivity descriptors "locates" the reactivity of limonene in the middle of the studied monoterpenes. It was observed that, among the tested compounds, the most reactive compound is thymol, while the least reactive is menthol. The demonstrated results can be a reference point for experimental work carried out using the discussed compounds, to focus research on those with the highest reactivity.

Bio-Inspired Iron Pentadentate Complexes as Dioxygen Activators in the Oxidation of Cyclohexene and Limonene

The use of dioxygen as an oxidant in fine chemicals production is an emerging problem in chemistry for environmental and economical reasons. In acetonitrile, the [(N4Py)Fe^II]²⁺ complex, [N4Py-N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N-(bis-2-pyridylmethyl)amine] in the presence of the substrate activates dioxygen for the oxygenation of cyclohexene and limonene. Cyclohexane is oxidized mainly to 2-cyclohexen-1-one, and 2-cyclohexen-1-ol, cyclohexene oxide is formed in much smaller amounts. Limonene gives as the main products limonene oxide, carvone, and carveol. Perillaldehyde and perillyl alcohol are also present in the products but to a lesser extent. The investigated system is twice as efficient as the [(bpy)₂Fe^II]²⁺/O₂/cyclohexene system and comparable to the [(bpy)₂Mn^II]²⁺/O₂/limonene system. Using cyclic voltammetry, it has been shown that, when the catalyst, dioxgen, and substrate are present simultaneously in the reaction mixture, the iron(IV) oxo adduct [(N4Py)Fe^IV=O]²⁺ is formed, which is the oxidative species. This observation is supported by DFT calculations.

Manganese(II) complexes with Bn-tpen as powerful catalysts of cyclohexene oxidation

Manganese(II) complex [(Bn-tpen)Mn^II]²⁺ activated dioxygen for oxidation of cyclohexene in acetonitrile (MeCN) and methanol (MeOH). In MeCN, ketone (2-cyclohexen-1-one), alcohol (2-cyclohexen-1-ol) and small amounts of epoxide (cyclohexene oxide) were produced in this reaction, while in MeOH only ketone was formed. In the most efficient experiment, the combination of 2.5 × 10⁻⁴ mol% [(Bn-tpen)Mn^II]²⁺ and 4 M cyclohexene under dioxygen atmosphere (p_O2 = 1 atm) in MeCN after 24 h of reaction, gave the TON equal to 716, and the main oxidation products were ketone (196 mM) and alcohol (147 mM), whereas epoxide was formed in insignificant amounts (15 mM). The formation of [(Bn-tpen)Mn^IV=O]²⁺ and [(Bn-tpen)Mn^III–OH]²⁺ species was confirmed. The novelty of this work is the observation, that in both solvents, [(Bn-tpen)Mn^II]²⁺ complex is initially oxidized by t-BuOOH to produce Mn(III)-complex, which is reduced back by cyclohexene to [(Bn-tpen)Mn^II]²⁺, and the latter species is an active catalyst of c-C₆H₁₀ oxidation. Knowledge of the electrochemical properties of the system components may contribute to understanding the mechanisms involving participation of the active agents created in the system.

The mechanism of electropolymerization of nickel(ii) salen type complexes

Ni(ii) complexes with (±)-trans-N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediamine ([Ni(salen)]), and its methyl ([Ni(salen(Me))]) and tert-butyl ([Ni(salen(Bu))]) derivatives have been synthesized.