A computational view on the reactions of hydrocarbons with coinage metal complexes

Microkinetic Molecular Volcano Plots for Enhanced Catalyst Selectivity and Activity Predictions

Molecular volcano plots, which facilitate the rapid prediction of the activity and selectivity of prospective catalysts, have emerged as powerful tools for computational catalysis. Here, we integrate microkinetic modeling into the volcano plot framework to develop "microkinetic molecular volcano plots". The resulting unified computational framework allows the influence of important reaction parameters, including temperature, reaction time, and concentration, to be quickly incorporated and more complex situations, such as off-cycle resting states and coupled catalytic cycles, to be tackled. Compared to previous generations of molecular volcanoes, these microkinetic counterparts offer a more comprehensive understanding of catalytic behavior, in which selectivity and product ratios can be explicitly determined by tracking the evolution of each product concentration over time. This is demonstrated by examining two case studies, rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation and metal-catalyzed hydrosilylation, in which the unique insights provided by microkinetic modeling, as well as the ability to simultaneously screen catalysts and reaction conditions, are highlighted. To facilitate the construction of these plots/maps, we introduce mikimo, a Python program that seamlessly integrates with our previously developed automated volcano builder, volcanic.

"Sandwich" Diimine-Copper Catalyzed Trifluoroethylation and Pentafluoropropylation of Unactivated C(sp3 )-H Bonds by Carbene Insertion

We report here "sandwich"-diimine copper complex-catalyzed trifluoroethylation and pentafluoropropylation of unactivated C(sp3 )-H bonds in alkyl esters, halides, and protected amines by employing CF3 CHN2 and CF3 CF2 CHN2 reagents. Reactions proceed in dichloromethane solvent at room temperature. Identical C-H functionalization conditions and stoichiometries are employed for generality and convenience. Selectivities for C-H insertions are higher for compounds possessing stronger electron-withdrawing substituents. Preliminary mechanistic studies point to a mechanism involving a pre-equilibrium forming a "sandwich"-diimine copper-CF3 CHN2 complex followed by rate-determining loss of nitrogen affording the reactive copper carbene. It reacts with trifluoromethyldiazomethane about 6.5 times faster than with 1-fluoroadamantane explaining the need for slow addition of the diazo compound.

“Sandwich” Diimine‐Copper Catalysts for C−H Functionalization by Carbene Insertion

We report here "sandwich" diimine-copper(I) catalysts for C(sp³ )-H bond functionalization. Reactions of alkanes and ethers with trimethylsilyldiazomethane, ethyl diazoacetate, and trifluoromethyl-diazomethane have been demonstrated. We also report C(sp³ )-H bond methylation, benzylation, and diphenylmethylation by diazomethane, aryldiazomethanes, and diphenyldiazomethane. These reactions are rare examples of base-metal catalyzed, intermolecular C(sp³ )-H functionalizations by employing unactivated diazo compounds. Electrophilicity and unique steric environment of "sandwich"-copper catalysts are likely reasons for their catalytic efficiency.

Binding Interactions in Copper, Silver and Gold π-Complexes

The copper(I), silver(I), and gold(I) metals bind π-ligands by σ-bonding and π-back bonding interactions. These interactions were investigated using bidentate ancillary ligands with electron donating and withdrawing substituents. The π-ligands span from ethylene to larger terminal and internal alkenes and alkynes. Results of X-ray crystallography, NMR, and IR spectroscopy and gas phase experiments show that the binding energies increase in the order Ag Collapse

Key Words

• X-ray diffraction
• alkene ligands
• alkyne ligands
• bond energy
• mass spectrometry

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MESH Headings

• Copper/chemistry
• Crystallography, X-Ray
• Gold/chemistry
• Ligands
• Silver/chemistry

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Grants

• 682275 H2020 European Research Council
• CHE-1954456 Integrative and Collaborative Education and Research
• Y-1289 Welch Foundation
• H2020 European Research Council
• Integrative and Collaborative Education and Research
• Welch Foundation

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Affiliation(s)

Jaya Mehara Department of Spectroscopy and CatalysisInstitute for Molecules and MaterialsRadboud University NijmegenHeyendaalseweg 1356525 AJNijmegen (TheNetherlands
Brandon T. Watson Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryThe University of Texas at ArlingtonArlingtonTexas76019USA
Anurag Noonikara‐Poyil Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryThe University of Texas at ArlingtonArlingtonTexas76019USA
Adway O. Zacharias Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryThe University of Texas at ArlingtonArlingtonTexas76019USA
Jana Roithová Department of Spectroscopy and CatalysisInstitute for Molecules and MaterialsRadboud University NijmegenHeyendaalseweg 1356525 AJNijmegen (TheNetherlands
H. V. Rasika Dias Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryThe University of Texas at ArlingtonArlingtonTexas76019USA

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Ag-Catalyzed Insertion of Alkynyl Carbenes into C-C Bonds of β-Ketocarbonyls: A Formal C(sp2) Insertion

Here we report a silver-catalyzed alkynyl carbene insertion into β-ketocarbonyls using alkynyl N-nosylhydrazones as alkynyl carbene precursors, which provides access to trisubstituted allenyl ketones. This reaction represents the first example of an alkynyl carbene insertion into a C-C σ bond, affording products homologated with an sp² carbon center. The products are useful substrates for further transformations. Experimental investigations and theoretical calculations suggest the reaction proceeds through a stepwise enol cyclopropanation/retro-aldol pathway.

Theoretical Study of the Addition of Cu-Carbenes to Acetylenes to Form Chiral Allenes

Terminal alkynes have become one of the most versatile building blocks for C-C bond construction in the past few decades, and they are usually considered to convert to acetylides before further transformations. In this study, a novel direct nucleophilic addition mode for Cu(I)-catalyzed cross-coupling of terminal alkynes and N-tosylhydrazones to synthesize chiral allenes is proposed, and it was investigated by density functional theory with the M11-L density functional. Three different reaction pathways were considered and investigated. The computational results show that the proposed reaction pathway, which includes direct nucleophilic attack of protonated acetylene, deprotonation of the vinyl cation, and catalyst regeneration, is the most favorable pathway. Another possible deprotonation-carbenation-insertion pathway is shown to be unfavorable. The direct nucleophilic addition step is the rate- and enantioselectivity-determining step in the catalytic cycle. Noncovalent interaction analysis shows that the steric effect between the methyl group of the carbene moiety and the naphthalyl group of the bisoxazoline ligand is important to control the enantioselectivity. In addition, calculation of a series of chiral bisoxazoline ligands shows that a bulky group on the oxazoline ring is favorable for high enantioselectivity, which agrees with experimental observations. Moreover, copper acetylides are stable, and their generation is a favorable pathway in the absence of chiral bisoxazoline ligands.

Measuring the Relative Reactivity of the Carbon-Hydrogen Bonds of Alkanes as Nucleophiles

We report quantitative measurements of the relative reactivities of a series of C-H bonds of gaseous or liquid C_n H_2n+2 alkanes (n=1-8, 29 different C-H bonds) towards in situ generated electrophiles (copper, silver, and rhodium carbenes), with methane as the reference. This strategy surpasses the drawback of previous model reactions of alkanes with strong electrophiles suffering from C-C cleavage processes, which precluded direct comparison of the relative reactivities of alkane C-H bonds.

Copper-catalyzed cyclopropanation reaction of but-2-ene

The mechanism of the copper(I)-catalyzed cyclopropanation reaction for methyl diazoacetate with both (Z)- and (E)-but-2-ene stereoisomers has been studied using the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set by means of M06-2X and O3LYP functionals. According to both methods, the rate-limiting step is the formation of a copper-carbene intermediate, formed by association between methyl diazoacetate and bis(acetonitrile)-copper(I) ion with the concomitant extrusion of dinitrogen. Cis/trans diastereoselectivity for the cyclopropanation reaction of a 1,2-disubstituted alkene ((Z)-but-2-ene) has been theoretically studied for the first time through the proper location of transition states on the potential-energy surface with the O3LYP method, since no transition structures could be found with the M06-2X functional due to the extreme flatness of the potential-energy surface. The calculated stereoselectivities involving two acetonitrile ligands or one dichloromethane molecule show qualitative agreement with experimental data. This study allows attributing the origin of the selectivity to steric interactions between the ligands of the catalyst system and the olefin substituents. The comparison between the corresponding activation barriers for the direct insertion step shows a higher reactivity for the Z stereoisomer of but-2-ene, consistently with the larger reactant destabilization through steric interactions.

Copper-mediated reduction of azides under seemingly oxidising conditions: catalytic and computational studies

The reduction of aryl azides in the presence of water and air and without an obvious reducing agent is reported.

Nitrene Radical Intermediates in Catalytic Synthesis

Nitrene radical complexes are reactive intermediates with discrete spin density at the nitrogen-atom of the nitrene moiety. These species have become important intermediates for organic synthesis, being invoked in a broad range of C-H functionalization and aziridination reactions. Nitrene radical complexes have intriguing electronic structures, and are best described as one-electron reduced Fischer type nitrenes. They can be generated by intramolecular single electron transfer to the "redox non-innocent" nitrene moiety at the metal. Nitrene radicals generated at open-shell cobalt(II) have thus far received most attention in terms of spectroscopic characterization, reactivity screening, catalytic nitrene-transfer reactions and (computational and experimental) mechanistic studies, but some interesting iron and precious metal catalysts have also been employed in related reactions involving nitrene radicals. In some cases, redox-active ligands are used to facilitate intramolecular single electron transfer from the complex to the nitrene moiety. Organic azides are among the most attractive nitrene precursors in this field, typically requiring pre-activated organic azides (e.g. RSO₂ N₃ , (RO)₂ P(=O)N₃ , ROC(=O)N₃ and alike) to achieve efficient and selective catalysis. Challenging, non-activated aliphatic organic azides were recently added to the palette of reagents useful in synthetically relevant reactions proceeding via nitrene radical intermediates. This concept article describes the electronic structure of nitrene radical complexes, emphasizes on their usefulness in the catalytic synthesis of various organic products, and highlights the important developments in the field.

Catalyst-Controlled and Tunable, Chemoselective Silver-Catalyzed Intermolecular Nitrene Transfer: Experimental and Computational Studies

The development of new catalysts for selective nitrene transfer is a continuing area of interest. In particular, the ability to control the chemoselectivity of intermolecular reactions in the presence of multiple reactive sites has been a long-standing challenge in the field. In this paper, we demonstrate examples of silver-catalyzed, nondirected, intermolecular nitrene transfer reactions that are both chemoselective and flexible for aziridination or C-H insertion, depending on the choice of ligand. Experimental probes present a puzzling picture of the mechanistic details of the pathways mediated by [(tBu3tpy)AgOTf]2 and (tpa)AgOTf. Computational studies elucidate these subtleties and provide guidance for the future development of new catalysts exhibiting improved tunability in group transfer reactions.

Catalytic functionalization of low reactive C(sp(3))-H and C(sp(2))-H bonds of alkanes and arenes by carbene transfer from diazo compounds

The direct functionalization of low reactive C(sp(3))-H and C(sp(2))-H bonds of alkanes and arenes, respectively, by metal-induced carbene transfer from diazo compounds is reviewed. To date, this methodology has enabled the incorporation of CR(1)R(2) moieties from N2[double bond, length as m-dash]CR(1)R(2) in a chemo, regio, enantio or diastereoselective manner in those substrates with the appropriate selection of metal and ligands.

Copper-Catalyzed Eglinton Oxidative Homocoupling of Terminal Alkynes: A Computational Study

The copper(II) acetate mediated oxidative homocoupling of terminal alkynes, namely, the Eglinton coupling, has been studied with DFT methods. The mechanism of the whole reaction has been modeled using phenylacetylene as substrate. The obtained results indicate that, in contrast to some classical proposals, the reaction does not involve the formation of free alkynyl radicals and proceeds by the dimerization of copper(II) alkynyl complexes followed by a bimetallic reductive elimination. The calculations demonstrate that the rate limiting-step of the reaction is the alkyne deprotonation and that more acidic substrates provide faster reactions, in agreement with the experimental observations.