On the mechanism of carbon-hydrogen activation in gif-type reactions. Kinetic isotopic effects in pyridine solution

Stoichiometric and catalytic oxidations of alkanes and alcohols mediated by highly oxidizing ruthenium-Oxo complexes bearing 6, 6'-dichloro-2,2'-bipyridine

The ruthenium(II) complex cis-[Ru(6, 6'-Cl(2)bpy)(2)(OH(2))(2)](CF(3)SO(3))(2) (1) is a robust catalyst for C-H bond oxidations of hydrocarbons, including linear alkanes, using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as terminal oxidant. Alcohols can be oxidized by the "1 + TBHP" protocol to the corresponding aldehydes/ketones with high product yields at ambient temperature. Oxidation of 1 with Ce(IV) in aqueous solution affords cis-[Ru(VI)(6, 6'-Cl(2)bpy)(2)O(2)](2+), which is isolated as a green/yellow perchlorate salt (2). Complex 2 is a powerful stoichiometric oxidant for cycloalkane oxidations under mild conditions. Oxidation of cis-decalin is highly stereoretentive; cis-decalinol is obtained in high yield, and formation of trans-decalinol is not observed. Mechanistic studies showing a large primary kinetic isotope effect suggest a hydrogen-atom abstraction pathway. The relative reactivities of cycloalkanes toward oxidation by 2 have been examined through competitive experiments, and comparisons with Gif-type processes are presented.

Kinetic isotope effects for the C-H activation step in phase-transfer halogenations of alkanes

Within the scope of phase-transfer halogenations (Br and I) of alkanes, significant H/D kinetic isotope effects (KIE = 4-5) indicate that hydrogen abstraction is rate limiting. The excellent agreement of computed and experimentally determined H/D KIE as well as trapping experiments support the involvement of trihalomethyl radicals in the activation step.

An efficient mimic of cytochrome P-450 from a zeolite-encaged iron complex in a polymer membrane

Many attempts have been made to mimic the catalytic oxidative properties of the enzyme cytochrome P-450. For homogeneous systems the mechanisms of oxidation can be readily determined but proper mimicry of the protein environment is difficult to achieve. Heterogeneous mimics have been designed that use organometallic complexes encapsulated in the supercages of zeolites, which enables control of selectivity and inhibition of auto-oxidation. But these systems do not show any mechanistic analogy with the enzymatic process, and the oxidation rates tend to be low. Here we report a composite catalytic system that achieves realistic mimicry of cytochrome P-450 as well as catalytic turnover rates that make the system industrially viable. Our catalyst incorporates iron phthalocyanine complexes encapsulated in crystals of zeolite Y, which are in turn embedded in a polydimethylsiloxane membrane. The polymer acts as a mimic of the phospholipid membrane in which cytochrome P-450 resides, acting as an interface between two immiscible phases and avoiding the need for solvents or phase-transfer agents. This system oxidizes alkanes at room temperature at rates comparable to those of the enzyme. The observation of a large kinetic isotope effect and the preferential oxidation of tertiary C-H bonds suggest close mechanistic similarities to the enzymatic process.