Titanocene-catalysed, selective reduction of ketones in aqueous media. A safe, mild, inexpensive procedure for the synthesis of secondary alcohols via radical chemistry

The Proven Versatility of Cp2TiCl

In the last two decades, titanocene monochloride has been postulated as a monoelectronic transfer reagent capable of catalyzing an important variety of chemical transformations. In this Perspective, our contributions to this growing field of research are summarized and analyzed. Especially known have been our contributions in C-C bond formation reactions, hydrogen-atom transfer from water to radicals, and isomerization reactions, as well as the development of a catalytic cycle that has subsequently allowed the preparation of a great variety of natural terpenes. It is also worth mentioning our contribution in the postulation of this single-electron transfer agent (SET) as a new green catalyst with a broad range of applications in organic and organometallic chemistry. The most significant catalytic processes developed by other research groups are also briefly described, with special emphasis on the reaction mechanisms involved. Finally, a reflection is made on the future trends in the research of this SET, aimed at consolidating this chemical as a new green reagent that will be widely used in fine chemistry, green chemistry, and industrial chemical processes.

Practical Method for Reductive Deuteration of Ketones with Magnesium and D2O

α-Deuterated alcohols have important applications in pharmaceuticals and mechanism studies. Here, we report a new and practical strategy for the reductive deuteration of ketones using a Mg/BrCH₂CH₂Br/D₂O system, which affords α-deuterated alcohols in good yields and with almost quantitative incorporation of deuterium. The synthetic value of this method has been demonstrated by the easy access to deuterated drugs or drug derivatives. This method may inspire the discovery of other deuterium-containing drugs.

Cp2TiCl/D2O/Mn, a formidable reagent for the deuteration of organic compounds

Cp₂TiCl/D₂O/Mn is an efficient combination, sustainable and cheap reagent that mediates the D-atom transfer from D₂O to different functional groups and can contribute to the synthesis of new deuterated organic compounds under friendly experimental conditions and with great economic advantages.

Reductive umpolung reactions with low-valent titanium catalysts

The coupling of similarly polarized carbon fragments can be achieved by a reductive umpolung strategy. This gives access to compounds with functional groups in even bond distances, which are difficult to synthesize by other means. Low-valent titanium catalysts enable such couplings under mild conditions. This account covers the recent progress on this topic with a focus on the development of cross-selective coupling reactions and stereoselective examples.

New advances in titanium-mediated free radical reactions

Titanium complexes have been widely used as catalysts for C‑C bond-forming processes via free-radical routes. Herein we provide an overview of some of the most significant contributions in the field, that covers the last decade, emphasizing the key role played by titanium salts in the promotion of selective reactions aimed at the synthesis of multifunctional organic compounds, including nucleophilic radical additions to imines, pinacol and coupling reactions, ring opening of epoxides and living polymerization.

Hydrogen atom donors: recent developments

This review highlights recent developments in the field of hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reagents that circumvent the disadvantages of classical group 14 reagents, such as Bu₃SnH. Special emphasis is laid on the lowering of bond dissociation energies (BDEs) of molecules that could, as yet, not be used as HAT reagents and on the use of organometallic HAT reagents.

Unprecedented Hydrogen Transfer from Water to Alkenes and Alkynes Mediated by TiIII and Late Transition Metals

We describe how alkenes and alkynes can be hydrogenated under mild conditions by hydrogen transfer from water mediated by titanocene(III) and a substoichiometric quantity of one of the late transition metals usually employed as hydrogenation catalysts. This process proceeds presumably by H-atom transfer from TiIII-coordinated water to the late transition metal partner (depicted in the drawing above), a mechanism in support of which we provide theoretical and experimental evidence.

Revelation of the nature of the reducing species in titanocene halide-promoted reductions

The fundamental nature of Ti(III) complexes generated in tetrahydrofuran by reduction of Cp(2)TiCl(2) has been clarified by means of cyclic voltammetry and kinetic measurements. While the electrochemical reduction of Cp(2)TiCl(2) leads to the formation of Cp(2)TiCl(2)(-), the use of metals such as Zn, Al, or Mn as reductants affords Cp(2)TiCl and (Cp(2)TiCl)(2) in a mixture having a dimerization equilibrium constant of 3 x 10(3) M(-)(1), independent of the metal used. Thus, we find it unlikely that the trinuclear complexes or ionic clusters known from the solid phase should be present in solution as previously suggested. The standard potentials determined for the redox couples Cp(2)TiCl(2)/Cp(2)TiCl(2)(-), (Cp(2)TiCl)(2)(+)/(Cp(2)TiCl)(2), Cp(2)TiCl(+)/Cp(2)TiCl, and Cp(2)Ti(2+)/Cp(2)Ti(+) increase in the order listed. However, the reactivity of the different Ti(III) complexes is assessed as (Cp(2)TiCl)(2) greater, similar Cp(2)TiCl approximately Cp(2)Ti(+) >> Cp(2)TiCl(2)(-) in their reactions with benzyl chloride and benzaldehyde. None of the reactions proceed by an outer-sphere electron transfer pathway, and clearly the inner-sphere character is much higher in the case of Cp(2)Ti(+) than for (Cp(2)TiCl)(2), Cp(2)TiCl, and in particular Cp(2)TiCl(2)(-). As to the electron acceptor, the inner-sphere character increases, going from benzyl chloride to benzaldehyde, and it is suggested that the chlorine atom in benzyl chloride and the oxygen atom in benzaldehyde may function as bridges between the reactants in the transition state.