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Foscato M, Occhipinti G, Hopen Eliasson SH, Jensen VR. Automated de Novo Design of Olefin Metathesis Catalysts: Computational and Experimental Analysis of a Simple Thermodynamic Design Criterion. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:412-424. [PMID: 38247361 PMCID: PMC10806812 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Methods for computational de novo design of inorganic molecules have paved the way for automated design of homogeneous catalysts. Such studies have so far relied on correlation-based prediction models as fitness functions (figures of merit), but the soundness of these approaches has yet to be tested by experimental verification of de novo-designed catalysts. Here, a previously developed criterion for the optimization of dative ligands L in ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalysts RuCl2(L)(L')(═CHAr), where Ar is an aryl group and L' is a phosphine ligand dissociating to activate the catalyst, was used in de novo design experiments. These experiments predicted catalysts bearing an N-heterocyclic carbene (L = 9) substituted by two N-bound mesityls and two tert-butyl groups at the imidazolidin-2-ylidene backbone to be promising. Whereas the phosphine-stabilized precursor assumed by the prediction model could not be made, a pyridine-stabilized ruthenium alkylidene complex (17) bearing carbene 9 was less active than a known leading pyridine-stabilized Grubbs-type catalyst (18, L = H2IMes). A density functional theory-based analysis showed that the unsubstituted metallacyclobutane (MCB) intermediate generated in the presence of ethylene is the likely resting state of both 17 and 18. Whereas the design criterion via its correlation between the stability of the MCB and the rate-determining barrier indeed seeks to stabilize the MCB, it relies on RuCl2(L)(L')(═CH2) adducts as resting states. The change in resting state explains the discrepancy between the prediction and the actual performance of catalyst 17. To avoid such discrepancies and better address the multifaceted challenges of predicting catalytic performance, future de novo catalyst design studies should explore and test design criteria incorporating information from more than a single relative energy or intermediate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Foscato
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
| | - Giovanni Occhipinti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Vidar R. Jensen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
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2
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Occhipinti G, Nascimento DL, Foscato M, Fogg DE, Jensen VR. The Janus face of high trans-effect carbenes in olefin metathesis: gateway to both productivity and decomposition. Chem Sci 2022; 13:5107-5117. [PMID: 35655574 PMCID: PMC9093171 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc00855f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ruthenium–cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) catalysts, used at ppm levels, can enable dramatically higher productivities in olefin metathesis than their N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) predecessors. A key reason is the reduced susceptibility of the metallacyclobutane (MCB) intermediate to decomposition via β-H elimination. The factors responsible for promoting or inhibiting β-H elimination are explored via density functional theory (DFT) calculations, in metathesis of ethylene or styrene (a representative 1-olefin) by Ru–CAAC and Ru–NHC catalysts. Natural bond orbital analysis of the frontier orbitals confirms the greater strength of the orbital interactions for the CAAC species, and the consequent increase in the carbene trans influence and trans effect. The higher trans effect of the CAAC ligands inhibits β-H elimination by destabilizing the transition state (TS) for decomposition, in which an agostic MCB Cβ–H bond is positioned trans to the carbene. Unproductive cycling with ethylene is also curbed, because ethylene is trans to the carbene ligand in the square pyramidal TS for ethylene metathesis. In contrast, metathesis of styrene proceeds via a ‘late’ TS with approximately trigonal bipyramidal geometry, in which carbene trans effects are reduced. Importantly, however, the positive impact of a strong trans-effect ligand in limiting β-H elimination is offset by its potent accelerating effect on bimolecular coupling, a major competing means of catalyst decomposition. These two decomposition pathways, known for decades to limit productivity in olefin metathesis, are revealed as distinct, antinomic, responses to a single underlying phenomenon. Reconciling these opposing effects emerges as a clear priority for design of robust, high-performing catalysts. In ruthenium catalysts for olefin metathesis, carbene ligands of high trans influence/effect suppress decomposition via β-H elimination, but increase susceptibility to bimolecular decomposition.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Occhipinti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen Allégaten 41 N-5007 Bergen Norway
| | - Daniel L Nascimento
- Center for Catalysis Research & Innovation, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa Ottawa Canada K1N 6N5
| | - Marco Foscato
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen Allégaten 41 N-5007 Bergen Norway
| | - Deryn E Fogg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen Allégaten 41 N-5007 Bergen Norway .,Center for Catalysis Research & Innovation, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa Ottawa Canada K1N 6N5
| | - Vidar R Jensen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen Allégaten 41 N-5007 Bergen Norway
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3
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Guillet SG, Pisanò G, Chakrabortty S, Müller BH, Vries JG, Kamer PCJ, Cazin CSJ, Nolan SP. A Simple Synthetic Route to [Rh(acac)(CO)(NHC)] Complexes: Ligand Property Diagnostic Tools and Precatalysts. Eur J Inorg Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ejic.202100479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien G. Guillet
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Sustainable Chemistry Ghent University Krijgslaan 281, Campus Sterre, Building S-3 9000 Ghent Belgium
| | - Gianmarco Pisanò
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Sustainable Chemistry Ghent University Krijgslaan 281, Campus Sterre, Building S-3 9000 Ghent Belgium
| | - Soumyadeep Chakrabortty
- Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. (LIKAT Rostock) Albert-Einstein-Str. 29a 18059 Rostock Germany
| | - Bernd H. Müller
- Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. (LIKAT Rostock) Albert-Einstein-Str. 29a 18059 Rostock Germany
| | - Johannes G. Vries
- Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. (LIKAT Rostock) Albert-Einstein-Str. 29a 18059 Rostock Germany
| | - Paul C. J. Kamer
- Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. (LIKAT Rostock) Albert-Einstein-Str. 29a 18059 Rostock Germany
| | - Catherine S. J. Cazin
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Sustainable Chemistry Ghent University Krijgslaan 281, Campus Sterre, Building S-3 9000 Ghent Belgium
| | - Steven. P. Nolan
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Sustainable Chemistry Ghent University Krijgslaan 281, Campus Sterre, Building S-3 9000 Ghent Belgium
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Monsigny L, Kajetanowicz A, Grela K. Ruthenium Complexes Featuring Unsymmetrical N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands-Useful Olefin Metathesis Catalysts for Special Tasks. CHEM REC 2021; 21:3648-3661. [PMID: 34145741 DOI: 10.1002/tcr.202100126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This review describes a distinct class of ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts featuring unsymmetrical N-heterocyclic carbene (uNHC) ligands, from its historical beginning to the present state of the art. Thanks to advantageous traits, such as pronounced thermodynamic stability, chemical latency, outstanding selectivity, and compatibility with green solvents, these catalysts led to good results in a number of specialized metathesis transformations. Therefore, while being a niche, the uNHC complexes can potentially be implemented in a number of industrial processes, such as valorization of Fischer-Tropsch olefin fractions, ethenolysis of renewable products, and modern pharmaceutical production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Monsigny
- Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Faculty of Chemistry University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury Street 101, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Kajetanowicz
- Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Faculty of Chemistry University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury Street 101, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Karol Grela
- Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Faculty of Chemistry University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury Street 101, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
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Biberger T, Zachmann RJ, Fürstner A. Grubbs Metathesis Enabled by a Light-Driven gem-Hydrogenation of Internal Alkynes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:18423-18429. [PMID: 32608043 PMCID: PMC7589215 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202007030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
[(NHC)(cymene)RuCl2 ] (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes instigate a light-driven gem-hydrogenation of internal alkynes with concomitant formation of discrete Grubbs-type ruthenium carbene species. This unorthodox reactivity mode is harnessed in the form of a "hydrogenative metathesis" reaction, which converts an enyne substrate into a cyclic alkene. The intervention of ruthenium carbenes formed in the actual gem-hydrogenation step was proven by the isolation and crystallographic characterization of a rather unusual representative of this series carrying an unconfined alkyl group on a disubstituted carbene center.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Biberger
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung45470Mülheim/RuhrGermany
| | | | - Alois Fürstner
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung45470Mülheim/RuhrGermany
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Nascimento D, Reim I, Foscato M, Jensen VR, Fogg DE. Challenging Metathesis Catalysts with Nucleophiles and Brønsted Base: Examining the Stability of State-of-the-Art Ruthenium Carbene Catalysts to Attack by Amines. ACS Catal 2020; 10:11623-11633. [PMID: 33123412 PMCID: PMC7587145 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.0c02760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Critical to advancing the uptake of olefin metathesis in leading contexts, including pharmaceutical manufacturing, is identification of highly active catalysts that resist decomposition. Amines constitute an aggressive challenge to ruthenium metathesis catalysts. Examined here is the impact of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), morpholine, n-butylamine, and triethylamine on Ru metathesis catalysts that represent the current state of the art, including cyclic alkyl amino carbene (CAAC) and N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes. Accordingly, the amine-tolerance of the nitro-Grela catalyst RuCl2(H2IMes)(=CHAr) (nG; Ar = C6H4-2-O i Pr-5-NO2) is compared with that of its CAAC analogues nGC1 and nGC2, and the Hoveyda-class catalyst RuCl2(C2)(=CHAr') HC2 (Ar' = C6H4-2-O i Pr). In C1, the carbene carbon is flanked by an N-2,6-Et2C6H3 group and a CMePh quaternary carbon; in C2, by an N-2- i Pr-6-MeC6H3 group and a CMe2 quaternary carbon. The impact of 1 equiv amine per Ru on turnover numbers (TONs) in ring-closing metathesis of diethyl diallylmalonate was assessed at 9 ppm Ru, at RT and 70 °C. The deleterious impact of amines followed the trend NEt3 ∼ NH2 n Bu ≪ DBU ∼ morpholine. Morpholine is shown to decompose nGC1 by nucleophilic abstraction of the methylidene ligand; DBU, by proton abstraction from the metallacyclobutane. Decomposition was minimized at 70 °C, at which nGC1 enabled TONs of ca. 60 000 even in the presence of morpholine or DBU, vs ca. 80 000 in the absence of base. Unexpectedly, H2IMes catalyst nG delivered 70-90% of the performance of nGC1 at high temperatures, and underwent decomposition by Brønsted base at a similar rate. Density functional theory (DFT) analysis shows that this similarity is due to comparable net electron donation by the H2IMes and C1 ligands. Catalysts bearing the smaller C2 ligand were comparatively insensitive to amines, owing to rapid, preferential bimolecular decomposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel
L. Nascimento
- Center
for Catalysis Research & Innovation, and Department of Chemistry
and Biomolecular Sciences, University of
Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada K1N 6N5
| | - Immanuel Reim
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
| | - Marco Foscato
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
| | - Vidar R. Jensen
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
| | - Deryn E. Fogg
- Center
for Catalysis Research & Innovation, and Department of Chemistry
and Biomolecular Sciences, University of
Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada K1N 6N5
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
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Hoveyda AH, Liu Z, Qin C, Koengeter T, Mu Y. Impact of Ethylene on Efficiency and Stereocontrol in Olefin Metathesis: When to Add It, When to Remove It, and When to Avoid It. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:22324-22348. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202010205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amir H. Hoveyda
- Department of Chemistry Merkert Chemistry Center Boston College Chestnut Hill MA 02467 USA
- Supramolecular Science and Engineering Institute University of Strasbourg CNRS 67000 Strasbourg France
| | - Zhenxing Liu
- Supramolecular Science and Engineering Institute University of Strasbourg CNRS 67000 Strasbourg France
| | - Can Qin
- Department of Chemistry Merkert Chemistry Center Boston College Chestnut Hill MA 02467 USA
| | - Tobias Koengeter
- Department of Chemistry Merkert Chemistry Center Boston College Chestnut Hill MA 02467 USA
| | - Yucheng Mu
- Department of Chemistry Merkert Chemistry Center Boston College Chestnut Hill MA 02467 USA
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Hoveyda AH, Liu Z, Qin C, Koengeter T, Mu Y. Impact of Ethylene on Efficiency and Stereocontrol in Olefin Metathesis: When to Add It, When to Remove It, and When to Avoid It. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202010205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amir H. Hoveyda
- Department of Chemistry Merkert Chemistry Center Boston College Chestnut Hill MA 02467 USA
- Supramolecular Science and Engineering Institute University of Strasbourg CNRS 67000 Strasbourg France
| | - Zhenxing Liu
- Supramolecular Science and Engineering Institute University of Strasbourg CNRS 67000 Strasbourg France
| | - Can Qin
- Department of Chemistry Merkert Chemistry Center Boston College Chestnut Hill MA 02467 USA
| | - Tobias Koengeter
- Department of Chemistry Merkert Chemistry Center Boston College Chestnut Hill MA 02467 USA
| | - Yucheng Mu
- Department of Chemistry Merkert Chemistry Center Boston College Chestnut Hill MA 02467 USA
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9
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Biberger T, Zachmann RJ, Fürstner A. Grubbs Metathesis Enabled by a Light‐Driven
gem
‐Hydrogenation of Internal Alkynes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202007030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Biberger
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung 45470 Mülheim/Ruhr Germany
| | | | - Alois Fürstner
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung 45470 Mülheim/Ruhr Germany
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