Photochemical Activation of Ruthenium(II)–Pyridylamine Complexes Having a Pyridine-N-Oxide Pendant toward Oxygenation of Organic Substrates

Direct photocatalytic C-H functionalization mediated by a molybdenum dioxo complex

Direct photocatalytic C-H activation mediated by MoO2Cl2(bpy-tBu), a unique photoactive metal OXO, is presented. The limiting step, reoxidation to the Mo dioxo, is evaluated and proposed to occur via a key Cl- loss event. Photocatalyst degradation occurs upon substitution of bpy-tBu with H2O generated during catalysis.

Enhancement of Reactivity of a RuIV-Oxo Complex in Oxygen-Atom-Transfer Catalysis by Hydrogen-Bonding with Amide Moieties in the Second Coordination Sphere

We have synthesized and characterized a RuII-OH2 complex (2), which has a pentadentate ligand with two pivalamide groups as bulky hydrogen-bonding (HB) moieties in the second coordination sphere (SCS). Complex 2 exhibits a coordination equilibrium through the coordination of one of the pivalamide oxygens to the Ru center in water, affording a η6-coordinated complex, 3. A detailed thermodynamic analysis of the coordination equilibrium revealed that the formation of 3 from 2 is entropy-driven owing to the dissociation of the axial aqua ligand in 2. Complex 2 was oxidized by a CeIV salt to produce the corresponding RuIII(OH) complex (5), which was characterized crystallographically. In the crystal structure of 5, hydrogen bonds are formed among the NH groups of the pivalamide moieties and the oxygen atom of the hydroxo ligand. Further 1e--oxidation of 5 yields the corresponding RuIV(O) complex, 6, which has intramolecular HB of the oxo ligand with two amide N-H protons. Additionally, the RuIII(OH) complex, 5, exhibits disproportionation to the corresponding RuIV(O) complex, 6, and a mixture of the RuII complexes, 2 and 3, in an acidic aqueous solution. We investigated the oxidation of a phenol derivative using complex 6 as the active species and clarified the switch of the reaction mechanism from hydrogen-atom transfer at pH 2.5 to electron transfer, followed by proton transfer at pH 1.0. Additionally, the intramolecular HB in 6 exerts enhancing effects on oxygen-atom transfer reactions from 6 to alkenes such as cyclohexene and its water-soluble derivative to afford the corresponding epoxides, relative to the corresponding RuIV(O) complex (6') lacking the HB moieties in the SCS.

Intercepting a transient non-hemic pyridine N-oxide Fe(III) species involved in OAT reactions

In the context of bioinspired OAT catalysis, we developed a tetradentate dipyrrinpyridine ligand, a hybrid of hemic and non-hemic models. The catalytic activity of the iron(III) derivative was investigated in the presence of iodosylbenzene. Unexpectedly, MS, EPR, Mössbauer, UV-visible and FTIR spectroscopic signatures supported by DFT calculations provide convincing evidence for the involvement of a relevant Fe^III-O-N_Py active intermediate.

Facile Light-Induced Transformation of [RuII(bpy)2(bpyNO)]2+ to [RuII(bpy)3]2

Ru-based coordination compounds have important applications as photosensitizers and catalysts. [Ru^II(bpy)₂(bpyNO)]²⁺ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine and bpyNO = 2,2'-bipyridine-N-oxide) was reported to be extremely light-sensitive, but its light-induced transformation pathways have not been analyzed. Here, we elucidated a mechanism of the light-induced transformation of [Ru^II(bpy)₂(bpyNO)]²⁺ using UV-vis, EPR, resonance Raman, and NMR spectroscopic techniques. The spectroscopic analysis was augmented with the DFT calculations. We concluded that upon 530-650 nm light excitation, ³[Ru^III(bpyNO^-•)(bpy)₂]²⁺ is formed similarly to the ³[Ru^III(bpy^-•)(bpy)₂]²⁺ light-induced state of the well-known photosensitizer [Ru^II(bpy)₃]²⁺. An electron localization on the bpyNO ligand was confirmed by obtaining a unique EPR signal of reduced [Ru^II(bpy)₂(bpyNO^-•)]⁺ (g_xx = 2.02, g_yy = 1.99, and g_zz = 1.87 and ¹⁴N hfs A_xx = 12 G, A_yy = 34 G, and A_zz = 11 G). ³[Ru^III(bpyNO^-•)(bpy)₂]²⁺ may evolve via breaking of the Ru-O-N fragment at two different positions resulting in [Ru^IV═O(bpy)₂(bpy_out)]²⁺ for breakage at the O-|-N bond and [Ru^II(H₂O)(bpy)₂(bpyNO_out)]²⁺ for breakage at the Ru-|-O bond. These pathways were found to have comparable ΔG. A reduction of [Ru^IV═O(bpy)₂(bpy_out)]²⁺ may result in water elimination and formation of [Ru^II(bpy)₃]²⁺. The expected intermediates, [Ru^III(bpy)₂(bpyNO)]³⁺ and [Ru^III(bpy)₃]³⁺, were detected by EPR. In addition, a new signal with g_xx = 2.38, g_yy = 2.10, and g_zz = 1.85 was observed and tentatively assigned to a complex with the dissociated ligand, such as [Ru^III(H₂O)(bpy)₂(bpyNO_out)]³⁺. The spectroscopic signatures of [Ru^IV═O(bpy)₂(bpy_out)]²⁺ were not observed, although DFT analysis and [Ru^II(bpy)₃]²⁺ formation suggest this intermediate. Thus, [Ru^II(bpy)₂(bpyNO)]²⁺ has potential as a light-induced oxidizer.

Mechanistic insights into the allylic oxidation of aliphatic compounds by tetraamido iron(v) species: A C–H vs. O–H bond activation

This work is based on a deep insight into a comparative study of C–H vs. O–H bond activation of allylic compound by the high valent iron complex. Our theoretical findings can help to design catalysts with better efficiency for catalytic reactions.

Development of functionality of metal complexes based on proton-coupled electron transfer

Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) is ubiquitous and fundamental in many kinds of redox reactions. In this paper, are described PCET reactions in metal complexes to highlight their useful and unique properties and functionalities.

Effects of N-Oxidation on Heteroaromatic Macrocycles: Synthesis, Electronic Structures, Spectral Properties, and Reactivities of Tetraazaporphyrin meso-N-Oxides

Heteroaromatic N-oxides such as pyridine and quinoline N-oxides are well studied in organic chemistry, and N-oxide formation has long been utilized for tuning the reactivities of heteroaromatics. However, the scope of aromatic N-oxidation is still restricted to relatively small azine or azole skeletons, and there has been little investigation of the photophysical/chemical effects of N-oxidation on larger heteroaromatic systems. Here, the synthesis and unique properties of new macrocyclic heteroaromatic N-oxides, tetraazaporphyrin (TAP) meso-N-oxides, are reported. N-Oxidation of TAP reduced the 18π-aromaticity of the TAP ring compared with that of the parent TAP owing to the cross-conjugated resonance structure. The optical properties of TAPs were significantly changed by N-oxidation: the N-oxides did not exhibit azaporphyrin-like but instead porphyrin-like optical properties, that is, weak Q absorption bands, strong Soret absorption bands, and weak fluorescence. These features can be explained by the near-degenerate frontier molecular orbitals resulting from N-oxide formation. Singlet oxygen quantum yields were greatly increased to almost quantitative levels by N-oxidation. The N-oxides showed near-IR-responsive photoredox properties and were suitable as both oxidants and sensitizers for oxidation reactions. Protonation of the N-oxides restored TAP-like intense Q bands and red fluorescence, offering a potential design strategy for fluorescence switches.

Effects of Methyl Substitution in Ruthenium Tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine Photocaging Groups for Nitriles

Four complexes of the general formula [Ru(L)(CH3CN)2](PF6)2, [L = TPA (5), MeTPA (6), Me2TPA (7), and Me3TPA (8)] [TPA = tris[(pyridin-2-yl)methyl]amine, where methyl groups were introduced consecutively onto the 6-position of py donors of TPA, were prepared and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and mass spectrometry. While 5 and 8 were isolated as single stereoisomers, 6 and 7 were isolated as mixtures of stereoisomers in 2:1 and 1.5:1 ratios, respectively. Steric effects on ground state stability and thermal and photochemical reactivities were studied for all four complexes using (1)H NMR and electronic absorption spectroscopies and computational studies. These studies confirmed that the addition of steric bulk accelerates photochemical and thermal nitrile release.

Photocatalytic oxidation of alkenes and alcohols in water by a manganese(v) nitrido complex

Mn(v) nitrido complex [Mn(N)(CN)4](2-) is an efficient catalyst for visible-light induced oxidation of alkenes and alcohols in water using [Ru(bpy)3](2+) as a photosensitizer and [Co(NH3)5Cl](2+) as a sacrificial oxidant. Alkenes are oxidized to epoxides and alcohols to carbonyl compounds.

Photooxygenation and gas-phase reactivity of multiply threaded pseudorotaxanes

The solution-phase photooxygenation of multiply threaded crown/ammonium pseudorotaxanes containing anthracene spacers is monitored by electrospray ionization Fourier-transform ion-cyclotron-resonance (ESI-FTICR) mass spectrometry. The oxygenated pseudorotaxanes are mass-selected and fragmented by infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) and/or collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments and and their behavior compared to that of the non-oxygenated precursors. [4+2]Cycloreversion reactions lead to the loss of O2, when no other reaction channel with competitive energy demand is available. Thus, the release of molecular oxygen can serve as a reference reaction for the energy demand of other fragmentation reactions such as the dissociation of the crown/ammonium binding motifs. The photooxygenation induces curvature into the initially planar anthracene and thus significantly changes the geometry of the divalent, anthracene-spacered wheel. This is reflected in ion-mobility data. Coulomb repulsion in multiply charged pseudorotaxanes assists the oxygen loss as the re-planarization of the anthracene increases the distance between the two charges.

Characteristics and reactivity of ruthenium–oxo complexes

In this perspective, we have surveyed the synthetic procedure, characteristics, and reactivity of high-valent ruthenium–oxo complexes.

A nonheme manganese(IV)-oxo species generated in photocatalytic reaction using water as an oxygen source

A nonheme manganese(IV)-oxo complex, [Mn(IV)(O)(BQCN)](2+), was generated in the photochemical and chemical oxidation of [Mn(II)(BQCN)](2+) with water as an oxygen source, respectively. The photocatalytic oxidation of organic substrates, such as alcohol and sulfide, by [Mn(II)(BQCN)](2+) has been demonstrated in both neutral and acidic media.

Non-peripherally alkyl substituted ruthenium phthalocyanines as catalysts in the epoxidation of alkenes

Non-peripherally alkyl substituted ruthenium phthalocyanines were demonstrated to be highly active epoxidation catalysts. It is compatible with pyridine N-oxides, and especially 2,6-dichloropyridine N-oxide. The catalytic activity towards a variety of alkenes was comparable to that published for other catalytic systems, but superior in the cases of 1,2-dihydronaphthalene and trans-stilbene. Linear substituents on the non-peripheral sites of the phthalocyanine were able to reduce aggregation and increase the solubility of the catalyst without compromising its activity by steric congestion as all substituted catalysts were more reactive than the unsubstituted phthalocyanine, whereas the bulky isopentyl and cyclohexyl substituted catalysts were less active than those with linear substituents. Although the epoxidation mechanism and the exact active intermediate is still ambigious, it likely involves the coordination of the N-oxide to ruthenium and subsequent transfer of the oxygen to the metal to form a high-valent oxo-ruthenium species. It is proposed that the alkene approaches this metal oxo moiety from the top and that oxygen transfer to the alkene is concerted with concomitant stereoretention.

C-H bond activation of the methyl group of the supporting ligand in an osmium(III) complex upon reaction with H2O2: formation of an organometallic osmium(IV) complex

Oxidation of the hydroxoosmium(III) complex resulted in C-H bond activation of the methyl group of the supporting ligand (N,N'-dimethyl-2,11-diaza[3.3](2,6)pyridinophane). The product was an osmium(IV) complex exhibiting a seven-coordinate structure with an additional Os-CH(2) bond.