Oxidation of a Monomethylpalladium(II) Complex with O2 in Water: Tuning Reaction Selectivity to Form Ethane, Methanol, or Methylhydroperoxide

Hydroxopalladium(IV) complexes prepared using oxygen or hydrogen peroxide as oxidants

The cycloneophylpalladium(II) complexes [Pd(CH2CMe2C6H4)(κ2-N,N'-L)], 1 or 2, with L = RO(CH2)3N(CH2-2-C5H4N)2, with R = H or Me, respectively, react with either dioxygen or hydrogen peroxide in the presence of NH4[PF6] to give rare examples of the corresponding hydroxopalladium(IV) complexes [Pd(OH)(CH2CMe2C6H4)(κ3-N,N',N''-L)][PF6], 3 or 4. The complexes 3 and 4 are stable at room temperature and have been structurally characterized. On heating a solution of 3 or 4 in moist dimethylsulphoxide, selective reductive elimination with C(sp2)-O bond formation is observed, followed by hydrolysis, to give the corresponding pincer complex [Pd(OH)(κ3-N,N',N''-L)][PF6] and 2-t-butylphenol as major products. A more complex reaction occurs in chloroform solution. The mechanisms of reaction are discussed, supported by DFT calculations.

An N-heterocyclic carbene-based pincer system of palladium and its versatile reactivity under oxidizing conditions

NHC-based pincers (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) have been broadly employed as supporting platforms, and their palladium complexes have found many synthetic applications. However, previous studies mainly focused on the NHC pincers of palladium featuring an oxidation number of +II. In contrast, oxidation of these well-defined Pd(II) species and the study of their fundamental high-valent Pd chemistry remain largely undeveloped. In addition, from a perspective of PdII/PdIV catalysis, the reactivity and degradation of NHC pincers in catalytically relevant reactions have not been well understood. In this work, a series of Pd(II) complexes supported by a well-known NHC^Aryl^NHC pincer platform have been prepared. Their reactivity towards various oxidizing reagents, including halogen surrogates, electrophilic fluorine reagents, and alkyl/aryl halides, has been examined. In some cases, ambient-characterizable high-valent Pd NHCs, which have been scarcely reported, were obtained. The carbenes incorporated into the pincer framework proved to be effective spectator donors. In contrast, the central aryl moiety exhibits versatile reactivity and collapse pathways, allowing it to function either as a spectator or a non-innocent actor.

Mechanistic Studies for Pd(II)(O2) Reduction Generating Pd(0) and H2O: Formation of Pd(OH)2 as a Key Intermediate

Molecular oxygen (O₂) remains to be an ideal yet underutilized feedstock for the oxidative transformation of organic substrates and renewable energy systems such as fuel cells. Palladium (Pd) has shown particular promise in enabling these applications. The present study describes a Pd-mediated O₂ reduction to water via C-H activation of 9,10-dihydroanthracene (DHA) by a Pd(II) η²-peroxo complex 1O₂. The reaction yields stoichiometric anthracene and Pd(0) product 1 and is notable in two respects. First, plots of concentrations of the reaction participants over time have distinctly sigmoidal shapes, indicating that conversion accelerates over time and implying autocatalysis. Second, the reaction proceeds via a genuine monometallic Pd(II) dihydroxide 1(OH)₂ directly observed to grow and decay as an intermediate. Confirming its role as an intermediate, the dihydroxide 1(OH)₂ was found to mediate C-H oxidation of DHA on par in activity with the peroxo compound 1O₂. Mechanistic studies with density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggested that both 1O₂ and 1(OH)₂ react with DHA by hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) and that autocatalysis in the 1O₂ reaction results from oxidative addition of the initial Pd(II) complex 1O₂ to the Pd(0) product 1. This reaction forms a transient bis(μ-oxo) Pd(II) dimer 1O₂1 that is more active in the HAT oxidation of DHA than the initial 1O₂.

Interconversion between square-planar palladium(ii) and octahedral palladium(iv) centres in a sulfur-bridged trinuclear structure

Coordination of six thiolato groups from two Rh^III metalloligands stabilizes an octahedral Pd^IV centre, which is interconvertible with a square-planar Pd^II centre retaining the RhPdRh trinuclear structure.

Secondary phosphine oxide-triggered selective oxygenation of a benzyl ligand on palladium

The oxygenation of a benzyl ligand in [PdBnCl(cod)] was dramatically accelerated by using secondary phosphine oxides (SPOs), selectively affording either BnOOH or BnOH, depending on the concentration of O2. The SPOs coordinate to palladium in the form of phosphinous acids, operating as Brønsted acids to facilitate further reaction with O2.

Improved Oxidative C-C Bond Formation Reactivity of High-Valent Pd Complexes Supported by a Pseudo-Tridentate Ligand

There is a large interest in developing oxidative transformations catalyzed by palladium complexes that employ environmentally friendly and economical oxidizing reagents such as dioxygen. Recently, we have reported the isolation and characterization of various mononuclear Pd^III and Pd^IV complexes supported by the tetradentate ligands N,N'-dialkyl-2,11-diaza[3.3](2,6)pyridinophane (^RN4, R = ^tBu, ⁱPr, Me), and the aerobically induced C-C and C-heteroatom bond formation reactivity was investigated in detail. Given that the steric and electronic properties of the multidentate ligands were shown to tune the stability and reactivity of the corresponding high-valent Pd complexes, herein we report the use of an asymmetric N4 ligand, N-mehtyl-N'-tosyl-2,11-diaza[3.3](2,6)pyridinophane (^TsMeN4), in which one amine N atom contains a tosyl group. The N-Ts donor atom exhibits a markedly reduced donating ability, which led to the formation of transiently stable Pd^III and Pd^IV complexes, and consequently the corresponding O₂ oxidation reactivity and the subsequent C-C bond formation were improved significantly.

Synthesis of Well-Defined High-Valent Palladium Complexes by Oxidation of Their Palladium(II) Precursors

The last decade has witnessed the rapid development of high-valent Pd-involved organic transformations. This has also led to a steadily growing number of publications concerning the preparation of isolable and characterizable palladium(III) and palladium(IV) complexes. A variety of one-electron and two-electron oxidants have been employed to give access to high-oxidation-state Pd compounds. Undoubtedly, the study of these stoichiometric reactions has great implications for relevant Pd-mediated catalysis. In this minireview, the focus is on the synthetic approaches to structurally determined Pd^III/IV complexes starting from their Pd^II precursors, and the advances in this research area from early 2010 to late 2019 will be highlighted. Chemical oxidations exploiting various oxidizing agents including 1) hypervalent iodine reagents; 2) halogens; 3) electrophilic fluorination reagents; 4) alkyl/aryl halides; 5) ferrocenium salts; 6) peroxides/O₂ ; 7) sulfonyl chlorides; and 8) others are covered. A "greener" electrooxidation manner has also been reviewed.

Iridium-Catalyzed sp3 C-H Borylation in Hydrocarbon Solvent Enabled by 2,2'-Dipyridylarylmethane Ligands

Iridium-catalyzed alkane C-H borylation has long suffered from poor atom economy, resulting from both the inclusion of only 1 equiv of boron from the diboron reagent and a requirement for neat substrate. An appropriately substituted dipyridylarylmethane ligand was found to give highly active alkane borylation catalysts that facilitate C-H borylation with improved efficiency. This system provides for complete consumption of the diboron reagent, producing 2 molar equivalents of product at low catalyst loadings. The superior efficacy of this system also enables borylation of unactivated alkanes in hydrocarbon solvent with a reduced excess of substrate and improved functional group compatibility. The effectiveness of this ligand is displayed across a selection of functional groups, both under traditional borylation conditions in neat substrate and under atypical conditions in cyclohexane solvent. The utility of this catalytic system is exemplified by the borylation of substrates containing polar functionality, which are unreactive toward C-H borylation under neat conditions.

Ligand-Induced Reductive Elimination of Ethane from Azopyridine Palladium Dimethyl Complexes

Reductive elimination (RE) is a critical step in many catalytic processes. The reductive elimination of unsaturated groups (aryl, vinyl and ethynyl) from Pd(II) species is considerably faster than RE of saturated alkyl groups. Pd(II) dimethyl complexes ligated by chelating diimine ligands are stable toward RE unless subjected to a thermal or redox stimulus. Herein, we report the spontaneous RE of ethane from (azpy)PdMe₂ complexes and the unique role of the redox-active azopyridine (azpy) ligands in facilitating this reaction. The (azpy)PdMe₂ complexes are air- and moisture-stable in the solid form, but they readily produce ethane upon dissolution in polar solvents at temperatures from 10 °C to room temperature without the need for an external oxidant or elevated temperatures. Experimental and computational studies indicate that a bimolecular methyl transfer precedes the reductive elimination step, where both steps are facilitated by the redox-active azopyridine ligand.

Unraveling the Role of a Flexible Tetradentate Ligand in the Aerobic Oxidative Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation with Palladium Complexes: A Computational Mechanistic Study

Mechanistic details of the aerobic oxidative coupling of methyl groups by a novel (^MeL)Pd^II(Me)₂ complex with the tetradentate ligand, ^MeL = N, N-dimethyl-2,11-diaza[3.3](2,6)pyridinophane, has been explored by density functional theory calculations. The calculated mechanism sheds light on the role of this ligand's flexibility in several stages of the reaction, especially as the oxidation state of the Pd changes. Ligand flexibility leads to diverse axial coordination modes, and it controls the availability of electrons by modulating the energies of high-lying molecular orbitals, particularly those with major d _z² character. Solvent molecules, particularly water, appear essential in the aerobic oxidation of Pd^II by lowering the energy of the oxygen molecule's unoccupied molecular orbital and stabilizing the Pd^X-O₂ complex. Ligand flexibility and solvent coordination to oxygen are essential to the required spin-crossover for the transformation of high-valent Pd^X-O₂ complexes. A methyl cation pathway has been predicted by our calculations in transmetalation between Pd^II and Pd^IV intermediates to be preferred over methyl radical or methyl anion pathways. Combining an axial and equatorial methyl group is preferred in the reductive elimination pathway where roles are played by the ligand's flexibility and the fluxionality of trimethyl groups.

Recent advances in well-defined, late transition metal complexes that make and/or break C-N, C-O and C-S bonds

Chemical transformations that result in either the formation or cleavage of carbon-heteroatom bonds are among the most important processes in the chemical sciences. Herein, we present a review on the reactivity of well-defined, late-transition metal complexes that result in the making and breaking of C-N, C-O and C-S bonds via fundamental organometallic reactions, i.e. oxidative addition, reductive elimination, insertion and elimination reactions. When appropriate, emphasis is placed on structural and spectroscopic characterization techniques, as well as mechanistic data.

Computational study of C(sp3)-O bond formation at a PdIV centre

This report describes a computational study of C(sp³)-OR bond formation from Pd^IV complexes of general structure Pd^IV(CH₂CMe₂-o-C₆H₄-C,C')(F)(OR)(bpy-N,N') (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine). Dissociation of ^-OR from the different octahedral Pd^IV starting materials results in a common square-pyramidal Pd^IV cation. An S_N2-type attack by ^-OR (^-OR = phenoxide, acetate, difluoroacetate, and nitrate) then leads to C(sp³)-OR bond formation. In contrast, when ^-OR = triflate, concerted C(sp³)-C(sp²) bond-forming reductive elimination takes place, and the calculations indicate this outcome is the result of thermodynamic rather than kinetic control. The energy requirements for the dissociation and S_N2 steps with different ^-OR follow opposing trends. The S_N2 transition states exhibit "PdCO" angles in a tight range of 151.5 to 153.0°, resulting from steric interactions between the oxygen atom and the gem-dimethyl group of the ligand. Conformational effects for various OR ligands and isomerisation of the complexes were also examined as components of the solution dynamics in these systems. In all cases, the trends observed computationally agree with those observed experimentally.

Mechanism of Me-Re Bond Addition to Platinum(II) and Dioxygen Activation by the Resulting Pt-Re Bimetallic Center

Unusual cis-oxidative addition of methyltrioxorhenium (MTO) to [PtMe₂(bpy)], (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) (1) is described. Addition of MTO to 1 first gives the Lewis acid-base adduct [(bpy)Me₂Pt-Re(Me)(O)₃] (2) and subsequently affords the oxidative addition product [(bpy)Me₃PtReO₃] (3). All complexes 1, MTO, 2, and 3 are in equilibrium in solution. The structure of 2 was confirmed by X-ray crystallography, and its dissociation constant in solution is 0.87 M. The structure of 3 was confirmed by extended X-ray absorption fine structure and X-ray absorption near-edge structure in tandem with one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy augmented by deuterium and ¹³C isotope-labeling studies. Kinetics of formation of compound 3 revealed saturation kinetics dependence on [MTO] and first-order in [Pt], complying with prior equilibrium formation of 2 with oxidative addition of Me-Re being the rate-determining step. Exposure of 3 to molecular oxygen or air resulted in the insertion of an oxygen atom into the platinum-rhenium bond forming [(bpy)Me₃PtOReO₃] (4) as final product. Density functional theory analysis on oxygen insertion pathways leading to complex 4, merited on the basis of Russell oxidation pathway, revealed the involvement of rhenium peroxo species.

Atom-Economic Synthesis of 4-Pyrones from Diynones and Water

Transition-metal-free synthesis of 4-pyrones via TfOH-promoted nucleophilic addition/cyclization of diynones and water has been developed. This transformation is simple, atom economical and environmentally benign, providing rapid and efficient access to substituted 4-pyrones.