Synthesis of periphery-functionalized dendritic molecules using polylithiated dendrimers as starting material

Heterogeneous Dendrimer-Based Catalysts

The present review compiles the advances in the dendritic catalysis within the last two decades, in particular concerning heterogeneous dendrimer-based catalysts and their and application in various processes, such as hydrogenation, oxidation, cross-coupling reactions, etc. There are considered three main approaches to the synthesis of immobilized heterogeneous dendrimer-based catalysts: (1) impregnation/adsorption on silica or carbon carriers; (2) dendrimer covalent grafting to various supports (silica, polystyrene, carbon nanotubes, porous aromatic frameworks, etc.), which may be performed in a divergent (as a gradual dendron growth on the support) or convergent way (as a grafting of whole dendrimer to the support); and (3) dendrimer cross-linking, using transition metal ions (resulting in coordination polymer networks) or bifunctional organic linkers, whose size, polarity, and rigidity define the properties of the resulted material. Additionally, magnetically separable dendritic catalysts, which can be synthesized using the three above-mentioned approaches, are also considered. Dendritic catalysts, synthesized in such ways, can be stored as powders and be easily separated from the reaction medium by filtration/centrifugation as traditional heterogeneous catalysts, maintaining efficiency as for homogeneous dendritic catalysts.

Recent Advances Utilized in the Recycling of Homogeneous Catalysis

Homogeneous catalysts often show high activity and selectivity towards the various chemical transformations. Most of the transition metal-based active catalysts are expensive, rare, and have strict regulations for their use in pharmaceutical products. Hence, there is a requirement to develop suitable technologies for the practical separation and recycling of metal complex catalysts along with the sustainability of the process. This review focuses on the recent techniques used for the catalyst separation, their recovery, and recyclability of the homogeneous form of catalysts based on their economic compatibility and industrial applications. Various homogeneous catalysts have been reviewed on the basis of their support or media, active centres and recyclability aspects of the catalysts. This review gives brief insights into the varied examples of different recycling techniques utilized in the past 6-7 years.

Catalysis of linear alkene metathesis by Grubbs-type ruthenium alkylidene complexes containing hemilabile α,α-diphenyl-(monosubstituted-pyridin-2-yl)methanolato ligands

Four new Grubbs-type precatalysts [RuCl(H₂IMes)(O^N)(=CHPh)], where [O^N = α,α-diphenyl-(3-methylpyridin-2-yl)methanolato, α,α-diphenyl-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)methanolato, α,α-diphenyl-(5-methylpyridin-2-yl)methanolato and α,α-diphenyl-(3-methoxypyridin-2-yl)methanolato] were synthesized and tested for their activity, stability and selectivity in the 1-octene metathesis reaction. Overall the precatalysts showed good activity and high stability for the metathesis of 1-octene at temperatures above 80 °C and up to 110 °C. Selectivities towards the primary metathesis products, i.e., 7-tetradecene and ethene, above 85% were obtained with all the precatalysts at 80 and 90 °C. High selectivities were also observed at 100 °C for the 4-Me- and 3-OMe-substituted precatalysts. With an increase in temperature an increase in isomerisation products and secondary metathesis products were observed with the latter reaching values >20% for the 3-OMe- and 3-Me-substituted precatalysts at 110 and 100 °C, respectively. All the precatalysts exhibits first-order kinetics at 80 °C with the 3-substituted precatalysts the slowest. The behaviour of the 3-substituted precatalysts can be attributed to electronic and steric effects associated with the adjacent bulky phenyl groups.

Synthesis and Application of the Transition Metal Complexes of α-Pyridinyl Alcohols, α-Bipyridinyl Alcohols, α,α'-Pyridinyl Diols and α,α'-Bipyridinyl Diols in Homogeneous Catalysis

The paper presents a comprehensive survey on the synthetic procedures of transition metal complexes of α-pyridinyl alcoholato, α-bipyridinyl alcoholato, α,α'-pyridinyl dialcoholato and α,α'-bipyridinyl dialcoholato ligands and their coordination chemistry. Greater emphasis is, however, given to the catalytic activity of the complexes in homogeneous and asymmetric chemical reactions. The multidentate character of the pyridinyl alcohols and/or bipyridinyl diols is of great importance in the complexation with a large number and type of transition metals. The transition metal complexes of pyridinyl alcoholato or bipyridinyl dialcoholato ligands in most cases, and a few pyridinyl alcohols alone, were used as catalysts in homogeneous and chemical asymmetric reactions. In most of the homogeneously catalysed enantioselective chemical reactions, limited numbers and types of pyridinyl alcohols and or bipyridinyl diols were used in the preparation of chiral catalysts that led to a few investigations on the catalytic importance of the pyridinyl alcohols.

Olefin metathesis in nano-sized systems

The interplay between olefin metathesis and dendrimers and other nano systems is addressed in this mini review mostly based on the authors’ own contributions over the last decade. Two subjects are presented and discussed: (i) The catalysis of olefin metathesis by dendritic nano-catalysts via either covalent attachment (ROMP) or, more usefully, dendrimer encapsulation – ring closing metathesis (RCM), cross metathesis (CM), enyne metathesis reactions (EYM) – for reactions in water without a co-solvent and (ii) construction and functionalization of dendrimers by CM reactions.

Recovery of enlarged olefin metathesis catalysts by nanofiltration in an eco-friendly solvent

This study was aimed at integrating a green separation process without phase change, namely nanofiltration, with olefin metathesis to recover the homogeneous catalyst. As the commercially available Hoveyda II catalyst was not sufficiently retained by the membrane, a set of homogeneous ruthenium-based catalysts were prepared to enhance the recovery of the catalyst by solvent-resistant commercial membranes made of polyimide (Starmem 228). The molecular weights of the catalysts were gradually increased from 627 to 2195 g mol(-1), and recovery was found to increase from around 70 % to 90 % both in toluene and dimethyl carbonate. The most retained catalyst was then engaged in a series of model ring-closing metathesis reactions associated to a final nanofiltration step to recover and recycle the catalyst. Up to five cycles could be performed before a deterioration in the performance of the process was observed.

Dialyzable Carbosilane Dendrimers as Soluble Supports for the Functionalization of Pyridine Fragments via Palladium-Catalyzed Coupling Reactions

[reaction: see text] The use of carbosilane (CS) dendrimers as soluble supports in liquid phase organic synthesis (LPOS) is described. Control of the three key steps is perfectly achieved by covalently binding a pyridine fragment to the soluble support, modifying it via coupling reactions, and releasing it at the end. Nanofiltration (dialysis) allows facile purification of the supported molecules after each step.

The use of ultra- and nanofiltration techniques in homogeneous catalyst recycling

In recent years, the application of membrane technology in homogeneous catalyst recycling has received widespread attention. This technology offers a solution for the major drawback of homogeneous catalysis, that is, recycling of the catalyst. From both an environmental and an industrial point of view, this technology is very interesting, since it allows the future application of homogeneous catalysts in the synthesis of commercial products, leading to faster, cleaner and highly selective green industrial processes. In this account, an overview is given of the promising results obtained in the field of homogeneous catalyst recycling using nanofiltration membrane technology.

Functionalized carbosilane dendritic species as soluble supports in organic synthesis

A new methodology, which is compatible with the use of reactive organometallic reagents, has been developed for the use of carbosilane dendrimers as soluble supports in organic synthesis. Hydroxy-functionalized dendritic carbosilanes Si[CH2CH2CH2SiMe2(C6H4CH(R)OH)]4 (G0-OH, R = H or (S)-Me) and Si[CH2CH2CH2Si[CH2CH2CH2SiMe2(C6H4CH(R)OH)]3]4 (G1-OH, R = H or (S)-Me) were prepared and subsequently converted into the esters Si[CH2CH2CH2SiMe2(C6H4CH(R)OC(O)CH2Ph)]4 (R = H or (S)-Me) and Si[CH2CH2CH2Si[CH2CH2CH2SiMe2(C6H4CH(R)OC(O)CH2C6H4 R')]3]4 (R = H and R' = H or R = (S)-Me and R' = H or R = H and R' = Br). As an example the latter compound was functionalized under Suzuki conditions. The functionalized carboxylic acid was obtained in high yield after cleavage from the dendritic support. Moreover, the ester functionalized dendrimers were converted to the corresponding zinc enolates followed by a condensation reaction with an imine to a beta-lactam in excellent yield and purity. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that a small combinatorial library of beta-lactams could be prepared starting from a carbosilane dendrimer functionalized with different ester moieties. These results show that carbosilane dendrimers can be applied as soluble substrate carriers for the generation of low molecular weight organic molecules. In combination with nanofiltration techniques, separation and recycling of the dendrimers can be realized.