Tandem Carbonylation Reactions: Hydroformylation and Hydroaminomethylation of Alkenes Catalyzed by Cationic [(H2C(3,5-Me2pz)2)Rh(CO)L]+ Complexes

Computational Screening of Putative Catalyst Transition Metal Complexes as Guests in a Ga4L612- Nanocage

Metal-organic cages form well-defined microenvironments that can enhance the catalytic proficiency of encapsulated transition metal complexes (TMCs). We introduce a screening protocol to efficiently identify TMCs that are promising candidates for encapsulation in the Ga4L612- nanocage. We obtain TMCs from the Cambridge Structural Database with geometric and electronic characteristics amenable to encapsulation and mine the text of associated manuscripts to curate TMCs with documented catalytic functionality. By docking candidate TMCs inside the nanocage cavity and carrying out electronic structure calculations, we identify a subset of successfully optimized candidates (TMC-34) and observe that encapsulated guests occupy an average of 60% of the cavity volume, in line with previous observations. Notably, some guests occupy as much as 72% of the cavity as a result of linker rotation. Encapsulation has a universal effect on the electrostatic potential (ESP), systematically decreasing the ESP at the metal center of each TMC in the TMC-34 data set, while minimally altering TMC metal partial charges. Collectively these observations support geometry-based screening of potential guests and suggest that encapsulation in Ga4L612- cages could electrostatically stabilize diverse cationic or electropositive intermediates. We highlight candidate guests with associated known reactivity and solubility most amenable for encapsulation in experimental follow-up studies.

Selective and stable tetraphosphite for Rh-catalyzed linear hydroaminomethylation of aliphatic and aromatic terminal olefins

A highly selective and stable tetraphosphite ligand TBTP was reported for Rh-catalyzed linear selective hydroaminomethylation of both aliphatic and aromatic terminal olefins, giving up to 10 000 TON, 99.9% linear amines with isolated yields up to 98.2%.

Immobilization of Rh(I) precursor in a porphyrin metal-organic framework - turning on the catalytic activity

Two model porphyrin metal-organic frameworks were used for the incorporation of Rh(i) species by a post-synthetic metallation under mild conditions. As a result, new rhodium MOFs (Rh/MOFs), Rh/PCN-222 and Rh/NU-1102, were synthesized and structurally characterized. To illustrate the potential of this catalytic platform, we use Rh/MOFs as phosphine-free heterogeneous catalysts in the hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons under mild reaction conditions (30 °C and 1 atm H2). We found that for our Rh/MOFs an activation step is required during the first run of the catalytic process. The presence of Rh-CO moieties allowed us to monitor the activation pathway of the catalyst under a H2 atmosphere, by in situ Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS). After activation, the catalyst remains highly active during the subsequent catalytic cycles. This simple post-synthetic modification approach presents new possibilities for the utilization of Rh-based catalytic systems with robust porphyrin-based MOFs as supports.

Recent progress in rhodium-catalyzed hydroaminomethylation

This review covers the recent studies featuring the development of catalysts for alkene hydroaminomethylation.

Recent advances in catalytic C-N bond formation: a comparison of cascade hydroaminomethylation and reductive amination reactions with the corresponding hydroamidomethylation and reductive amidation reactions

The design and catalytic implementation of tandem reactions to selectively create nitrogen-containing products under mild conditions has encountered numerous challenges in synthetic chemistry. Several known classes of homogeneously catalyzed carbon-nitrogen bond formation including hydroamination, hydroamidation, hydroaminoalkylation, hydroaminomethylation and reductive amination were reported in the literature. More recently, a new class of C-N bond formation consisting of hydroamidomethylation and reductive amidation extended the applicability of these synthetic methodologies. The tandem reactions do considerably impact on the selectivity and efficiency of synthetic strategies. This review highlights and compares selected examples of the hydroaminomethylation, reductive amination, hydroamidomethylation and reductive amidation reactions, and thus consequently reveals their potential applications in synthetic chemistry as well as chemical industries.

Capturing snapshots of post-synthetic metallation chemistry in metal-organic frameworks

Post-synthetic metallation is employed strategically to imbue metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with enhanced performance characteristics. However, obtaining precise structural information for metal-centred reactions that take place within the pores of these materials has remained an elusive goal, because of issues with high symmetry in certain MOFs, lower initial crystallinity for some chemically robust MOFs, and the reduction in crystallinity that can result from carrying out post-synthetic reactions on parent crystals. Here, we report a new three-dimensional MOF possessing pore cavities that are lined with vacant di-pyrazole groups poised for post-synthetic metallation. These metallations occur quantitatively without appreciable loss of crystallinity, thereby enabling examination of the products by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. To illustrate the potential of this platform to garner fundamental insight into metal-catalysed reactions in porous solids we use single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies to structurally elucidate the reaction products of consecutive oxidative addition and methyl migration steps that occur within the pores of the Rh-metallated MOF, 1·[Rh(CO)2][Rh(CO)2Cl2].

Weakly coordinating counter-ions for highly efficient catalysis of intramolecular hydroamination

A series of cationic rhodium(I) and iridium(I) complexes of the type [M(L[symbol: see text]L)(C2)]BAr(F)24 (where M = Rh or Ir, L[symbol: see text]L = bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methane (bpm), bis(N-methylimidazol-2-yl)methane (bim) or 1-(2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl)-3,5-diphenylpyrazole (Ph2PyP), C2 = 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD) or (CO)2 and BAr(F)24 = tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate) were synthesised in good yields. The solid-state structure of a number of complexes, including [Ir(Ph2PyP)(COD)]BAr(F)24, [Ir(bpm)(COD)]BAr(F)24 and [Ir(bim)(COD)]BAr(F)24 was determined using X-ray crystallography. The efficiency of the complexes as catalysts for the intramolecular hydroamination of 4-phenyl-3-butyn-1-amine, 4-pentyn-1-amine and 2-(2-phenylethynyl)aniline was established. The incorporation of the BAr(F)24- counter-ion in the Rh(I) and Ir(I) complexes was found to significantly improve the catalytic activity of the complexes, compared to the analogous Rh(I) and Ir(I) complexes containing BPh4- as the counter-ion. Excellent conversions were achieved for the cyclisation of 2-(2-phenylethynyl)aniline to 2-phenylindole using [Rh(bpm)(CO)2]BAr(F)24 as a catalyst. The use of a microwave reactor for enhancing the catalysed reactions was also investigated.

Synthesis, Reactivity, Spectroscopic Characterization, X-ray Structures, PGSE, and NOE NMR Studies of (η5-C5Me5)-Rhodium and -Iridium Derivatives Containing Bis(pyrazolyl)alkane Ligands

Rhodium(III) and iridium(III) complexes containing bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligands (pz = pyrazole, L' in general; specifically, L1 = H2C(pz)2, L2 = H2C(pzMe2)2, L3 = H2C(pz4Me)2, L4 = Me2C(pz)2), have been prepared in a study exploring the reactivity of these ligands toward [Cp*MCl(mu-Cl)]2 dimers (M = Rh, Ir; Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl). When the reaction was carried out in acetone solution, complexes of the type [Cp*M(L')Cl]Cl were obtained. However, when L1 and L2 ligands have been employed with excess [Cp*MCl(mu-Cl)]2, the formation of [Cp*M(L')Cl][Cp*MCl3] species has been observed. PGSE NMR measurements have been carried out for these complexes, in which the counterion is a cyclopentadienyl metal complex, in CD2Cl2 as a function of the concentration. The hydrodynamic radius (rH) and, consequently, the hydrodynamic volume (VH) of all the species have been determined from the measured translational self-diffusion coefficients (Dt), indicating the predominance of ion pairs in solution. NOE measurements and X-ray single-crystal studies suggest that the [Cp*MCl3]- approaches the cation, orienting the three Cl-legs of the "piano-stool" toward the CH2 moieties of the bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligands. The reaction of 1 equiv of [Cp*M(L')Cl]Cl or [Cp*M(L')Cl][Cp*MCl3] with 1 equiv of AgX (X = ClO4 or CF3SO3) in CH2Cl2 allows the generation of [Cp*M(L')Cl]X, whereas the reaction of 1 equiv of [Cp*M(L')Cl] with 2 equiv of AgX yields the dicationic complexes [Cp*M(L')(H2O)][X]2, where single water molecules are directly bonded to the metal atoms. The solid-state structures of a number of complexes were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic studies. The reaction of [Cp*Ir(L')(H2O)][X]2 with ammonium formate in water or acetone solution allows the generation of the hydride species [Cp*Ir(L')H][X].

Rhodium(i)-catalyzed hydroaminomethylation of 2-isopropenylanilines as a novel route to 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines

A new atom economical approach for the preparation of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines can be achieved by means of the intramolecular hydroaminomethylation of 2-isopropenylanilines, mediated by an ionic diamino rhodium catalyst that does not require phosphine--this reaction is highly chemo- and regioselective, and it occurs in good isolated yields.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Alkyne Hydrothiolation with Aromatic and Aliphatic Thiols

Alkyne hydrothiolation is a potentially attractive method for the formation of vinyl sulfides, which are valuable synthetic intermediates. Known methods for hydrothiolation using alkyl thiols are quite limited. We report herein that Tp*Rh(PPh3)2 (Tp* = hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) is a highly active catalyst for alkyne hydrothiolation with alkyl and aryl thiols. Hydrothiolation using alkyl thiols proceeds with excellent regioselectivity, providing convenient access to branched alkyl vinyl sulfides, which are difficult to synthesize by other means. A mixture of regioisomers is obtained when using aryl thiols, with the branched isomer as the major product, opposite that reported for other Rh complexes.

Early–late, mixed-metal compounds supported by amidophosphine ligands

The sequential syntheses, structural characterisation and reactivity studies of a series of discrete early-late mixed-metal complexes supported by the unique amidophosphine ligand m-(But2CH)N(C6H4)PPh2L1 are described. This ligand was synthesised using a Schiff-base/ButLi protocol and the resultant lithium salt LiL1 found to adopt a tetrameric structure in the solid state in which both two-coordinate N-Li-N and eta6:eta6-arylLi metallocene bonding motifs are present. Reaction between HL1 and labile Pt(II) and Pd(II) chlorides formed MCl2(HL1)2 complexes 4 (M = Pt) and 5 (M = Pd) in which a weak N-H...pi(aryl) hydrogen bonding interaction was identified in the solid-state structure of 4. These compounds were found to be inert to transamination and protonolysis reactions with Ti amides and alkyls; instead, stepwise alkyl transfer from Ti to Pt, resulting in Pt(CH2SiMe3)2(HL1)2 6 was observed. Access to mixed-metal complexes was achieved using an early-metal-first approach. Reaction between the metalloligand TiCl2(L1)2 and labile Group 10 and group 9 compounds resulted in the formation of TiCl2(mu-L1)2PtCl2 8, TiCl2(mu-L1)2PtMe2 9, TiCl2(mu-L1)2PdCl2 10, TiCl2(mu-L1)2NiBr2 11, and [TiCl2(mu-L1)2RhCl(CO)]2 12. In the solid state, the Group 4/10 compounds 8, 9 and 10 adopt similar structures that exhibit both intramolecular But2C-H...Cl-Ti hydrogen bonding and arylNP pi-stacking interactions; this hydrogen-bonding interaction is conserved in solution. Unlike the above Group 4/10 complexes, the Ti-Rh complex 12 adopts a tetranuclear structure in the solid state that is stabilised by similar hydrogen-bonding and pi-stacking interactions. The Group 4/10 complexes were assessed as catalysts for olefin polymerisation and cross-coupling reactions. In combination with MAO, the mixed-metal complexes 8 and 10 were poor ethylene polymerisation catalysts and resulted in polymers of both high molecular weight and polydispersity. The Ti-Ni complex 11 formed oligomeric material only, while the mononuclear Ti metalloligand TiCl2(L1)2 gave the best results, showing low activity (6.14 kg mol(-1) bar(-1) h(-1)) and moderate polydispersity (12). The Ti-Pd complex 10 was assessed in arylamination and Suzuki-Miyaura reactions. While little or no catalytic activity was observed in arylamination reactions, 10 was found to effect Suzuki coupling between activated aryl bromides and phenylboronic acid at 80 degrees C. Unlike with TiCl2(L1)2, reactions between 8 and the reducing agents C8K or Mg led to intractable mixtures. However, the cyclic voltammetry of both compounds indicated that a reversible one-electron reduction process occurs at a similar potential (ca. -0.7 V) and was assigned to the formation of the monohalides TiCl(L1)2 and TiCl(mu-L1)2PtCl2. The reactivity of the metallocage TiCl(mu-L3)3Pt was also investigated. While reduction reactions were unsuccessful, the metallocage reacted with CO to form the Ti-Pt carbonyl, TiCl(mu-L3)3Pt(CO) 13. The X-ray crystal structure of 13 revealed that accommodation of CO at the Pt centre has caused the cage expansion and loss of agostic aryl-H...Pt interactions. Furthermore, reaction of TiCl(mu-L3)3Pt with excess MeI resulted in the formation of the Ti(IV)-Pt(II) complex trans-TiCl2(mu-L3)2(kappa1-L3MeI)Pt(Me)I.