Immobilization of a Rhodium Carbene Complex to an Amphiphilic Block Copolymer for Hydroformylation of 1-Octene under Aqueous Two-Phase Conditions

Synthesis Strategies towards Tagged Homogeneous Catalysts To Improve Their Separation

The recycling of homogeneous catalysts while keeping them in the homogeneous matrix is an ongoing challenge many reactions face if they are to find industrial applications. While a plethora of different synthetic approaches towards better, recyclable homogeneous catalysts exist, the literature shows a gap when one searches for a concise overview of the different catalyst modifications. This Review is designed to close that gap by summarising the existing synthesis pathways towards polar, non-polar, fluorous, and molecular-weight-enlarged catalysts and by examining their respective synthesis routes with a focus on modular and late-stage approaches. Furthermore, we map out the potential for a generally applicable tag library that allows straightforward catalyst modifications to tune them for each desired recycling strategy.

Amphiphilic polymeric nanoreactors containing Rh(i)–NHC complexes for the aqueous biphasic hydrogenation of alkenes

A rhodium(i) complex bearing a monodentate N-heterocyclic carbene ligand has been confined into the core of amphiphilic core-crosslinked micelles (CCMs).

Recent Advances in the Synthesis and Application of Polymer Compartments for Catalysis

Catalysis is one of the most important processes in nature, science, and technology, that enables the energy efficient synthesis of essential organic compounds, pharmaceutically active substances, and molecular energy sources. In nature, catalytic reactions typically occur in aqueous environments involving multiple catalytic sites. To prevent the deactivation of catalysts in water or avoid unwanted cross-reactions, catalysts are often site-isolated in nanopockets or separately stored in compartments. These concepts have inspired the design of a range of synthetic nanoreactors that allow otherwise unfeasible catalytic reactions in aqueous environments. Since the field of nanoreactors is evolving rapidly, we here summarize-from a personal perspective-prominent and recent examples for polymer nanoreactors with emphasis on their synthesis and their ability to catalyze reactions in dispersion. Examples comprise the incorporation of catalytic sites into hydrophobic nanodomains of single chain polymer nanoparticles, molecular polymer nanoparticles, and block copolymer micelles and vesicles. We focus on catalytic reactions mediated by transition metal and organocatalysts, and the separate storage of multiple catalysts for one-pot cascade reactions. Efforts devoted to the field of nanoreactors are relevant for catalytic chemistry and nanotechnology, as well as the synthesis of pharmaceutical and natural compounds. Optimized nanoreactors will aid in the development of more potent catalytic systems for green and fast reaction sequences contributing to sustainable chemistry by reducing waste of solvents, reagents, and energy.

Synthesis of Nixantphos Core-Functionalized Amphiphilic Nanoreactors and Application to Rhodium-Catalyzed Aqueous Biphasic 1-Octene Hydroformylation

A latex of amphiphilic star polymer particles, functionalized in the hydrophobic core with nixantphos and containing P(MAA-co-PEOMA) linear chains in the hydrophilic shell (nixantphos-functionalized core-crosslinked micelles, or nixantphos@CCM), has been prepared in a one-pot three-step convergent synthesis using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in water. The synthesis involves polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) in the second step and chain crosslinking with di(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (DEGDMA) in the final step. The core consists of a functionalized polystyrene, obtained by incorporation of a new nixantphos-functionalized styrene monomer (nixantphos-styrene), which is limited to 1 mol%. The nixantphos-styrene monomer was synthesized in one step by nucleophilic substitution of the chloride of 4-chloromethylstyrene by deprotonated nixantphos in DMF at 60 °C, without interference of either phosphine attack or self-induced styrene polymerization. The polymer particles, after loading with the [Rh(acac)(CO)₂] precatalyst to yield Rh-nixantphos@CCM, function as catalytic nanoreactors under aqueous biphasic conditions for the hydroformylation of 1-octene to yield n-nonanal selectively, with no significant amounts of the branched product 2-methyl-octanal.

Lability of Ta–NHC adducts as a synthetic route towards heterobimetallic Ta/Rh complexes

This work highlights the reactivity of Ta–NHC adducts and the aptitude of the NHC motif to transfer from Ta to Rh which is used with profit as an efficient synthetic route to access early/late heterobimetallic complexes.

N-Heterocyclic Carbenes in Materials Chemistry

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have become one of the most widely studied class of ligands in molecular chemistry and have found applications in fields as varied as catalysis, the stabilization of reactive molecular fragments, and biochemistry. More recently, NHCs have found applications in materials chemistry and have allowed for the functionalization of surfaces, polymers, nanoparticles, and discrete, well-defined clusters. In this review, we provide an in-depth look at recent advances in the use of NHCs for the development of functional materials.

Porous Organic Polymer Supported Rhodium as a Reusable Heterogeneous Catalyst for Hydroformylation of Olefins

A new porous organic polymer has been prepared via copolymerization of divinyl-functionalized phosphoramidite ligand and tris(4-vinylphenyl)phosphine. The porous polymer was loaded with Rh(acac)CO₂ to yield a supported Rh catalyst, which demonstrated good regioselectivity ( l/ b = 6.7-52.8) and high catalytic activity (TON up to 45.3 × 10⁴) in hydroformylation of terminal and internal olefins. Remarkably, the heterogeneous catalyst can be reused at least 10 cycles without losing activity and selectivity in hydroformylation of 1-hexene.

A structure/catalytic activity study of gold(i)–NHC complexes, as well as their recyclability and reusability, in the hydration of alkynes in aqueous medium

Comparative studies were carried out with the addition of different silver salts. Our results indicate that the bulkier complex is the most effective and that the addition of methanol as co-solvent not only shortens reaction times but also stabilizes the less bulky complexes.

Iron piano-stool complexes containing NHC ligands outfitted with pendent arms: synthesis, characterization, and screening for catalytic transfer hydrogenation

The reaction of hydroxyl-appended NHC ligands with FpI affords a pair of iron-containing organometallic species with interesting electronic and structural properties.

Smaller, faster, better: modular synthesis of unsymmetrical ammonium salt-tagged NHC-gold(I) complexes and their application as recyclable catalysts in water

Facile access towards a small library of unsymmetrical ammonium salt-tagged N-heterocyclic carbene gold(i) complexes is described, and their application as recyclable catalysts in cyclization reactions of acetylenic carboxylic acids and amides to lactones and lactams, respectively, in aqueous media is demonstrated. Catalyst was applied in the synthesis of 2-epi-clausemarine A ().

A simple procedure for the polymer-supported N-heterocyclic carbene-rhodium complex via click chemistry: a recyclable catalyst for the addition of arylboronic acids to aldehydes

A novel polymer-supported carbene-rhodium complex was prepared using a simple procedure via click chemistry. This polymer-supported N-heterocyclic carbene-rhodium complex was characterized and used as a catalyst for the addition of arylboronic acids to aldehydes in good to excellent yields.

Nickel and palladium complexes of enolatefunctionalised N-heterocyclic carbenes

The reaction of chloroethyltrimethylsilylether with 1-methylimidazole furnishes an ionic liquid that undergoes methanolysis to crystalline 2-hydroxyethylimidazolium chloride (crystal structure presented). Conversion to defined hydroxyethylimidazol-2-ylidene nickel complexes failed, but was accomplished with 1-methyl-3-acetophenyl-imidazolium bromide. The bis(NHC⋂O−) nickel(II) chelate is formed, rather than a methallylnickel monochelate, but with nickelocene a monochelate NiCp complex was detected. The bulky 1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3-(2’-phenyl-enolato)-imidazol-2-ylidene allylpalladium chloride was obtained in pure form. Attempts to generate catalysts for ethylene oligomerization by in situ techniques have failed so far whereas P⋂O− ligands, comparable by the P-C diagonal relationship, provide active catalysts.