Revisiting the Methyl Iodide Oxidative Addition to Rhodium Complexes: A DFT Study of the Activation Parameters

A human-machine interface for automatic exploration of chemical reaction networks

Autonomous reaction network exploration algorithms offer a systematic approach to explore mechanisms of complex chemical processes. However, the resulting reaction networks are so vast that an exploration of all potentially accessible intermediates is computationally too demanding. This renders brute-force explorations unfeasible, while explorations with completely pre-defined intermediates or hard-wired chemical constraints, such as element-specific coordination numbers, are not flexible enough for complex chemical systems. Here, we introduce a STEERING WHEEL to guide an otherwise unbiased automated exploration. The STEERING WHEEL algorithm is intuitive, generally applicable, and enables one to focus on specific regions of an emerging network. It also allows for guiding automated data generation in the context of mechanism exploration, catalyst design, and other chemical optimization challenges. The algorithm is demonstrated for reaction mechanism elucidation of transition metal catalysts. We highlight how to explore catalytic cycles in a systematic and reproducible way. The exploration objectives are fully adjustable, allowing one to harness the STEERING WHEEL for both structure-specific (accurate) calculations as well as for broad high-throughput screening of possible reaction intermediates.

A Deeper Insight into the Supramolecular Activation of Oxidative Addition Reactions Involving Pincer-Rhodium(I) Complexes

The factors governing the acceleration of the oxidative addition of methyl iodide to pincer rhodium(I)-complexes induced by coronene have been computationally explored in detail using quantum chemical methods. Both the parent reaction and the coronene-mediated process proceed via a stepwise SN2-type mechanism. It is found that the acceleration of the process derives from the formation of an initial supramolecular complex, mainly stabilized by electrostatic and π-π interactions, which significantly increases the electron richness of the complex. The impact of this effect on the reaction barrier has been quantitatively analyzed by applying the activation strain model in combination with the energy decomposition analysis method. In addition, the influence of other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the oxidative reaction has been also considered.

Kinetic Study of the Oxidative Addition Reaction between Methyl Iodide and [Rh(imino-β-diketonato)(CO)(PPh)3] Complexes, Utilizing UV-Vis, IR Spectrophotometry, NMR Spectroscopy and DFT Calculations

The oxidative addition of methyl iodide to [Rh(β-diketonato)(CO)(PPh)₃] complexes, as modal catalysts of the first step during the Monsanto process, are well-studied. The β-diketonato ligand is a bidentate (BID) ligand that bonds, through two O donor atoms (O,O-BID ligand), to rhodium. Imino-β-diketones are similar to β-diketones, though the donor atoms are N and O, referred to as an N,O-BID ligand. In this study, the oxidative addition of methyl iodide to [Rh(imino-β-diketonato)(CO)(PPh)₃] complexes, as observed on UV-Vis spectrophotometry, IR spectrophotometry and NMR spectrometry, are presented. Experimentally, one isomer of [Rh(CH₃COCHCNPhCH₃)(CO)(PPh₃)] and two isomers of [Rh(CH₃COCHCNHCH₃)(CO)(PPh₃)] are observed-in agreement with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Experimentally the [Rh(CH₃COCHCNPhCH₃)(CO)(PPh₃)] + CH₃I reaction proceeds through one reaction step, with a rhodium(III)-alkyl as the final reaction product. However, the [Rh(CH₃COCHCNHCH₃)(CO)(PPh₃)] + CH₃I reaction proceeds through two reaction steps, with a rhodium(III)-acyl as the final reaction product. DFT calculations of all the possible reaction products and transition states agree with experimental findings. Due to the smaller electronegativity of N, compared to O, the oxidative addition reaction rate of CH₃I to the two [Rh(imino-β-diketonato)(CO)(PPh)₃] complexes of this study was 7-11 times faster than the oxidative addition reaction rate of CH₃I to [Rh(CH₃COCHCOCH₃)(CO)(PPh₃)].

Rhodium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Radical Addition of CX4 Reagents to Olefins

We describe the synthetically useful enantioselective addition of Br-CX₃ (X=Cl or Br) to terminal olefins to introduce a trihalomethyl group and generate optically active secondary bromides. Computational and experimental evidence supports an asymmetric atom-transfer radical addition (ATRA) mechanism in which the stereodetermining step involves outer-sphere bromine abstraction from a [(bisphosphine)Rh^II BrCl] complex by a benzylic radical intermediate. This mechanism appears unprecedented in asymmetric catalysis.

Experimental and theoretical studies of Si–Cl and Ge–Cl σ-bond activation reactions by iridium-hydride

We report the iridium hydride-mediated Si–Cl and Ge–Cl σ-bond activation in a low-polarity toluene solution owing to diphosphine-chelation, in which the Si–Cl and Ge–Cl σ-bonds are readily cleaved through an S_N2-type pathway via the formation of a free chloride anion.

Platinum(0)-mediated C–O bond activation of ethers via an SN2 mechanism

DFT calculations demonstrate that Pt(0) bis(phosphine) complexes react with Ar^F–O–Me via an S_N2 mechanism to activate the O–CH₃ bond; experimental support is provided by reaction of Pt(PCy₃)₂ with 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-allyloxypyridine to form an aryloxide salt of [Pt(η³-allyl)(PCy₃)₂]⁺.

Density functional theory calculations of Rh-β-diketonato complexes

Density functional theory results on the geometry, energies and charges of selected Rh-β-diketonato reactants, products and transition states.

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].

Oxidative addition of methyl iodide to [Rh(PhCOCHCOPh)(CO)(P(OCH2)3CCH3)]: an experimental and computational study

The reaction rate of the oxidative addition and CO insertion steps of methyl iodide with [Rh(PhCOCHCOPh)(CO)(P(OCH2)3CCH3)] are presented. Large negative experimental values for the activation entropy and results from a density functional theory computational chemistry study indicated trans addition of the CH3I to [Rh(PhCOCHCOPh)(CO)(P(OCH2)3CCH3)]. A study of the molecular orbitals gives insight into the flow of electrons during the oxidative addition reaction. CO insertion leads to a square pyramidal [Rh(PhCOCHCOPh)(P(OCH2)3CCH3)(COCH3)(I)] acyl product with the COCH3 moiety in the apical position. The strong electron donation of the P(OCH2)3CCH3 ligand accelerates the oxidation addition step of methyl iodide to [Rh(PhCOCHCOPh)(CO)(P(OCH2)3CCH3)] by ca. 265 times faster (at 35°C) than that of the Monsanto catalyst, but inhibits the CO insertion step.

An approach to bimetallic catalysts by ligand design

New diphosphines based on benzofurobenzofuran and dibenzodioxocin backbones, forming exclusively bimetallic complexes were designed and synthesized. Depending on the ligand to metal ratio, face-to-face bimetallic complexes or syn-chloride bridged dimeric complexes were formed as main reaction products. The structures of the rhodium complexes of the new ligands 4, 7, 10, 13, 16 were established in solution by NMR, IR, and MS spectroscopy. The molecular structures of the syn-chloride bridged dimeric complexes [Rh(2)(CO)(2)(mu-Cl)(2)(4)] (22), [Rh(2)(CO)(2)(mu-Cl)(2)(10)] (24), and the face-to-face bimetallic complexes [Rh(CO)Cl(4)](2) (17), [Rh(CO)Cl(10)](2) (19), and [Rh(CO)Cl(13)](2) (20) were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Ligands 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, and SPANphos were tested in rhodium catalyzed methanol carbonylation at 150 degrees C and 22 bar of CO gas, showing high activities under catalytic conditions.