Ruthenium Carbene–Diether Ligand Complexes: Catalysts for Hydrogenation of Olefins

Metal complexes of backbone-halogenated imidazol-2-ylidenes

In this manuscript, literature reports on mono- and di-halogen (F, Cl, Br, and I) substituted at positions 4 or/and 4,5 imidazol-2-ylidene (NHC) metal complexes are discussed: particularly, their structural diversity with various metals (groups 6-13), important physicochemical properties, catalytic and medicinal/biological applications are reviewed. To our knowledge, there are no literature reports on group 4 and 5 metal complexes with this type of NHC ligands. Halogenated imidazol-2-ylidene metal complexes deserve special attention because halogens are the classic electron donating groups (mesomerically) in conjugated aromatic/heteroaromatic ring systems, but electron withdrawing inductively. However, they exhibit a significant electron withdrawing inductive effect, thus providing unique electronic properties. This is important for fine tuning of σ-donor abilities of the "carbenic" carbon of imidazol-2-ylidenes, which directly affect catalytic performance of their metal complexes. Other applications, advantages, and disadvantages of halogenated vs. unsubstituted imidazol-2-ylidene metal complexes are critically analyzed and summarized in this review.

Recent Advances in the Syntheses and Catalytic Applications of Homonuclear Ru-, Rh-, and Ir-Complexes of CNHC ^C Cyclometalated Ligands

In the past few decades, chemistry of cyclometalated species has gained momentum with increased applications in several areas of scientific developments. Cyclometalation reactions result in the formation of stable metallacycles through the generation of metal-carbon covalent bonds by activating the unreactive Csp² -H or Csp³ -H bonds. The extra stability gained by the formation of metallacycles enhances their applicability scopes especially in the area of homogeneous catalysis. In the recent research development in this area, NHC ligands (strong σ-donor and generally, weak π-acceptor) have been found to be one of the most suitable candidates for the intramolecular C-H activation process which leads to the cyclometalated species. The growth in the area of cyclometalation chemistry that started in the late 20^th century is still continuing and in the past few decades, various examples of NHC derived transition metal-based cyclometalated complexes came into the picture. As covering all the reported literatures in this area (includes mainly late transition metals) will exceed the limits of minireview, we restricted ourselves to the recent (2015 - May 2021) examples of the most common Ru-, Rh-, and Ir-based C_NHC ^C cyclometalated complexes and their applications in various homogeneous catalytic conversions such as transfer hydrogenation, amidation, oxidation of alcohols, annulations, and so forth.

Rate-Limiting Steps in the Intramolecular C-H Activation of Ruthenium N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes

Ruthenium (II) complexes with N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) are commonly used as efficient catalysts in hydrogenation of olefins with simultaneous intramolecular C-H activation. Using the DFT approach, we have investigated the entire hydrogenation reaction pathway for four new potential catalysts and ethylene, a model substrate. Our calculations imply that the dissociation of phosphine is the rate-limiting step of hydrogenation, contrary to recent computational results. We also found that catalysts bearing NHCs with aliphatic and aromatic side groups are energetically favorable over other aliphatic cyclohexyl-substituted NHC. To examine how electronic properties of various catalysts influence the energetic barrier in the crucial steps of the reaction, we applied the Noncovalent Interaction analysis, which allowed us to reveal crucial interactions which stabilize/destabilize important intermediates and transition states in the hydrogenation reaction.

Heterobimetallic ruthenium–zinc complexes with bulky N-heterocyclic carbenes: syntheses, structures and reactivity

Addition of ZnMe₂ to cationic and neutral ruthenium hydride complexes bearing NHC ligands affords new Ru–Zn heterobimetallic complexes.

Metal complexes with oxygen-functionalized NHC ligands: synthesis and applications

Ligand design has met with considerable success with both categories of hybrid ligands, which are characterized by chemically different donor groups, and of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). Their spectacular development and diversity are attracting worldwide interest and offers almost unlimited diversity and potential in e.g. coordination/organometallic main group and transition metal chemistry, catalysis, medicinal chemistry and materials science. This review aims at providing a comprehensive update on a specific class of ligands that has enjoyed much attention in the past few years, at the intersection between the two categories mentioned above, that of hybrid NHC ligands in which the functionality associated with the carbene donor is of the oxygen-donor type. For each type of oxygen-donor present in such chelating (Section 1) or bridging (Section 2) hybrid ligands, we will examine the synthesis, structures and reactivity of their metal complexes and their applications, with a special focus on homogeneous catalysis (Section 3). Thus, hydrogenation, C-H bond activation, C-C, C-N, C-O bond formation, hydrolysis of silanes, oligomerization, polymerization, metathesis, hydrosilylation, C-C bond cleavage, acceptorless dehydrogenation, dehalogenation/hydrogen transfer, oxidation and reduction reactions will be successively presented in a tabular manner, to facilitate an overview and a rapid identification of the relevant publications describing which metals associated with a given oxygen functionality are most suitable. The literature coverage includes the year 2015.

Bis-mixed-carbene ruthenium-thiolate-alkylidene complexes: synthesis and olefin metathesis activity

A series of bis-carbene Ru-hydride species, including (IMes)(Im(OMe)2)(PPh3)RuHCl (1) and (SIMes)(Me2Im(OMe)2)(PPh3)RuHCl (2) were prepared and subsequently shown to react with aryl-vinyl-sulfides to give the bis-carbene-alkylidene complexes: Im(OMe)2(SIMes)RuCl(SR)(=CHCH3) (R = p-FC6H4 (3), p-(NO2)C6H4 (4)), Im(OMe)2(IMes)RuCl(=CHCH3)(SPh) (5), Me2Im(OMe)2(SIMes)RuCl(=CHCH3)(SPh) (6), Im(OMe)2(SIMes)(F5C6S)RuCl(=CHR) (R = C4H9 (9), C5H11 (10)). The activity of these species in the standard Grubbs' tests for ring-opening metathesis polymerization, ring-closing and cross-metathesis are reported. Although these thiolate derivatives are shown to exhibit modest metathesis activities, the reactivity is enhanced in the presence of BCl3.

1,2,3-Triazolylidene ruthenium(ii)-cyclometalated complexes and olefin selective hydrogenation catalysis

Silver(i) 1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidenes [(RCH₂C₂N₂(NMe)Ph)₂Ag][AgCl₂] (R = Ph 3a, C₆H₂iPr₃3b, C₆H₂Me₃3c) and [(PhCH₂C₂N₂(NMe)R)₂Ag][AgCl₂] (R = C₆H₄Me 3d, C₆H₄CF₃3e) were synthesized and subsequently treated with RuHCl(PPh₃)₃ and RuHCl(H₂)(PCy₃)₂ to give cyclometallated and Ru-hydride species as the major and minor products, respectively.

Ruthenium hydroxycyclopentadienyl N-heterocyclic carbene complexes as transfer hydrogenation catalysts

Novel Ru–NHC complexes bearing cyclopentadienones/hydroxycyclopentadienyls are active and selective in transfer hydrogenation exploiting the cooperation of both classes of ligands.

Sterically driven synthesis of ruthenium and ruthenium–silver N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

A sterically driven synthetic route from non-bulky silver NHC to novel Ru(NHC) complexes and from bulky Ag(NHC) to unprecedented heterobimetallic Ru–Ag(NHC) complexes is presented.

Half sandwich ruthenium(ii) hydrides: hydrogenation of terminal, internal, cyclic and functionalized olefins

Ruthenium(ii) complexes 2b–e with the general formula RuCl₂(p-cymene)(NHC) were reacted with Et₃SiH to generate a series of ruthenium(ii) hydrides 5b–e. These compounds 5b–e are effective catalysts for the hydrogenation of terminal, internal and cyclic and functionalized olefins.

Reactions of ruthenium hydrides with ethyl-vinyl sulfide

Ru-hydride precursors containing the OCO-carbene ligand react with ethyl-vinyl-sulfide to give Ru alkyl and vinyl derivatives via an initial insertion of the vinyl-fragment into the Ru–H, subsequent C–H activation and loss of diethyl sulfide.