Activation of Carbon Monoxide by (Me3tpa)Rh and (Me3tpa)Ir

Storing electrons from H2 for transfer to CO2, all at room temperature

We present an Ir complex that extracts electrons from H2 at room temperature and stores them as a H2-derived energy carrier (H2EC) at room temperature. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this complex reduces CO2 to a metal-CO22- species at room temperature, and present the first electrospray ionisation mass spectrum for this compound.

Activating a Peroxo Ligand for C-O Bond Formation

Dioxygen activation for effective C-O bond formation in the coordination sphere of a metal is a long-standing challenge in chemistry for which the design of catalysts for oxygenations is slowed down by the complicated, and sometimes poorly understood, mechanistic panorama. In this context, olefin-peroxide complexes could be valuable models for the study of such reactions. Herein, we showcase the isolation of rare "Ir(cod)(peroxide)" complexes (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene) from reactions with oxygen, and then the activation of the peroxide ligand for O-O bond cleavage and C-O bond formation by transfer of a hydrogen atom through proton transfer/electron transfer reactions to give 2-iradaoxetane complexes and water. 2,4,6-Trimethylphenol, 1,4-hydroquinone, and 1,4-cyclohexadiene were used as hydrogen atom donors. These reactions can be key steps in the oxy-functionalization of olefins with oxygen, and they constitute a novel mechanistic pathway for iridium, whose full reaction profile is supported by DFT calculations.

Recent advances in well-defined, late transition metal complexes that make and/or break C-N, C-O and C-S bonds

Chemical transformations that result in either the formation or cleavage of carbon-heteroatom bonds are among the most important processes in the chemical sciences. Herein, we present a review on the reactivity of well-defined, late-transition metal complexes that result in the making and breaking of C-N, C-O and C-S bonds via fundamental organometallic reactions, i.e. oxidative addition, reductive elimination, insertion and elimination reactions. When appropriate, emphasis is placed on structural and spectroscopic characterization techniques, as well as mechanistic data.

Reactivity of a Ruthenium-Carbonyl Complex in the Methanol Dehydrogenation Reaction

Finding new catalysts for the release of molecular hydrogen from methanol is of high relevance in the context of the development of sustainable energy carriers. Herein, we report that the ruthenium complex Ru(salbinapht)(CO)(Pi‐Pr₃) {salbinapht=2‐[({2′‐[(2‐hydroxybenzyl)amino]‐[1,1′‐binaphthalen]‐2‐yl}imino)methyl]phenolato} (2) catalyzes the methanol dehydrogenation reaction in the presence of base and water to yield H₂, formate, and carbonate. Dihydrogen is the only gas detected and a turnover frequency up to 55 h⁻¹ at 82 °C is reached. Complex 2 bears a carbonyl ligand that is derived from methanol, as is demonstrated by labeling experiments. The carbonyl ligand can be treated with base to form formate (HCOO⁻) and hydrogen. The nature of the active species is further shown not to contain a CO ligand but likely still possesses a salen‐derived ligand. During catalysis, formation of Ru(CO)₂(H)₂(P‐iPr₃)₂ is occasionally observed, which is also an active methanol dehydrogenation catalyst.

Anion-Receptor Mediated Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide to Carbonate by Peroxide Dianion

The reactivity of peroxide dianion O2(2-) has been scarcely explored in organic media due to the lack of soluble sources of this reduced oxygen species. We now report the finding that the encapsulated peroxide cryptate, [O2⊂mBDCA-5t-H6](2-) (1), reacts with carbon monoxide in organic solvents at 40 °C to cleanly form an encapsulated carbonate. Characterization of the resulting hexacarboxamide carbonate cryptate by single crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that carbonate dianion forms nine complementary hydrogen bonds with the hexacarboxamide cryptand, [CO3⊂mBDCA-5t-H6](2-) (2), a conclusion that is supported by spectroscopic data. Labeling studies and (17)O solid-state NMR data confirm that two-thirds of the oxygen atoms in the encapsulated carbonate derive from peroxide dianion, while the carbon is derived from CO. Further evidence for the formation of a carbonate cryptate was obtained by three methods of independent synthesis: treatment of (i) free cryptand with K2CO3; (ii) monodeprotonated cryptand with PPN[HCO3]; and (iii) free cryptand with TBA[OH] and atmospheric CO2. This work demonstrates CO oxidation mediated by a hydrogen-bonding anion receptor, constituting an alternative to transition-metal catalysis.

Redox noninnocence of carbene ligands: carbene radicals in (catalytic) C-C bond formation

In this Forum contribution, we highlight the radical-type reactivities of one-electron-reduced Fischer-type carbenes. Carbene complexes of group 6 transition metals (Cr, Mo, and W) can be relatively easily reduced by an external reducing agent, leading to one-electron reduction of the carbene ligand moiety. This leads to the formation of "carbene-radical" ligands, showing typical radical-type reactivities. Fischer-type carbene ligands are thus clearly redox-active and can behave as so-called "redox noninnocent ligands". The "redox noninnocence" of Fischer-type carbene ligands is most clearly illustrated at group 9 transition metals in the oxidation state II+ (Co(II), Rh(II), and Ir(II)). In such carbene complexes, the metal effectively reduces the carbene ligand by one electron in an intramolecular redox process. As a result, the thus formed "carbene radicals" undergo a variety of radical-type C-C and C-H bond formations. The redox noninnocence of Fischer-type carbene ligands is not just a chemical curiosity but, in fact, plays an essential role in catalytic cyclopropanation reactions by cobalt(II) porphyrins. This has led to the successful development of new chiral cobalt(II) porphyrins as highly effective catalysts for asymmetric cyclopropanation with unprecedented reactivity and stereocontrol. The redox noninnocence of the carbene intermediates results in the formation of carbene-radical ligands with nucleophilic character, which explains their effectiveness in the cyclopropanation of electron-deficient olefins and their reduced tendency to mediate carbene dimerization. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first example in which the redox noninnocence of a reacting ligand plays a key role in a catalytic organometallic reaction. This Forum contribution ends with an outlook on further potential applications of one-electron-activated Fischer-type carbenes in new catalytic reactions.