Organorhenium(vii) and organomolybdenum(vi) oxides: syntheses and application in olefin epoxidation

Isomers in chlorido and alkoxido-substituted oxidorhenium(v) complexes: effects on catalytic epoxidation activity

The syntheses and characterizations of oxidorhenium(v) complexes trans-dichlorido [ReOCl2(PPh3)(L1a)] (trans-2a), cis-dichlorido [ReOCl2(PPh3)(L1b)] (cis-2b) and ethoxido-complex [ReO(OEt)(L1b)2] (4b), ligated with the dimethyloxazoline-phenol ligands HL1a and HL1b are described. The bidentate ligand HL1a (2-(4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)-phenol) is unsubstituted on the phenol ring; ligand HL1b (2-(4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)-4-nitrophenol) contains a nitro group in para-position to the hydroxy group. In the reaction of precursor complex [ReOCl3(PPh3)2] and HL1a the two stereoisomers cis/trans-2a, with respect to chlorido ligands, are formed. The solid state structures of both isomers cis- and trans-2a were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In contrast, with ligand HL1b, only the cis-isomer cis-2b was obtained. Ethoxido-complex 4b is exclusively obtained when precursor [ReOCl3(OPPh3)(SMe2)] is reacted with 2 equiv. of HL1b in ethanol in the presence of the base 2,6-dimethylpyridine (lutidine). If no lutidine is added, chlorido-complex [ReOCl(L1b)2] (3b) is obtained. Complexes [ReOCl2(PPh3)(L1a)] (cis/trans-2a), [ReOCl2(PPh3)(L1b)] (cis-2b), [ReO(OMe)(L1a)2] (4a) and [ReO(OEt)(L1b)2] (4b) were tested as homogeneous catalysts in the benchmark reaction of cyclooctene epoxidation. The influence of isomerism and effects of ligand substitutions on catalytic activity was investigated. Based on the time-conversion plots it can be concluded that cis/trans-isomerism does not influence catalytic activity, but electron-withdrawing substituents, as in cis-2b, 3b and 4b, show a beneficial effect.

Dendrimer crown-ether tethered multi-wall carbon nanotubes support methyltrioxorhenium in the selective oxidation of olefins to epoxides

Benzo-15-crown-5 ether supported on multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by tethered poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers efficiently coordinated methyltrioxorhenium in the selective oxidation of olefins to epoxides.

Stereoisomers and functional groups in oxidorhenium(v) complexes: effects on catalytic activity

The syntheses of oxidorhenium(v) complexes [ReOCl(L1a-c)₂] (3a-c), equipped with the bidentate, mono-anionic phenol-dimethyloxazoline ligands HL1a-c are described. Ligands HL1b-c contain functional groups on the phenol ring, compared to parent ligand 2-(4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)-phenol H1a; namely a methoxy group ortho to the hydroxyl position (2-(4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)-6-methoxyphenol, H1b), or a nitro group para to the hydroxyl position (2-(4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)-4-nitrophenol, H1c). Furthermore, oxidorhenate(v) complexes (NBu₄)[ReOCl₃(L1a-b)] (2a-b) were synthesized for solid state structural comparisons to 3a-b. All novel complexes are fully characterized including NMR, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy, MS spectrometry, X-ray crystallography, elemental analysis as well as cyclic voltammetry. The influence of functional groups (R = -H, -OMe and -NO₂) on the catalytic activity of 3a-c was investigated in two benchmark catalytic reactions, namely cyclooctene epoxidation and perchlorate reduction. In addition, the previously described oxidorhenium(v) complex [ReOCl(oz)₂] (4), employing the phenol-oxazoline ligand 2-(4,5-dihydro-2-oxazolyl)phenol Hoz, was included in these catalysis studies. Complex 4 is a rare case in oxidorhenium(v) chemistry where two stereoisomers could be separated and fully characterized. With respect to the position of the oxazoline nitrogen atoms on the rhenium atom, these two stereoisomers are referred to as N,N-cis and N,N-trans isomer. A potential correlation between spectroscopic and structural data to catalytic activity was evaluated.

Mixed-valence dimolybdenum complexes containing hard oxo and soft carbonyl ligands: synthesis, structure, and electrochemistry of Mo2(O)(CO)2(μ-κ2-S(CH2)nS)2(κ2-diphosphine)

Mixed-valence dimolybdenum complexes Mo2(O)(CO)2{μ-κ2-S(CH2)nS}2(κ2-Ph2P(CH2)mPPh2) (n = 2, 3; m = 1, 2) (1-4) have been synthesized from one-pot reactions of fac-Mo(CO)3(NCMe)3 and dithiols, HS(CH2)nSH, in the presence of diphosphines. The dimolybdenum framework is supported by two thiolate bridges, with one molybdenum carrying a terminal oxo ligand and the second two carbonyls. The dppm (m = 1) products exist as a pair of diastereomers differing in the relative orientation of the two carbonyls (cis and trans) at the Mo(CO)2(dppm) center, while dppe (m = 2) complexes are found solely as the trans isomers. Small amounts of Mo(CO){κ3-S(CH2CH2S)2}(κ2-dppe) (5) also result from the reaction using HS(CH2)2SH and dppe. The bonding in isomers of 1-4 has been computationally explored by DFT calculations, trans diastereomers being computed to be more stable than the corresponding pair of cis diastereomers for all. The calculations confirm the existence of Mo[triple bond, length as m-dash]O and Mo-Mo bond orders and suggest that the new dimeric compounds are best viewed as Mo(v)-Mo(i) mixed-valence systems. The electrochemical properties of 1 have been investigated by CV and show a reversible one-electron reduction associated with the Mo(v) centre, while two closely spaced irreversible oxidation waves are tentatively assigned to oxidation of the Mo(i) centre of the two isomers as supported by DFT calculations.

Oxidoperoxidomolybdenum(vi) complexes with acylpyrazolonate ligands: synthesis, structure and catalytic properties

Oxidoperoxido–molybdenum(vi) complexes Ph₄P[Mo(O)(O₂)₂(Q^R)] and [Mo(O)(O₂)(Q^R)₂] (Q^R = acylpyrazolonate ligands) were synthesised and tested as catalysts in epoxidation, sulphoxidation and epoxide deoxygenation.

Rhenium-catalyzed deoxydehydration of diols and polyols

The substitution of platform chemicals of fossil origin by biomass-derived analogues requires the development of chemical transformations capable of reducing the very high oxygen content of biomass. One such reaction, which has received increasing attention within the past five years, is the rhenium-catalyzed deoxydehydration (DODH) of a vicinal diol into an alkene; this is a model system for abundant polyols like glycerol and sugar alcohols. The present contribution includes a review of early investigations of stoichiometric reactions involving rhenium, diols, and alkenes followed by a discussion of the various catalytic systems that have been developed with emphasis on the nature of the reductant, the substrate scope, and mechanistic investigations.

Methyltrioxorhenium-catalyzed highly selective dihydroxylation of 1,2-allenylic diphenyl phosphine oxides

Methyltrioxorhenium catalyzed highly selective dihydroxylation of allenes – a novel catalytic protocol for the synthesis of α-hydroxyl ketones.

Molybdenum-catalyzed deoxydehydration of vicinal diols

The commercially available (NH4 )6 Mo7 O24 and other molybdenum compounds are shown to be viable substitutes for the typically employed rhenium compounds in the catalytic deoxydehydration of aliphatic diols into the corresponding alkenes. The transformation, which represents a model system for the various hydroxyl groups found in biomass-derived carbohydrates, can be conducted in an inert solvent (dodecane), under solvent-free conditions, and in a solvent capable of dissolving biomass-derived polyols (1,5-pentanediol). The reaction is driven by the simultaneous oxidative deformylation of the diol resulting in an overall disproportionation of the substrate.

New p-tolylimido rhenium(v) complexes with carboxylate-based ligands: synthesis, structures and their catalytic potential in oxidations with peroxides

Novel p-tolylimido rhenium(v) complexes were obtained and calculations at the DFT level were undertaken. The complexes exhibited high catalytic activity in oxidation of alkanes and alcohols with H₂O₂ or TBHP.

Cyclopentadienyl molybdenum alkyl ester complexes as catalyst precursors for olefin epoxidation

Piano-stool organomolybdenum complexes of formula [CpMo(CO)₃(CHR²COOR¹)] are described and applied for olefin epoxidation with tert-butyl hydroperoxide as an oxidant.

Speciation of [Cp*(2)M(2)O(5)] in polar and donor solvents

The speciation of compounds [Cp*2 M2 O5 ] (M=Mo, W; Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) in different protic and aprotic polar solvents (methanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetone, acetonitrile), in the presence of variable amounts of water or acid/base, has been investigated by (1) H NMR spectrometry and electrical conductivity. Specific hypotheses suggested by the experimental results have been further probed by DFT calculations. The solvent (S)-assisted ionic dissociation to generate [Cp*MO2 (S)](+) and [Cp*MO3 ](-) takes place extensively for both metals only in water/methanol mixtures. Equilibrium amounts of the neutral hydroxido species [Cp*MO2 (OH)] are generated in the presence of water, with the relative amount increasing in the order MeCN≈acetone<MeOH<DMSO. Addition of a base (Et3 N) converts [Cp*2 M2 O5 ] into [Et3 NH](+) [Cp*MO3 ](-) , for which the presence of a NH⋅⋅⋅OM interaction is revealed by (1) H NMR spectroscopy in comparison with the sodium salts, Na(+) [Cp*MO3 ](-) . These are fully dissociated in DMSO and MeOH, but display a slow equilibrium between free ions and the ion pair in MeCN and acetone. Only one resonance is observed for mixtures of [Cp*MO3 ](-) and [Cp*MO2 (OH)] because of a rapid self-exchange. In the presence of extensive ionic dissociation, only one resonance is observed for mixtures of the cationic [Cp*MO2 (S)](+) product and the residual undissociated [Cp*2 M2 O5 ] because of a rapid associative exchange via the trinuclear [Cp*3 M3 O7 ](+) intermediate. In neat methanol, complex [Cp*2 W2 O5 ] reacts to yield extensive amounts of a new species, formulated as the mononuclear methoxido complex [Cp*WO2 (OMe)] on the basis of the DFT study. An equivalent product is not observed for the Mo system. The addition of increasing amounts of water results in the rapid decrease of this product in favor of [Cp*2 W2 O5 ] and [Cp*WO2 (OH)].