New bidentate cationic and zwitterionic relatives of Crabtree's hydrogenation catalyst

Contra-thermodynamic Olefin Isomerization by Chain-Walking Hydroboration and Dehydroboration

We report a dehydroboration process that can be coupled with chain-walking hydroboration to create a one-pot, contra-thermodynamic, short- or long-range isomerization of internal olefins to terminal olefins. This dehydroboration occurs by a sequence comprising activation with a nucleophile, iodination, and base-promoted elimination. The isomerization proceeds at room temperature without the need for a fluoride base, and the substrate scope of this isomerization is expanded over those of previous isomerizations we have reported with silanes.

Catalytic applications of zwitterionic transition metal compounds

This frontiers article highlights recent developments on the application of transition metal-based zwitterionic complexes in catalysis. Recent applications of selected zwitterionic catalysts in polymerization reactions, including the carbonylative polymerization of cyclic ethers, carbon-carbon coupling reactions, the asymmetric hydrogenation of unfunctionalized olefins, and the hydrofunctionalization of alkenes are reviewed. In addition, advances in the field of hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactions related to energy applications, including the hydrogenation of CO₂ and the dehydrogenation of formic acid and N-heterocycles, the functionalization of CO₂ with amines and hydrosilanes, and the valorization of polyfunctional bio-based feedstocks, such as the dehygrogenation of glycerol to lactic acid or the reduction of levulinic acid into γ-valerolactone, are also described.

Transition metal complexes with functionalized indenyl phosphine ligands: structures and catalytic properties

Transition-metal indenyl complexes usually exhibit different reactivities compared with their cyclopentadienyl analogues. Up to now, at least 10 metal-indenyl bonding modes have been reported. Because of the "indenyl effect", transition-metal indenyl complexes usually show enhanced reactivity in substitution and related reactions. This review provides an overview on the use and impact of indenyl phosphines in organometallic chemistry and transition-metal-catalysed reactions in the recent two decades. Some cationic and zwitterionic metal complexes supported by P,N-substituted indene or indenide ligands are described. They have been reported to induce the cleavage of E-H (E = H, Si and B) bonds and can be used as catalysts for addition of E-H bonds to unsaturated substrates. 2-Aryl indenyl phosphine ligands L3-L11 have been proven to be a class of versatile ligands for palladium-catalysed C-C and C-N cross-coupling reactions. Moreover, optically active tethered indenyl phosphine ligands can have better stereoselective control over the chirality arising at the metal center in the oxidative addition of their rhodium complexes with alkyl halides.

Synthesis of new late transition metal P,P-, P,N-, and P,O- complexes using phosphonium dimers as convenient ligand precursors

The phosphonium dimer [-Cy2PCH(OH)CH2-]2(X)2, X = Cl(-), Br(-) was used to synthesize and characterize a variety of late transition metal complexes containing chelating phosphino-enolate (PCy2CH═CHO(-)), imine (PCy2CH2CH═NR, R = Ph, (S)-CHMePh), and oxime (PCy2CH2CH═NOH) ligands. The phosphonium dimer, when deprotected with base, generates the phosphine aldehyde PCy2CH2CHO in situ, which, in the presence of [M(COD)Cl]2, M = Rh, Ir, and a PF6(-) salt, or [Ni(H2O)6][BF4]2, facilitates a condensation reaction with an amine or hydroxylamine to form phosphino-imine or phosphino-oxime metal complexes [M(COD)(P-N)][PF6] or [Ni(P-N)2][X]2, X = ClO4(-), BF4(-), respectively. In the absence of an amine, phosphino-enolate containing complexes are formed. A neutral Ni(II) complex Ni(PCy2CH═CHO)2 with trans-bis(phosphino-enolate) ligands which resemble ligands used on nickel for olefin oligomerization, as well as neutral Rh(I) and Ir(I) 1,5-cyclooctadiene complexes M(COD)(PCy2CH═CHO) are characterized. Both the rhodium and iridium complexes are active olefin hydrogenation catalysts. Reaction of the phosphino-aldehyde with Pt(COD)Cl2 results in the formation of trans-PtCl2(PCy2CH2CHO)2 with pendant aldehyde groups, and under certain conditions, they undergo an intraligand aldol condensation to form a disphosphine ligand.

Selective catalysis and nanoscience: an inseparable pair

Selective catalysts can be considered as nanomachines designed to perform the synthesis of molecules with high reaction activity and high selectivity. These properties arise from a precise control of the structure of the active sites, of the three-dimensional environment and of their relationship. In both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts the active site three-dimensional environment ensemble is always a complex structure resembling the tuneable structure of enzymes, which are the most efficient catalysts optimized by nature over billions of years. To illustrate this concept the structure of a few homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts for alkenes hydrogenation and for olefin polymerization are chosen and discussed as examples.

Rh(I) and Ir(I) Derivatives of a P(S),N-Substituted Indene Ligand: Synthetic, Structural, and Catalytic Alkene Hydrosilylation Studies

Treatment of 1-PiPr2-indene or 1-PiPr2-2-NMe2-indene (1a) with elemental sulfur afforded 3-iPr2P(S)-indene or 1-iPr2P(S)-2-NMe2-indene (4a) in 81% and 85% isolated yield, respectively. Addition of 4a to [(COD)M(THF)2]+BF4- afforded the corresponding [(COD)M(kappa2-N,S-4a)]+BF4- complexes (M = Rh, 5a, 76%; M = Ir, 5b, 59%; COD = eta4-1,5-cyclooctadiene), which were found to exhibit temperature-dependent NMR spectral features that were rationalized in terms of a dynamic process involving M-NMe2 dissociation, rotation about the indenyl-NMe2 bond, inversion at nitrogen, and re-coordination to M. Analysis of variable-temperature NMR data collected for 5a and 5b each yielded a value for DeltaG(double dagger) of ca. 14 kcal/mol for this process. Exposure of 5a or 5b to NaN(SiMe3)2 generated the corresponding (COD)M(kappa2-C,S-1-iPr2P(S)-2-NMe2-(C1-indenyl)) complex (M = Rh, 6a, 70%; M = Ir, 6b, 86%) in which the metal is incorporated into an M-C-P-S ring via coordination to the indenyl ring in an eta1-fashion, as well as to sulfur. Alternatively, complex 6b was prepared cleanly via lithiation of 4a followed by treatment with 0.5 equiv of [(COD)IrCl]2. The ability of 5a,b and 6a,b to mediate the addition of triethylsilane to styrene was also explored, and their performance was compared with that of Wilkinson's Catalyst ((PPh3)3RhCl) and Crabtree's catalyst ([(COD)Ir(PCy3)(Py)]+PF6-; Cy = cyclohexyl; Py = pyridine). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data are provided for 4a, 2-NMe2-3-iPr2P(S)-indene (4b), 6a, and 6b.