Comparison of Catalytic Properties of the Easily Interconvertible, Water-Soluble [RuHCl(CO)(mtppms-Na)3] and [RuH(H2O)(CO)(mtppms-Na)3][BF4]

The effect of the mobile interconversion of [RuHCl(CO)(mtppms-Na)3] 1, and [RuH(H2O)(CO)(mtppms-Na)3]+ 2, was studied in hydrogenation of phenylacetylene and cinnamaldehyde in aqueous–organic biphasic systems, as a function of the chloride concentration and the pH of the aqueous phase. Catalytic activity of the two complexes was also determined in homogeneous organic solvents without any additives. In the biphasic system, the rate of selective hydrogenation of phenylacetylene to styrene was strongly increased upon addition of NaCl, while the reaction of cinnamaldehyde slowed, with no change in product distribution. Both reactions responded with a rate decrease upon increasing the pH of the aqueous phase. It was concluded that hydrogenation of phenylacetylene was catalyzed by 1 with no chloride dissociation, while in the reduction of cinnamaldehyde, the aquo-complex 2 was the active catalytic species. Catalytic cycles were suggested to rationalize these findings.

Effect of Iodide on the pH-Controlled Hydrogenations of Diphenylacetylene and Cinnamaldehyde Catalyzed by Ru(II)-Sulfonated Triphenylphosphine Complexes in Aqueous–Organic Biphasic Systems

The effect of NaI on hydrogenation of diphenylacetylene catalyzed by the water-soluble [{RuCl(mtppms-Na)2}2(µ-Cl)2] (1) (mtppms-Na = meta-monosulfonated triphenylphosphine sodium salt) is reported. Hydrogenations were performed under mild conditions (P(H2) = 1 bar, T = 50–80 ℃) in aqueous–organic biphasic reaction mixtures wherein the catalyst was dissolved in aqueous phase of various pHs. In acidic solutions, addition of NaI to 1 + mtppms-Na increased the selective conversion of diphenylacetylene to stilbenes from 10% to 90% but did not effect the high Z-selectivity (up to 98%). In contrast, in basic solutions the major product was diphenylethane (up to 70%), and the yield of E-stilbene exceeded that of the Z-isomer. 1H and 31P NMR measurements revealed that depending on the absence or presence of NaI, the catalytically active Ru(II)-hydride species in acidic solutions was [RuHCl(mtppms-Na)3], 2, or [RuHI(mtppms-Na)3], 5, respectively, while in basic solutions, both 2 and 5 were hydrogenated further to yield the same hydride species, cis,fac-[RuH2(H2O)(mtppms-Na)3]. [RuHI(mtppms-Na)3] proved superior to [RuHCl(mtppms-Na)3] as a catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde to dihydrocinamaldehyde. This finding was explained by a facile formation of a (putative) dihydrogen complex [Ru(H2)I2(H2O)(mtppms-Na)2] intermediate, resulting in fast heterolytic activation of H2.

Direct Heterogenization of the Ru-Macho Catalyst for the Chemoselective Hydrogenation of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

In this study, a commercially available homogeneous pincer-type complex, Ru-Macho, was directly heterogenized via the Lewis acid-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts reaction using dichloromethane as the cross-linker to obtain a heterogeneous, pincer-type Ru porous organometallic polymer (Ru-Macho-POMP) with a high surface area. Notably, Ru-Macho-POMP was demonstrated to be an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the chemoselective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to their corresponding allylic alcohols using cinnamaldehyde as a model compound. The Ru-Macho-POMP catalyst showed a high turnover frequency (TOF = 920 h^-1) and a high turnover number (TON = 2750), with high chemoselectivity (99%) and recyclability during the selective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds.

A novel carbohydrate labeling method utilizing transfer hydrogenation-mediated reductive amination

One of the most frequently used high-resolution glycan analysis methods in the biopharmaceutical and biomedical fields is capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence (CE-LIF) detection. Glycans are usually labeled by reductive amination with a charged fluorophore containing a primary amine, which reacts with the aldehyde group at the reducing end of the glycan structures. In this reaction, first a Schiff base is formed that is reduced to form a stable conjugate by a hydrogenation reagent, such as sodium cyanoborohydride. In large scale biopharmaceutical applications, such as clone selection for glycoprotein therapeutics, hundreds of reactions are accomplished simultaneously, so the HCN generated in the process poses a safety concern. To alleviate this issue, here we propose catalytic hydrogen transfer from formic acid catalyzed by water-soluble iridium(III)- and ruthenium(II)-phosphine complexes as a novel alternative to hydrogenation. The easily synthesized water-soluble iridium(III) and the ruthenium(II) hydrido complexes showed high catalytic activity in carbohydrate labeling. This procedure is environmentally friendly and reduces the health risks for the industry. Using carbohydrate standards, oligosaccharides released from glycoproteins with highly sialylated (fetuin), high mannose (ribonuclease B) and mixed sialo and neutral (human plasma) N-glycans, we demonstrated similar labeling efficiencies for iridium(III) dihydride to that of the conventionally used sodium cyanoborohydride based reaction. The derivatization reaction time was less than 20min with no bias towards the above mentioned specific glycan structures.

Formic acid as a hydrogen storage material – development of homogeneous catalysts for selective hydrogen release

Liquid energy: formic acid is an ideal candidate for catalytic release and storage of hydrogen.