A Catecholaldimine-Based NiII-Complex as an Effective Catalyst for the Direct Conversion of Alcohols to trans-Cinnamonitriles and Aldehydes

A nickel(II) complex [Ni(HL)₂] 1 was synthesized by treatment of a new catecholaldimine-based ligand with NiCl₂·6H₂O in methanol at room temperature. Complex 1 showed excellent catalytic activity where aromatic and heterocyclic alcohols were rapidly converted into trans-cinnamonitrile in a one-pot manner via oxidative olefination in the presence of KOH. The potential of the disclosed catalyst and the results obtained for the direct conversion of alcohols to two different functionalities (trans-cinnamonitrile and aldehydes) are well supported by DFT studies.

Cu/Mn catalyzed C-N cross coupling reaction of aryl chlorides and amines promoted by PAMAM dendrimer

A bimetallic catalytic combinations of Mn(OAc)2 and Cu(OAc)2 was found to be significantly effective for the Buchwald type C-N cross coupling of arylchlorides and amines. Reaction is highly influenced in the presence of a promoter Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer which also possesses the advantages of being stabile, non-toxic, biocompatible, non-immunogenic and acts as soluble support for transition metal complex. Although, Mn is low cost and environmentally benign, but it is not fully exploited due to its low intrinsic catalytic activity. Here, the catalytic potential of Mn was drastically increased in the presence of another metal salt (Cu(OAc)2). In bimetallic composition, Mn significantly influences the activity, selectivity and plays a vital role in catalysis. Herein, we have developed a novel, green and economical procedure for the Buchwald type C-N cross coupling of arylchlorides and amines. Presented coupling method works under aerobic and solvent-free conditions and produces an excellent yield of value-added N-arylated or alkylated products.

Catalytic behaviour of the Cu(i)/L/TEMPO system for aerobic oxidation of alcohols - a kinetic and predictive model

Here, we disclose a new copper(i)-Schiff base complex series for selective oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes under benign conditions. The catalytic protocol involves 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO), N-methylimidazole (NMI), ambient air, acetonitrile, and room temperature. This system provides a straightforward and rapid pathway to a series of Schiff bases, particularly, the copper(i) complexes bearing the substituted (furan-2-yl)imine bases N-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-(furan-2-yl)methanimine (L2) and N-(2-fluoro-4-nitrophenyl)-1-(furan-2-yl)methanimine (L4) have shown excellent yields. Both benzylic and aliphatic alcohols were converted to aldehydes selectively with 99% yield (in 1-2 h) and 96% yield (in 16 h). The mechanistic studies via kinetic analysis of all components demonstrate that the ligand type plays a key role in reaction rate. The basicity of the ligand increases the electron density of the metal center, which leads to higher oxidation reactivity. The Hammett plot shows that the key step does not involve H-abstraction. Additionally, a generalized additive model (GAM, including random effect) showed that it was possible to correlate reaction composition with catalytic activity, ligand structure, and substrate behavior. This can be developed in the form of a predictive model bearing in mind numerous reactions to be performed or in order to produce a massive data-set of this type of oxidation reaction. The predictive model will act as a useful tool towards understanding the key steps in catalytic oxidation through dimensional optimization while reducing the screening of statistically poor active catalysis.

A Perspective on Heterogeneous Catalysts for the Selective Oxidation of Alcohols

Selective oxidation of higher alcohols using heterogeneous catalysts is an important reaction in the synthesis of fine chemicals with added value. Though the process for primary alcohol oxidation is industrially established, there is still a lack of fundamental understanding considering the complexity of the catalysts and their dynamics under reaction conditions, especially when higher alcohols and liquid-phase reaction media are involved. Additionally, new materials should be developed offering higher activity, selectivity, and stability. This can be achieved by unraveling the structure-performance correlations of these catalysts under reaction conditions. In this regard, researchers are encouraged to develop more advanced characterization techniques to address the complex interplay between the solid surface, the dissolved reactants, and the solvent. In this mini-review, we report some of the most important approaches taken in the field and give a perspective on how to tackle the complex challenges for different approaches in alcohol oxidation while providing insight into the remaining challenges.

Towards Mechanistic Understanding of Liquid-Phase Cinnamyl Alcohol Oxidation with tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide over Noble-Metal-Free LaCo1-x Fex O3 Perovskites

Noble-metal-free perovskite oxides are promising and well-known catalysts for high-temperature gas-phase oxidation reactions, but their application in selective oxidation reactions in the liquid phase has rarely been studied. We report the liquid-phase oxidation of cinnamyl alcohol over spray-flame synthesized LaCo_1-x Fe_x O₃ perovskite nanoparticles with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as the oxidizing agent under mild reaction conditions. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, BET, EDS and elemental analysis. LaCo_0.8 Fe_0.2 O₃ showed the best catalytic properties indicating a synergistic effect between cobalt and iron. The catalysts were found to be stable against metal leaching as proven by hot filtration, and the observed slight deactivation is presumably due to segregation as determined by EDS. Kinetic studies revealed an apparent activation energy of 63.6 kJ mol^-1 . Combining kinetic findings with TBHP decomposition as well as control experiments revealed a complex reaction network.

Well-dispersed Ni or MnO nanoparticles on mesoporous carbons: preparation via carbonization of bimetallic MOF-74s for highly reactive redox catalysts

A series of metal-organic framework-74s (MOF-74s), composed of two different metallic species (Zn/Ni or Zn/Mn in various compositions), were synthesized, and Ni or MnO-doped carbonaceous materials were first prepared by pyrolysis of the MOFs under an inert environment for catalytic applications. These MOF-derived nanomaterials (MDNMs), obtained by pyrolysis of MOF-74s, were characterized thoroughly to understand their phase, porosity, particle size, dispersion, and composition. With increasing Zn content in the bimetallic MOF-74s, the porosity of the MDNMs increased but the size and content of Ni or MnO in the MDNMs decreased monotonously. One MDNM(75Zn25Mn), prepared from MOF-74(75%Zn/25%Mn), showed noticeably higher activity in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol as compared with not only the MDNM(xZnyMn)s but also MnOx-loaded carbon or loaded γ-alumina (or, MDNM(75Zn25Mn) showed ∼54 times turnover frequency (TOF) to that of MnO/activated carbon). MDNM(75Zn25Mn) was also effective in the oxidative removal of dibenzothiophene from a model fuel. Moreover, MDNM(75Zn25Ni), prepared from MOF-74(75%Zn/25%Ni), had the highest TOF in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol among various MDNM(xZnyNi)s. The highest activity of MDNM(75Zn25Mn) and MDNM(75Zn25Ni), even with the lowest Mn and Ni contents in the respective MDNMs, for oxidation and reduction in several cycles might be due to the well-dispersed MnO (and Ni) and high porosity with mesopores. Therefore, it can be suggested that pyrolysis of mixed-metal MOFs such as MOF-74s can be a facile way to obtain highly effective and recyclable heterogeneous catalysts, with well-dispersed active species in very small sizes, for various organic reactions.

Facile construction of leaf-like WO3 nanoflakes decorated on g-C3N4 towards efficient oxidation of alcohols under mild conditions

Selective oxidation of aryl and alkyl alcohols with H₂O₂ in aqueous media catalyzed by a well-defined WO₃/g-C₃N₄ composite.

Molybdenum complexes with a μ-O{MoO2}2 core: their synthesis, crystal structure and application as catalysts for the oxidation of bicyclic alcohols using N-based additives

Binuclear molybdenum(vi) complexes with a μ-O{MoO₂}₂ core as catalysts for the oxidation of bicyclic alcohols (fenchyl alcohol and isoborneol), using 30% H₂O₂ as the oxidant in the presence of NEt₃ as the additive, are reported.

Alcohol oxidation with H2O2 catalyzed by a cheap and promptly available imine based iron complex

A cheap and easily available catalyst for alcohol oxidation with unexpected selectivity features.

Efficient and selective green oxidation of alcohols by MOF-derived magnetic nanoparticles as a recoverable catalyst

A magnetic Fe₃O₄@C heterogeneous catalyst derived from MOFs is highly efficient and selective in oxidation of alcohols with neat water and base-free conditions.

Effect of N-based additive on the optimization of liquid phase oxidation of bicyclic, cyclic and aromatic alcohols catalyzed by dioxidomolybdenum(vi) and oxidoperoxidomolybdenum(vi) complexes

Catalytic potentials of [Mo^VIO₂]²⁺ and [Mo^VIO(O₂)]²⁺ complexes with dibasic tridentate ONO donor ligands for the oxidation of bicyclic, cyclic and aromatic alcohols in the presence of NEt₃ are reported.