Iron-Catalyzed Synthesis, Structure, and Photophysical Properties of Tetraarylnaphthidines

Atroposelective Synthesis of 2,2'-Bis(arylamino)-1,1'-biaryls by Oxidative Iron(III)- and Phosphoric Acid-Catalyzed C-C Coupling of Diarylamines

We describe an iron-catalyzed asymmetric oxidative C-C coupling of diarylamines which proceeds at room temperature with air as final oxidant. Using hexadecafluorophthalocyanine-iron(II) as catalyst in the presence of catalytic amounts of an axially chiral biaryl phosphoric acid, the resulting chiral 2,2'-diamino-1,1'-biaryls are obtained in up to 90 % ee as confirmed by chiral HPLC. A detailed mechanism has been proposed with a radical cation-chiral phosphate ion pair as key intermediate leading to the observed asymmetric induction.

μ-Oxo-bis[(octacosafluoro-meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato)iron(iii)] - synthesis, crystal structure, and catalytic activity in oxidation reactions

We describe the synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of μ-oxo-bis[(octacosafluoro-meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato)iron(iii)] [(FeTPPF₂₈)₂O]. This novel iron complex is an efficient catalyst for oxidative biaryl coupling reactions of diarylamines and carbazoles. The asymmetric oxidative coupling in the presence of an axially chiral biaryl phosphoric acid as co-catalyst provides the 2,2'-bis(arylamino)-1,1'-biaryl in 96% ee. The Wacker-type oxidation of alkenes to the corresponding ketones with (FeTPPF₂₈)₂O as catalyst in the presence of phenylsilane proceeds at room temperature with air as the terminal oxidant. For internal and aliphatic alkenes increased ketone/alcohol product ratios were obtained.

Iron-Catalyzed Oxidative C-O and C-N Coupling Reactions Using Air as Sole Oxidant

We describe the oxygenation of tertiary arylamines, and the amination of tertiary arylamines and phenols. The key step of these coupling reactions is an iron‐catalyzed oxidative C−O or C−N bond formation which generally provides the corresponding products in high yields and with excellent regioselectivity. The transformations are accomplished using hexadecafluorophthalocyanine−iron(II) (FePcF₁₆) as catalyst in the presence of an acid or a base additive and require only ambient air as sole oxidant.

Mechanistic Studies on the Hexadecafluorophthalocyanine-Iron-Catalyzed Wacker-Type Oxidation of Olefins to Ketones*

The hexadecafluorophthalocyanine-iron complex FePcF₁₆ was recently shown to convert olefins into ketones in the presence of stoichiometric amounts of triethylsilane in ethanol at room temperature under an oxygen atmosphere. Herein, we describe an extensive mechanistic investigation for the conversion of 2-vinylnaphthalene into 2-acetylnaphthalene as model reaction. A variety of studies including deuterium- and ¹⁸ O₂ -labeling experiments, ESI-MS, and ⁵⁷ Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy were performed to identify the intermediates involved in the catalytic cycle of the oxidation process. Finally, a detailed and well-supported reaction mechanism for the FePcF₁₆ -catalyzed Wacker-type oxidation is proposed.

Iron-Catalyzed Wacker-type Oxidation of Olefins at Room Temperature with 1,3-Diketones or Neocuproine as Ligands*

Herein, we describe a convenient and general method for the oxidation of olefins to ketones using either tris(dibenzoylmethanato)iron(III) [Fe(dbm)₃ ] or a combination of iron(II) chloride and neocuproine (2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) as catalysts and phenylsilane (PhSiH₃ ) as additive. All reactions proceed efficiently at room temperature using air as sole oxidant. This transformation has been applied to a variety of substrates, is operationally simple, proceeds under mild reaction conditions, and shows a high functional-group tolerance. The ketones are formed smoothly in up to 97 % yield and with 100 % regioselectivity, while the corresponding alcohols were observed as by-products. Labeling experiments showed that an incorporated hydrogen atom originates from the phenylsilane. The oxygen atom of the ketone as well as of the alcohol derives from the ambient atmosphere.

Catalytic and Aerobic Oxidative Biaryl Coupling of Anilines Using a Recyclable Heterogeneous Catalyst for Synthesis of Benzidines and Bicarbazoles

In this study, a heterogeneous rhodium-catalyzed oxidative homocoupling reaction of anilines utilizing molecular oxygen as the sole oxidant is reported. Employing a commercially available and recyclable Rh/C catalyst enabled the oxidative dimerization of various anilines, including N,N-disubstituted and N-monosubstituted anilines, as well as diarylamines, triarylamines, and carbazoles. Additionally, the catalytic protocol was extended to the ortho-ortho coupling of anilines, affording 2,2'-diaminobiphenyls with high regioselectivity. Notably, the developed approach provides rapid access to diversely functionalized benzidines and diaminobiphenyls in an operationally simple, practical, and environmentally friendly manner.