skip to main content


Title: Aluminum‐Ligand Cooperative O−H Bond Activation Initiates Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation
Abstract

Molecular design ultimately furnishes improvements in performance over time, and this has been the case for Rh‐ and Ir‐based molecular catalysts currently used in transfer hydrogenation (TH) reactions for fine chemical synthesis. In this report, we describe a molecular pincer ligand Al catalyst for TH, (I2P2−)Al(THF)Cl (I2P=diiminopyridine; THF=tetrahydrofuran). The mechanism for TH is initiated by two successive Al‐ligand cooperative bond activations of the O−H bonds in two molecules of isopropanol (iPrOH) to afford six‐coordinate (H2I2P)Al(OiPr)2Cl. Stoichiometric chemical reactions and kinetic experiments suggest an ordered transition state, supported by polar solvents, for concerted hydride transfer fromiPrOto substrate. Metal‐ligand cooperative hydrogen bonding in a cyclic transition state is a likely support for the concerted hydride transfer event. The available data does not support involvement of an intermediate Al‐hydride in the TH. Proof‐of‐principle reactions including the conversion of isopropanol and benzophenone to acetone and diphenylmethanol with 90 % conversion in 1 h are described. The analogous hydride compound, (I2P2−)Al(THF)H, also cleaves the O−H bond iniPrOH to afford (HI2P)Al(OiPr)H and (HI2P)Al(OiPr)2, but no activity for catalytic TH was observed.

 
more » « less
Award ID(s):
2054529
NSF-PAR ID:
10370741
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
Date Published:
Journal Name:
ChemCatChem
Volume:
14
Issue:
13
ISSN:
1867-3880
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Abstract

    Reactions of the IrVhydride [MeBDIDipp]IrH4{BDI=(Dipp)NC(Me)CH(Me)CN(Dipp); Dipp=2,6‐iPr2C6H3} with E[N(SiMe3)2]2(E=Sn, Pb) afforded the unusual dimeric dimetallotetrylenes ([MeBDIDipp]IrH)2(μ2‐E)2in good yields. Moreover, ([MeBDIDipp]IrH)2(μ2‐Ge)2was formed in situ from thermal decomposition of [MeBDIDipp]Ir(H)2Ge[N(SiMe3)2]2. These reactions are accompanied by liberation of HN(SiMe3)2and H2through the apparent cleavage of an E−N(SiMe3)2bond by Ir−H. In a reversal of this process, ([MeBDIDipp]IrH)2(μ2‐E)2reacted with excess H2to regenerate [MeBDIDipp]IrH4. Varying the concentrations of reactants led to formation of the trimeric ([MeBDIDipp]IrH2)3(μ2‐E)3. The further scope of this synthetic route was investigated with group 15 amides, and ([MeBDIDipp]IrH)2(μ2‐Bi)2was prepared by the reaction of [MeBDIDipp]IrH4with Bi(NMe2)3or Bi(OtBu)3to afford the first example of a “naked” two‐coordinate Bi atom bound exclusively to transition metals. A viable mechanism that accounts for the formation of these products is proposed. Computational investigations of the Ir2E2(E=Sn, Pb) compounds characterized them as open‐shell singlets with confined nonbonding lone pairs at the E centers. In contrast, Ir2Bi2is characterized as having a closed‐shell singlet ground state.

     
    more » « less
  2. Abstract

    Pincer‐type nickel–aluminum complexes were synthesized using two equivalents of the phosphinoamide, [PhNCH2PiPr2]. The Ni0–AlIIIcomplexes, {(MesPAlP)Ni}2(μ‐N2) and {(MesPAlP)Ni}2(μ‐COD), whereMesPAlP is (Mes)Al(NPhCH2PiPr2)2, were structurally characterized. The (PAlP)Ni system exhibited cooperative bond cleavage mediated by the two‐site Ni–Al unit, including oxidative addition of aryl halides, H2activation, and ortho‐directed C−H bond activation of pyridine N‐oxide. One intriguing reaction is the reversible intramolecular transfer of the mesityl ring from the Al to the Ni site, which is evocative of the transmetalation step during cross‐coupling catalysis. The aryl‐transfer product,(THF)Al(NPhCH2PiPr2)2Ni(Mes), is the first example of a first‐row transition metal–aluminyl pincer complex. The addition of a judicious donor enables the Al metalloligand to convert reversibly between the alane and aluminyl forms via aryl group transfer to and from Ni, respectively. Theoretical calculations support a zwitterionic Niδ−–Alδ+electronic structure in the nickel–aluminyl complex.

     
    more » « less
  3. Abstract

    Pincer‐type nickel–aluminum complexes were synthesized using two equivalents of the phosphinoamide, [PhNCH2PiPr2]. The Ni0–AlIIIcomplexes, {(MesPAlP)Ni}2(μ‐N2) and {(MesPAlP)Ni}2(μ‐COD), whereMesPAlP is (Mes)Al(NPhCH2PiPr2)2, were structurally characterized. The (PAlP)Ni system exhibited cooperative bond cleavage mediated by the two‐site Ni–Al unit, including oxidative addition of aryl halides, H2activation, and ortho‐directed C−H bond activation of pyridine N‐oxide. One intriguing reaction is the reversible intramolecular transfer of the mesityl ring from the Al to the Ni site, which is evocative of the transmetalation step during cross‐coupling catalysis. The aryl‐transfer product,(THF)Al(NPhCH2PiPr2)2Ni(Mes), is the first example of a first‐row transition metal–aluminyl pincer complex. The addition of a judicious donor enables the Al metalloligand to convert reversibly between the alane and aluminyl forms via aryl group transfer to and from Ni, respectively. Theoretical calculations support a zwitterionic Niδ−–Alδ+electronic structure in the nickel–aluminyl complex.

     
    more » « less
  4. Abstract

    Searching for a connection between the two‐electron redox behavior of Group‐14 elements and their possible use as platforms for the photoreductive elimination of chlorine, we have studied the photochemistry of [(o‐(Ph2P)C6H4)2GeIVCl2]PtIICl2and [(o‐(Ph2P)C6H4)2ClGeIII]PtIIICl3, two newly isolated isomeric complexes. These studies show that, in the presence of a chlorine trap, both isomers convert cleanly into the platinum germyl complex [(o‐(Ph2P)C6H4)2ClGeIII]PtICl with quantum yields of 1.7 % and 3.2 % for the GeIV–PtIIand GeIII–PtIIIisomers, respectively. Conversion of the GeIV–PtIIisomer into the platinum germyl complex is a rare example of a light‐induced transition‐metal/main‐group‐element bond‐forming process. Finally, transient‐absorption‐spectroscopy studies carried out on the GeIII–PtIIIisomer point to a ligand arene–Cl.charge‐transfer complex as an intermediate.

     
    more » « less
  5. Abstract

    Searching for a connection between the two‐electron redox behavior of Group‐14 elements and their possible use as platforms for the photoreductive elimination of chlorine, we have studied the photochemistry of [(o‐(Ph2P)C6H4)2GeIVCl2]PtIICl2and [(o‐(Ph2P)C6H4)2ClGeIII]PtIIICl3, two newly isolated isomeric complexes. These studies show that, in the presence of a chlorine trap, both isomers convert cleanly into the platinum germyl complex [(o‐(Ph2P)C6H4)2ClGeIII]PtICl with quantum yields of 1.7 % and 3.2 % for the GeIV–PtIIand GeIII–PtIIIisomers, respectively. Conversion of the GeIV–PtIIisomer into the platinum germyl complex is a rare example of a light‐induced transition‐metal/main‐group‐element bond‐forming process. Finally, transient‐absorption‐spectroscopy studies carried out on the GeIII–PtIIIisomer point to a ligand arene–Cl.charge‐transfer complex as an intermediate.

     
    more » « less