Overcoming the "oxidant problem": strategies to use O2 as the oxidant in organometallic C-H oxidation reactions catalyzed by Pd (and Cu)

Oxidation reactions are key transformations in organic chemistry because they can increase chemical complexity and incorporate heteroatom substituents into carbon-based molecules. This principle is manifested in the conversion of petrochemical feedstocks into commodity chemicals and in the synthesis of fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other complex organic molecules. The utility and function of these molecules correlate directly with the presence and specific placement of oxygen and nitrogen heteroatoms and other functional groups within the molecules. Methods for selective oxidation of C-H bonds have expanded significantly over the past decade, and their role in the synthesis of organic chemicals will continue to increase. Our group's contributions to this field are linked to our broader interest in the development and mechanistic understanding of aerobic oxidation reactions. Molecular oxygen (O(2)) is the ideal oxidant. Its low cost and lack of toxic byproducts make it a highly appealing reagent that can address key "green chemistry" priorities in industry. With strong economic and environmental incentives to use O(2), the commmodity chemicals industry often uses aerobic oxidation reactions. In contrast, O(2) is seldom used to prepare more-complex smaller-volume chemicals, a limitation that reflects, in part, the limited synthetic scope and utility of existing aerobic reactions. Pd-catalyzed reactions represent some of the most versatile methods for selective C-H oxidation, but they often require stoichiometric transition-metal or organic oxidants, such as Cu(II), Ag(I), or benzoquinone. This Account describes recent strategies that we have identified to use O(2) as the oxidant in these reactions. In Pd-catalyzed C-H oxidation reactions that form carbon-heteroatom bonds, the stoichiometric oxidant is often needed to promote difficult reductive elimination steps in the catalytic mechanism. To address this challenge, we have identified new ancillary ligands for Pd that promote reductive elimination, or replaced Pd with a Cu catalyst that undergoes facile reductive elimination from a Cu(III) intermediate. Both strategies have enabled O(2) to be used as the sole stoichiometric oxidant in the catalytic reactions. C-H oxidation reactions that form the product via β-hydride or C-C reductive elimination steps tend to be more amenable to the use of O(2). The use of new ancillary ligands has also overcome some of the limitations in these methods. Mechanistic studies are providing insights into some (but not yet all) of these advances in catalytic reactivity.     

Reactions of late transition metal complexes with molecular oxygen

Limited natural resources, high energy consumption, economic considerations, and environmental concerns demand that we develop new technologies for the sustainable production of chemicals and fuels. New methods that combine the selective activation of C-H bonds of hydrocarbons with oxidation by a green oxidant such as molecular oxygen would represent huge advances toward this goal. The spectacular selectivity of transition metals in cleaving C-H bonds offers the potential for the direct use of hydrocarbons in the production of value-added organics such as alcohols. However, the use of oxygen, which is abundant, environmentally benign, and inexpensive (particularly from air), has proven challenging, and more expensive and less green oxidants are often employed in transition-metal-catalyzed reactions. Advances in the use of oxygen as an oxidant in transition-metal-catalyzed transformations of hydrocarbons will require a better understanding of how oxygen reacts with transition metal alkyl and hydride complexes. For alkane oxidations, researchers will need to comprehend and predict how metals that have shown particularly high activity and selectivity in C-H bond activation (e.g. Pt, Pd, Rh, Ir) will react with oxygen. In this Account, we present our studies of reactions of late metal alkyls and hydrides with molecular oxygen, emphasizing the mechanistic insights that have emerged from this work. Our studies have unraveled some of the general mechanistic features of how molecular oxygen inserts into late metal hydride and alkyl bonds along with a nascent understanding of the scope and limitations of these reactions. We present examples of the formation of metal hydroperoxide species M-OOH by insertion of dioxygen into Pt(IV)-H and Pd(II)-H bonds and show evidence that these reactions proceed by radical chain and hydrogen abstraction pathways, respectively. Comparisons with recent reports of insertion of oxygen into other Pd(II)-H complexes, and also into Ir(III)-H and Rh(III)-H complexes, point to potentially general mechanisms for this type of reaction. Additionally, we observed oxygen-promoted C-H and H-H reductive elimination reactions from five-coordinate Ir(III) alkyl hydride and dihydride complexes, respectively. Further, when Pd(II)Me(2) and Pt(II)Me(2) complexes were exposed to oxygen, insertion processes generated M-OOMe complexes. Mechanistic studies for these reactions are consistent with radical chain homolytic substitution pathways involving five-coordinate M(III) intermediates. Due to the remarkable ability of Pt(II) and Pd(II) to activate the C-H bonds of hydrocarbons (RH) and form M-R species, this reactivity is especially exciting for the development of partial alkane-oxidation processes that utilize molecular oxygen. Our understanding of how late transition metal alkyls and hydrides react with molecular oxygen is growing rapidly and will soon approach our knowledge of how other small molecules such as olefins and carbon monoxide react with these species. Just as advances in understanding olefin and CO insertion reactions have shaped important industrial processes, key insight into oxygen insertion should lead to significant gains in sustainable commercial selective oxidation catalysis.     

Mononuclear metal-o(2) complexes bearing macrocyclic N-tetramethylated cyclam ligands

Metalloenzymes activate dioxygen to carry out a variety of biological reactions, including the biotransformation of naturally occurring molecules, oxidative metabolism of xenobiotics, and oxidative phosphorylation. The dioxygen activation at the catalytic sites of the enzymes occurs through several steps, such as the binding of O(2) at a reduced metal center, the generation of metal-superoxo and -peroxo species, and the O-O bond cleavage of metal-hydroperoxo complexes to form high-valent metal-oxo oxidants. Because these mononuclear metal-dioxygen (M-O(2)) adducts are implicated as key intermediates in dioxygen activation reactions catalyzed by metalloenzymes, studies of the structural and spectroscopic properties and reactivities of synthetic biomimetic analogues of these species have aided our understanding of their biological chemistry. One particularly versatile class of biomimetic coordination complexes for studying dioxygen activation by metal complexes is M-O(2) complexes bearing the macrocyclic N-tetramethylated cyclam (TMC) ligand. This Account describes the synthesis, structural and spectroscopic characterization, and reactivity studies of M-O(2) complexes bearing tetraazamacrocyclic n-TMC ligands, where M ═ Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni and n = 12, 13, and 14, based on recent results from our laboratory. We have used various spectroscopic techniques, including resonance Raman and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to characterize several novel metal-O(2) complexes. Notably, X-ray crystal structures had shown that these complexes are end-on metal-superoxo and side-on metal-peroxo species. The metal ions and the ring size of the macrocyclic TMC ligands control the geometric and electronic structures of the metal-O(2) complexes, resulting in the end-on metal-superoxo versus side-on metal-peroxo structures. Reactivity studies performed with the isolated metal-superoxo complexes reveal that they can conduct electrophilic reactions such as oxygen atom transfer and C-H bond activation of organic substrates. The metal-peroxo complexes are active oxidants in nucleophilic reactions, such as aldehyde deformylation. We also demonstrate a complete intermolecular O(2)-transfer from metal(III)-peroxo complexes to a Mn(II) complex. The results presented in this Account show the significance of metal ions and supporting ligands in tuning the geometric and electronic structures and reactivities of the metal-O(2) intermediates that are relevant in biology and in biomimetic reactions.     

Controlling site selectivity in palladium-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization

Effective methodology to functionalize C-H bonds requires overcoming the key challenge of differentiating among the multitude of C-H bonds that are present in complex organic molecules. This Account focuses on our work over the past decade toward the development of site-selective Pd-catalyzed C-H functionalization reactions using the following approaches: substrate-based control over selectivity through the use of directing groups (approach 1), substrate control through the use of electronically activated substrates (approach 2), or catalyst-based control (approach 3). In our extensive exploration of the first approach, a number of selectivity trends have emerged for both sp(2) and sp(3) C-H functionalization reactions that hold true for a variety of transformations involving diverse directing groups. Functionalizations tend to occur at the less-hindered sp(2) C-H bond ortho to a directing group, at primary sp(3) C-H bonds that are β to a directing group, and, when multiple directing groups are present, at C-H sites proximal to the most basic directing group. Using approach 2, which exploits electronic biases within a substrate, our group has achieved C-2-selective arylation of indoles and pyrroles using diaryliodonium oxidants. The selectivity of these transformations is altered when the C-2 site of the heterocycle is blocked, leading to C-C bond formation at the C-3 position. While approach 3 (catalyst-based control) is still in its early stages of exploration, we have obtained exciting results demonstrating that site selectivity can be tuned by modifying the structure of the supporting ligands on the Pd catalyst. For example, by modulating the structure of N-N bidentate ligands, we have achieved exquisite levels of selectivity for arylation at the α site of naphthalene. Similarly, we have demonstrated that both the rate and site selectivity of arene acetoxylation depend on the ratio of pyridine (ligand) to Pd. Lastly, by switching the ligand on Pd from an acetate to a carbonate, we have reversed the site selectivity of a 1,3-dimethoxybenzene/benzo[h]quinoline coupling. In combination with a growing number of reports in the literature, these studies highlight a frontier of catalyst-based control of site-selectivity in the development of new C-H bond functionalization methodology.     

Cross-coupling of C(sp)-H Bonds with Organometallic Reagents via Pd(II)/Pd(0) Catalysis**

Palladium-catalyzed C-H activation/C-C bond-forming reactions have emerged as a promising class of synthetic tools in organic chemistry. Among the many different means of forging C-C bonds using Pd-mediated C-H activation, a new horizon in this field is Pd(II)-catalyzed cross-coupling of C-H bonds with organometallic reagents via a Pd(II)/Pd(0) catalytic cycle. While this type of reaction has proven to be effective for the selective functionalization of aryl C(sp(2))-H bonds, the focus of this review is on Pd(II)-catalyzed C(sp(3))-H activation/C-C cross-coupling, a topic of particular importance because reactions of this type enable fundamentally new methods for bond construction. Since our laboratory's initial report on cross-coupling of C-H bonds in 2006, this area has expanded rapidly, and the unique ability of Pd(II) catalysts to cleave and functionalize alkyl C(sp(3))-H bonds has been exploited to develop protocols for forming an array of C(sp(3))-C(sp(2)) and C(sp(3))-C(sp(3)) bonds. Furthermore, enantioselective C(sp(3))-H activation/C-C cross-coupling has been achieved through the use of chiral amino acid-derived ligands, offering a novel technique for producing enantioenriched molecules. Although this nascent field remains at an early stage of development, further investigations hold the potential to revolutionalize the way in which chiral molecules are synthesized in industrial and academic laboratories.     

Interaction of Pd(II) and Pt(II) Amino Acid Complexes With Dinucleotides

The interaction of the dinucleotides d(ApG) and d(ApA) with [Pd(aa)Cl(2)], where aa = L- or D-histidine or the methyl ester of L-histidine, and with [Pt(Met)Cl(2)], where Met = L-methionine was studied by (1)H and (13)C NMR and CD measurements. In the case of the L-histidine and L-histidineOMe, the reaction with d(ApG) appeared to give the bifunctional adducts Pd(L-Histidine)N1(1)N7(2) and Pd(L-HisOMe)N1(1)N7(2), but the behavior with D-histidine suggested the formation of the monofunctional adduct Pd(D-His)N7(2). The reaction of L-histidine with d(ApA) seemed to form the bimetallic adduct (L-His)PdN7(1)N7(2)Pd(L-His). The Pt(II)-L-methionine complex in both reactions with d(ApG) and d(ApA) seemed to yield mainly adducts Pt(L-Met)N7(1)N7(2) but the existence of adducts Pt(L-Met)N1(1)N7(2) cannot be ruled out.     

The structures and decomposition products of palladium(II) and platinum(II) terpyridine phenoxide complexes

A series of complexes of formula [Pd(OR)(terpy)]BF₄ and [Pt(OR)(terpy)]BF₄ (ROH=a substituted phenol; terpy=2,2^′:6^′,2^″-terpyridine) have been prepared by reaction of [M(OH)(terpy)]BF₄ (M=Pd, Pt) with ROH. One Pd(II) and one Pt(II) complex in this series have been structurally characterised. These compounds are very acid sensitive; decomposition products resulting from recrystallisation of two of these compounds from MeNO₂ or MeCN have been crystallographically characterised.     

Synthesis, Characterization and Antiproliferative Activity of the Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Pd(II) and Pt(II) Complexes of 2-(4-Thiazolyl)Benzimidazole (Thiabendazole)

Complexes of 2-(4-thiazolyi)benzimidazole (thiabendazole, THBD) with Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(ll) of general formula ML(2)(NO(3))(2) H(2)O and complexes of Pd(II) and Pt(II) of general formula ML2Cl(2) H(2)O have been obtained and characterized by elemental analyses, IR and far IR spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. The X-ray crystal structure of the copper(II) complex has been determined. The in vitro cell proliferation inhibitory activity of these compounds was examined against human cancer cell lines A 549 (lung carcinoma), HCV-29 T (urinary bladder carcinoma), MCF-7 (breast cancer), T47D (breast cancer), MES-SA (uterine carcinoma) and HL-60 (promyelocytic leukemia). Pt-THBD has been found to exhibit an antileukemic activity of the HL-60 line cells matching that of an arbitrary criterion.     

Reactions of Pd(II) and Pt(II) Complexes With Tetraethylthiouram Disulfide

The reactions of tetraethylthiouram disulfide (DTS), an inhibitor of the nephrotoxicity of Pt(II) drugs, an efficient agent in the treatment of chronic alcoholism, in the treatment of HIV infections, AIDS and heavy metal toxicity, and a fungicide and herbicide, with K(2)[PtCl(4)], in ratio 1:1 and 1:2, gave the compounds [PtCl(2)DTS] and [Pt(S(2)CNEt(2))(2)] respectively. The reaction of the complexes K(2)[PdCl(4)], Pd(AcO)(2) and [PdCl(2)(PhCN)(2)], where PhCN = Benzonitrile, with tetraethylthiouram disulfide in ratio 1:1 or 1:2, yielded orange crystals identified as [Pd(S(2)CNEt(2))(2)]. The crystals were suitable for study by X-ray diffraction. The -S-S- bridge in the tetraethylthiouram disulfude molecule was broken and the two molecules of the thiocarbamate derivative were bound to the Pd(II) by the equivalents sulfur atoms. All the compounds were characterized by IR, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopies.     

Antiandrogen and Antimicrobial Aspects of Coordination Compounds of Palladium(II), Platinum(II) and Lead(II)

Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activities of an interesting class of biologically potent macrocyclic complexes have been carried out. All the complexes have been evaluated for their antimicrobial effects on different species of pathogenic fungi and bacteria. The testicular sperm density, testicular sperm morphology, sperm motility, density of cauda epididymal spermatozoa and fertility in mating trails and biochemical parameters of reproductive organs have been examined and discussed. The resulting biologically active [M(MaL(n))(R(2))]Cl(2) and [Pb(MaL(n))(R(2))X(2)] (where, M = Pd(II) or Pt(II) and X = Cl or NO(3)) type of complexes have been synthesized by the reactions of macrocyclic ligands (MaL(n)) with metal salts and different diamines in 1:1:1 molar ratio in methanol. Initially the complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight determinations and conductivity measurements. The mode of bonding was established on the basis of IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, (195)Pt NMR, (207)Pb NMR, XRD and electronic spectral studies. The macrocyclic ligand coordinates through the four azomethine nitrogen atoms which are bridged by benzil moieties. IR spectra suggest that the pyridine nitrogen is not coordinating. The palladium and platinum complexes exhibit tetracoordinated square-planar geometry, whereas a hexacoordinated octahedral geometry is suggested for lead complexes.     

Well-defined N-heterocyclic carbenes-palladium(II) precatalysts for cross-coupling reactions

Metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, notably those permitting C-C bond formation, have witnessed a meteoritic development and are now routinely employed as a powerful synthetic tool both in academia and in industry. In this context, palladium is arguably the most studied transition metal, and tertiary phosphines occupy a preponderant place as ancillary ligands. Seriously challenging this situation, the use of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) as alternative ligands in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions is rapidly gaining in popularity. These two-electron donor ligands combine strong sigma-donating properties with a shielding steric pattern that allows for both stabilization of the metal center and enhancement of its catalytic activity. As a result, the number of well-defined NHC-containing palladium(II) complexes is growing, and their use in coupling reactions is witnessing increasing interest. In this Account, we highlight the advantages of this family of palladium complexes and review their synthesis and applications in cross-coupling chemistry. They generally exhibit high stability, allowing for indefinite storage and easy handling. The use of well-defined complexes permits a strict control of the Pd/ligand ratio (optimally 1/1), avoiding the use of excess costly ligand that usually requires end-game removal. Furthermore, it partly removes the "black box" character often associated with cross-coupling chemistry and catalyst formation. In the present Account, four main classes of NHC-containing palladium(II) complexes will be presented: palladium dimers with bridging halogens, palladacycles, palladium acetates and acetylacetonates, and finally pi-allyl complexes. These additional ligands are best described as a protecting shell that will be discarded going from the palladium(II) precatalyst to the palladium(0) true catalyst. The synthesis of all these precatalysts generally requires simple and short synthetic procedures. Their catalytic activity in different cross-coupling reactions is discussed and put into context. Remarkably, some NHC-containing catalytic systems can achieve extremely challenging coupling reactions such as the formation of tetra-ortho-biphenyl compounds and perform reactions at very low loadings of palladium (ppm levels). The chemistry described here, combining fundamental organometallic, catalysis, and pure organic methodology, remains rich in opportunities considering that only a handful of palladium(II) architectures have been studied. Hence, en route to an "ideal catalyst", [(NHC)Pd(II)] compounds exhibit remarkable stability and allow for fine-tuning of the NHC and of surrounding ligands in order to control the activation and the catalytic activity. Finally, unlike [Pd(PPh(3))(4)], [(NHC)Pd(II)] compounds have so far been examined only in palladium-mediated reactions (most often cross-coupling such as the Suzuki-Miyaura and Heck reactions), leaving a treasure trove of exciting discoveries to come.     

C-F and C-H bond activation of fluorobenzenes and fluoropyridines at transition metal centers: how fluorine tips the scales

In this Account, we describe the transition metal-mediated cleavage of C-F and C-H bonds in fluoroaromatic and fluoroheteroaromatic molecules. The simplest reactions of perfluoroarenes result in C-F oxida tive addition, but C-H activation competes with C-F activation for partially fluorinated molecules. We first consider the reactivity of the fluoroaromatics toward nickel and platinum complexes, but extend to rhenium and rhodium where they give special insight. Sections on spectroscopy and molecular structure are followed by discussions of energetics and mechanism that incorporate experimental and computational results. We highlight special characteristics of the metal-fluorine bond and the influence of the fluorine substituents on energetics and mechanism. Fluoroaromatics reacting at an ML(2) center initially yield η(2)-arene complexes, followed usually by oxidative addition to generate MF(Ar(F))(L)(2) or MH(Ar(F))(L)(2) (M is Ni, Pd, or Pt; L is trialkylphosphine). The outcome of competition between C-F and C-H bond activation is strongly metal dependent and regioselective. When C-H bonds of fluoroaromatics are activated, there is a preference for the remaining C-F bonds to lie ortho to the metal. An unusual feature of metal-fluorine bonds is their response to replacement of nickel by platinum. The Pt-F bonds are weaker than their nickel counterparts; the opposite is true for M-H bonds. Metal-fluorine bonds are sufficiently polar to form M-F···H-X hydrogen bonds and M-F···I-C(6)F(5) halogen bonds. In the competition between C-F and C-H activation, the thermodynamic product is always the metal fluoride, but marked differences emerge between metals in the energetics of C-H activation. In metal-fluoroaryl bonds, ortho-fluorine substituents generally control regioselectivity and make C-H activation more energetically favorable. The role of fluorine substituents in directing C-H activation is traced to their effect on bond energies. Correlations between M-C and H-C bond energies demonstrate that M-C bond energies increase far more on ortho-fluorine substitution than do H-C bonds. Conventional oxidative addition reactions involve a three-center triangular transition state between the carbon, metal, and X, where X is hydrogen or fluorine, but M(d)-F(2p) repulsion raises the activation energies when X is fluorine. Platinum complexes exhibit an alternative set of reactions involving rearrangement of the phosphine and the fluoroaromatics to a metal(alkyl)(fluorophosphine), M(R)(Ar(F))(PR(3))(PR(2)F). In these phosphine-assisted C-F activation reactions, the phosphine is no spectator but rather is intimately involved as a fluorine acceptor. Addition of the C-F bond across the M-PR(3) bond leads to a metallophosphorane four-center transition state; subsequent transfer of the R group to the metal generates the fluorophosphine product. We find evidence that a phosphine-assisted pathway may even be significant in some apparently simple oxidative addition reactions. While transition metal catalysis has revolutionized hydrocarbon chemistry, its impact on fluorocarbon chemistry has been more limited. Recent developments have changed the outlook as catalytic reactions involving C-F or C-H bond activation of fluorocarbons have emerged. The principles established here have several implications for catalysis, including the regioselectivity of C-H activation and the unfavorable energetics of C-F reductive elimination. Palladium-catalyzed C-H arylation is analyzed to illustrate how ortho-fluorine substituents influence thermodynamics, kinetics, and regioselectivity.     

Rhodium catalyzed chelation-assisted C-H bond functionalization reactions

Over the last several decades, researchers have achieved remarkable progress in the field of organometallic chemistry. The development of metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions represents a paradigm shift in chemical synthesis, and today synthetic chemists can readily access carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds from a vast array of starting compounds. Although we cannot understate the importance of these methods, the required prefunctionalization to carry out these reactions adds cost and reduces the availability of the starting reagents. The use of C-H bond activation in lieu of prefunctionalization has presented a tantalizing alternative to classical cross-coupling reactions. Researchers have met the challenges of selectivity and reactivity associated with the development of C-H bond functionalization reactions with an explosion of creative advances in substrate and catalyst design. Literature reports on selectivity based on steric effects, acidity, and electronic and directing group effects are now numerous. Our group has developed an array of C-H bond functionalization reactions that take advantage of a chelating directing group, and this Account surveys our progress in this area. The use of chelation control in C-H bond functionalization offers several advantages with respect to substrate scope and application to total synthesis. The predictability and decreased dependence on the inherent stereoelectronics of the substrate generally result in selective and high yielding transformations with broad applicability. The nature of the chelating moiety can be chosen to serve as a functional handle in subsequent elaborations. Our work began with the use of Rh(I) catalysts in intramolecular aromatic C-H annulations, which we further developed to include enantioselective transformations. The application of this chemistry to the simple olefinic C-H bonds found in α,β-unsaturated imines allowed access to highly substituted olefins, pyridines, and piperidines. We observed complementary reactivity with Rh(III) catalysts and developed an oxidative coupling with unactivated alkenes. Further studies on the Rh(III) catalysts led us to develop methods for the coupling of C-H bonds to polarized π bonds such as those in imines and isocyanates. In several cases the methods that we have developed for chelation-controlled C-H bond functionalization have been applied to the total synthesis of complex molecules such as natural products, highlighting the utility of these methods in organic synthesis.     

Lewis Acid Behavior of Cationic Complexes of Palladium(II) and Platinum(II): Some Examples of Catalytic Applications

The behavior of a variety of cationic diphosphine complexes of Pd(II) and Pt(II) as Lewis acid catalysts is reviewed. The reactions considered are the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of ketones, the acetalization of aldehydes and ketones and the Diels–Alder reaction in both their regular and enantioselective version.     

Noble metal promoted Ni0.03Mg0.97O solid solution catalysts for the reforming of CH4 with CO2

Reforming of CH₄ with CO₂ to produce syngas was studied over Ni_0.03Mg_0.97O solid solution catalyst and its bimetallic derivative catalysts which contained small amounts of Pt, Pd or Rh (the atomic ratio M/(Ni + Mg) was about 2 × 10^–4, M = Pt, Pd or Rh). It was found that although the Ni_0.03Mg{0.97}O catalyst showed an excellent stability and activity at the reaction temperature of 1123 K, it lost its activity completely within 51 h when the reaction temperature was as low as 773 K. However, both the activity and the stability at 773 K were improved significantly by adding Rh, Pt, or Pd. This synergistic effect is rationally explained by the promoted reducibility of Ni. On all these catalysts, the amount of deposited carbon during the reaction was very low, suggesting that carbon deposition was not the main cause of the deactivation. Also, the catalytic activity of bimetallic catalysts increased gradually with the noble metal loading, but after passing through a maximum, it decreased with superfluous addition. The maximum was found to be located at around the atomic ratio of M/(Ni + Mg) 0.02% (M = Pt, Pd and Rh). This phenomenon could most probably be attributed to the different composition of Pt-Ni alloy particles formed after the reduction.     

Borylation and silylation of C-H bonds: a platform for diverse C-H bond functionalizations

Methods that functionalize C-H bonds can lead to new approaches for the synthesis of organic molecules, but to achieve this goal, researchers must develop site-selective reactions that override the inherent reactivity of the substrates. Moreover, reactions are needed that occur with high turnover numbers and with high tolerance for functional groups if the C-H bond functionalization is to be applied to the synthesis of medicines or materials. This Account describes the discovery and development of the C-H bond functionalization of aliphatic and aromatic C-H bonds with borane and silane reagents. The fundamental principles that govern the reactivity of intermediates containing metal-boron bonds are emphasized and how an understanding of the effects of the ligands on this reactivity led us to broaden the scope of main group reagents that react under mild conditions to generate synthetically useful organosilanes is described. Complexes containing a covalent bond between a transition metal and a three-coordinate boron atom (boryl complexes) are unusually reactive toward the cleavage of typically unreactive C-H bonds. Moreover, this C-H bond cleavage leads to the formation of free, functionalized product by rapid coupling of the hydrocarbyl and boryl ligands. The initial observation of the borylation of arenes and alkanes in stoichiometric processes led to catalytic systems for the borylation of arenes and alkanes with diboron compounds (diborane(4) reagents) and boranes. In particular, complexes based on the Cp*Rh (in which Cp is the cyclopentadienyl anion) fragment catalyze the borylation of alkanes, arenes, amines, ethers, ketals, and haloalkanes. Although less reactive toward alkyl C-H bonds than the Cp*Rh systems, catalysts generated from the combination of bipyridines and iridium(I)-olefin complexes have proven to be the most reactive catalysts for the borylation of arenes. The reactions catalyzed by these complexes form arylboronates from arenes with site-selectivity for C-H bond cleavage that depends on the steric accessibility of the C-H bonds. These complexes also catalyze the borylation of heteroarenes, and the selectivity for these substrates is more dependent on electronic effects than the borylation of arenes. The products from the borylation of arenes and heteroarenes are suitable for a wide range of subsequent conversions to phenols, arylamines, aryl ethers, aryl nitriles, aryl halides, arylboronic acids, and aryl trifluoroborates. Studies of the electronic properties of the ancillary ligand on the rate of the reaction show that the flat structure and the strong electron-donating property of the bipyridine ligands, along with the strong electron-donating property of the boryl group and the presence of a p-orbital on the metal-bound atom, lead to the increased reactivity of the iridium catalysts. Based on this hypothesis, we studied catalysts containing substituted phenanthroline ligands for a series of additional transformations, including the silylation of C-H bonds. A sequence involving the silylation of benzylic alcohols, followed by the dehydrogenative silylation of aromatic C-H bonds, leads to an overall directed silylation of the C-H bond ortho to hydroxyl functionality.     

Catalytic coupling of sp2- and sp-hybridized carbon-hydrogen bonds with vinylmetalloid compounds

In the Account given herein, it has been shown that silylative coupling of olefins, well-recognized as a new catalytic route for the activation of double bond C-H bond of olefins and double bond C-Si bond of vinylsilicon compounds with ethylene elimination, can be extended over both other vinylmetalloid derivatives (double bond C-E) (where E = Ge, B, and others) as well as the activation of triple bond C-H, double bond C aryl-H, and -O-H bond of alcohols and silanols. This general transformation is catalyzed by transition-metal complexes (mainly Ru and Rh) containing or initiating TM-H and/or TM-E bonds (inorganometallics). This new general catalytic route for the activation of double bond C-H and triple bond C-H as well as double bond C-E bonds called metallative coupling or trans-metalation (cross-coupling, ring-closing, and polycondensation) constitutes an efficient method (complementary to metathesis) for stereo- and regioselective synthesis of a variety of molecular and macromolecular compounds of vinyl-E (E = Si, B, and Ge) and ethynyl-E (E = Si and Ge) functionality, also potent organometallic reagents for efficient synthesis of highly pi-conjugated organic compounds. The mechanisms of the catalysis of this deethenative metalation have been supported by equimolar reactions of TM-H and/or TM-E with initial substances and reactions with deuterium-labeled reagents.     

N-heterocyclic carbene gold(I) and copper(I) complexes in C-H bond activation

Environmental concerns have and will continue to have a significant role in determining how chemistry is carried out. Chemists will be challenged to develop new, efficient synthetic processes that have the fewest possible steps leading to a target molecule, the goal being to decrease the amount of waste generated and reduce energy use. Along this path, chemists will need to develop highly selective reactions with atom-economical pathways producing nontoxic byproduct. In this context, C-H bond activation and functionalization is an extremely attractive method. Indeed, for most organic transformations, the presence of a reactive functionality is required. In Total Synthesis, the "protection and deprotection" approach with such reactive groups limits the overall yield of the synthesis, involves the generation of significant chemical waste, costs energy, and in the end is not as green as one would hope. In turn, if a C-H bond functionalization were possible, instead of the use of a prefunctionalized version of the said C-H bond, the number of steps in a synthesis would obviously be reduced. In this case, the C-H bond can be viewed as a dormant functional group that can be activated when necessary during the synthetic strategy. One issue increasing the challenge of such a desired reaction is selectivity. The cleavage of a C-H bond (bond dissociation requires between 85 and 105 kcal/mol) necessitates a high-energy species, which could quickly become a drawback for the control of chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity. Transition metal catalysts are useful reagents for surmounting this problem; they can decrease the kinetic barrier of the reaction yet retain control over selectivity. Transition metal complexes also offer important versatility in having distinct pathways that can lead to activation of the C-H bond. An oxidative addition of the metal in the C-H bond, and a base-assisted metal-carbon bond formation in which the base can be coordinated (or not) to the metal complexes are possible. These different C-H bond activation modes provide chemists with several synthetic options. In this Account, we discuss recent discoveries involving the versatile NHC-gold(I) and NHC-copper(I) hydroxide complexes (where NHC is N-heterocyclic carbene) showing interesting Br?nsted basic properties for C-H bond activation or C-H bond functionalization purposes. The simple and easy synthesis of these two complexes involves their halide-bearing relatives reacting with simple alkali metal hydroxides. These complexes can react cleanly with organic compounds bearing protons with compatible pK(a) values, producing only water as byproduct. It is a very simple protocol indeed and may be sold as a C-H bond activation, although the less flashy "metalation reaction" also accurately describes the process. The synthesis of these complexes has led us to develop new organometallic chemistry and catalysis involving C-H bond activation (metalation) and subsequent C-H bond functionalization. We further highlight applications with these reactions, in areas such as photoluminescence and biological activities of NHC-gold(I) and NHC-copper(I) complexes.     

SEPARATION OF PALLADIUM(II) FROM PLATINUM(II), IRIDIUM(III), AND RHODIUM(III) USING CENTRIFUGAL PARTITION CHROMATOGRAPHY

The separation of Pd(II) from Pt(II), Ir(III) and Rh(III) with trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) in heptane using centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) has been investigated for the first time. The extraction of Pd(II) has been studied by CPC and batch solvent extraction. The distribution ratios for Pd(II) determined by both methods agree well. In low HCl concentrations (<0.1 M), the extracted species was PdCl₂.(TOPO)₂, irrespective of the chloride concentration, while at acid concentrations above 0.1 M, the Pd was extracted as the ion pair, 2(TOPO.H⁺).PdCl₄ ^2-. Base line separation of Pd(II) and Pt(II) in CPC was obtained under a variety of chloride and HCl concentration with the average number of theoretical plates being 390 ± 40 at a flow rate of 0.47 ± 0.05 mL/min.