Detailed Mechanistic Studies using in situ Spectroscopic Analysis: A Look at Little‐Known Regions of the Heck Reaction

The mechanism of the Heck reaction using palladium complexes with large phosphoramidite ligands is investigated. The catalyst precursor is an inactive dimer that equilibrates with the active monomeric species. A series of kinetic models is introduced and compared with concentration profiles obtained from FT‐NIR spectroscopy. First, an analytical solution of the differential equations for a simplified mechanism is considered. This fits well at low conversions but deviates at higher conversions with increasing deactivation. Formation of palladium clusters and palladium black is then included, with the simplification that all the deactivation processes are represented by a single first‐order process. This results in a five‐step mechanism that describes the dimer‐monomer equilibrium, the Pd(II)/Pd(0) catalytic cycle, and the catalyst deactivation process. The model can be used to monitor the transient concentrations of the virtual Pd(0), Pd(II), and dimer catalyst species, and helps to explain the effects of water. The high resolution of the measurements and low error levels of the models render this approach a powerful tool for mechanistic studies in homogeneous catalysis.     

Macrocyclic Palladium(II) Complexes in C?C Coupling Reactions: Efficient Catalysis by Controlled Temporary Release of Active Species

Stabilization of palladium species against agglomeration is essential for reasonable catalytic activity in C C coupling reactions. In contrast to common methods of palladium(0) complex or particle stabilization, a new concept is introduced here: it is demonstrated that a controlled release of palladium from an inactive precatalyst provides stability, too, and leads to high catalytic activity. This paper presents surprising catalytic results for Heck and Suzuki reactions with aryl chlorides and bromides, using three highly stable macrocyclic palladium complexes as catalyst precursors. Three different behaviour patterns for the macrocyclic complexes can be deduced from the evaluation of catalytic activities, UV‐Vis spectroscopy, recycling studies of immobilized complexes, and ligand addition experiments. (i) Palladium tetraphenylporphyrin reversibly releases only extremely low amounts of palladium during the reactions, and low coupling activities are observed. (ii) Release of palladium from its phthalocyanine complex is irreversible; cumulative release of palladium into the reaction mixtures leads to high catalytic activity. (iii) Extraordinary results were obtained with a Robson‐type complex of palladium, which reversibly releases effectual amounts of palladium into solution under reaction conditions. This controlled release prevents the formation of inactive palladium agglomerates under harsh conditions and leads to high catalytic performances. Even strongly deactivated electron‐rich aryl chlorides (4‐chloroanisole) can be completely and selectively converted by the in situ formed anionic palladium halide complexes; the addition of typical stabilizing additives (TBAB) was found to be unnecessary. The bimetallic palladium complex is regenerated at the end of the reaction. These results contribute to the current understanding of the active species in C C coupling reactions of Heck and Suzuki types.     

Synthesis of Well‐Defined Diphenylvinyl(cyclopropyl)phosphine‐Palladium Complexes for the Suzuki–Miyaura Reaction and Buchwald–Hartwig Amination

The well‐defined diphenylvinylphosphine‐palladium complex 1 and the diphenylcyclopropylphosphine‐palladium complex 2 were successfully synthesized. The crystal structures of these complexes were obtained by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. Both complexes were air‐ and moisture‐stable, and could be prepared on a gram scale. These palladium complexes catalyzed the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction of aryl bromides [turnover numbers (TON) up to 196,000] and aryl chlorides (TON up to 50,000). Furthermore, complex 2 catalyzed the Buchwald–Hartwig amination of aryl chlorides and aromatic/aliphatic amines with a low catalyst loading. These complexes showed different reactivities for the coupling of 2‐chloropyridine, and the origin of this difference is discussed.     

Aerobic Ligand‐Free Suzuki Coupling Reaction of Aryl Chlorides Catalyzed by In Situ Generated Palladium Nanoparticles at Room Temperature

An aerobic, ligand‐free Suzuki coupling reaction catalyzed by in situ generated palladium nanoparticles in polyethylene glycol with an average molecular weight of 400 Da (PEG‐400) at room temperature has been developed. This catalytic system is a very simple and highly active protocol for the Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides with arylboronic acids, which proceed smoothly in excellent yields in short times using low catalyst loadings. Control experiments demonstrated that the Suzuki reaction catalyzed by the in situ generated palladium nanoparticles can be carried out much quicker than that using the preprepared particles under the same conditions. The formation of palladium nanoparticles in PEG‐400 was promoted by arylboronic acids.     

Studies on the Sorption of Palladium using Cross‐Linked Poly (4‐Vinylpyridine‐Divinylbenzene) Resins in Nitric Acid Medium

Various cross‐linked (4, 8, and 12%) gel‐type weak‐base poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PVP) resins were studied for palladium recovery from nitric acid medium. The sorption of palladium was found to decrease with an increase in cross‐linkage of the resin. 8 and 12% PVP resins exhibited maximum D _Pd(II) values at 2–6 M HNO₃, whereas 4% PVP resin showed maximum D _Pd(II) values at lower acidities (0.1 M HNO₃). FT‐IR, SEM, and XPS techniques were used for the characterization of palladium‐loaded resins. Detailed studies were carried out with the resin of modest cross‐linkage i.e., 8% PVP resin. The sorption isotherm studies revealed that the maximum palladium loading approaches the theoretical capacity of the resin, presuming the sorption of palladium as divalent anion at 4 M HNO₃. The pseudo‐second order kinetics model yielded the best fit for the experimental data of sorption kinetics. An increase in temperature accelerates the rate of palladium extraction and also the addition of chloride ions increases the palladium uptake. Column studies were performed using 4 and 8% PVP resins in 2 and 4 M nitric acid concentrations. The loaded palladium could be eluted efficiently with acidic thiourea solution.     

Supported Palladium Catalysts for Suzuki Reactions: Structure‐Property Relationships,Optimized Reaction Protocol and Control of Palladium Leaching

Palladium on metal oxides and on activated carbon with particular properties (high palladium dispersion, low degree of reduction, water content) are shown to be highly active (tunrover number, TON=20,000; turnover frequency, TOF=16,600), selective and robust catalysts for Suzuki cross‐couplings of aryl bromides and activated aryl chlorides. Catalysts and reaction protocol offer combined advantages of high catalytic efficiency under ambient conditions (air and moisture), easy separation and reuse and quantitative recovery of palladium. The palladium concentration in solution during the reaction correlates clearly with the progress of the reaction and indicates that dissolved molecular palladium is in fact the catalytically active species. Dissolved palladium is redeposited onto the support at the end of the reaction. Additional minimization of the palladium content in solution (down to 0.1 ppm) could be achieved by simple procedures which meet the requirements of pharmaceutical industry.     

Suzuki‐ and Heck‐Type Cross‐Coupling with Palladium Nanoparticles Immobilized on Spherical Polyelectrolyte Brushes

We report on a systematic study of the use of palladium nanoparticles immobilized on spherical polyelectrolyte brushes – Pd@SPB – for Heck‐ and Suzuki‐type coupling reactions. The spherical polyelectrolyte brush particles serving as carriers for the palladium nanoparticles consist of a solid polystyrene core with a radius of 46 nm onto which long chains of cationic polyelectrolytes are grafted. The palladium nanoparticles have directly been generated within this brush layer and the stabilization of the nanoparticles is effected by the colloidal carriers, no further surface stabilization is necessary. We demonstrate that these composite particles present robust catalysts for the Heck‐ and Suzuki‐type coupling reactions. This was shown by carrying out the Suzuki‐ and Heck‐type coupling reactions at relatively low temperatures (Suzuki reaction: 50 °C, Heck reaction: 70 °C). We demonstrate that the catalytic composite particles are not changed by these reaction conditions and retain their full activity for at least four runs. The yields obtained for both reactions are good to excellent. The mild operation conditions of the palladium nanoparticles are traced back to the absence of surface stabilization. Further mechanistic implications are discussed.     

On the topology of highly branched polyethylenes prepared by amine−imine nickel and palladium complexes: the effect of ortho‐aryl substituents

Series of nickel and palladium complexes bearing amine?imine ligands in various ortho‐aryl and backbone positions were prepared and investigated in ethene polymerization. Ethene polymerization initiated by symmetrically ortho‐substituted nickel and palladium amine?imine catalysts is controlled. Mono‐substitution in the ortho‐aryl positions of nickel complexes is not as efficient in protecting centers from chain transfer as di‐substitution. Both the central metal and the size of the ortho‐aryl substituent have a significant effect on the polyethylene (PE) topology. Based on detailed characterization by high temperature SEC‐IR‐η, SEC with multi‐angle laser light scattering and ¹³C NMR data, PEs prepared by nickel amine?imine complexes have a linear rather than dendritic topology. In contrast, palladium amine?imine complexes with small ortho‐aryl substituents at low ethene pressure were shown for the first time to form dendritic PEs with topology comparable to PEs formed by α‐diimine palladium catalyst. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

The First Fluoride‐Free Hiyama Reaction of Vinylsiloxanes Promoted by Sodium Hydroxide in Water

The first cross‐coupling reaction between vinylalkoxysilanes and aryl bromides or chlorides promoted by aqueous sodium hydroxide under fluoride‐free conditions to provide styrenes is reported. The reaction is catalyzed by palladium(II) acetate or a 4‐hydroxyacetophenone oxime‐derived palladacycle either under thermal or microwave heating at 120 °C with low catalyst loading (0.01–1 mol % of palladium) in the presence of tetra‐n‐butylammonium bromide (TBAB) as additive in air. In the case of styryltriethoxysilane, the coupling with aryl or vinyl bromides takes place stereospecifically to give the corresponding stilbenes or dienes, respectively. These mild and simple reaction conditions prevent undesirable polymerization of the products.     

Palladium Nanoparticles in Suzuki Cross‐Couplings: Tapping into the Potential of Tris‐Imidazolium Salts for Nanoparticle Stabilization

Inspired by the proclivity of various palladium sources to form nanoparticles in imidazolium‐based ionic liquids, we now report that tris‐imidazolium salts bearing hexadecyl chains and a bridging mesitylene moiety are potent stabilizers of palladium nanoparticles efficiently prepared via a Chaudret‐type hydrogenation of the bis(dibenzylideneacetone)palladium(0). The palladium nanoparticles have been isolated in pure form and characterized by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance, transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction and dynamic light scattering. The new materials proved effective in Suzuki cross‐coupling at a loading of 0.2% palladium. Thus, using a tris‐imidazolium iodide‐palladium material, a series of biaryl products has been prepared starting from aryl bromides and some activated chlorides. The possibility that this catalytic activity might be due to the formation of palladium N‐heterocyclic carbenes has been addressed through solid state ¹³C NMR and the synthesis of an imidazolium analogue in which the acidic 2‐H was replaced with a methyl group.     

On Homogeneous Gold/Palladium Catalytic Systems

Two substrates containing an aryl iodide and an allenoate ester were prepared and the gold‐induced cycloisomerisation to vinylgold(I) species and their proto‐deauration as well as the intramolecular palladium‐catalysed cross‐coupling reactions were investigated. Switching to catalytic amounts of gold and palladium and stoichiometric amounts of silver did indeed furnish the product of a cycloisomerisation/intramolecular cross‐coupling. Control experiments revealed that silver cannot substitute for gold or palladium in these reactions, but a different palladium catalyst in a different oxidation state also afforded the cycloisomerisation/intramolecular cross‐coupling products in only slightly reduced yields. By ICP analysis the palladium was shown to contain gold only at the sub‐ppm level. This shows how carefully results obtained with such systems have to be interpreted. Then a series of allylic and benzylic o‐alkynylbenzoates were investigated in gold‐ and palladium‐catalysed reactions. For esters of benzyl alcohol and cinnamyl alcohol no palladium co‐catalyst was needed for the conversion. All reagents were thoroughly checked for palladium traces by ICP analysis in order to thoroughly exclude a gold/palladium co‐catalysis. Optimisation of the gold complex, counter ion and solvent showed that gold(I) isonitrile pre‐catalysts and silver triflate as activator in dioxane are suitable to convert a number of substrates with aryl, alkyl and even cyclopropyl substituents. Crossover experiments proved an intermolecular allyl transfer.     

Regioselective Heck Reaction of N‐Vinylphthalimide: A General Strategy for the Synthesis of (E)‐N‐Styrylphthalimides and Phenethylamines

The arylation of N‐vinylphthalimide takes place at the β‐position with aryl iodides, bromides and chlorides using palladium acetate [Pd(OAc)₂] or phenone oxime‐derived palladacycles as catalysts under phosphine‐free conditions. The reaction is succesfully carried out in organic solvents, such as DMF, in the presence of an organic base, such as dicyclohexylmethylamine, and with TBAB as additive at 120 °C under conventional or microwave heating. (E)‐N‐Styrylphthalimides are mainly obtained using a rather low palladium loading (0.05–1 mol%). Similar catalytic efficiency is observed using a Kaiser oxime resin‐derived palladacycle, which allows reuse of the polymeric complex for three cycles. The high regioselectivity observed supports that these palladacycles work as a source of Pd(0) species operating mainly through a neutral mechanism. The syntheses of 2‐thienylphenethylamine and mescaline have been performed by subsequent hydrogenation with Wilkinson’s catalyst and hydrazinolysis.     

Practical Synthesis of 2‐Arylacetic Acid Esters via Palladium‐ Catalyzed Dealkoxycarbonylative Coupling of Malonates with Aryl Halides

A new palladium‐based system was developed that catalyzes the coupling of aryl halides with diethyl malonates in the presence of mild bases. In the course of the reaction, the intermediately formed diethyl arylmalonate is directly converted into the arylacetic acid ester via liberation of carbon dioxide and an alkanol. This cross‐coupling/dealkoxycarbonylation process provides an efficient and high‐yielding synthetic entry to diversely functionalized arylacetic acid esters. Two complementary protocols were developed, one of which is optimal for electron‐rich, the other for electron‐poor aryl halides. Both make use of low loadings of palladium(0) bis(dibenzylideneacetone) (0.5 mol%)/tri‐tert‐butylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate (1.1 mol%) as the catalyst and diethyl malonate as the reaction solvent. The new procedures are particularly effective for sterically hindered substrates.     

Development of Efficient and Reusable Diarylphosphinopolystyrene‐Supported Palladium Catalysts for C?C Bond Forming Cross‐Coupling Reactions

Short and versatile syntheses of reusable diarylphosphinopolystyrene‐supported palladium catalysts 3a – j are described. The bis(o‐tolyl)phosphino catalyst 3b is particularly efficient for the Suzuki and Sonogashira cross‐couplings, whereas the bis(m‐tolyl)phosphino catalyst 3c is the most active catalyst for Heck reactions. The couplings are performed under non‐anhydrous reaction conditions and require only low amounts of supported palladium (0.5 mequivs. for Suzuki–Miyaura, 1.0 mequiv. for Sonogashira and 0.5 mequivs. for Heck reactions could be sufficient). Catalysts 3a–j are recovered by filtration and can be reused more than four times with no loss of efficiency.     

Study of Deactivation of Pd(OH)2/C Catalyst in Reductive Debenzylation of Hexabenzylhexaazaisowurtzitane

The conversion of hexabenzylhexaazaisowurtzitane (HBIW) to 2,6,8,12‐tetraacetyl‐4,10‐dibenzyl‐2,4,6,8,10,12‐hexaazaisowurtzitane (TADB) is the major challenge in the production of hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (HNIW) which only proceeds over supported palladium catalyst in a reductive debenzylation reaction. The catalyst is quickly deactivated during the debenzylation reaction. In this study, the change in Pd content in the catalyst during the reaction was measured. It was demonstrated that a portion of the palladium particles in the catalyst was leached during the reaction. The H₂ chemisorption isotherm on the catalyst at 303 K showed that the volume of chemisorbed H₂ on spent catalyst was significantly less than that on fresh catalyst. The N₂ physisorption isotherm on the catalyst at 77 K revealed that the surface area of spent catalyst was less than that of fresh catalyst. Moreover, the FESEM‐EDS and TEM images and also wide‐angle XRD patterns demonstrated that the mean sizes of palladium crystallites and particles in spent catalyst were larger than those in the fresh catalyst. These results demonstrated that the leaching of palladium particles and the aggregation of palladium particles in catalyst play active roles in the deactivation of catalyst in the debenzylation of HBIW.     

Palladium Supported on Cross‐Linked Imidazolium Network on Silica as Highly Sustainable Catalysts for the Suzuki Reaction under Flow Conditions

Highly cross‐linked imidazolium‐based materials, obtained by radical oligomerization of bis‐vinylimidazolium salts in the presence of 3‐mercaptopropyl‐modified silica gel, were used as supports for palladium catalysts. Thanks to the high imidazolium loading these materials were able to support a high amount of the metal (10 wt%). Such materials were characterized by several techniques (¹³C magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller technique, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy). The palladium catalysts displayed good activity allowing the synthesis of several biphenyl compounds in high yields working with only 0.1 mol% of palladium loading at 50 °C in ethanol/water under batch condition. Moreover, a flow apparatus, to optimize the efficiency of the isolation of the pure products and minimize waste (E‐factor), was investigated. For the first time the palladium catalyst and base (K₂CO₃) were placed in two separate columns allowing an easy recovery of the products with very low E‐factor values (<4). Waste production was reduced by over 99% compared to classic batch conditions. Because of the high Pd loading only 42 mg of catalysts were employed in the Suzuki reaction between 160 mmol of 4‐bromotoluene and 180 mmol of phenylboronic acid. No loss in activity was observed.     

Fluorapatite‐Supported Palladium Catalyst for Suzuki and Heck Coupling Reactions of Haloarenes

A fluorapatite‐supported palladium catalyst (PdFAP) was synthesized by treatment of fluorapatite (prepared by incorporating the basic species fluoride ion into apatite in situ by co‐precipitation) with bis(benzonitrile)palladium(II ) chloride in acetone. The catalyst displayed high catalytic activity for Suzuki coupling of aryl iodides and bromides with boronic acids at room temperature and chloroarenes at 130 °C in the presence of tetrabutylammonium bromide to give biaryls in excellent yields. Heck olefination of chloroarenes was also successfully carried out by this catalyst. PdFAP was recovered quantitatively by simple filtration and reused with consistent activity. PdFAP was well characterized by XRD, FTIR, XPS, ICP‐AES, CO₂ TPD and CHN elemental analysis.     

A Microfluidic Approach to the Rapid Screening of Palladium‐Catalysed Aminocarbonylation Reactions

The evaluation and selection of the most appropriate catalyst for a chemical transformation is an important process in many areas of synthetic chemistry. Conventional catalyst screening involving batch reactor systems can be both time‐consuming and expensive, resulting in a large number of individual chemical reactions. Continuous flow microfluidic reactors are increasingly viewed as a powerful alternative format for reacting and processing larger numbers of small‐scale reactions in a rapid, more controlled and safer fashion. In this study we demonstrate the use of a planar glass microfluidic reactor for performing the three‐component palladium‐catalysed aminocarbonylation reaction of iodobenzene, benzylamine and carbon monoxide to form N‐benzylbenzamide, and screen a series of palladium catalysts over a range of temperatures. N‐Benzylbenzamide product yields for this reaction were found to be highly dependent on the nature of the catalyst and reaction temperature. The majority of catalysts gave good to high yields under typical flow conditions at high temperatures (150 °C), however the palladium(II) chloride‐Xantphos complex [PdCl₂(Xantphos)] proved to be far superior as a catalyst at lower temperatures (75–120 °C). The utilised method was found to be an efficent and reliable way for screening a large number of palladium‐catalysed carbonylation reactions and may prove useful in screening other gas/liquid phase reactions.     

Evaluation of Aromatic Amination Catalyzed by Palladium on Carbon: A Practical Synthesis of Triarylamines

A heterogeneous palladium on carbon (Pd/C)‐catalyzed coupling between amines and aromatic halides including aromatic chlorides has been achieved using sodium tert‐butoxide (NaO‐t‐Bu) and 1,1′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf) as a ligand in cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME). The use of potassium tert‐butoxide (KO‐t‐Bu) in place of NaO‐t‐Bu brought about the benzyne‐mediated aromatic amination even without Pd/C and dppf, giving a mixture of regioisomers when 4‐substituted bromobenzenes were employed as the substrate. The combination of Pd/C, dppf, NaO‐t‐Bu could be utilized for the syntheses of a broad range of triarylamines by replacing CPME with mesitylene which can provide a higher reaction temperature. The Pd/C could be quantitatively recovered and reused until at least the fourth cycle without any loss in catalytic activity. The quite low leaching of palladium (<1.1%) was demonstrated by an inductively coupled plasma‐atomic emission spectrometric analysis.     

Modification of Chiral Monodentate Phosphine Ligands (MOP) for Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrosilylation of Cyclic 1,3‐Dienes

Several MOP ligands 5 containing aryl groups at 2′ position of (R)‐2‐(diphenylphosphino)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl skeleton were prepared and used for palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of cyclic 1,3‐dienes 6 with trichlorosilane. Highest enantioselectivity was observed in the reaction of 1,3‐cyclopentadiene ( 6a ) catalyzed by a palladium complex (0.25 mol %) coordinated with (R)‐2‐(diphenylphosphino)‐2′‐(3,5‐dimethyl‐4‐methoxyphenyl)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl ( 5f ), which gave (S)‐3‐(trichlorosilyl)cyclopentene of 90% ee.