Search

Phospholane-phosphites are known to show highly unusual selectivity towards branched aldehydes in the hydroformylation of terminal alkenes. This paper describes the synthesis of hitherto unknown unsaturated phospholene borane precursors and their conversion to the corresponding phospholene-phosphites. The relative stereochemistry of one of these ligands and its Pd complex was assigned with the aid of X-ray crystal structure determinations. These ligands were able to approach the level of selectivity observed for phospholane-phosphites in the rhodium-catalysed hydroformylation of propene. High-pressure infra-red (HPIR) spectroscopic monitoring of the catalyst formation revealed that whilst the catalysts showed good thermal stability with respect to fragmentation, the C=C bond in the phospholene moiety was slowly hydrogenated in the presence of rhodium and syngas. The ability of this spectroscopic tool to detect even subtle changes in structure, remotely from the carbonyl ligands, underlines the usefulness of HPIR spectroscopy in hydroformylation catalyst development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A manganese catalyst of a facially coordinating P,N,N ligand catalyses the hydrogenation of imines derived from indanone derivatives with high enantioselectivity. There is no requirement for an activating group and imines can be generated in situ. The selectivity can be rationalised by DFT calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DFT calculations on the full catalytic cycle for manganese catalysed enantioselective hydrogenation of a selection of ketones have been carried out at the PBE0‐D3PCM//RI‐BP86PCM level. Mn complexes of an enantiomerically pure chiral P,N,N ligand have been found to be most reactive when adopting a facial coordination mode. The use of a new ligand with an ortho‐substituted dimethylamino‐pyridine motif has been calculated to completely transform the levels of enantioselectivity possible for the hydrogenation of cyclic ketones relative to the first‐generation Mn catalysts. In silico evaluation of substrates has been used to identify those likely to be reduced with high enantiomer ratios (er), and others that would exhibit less selectivity; good agreements were then found in experiments. Various cyclic ketones and some acetophenone derivatives were hydrogenated with er's up to 99 : 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High diastereoselectivity was observed in the Rh-catalysed reductive amination of 3-arylcyclohexanones to form tertiary amines. This was incorporated into a one-pot enantioselective conjugate addition and diastereoselective reductive amination, including an example of assisted tandem catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new hydrogenation catalyst based on a manganese complex of a chiral P,N,N ligand has been found to be especially active for the hydrogenation of esters down to 0.1 mol % catalyst loading, and gives up to 97 % ee in the hydrogenation of pro-chiral deactivated ketones at 30-50 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of a range of phosphine-diamine, phosphine-amino-alcohol, and phosphine-amino-amide ligands and their ruthenium(II) complexes are reported. Five of these were characterised by X-ray crystallography. The activities of this collection of catalysts were initially compared for the hydrogenation of two model ester hydrogenations. Catalyst turnover frequencies up to 2400 h−1 were observed at 85 °C. However, turnover is slow at near ambient temperatures. By using a phosphine-diamine RuII complex, identified as the most active catalyst, a range of aromatic esters were reduced in high yield. The hydrogenation of alkene-, diene-, and alkyne-functionalised esters was also studied. Substrates with a remote, but reactive terminal alkene substituent could be reduced chemoselectively in the presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) co-catalyst. The chemoselective reduction of the ester function in conjugated dienoate ethyl sorbate could deliver (2 E,4 E)-hexa-2,4-dien-1-ol, a precursor to leaf alcohol. The monounsaturated alcohol ( E)-hex-4-en-1-ol was produced with reasonable selectivity, but complete chemoselectivity of CO over the diene is elusive. High chemoselectivity for the reduction of an ester over an alkyne group was observed in the hydrogenation of an alkynoate for the first time. The catalysts were also active in the depolymerisation reduction of samples of waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) to produce benzene dimethanol. These depolymerisations were found to be poisoned by the ethylene glycol side product, although good yields could still be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This account describes studies on the catalytic hydrogenation of carbonyl groups that are not readily reduced. The development of well-defined chiral phosphine-diamine ruthenium catalysts for hydrogenation of ketones and esters is described. These chiral catalysts promote the hydrogenation of ketones functionalised with tertiary alkyl and gem-dimethyl groups with enantioselectivities of up to 98% ee. They also reduce a range of heterocyclic and nitrilefunctionalised ketones that react slowly with or inhibit other catalysts. Changing from ruthenium to iridium complexes gives highly selective catalysts that also hydrogenate (the more reactive) secondary alkyl functionalised ketones, including those with unprotected amines. These catalysts operate rapidly at room temperature, require low catalysts loadings, and deliver up to 98% ee. Achiral variants of these catalysts also promote the hydrogenation of esters under mild conditions. This account also describes our studies that shed light on the mechanism of action of these catalysts, and a stereochemical model is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enantioselective hydrogenation of ketones is a key reaction in organic chemistry. In the past, we have attempted to deal with some unsolved challenges in this arena by introducing chiral tridentate phosphine-diamine/Ru catalysts. New catalysts and new applications are presented here, including the synthesis of phosphine-amino-alcohol P,N,OH ligands derived from (R,S)-1-amino-2-indanol, (S,S)-1-amino-2-indanol and a new chiral P,N,N ligand derived from (R, R)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine. Ruthenium pre-catalysts of type [RuCl2(L)(DMSO)] were isolated and then examined in the hydrogenation of ketones. While the new P,N,OH ligand based catalysts are poor, the new P,N,N system gives up to 98% e.e. on substrates that do not react at all with most catalysts. A preliminary attempt at realising a new delta lactone synthesis by organocatalytic Michael addition between acetophenone and acrylonitrile, followed by asymmetric hydrogenation of the nitrile functionalised ketone is challenging in part due to the Michael addition chemistry, but also since Noyori pressure hydrogenation catalysts gave massively reduced reactivity relative to their performance for other acetophenone derivatives. The Ru phosphine-diamine system allowed quantitative conversion and around 50% e.e. The product can be converted into a delta lactone by treatment with KOH with complete retention of enantiomeric excess. This approach potentially offers access to this class of chiral molecules in three steps from the extremely cheap building blocks acrylonitrile and methyl-ketones; we encourage researchers to improve on our efforts in this potentially useful but currently flawed process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of benzofuranyl aryl ketones proceeds with moderate to good enantioselectivity even when the aryl group is not sterically differentiated by ortho-substituents. The best results are obtained with substrates that are functionalised by electron-withdrawing aryl groups that contrast with the electron-rich benzofuran, which is consistent with [Ru-ArC-H]˙Ar π interactions acting as a control element. Enantioselective pressure hydrogenation gives lower enantioselectivity irrespective of electronic effects, unless the aryl group is ortho-substituted, in which case up to 86% ee can be realised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ir complexes of chiral phosphine-diamine ligands catalyse the hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation of aryl-piperidin-4-yl methanones, and ketones bearing both an aryl group and secondary alkyl substituent with up to 98% e.e., and with substrate to catalyst ratios of up to 4000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymmetric hydrogenation of dibenzoyl-difluoro�methane has been studied for the first time. In contrast to �BINAL-H, baker’s yeast and CBS reduction procedures, ruthenium-catalysed hydrogenation using axially chiral diphosphine ligands provides excellent yield, diastereoselectivity and good enantioselectivity (up to 72% ee). Enantiomer enrichment by recrystallisation allows for the pure fluorinated diol to be isolated as a single enantiomer in moderate yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Review: [40 refs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Review: 36 refs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This method uses low catalyst loadings and is suitable for the hydrogenation of tetrasubstituted enamines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers chemical equations related to an article on hydrogenation of cycloalkyl and heterocyclic ketones catalyzed by an iridium complex of a tridentate phosphine-diamine ligand by J.A. Fuentes and colleagues in a 2013 issue of the journal "Chemical Communications Volume 135."