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Stereochemically pure phosphines with phosphorus-heteroatom bonds and P-centered chirality are a promising class of functional building blocks for the design of chiral ligands and organocatalysts. A route to enantiomerically pure primary aminophosphine sulfides was opened through stereospecific reductive C−N bond cleavage of phosphorus(V) precursors by lithium in liquid ammonia. The chemoselectivity of the reaction as a function of reaction time, substrate pattern, and chiral auxiliary was investigated. In the presence of exclusively aliphatic groups bound to the phosphorus atom, all competing reductive side reactions are totally prevented. The absolute configurations of all P-stereogenic compounds were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Their use as synthetic building blocks was demonstrated. The lithium salt of (R)-BINOL-dithiophosphoric acid proved to be a useful stereochemical probe to determine the enantiomeric purity. Insights into the coordination mode of the lithium-based chiral complex formed in solution was provided by NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations.

A class of heterocyclic siloxane-based phosphonium ions with hidden silylium-like reactivity is reported, thus opening up new perspectives for the design and reactivity of silylium species.

Structural knowledge on ubiquitous lithium salts in solution and in the crystalline state is of paramount importance for our understanding of many chemical reactions and of the electrolyte behaviour in lithium ion batteries. A bulky bidentate Si-based ligand (6) was used to create simplified model systems suitable for correlating structures of LiCl and LiPF6 complexes in the solid-state and in solution by combining various experimental, spectroscopic, and computational methods. Solution studies were performed using 1H DOSY, multinuclear variable temperature NMR spectroscopy, and quantum chemical calculations. [Ph2Si(2-CH2Py)2·LiCl]2 (3) dissociates into a monomeric species (9) in THF. For [Ph2Si(2-CH2Py)2·LiPF6]2 (11), low temperature NMR studies revealed an unprecedented chiral coordination mode (12) in non-coordinating solvents.

Phosphonium ions are widely used in preparative organic synthesis and catalysis. The provision of new types of cations that contain both functional and chiral information is a major synthetic challenge and can open up new horizons in asymmetric cation‐directed and Lewis acid catalysis. We discovered an efficient methodology towards new Si‐chiral four‐membered CPSSi* heterocyclic cations. Three synthetic approaches are presented. The stereochemical sequence of anchimerically assisted cation formation with B(C6F5)3 and subsequent hydride addition was fully elucidated and proceeds with excellent preservation of the chiral information at the stereogenic silicon atom. Also the mechanism of dihydrogen release from a protonated hydrosilane was studied in detail by the help of Si‐centered chirality as stereochemical probe. Chemoselectivity switch (dihydrogen release vs. protodesilylation) can easily be achieved through slight modifications of the solvent. A matched/mismatched case was identified and the intermolecularity of this reaction supported by spectroscopic, kinetic, deuterium‐labeling experiments, and quantum chemical calculations., Chiral silyl phosphonium ions are a synthetically valuable class of compounds from a stereochemical and preparative point of view. Convenient routes towards small and configurationally stable, silicon‐chiral four‐membered heterocyclic cations are disclosed (see scheme). By combining experimental, spectroscopic, stereochemical, and computational methods, a matched/mismatched case was identified for both dehydrogenation and protodesilylation and the intermolecularity of these reactions proven.

The first example of a homogeneous catalyst based on an earth-abundant metal for the hydrogenation of organic carbonates to methanol and alcohols is reported. Based on the mechanistic investigation, which indicates metal-ligand cooperation between the manganese center and the N-H group of the pincer ligand, we propose that the hydrogenation of organic carbonates to methanol occurs via formate and aldehyde intermediates. The reaction offers an indirect route for the conversion of CO2 to methanol, which coupled with the use of an earth abundant catalyst, makes the overall process environmentally benign and sustainable.

The first example of base-metal-catalysed synthesis of amides from the coupling of primary amines with either alcohols or esters is reported. The reactions are catalysed by a new manganese pincer complex and generate hydrogen gas as the sole byproduct, thus making the overall process atom-economical and sustainable.

The first example of base-metal-catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling of diols and amines to form cyclic imides is reported. The reaction is catalyzed by a pincer complex of the earth abundant manganese and forms hydrogen gas as the sole byproduct, making the overall process atom economical and environmentally benign.

[Image: see text] Direct hydrogenation of a broad variety of cyclic imides to diols and amines using a ruthenium catalyst is reported here. We have applied this strategy toward the development of a new liquid organic hydrogen carrier system based on the hydrogenation of bis-cyclic imide that is formed by the dehydrogenative coupling of 1,4-butanediol and ethylenediamine using a new ruthenium catalyst. The rechargeable system has a maximum gravimetric hydrogen storage capacity of 6.66 wt%.

[Image: see text] Base-metal catalyzed dehydrogenative self-coupling of 2-amino alcohols to selectively form functionalized 2,5-substituted pyrazine derivatives is presented. Also, 2-substituted quinoxaline derivatives are synthesized by dehydrogenative coupling of 1,2-diaminobenzene and 1,2-diols. In both cases, water and hydrogen gas are formed as the sole byproducts. The reactions are catalyzed by acridine-based pincer complexes of earth-abundant manganese.

Homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of esters to alcohols is an industrially important, environmentally benign reaction. While precious metal-based catalysts for this reaction are now well known, only very few catalysts based on first-row metal complexes were reported. Here we present the hydrogenation of esters catalyzed by a complex of earth-abundant manganese. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions and insight into the mechanism is provided based on an NMR study and the synthesis of novel Mn complexes postulated as intermediates.

The catalytic dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols and amines to form aldimines represents an environmentally benign methodology in organic chemistry. This has been accomplished in recent years mainly with precious-metal-based catalysts. We present the dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols and amines to form imines and H2 that is catalyzed, for the first time, by a complex of the earth-abundant Mn. Detailed mechanistic study was carried out with the aid of NMR spectroscopy, intermediate isolation, and X-ray analysis.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Ru(2)Br(4)(C(10)H(14))(2)], contains one half of the centrosymmetric mol-ecule. Each Ru center is coordinated by tetra-methyl-benzene ring in a η(6)-coordination mode, and one terminal and two bridging bromine atoms. The aromatic rings and the Ru(2)Br(2) four-membered ring form a dihedral angle of 55.99 (8)°. In the crystal structure, weak inter-molecular C-H⋯Br inter-actions link mol-ecules into chains propagated in [001].

Dimeric mol­ecules of the title compound, [Ru2Cl4(C12H18)2], are located on a crystallographic centre of inversion with one mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit. The hexa­methyl­benzene rings are in an η6-coordination to the ruthenium centres, which are bridged by two chloride ligands. In addition, the ruthenium centres are bonded to another chloride ligand. The aromatic rings and the Ru2Cl2 four-membered ring enclose a dihedral angle of 55.85 (6)°.

Amide synthesis is one of the most important transformations in chemistry and biology. The direct use of ammonia for the incorporation of nitrogen functionalities in organic molecules is an attractive and environmentally benign method. We present here a new synthesis of amides by acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of benzyl alcohols and ammonia. The reaction is catalyzed by a pincer complex of earth-abundant manganese in the presence of a stoichiometric base, making the overall process economical, efficient, and sustainable. Interesting mechanistic insights based on detailed experimental observations, indicating the crucial role of the base, are provided.