Transmetallation of newly designed lutidine-based CNC or CNN ligands L, featuring flanking 1,2,3triazolylidene (tzNHCs) moieties, from Ag(I) to Ru(II) provided access to well-defined cationic [Ru-II(CO)(H)(L)(PPh3)](+) complexes 2 and 5. Spectroscopic investigations confirm that, in both complexes, the tridentate ligand binds in a rare facial mode to the metal center. The complexes, that exhibit ligandbased reversible deprotonation/dearomatization reactivity, are active in catalytic ester hydrogenation in the presence of KOtBu (similar to 20 mol%) as an exogenous base. The beneficial effect of the base on catalytic activity relates to transesterification of substrates to the corresponding tert-butyl ester derivatives, which are hydrogenated considerably faster than methyl esters. The mechanistic findings in this work confirm that this transformation is very complex, with this transesterification, metal-ligand cooperative reactivity, base strength and possibly product inhibition all playing a role. Furthermore, relevant Ru(CNC) (hydride) species have been observed by NMR spectroscopy under near-catalytic conditions. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An entry from the Cambridge Structural Database, the world’s repository for small molecule crystal structures. The entry contains experimental data from a crystal diffraction study. The deposited dataset for this entry is freely available from the CCDC and typically includes 3D coordinates, cell parameters, space group, experimental conditions and quality measures.

A protocol was developed to distinguish between well‐defined molecular and nanoparticle‐based catalysts for the Pd‐catalyzed semihydrogenation reaction of alkynes to Z‐alkenes. The protocol applies quantitative partial poisoning and dynamic light scattering methods, which allow the institution of additional validation experiments. For the quantitative partial poisoning method, tetramethylthiourea (TMTU) was developed as an alternative for the standard poison ligand CS2, and was found to be superior in its applicability. The protocol and the TMTU poison ligand were validated using the well‐described [PdII(phenanthroline)]‐catalyzed copolymerization of styrene and CO, confirming that this system is clearly operating as a well‐defined molecular catalyst. The protocol was subsequently applied to three catalyst systems used for the semihydrogenation of alkynes. The first was proposed to be a molecular [Pd0(IMes)] catalyst that uses molecular hydrogen, but the data gathered for this system, following the new protocol, clearly showed that nanoparticles (NPs) are catalytically active. The second catalyst system studied was an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) Pd system for transfer semihydrogenation using formic acid as the hydrogen source, which was proposed to operate through an in situ generated molecular [Pd0(IMes)] catalyst in earlier studies. The investigations showed that only a small fraction of the Pd added becomes active in the catalytic reaction and that NPs are formed. However, despite these findings, a clear distinction between catalytic activity of NPs versus a molecular catalyst could not be made. The third investigated system is based on a [PdII(IMes)(η3‐allyl)Cl] precatalyst with additive ligands. The combined data gathered for this system are multi‐interpretable, but suggest that a partially deactivated molecular catalyst dominates in this reaction.

Despite the prolific use of (di-)NHC complexes in homogeneous catalysis, there are relatively few reports on their successful application in asymmetric transformations. In this work the atropisomeric binaphthyl backbone was combined with readily obtainable 1,2,3-triazolylidenes to develop a strongly electron-donating C-2-symmetric ligand. The ligand was efficiently synthesized in a three-step procedure in an overall yield of 91% starting from commercially available materials. Strategies for the synthesis of the corresponding di-NHC silver(I), palladium(II), rhodium(I), and iridium(I) complexes have been developed. The rhodium(I) complex was employed in the catalytic asymmetric hydrosilylation of ketones, providing good conversions at catalyst loadings as low as 0.2 mol-% and giving chiral inductions of up to 51% ee.

The reduction of esters and carboxylic acids to alcohols is a highly relevant conversion for the pharmaceutical and fine-chemical industries and for biomass conversion. It is commonly performed using stoichiometric reagents, and the catalytic hydrogenation of the acids previously required precious metals. Here we report the homogeneously catalyzed hydrogenation of carboxylic acids to alcohols using earth-abundant cobalt. This system, which pairs Co(BF 4 ) 2 ·6H 2 O with a tridentate phosphine ligand, can reduce a wide range of esters and carboxylic acids under relatively mild conditions (100°C, 80 bar H 2 ) and reaches turnover numbers of up to 8000.

We have studied the use of amino acid histidine as a precursor for N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. This natural amino acid possesses an imidazole substituent, which makes it an interesting NHC precursor that contains both an acid and an amino functionality. These functionalities may be used for further tuning of NHC complexes. We have developed routes for the synthesis of symmetric and dissymmetric alkyl, benzyl, and aryl-substituted histidinium salts. Subsequently, the corresponding Ag and Pd histidylidenes were synthesized and the palladium complexes were tested in the Z-selective transfer semihydrogenation of alkynes. Histidylidene palladium complexes that contain additional donor functionalities were found to display good selectivities. The best catalytic results were obtained with a Pd-histidylidene complex that contains two picolyl functional groups.

1,2,3-Triazol-5-ylidenes (tzNHC) have become a popular class of NHC ligands in homogeneous catalysis. Herein, we introduce chelate monovalent Rh- and Ir(cod) complexes bearing bidentate ligands that combine this tzNHC and an Arduengo-type NHC motif. The reactivity of these complexes with H-2 and CO gas has been investigated, leading to an interesting octahedral [Ir(tzNHC-CH2-NHC)(CO)(2)(H)(2)]OTf complex and [M(tzNHC-CH2-NHC)(CO)(2)]OTf complexes. The carbonyl stretching frequencies of the latter indicate that the ligand has stronger electron-donating properties than classic di-NHC ligands. The square planar rhodium and iridium NHC-tzNHC complexes have been applied in transfer hydrogenation employing isopropyl alcohol as the hydrogen donor, in which they show moderate activity (Ir > Rh) toward a range of ketones as well as for an aldehyde, an imine, and a diene. The new dicarbene complexes proved to be more active for this reaction than the analogues in which the triazolyl moiety coordinates through a nitrogen donor.

The development of a novel set of complexes bearing an NHC-amine ligand (C-NHC-NH2) is described. M(cod) complexes (M = 1r, Rh) and a Ru complex have been synthesized in which three different coordination modes of the ligand were established: monodentate, neutral bidentate, and anionic bidentate. The anionic bidentate coordination mode of the anionic C-NHC-NH- ligand arises from deprotonation of the amine moiety of the neutral C-NHC-NH2 ligand. Ligand deprotonation proved to be reversible for the Rh and 1r complexes, as was shown by subsequent treatment of the complexes with base and acid. The structural parameters of these differently coordinated ligands were examined, and it was shown that the conjugation of the aniline ring plays a major role in determining the ligand properties. Structural parameters derived from DFT calculations confirm delocalization of the anionic charge over the ligand framework, as is clear from a comparison of the (hypothetical) neutral bidentate complexes [M(cod)(kappa C-2,N-{C-NHC-NH2})](+) with those of the (synthesized) monoanionic complexes [M(cod)(kappa C-2,N-{C-NHC-NH})] (M = Rh, Ir). A similar trend in the structure and bond lengths of the aniline rings was found in the solid-state structure of the novel dimeric complex [(Ru(kappa C-2,N-{C-NHC-NH})(kappa C-2,N-{C-NHC-NH2})Cl)2(mu-Cl)](PF6). The octahedral d5 ruthenium(III) centers in this complex both contain a neutral bidentate C-NHC-NH2 ligand as well as an anionic bidentate ligand. Quite remarkably, the complex is diamagnetic, arising from antiferromagnetic coupling of the two low-spin ruthenium(III) centers over the chloride linker. DFT calculations indeed confirm that the open-shell singlet electronic structure is most stable.

Imidazolium salts, [RS(O)-CH2 (C3 H3 N2 )Mes]Cl (R=Me (L1a), Ph (L1b)); Mes=mesityl), make convenient carbene precursors. Palladation of L1a affords the monodentate dinuclear complex, [(PdCl2 {MeS(O)CH2 (C3 H2 N2 )Mes})2 ] (2a), which is converted into trans-[PdCl2 (NHC)2] (trans-4a; N-heterocyclic carbene) with two rotamers in anti and syn configurations. Complex trans-4a can isomerize into cis-4a(anti) at reflux in acetonitrile. Abstraction of chlorides from 4a or 4b leads to the formation of a new dication: trans-[Pd{RS(O)CH2(C3H2N2)Mes}2](PF6)2 (R=Me (5a), Ph (5b)). The X-ray structure of 5a provides evidence that the two bidentate SO-NHC ligands at palladium(II) are in square-planar geometry. Two sulfoxides are sulfur- and oxygen-bound, and constitute five- and six-membered chelate rings with the metal center, respectively. In acetonitrile, complexes 5a or 5b spontaneously transform into cis-[Pd(NHC)2(NCMe)2](PF6)2. Similar studies of thioether-NHCs have also been examined for comparison. The results indicate that sulfoxides are more labile than thioethers.

A convenient and easy-to-use protocol for the Z-selective transfer semihydrogenation of alkynes was developed, using ammonium formate as the hydrogen source and the easily prepared and commercially available, highly stable complex PdCl(η3-C3H5)(IMes) (1) as the (pre)catalyst. Combined with triphenyl posphine as an additional ligand, this system provides a robust catalytic synthetic method that shows little to no over-reduction or isomerization after full substrate conversion. The system allows the direct use of solvents and reagents, as received from the supplier without drying or purification, thus providing a practical method for semihydrogenation of a broad range of alkynes. The mechanism behind these high and enhanced selectivities was determined through a set of kinetic experiments.

A transmetallation route, using silver(I) precursors, to several zero- and di-valent palladium complexes with chelating bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligands bearing various N-substituents has been established. The resulting complexes have been characterized by NMR and mass spectroscopy. In addition, the structure of a representative compound, [Pd(0)(bis-(Mes)NHC)(η(2)-ma)] (3a), was confirmed by X-ray crystal structure determination. In contrast to the transfer semihydrogenation, in which only low activity was observed, complex 3a showed activity (TOF = 49 mol(sub) mol(cat)(-1) h(-1)) and selectivity comparable to its monodentate counterparts in the semihydrogenation of 1-phenyl-1-propyne with molecular hydrogen.

We herein report on the application and structural investigation of a new set of complexes that contain bidentate N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) and primary amine moieties of the type [M(arene)Cl(L)] [M=Ru, Ir, or Rh; arene=p-cymene or pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; L=1-(2-aminophenyl)-3-(n-alkyl)imidazol-2-ylidine]. These complexes were tested and compared in the hydrogenation of acetophenone with hydrogen. Structural variations in the chelate ring size of the heteroditopic ligand revealed that smaller chelate ring sizes in combination with ring conjugation in the ligand are beneficial for the activity of this type of catalyst, favoring an inner-sphere coordination pathway. Additionally, increasing the steric bulk of the alkyl substituent on the NHC aided the reaction, showing almost no induction period and formation of a more active catalyst for the n-butyl complex relative to complexes with smaller Me and Et substituents. As is common in hydrogenation reactions, the activity of the complexes decreases in the order Ru>Ir>Rh. The application of [Ru(p-cym)Cl(L)]PF6 , which outperforms its reported analogues, has been successfully extended to the hydrogenation of more challenging biomass-inspired substrates.

New N‐Alkyl‐substituted imidazolium salts as well as a series of their corresponding [Pd(NHC)(MA)2] complexes have been obtained by three routes in good yield. The previously reported synthesis for the analogous N‐aryl substituted [Pd(NHC)(MA)2] complexes has been improved. The N‐alkyl‐substituted [Pd(NHC)(MA)2] complexes are thermally more labile than their N‐aryl counterparts. Catalytic transfer semi‐hydrogenation of phenylpropyne resulted in good to excellent chemo‐ and stereo‐ selectivity conversion into (Z)‐phenylpropene. The size of the alkyl substituents correlates with the rate of hydrogenation in the sense that more bulky substituents give rise to faster transfer hydrogenation rates. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A series of new N-alkyl functionalised 6- and 7-membered expanded ring N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) pro-ligands 3-6 and their corresponding complexes of rhodium(I) and iridium(I), [M(NHC)(COD)Cl] 7-14 and [M(NHC)(CO)2Cl] 15-22 are described. The complexes have been characterised by (1)H and (13)C{(1)H} NMR, mass spectrometry, IR and X-ray diffraction. It is noted from X-ray diffraction studies that the N-alkyl substituents are found to orientate themselves away from the metal centre due to unfavourable steric interactions resulting in low percent buried volume (%V(bur)) values in the solid state. The heterocycle ring size is also found to dictate the spatial orientation of the N-alkyl substituents in the neopentyl functionalised derivatives 10 and 14. The 7-membered derivative 14 allows for a conformational 'twist' of the heterocycle ring with the N-alkyl substituents adopting a mutually trans configuration with respect to each other, while the more rigid 6-membered system 10 does not allow for this conformational 'twist' and consequently the N-alkyl substituents adopt a mutually cis configuration. The σ-donor function of this new class of expanded ring NHC ligand has also been probed by measured IR stretching frequencies of the [M(NHC)(CO)2Cl] complexes 15-22. A preliminary catalytic survey of the hydrogenation of functionalised alkenes with molecular hydrogen under mild conditions has also been undertaken with complex , affording an insight into the application of large ring NHC ancillary ligands bearing N-alkyl substituents in hydrogenation transformations.

In search of more active catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of alkynes, a series of [Pd(NHC)(MA)(1,2)] (8-14) and [Pd(NHC)(dvtms)] complexes (1-7), in which the NHC ancillary ligands are expanded-ring N-heterocyclic carbenes (erNHC's), have been prepared. These very bulky, strong a-donor ligands impart a highly constrained geometry on the complexes and in some cases enable the isolation of coordinatively and electronically unsaturated complexes (10 and 14). Their strong a-donor character is reflected in a decrease in IR stretching frequency for the C=O bond of the maleic anhydride ligands (8-14) in comparison to their five-membered counterparts. Significantly enhanced catalytic activity in the transfer hydrogenation of 1-phenyl-1-propyne is observed using [Pd(erNHC)(dvtms)] complexes (1-7) as precatalysts. The catalysts show high initial selectivity toward (Z)-alkene. However, double-bond isomerization and over-reduction to the corresponding alkane occur when all the alkyne substrate is consumed; this feature reflects the very high efficiency of these catalysts in the transfer hydrogenation of alkynes as well as alkenes.

The synthesis of an air-stable series of Pd-0 complexes with unsymmetric bidentate N-pyridine N-heterocyclic carbene ligands has been described. The carbenes were generated by synthesis of the silver( I) complexes from the imidazolium salts, followed by transmetallation of the C-N ligands to obtain the target electron-rich zerovalent palladium compounds. The bidentate coordination behaviour of the ligands was confirmed by H-1, C-13 NMR and X-ray spectroscopy. The complexes are active precatalysts for the selective transfer semihydrogenation of alkynes to Z-alkenes, with selectivities up to 99%. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Heterobidentate N-heterocyclic carbene-picolyl ligands with various substitution patterns and their palladium(0) complexes have been synthesized in excellent yields via their corresponding silver(I) complexes. These complexes are among the first examples where substitution next to the coordinating nitrogen is evaluated systematically. The complexes have been studied by NMR and X-ray diffraction, confirming their bidentate nature. The complexes are active precatalysts in the transfer semihydrogenation of alkynes to Z-alkenes, with activity and selectivity depending on the picolyl substituent to a high degree. Selectivities as high as 92 % were observed.

Several (N-2-pyrimidyl-NHC)-palladium(0) complexes have been synthesized in very high yields and purities by transmetalation from the related silver(I) complexes with Pd0(tBuDAB)(ma). The coordination behavior of the heteroditopic ligands was analyzed, and the structure of their complexes was confirmed by NMR and X-ray diffraction studies. The complexes are active catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of alkynes to Z-alkenes, with activity and selectivity depending on the pyrimidine substituents and the NHC nitrogen substituent. Selectivities toward the Z-alkene as high as 97% were observed.

The transfer semihydrogenation of alkynes to (Z)-alkenes shows excellent chemo- and stereoselectivity when using a zerovalent palladium(NHC)(maleic anhydride)-complex as precatalyst and triethylammonium formate as hydrogen donor. Studies on the kinetics under reaction conditions showed a broken positive order in substrate and first order in catalyst and hydrogen donor. Deuterium-labeling studies on the hydrogen donor showed that both hydrogens of formic acid display a primary kinetic isotope effect, indicating that proton and hydride transfers are separate rate-determining steps. By monitoring the reaction with NMR, we observed the presence of a coordinated formate anion and found that part of the maleic anhydride remains coordinated during the reaction. From these observations, we propose a mechanism in which hydrogen transfer from coordinated formate anion to zerovalent palladium(NHC)(MA)(alkyne)-complex is followed by migratory insertion of hydride, after which the product alkene is liberated by proton transfer from the triethylammonium cation. The explanation for the high selectivity observed lies in the competition between strongly coordinating solvent and alkyne for a Pd(alkene)-intermediate.