Transition metal catalysed interaction of ethylene and alkyl formates

Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Regioselective Hydroesterification of 1,3-Conjugated Enynes with Aryl Formates

An effective Pd-catalyzed regioselective hydroesterification of 1,3-conjugated enynes with aryl formates was developed. Under the Pd-CyDPEphos catalytic system, the conjugated enynes reacted with phenyl formates and selectively provided the 2-ester-substituted 1,3-dienes in good yields with excellent regioselectivities.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Reductive trans-Alkylacylation of Internal Alkynes via a Formal Carborhodation/C-H Carbonylation Cascade

A rhodium-catalyzed reductive annulation cascade reaction that consists of a formal anti-carborhodation of a C≡C bond and an aromatic C-H carbonylation cascade for producing cyclopenta[de]quinoline-2,5(1H,3H)-diones is described. This method uses the Mn reductant to reductively regenerate the active rhodium species, hence obviating the need for prefunctionalization, and represents a new route to the carbonylation of aromatic C-H bonds with alkynes leading to aryl vinyl ketone frameworks.

Reaction Mechanism of Pd-Catalyzed "CO-Free" Carbonylation Reaction Uncovered by In Situ Spectroscopy: The Formyl Mechanism

"CO-free" carbonylation reactions, where synthesis gas (CO/H2 ) is substituted by C1 surrogate molecules like formaldehyde or formic acid, have received widespread attention in homogeneous catalysis lately. Although a broad range of organics is available via this method, still relatively little is known about the precise reaction mechanism. In this work, we used in situ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to unravel the mechanism of the alkoxycarbonylation of alkenes using different surrogate molecules. In contrast to previous hypotheses no carbon monoxide could be found during the reaction. Instead the reaction proceeds via the C-H activation of in situ generated methyl formate. On the basis of quantitative NMR experiments, a kinetic model involving all major intermediates is built which enables the knowledge-driven optimization of the reaction. Finally, a new reaction mechanism is proposed on the basis of in situ observed Pd-hydride, Pd-formyl and Pd-acyl species.

State-of-the-art palladium-catalyzed alkoxycarbonylations

State-of-the-art Pd-catalyzed alkoxycarbonylation: catalyst development and applications.

Palladium-catalyzed carbonylations of highly substituted olefins using CO-surrogates

CO surrogate chemistry: General protocols for alkoxycarbonylations of highly substituted olefins with paraformaldehyde and methyl formate are reported, allowing the performance of carbonylation reactions in all labs and for all kinds of substrates.

Creation of Novel Toxic Gas Surrogates and the Development of Safe and Facile Catalytic Reactions

The use of toxic gas surrogates in organic reactions instead of the gas itself contributes to enhancing the safety, practicality, and efficiency of the reactions involved. Our efforts toward the creation of toxic gas surrogates and the development of a series of catalytic reactions using these surrogates are described. Improvements in substrate scope during the hydroesterification of alkenes using formates facilitated by the Ru-imidazole catalyst system provided the opportunity to discover that phenyl formate is a useful carbon monoxide (CO) surrogate for the generation of CO and phenol under weakly basic conditions. This discovery triggered the development of highly reactive but stable CO surrogates and a variety of Pd-catalyzed carbonylative transformations. N-Formylsaccharin facilitated the use of additional nucleophiles in carbonylation reactions that provided access to a variety of carbonyl compounds. Detailed experimental and theoretical mechanistic studies into the generation of CO from phenyl formate suggest that CO generation proceeds via a concerted E2 α-elimination. Furthermore, a known surrogate of sulfur dioxide was applied for the first time to the selective syntheses of cyclic sulfonamides and sulfinamides, confirming that the surrogate operates as an "S=O" source. Notably, the reactions described herein are scalable and can be performed without the use of external toxic gases and specialized reaction vessels; they are easy and simple to perform and demonstrate enormous potential for industrial application.

An effective approach to aryl-substituted propanoic acids via the Pd-catalyzed hydrocarboxylation of stilbenes

An effective Pd(0)-catalyzed hydrocarboxylation of substituted stilbenes with formic acid and HCOOPh is described. A variety of aryl-substituted propanoic acids are obtained in good yields without using external toxic CO gas.

Pd-Catalyzed Regiodivergent Hydroesterification of Aryl Olefins with Phenyl Formate

An effective Pd-catalyzed regiodivergent hydroesterification of aryl olefins with phenyl formate is described. Either linear or branched phenyl arylpropanoates can be obtained in good yields with high regioselectivities by the judicious choice of ligand without the use of toxic CO gas.

A palladium-catalyzed enantioselective hydroesterification of alkenylphenols with phenyl formate. A facile approach to optically active dihydrocoumarins

An effective palladium-catalyzed enantioselective hydroesterification of alkenylphenols with phenyl formate as a CO source is described.

Transition-metal-catalyzed carbonylation reactions of olefins and alkynes: a personal account

Carbon monoxide was discovered and identified in the 18th century. Since the first applications in industry 80 years ago, academic and industrial laboratories have broadly explored CO's use in chemical reactions. Today organic chemists routinely employ CO in organic chemistry to synthesize all kinds of carbonyl compounds. Despite all these achievements and a century of carbonylation catalysis, many important research questions and challenges remain. Notably, apart from academic developments, industry applies carbonylation reactions with CO on bulk scale. In fact, today the largest applications of homogeneous catalysis (regarding scale) are carbonylation reactions, especially hydroformylations. In addition, the vast majority of acetic acid is produced via carbonylation of methanol (Monsanto or Cativa process). The carbonylation of olefins/alkynes with nucleophiles, such as alcohols and amines, represent another important type of such reactions. In this Account, we discuss our work on various carbonylations of unsaturated compounds and related reactions. Rhodium-catalyzed isomerization and hydroformylation reactions of internal olefins provide straightforward access to higher value aldehydes. Catalytic hydroaminomethylations offer an ideal way to synthesize substituted amines and even heterocycles directly. More recently, our group has also developed so-called alternative metal catalysts based on iridium, ruthenium, and iron. What about the future of carbonylation reactions? CO is already one of the most versatile C1 building blocks for organic synthesis and is widely used in industry. However, because of CO's high toxicity and gaseous nature, organic chemists are often reluctant to apply carbonylations more frequently. In addition, new regulations have recently made the transportation of carbon monoxide more difficult. Hence, researchers will need to develop and more frequently use practical and benign CO-generating reagents. Apart from formates, alcohols, and metal carbonyls, carbon dioxide also offers interesting options. Industrial chemists seek easy to prepare catalysts and patent-free ligands/complexes. In addition, non-noble metal complexes will interest both academic and industrial researchers. The novel Lucite process for methyl methacrylate is an important example of an improved catalyst. This reaction makes use of a specific palladium/bisphosphine catalyst, which led to the successful implementation of the technology. More active and productive catalysts for related carbonylations of less reactive olefins would allow for other large scale applications of this methodology. From an academic point of view, researchers continue to look for selective reactions with more functionalized olefins. Finally, because of the volatility of simple metal carbonyl complexes, carbonylation reactions today remain a domain of homogeneous catalysis. The invention of more stable and recyclable heterogeneous catalysts or metal-free carbonylations (radical carbonylations) will be difficult, but could offer interesting challenges for young chemists.

A palladium-catalyzed regioselective hydroesterification of alkenylphenols to lactones with phenyl formate as CO source

An effective Pd(OAc)2-PPh3 catalyzed hydroesterification of alkenylphenols with phenyl formate as CO surrogate is described. A variety of lactones are obtained in generally high yields with high regioselectivities. In one case, 76% ee is obtained with a chiral ligand.

A unique palladium catalyst for efficient and selective alkoxycarbonylation of olefins with formates

Forget about CO! Carbonylations are among the most important homogeneously catalyzed reactions in the chemical industry, but typically require carbon monoxide. Instead, straightforward and efficient alkoxycarbonylations of olefins can proceed with alkyl formates in the presence of a specific palladium catalyst. Aromatic, terminal aliphatic, and internal olefins are carbonylated to give industrially important linear esters at low catalyst loadings.

Formation of C-C bonds via ruthenium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation()

Ruthenium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of diverse π-unsaturated reactants in the presence of aldehydes provides products of carbonyl addition. Dehydrogenation of primary alcohols in the presence of the same π-unsaturated reactants provides identical products of carbonyl addition. In this way, carbonyl addition is achieved from the alcohol or aldehyde oxidation level in the absence of stoichiometric organometallic reagents or metallic reductants. In this account, the discovery of ruthenium-catalyzed C-C bond-forming transfer hydrogenations and the recent development of diastereo- and enantioselective variants are discussed.

Hydroacylation of 2-Butyne from the Alcohol or Aldehyde Oxidation Level via Ruthenium Catalyzed C-C Bond Forming Transfer Hydrogenation

Under the conditions of ruthenium catalyzed transfer hydrogenation, 2-butyne couples to alcohols 1a-1j to deliver alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones 3a-3j in good to excellent isolated yields with complete E-stereoselectivity. Under identical conditions, aldehydes 2a-2j couple to 2-butyne to provide an identical set of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones 3a-3j in good to excellent isolated yields with complete E-stereoselectivity. Nonsymmetric alkyne 4a couples to alcohol 1d or aldehyde 2d in good yield to deliver enone 3k as a 5:1 mixture of regioisomers. Thus, intermolecular alkyne hydroacylation is achieved from the alcohol or aldehyde oxidation level. In earlier studies employing the same ruthenium catalyst under slightly different conditions, alkynes were coupled to carbonyl partners from the alcohol or aldehyde oxidation level to furnish allylic alcohols. Therefore, under the conditions of C-C bond forming transfer hydrogenation, all oxidation levels of substrate (alcohol or aldehyde) and product (allylic alcohol or alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone) are accessible.

Diene hydroacylation from the alcohol or aldehyde oxidation level via ruthenium-catalyzed C-C bond-forming transfer hydrogenation: synthesis of beta,gamma-unsaturated ketones

Under the conditions of ruthenium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation, isoprene couples to benzylic and aliphatic alcohols 1a-g to deliver beta,gamma-unsaturated ketones 3a-g in good to excellent isolated yields. Under identical conditions, aldehydes 2a-g couple to isoprene to provide an identical set of beta,gamma-unsaturated ketones 3a-g in good to excellent isolated yields. As demonstrated by the coupling of butadiene, myrcene, and 1,2-dimethylbutadiene to representative alcohols 1b, 1c, and 1e, diverse acyclic dienes participate in transfer hydrogenative coupling to form beta,gamma-unsaturated ketones. In all cases, complete branch regioselectivity is observed, and, with the exception of adduct 3j, isomerization to the conjugated enone is not detected. Thus, formal intermolecular diene hydroacylation is achieved from the alcohol or aldehyde oxidation level. In earlier studies employing a related ruthenium catalyst, acyclic dienes were coupled to carbonyl partners from the alcohol or aldehyde oxidation level to furnish branched homoallylic alcohols. Thus, under transfer hydrogenative coupling conditions, all oxidation levels of substrate (alcohol or aldehyde) and product (homoallyl alcohol or beta,gamma-unsaturated ketone) are accessible.

Hydroamidation of Alkenes with N-Substituted Formamides

Hydroamidation of olefins with N-substituted formamides is performed with dodecacarbonyltriruthenium (Ru3(CO)12) at 180°C under N2 or CO atmosphere in toluene and in a series of ionic liquids. Yields of 99% with 94–97% exo selectivity are found in the addition of N-methylformamide to 2-norbornene under CO both in toluene and in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [bmim][NTf2]. The presence of CO or a phosphine is necessary for significant reaction to occur, with CO more effective than triphenylphosphine in all ionic liquids investigated. Reasonable yields are achieved at low pressures, in contrast to most reported hydroamidations. Conversion, exo-selectivity, and selectivity fall with increasing steric bulk of the N-formamide substituent, and disubstituted formamides are inactive. Of the terminal alkenes investigated, only styrene can be hydroamidated.

Evolution of carbonylation catalysis: no need for carbon monoxide

Progress in organometallic catalysis began with the discovery of the Roelen reaction (hydroformylation with carbon monoxide and hydrogen) in 1938 and the Reppe reaction (hydrocarboxylation with carbon monoxide and water) in 1939. Since then, carbonylation chemistry by using carbon monoxide has occupied a central position in organometallic chemistry, as it relates to organic synthesis. There is, however, the problem of using gaseous carbon monoxide (a toxic greenhouse gas) in this chemistry. Recently, some strategies that address this issue have appeared. This minireview describes carbonylation reactions that can be conducted without the direct use of carbon monoxide. These carbonylation reactions provide reliable and accessible tools for synthetic organic chemists.