Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Coupling Using Ammonia: Direct Synthesis of N-Heteroaromatics from Diols Catalyzed by Ruthenium

Facile synthesis of acridine-based nickel(II) complexes via metal-mediated rearrangement of diphenylamine derivative and application in H2 evolution reaction

In this study, the formation of acridine-based metal complexes from rearrangement of diphenylamine-2,2'-dicarboxaldehyde (2,2'-dpadc) in the presence of transition metal ions was investigated. As a result, two novel isomorphic nickel(II) complexes bearing acridine-based Schiff-base ligand [NiLACR](X)2·CH3CN (X = BF4 (1), ClO4 (2), LACR = (E)-N1-(2-((acridin-4-ylmethylene)amino)ethyl)-N1-(2-aminoethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine) were successfully synthesized via a one-pot condensation of 2,2'-dpadc and tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN) with a satisfactory yield of approximately 60%. These complexes were fully characterized by X-ray crystallography, UV-vis spectroscopy and CHN elemental analysis. Additionally, their thermal stability (thermogravimetric analysis) and electrochemical properties were also determined. A plausible mechanism for the nickel(II)-mediated rearrangement of 2,2'-dpadc to form the acridine-based nickel(II) complex was proposed. To demonstrate their potential applications, complex 1 was explored in the realm of electrocatalysis. It exhibited moderate activity towards hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). During 1-h controlled-potential electrolysis (CPE) experiments, H2 production (16 micromole) was observed with faradaic efficiency of 40% when the reaction was conducted in a TBAPF6/DMF solution at -2.1 V vs. Fc/Fc+ in the presence of acetic acid as a proton source. The facile synthesis of these acridine-based nickel(II) complexes reported herein may stimulate further development of novel acridine-based ligands and their corresponding metal complexes for a wide range of applications.

Ligand Assisted Co(II)-Catalyzed Multicomponent Synthesis of Substituted Pyrroles and Pyridines

Herein, we describe a sustainable Co(II)-catalyzed synthesis of pyrroles and pyridines. Using a Co(II)-catalyst [CoII 2(La)2Cl2] (1 a) bearing redox-active 2-(phenyldiazenyl)-1,10-phenanthroline) (La) scaffold, various substituted pyrroles and pyridines were synthesized in good yields, taking alcohol as one of the primary feedstock. Pyrroles were synthesized by the equimolar reaction of 2-amino and secondary alcohols. A series of 2,4,6-substituted symmetrical pyridines were prepared via a three-component reaction of NH4OAc with 1 : 2.2 molar primary and secondary alcohols, respectively. Unsymmetrically substituted 2,4,6-trisubstituted, 2,4,5,6-tetrasubstituted, and 2,3,4,5,6-pentasubstituted pyridines were achieved via a multi-component coupling reaction of alcohols and NH4OAc. Catalyst 1 a showed encouraging results during the gram-scale synthesis of these N-heterocycles. Mechanistic investigation revealed synergistic involvement of cobalt metal and the ligand during the catalytic reactions.

Zn(II)-Stabilized Azo-Anion Radical-Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Synthesis of Olefins

Herein, we describe a Zn-catalyzed atom-economical, inexpensive, and sustainable method for preparing a broad spectrum of substituted olefins utilizing alcohols as the main precursor. Using a Zn(II) complex [ZnLCl2] (1) of the redox-noninnocent ligand 2-((4-chlorophenyl)diazenyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (L), various (E)-olefins were prepared in good yields by coupling alcohols with sulfones and aryl cyanides under an inert atmosphere. Under an aerial atmosphere, vinyl nitriles were isolated in up to 82% yield reacting alcohols with benzyl cyanides in the presence of 1. Control experiments and mechanistic investigation indicate the active involvement of the aryl-azo ligand as an electron and hydrogen reservoir, permitting 1 to perform as a promising catalyst.

One-Pot Sustainable Synthesis of Highly Substituted Pyrimidines via Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Annulation of Alcohols Using Pincer Ni(II)-NNS Catalysts

We report an efficient and sustainable synthesis of highly substituted pyrimidines promoted by nickel(II)-NNS pincer-type complexes via acceptorless dehydrogenative annulations of readily available alcohols, malononitrile, and guanidine/benzamidine salt under eco-friendly conditions for the first time. Different sets of Ni(II) complexes (C1-C3) encapsulated in NNS pincer-type thiosemicarbazone ligands have been synthesized and authenticated by analytical and spectroscopic (Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and high-resolution mass spectrometry) techniques. The solid state three-dimensional structure of a representative complex (C2) has been determined with the aid of single crystal XRD analysis and confirms a square planar architecture around the nickel ion. Further, the well-defined Ni(II) complexes have been employed as efficient catalysts for the fabrication of a wide range of 4-aminopyrimidine-5-carbonitrile derivatives (33 examples) from readily available alcohols with suitable coupling partners such as malononitrile and guanidine/benzamidine under eco-friendly conditions. The current catalytic approach affords maximum yields up to 95% utilizing 3 mol % catalyst loading and water/hydrogen as the only byproduct. A feasible catalytic pathway has been proposed based on the different control experiment reactions, which clearly indicate that the coupling reaction proceeds via aldehyde and benzylidenemalononitrile intermediates. The practicability of the current protocol has been demonstrated by the large-scale synthesis of one of the products, 4-amino-2,6-diphenylpyrimidine-5-carbonitrile, and a short synthesis of a cytosine antifungal analogue.

Tosylazide as N1-Synthon: Iron-Catalyzed Nitrogenative Dimerization of Indoles to p-Bisindolopyrazine Derivatives

We present a straightforward one-step process to access a range of novel p-diindolepyrazines via an unprecedented [n-Bu4N][Fe(CO)3(NO)] (TBA[Fe])-catalyzed intermolecular nitrogenative dimerization of various indole derivatives. Remarkably, tosylazide functions as a N1-synthon forming the central pyrazine unit that joins the two indole subunits. The catalytic transformation shows a good substrate scope, and the obtained products show interesting electronic properties.

Arene Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed Sustainable Synthesis of 2,4-Disubstituted Quinazolines via Acceptorless Dual Dehydrogenative Coupling of Alcohols

We demonstrate an efficient and sustainable strategy for the direct synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted quinazolines by arene Ru(II)benzhydrazone complex via the eco-friendly sequential acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of 2-aminobenzhydrol derivatives and benzyl alcohols for the first time. The new ruthenium(II) complex of the general formula [(η6-p-cymene)Ru(L1)Cl] (L1-acenaphthenequinone hydrazone) has been synthesized and characterized by analytical, spectroscopic, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. A broad spectrum of 2,4-disubstituted quinazolines have been successfully derived (25 examples) from 2-aminobenzhydrol derivatives with various benzyl alcohols using 1 mol % of catalyst loading in the presence of NH4OAc. The present protocol is highly selective and produces a maximum yield of 95% under mild reaction conditions. The different reaction intermediates detected through control experiments such as aldehyde, 2-aminobenzophenone, benzylidene(amino)phenylmethanone, and 1,2-dihydroquinazoline are isolated and authenticated by the NMR study. Gratifyingly, the coupling reaction is a simple and atom economic with the release of water and hydrogen gas as the only byproducts. A gram-scale synthesis of 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenylquinazoline illustrates the synthetic utility of the present protocol.

Borrowing Hydrogen β-Phosphinomethylation of Alcohols Using Methanol as C1 Source by Pincer Manganese Complex

Herein, we report a manganese-catalyzed three-component coupling of β-H containing alcohols, methanol, and phosphines for the synthesis of γ-hydroxy phosphines via a borrowing hydrogen strategy. In this development, methanol serves as a sustainable C1 source. A variety of aromatic and aliphatic substituted alcohols and phosphines could undergo the dehydrogenative cross-coupling process efficiently and deliver the corresponding β-phosphinomethylated alcohol products in moderate to good yields. Mechanistic studies suggest that this transformation proceeds in a sequential manner including catalytic dehydrogenation, aldol condensation, Michael addition, and catalytic hydrogenation.

A switchable route for selective transformation of ethylene glycol to hydrogen and glycolic acid using a bifunctional ruthenium catalyst

The developed bifunctional NNN-Ru complex features a high catalytic efficiency for the selective production of hydrogen and glycolic acid from ethylene glycol under mild reaction conditions, where a TON of 6395 was achieved. Tuning the reaction conditions afforded further dehydrogenation of the organic substrate with higher hydrogen production, and a higher TON of 25 225 was attained. The scale-up reaction yielded 1230 mL of pure hydrogen gas under the optimized reaction conditions. The role of the bifunctional catalyst was studied and mechanistic investigations were performed.

Visible-Light-Mediated Three-Component Decarboxylative Coupling Reactions to Synthesize 1,4-Diol Monoethers

An efficient approach for 1,2-difunctionalization of aromatic olefins and the synthesis of functionalized 1,4-diols monoethers has been established via a photoinduced three-component reaction of an α-alkoxycarboxylic acid, an aromatic olefin, and an aldehyde. The reaction proceeds by photoinduced oxidative decarboxylation of the carboxylic acid followed by the addition of the α-alkoxyalkyl radical to the olefin, one-electron reduction of the addition radical, and the nucleophilic attack of the resulting carbanion to the aldehyde. Besides the convenient one-pot protocol of the three-component reaction, this method offers several other advantages, including good functional group tolerance for the three substrates, gentle reaction conditions, and ease of scaling up. The reaction mechanism has been investigated through free radical trapping experiment and isotope labeling experiments.

Green Synthesis of Aromatic Nitrogen-Containing Heterocycles by Catalytic and Non-Traditional Activation Methods

Recent advances in the environmentally benign synthesis of aromatic N-heterocycles are reviewed, focusing primarily on the application of catalytic methods and non-traditional activation. This account features two main parts: the preparation of single ring N-heterocycles, and their condensed analogs. Both groups include compounds with one, two and more N-atoms. Due to the large number of protocols, this account focuses on providing representative examples to feature the available methods.

N-Alkylation of Amines by C1-C10 Aliphatic Alcohols Using A Well-Defined Ru(II)-Catalyst. A Metal-Ligand Cooperative Approach

A Ru(II)-catalyzed efficient and selective N-alkylation of amines by C1-C10 aliphatic alcohols is reported. The catalyst [Ru(L^1a)(PPh₃)Cl₂] (1a) bearing a tridentate redox-active azo-aromatic pincer, 2-((4-chlorophenyl)diazenyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (L^1a) is air-stable, easy to prepare, and showed wide functional group tolerance requiring only 1.0 mol % (for N-methylation and N-ethylation) and 0.1 mol % of catalyst loading for N-alkylation with C3-C10 alcohols. A wide array of N-methylated, N-ethylated, and N-alkylated amines were prepared in moderate to good yields via direct coupling of amines and alcohols. 1a efficiently catalyzes the N-alkylation of diamines selectively. It is even suitable for synthesizing N-alkylated diamines using (aliphatic) diols producing the tumor-active drug molecule MSX-122 in moderate yield. 1a showed excellent chemo-selectivity during the N-alkylation using oleyl alcohol and monoterpenoid β-citronellol. Control experiments and mechanistic investigations revealed that the 1a-catalyzed N-alkylation reactions proceed via a borrowing hydrogen transfer pathway where the hydrogen removed from the alcohol during the dehydrogenation step is stored in the ligand backbone of 1a, which in the subsequent steps transferred to the in situ formed imine intermediate to produce the N-alkylated amines.

Zn(II)-Catalyzed Multicomponent Sustainable Synthesis of Pyridines in Air

Herein, we report a Zn(II)-catalyzed solvent-free sustainable synthesis of tri- and tetra-substituted pyridines using alcohols as the primary feedstock and NH₄OAc as the nitrogen source. Using a well-defined air-stable Zn(II)-catalyst, 1a, featuring a redox-active tridentate azo-aromatic pincer, 2-((4-chlorophenyl)diazenyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (L^a), a wide variety of unsymmetrical 2,4,6-substituted pyridines were prepared by three-component coupling of primary and secondary alcohols with NH₄OAc. Catalyst 1a is equally compatible with the four-component coupling. Unsymmetrical 2,4,6-substituted pyridines were also prepared via a four-component coupling of a primary alcohol with two different secondary alcohols and NH₄OAc. A series of tetra-substituted pyridines were prepared up to 67% yield by coupling primary and secondary alcohols with 1-phenylpropan-1-one or 1,2-diphenylethan-1-one and NH₄OAc. The 1a-catalyzed reactions also proceeded efficiently upon replacing the secondary alcohols with the corresponding ketones, producing the desired tri- and tetra-substituted pyridines in higher yields in a shorter reaction time. A few control experiments were performed to unveil the mechanistic aspects, which indicates that the active participation of the aryl-azo ligand during catalysis enables the Zn(II)-complex to act as an efficient catalyst for the present multicomponent reactions. Aerial oxygen acts as an oxidant during the Zn(II)-catalyzed dehydrogenation of alcohols, producing H₂O and H₂O₂ as byproducts.

Sustainable synthesis of azobenzenes, quinolines and quinoxalines via oxidative dehydrogenative couplings catalysed by reusable transition metal oxide–Bi(iii) cooperative catalysts

Heterogeneous catalytic oxidative dehydrogenative processes for N-heterocycles are presented, which enable waste-minimized (additive-, oxidant-, base-free), efficient cyclisations/couplings via transition metal oxide–Bi(iii) cooperative catalysis.

Copper/Nitroxyl-Catalyzed Synthesis of Pyrroles by Oxidative Coupling of Diols and Primary Amines at Room Temperature

The Cu/ABNO-catalyzed aerobic oxidative coupling of diols and primary amines to access N-substituted pyrroles is highlighted (ABNO = 9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane N-oxyl). The reaction proceeds at room temperature with an O₂ balloon as the oxidant using commercially available materials as the substrates and catalysts. The catalyst system is characterized by a broad range of substrates and a good tolerance to sensitive functional groups. The gram-scale experiment proves this system's practicability.

Acceptorless dehydrogenative synthesis of primary amides from alcohols and ammonia

The highly desirable synthesis of the widely-used primary amides directly from alcohols and ammonia via acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling represents a clean, atom-economical, sustainable process. Nevertheless, such a reaction has not been previously reported, and the existing catalytic systems instead generate other N-containing products, e.g., amines, imines and nitriles. Herein, we demonstrate an efficient and selective ruthenium-catalyzed synthesis of primary amides from alcohols and ammonia gas, accompanied by H2 liberation. Various aliphatic and aromatic primary amides were synthesized in high yields, with no observable N-containing byproducts. The selectivity of this system toward primary amide formation is rationalized through density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which show that dehydrogenation of the hemiaminal intermediate into primary amide is energetically favored over its dehydration into imine.

Sustainable catalysis with fluxional acridine-based PNP pincer complexes

Because of the widespread use of fossil fuels and the resulting global warming, development of sustainable catalytic transformations is now more important than ever to obtain our desired fuels and building materials with the least carbon footprint and waste production. Many sustainable (de)hydrogenation reactions, including CO2 reduction, H2 carrier systems, and others, have been reported using molecular pincer complexes. A specific subset of pincer complexes containing a central acridine donor with flanking CH2PR2 ligands, known as acridine-based PNP pincer complexes, exhibit special reactivities that are not imitable by other PNP pincer complexes such as pyridine-based or (R2PCH2CH2)2NH type ligands. The goal of this article is to highlight the unique reactivities of acridine-based complexes and then investigate how these reactivities allow these complexes to catalyse many sustainable reactions that traditional pincer complexes cannot catalyse. To that end, we will initially go over the synthesis and structural features of acridine complexes, such as the labile coordination of the central N donor and the observed fac-mer fluxionality. Following that, distinct reactivity patterns of acridine-based complexes including their reactivity with acids and water will be discussed. Finally, we will discuss the reaction systems that have been developed with acridine complexes thus far, including the notable selective transformations of primary alcohols to primary amines using ammonia, N-heteroaromatic synthesis from alcohols and ammonia, oxidation reactions with water with H2 liberation, development of H2 carrier systems, and others, and conclude the article with future possible directions. We hope that the systemic study presented here will aid researchers in developing further sustainable reactions based on the unique acridine-based pincer complexes.

Metal-ligand cooperative approaches in homogeneous catalysis using transition metal complex catalysts of redox noninnocent ligands

Catalysis offers a straightforward route to prepare various value-added molecules starting from readily available raw materials. The catalytic reactions mostly involve multi-electron transformations. Hence, compared to the inexpensive and readily available 3d-metals, the 4d and 5d-transition metals get an extra advantage for performing multi-electron catalytic reactions as the heavier transition metals prefer two-electron redox events. However, for sustainable development, these expensive and scarce heavy metal-based catalysts need to be replaced by inexpensive, environmentally benign, and economically affordable 3d-metal catalysts. In this regard, a metal-ligand cooperative approach involving transition metal complexes of redox noninnocent ligands offers an attractive alternative. The synergistic participation of redox-active ligands during electron transfer events allows multi-electron transformations using 3d-metal catalysts and allows interesting chemical transformations using 4d and 5d-metals as well. Herein we summarize an up-to-date literature report on the metal-ligand cooperative approaches using transition metal complexes of redox noninnocent ligands as catalysts for a few selected types of catalytic reactions.

Sustainable synthesis of pyrazoles using alcohols as the primary feedstock by an iron catalyzed tandem C–C and C–N coupling approach

We report two new efficient iron-catalyzed synthetic strategies for multicomponent synthesis of tri-substituted pyrazoles using biomass-derived alcohols as the primary feedstock.

Acceptorless Dehydrogenation of Methanol to Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen using Molecular Catalysts

The acceptorless dehydrogenation of methanol to carbon monoxide and hydrogen was investigated using homogeneous molecular complexes. Complexes of ruthenium and manganese comprising the MACHO ligand framework showed promising activities for this reaction. The molecular ruthenium complex [RuH(CO)(BH4 )(HN(C2 H4 PPh2 )2 )] (Ru-MACHO-BH) achieved up to 3150 turnovers for carbon monoxide and 9230 turnovers for hydrogen formation at 150 °C reaching pressures up to 12 bar when the decomposition was carried out in a closed vessel. Control experiments affirmed that the metal complex mediates the initial fast dehydrogenation of methanol to formaldehyde and methyl formate followed by subsequent slow decarbonylation. Depending on the catalyst and reaction conditions, the CO/H2 ratio in the gas mixture thus varies over a broad range from almost pure hydrogen to the stoichiometric limit of 1:2.

Synthesis of N-Heterocycles via Oxidant-Free Dehydrocyclization of Alcohols Using Heterogeneous Catalysts

N-Heterocycles, such as pyrroles, pyrimidines, quinazolines, and quinoxalines, are important building blocks for organic chemistry and the fine-chemical industry. For their synthesis, catalytic borrowing hydrogen and acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling reactions of alcohols as sustainable reagents have received significant attention in recent years. To overcome the problems of product separation and catalyst reusability, several metal-based heterogeneous catalysts have been reported to achieve these transformations with good yields and selectivity. In this Minireview, we summarize recent developments using both noble and non-noble metal-based heterogeneous catalysts to synthesize N-heterocycles from alcohols and N-nucleophiles via acceptorless dehydrogenation or borrowing hydrogen methodologies. Furthermore, this Minireview introduces strategies for the preparation and functionalization of the corresponding heterogeneous catalysts, discusses the reaction mechanisms and the roles of metal electronic states, and the influence of support Lewis acid-base properties on these reactions.

Iron-Catalyzed Alkyne-Based Multicomponent Synthesis of Pyrimidines under Air

An iron-catalyzed sustainable, economically affordable, and eco-friendly synthetic protocol for the construction of various trisubstituted pyrimidines is described. A wide range of trisubstituted pyrimidines were prepared using a well-defined, easy to prepare, bench-stable, and phosphine-free iron catalyst featuring a redox-noninnocent tridentate arylazo pincer under comparatively mild aerobic conditions via dehydrogenative functionalization of alcohols with alkynes and amidines.

Recent Advances in the Green Synthesis of Heterocycles: From Building Blocks to Biologically Active Compounds

Recent advances in the environmentally benign synthesis of common heterocycles are described. This account features three main parts; the preparation of non-aromatic heterocycles, one-ring aromatic heterocycles and their condensed analogs. Due to the great variety of and high interest in these compounds, this work focuses on providing representative examples of the preparation of the target compounds.

Synthesis of 1,8-Dioxo-decahydroacridine Derivatives via Ru-Catalyzed Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Multicomponent Reaction

A Ru-catalyzed acceptorless dehydrogenative multicomponent reaction has been developed. This reaction offers a cost-effective and simple operational strategy to synthesize biologically active 1,8-dioxodecahydroacridine derivatives. The protocol provides a wide range of substrate scope and various functional groups are also well tolerated under the reaction condition. To shed light on the mechanistic and kinetic study, some controlled experiments and deuterium labeling experiments were executed. A time-dependent product distribution experiment is also presented and the reaction scale-up is performed to highlight the practical utility of this strategy.

Recent advances in sustainable synthesis of N-heterocycles following acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling protocol using alcohols

In this review, we have summarized various aspects of homogeneous and heterogeneously catalyzed recent advancements in the synthesis of heterocycles following the ADC approach.

Hydrogen Transfer-Mediated Multicomponent Reaction for Direct Synthesis of Quinazolines by a Naphthyridine-Based Iridium Catalyst

Selective linkage of renewable alcohols and ammonia into functional products would not only eliminate the prepreparation steps to generate active amino agents but also help in the conservation of our finite fossil carbon resources and contribute to the reduction of CO2 emission. Herein the development of a novel 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,8-naphthyridine-based iridium (III) complex is reported, which exhibits excellent catalytic performance toward a new hydrogen transfer-mediated annulation reaction of 2-nitrobenzylic alcohols with alcohols and ammonia. The catalytic transformation proceeds with the striking features of good substrate and functional group compatibility, high step and atom efficiency, no need for additional reductants, and liberation of H2O as the sole by-product, which endows a new platform for direct access to valuable quinazolines. Mechanistic investigations suggest that the non-coordinated N-atom in the ligand serves as a side arm to significantly promote the condensation process by hydrogen bonding.

Acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling with Ru-based catalysts for the synthesis of N-heteroaromatic compounds

A summary of recently developed ruthenium catalysts for the synthesis of N-heteroaromatic compounds via acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling (ADC) and the related auto-transfer-hydrogenative (ATH) reaction.

Conformation controlled stepwise hydride shuffling from the metal to the ligand backbone

The protonation of the benzo annulated cycloheptatriene PCP pincer ruthenium hydrido dicarbonyl complex using the superacid [H(Et₂O)₂][BArF₂₄] launches a cascade of hydride shifts which lead to the hydrogenation of the ligand backbone.

One-pot synthesis of 1-butylpyrrolidine and its derivatives from aqueous ammonia and 1,4-butandiol over CuNiPd/ZSM-5 catalysts

A straightforward and economical route for 1-butylpyrrolidine over CuNiPd/ZSM-5 catalysts.

Tandem transformations and multicomponent reactions utilizing alcohols following dehydrogenation strategy

In this review, the progress of tandem transformation of nitro, nitrile and azide functionalities is summarised to develop new C–C and C–N bonds as well as multi-component reactions using alcohols.

Syntheses of Pyrroles, Pyridines, and Ketonitriles via Catalytic Carbopalladation of Dinitriles

The first example of the Pd-catalyzed addition of organoboron reagents to dinitriles, as an efficient means of preparing 2,5-diarylpyrroles and 2,6-diarylpyridines, has been discussed here. Furthermore, the highly selective carbopalladation of dinitriles with organoboron reagents to give long-chain ketonitriles has been developed as well. Based on the broad scope of substrates, excellent functional group tolerance, and use of commercially available substrates, the Pd-catalyzed addition reaction of arylboronic acid and dinitriles is expected to be significant in future synthetic procedures.