Mechanism of the Alkoxycarbonylation of Alkynes in the Presence of the Pd(OAc)2/PPh2Py/CH3SO3H Catalytic System

Ligand-Controlled Regiodivergent Alkoxycarbonylation of Trifluoromethylthiolated Internal Alkynes

Controlling the regioselectivity for the alkoxycarbonylation of unsymmetric internal alkynes is challenging. Herein, a palladium-catalyzed ligand-controlled regiodivergent alkoxycarbonylation of internal trifluoromethylthiolated alkynes was achieved. A series of α- or β-SCF3 acrylates from the same trifluoromethylthiolated alkyne were obtained with moderate to high yield and regioselectivity.

(In situ) spectroscopic studies on state-of-the-art Pd(ii) catalysts in solution for the alkoxycarbonylation of alkenes

(In situ) liquid-phase spectroscopic investigations on state-of-the-art Pd catalysts modified with pyridyl-substituted diphosphine ligands for alkene alkoxycarbonylations have been performed for characterizing resting state complexes in solution.

Room-temperature Pd-catalyzed methoxycarbonylation of terminal alkynes with high branched selectivity enabled by bisphosphine-picolinamide ligand

We report the room-temperature Pd-catalyzed methoxy-carbonylation with high branched selectivity using a new class of bisphosphine-picolinamide ligands. Systematic optimization of ligand structures and reaction conditions revealed the significance of both the picolinamide and bisphosphine groups in the ligand backbone. This strategic design of ligand was leveraged to deliver various α-substituted acrylates in good to excellent yields.

Computational modelling of Pd-catalysed alkoxycarbonylation of alkenes and alkynes

This perspective highlights the computational modelling of alkene and alkyne alkoxycarbonylation at palladium catalysts. We cover studies on Pd-catalysed alkoxycarbonylation of alkenes with bidentate diphosphine ligands, which reveal a hydride pathway is operating with an intermolecular alcoholysis step, where explicit solvation is mandatory to estimate the overall barriers correctly and model alcoholysis/copolymerisation selectivities. Subsequently, we discuss Pd-catalysed alkyne alkoxycarbonylation with P,N-chelating ligands, where an in situ base mechanism is operating involving ketene-type intermediates. We also discuss catalyst poisoning due to allene and designing a potential new catalyst tolerant towards allene poisoning.

Palladium-catalysed alkyne alkoxycarbonylation with P,N-chelating ligands revisited: a density functional theory study

A revised in situ base mechanism of alkyne alkoxycarbonylation via a Pd catalyst with hemilabile P,N-ligands (PyPPh2, Py = 2-pyridyl) has been fully characterised at the B3PW91-D3/PCM level of density functional theory. Key intermediates on this route are acryloyl and η3-propen-1-oyl complexes that readily undergo methanolysis. With two hemilabile P,N-ligands and one or both of them protonated, the overall computed barrier is 16.8 kcal mol-1. This new mechanism is consistent with all of the experimental data relating to substituent effects on relative reaction rates and branched/linear selectivities, including new results on the methoxycarbonylation of phenylacetylene using (4-Me2N-Py)PPh2 and (6-Cl-Py)PPh2 ligands. This ligand is found to decrease catalytic activity over PyPPh2, thus invalidating a formerly characterised in situ base mechanism.

Cooperative catalytic methoxycarbonylation of alkenes: uncovering the role of palladium complexes with hemilabile ligands

Mechanistic studies of the catalyst [Pd₂(dba)₃/1,1′-bis(tert-butyl(pyridin-2-yl)phosphanyl)ferrocene, L2] for olefin alkoxycarbonylation reactions are described.

Mechanistic studies of the catalyst [Pd₂(dba)₃/1,1′-bis(tert-butyl(pyridin-2-yl)phosphanyl)ferrocene, L2] for olefin alkoxycarbonylation reactions are described. X-ray crystallography reveals the coordination of the pyridyl nitrogen atom in L2 to the palladium center of the catalytic intermediates. DFT calculations on the elementary steps of the industrially relevant carbonylation of ethylene (the Lucite α-process) indicate that the protonated pyridyl moiety is formed immediately, which facilitates the formation of the active palladium hydride complex. The insertion of ethylene and CO into this intermediate leads to the corresponding palladium acyl species, which is kinetically reversible. Notably, this key species is stabilized by the hemilabile coordination of the pyridyl nitrogen atom in L2. The rate-determining alcoholysis of the acyl palladium complex is substantially facilitated by metal–ligand cooperation. Specifically, the deprotonation of the alcohol by the built-in base of the ligand allows a facile intramolecular nucleophilic attack on the acyl palladium species concertedly. Kinetic measurements support this mechanistic proposal and show that the rate of the carbonylation step is zero-order dependent on ethylene and CO. Comparing CH₃OD and CH₃OH as nucleophiles suggests the involvement of (de)protonation in the rate-determining step.

2-Pyridyl substituents enhance the activity of palladium-phospha-adamantane catalysts for the methoxycarbonylation of phenylacetylene

The synthesis of a series of CgPAr ligands is reported, where CgP is the 6-phospha-2,4,8-trioxa-1,3,5,7-tetramethyladamant-6-yl moiety and Ar = 2-pyridyl (L2), 3-pyridyl (L3), 2-pyrimidyl (L4), 4-R-2-pyridyl [R = Me (L5a), CF₃ (L6a), SiMe₃ (L7a)] or 6-R-2-pyridyl [R = Me (L5b), CF₃ (L6b), SiMe₃ (L7b). Testing of these ligands in the Pd-catalysed methoxycarbonylation of phenylacetylene reveals that the activity and branched selectivity of the catalysts derived from these ligands varies as a function of the N-heterocycle, with the catalyst derived from L5b being the most active of those tested. This, together with the poor performance of catalysts derived from L3 supports the hypothesis that the catalysis proceeds by a "proton shuttling" mechanism, an idea that previously had only been applied to arylphosphines. Reaction of [PtCl₂(cod)] with L where L = L2 or L4-7 yields a rac/meso mixture of the trans-[PtCl₂(L)₂] (1a-h) complexes, three of which are structurally characterised. ³¹P NMR spectroscopy shows that reaction of L3 with [PtCl₂(cod)] gives a mixture of mononuclear and binuclear metal complexes in solution. The complex trans-[PdCl₂(L2)₂] (4) reacts with AgBF₄ to give the [PdCl(κ¹-L2)(κ²-L2)]BF₄ (5) with spectroscopic and structural characterisation confirming the presence of a P,N-chelate. ¹H and ³¹P NMR evidence supports the assignment of a pyridyl-protonated species being formed upon treatment of 4 with TsOH·H₂O in CD₂Cl₂; both the protonated species and chelate 5 are observed when the reaction is carried out in MeOH.

Density Functional Theoretical Study on the Mechanism of Alcoholysis of Acylpalladium(II) Complexes

The mechanism of alcoholysis of acylpalladium(II) complexes relevant to the alternating copolymerisation of ethene and carbon monoxide has been investigated theoretically in detail. The solvolysis of acylpalladium(II) complexes is an important step in palladium-catalysed reactions. Based on experimental studies, two mechanisms have been proposed for this process, which consist of a concerted reductive elimination and an insertion mechanism (reductive elimination via a Meisenheimer intermediate). Both mechanisms include deprotonating of an acylpalladium(II) complex and according to our calculations, any mechanism involving this step, has an energy barrier higher than that of the rate-determining step. We propose a new mechanism for the insertion in which proton transfer to Pd is simultaneous with an inner-sphere attack of the alkoxide ligand (OCH3) at the carbon atom of the palladium-bound carbonyl group (new Meisenheimer intermediate). Considering solvent effects, the activation energies of the two mechanisms and other contingent mechanisms were calculated and compared with each other and the experimental results.

Following palladium catalyzed methoxycarbonylation by hyperpolarized NMR spectroscopy: a parahydrogen based investigation

When the reaction of Pd(OTf)₂(bcope) with diphenylacetylene, carbon monoxide and parahydrogen is probed, hyperpolarised NMR signals (blue) are seen.

Multifunctional Single-Site Catalysts for Alkoxycarbonylation of Terminal Alkynes

A multifunctional copolymer (PyPPh2 -SO3 H@porous organic polymers, POPs) was prepared by combining acidic groups and heterogeneous P,N ligands through the copolymerization of vinyl-functionalized 2-pyridyldiphenylphosphine (2-PyPPh2 ) and p-styrene sulfonic acid under solvothermal conditions. The morphology and chemical structure of the copolymer were evaluated using a series of characterization techniques. Compared with traditional homogeneous Pd(OAc)2 /2-PyPPh2 / p-toluenesulfonic acid catalyst, the copolymer supported palladium catalyst (Pd-PyPPh2 -SO3 H@POPs) exhibited higher activity for alkoxycarbonylation of terminal alkynes under the same conditions. This phenomenon could be attributed to the synergistic effect between the single-site Pd centers, 2-PyPPh2 ligands, and SO3 H groups, the outstanding swelling properties as well as the high enrichment of the reactant concentration by the porous catalyst. In addition, the catalyst could be reused at least 4 times without any apparent loss of activity. The excellent catalytic reactivity and good recycling properties make it an attractive catalyst for industrial applications. This work paves the way for advanced multifunctional porous organic polymers as a new type of platform for heterogeneous catalysis in the future.

The AZARYPHOS family of ligands for ambifunctional catalysis: syntheses and use in ruthenium-catalyzed anti-Markovnikov hydration of terminal alkynes

The family of AZARYPHOS (aza-aryl-phosphane) phosphane ligands, containing a phosphine unit and sterically shielded nitrogen lone pairs in the ligand periphery, is introduced as a tool for developing ambifunctional catalysis by the metal center and nitrogen lone pairs in the ligand sphere. General synthetic strategies have been developed to synthesize over 25 examples of structurally diverse (6-aryl-2-pyridyl)phosphanes (ARPYPHOS), (6-alkyl-2-pyridyl)phosphanes (ALPYPHOS), 4,6-disubsituted 1,3-diazin-2-ylphosphanes or 1,3,5-triazin-2-ylphosphanes, quinazolinylphosphanes, quinolinylphosphanes, and others. The scalable syntheses proceed in a few steps. The incorporation of AZARYPHOS ligands (L) into complexes [RuCp(L)(2)(MeCN)][PF(6)] (Cp = cyclopentadienyl) gives catalysts for the anti-Markovnikov hydration of terminal alkynes of the highest known activities. Electronic and steric ligand effects modulate the reaction kinetics over a range of two orders of magnitude. These results highlight the importance of using structurally diverse ligand families in the process of developing cooperative ambifunctional catalysis by a metal and its ligand.

Palladium-Catalyzed Regiospecific Aminocarbonylation of Alkynes in the Ionic Liquid [bmim][Tf2N]

[Structure: see text] Regiospecific construction of 2-substituted acrylamides was achieved by palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation of alkynes in the ionic liquid [bmim][Tf2N] without any acid additive under relatively mild conditions. The ionic liquid was used as the reaction medium and also acted as a promoter. Acrylamides were obtained in moderate to excellent yields, and an important feature is that the catalyst system can be recycled five times without loss of catalytic activity.

The first insoluble polymer-bound palladium complexes of 2-pyridyldiphenylphosphine: highly efficient catalysts for the alkoxycarbonylation of terminal alkynes

Palladium complexes of 2-pyridyldiphenylphosphine anchored on polystyrene, polymethylmethacrylate and styrene-methylmethacrylate copolymer form highly active heterogeneous catalysts for the alkoxycarbonylation of terminal alkynes with activities approaching those obtained under homogeneous conditions.

Bifunctional Organometallic Catalysts Involving Proton Transfer or Hydrogen Bonding

Inspired by the cooperativity displayed by metalloenzymes, bifunctional organometallic complexes featuring pendant basic functional groups are designed and evaluated as catalysts in reactions for which enzymes are not suited. Anti-Markovnikov hydration of terminal alkynes is the focus, as are hydrogen bonding and proton transfer facilitated by the pendant groups.