Evaluation of the donor ability of phenanthrolines in iridium complexes by means of synchrotron radiation photoemission spectroscopy and DFT calculations

Structural and Electronic Effects of X-ray Irradiation on Prototypical [M(COD)Cl]2 Catalysts

X-ray characterization techniques are invaluable for probing material characteristics and properties, and have been instrumental in discoveries across materials research. However, there is a current lack of understanding of how X-ray-induced effects manifest in small molecular crystals. This is of particular concern as new X-ray sources with ever-increasing brilliance are developed. In this paper, systematic studies of X-ray-matter interactions are reported on two industrially important catalysts, [Ir(COD)Cl]₂ and [Rh(COD)Cl]₂, exposed to radiation in X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) experiments. From these complementary techniques, changes to structure, chemical environments, and electronic structure are observed as a function of X-ray exposure, allowing comparisons of stability to be made between the two catalysts. Radiation dose is estimated using recent developments to the RADDOSE-3D software for small molecules and applied to powder XRD and XPS experiments. Further insights into the electronic structure of the catalysts and changes occurring as a result of the irradiation are drawn from density functional theory (DFT). The techniques combined here offer much needed insight into the X-ray-induced effects in transition-metal catalysts and, consequently, their intrinsic stabilities. There is enormous potential to extend the application of these methods to other small molecular systems of scientific or industrial relevance.

Highly Efficient and Selective N-Formylation of Amines with CO2 and H2 Catalyzed by Porous Organometallic Polymers

The valorization of carbon dioxide (CO₂ ) to fine chemicals is one of the most promising approaches for CO₂ capture and utilization. Herein we demonstrated a series of porous organometallic polymers could be employed as highly efficient and recyclable catalysts for this purpose. Synergetic effects of specific surface area, iridium content, and CO₂ adsorption capability are crucial to achieve excellent selectivity and yields towards N-formylation of diverse amines with CO₂ and H₂ under mild reaction conditions even at 20 ppm catalyst loading. Density functional theory calculations revealed not only a redox-neutral catalytic pathway but also a new plausible mechanism with the incorporation of the key intermediate formic acid via a proton-relay process. Remarkably, a record turnover number (TON=1.58×10⁶ ) was achieved in the synthesis of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and the solid catalysts can be reused up to 12 runs, highlighting their practical potential in industry.

Enantioselective hydrogenation of ketones by iridium nanoparticles ligated with chiral secondary phosphine oxides

Chiral iridium nanoparticles (IrNPs) were synthesized by H₂reduction of (1,5-cyclooctadiene)(methoxy)iridium(i) dimer ([Ir(OMe)(COD)]₂) in the presence of an asymmetric secondary phosphine oxide.

Enhancing the hydrogen transfer catalytic activity of hybrid carbon nanotube-based NHC–iridium catalysts by increasing the oxidation degree of the nanosupport

Oxidation of the support increase the HT catalytic activity.

Stabilization of η3-indenyl compounds by sterically demanding N,N-chelating ligands in the molybdenum coordination sphere

A series of η³-indenyl molybdenum compounds, isostructural with the well-known η³-allyl compounds, was synthesized from the recently established synthon [{(η⁵-4,7-Me₂C₉H₅)Mo(CO)₂(μ-Cl)}₂].

Catalytic functionalization of unactivated primary C-H bonds directed by an alcohol

New synthetic methods for the catalytic functionalization of C-H bonds have the potential to revolutionize the synthesis of complex molecules. However, the realization of this synthetic potential requires the ability to functionalize selectively one C-H bond in a compound containing many such bonds and an array of functional groups. The site-selective functionalization of aliphatic C-H bonds is one of the greatest challenges that must be met for C-H bond functionalization to be used widely in complex-molecule synthesis, and processes catalysed by transition-metals provide the opportunity to control selectivity. Current methods for catalytic, aliphatic C-H bond functionalization typically rely on the presence of one inherently reactive C-H bond, or on installation and subsequent removal of directing groups that are not components of the desired molecule. To overcome these limitations, we sought catalysts and reagents that would facilitate aliphatic C-H bond functionalization at a single site, with chemoselectivity derived from the properties of the catalyst and site-selectivity directed by common functional groups contained in both the reactant and the desired product. Here we show that the combination of an iridium-phenanthroline catalyst and a dihydridosilane reagent leads to the site-selective γ-functionalization of primary C-H bonds controlled by a hydroxyl group, the most common functional group in natural products. The scope of the reaction encompasses alcohols and ketones bearing many substitution patterns and auxiliary functional groups; this broad scope suggests that this methodology will be suitable for the site-selective and diastereoselective functionalization of complex natural products.