Iron-Catalyzed Parahydrogen Induced Polarization

Parahydrogen induced polarization (PHIP) can address the low sensitivity problem intrinsic to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Using a catalyst capable of reacting with parahydrogen and substrate in either a hydrogenative or nonhydrogenative manner can result in signal enhancement of the substrate. This work describes the development of a rare example of an iron catalyst capable of reacting with parahydrogen to hyperpolarize olefins. Complexes of the form (MesCCC)Fe(H)(L)(N2) (L = Py (Py = pyridine), PMe3, PPh3) were synthesized from the reaction of the parent complexes (MesCCC)FeMes(L) (Mes = mesityl) with H2. The isolated low-spin iron(II) hydride compounds were characterized via multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. (MesCCC)Fe(H)(Py)(N2) is competent in the hydrogenation of olefins and demonstrated high activity toward the hydrogenation of monosubstituted terminal olefins. Reactions with p-H2 resulted in the first PHIP effect mediated by iron which requires diamagnetism throughout the reaction sequence. This work represents the development of a new PHIP catalyst featuring iron, unlocking potential to develop more PHIP catalysts based on first-row transition metals.

Advancing homogeneous catalysis for parahydrogen-derived hyperpolarisation and its NMR applications

Parahydrogen-induced polarisation (PHIP) is a nuclear spin hyperpolarisation technique employed to enhance NMR signals for a wide range of molecules. This is achieved by exploiting the chemical reactions of parahydrogen (para-H2), the spin-0 isomer of H2. These reactions break the molecular symmetry of para-H2 in a way that can produce dramatically enhanced NMR signals for reaction products, and are usually catalysed by a transition metal complex. In this review, we discuss recent advances in novel homogeneous catalysts that can produce hyperpolarised products upon reaction with para-H2. We also discuss hyperpolarisation attained in reversible reactions (termed signal amplification by reversible exchange, SABRE) and focus on catalyst developments in recent years that have allowed hyperpolarisation of a wider range of target molecules. In particular, recent examples of novel ruthenium catalysts for trans and geminal hydrogenation, metal-free catalysts, iridium sulfoxide-containing SABRE systems, and cobalt complexes for PHIP and SABRE are reviewed. Advances in this catalysis have expanded the types of molecules amenable to hyperpolarisation using PHIP and SABRE, and their applications in NMR reaction monitoring, mechanistic elucidation, biomedical imaging, and many other areas, are increasing.

1,1-Diphosphines and divinylphosphines via base catalyzed hydrophosphination

A catalytic hydrophosphination route to 1,1-diphosphines is yet to be reported: these narrow bite angle pro-ligands have been used to great effect as ligands in homogeneous catalysis. We herein demonstrate that terminal alkynes readily undergo double hydrophosphination with HPPh2 and catalytic potassium hexamethyldisilazane (KHMDS) to generate 1,1-diphosphines. A change to H2PPh leads to the formation of P,P-divinyl phosphines.

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.

Self-assembled material of palladium nanoparticles and a thiacalix[4]arene Cd(ii) complex as an efficient catalyst for nitro-phenol reduction

A cadmium complex based on the thiacalix[4]arene scaffold is utilized to synthesize a material with palladium nanoparticles, which behaves as an efficient catalyst for the conversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol.

Hyperpolarisation through reversible interactions with parahydrogen

Ir(COD)(NHC)Cl complexes provide significant insight into the catalytic processes underpinning SABRE hyperpolarization.