Bernd Mühldorf

CH Photooxygenation of Alkyl Benzenes Catalyzed by Riboflavin Tetraacetate and a Non‐Heme Iron Catalyst

A mixture of the photocatalyst riboflavin tetraacetate (RFT) and the biomimetic non-heme iron complex [Fe(TPA)(MeCN)2](ClO4)2 (TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) efficiently catalyzes the visible-light-driven aerobic oxidation of alkyl benzenes to ketones and carboxylic acids. An RFT-catalyzed photocycle and the independent action of the iron complex as a catalyst for H2O2 disproportionation and alkyl benzene oxygenation ensure high yields and selectivities.

Halogenase-Inspired Oxidative Chlorination Using Flavin Photocatalysis

Abstract Chlorine gas or electropositive chlorine reagents are used to prepare chlorinated aromatic compounds, which are found in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and polymers, and serve as synthetic precursors for metal‐catalyzed cross‐couplings. Nature chlorinates with chloride anions, FAD‐dependent halogenases, and O2 as the oxidant. A photocatalytic oxidative chlorination is described based on the organic dye riboflavin tetraacetate mimicking the enzymatic process. The chemical process allows within the suitable arene redox potential window a broader substrate scope compared to the specific activation in the enzymatic binding pocket.

Pentaarylcyclopentadienyl Iron, Cobalt, and Nickel Halides

The preparation of new stable half-sandwich transition metal complexes, having a bulky cyclopentadienyl ligand C5(C6H4-4-Et)5 (Cp(Ar1)) or C5(C6H4-4-nBu)5 (Cp(Ar2)), is reported. The tetrahydrofuran (THF) adduct [Cp(Ar1)Fe(μ-Br)(THF)]2 (1a) was synthesized by reacting K[Cp(Ar1)] with [FeBr2(THF)2] in THF, and its molecular structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. Complex 1a easily loses its coordinated THF molecules under vacuum to form the solvent-free complex [Cp(Ar1)Fe(μ-Br)]2 (1b). The analogous complexes [Cp(Ar1)Co(μ-Br)]2 (2), [Cp(Ar1)Ni(μ-Br)]2 (3), and [Cp(Ar2)Ni(μ-Br)]2 (4) were synthesized from CoBr2 and [NiBr2(1,2-dimethoxyethane)]. The mononuclear, low-spin cobalt(III) and nickel(III) complexes [Cp(Ar2)MI2] (5, M = Co; 6, M = Ni) were prepared by reacting the radical Cp(Ar2) with NiI2 and CoI2. The complexes were characterized by NMR and UV-vis spectroscopies and by elemental analyses. Single-crystal X-ray structure analyses revealed that the dimeric complexes 1a, 1b, and 3 have a planar M2Br2 core, whereas 2 and 4 feature a puckered M2Br2 ring.

Visible-Light-Driven Aerobic Photooxidation of Aldehydes to Methyl Esters Catalyzed by Riboflavin Tetraacetate

Riboflavin tetraacetate (RFT) catalyzes the aerobic esterification of para‐substituted benzaldehydes to their corresponding methyl esters. The reaction proceeds under visible‐light irradiation in MeOH/MeCN in the presence of a Brønsted acid such as HCl. Electron transfer from the in situ formed dimethyl acetal to the photoexcited triplet flavin appears to be a key mechanistic step. The acid catalyzes the formation of the acetal and increases the reduction potential of RFT by protonation. The photocatalyst is regenerated by reaction with atmospheric oxygen, which serves as the terminal oxidant.

Electronic Structure and Magnetic Anisotropy of an Unsaturated Cyclopentadienyl Iron(I) Complex with 15 Valence Electrons

The 15 valence-electron iron(I) complex [CpAr Fe(IiPr2 Me2 )] (1, CpAr =C5 (C6 H4 -4-Et)5 ; IiPr2 Me2 =1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazolin-2-ylidene) was synthesized in high yield from the FeII precursor [CpAr Fe(μ-Br)]2 . 57 Fe Mössbauer and EPR spectroscopic data, magnetic measurements, and ab initio ligand-field calculations indicate an S= 3/2 ground state with a large negative zero-field splitting. As a consequence, 1 features magnetic anisotropy with an effective spin-reversal barrier of Ueff =64 cm-1 . Moreover, 1 catalyzes the dehydrogenation of N,N-dimethylamine-borane, affording tetramethyl-1,3-diaza-2,4-diboretane under mild conditions.

Coupling photoredox and biomimetic catalysis for the visible-light-driven oxygenation of organic compounds

Abstract Recent advances in the development of coupled photoredox systems for the oxygenation of organic compounds are reviewed.