Georgiy B. Shul’pin

Metal-catalyzed hydrocarbon oxygenations in solutions: the dramatic role of additives: a review

Abstract This review describes examples of remarkable acceleration of metal-catalyzed oxidation reactions by certain additives. In some cases, reactions proceed 2 or 10 times more rapidly in comparison with the process in the additive’s absence, in other cases, reactions become possible only in the presence of the additive. Varying ligands at the metal center or additives, one can not only dramatically improve yields of oxygenates but also control the selectivity of the reaction. Understanding mechanisms of the additive’s action is very important for search of new efficient catalysts and catalytic systems. Additives considered in the review can play roles of the ligands at metal ion or proton or electron transfer reagents and they mimic certain enzymes (the active center or its environment). Often the mechanism of the effect of additives on the reaction rate and the product yield is unknown, and the main aim of the review is to attract investigator’s attention in creating new efficient catalytic systems, which contain not only a metal ion but also a necessary “additive”.

Oxidations by the system "hydrogen peroxide-manganese(IV) complex-carboxylic acid" Part 3. Oxygenation of ethane, higher alkanes, alcohols, olefins and sulfides

The manganese(IV) complex salt [L2Mn2O3](PF6)2 (L = 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) (compound 1, see Scheme 1) very efficiently catalyzes the hydroperoxidation of saturated hydrocarbons, including ethane by H2O2 in acetontitrile or nitromethane solution at low (room or lower) temperature, provided a carboxylic (typically acetic) acid is present. The hydroperoxidation of tertiary positions in disubstituted cyclohexanes proceeds with partial retention of configuration in nitromethane or acetonitrile solution, while the stereoselectivity of the reaction is only negligible in acetone solution. The system “H2O2–compound 1–MeCO2H” also transforms secondary alcohols into the corresponding ketones with quantitative yields at room temperature within a few minutes; the yields of aldehydes and carboxylic acids in the oxidation of primary alcohols are lower. Terminal aliphatic olefins such as hexene-1 are quantitatively epoxidized by the same system in acetonitrile at room temperature within 20 min, while the epoxide yield in the analogous reaction with styrene attains only 60% under the same conditions. Finally, dimethylsulfide can be quantitatively and selectively converted into dimethylsulfoxide within 3 h at room temperature. The system “tert-BuOOH–compound 1” also oxidizes alkanes, addition of acetic acids has less pronounced effect on the direction and efficiency of the reaction. Two other checked derivative of Mn(IV) (compounds 2 and 3) as well a porphyrin complex of Mn(III) (compound 4) exhibited lower activity in catalysis of alkane oxidation with tert-BuOOH.

Heterometallic CoIII4FeIII2 Schiff Base Complex: Structure, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, and Alkane Oxidation Catalytic Activity

The heterometallic complex [Co(4)Fe(2)OSae(8)]·4DMF·H(2)O (1) was synthesized by one-pot reaction of cobalt powder with iron chloride in a dimethylformamide solution of salicylidene-2-ethanolamine (H(2)Sae) and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, magnetic measurements, high frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (HF-EPR), and Mössbauer spectroscopies. The exchange coupling in the Fe(III)-Fe(III) pair is of antiferromagnetic behavior with J/hc = -190 cm(-1). The HF-EPR spectra reveal an unusual pattern with a hardly detectable triplet signal of the Fe(III) dimer. The magnitude of D (ca. 13.9 cm(-1)) was found to be much larger than in related dimers. The catalytic investigations disclosed an outstanding activity of 1 toward oxidation of cycloalkanes with hydrogen peroxide, under mild conditions. The most efficient system showed a turnover number (TON) of 3.57 × 10(3) with the concomitant overall yield of 26% for cyclohexane, and 2.28 × 10(3)/46%, respectively, for cyclooctane. A remarkable turnover frequency (TOF) of 1.12 × 10(4) h(-1) (the highest initial rate W(0) = 3.5 × 10(-4) M s(-1)) was achieved in oxidation of cyclohexane. Kinetic experiments and selectivity parameters led to the conclusion that hydroxyl radicals are active (attacking C-H bonds) species. Kinetic and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) data allowed us to assume that the trinuclear heterometallic particle [Co(2)Fe(Sae)(4)](+), originated from 1 in solution, could be responsible for efficient generation of hydroxyl radicals from hydrogen peroxide.

Alkane oxidation with hydrogen peroxide catalyzed homogeneously by vanadium-containing polyphosphomolybdates

Alkanes (cyclooctane, n-octane, adamantane, ethane) can be efficiently oxidized by hydrogen peroxide in acetonitrile using tetra-n-butylammonium salts of the vanadium-containing polyphosphomolybdates [PMo11VO40] 4− and [PMo6V5O39] 12− as catalysts. The oxidation of alkanes gives rise to the corresponding alkyl hydroperoxides as the main products, which slowly decompose in the course of the reaction to produce the corresponding ketones (aldehydes) and alcohols. The reaction in acetic acid and water is much less efficient. The oxidation of cyclooctane at 60 ◦ C in acetonitrile gives within 9 h oxygenates with turnover numbers >1000 and yields >30% based on the alkane. Pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid added as co-catalyst accelerates the reaction but does not enhance the product yield. The oxidation of the cis- and trans-isomers of decalin proceeds without retention of configuration. The mechanism assumed involves the reduction of V(V) to V(IV) by a first molecule of hydrogen peroxide, followed by the reaction of V(IV) with a second H2O2 molecule to generate hydroxyl radicals. The latter abstract a hydrogen atom from the alkane, RH, leading to alkyl radicals, R • , which rapidly react with aerobic oxygen. The alkyl peroxy

Aerobic hydroxylation of hydrocarbons catalysed by vanadate ion

Vanadate anion catalyses aerobic hydroxylation of hydrocarbons in acetonitrile in the presence of solid ascorbic acid or zinc and with obligatory participation of pyridine, pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid and acetic acid as mediators of proton and electron transfer. If sufficient amount of water is present in the reaction mixture, ascorbic acid is dissolved in aqueous acetonitrile and no hydroxylation occurs in this case. The dependencies of the product yields on the concentrations of the reactants have been studied and a mechanism of the formation of hydroxyl radicals has been proposed. These systems mimic generation of hydroxyl radicals in certain vanadium-dependent biological processes.

Novel Cage-Like Hexanuclear Nickel(II) Silsesquioxane. Synthesis, Structure, and Catalytic Activity in Oxidations with Peroxides

New hexanuclear nickel(II) silsesquioxane [(PhSiO1.5)12(NiO)6(NaCl)] (1) was synthesized as its dioxane-benzonitrile-water complex (PhSiO1,5)12(NiO)6(NaCl)(C4H8O2)13(PhCN)2(H2O)2 and studied by X-ray and topological analysis. The compound exhibits cylinder-like type of molecular architecture and represents very rare case of polyhedral complexation of metallasilsesquioxane with benzonitrile. Complex 1 exhibited catalytic activity in activation of such small molecules as light alkanes and alcohols. Namely, oxidation of alcohols with tert-butylhydroperoxide and alkanes with meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid. The oxidation of methylcyclohexane gave rise to the isomeric ketones and unusual distribution of alcohol isomers.

Unusual Tri-, Hexa-, and Nonanuclear Cu(II) Cage Methylsilsesquioxanes: Synthesis, Structures, and Catalytic Activity in Oxidations with Peroxides

Three types of unusual cagelike copper(II) methylsilsesquioxanes, namely, nona- [(MeSiO1.5)18(CuO)9] 1, hexa- [(MeSiO1.5)10(HO0.5)2(CuO)6(C12H8N2)2(MeSiO1.5)10(HO0.5)1.33(CH3COO0.5)0.67(CuO)6(C12H8N2)2] 2, [(MeSiO1.5)10(CuO)6(MeO0.5)2(C10H8N2)2] 3, and trinuclear [(MeSiO1.5)8(CuO)3(C10H8N2)2] 4, were obtained in 44%, 27%, 20%, and 16% yields, respectively. Nuclearity and structural fashion of products was controlled by the choice of solvent system and ligand, specifically assisting the assembling of cage. Structures of 1-4 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 1 and 4 are the first cage metallasilsesquioxanes, containing nine and three Cu ions, respectively. Product 1 is the first observation of nonanuclear metallasilsesquioxane ever. Unique architecture of 4 represents early unknown type of molecular geometry, based on two condensed pentamembered siloxane cycles. Topological analysis of metal clusters in products 1-4 is provided. Complex 1 efficiently catalyzes oxidation of alcohols with tert-butylhydroperoxide TBHP to ketones or alkanes with H2O2 to alkyl hydroperoxides in acetonitrile.

Carboxylation of methane with CO or CO2 in aqueous solution catalysed by vanadium complexes

Reaction of methane with CO or CO2 in aqueous solution in the presence of O2 (catalysed by NaVO3) or H2O2 (catalysed by NaVO3–pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid) at 25–100 °C affords acetic acid and in some cases also methanol, methyl hydroperoxide and formaldehyde.

Stereoselective Alkane Oxidation with meta-Chloroperoxybenzoic Acid (MCPBA) Catalyzed by Organometallic Cobalt Complexes

Cobalt pi-complexes, previously described in the literature and specially synthesized and characterized in this work, were used as catalysts in homogeneous oxidation of organic compounds with peroxides. These complexes contain pi-butadienyl and pi-cyclopentadienyl ligands: [(tetramethylcyclobutadiene)(benzene)cobalt] hexafluorophosphate, [(C4Me4)Co(C6H6)]PF6 (1); diiodo(carbonyl)(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)cobalt, Cp*Co(CO)I2 (2); diiodo(carbonyl)(cyclopentadienyl)cobalt, CpCo(CO)I2 (3); (tetramethylcyclobutadiene)(dicarbonyl)(iodo)cobalt, (C4Me4)Co(CO)2I (4); [(tetramethylcyclobutadiene)(acetonitrile)(2,2′-bipyridyl)cobalt] hexafluorophosphate, [(C4Me4)Co(bipy)(MeCN)]PF6 (5); bis[dicarbonyl(B-cyclohexylborole)]cobalt, [(C4H4BCy)Co(CO)2]2 (6); [(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)(iodo)(1,10-phenanthroline)cobalt] hexafluorophosphate, [Cp*Co(phen)I]PF6 (7); diiodo(cyclopentadienyl)cobalt, [CpCoI2]2 (8); [(cyclopentadienyl)(iodo)(2,2′-bipyridyl)cobalt] hexafluorophosphate, [CpCo(bipy)I]PF6 (9); and [(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)(iodo)(2,2′-bipyridyl)cobalt] hexafluorophosphate, [Cp*Co(bipy)I]PF6 (10). Complexes 1 and 2 catalyze very efficient and stereoselective oxygenation of tertiary C–H bonds in isomeric dimethylcyclohexanes with MCBA: cyclohexanols are produced in 39 and 53% yields and with the trans/cis ratio (of isomers with mutual trans- or cis-configuration of two methyl groups) 0.05 and 0.06, respectively. Addition of nitric acid as co-catalyst dramatically enhances both the yield of oxygenates and stereoselectivity parameter. In contrast to compounds 1 and 2, complexes 9 and 10 turned out to be very poor catalysts (the yields of oxygenates in the reaction with cis-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane were only 5%–7% and trans/cis ratio 0.8 indicated that the oxidation is not stereoselective). The chromatograms of the reaction mixture obtained before and after reduction with PPh3 are very similar, which testifies that alkyl hydroperoxides are not formed in this oxidation. It can be thus concluded that the interaction of the alkanes with MCPBA occurs without the formation of free radicals. The complexes catalyze oxidation of alcohols with tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP). For example, tert-BuOOH efficiently oxidizes 1-phenylethanol to acetophenone in 98% yield if compound 1 is used as a catalyst.

Catalytic oxidation of methane to methyl hydroperoxide and other oxygenates under mild conditions

Methane is oxidized by air in acetonitrile solution to give methyl hydroperoxide (easily reduced to methanol), formaldehyde and formic acid in the presence of [NBu 4 ]VO 3 –pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid as the catalyst and H 2 O 2 as a promoter.