Hasan Mehdi

γ-Valerolactone—a sustainable liquid for energy and carbon-based chemicals

We propose that γ-valerolactone (GVL), a naturally occurring chemical in fruits and a frequently used food additive, exhibits the most important characteristics of an ideal sustainable liquid, which could be used for the production of both energy and carbon-based consumer products. GVL is renewable, easy and safe to store and move globally in large quantities, has low melting (−31 °C), high boiling (207 °C) and open cup flash (96 °C) points, a definitive but acceptable smell for easy recognition of leaks and spills, and is miscible with water, assisting biodegradation. We have established that its vapor pressure is remarkably low, even at higher temperatures (3.5 kPa at 80 °C). We have also shown by using 18O-labeled water that GVL does not hydrolyze to gamma-hydroxypentanoic acid under neutral conditions. In contrast, after the addition of acid (HCl) the incorporation of one or two 18O-isotopes to GVL was observed, as expected. GVL does not form a measurable amount of peroxides in a glass flask under air in weeks, making it a safe material for large scale use. Comparative evaluation of GVL and ethanol as fuel additives, performed on a mixture of 10 v/v% GVL or EtOH and 90 v/v% 95-octane gasoline, shows very similar properties. Since GVL does not form an azeotrope with water, the latter can be readily removed by distillation, resulting in a less energy demanding process for the production of GVL than that of absolute ethanol. Finally, it is also important to recognize that the use of a single chemical entity, such as GVL, as a sustainable liquid instead of a mixture of compounds, could significantly simplify its worldwide monitoring and regulation.

Expanding the scope of metal-free catalytic hydrogenation through frustrated Lewis pair design

The further development of the field of catalysis is based on the discovery, understanding, and implementation of novel activation modes that allow unprecedented transformations and open new perspectives in synthetic chemistry. In this context, the recently introduced concept of frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) from the Stephan research group represents a fundamental and novel strategy to develop catalysts based on main-group elements for small-molecule activation. These sterically encumbered Lewis acid–base systems are not able to form a stable donor–acceptor adduct, nevertheless, an intermolecular association of the Lewis acidic (LA) and basic (LB) components to a unique “frustrated complex” was proposed. Our research group has also shown that this encounter pair cleaves hydrogen in a cooperative manner and the steric congestion implies a strain, which can be directly utilized for bond activation. Using steric hindrance as a critical design element, several combinations of bulky Lewis acid–base pairs were effectively probed for heterolytic cleavage of hydrogen. Moreover, this remarkable capacity of FLPs was exploited in metal-free hydrogenation procedures. Additionally, the bifunctional and unquenched nature of the FLPs makes them capable of reacting with alkenes, dienes, acetylenes, and THF. Although this type of reactivity represents a breakthrough in main-group chemistry, its enhanced and non-orthogonal nature obviously limits the synthetic applicability of FLPs. Herein we report an attempt to develop frustrated Lewis pairs with orthogonal reactivity and improved functional-group tolerance for catalytic metal-free hydrogenation. The previously reported FLP-based hydrogen activation relied mostly on tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (1) as the LA component. Because of the hard-type Lewis acidity of boron in 1 and its inactivation by common oxygenand/or nitrogen-containing molecules, careful substrate design was needed for successful catalytic hydrogenation reactions. This synthetic limitation triggered us to develop FLP catalysts that have a broader range of applications and possible selectivity in reduction processes. Our design concept for increased functional-group tolerance is based on the simple hypothesis that steric hindrance in FLPs is a relative phenomenon (Figure 1): further increase of

Catalytic Hydrogenation with Frustrated Lewis Pairs: Selectivity Achieved by Size‐Exclusion Design of Lewis Acids

Catalytic hydrogenation that utilizes frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) catalysts is a subject of growing interest because such catalysts offer a unique opportunity for the development of transition-metal-free hydrogenations. The aim of our recent efforts is to further increase the functional-group tolerance and chemoselectivity of FLP catalysts by means of size-exclusion catalyst design. Given that hydrogen molecule is the smallest molecule, our modified Lewis acids feature a highly shielded boron center that still allows the cleavage of the hydrogen but avoids undesirable FLP reactivity by simple physical constraint. As a result, greater latitude in substrate scope can be achieved, as exemplified by the chemoselective reduction of α,β-unsaturated imines, ketones, and quinolines. In addition to synthetic aspects, detailed NMR spectroscopic, DFT, and (2)H isotopic labeling studies were performed to gain further mechanistic insight into FLP hydrogenation.

Hydrophobic ionic liquids with strongly coordinating anions

Ionic liquids containing the hexafluoroacetylacetonate anion are immiscible with water and they exhibit strong metal-complexing ability.

Cobalt(II) complexes of nitrile-functionalized ionic liquids.

A series of nitrile-functionalized ionic liquids were found to exhibit temperature-dependent miscibility (thermomorphism) with the lower alcohols. Their coordinating abilities toward cobalt(II) ions were investigated through the dissolution process of cobalt(II) bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide and were found to depend on the donor abilities of the nitrile group. The crystal structures of the cobalt(II) solvates [Co(C(1)C(1CN)Pyr)(2)(Tf(2)N)(4)] and [Co(C(1)C(2CN)Pyr)(6)][Tf(2)N](8), which were isolated from ionic-liquid solutions, gave an insight into the coordination chemistry of functionalized ionic liquids. Smooth layers of cobalt metal could be obtained by electrodeposition of the cobalt-containing ionic liquids.

In situ infrared spectroscopic studies of theFriedel–Crafts acetylation of benzene in ionic liquids usingAlCl3 and FeCl3

In situ infrared spectroscopic studies have revealed that the mechanism of the Friedel–Crafts acetylation of benzene is exactly the same in ionic liquids as in 1,2-dichloroethane. The reaction of acetyl chloride with benzene in the presence of MCl3 (M = Al or Fe) in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, ([bmim]Cl), leads to the formation of several key intermediates including the MCl3 adducts of the acetyl chloride, the acetylium ion [CH3CO]+[MCl4]−, and the final product, the MCl3 adduct of acetophenone.

In situ spectroscopic studies related to the mechanism of the Friedel–Crafts acetylation of benzene in ionic liquids using AlCl3 and FeCl3

Several aspects of the mechanism of the Friedel–Crafts acetylation of benzene were studied by in situ spectroscopic methods in ionic liquids, prepared from MCl3 (M = Al or Fe) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([bmim]Cl). Mossbauer measurements have revealed that the addition of FeCl3 to [bmim]Cl leads to an equilibrium mixture that contains solid FeCl3, [bmim][Fe2Cl7], and Fe2Cl6 and/or [bmim][FeCl4], depending on the molar ratio of FeCl3 and [bmim]Cl. The formation of [(CH3CO)2CHCO]+[MCl4]−, a potential side product in the Friedel–Crafts acetylation of benzene, was shown to require the presence of both the acetylium ion [CH3CO]+[MCl4]− and free acetyl chloride. We have confirmed that [(CH3CO)2CHCO]+[MCl4]− does not involve in the Friedel–Crafts acetylation of benzene. Experimental data and theoretical calculations indicate that the acetylium ion [CH3CO]+[MCl4]− is the key intermediate in the Friedel–Crafts acetylation of benzene and the reaction proceeds through an ionic mechanism.