J.I. van der Vlugt

Co@NH2-MIL-125(Ti): cobaloxime-derived metal–organic framework-based composite for light-driven H2 production

We present a synthetic strategy for the efficient encapsulation of a derivative of a well-defined cobaloxime proton reduction catalyst within a photoresponsive metal–organic framework (NH2-MIL-125(Ti)). The resulting hybrid system Co@MOF is demonstrated to be a robust heterogeneous composite material. Furthermore, Co@MOF is an efficient and fully recyclable noble metal-free catalyst system for light-driven hydrogen evolution from water under visible light illumination.

Hydrogenation of carboxylic acids with a homogeneous cobalt catalyst

A direct route from acids to alcohols Making alcohols via hydrogen addition to C=O bonds is among the most widely applied reactions in chemistry. The transformation has also garnered renewed interest for generating commodity chemicals from biomass. Korstanje et al. now show that a cobalt compound can catalyze hydrogenation of the C=O bonds in carboxylic acids. These constitute a particularly challenging substrate class, given the propensity of many other catalysts to degrade under acidic conditions. The cobalt catalyst tolerates a versatile substrate range, and the Earth abundance of the metal bodes well for long-term utility. Science, this issue p. 298 Earth-abundant cobalt catalyzes a broadly useful chemical conversion of acids to alcohols. The reduction of esters and carboxylic acids to alcohols is a highly relevant conversion for the pharmaceutical and fine-chemical industries and for biomass conversion. It is commonly performed using stoichiometric reagents, and the catalytic hydrogenation of the acids previously required precious metals. Here we report the homogeneously catalyzed hydrogenation of carboxylic acids to alcohols using earth-abundant cobalt. This system, which pairs Co(BF4)2·6H2O with a tridentate phosphine ligand, can reduce a wide range of esters and carboxylic acids under relatively mild conditions (100°C, 80 bar H2) and reaches turnover numbers of up to 8000.

Reactivity of a Mononuclear Iridium(I) Species Bearing a Terminal Phosphido Fragment Embedded in a Triphosphorus Ligand

The first example of an iridium(I) species bearing a terminal phosphido (PR(2)(-)) ligand is reported. This stable compound shows well-behaved reactivity toward various electrophiles, owing to its exposed phosphorus lone pair, allowing reversible protonation, selective alkylation, isolation of a phosphidoborane of iridium, and generation of a phosphido-bridged iridium(I)-gold(I) dinuclear species.

Reversible cyclometalation at RhI as a motif for metal–ligand bifunctional bond activation and base-free formic acid dehydrogenation

Reversible cyclometalation is demonstrated as a strategy for the activation of small protic molecules, with a proof-of-principle catalytic application in the dehydrogenation of formic acid in the absence of an exogenous base. The well-defined RhI complex Rh(CO)(L) 1, bearing the reactive cyclometalated PN(C) ligand L (LH = PNCH = 2-di(tert-butylphosphinomethyl)-6-phenylpyridine), undergoes protonolysis of the Rh–CPh bond with weak protic reagents, such as thiols and trifluoromethanesulfonamide. This system also displays bifunctional metal–ligand protonolysis reactivity with formic acid and subsequent decarboxylation of the formate complex. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that H2 evolution from putative Rh(CO)(H)(LH) complex A is very facile, proposedly encompassing formal C–H oxidative addition at Rh to give Cvia agostic intermediate B and subsequent reductive elimination of H2. Complex 1 is a catalytically competent species for base-free formic acid dehydrogenation, with the intermediacy of formate complex 4. DFT calculations reveal accessible barriers for involvement of a flanking phenyl group for both initial activation of formic acid and release of H2, supporting a cooperative pathway. Reversible C–H activation is thus a viable mechanism for metal–ligand bifunctional catalysis.

Hydrogenation of CO2 to formic acid with iridiumIII(bisMETAMORPhos)(hydride): the role of a dormant fac-IrIII(trihydride) and an active trans-IrIII(dihydride) species

An IrIII-monohydride species bearing a chemoresponsive ligand is active in catalytic CO2 hydrogenation to formic acid with DBU as the exogenous base. Spectroscopic and computational data reveal a trans-IrIII-dihydride as the essential catalytic intermediate and an IrIII(H)3 species as the dormant off-cycle product. This insight will aid future design of improved CO2 reduction catalysts.

Rhodium catalysed conversion of carbenes into ketenes and ketene imines using PNN pincer complexes

Ketene synthesis involving catalytic carbonylation of carbenes is an interesting alternative to traditional synthetic protocols, offering milder conditions to diversified products. Analogous catalytic ketene imine production from carbenes and isocyanides is also a promising reaction. However, both methods are underdeveloped. Rhodium carbonyl complexes B and E, based on (6-(phosphinomethyl)pyridin-2-yl)methan-sec-amine type PNN ligand scaffolds, reveal good catalytic activities in ketene and ketene imine production using ethyl diazoacetate (EDA, 1) or sodium 2-benzylidene-1-tosylhydrazin-1-ide (5) as the carbene precursors, as demonstrated by in situ amide/imidamide and β-lactam synthesis. DFT calculations suggest that diazo activation is the rate-determining step and that NH-deprotonation of the ligand produces a more active rhodium complex. The ketene formation step likely proceeds via an outer-sphere CO insertion mechanism. Subsequent stepwise and concerted [2 + 2] cyclization mechanisms have comparable barriers. The complexes are the first rhodium catalysts reported for catalytic ketene/ketene imine production from carbenoids. The higher affinity of rhodium for binding ketene or ketene imine intermediates as compared to other reported metal catalysts (i.e. Pd, Co) may provide opportunities for future enantioselective reactions when using chiral ligands.

Transition-Metal-Free Cleavage of CO

Abstract Tertiary silane 1H, 2‐[(diphenylsilyl)methyl]‐6‐methylpyridine, reacts with tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (BCF) to form the intramolecular pyridine‐stabilized silylium 1+‐HBCF. The corresponding 2‐[(diphenylsilyl)methyl]pyridine, lacking the methyl‐group on the pyridine ring, forms classic N(py)→B adduct 2H‐BCF featuring an intact silane Si−H fragment. Complex 1+‐HBCF promotes cleavage of the C≡O triple bond in carbon monoxide with double C−Csp2 bond formation, leading to complex 3 featuring a B‐(diarylmethyl)‐B‐aryl‐boryloxysilane fragment. Reaction with pinacol generates bis(pentafluorophenyl)methane 4 as isolable product, proving the transition‐metal‐free deoxygenation of carbon monoxide by this main‐group system. Experimental data and DFT calculations support the existence of an equilibrium between the silylium–hydroborate ion pair and the silane–borane mixture that is responsible for the observed reactivity.

Intermolecular C-H activation with an Ir-METAMORPhos piano-stool complex--multiple reaction steps at a reactive ligand.

Substrate activation by means of a reactive ligand is a topic of much interest. Herein we describe a stoichiometric anti-Markovnikov C-N bond formation involving ligand reactivity in multiple steps along the reaction coordinate, including ligand assisted substrate (de)protonation and C-N bond formation, as illustrated by a combined experimental, spectroscopic and computational study. This affords a highly unusual four-membered iridacycle bearing an exo-cyclic C=C double bond.