Lipeng Wu

Using carbon dioxide as a building block in organic synthesis

Carbon dioxide exits in the atmosphere and is produced by the combustion of fossil fuels, the fermentation of sugars and the respiration of all living organisms. An active goal in organic synthesis is to take this carbon--trapped in a waste product--and re-use it to build useful chemicals. Recent advances in organometallic chemistry and catalysis provide effective means for the chemical transformation of CO₂ and its incorporation into synthetic organic molecules under mild conditions. Such a use of carbon dioxide as a renewable one-carbon (C1) building block in organic synthesis could contribute to a more sustainable use of resources.

Transition-metal-catalyzed carbonylation reactions of olefins and alkynes: a personal account.

Carbon monoxide was discovered and identified in the 18th century. Since the first applications in industry 80 years ago, academic and industrial laboratories have broadly explored COs use in chemical reactions. Today organic chemists routinely employ CO in organic chemistry to synthesize all kinds of carbonyl compounds. Despite all these achievements and a century of carbonylation catalysis, many important research questions and challenges remain. Notably, apart from academic developments, industry applies carbonylation reactions with CO on bulk scale. In fact, today the largest applications of homogeneous catalysis (regarding scale) are carbonylation reactions, especially hydroformylations. In addition, the vast majority of acetic acid is produced via carbonylation of methanol (Monsanto or Cativa process). The carbonylation of olefins/alkynes with nucleophiles, such as alcohols and amines, represent another important type of such reactions. In this Account, we discuss our work on various carbonylations of unsaturated compounds and related reactions. Rhodium-catalyzed isomerization and hydroformylation reactions of internal olefins provide straightforward access to higher value aldehydes. Catalytic hydroaminomethylations offer an ideal way to synthesize substituted amines and even heterocycles directly. More recently, our group has also developed so-called alternative metal catalysts based on iridium, ruthenium, and iron. What about the future of carbonylation reactions? CO is already one of the most versatile C1 building blocks for organic synthesis and is widely used in industry. However, because of COs high toxicity and gaseous nature, organic chemists are often reluctant to apply carbonylations more frequently. In addition, new regulations have recently made the transportation of carbon monoxide more difficult. Hence, researchers will need to develop and more frequently use practical and benign CO-generating reagents. Apart from formates, alcohols, and metal carbonyls, carbon dioxide also offers interesting options. Industrial chemists seek easy to prepare catalysts and patent-free ligands/complexes. In addition, non-noble metal complexes will interest both academic and industrial researchers. The novel Lucite process for methyl methacrylate is an important example of an improved catalyst. This reaction makes use of a specific palladium/bisphosphine catalyst, which led to the successful implementation of the technology. More active and productive catalysts for related carbonylations of less reactive olefins would allow for other large scale applications of this methodology. From an academic point of view, researchers continue to look for selective reactions with more functionalized olefins. Finally, because of the volatility of simple metal carbonyl complexes, carbonylation reactions today remain a domain of homogeneous catalysis. The invention of more stable and recyclable heterogeneous catalysts or metal-free carbonylations (radical carbonylations) will be difficult, but could offer interesting challenges for young chemists.

Carbonylations of alkenes with CO surrogates.

Alkene carbonylation reactions are important for the production of value-added bulk and fine chemicals. Nowadays, all industrial carbonylation processes make use of highly toxic and flammable carbon monoxide. In fact, these properties impede the wider use of carbonylation reactions in industry and academia. Hence, performing carbonylations without the use of CO is highly desired and will contribute to the further advancement of sustainable chemistry. Although the use of carbon monoxide surrogates in alkene carbonylation reactions has been reported intermittently in the last 30 years, only recently has this area attracted significant interest. This Minireview summarizes carbonylation reactions of alkenes using different carbon monoxide surrogates.

Ruthenium-catalysed alkoxycarbonylation of alkenes with carbon dioxide

Alkene carbonylations represent a major technology for the production of value-added bulk and fine chemicals. Nowadays, all industrial carbonylation processes make use of highly toxic and flammable carbon monoxide. Here we show the application of abundantly available carbon dioxide as C1 building block for the alkoxycarbonylations of industrially important olefins in the presence of a convenient and inexpensive ruthenium catalyst system. In our system, carbon dioxide works much better than the traditional combination of carbon monoxide and alcohols. The unprecedented in situ formation of carbon monoxide from carbon dioxide and alcohols permits an efficient synthesis of carboxylic acid esters, which can be used as detergents and polymer-building blocks. Notably, this transformation allows the catalytic formation of C-C bonds with carbon dioxide as C1 source and avoids the use of sensitive and/or expensive reducing agents (for example, Grignard reagents, diethylzinc or triethylaluminum).

Ruthenium-catalyzed hydroformylation/reduction of olefins to alcohols: extending the scope to internal alkenes.

In the presence of 2-phosphino-substituted imidazole ligands and Ru3(CO)12 or Ru(methylallyl)2(COD) direct hydroformylation and hydrogenation of alkenes to alcohols takes place. In addition to terminal alkenes, also more challenging internal olefins are converted preferentially to industrially important linear alcohols in high yield (up to 88%) and regioselectivity (n:iso up to 99:1).

Efficient and regioselective ruthenium-catalyzed hydro-aminomethylation of olefins.

An efficient and regioselective ruthenium-catalyzed hydroaminomethlyation of olefins is reported. Key to success is the use of specific 2-phosphino-substituted imidazole ligands and triruthenium dodecacarbonyl as catalyst. Both industrially important aliphatic as well as various functionalized olefins react with primary and secondary amines to give the corresponding secondary and tertiary amines generally in high yields (up to 96%) and excellent regioselectivities (n/iso up to 99:1).

Development of a Ruthenium/Phosphite Catalyst System for Domino Hydroformylation–Reduction of Olefins with Carbon Dioxide

An efficient domino ruthenium-catalyzed reverse water-gas-shift (RWGS)-hydroformylation-reduction reaction of olefins to alcohols is reported. Key to success is the use of specific bulky phosphite ligands and triruthenium dodecacarbonyl as the catalyst. Compared to the known ruthenium/chloride system, the new catalyst allows for a more efficient hydrohydroxymethylation of terminal and internal olefins with carbon dioxide at lower temperature. Unwanted hydrogenation of the substrate is prevented. Preliminary mechanism investigations uncovered the homogeneous nature of the active catalyst and the influence of the ligand and additive in individual steps of the reaction sequence.

Towards the Development of a Selective Ruthenium-Catalyzed Hydroformylation of Olefins

The ruthenium-catalyzed hydroformylation of 1- and 2-octene to give preferentially the corresponding linear aldehyde is reported. The catalyst system comprising of Ru3 (CO)12 and an imidazole-substituted monophosphine ligand allows for high chemo- and regioselectivity. The hydroformylation proceeds with unprecedented rates for a ruthenium-based catalyst.

Towards a Sustainable Synthesis of Formate Salts: Combined Catalytic Methanol Dehydrogenation and Bicarbonate Hydrogenation†

Formate salts are important chemicals widely used in everyday products. The current industrial-scale manufacture of formates requires CO at high pressure and harsh reaction conditions. Herein, we describe a new process for these products without the utilization of hazardous gases and chemicals. By application of ruthenium pincer complexes, a simultaneous methanol dehydrogenation and bicarbonate hydrogenation reaction proceeds, which provides a green synthesis of formate salts with excellent TON (>18,000), TOF (>1300 h(-1)), and yield (>90%).

A General Palladium‐Catalyzed Carbonylative Synthesis of Chromenones from Salicylic Aldehydes and Benzyl Chlorides

Cute CO! An interesting and straightforward procedure for the carbonylative synthesis of chromenones from readily available salicylic aldehydes and benzyl chlorides has been developed (see scheme; DPPP = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane). In the presence of a palladium catalyst, various coumarins were produced in good to excellent yields.