Rajenahally V. Jagadeesh

Nanoscale Fe2O3-based catalysts for selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes to anilines.

Lighter Hydrogenation Catalysts Enzymes have evolved to use abundant metals such as iron, cobalt, and nickel for redox catalysis. However, synthetic catalysis has generally relied on the rarer, heavier relatives of these elements: ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, palladium, and platinum (see the Perspective by Bullock). Friedfeld et al. (p. 1076) used high-throughput screening to show that the right cobalt precursor can be activated for asymmetric hydrogenation catalysis by using the traditional ligands developed for the precious metals. Zuo et al. (p. 1080) focused on iron, demonstrating a highly effective asymmetric transfer hydrogenation catalyst that uses a ligand rationally designed after careful mechanistic study. Jagadeesh et al. (p. 1073) prepared supported iron catalysts that selectively reduce nitro substituents on aromatic rings to amines, thereby facilitating the preparation of a wide range of aniline derivatives. An iron oxide catalyst selects nitro groups for reduction in the presence of many other sensitive chemical substituents. [Also see Perspective by Bullock] Production of anilines—key intermediates for the fine chemical, agrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries—relies on precious metal catalysts that selectively hydrogenate aryl nitro groups in the presence of other easily reducible functionalities. Herein, we report convenient and stable iron oxide (Fe2O3)–based catalysts as a more earth-abundant alternative for this transformation. Pyrolysis of iron-phenanthroline complexes on carbon furnishes a unique structure in which the active Fe2O3 particles are surrounded by a nitrogen-doped carbon layer. Highly selective hydrogenation of numerous structurally diverse nitroarenes (more than 80 examples) proceeded in good to excellent yield under industrially viable conditions.

Heterogenized cobalt oxide catalysts for nitroarene reduction by pyrolysis of molecularly defined complexes

Molecularly well-defined homogeneous catalysts are known for a wide variety of chemical transformations. The effect of small changes in molecular structure can be studied in detail and used to optimize many processes. However, many industrial processes require heterogeneous catalysts because of their stability, ease of separation and recyclability, but these are more difficult to control on a molecular level. Here, we describe the conversion of homogeneous cobalt complexes into heterogeneous cobalt oxide catalysts via immobilization and pyrolysis on activated carbon. The catalysts thus produced are useful for the industrially important reduction of nitroarenes to anilines. The ligand indirectly controls the selectivity and activity of the recyclable catalyst and catalyst optimization can be performed at the level of the solution-phase precursor before conversion into the active heterogeneous catalyst. Pyrolysis of defined nitrogen-ligated cobalt acetate complexes onto a commercial carbon support transforms the complexes into heterogeneous Co3O4 materials. These reusable non-noble-metal catalysts are highly selective for the industrially important hydrogenation of structurally diverse and functionalized nitroarenes to anilines.

Selective Oxidation of Alcohols to Esters Using Heterogeneous Co3O4–N@C Catalysts under Mild Conditions

Novel cobalt-based heterogeneous catalysts have been developed for the direct oxidative esterification of alcohols using molecular oxygen as benign oxidant. Pyrolysis of nitrogen-ligated cobalt(II) acetate supported on commercial carbon transforms typical homogeneous complexes to highly active and selective heterogeneous Co3O4-N@C materials. By applying these catalysts in the presence of oxygen, the cross and self-esterification of alcohols to esters proceeds in good to excellent yields.

Convenient and Mild Epoxidation of Alkenes Using Heterogeneous Cobalt Oxide Catalysts

A general epoxidation of aromatic and aliphatic olefins has been developed under mild conditions using heterogeneous Cox Oy -N/C (x=1,3; y=1,4) catalysts and tert-butyl hydroperoxide as the terminal oxidant. Various stilbenes and aliphatic alkenes, including renewable olefins, and vitamin and cholesterol derivatives, were successfully transformed into the corresponding epoxides with high selectivity and often good yields. The cobalt oxide catalyst can be recycled up to five times without significant loss of activity or change in structure. Characterization of the catalyst by XRD, TEM, XPS, and EPR analysis revealed the formation of cobalt oxide nanoparticles with varying size (Co3 O4 with some CoO) and very few large particles with a metallic Co core and an oxidic shell. During the pyrolysis process the nitrogen ligand forms graphene-type layers, in which selected carbon atoms are substituted by nitrogen.

Green synthesis of nitriles using non-noble metal oxides-based nanocatalysts

(Hetero)aromatic and aliphatic nitriles constitute major building blocks for organic synthesis and represent a versatile motif found in numerous medicinally and biologically important compounds. In general, these nitriles are synthesized by traditional cyanation procedures using toxic cyanides. With respect to green chemistry, the development of more sustainable and cost-efficient processes for the synthesis of advanced nitriles is highly desired. Here we report an environmentally benign synthesis of all kinds of structurally diverse aryl, heterocyclic, allylic and aliphatic nitriles from easily available alcohols applying aqueous ammonia and molecular oxygen. Key to success for this synthesis is the use of nitrogen-doped graphene-layered non-noble metal oxides as stable and durable nanocatalysts. As an example a renewable synthesis of adiponitrile, an industrially important bulk chemical is presented.

Hydrogenation using iron oxide–based nanocatalysts for the synthesis of amines

In this protocol, we describe the preparation of nanoscale iron oxide–based materials and their use in the catalysis of different hydrogenation reactions. Pyrolysis of a Fe(OAc)2-phenanthroline complex on carbon at 800 °C under argon atmosphere results in the formation of nanoscale Fe2O3 particles surrounded by nitrogen-doped graphene layers. By applying these catalysts, the hydrogenation of structurally diverse and functionalized nitroarenes to anilines proceeds with excellent selectivity. Furthermore, we have shown that one-pot reductive amination of carbonyl compounds with nitroarenes is also possible in the presence of these iron oxide catalysts. We report herein the synthesis of more than 40 amines, which are important feedstocks and key intermediates for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and polymers. The detailed preparation of the catalysts and the procedures for the hydrogenation processes are presented. The overall time required for the catalyst preparation and for the hydrogenation reactions are 35 h and 20–35 h, respectively.

Highly selective transfer hydrogenation of functionalised nitroarenes using cobalt-based nanocatalysts

Anilines are important feedstock for the synthesis of a variety of chemicals such as dyes, pigments, pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. The chemoselective catalytic reduction of nitro compounds represents the most important and prevalent process for the manufacture of functionalized anilines. Consequently, the development of selective catalysts for the reduction of nitro compounds in the presence of other reducible groups is a major challenge and is crucial. In this regard, herein we show that the cobalt oxide (Co3O4-NGr@C) based nano-materials, prepared by the pyrolysis of cobalt-phenanthroline complexes on carbon constitute highly selective catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of nitroarenes to anilines using formic acid as a hydrogen source. Applying these catalysts, a series of structurally diverse and functionalized nitroarenes have been reduced to anilines with unprecedented chemo-selectivity tolerating halides, olefins, aldehyde, ketone, ester, amide and nitrile functionalities.

A convenient and general ruthenium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of nitro- and azobenzenes.

An easily accessible in situ catalyst composed of [{RuCl(2)(p-cymene)}(2)] and terpyridine has been developed for the selective transfer hydrogenation of aromatic nitro and azo compounds. The procedure is general and the selectivity of the catalyst has been demonstrated by applying a series of structurally diverse nitro and azo compounds (see scheme).

Palladium-Catalyzed Trifluoromethylation of (Hetero)Arenes with CF3 Br.

The CF3 group is an omnipresent motif found in many pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, catalysts, materials, and industrial chemicals. Despite well-established trifluoromethylation methodologies, the straightforward and selective introduction of such groups into (hetero)arenes using available and less expensive sources is still a major challenge. In this regard, the selective synthesis of various trifluoromethyl-substituted (hetero)arenes by palladium-catalyzed C-H functionalization is herein reported. This novel methodology proceeds under comparably mild reaction conditions with good regio- and chemoselectivity. As examples, trifluoromethylations of biologically important molecules, such as melatonin, theophylline, caffeine, and pentoxifylline, are showcased.

Cobalt-based nanocatalysts for green oxidation and hydrogenation processes

This protocol describes the preparation of cobalt-based nanocatalysts and their applications in environmentally benign redox processes for fine chemical synthesis. The catalytically active material consists of nanoscale Co3O4 particles surrounded by nitrogen-doped graphene layers (NGrs), which have been prepared by pyrolysis of phenanthroline-ligated cobalt acetate on carbon. The resulting materials have been found to be excellent catalysts for the activation of both molecular oxygen and hydrogen; in all tested reactions, water was the only by-product. By applying these catalysts, green oxidations of alcohols and hydrogenation of nitroarenes for the synthesis of nitriles, esters and amines are demonstrated. The overall time required for catalyst preparation and for redox reactions is 35 h and 10–30 h, respectively.