A Closed-Loop Recyclable Low-Density Polyethylene.

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is one of the most important plastics, which is produced unfortunately under extreme conditions. In addition, it consists of robust aliphatic C─C bonds which are challenging to cleave for plastic recycling. A low-pressure and -temperature (pethylene = 2 bara, T = 70 °C) macromonomer-based synthesis of long chain branched polyethylene is reported. The introduction of recycle points permits the polymerization (grafting to) of the macromonomers to form the long chain branched polyethylene and its depolymerization (branch cleavage). Coordinative chain transfer polymerization employing ethylene and co-monomers is used for the synthesis of the macromonomers, permitting a high flexibility of their precise structure and efficient synthesis. The long chain branched polyethylene material matches key properties of low-density polyethylene.

Anti-Tumoural [NHC(thiolato)] Gold(I) Complexes Derived from HIF-1α Inhibitor AC1-004 Target the Mitochondrial Redox System and Show Antiangiogenic Effects in vivo.

AC1-004 is a potent inhibitor of the hypoxia-inducible factor alpha (HIF-1α) pathway, essential for tumour growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. We modelled a series of gold(I) complexes on AC1-004, retaining its 5-carboalkoxybenzimidazole as an NHC ligand while replacing its 2-aryloxymethyl residue with modified thiolato gold(I) fragments. The intention was to augment a potential HIF-1α inhibition by conducive effects typical of NHC gold complexes, such as an inhibition of tumoural thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cytotoxic and antiangiogenic effects. We report on the synthesis and biological effects of twelve such N,N'-dialkylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene gold(I) complexes, obtained in average yields of 65 % for the thiophenolato and 45 % for the novel 4-(adamant-2-yl)benzenethiol complexes. The structure of one complex was validated via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structure-activity relationships (SAR) were derived by variation of the N-substituents (Me, Et, iPr, pentyl, Bn) and the thiolato ligand. Their cytotoxicity against various human cancer cell lines of different entities reached IC50 values in the single-digit micromolar range. The complexes were also assayed for the induction of tumour cell apoptosis (activation of caspase-3/7), TrxR inhibition and antiangiogenic effects in zebrafish. Cyclopropene-bearing congeners were employed in click reactions to examine the subcellular accumulation of the complexes.

Rational design of N-heterocyclic compound classes via regenerative cyclization of diamines.

The discovery of reactions is a central topic in chemistry and especially interesting if access to compound classes, which have not yet been synthesized, is permitted. N-Heterocyclic compounds are very important due to their numerous applications in life and material science. We introduce here a consecutive three-component reaction, classes of N-heterocyclic compounds, and the associated synthesis concept (regenerative cyclisation). Our reaction starts with a diamine, which reacts with an amino alcohol via dehydrogenation, condensation, and cyclisation to form a new pair of amines that undergoes ring closure with an aldehyde, carbonyldiimidazole, or a dehydrogenated amino alcohol. Hydrogen is liberated in the first reaction step and the dehydrogenation catalyst used is based on manganese.

A Highly Active Cobalt Catalyst for the General and Selective Hydrogenation of Aromatic Heterocycles.

Nanostructured earth abundant metal catalysts that mediate important chemical reactions with high efficiency and selectivity are of great interest. This study introduces a synthesis protocol for nanostructured earth abundant metal catalysts. Three components, an inexpensive metal precursor, an easy to synthesize N/C precursor, and a porous support material undergo pyrolysis to give the catalyst material in a simple, single synthesis step. By applying this catalyst synthesis, a highly active cobalt catalyst for the general and selective hydrogenation of aromatic heterocycles could be generated. The reaction is important with regard to organic synthesis and hydrogen storage. The mild reaction conditions observed for quinolines permit the selective hydrogenation of numerous classes of N-, O- and S-heterocyclic compounds such as: quinoxalines, pyridines, pyrroles, indoles, isoquinoline, aciridine amine, phenanthroline, benzofuranes, and benzothiophenes.

The Highly Controlled and Efficient Polymerization of Ethylene.

The highly controlled and efficient polymerization of ethylene is a very attractive but challenging target. Herein we report on a Coordinative Chain Transfer Polymerization catalyst, which combines a high degree of control and very high activity in ethylene oligo- or polymerization with extremely high chain transfer agent (triethylaluminum) to catalyst ratios (catalyst economy). Our Zr catalyst is long living and temperature stable. The chain length of the polyethylene products increases over time under constant ethylene feed or until a certain volume of ethylene is completely consumed to reach the expected molecular weight. Very high activities are observed if the catalyst elongates 60 000 or more alkyl chains and the polydispersity of the strictly linear polyethylene materials obtained are very low. The key for the combination of high control and efficiency seems to be a catalyst stabilized by only one strongly bound monoanionic N-ligand.

Synthesis of 3,4-Dihydro-2H-Pyrroles from Ketones, Aldehydes, and Nitro Alkanes via Hydrogenative Cyclization.

Syntheses of N-heterocyclic compounds that permit a flexible introduction of various substitution patterns by using inexpensive and diversely available starting materials are highly desirable. Easy to handle and reusable catalysts based on earth-abundant metals are especially attractive for these syntheses. We report here on the synthesis of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrroles via the hydrogenation and cyclization of nitro ketones. The latter are easily accessible from three components: a ketone, an aldehyde and a nitroalkane. Our reaction has a broad scope and 23 of the 33 products synthesized are compounds which have not yet been reported. The key to the general hydrogenation/cyclization reaction is a highly active, selective and reusable nickel catalyst, which was identified from a library of 24 earth-abundant metal catalysts.

Elongation and branching of α-olefins by two ethylene molecules.

α-Olefins are important starting materials for the production of plastics, pharmaceuticals, and fine and bulk chemicals. However, the selective synthesis of α-olefins from ethylene, a highly abundant and inexpensive feedstock, is restricted, and thus a broadly applicable selective α-olefin synthesis using ethylene is highly desirable. Here, we report the catalytic reaction of an α-olefin with two ethylene molecules. The first ethylene molecule forms a 4-ethyl branch and the second a new terminal carbon-carbon double bond (C2 elongation). The key to this reaction is the development of a highly active and stable molecular titanium catalyst that undergoes extremely fast ß-hydride elimination and transfer.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Dehydrogenative C-H Silylation of Alkynylsilanes.

Herein, we report that a cobalt catalyst permits the general synthesis of substituted alkynylsilanes through dehydrogenative coupling of alkynylsilanes and hydrosilanes. Several silylated alkynes, including di- and trisubstituted ones, were prepared in a one-step procedure. Thirty-seven compounds were synthesized for the first time by applying our catalyst system. The alkynylsilanes bearing hydrosilyl moieties provide an opportunity for further functionalization (e. g., hydrosilylation). The use of primary silanes as substrates and precatalyst activators permits the use of inexpensive and easily accessible 3d metal precatalysts, and avoids the presence of additional activators.

Co-Catalyzed Synthesis of Primary Amines via Reductive Amination employing Hydrogen under very mild Conditions.

Nanostructured and reusable 3d-metal catalysts that operate with high activity and selectivity in important chemical reactions are highly desirable. Here, a cobalt catalyst was developed for the synthesis of primary amines via reductive amination employing hydrogen as the reducing agent and easy-to-handle ammonia, dissolved in water, as the nitrogen source. The catalyst operates under very mild conditions (1.5 mol% catalyst loading, 50 °C and 10 bar H2 pressure) and outperforms commercially available noble metal catalysts (Pd, Pt, Ru, Rh, Ir). A broad scope and a very good functional group tolerance were observed. The key for the high activity seemed to be the used support: an N-doped amorphous carbon material with small and turbostratically disordered graphitic domains, which is microporous with a bimodal size distribution and with basic NH functionalities in the pores.

General Synthesis of Secondary Alkylamines by Reductive Alkylation of Nitriles by Aldehydes and Ketones.

The development of C-N bond formation reactions is highly desirable due to their importance in biology and chemistry. Recent progress in 3d metal catalysis is indicative of unique selectivity patterns that may permit solving challenges of chemical synthesis. We report here on a catalytic C-N bond formation reaction-the reductive alkylation of nitriles. Aldehydes or ketones and nitriles, all abundantly available and low-cost starting materials, undergo a reductive coupling to form secondary alkylamines and inexpensive hydrogen is used as the reducing agent. The reaction has a very broad scope and many functional groups, including hydrogenation-sensitive examples, are tolerated. We developed a novel cobalt catalyst, which is nanostructured, reusable, and easy to handle. The key seems the earth-abundant metal in combination with a porous support material, N-doped SiC, synthesized from acrylonitrile and a commercially available polycarbosilane.

Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Reductive Amination Employing Hydrogen.

The reductive amination, the reaction of an aldehyde or a ketone with ammonia or an amine in the presence of a reducing agent and often a catalyst, is an important amine synthesis and has been intensively investigated in academia and industry for a century. Besides aldehydes, ketones, or amines, starting materials have been used that can be converted into an aldehyde or ketone (for instance, carboxylic acids or organic carbonate or nitriles) or into an amine (for instance, a nitro compound) in the presence of the same reducing agent and catalyst. Mechanistically, the reaction starts with a condensation step during which the carbonyl compound reacts with ammonia or an amine, forming the corresponding imine followed by the reduction of the imine to the alkyl amine product. Many of these reduction steps require the presence of a catalyst to activate the reducing agent. The reductive amination is impressive with regard to the product scope since primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl amines are accessible and hydrogen is the most attractive reducing agent, especially if large-scale product formation is an issue, since hydrogen is inexpensive and abundantly available. Alkyl amines are intensively produced and use fine and bulk chemicals. They are key functional groups in many pharmaceuticals, agro chemicals, or materials. In this review, we summarize the work published on reductive amination employing hydrogen as the reducing agent. No comprehensive review focusing on this subject has been published since 1948, albeit many interesting summaries dealing with one or the other aspect of reductive amination have appeared. Impressive progress in using catalysts based on earth-abundant metals, especially nanostructured heterogeneous catalysts, has been made during the early development of the field and in recent years.

The Synthesis of Primary Amines through Reductive Amination Employing an Iron Catalyst.

The reductive amination of ketones and aldehydes by ammonia is a highly attractive method for the synthesis of primary amines. The use of catalysts, especially reusable catalysts, based on earth-abundant metals is similarly appealing. Here, the iron-catalyzed synthesis of primary amines through reductive amination was realized. A broad scope and a very good tolerance of functional groups were observed. Ketones, including purely aliphatic ones, aryl-alkyl, dialkyl, and heterocyclic, as well as aldehydes could be converted smoothly into their corresponding primary amines. In addition, the amination of pharmaceuticals, bioactive compounds, and natural products was demonstrated. Many functional groups, such as hydroxy, methoxy, dioxol, sulfonyl, and boronate ester substituents, were tolerated. The catalyst is easy to handle, selective, and reusable and ammonia dissolved in water could be employed as the nitrogen source. The key is the use of a specific Fe complex for the catalyst synthesis and an N-doped SiC material as catalyst support.

Chromium-Catalyzed Alkylation of Amines by Alcohols.

The alkylation of amines by alcohols is a broadly applicable, sustainable, and selective method for the synthesis of alkyl amines, which are important bulk and fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals. We show that Cr complexes can catalyze this C-N bond formation reaction. We synthesized and isolated 35 examples of alkylated amines, including 13 previously undisclosed products, and the use of amino alcohols as alkylating agents was demonstrated. The catalyst tolerates numerous functional groups, including hydrogenation-sensitive examples. Compared to many other alcohol-based amine alkylation methods, where a stoichiometric amount of base is required, our Cr-based catalyst system gives yields higher than 90 % for various alkyl amines with a catalytic amount of base. Our study indicates that Cr complexes can catalyze borrowing hydrogen or hydrogen autotransfer reactions and could thus be an alternative to Fe, Co, and Mn, or noble metals in (de)hydrogenation catalysis.

Formation of a dimeric tungsten(i) complex via C-H activation.

An aminopyridinato ligand stabilized and coordinatively unsaturated dimeric tungsten(0) complex having an electronic structure with six metal centred HOMOs (σ2,π2,π2,δ2,δ2, and δ*2) has been isolated and structurally characterized. Its reaction with a cryptand leads to a C-H bond activation of one of the isopropyl groups of the N-ligand to form a dimeric tungsten(i) complex.

Manganese-Catalyzed ß-Methylation of Alcohols by Methanol.

We report an earth-abundant-metal-catalyzed double and single methylation of alcohols. A manganese catalyst, which operates at low catalyst loadings and short reaction times, mediates these reactions efficiently. A broad scope of primary and secondary alcohols, including purely aliphatic examples, and 1,2-aminoalcohols can be methylated. Furthermore, alcohol methylation for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals has been demonstrated. The catalyst system tolerates many functional groups among them hydrogenation-sensitive examples and upscaling is easily achieved. Mechanistic investigations are indicative of a borrowing hydrogen or hydrogen autotransfer mechanism involving a bimetallic K-Mn catalyst. The catalyst accepts hydrogen as a proton and a hydride from alcohols efficiently and reacts with a chalcone via hydride transfer.

Synthesis, structures and cytotoxic effects in vitro of cis- and trans-[PtIVCl4(NHC)2] complexes and their PtII precursors.

Four new bis(N,N-dialkylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene)dichlorido platinum(ii) complexes 2 featuring N-alkyl substituents of increasing size (a: Me, b: Et, c: n-butyl, d: n-octyl) were synthesised and oxidised with PhICl2 to give the corresponding [PtIVCl4(N,N-dialkylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene)2] complexes 4 as potential anticancer prodrugs. The known bis(N,N-dibenzylimidazol-2-ylidene)dichlorido platinum(ii) complex 1 was likewise oxidised to [PtIVCl4(N,N-dibenzylimidazol-2-ylidene)2] 3. In contrast, oxidation of complexes 1 and 2 with H2O2 or hypochlorites, or exchange of chlorido for hydroxo ligands in tetrachlorido complexes 4 failed to give isolable complexes of type [PtIVCl4-n(OH)n(NHC)2]. In MTT assays the [PtIICl2(NHC)2]/[PtIVCl4(NHC)2] complex couples 1/3, 2c/4c, and trans-2c/trans-4c, bearing either N-benzyl or N-butyl substituents, each showed similar single-digit micromolar IC50 values against at least three out of five human cancer cell lines, presumably due to an intracellular reduction of the PtIV complexes to their active PtII congeners. Unlike cisplatin, whose anticancer effect requires functional p53, each of them was active both in wildtype and in p53-negative HCT116 colon carcinoma cells. In ethidium bromide saturation assays with isolated DNA, cis-(bis-NHC)PtII complexes such as 1 caused morphological DNA changes more pronounced than those initiated by cisplatin, while the corresponding cis-(bis-NHC)PtIV complexes such as 3 interacted with DNA in a less structure-modifying way.

Mechanistic Studies of Hydride Transfer to Imines from a Highly Active and Chemoselective Manganate Catalyst.

We introduce a highly active and chemoselective manganese catalyst for the hydrogenation of imines. The catalyst has a large scope, can reduce aldimines and ketimines, and tolerates a variety of functional groups, among them hydrogenation sensitive examples such as an olefin, a ketone, nitriles, nitro groups, and an aryl iodo substituent or a benzyl ether. We could investigate the transfer step between imines and the hydride complex in detail. We found that double deprotonation of the ligand is essential and excess base does not lead to a higher rate in the transfer step. We identified the actual hydrogenation catalyst as a K-Mn-bimetallic species and could obtain a structure of the K-Mn complex formed after hydride transfer by X-ray analysis. NMR experiments indicate that the hydride transfer is a well-defined reaction, which is first order in imine, first order in the bimetallic (K-Mn) hydride, and independent in rate from the concentration of the potassium base. We propose an outer-sphere mechanism in which protons do not seem to be involved in the rate-determining step, leading to a transiently negatively charged nitrogen atom in the substrate which reacts rapidly with HOtBu (2-methylpropan-2-ol) to produce the amine. This is based on several observations, such as no dependency of the reaction rate on the HOtBu concentration, no observable manganese amide complex, and a high reaction constant in a conducted Hammett study. Furthermore, hydrogen transfer of the catalytic cycle was experimentally probed and monitored by NMR with subsequent quantitative regeneration of the catalyst by H2.

A Cobalt Catalyst Permits the Direct Hydrogenative Synthesis of 1H-Perimidines from a Dinitroarene and an Aldehyde.

A new sustainable catalytic reaction, the synthesis of 1H- perimidines from a dinitroarene and an aldehyde in the presence of H2 , was achieved. An earth-abundant metal catalyst was developed to permit the efficient, highly chemoselective, and consecutive hydrogenation of dinitroarenes. The catalyst was reusable and easy to handle. The use of a specific Co complex and its pyrolysis at a certain temperature was crucial to achieve high activity for the complex organic transformation. Benzylic and aliphatic aldehydes could undergo the hydrogenative condensation, and many functional groups, including hydrogenation-sensitive examples such as iodo aryl, nitrile, olefin, and alkyne groups, were tolerated.

3d-Metal Catalyzed N- and C-Alkylation Reactions via Borrowing Hydrogen or Hydrogen Autotransfer.

The conservation of our element resources is a fundamental challenge of mankind. The development of alcohol refunctionalization reactions is a possible fossil carbon conservation strategy since alcohols can be obtained from indigestible and abundantly available biomass. The conservation of our rare noble metals, frequently used in key technologies such as catalysis, might be feasible by replacing them with highly abundant metals. The alkylation of amines by alcohols and related C-C coupling reactions are early examples of alcohol refunctionalization reactions. These reactions follow mostly the borrowing hydrogen or hydrogen autotransfer catalysis concept, and many 3d-metal catalysts have been disclosed in recent years. In this review, we summarize the progress made in developing Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, and Mn catalysts for C-N and C-C bond formation reactions with alcohols and amines using the borrowing hydrogen or hydrogen autotransfer concept. We expect that the findings in this field will inspire others to develop new efficient and selective earth-abundant metal catalysts for borrowing hydrogen or hydrogen autotransfer applications or to develop novel alcohol refunctionalization reactions that can be mediated by such metals.

N,N-Dialkylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene platinum complexes - effects of alkyl residues and ancillary cis-ligands on anticancer activity.

Eleven complexes of [(1,3-dialkylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene)LnCl3-n]Pt(n-1)+, with Ln = DMSO (8), Ph3P (9), (Ph3P)2 (10), and alkyl = Me (a), Et (b), Bu (c), octyl (d), were synthesised and tested for cellular accumulation, cytotoxicity, interference with the tumour cell cycle, and interaction with DNA. The delocalised lipophilic cationic bisphosphane complexes 10 were on average found to be more cytotoxic in MTT assays against a panel of seven cancer cell lines than the neutral DMSO and monophosphane complexes 8 and 9. The uptake of complexes 10, at least into HCT116 colon carcinoma cells, was also significantly greater than that of analogues 8 and 9. Their cytotoxicities did not differ significantly with the N-alkyl side chain length. The complexes that were most active, with sub-micromolar IC50 (72 h) values against HCT116wt cells, that is 8b, 9b, 10a-c, worked by a mode of action that was dependent on the functional p53, yet were still far more active than cisplatin in both of the HCT116wt and HCT116-/- variants. In detailed binding analyses 8c, 9c and 10a-c showed a lower affinity to DNA and different binding modes when compared to cisplatin, preferably forming mono-adducts with DNA and distorting it to a lower extent. Also, unlike cisplatin, they arrested the HCT116 cells of both variants predominantly in the G1 phase.