Cu-Catalyzed Three-Component Alkene Carboamination: Mechanistic Insights and Rational Design to Overcome Limitations.

Herein, we report mechanistic investigations into the Cu-catalyzed three-component carboamination of alkenes with α-halo carbonyls and aryl amines via an oxocarbenium intermediate. Monitoring the reaction reveals the formation of transient atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) intermediates with both electron-neutral and deficient vinyl arenes as well as unactivated alkenes. Based on our experimental studies and density functional theory calculations, the oxocarbenium is generated through atom transfer and subsequent intramolecular substitution. Further, mechanistic factors that dictate the regioselectivity of the nucleophilic attack onto the oxocarbenium to afford the γ-amino ester, γ-iminolactone, or γ-lactone are discussed. A strategy to overcome scope limitation with respect to unactivated alkenes is developed using the mechanistic insights gained herein. Finally, we demonstrate that under modified conditions, our Cu catalyst enables the ATRA reaction between a variety of alkyl halides and vinyl arenes/α-olefins, and we present a one-pot, two-step carbofunctionalization with an array of nucleophiles through ATRA/SN2.

Threefold reactivity of a COF-embedded rhenium catalyst: reductive etherification, oxidative esterification or transfer hydrogenation.

The reactivity of the novel Re(I) catalyst [Re(C12Anth-py2)(CO)3Br] is modulated by its interactions with the covalent organic framework (COF) TFB-BD. The complex catalyzes either reductive etherification, oxidative esterification, or transfer hydrogenation depending on its local environment (embedded in TFB-BD, in homogeneous solution or co-incubated with TFB-BD, respectively). The results highlight that COFs can drastically modulate the reactivity of homogeneous catalysts.

Emerging artificial metalloenzymes for asymmetric hydrogenation reactions.

Artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs) utilize the best properties of homogenous transition metal catalysts and naturally occurring proteins. While synthetic metal complexes offer high tunability and broad-scope reactivity with a variety of substrates, enzymes further endow these complexes with enhanced aqueous stability and stereoselectivity. For these reasons, dozens of ArMs have been designed to perform catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation reactions, and hydrogenase ArMs are, in fact, the oldest class of ArMs. Herein, we report recent advances in the design of hydrogenase ArMs, including (i) the modification of natural [Fe]-hydrogenase by insertion of artificial metallocofactors, (ii) design of a novel ArM system from the tractable and inexpensive protein ß-lactoglobulin to afford a high-performing transfer hydrogenase, and (iii) the design of chimeric streptavidin scaffolds that drastically alter the secondary coordination sphere of previously reported streptavidin/biotin transfer hydrogenase ArMs.

Scaffold-based [Fe]-hydrogenase model: H2 activation initiates Fe(0)-hydride extrusion and non-biomimetic hydride transfer.

We report the synthesis and reactivity of a model of [Fe]-hydrogenase derived from an anthracene-based scaffold that includes the endogenous, organometallic acyl(methylene) donor. In comparison to other non-scaffolded acyl-containing complexes, the complex described herein retains molecularly well-defined chemistry upon addition of multiple equivalents of exogenous base. Clean deprotonation of the acyl(methylene) C-H bond with a phenolate base results in the formation of a dimeric motif that contains a new Fe-C(methine) bond resulting from coordination of the deprotonated methylene unit to an adjacent iron center. This effective second carbanion in the ligand framework was demonstrated to drive heterolytic H2 activation across the Fe(ii) center. However, this process results in reductive elimination and liberation of the ligand to extrude a lower-valent Fe-carbonyl complex. Through a series of isotopic labelling experiments, structural characterization (XRD, XAS), and spectroscopic characterization (IR, NMR, EXAFS), a mechanistic pathway is presented for H2/hydride-induced loss of the organometallic acyl unit (i.e. pyCH2-C[double bond, length as m-dash]O → pyCH3+C[triple bond, length as m-dash]O). The known reduced hydride species [HFe(CO)4]- and [HFe3(CO)11]- have been observed as products by 1H/2H NMR and IR spectroscopies, as well as independent syntheses of PNP[HFe(CO)4]. The former species (i.e. [HFe(CO)4]-) is deduced to be the actual hydride transfer agent in the hydride transfer reaction (nominally catalyzed by the title compound) to a biomimetic substrate ([TolIm](BArF) = fluorinated imidazolium as hydride acceptor). This work provides mechanistic insight into the reasons for lack of functional biomimetic behavior (hydride transfer) in acyl(methylene)pyridine based mimics of [Fe]-hydrogenase.