Efficient Decarbonylation of Furfural to Furan Catalyzed by Zirconia-Supported Palladium Clusters with Low Atomicity.

Decarbonylation of furfural to furan was efficiently catalyzed by ZrO2 -supported Pd clusters in the liquid phase under a N2 atmosphere without additives. Although Pd/C and Pd/Al2 O3 have frequently been used for decarbonylation, Pd/ZrO2 exhibited superior catalytic performance compared with these conventional catalysts. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure measurements revealed that the size of the Pd particles decreased with an increase in the specific surface area of ZrO2 . ZrO2 with a high surface area immobilized Pd as clusters consisting of several (three to five) Pd atoms, whereas Pd aggregated to form nanoparticles on other supports such as carbon and Al2 O3 despite their high surface areas. The catalytic activity of Pd/ZrO2 was enhanced with a decrease in particle size, and the smallest Pd/ZrO2 was the most active catalyst for decarbonylation. When CeO2 was used as the support, a decrease in Pd particle size with an increase in surface area was also observed. Single Pd atoms were deposited on CeO2 with a high surface area, with a strong interaction through the formation of a Pd-O-Ce bond, which led to a lower catalytic activity than that of Pd/ZrO2 . This result suggests that zero-valent small Pd clusters consisting of more than one Pd atom are the active species for the decarbonylation reaction. Recycling tests proved that Pd/ZrO2 maintained its catalytic activity until its sixth use.

Platinum-catalyzed direct amination of allylic alcohols under mild conditions: ligand and microwave effects, substrate scope, and mechanistic study.

Transition metal-catalyzed amination of allylic compounds via a pi-allylmetal intermediate is a powerful and useful method for synthesizing allylamines. Direct catalytic substitution of allylic alcohols, which forms water as the sole coproduct, has recently attracted attention for its environmental and economical advantages. Here, we describe the development of a versatile direct catalytic amination of both aryl- and alkyl-substituted allylic alcohols with various amines using Pt-Xantphos and Pt-DPEphos catalyst systems, which allows for the selective synthesis of various monoallylamines, such as the biologically active compounds Naftifine and Flunarizine, in good to high yield without need for an activator. The choice of the ligand was crucial toward achieving high catalytic activity, and we demonstrated that not only the large bite-angle but also the linker oxygen atom of the Xantphos and DPEphos ligands was highly important. In addition, microwave heating dramatically affected the catalyst activity and considerably decreased the reaction time compared with conventional heating. Furthermore, several mechanistic investigations, including (1)H and (31)P{(1)H} NMR studies; isolation and characterization of several catalytic intermediates, Pt(xantphos)Cl(2), Pt(eta(2)-C(3)H(5)OH)(xantphos), etc; confirmation of the structure of [Pt(eta(3)-allyl)(xantphos)]OTf by X-ray crystallographic analysis; and crossover experiments, suggested that formation of the pi-allylplatinum complex through the elimination of water is an irreversible rate-determining step and that the other processes in the catalytic cycle are reversible, even at room temperature.

Direct use of allylic alcohols for platinum-catalyzed monoallylation of amines.

A new direct catalytic amination of allylic alcohols promoted by the combination of platinum and a large bite-angle ligand DPEphos was developed in which the allylic alcohol was effectively converted to a pi-allylplatinum intermediate without the use of an activating reagent. The use of the DPEphos ligand was essential for obtaining high catalyst activity and high monoallylation selectivity of primary amines, allowing the formation of a variety of monoallylation products in good to excellent yield.

Hydroamination and hydroalkoxylation catalyzed by triflic acid. Parallels to reactions initiated with metal triflates.

Intermolecular additions of the O-H bonds of phenols and alcohols and the N-H bonds of sulfonamides and benzamide to olefins catalyzed by 1 mol % of triflic acid and studies to define the relationship between these reactions and those catalyzed by metal triflates are reported. Cyclization of an alcohol containing pendant monosubstituted and trisubstituted olefins catalyzed by either triflic acid or metal triflates form products from addition to the more substituted olefin, and additions of tosylamide catalyzed by triflic acid or metal triflates form indistinguishable ratios of the two N-alkyl sulfonamides.

A highly active palladium catalyst for intermolecular hydroamination. Factors that control reactivity and additions of functionalized anilines to dienes and vinylarenes.

We report a catalyst for intermolecular hydroamination of vinylarenes that is substantially more active for this process than catalysts published previously. With this more reactive catalyst, we demonstrate that additions of amines to vinylarenes and dienes occur in the presence of potentially reactive functional groups, such as ketones with enolizable hydrogens, free alcohols, free carboxylic acids, free amides, nitriles, and esters. The catalyst for these reactions is generated from [Pd(eta(3)-allyl)Cl](2) (with or without added AgOTf) or [Pd(CH(3)CN)(4)](BF(4))(2) and Xantphos (9,9-dimethyl-4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)xanthene), which generates complexes with large P-Pd-P bite angles. Studies on the rate of the C-N bond-forming step that occurs by attack of amine on an eta(3)-phenethyl and an eta(3)-allyl complex were conducted to determine the effect of the bite angle on the rate of this nucleophilic attack. Studies on model eta(3)-benzyl complexes containing various bisphosphines showed that the nucleophilic attack was faster for complexes containing larger P-Pd-P bite angles. Studies of substituted unsymmetrical and unsubstituted symmetrical model eta(3)-allyl complexes showed that nucleophilic attack on complexes ligated by Xantphos was faster than on complexes bearing ligands with smaller bite angles and that nucleophilic attack on unsymmetrical allyl complexes with larger bite angle ligands was faster than on unsymmetrical allyl complexes with smaller bite angle ligands. However, monitoring of catalytic reactions of dienes by (31)P NMR spectroscopy showed that the concentration of active catalyst was the major factor that controlled rates for reactions of symmetrical dienes catalyzed by complexes of phosphines with smaller bite angles. The identity of the counterion also affected the rate of attack: reactions of allylpalladium complexes with chloride counterion occurred faster than reactions of allylpalladium complexes with triflate or tetrafluoroborate counterion. As is often observed, the dynamics of the allyl and benzyl complexes also depended on the identity of the counterion.

Ruthenium-catalyzed anti-Markovnikov hydroamination of vinylarenes.

A ruthenium-catalyzed intermolecular, anti-Markovnikov hydroamination of vinylarenes with secondary aliphatic and benzylic amines is reported. The combination of Ru(cod)(2-methylallyl)2, 1,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane, and triflic acid was the most effective catalyst of those tested. Control reactions conducted without ligand or acid did not form the amine. The reaction of morpholine, piperidine, 4-phenylpiperazine, 4-BOC-piperazine, 4-piperidone ethylene ketal, and tetrahydroisoquinoline with styrene in the presence of 5 mol % of this catalyst formed the corresponding beta-phenethylamine products in 64-96% yield, with 99% regioselectivity, and without enamine side products. Acyclic amines such as n-hexylmethylamine and N-benzylmethylamine reacted with styrene in 63 and 50% yields, respectively. Alkyl-, methoxy-, and trifluoromethyl-substituted styrenes reacted with morpholine in the presence of this catalyst or a related one containing 1,1'-bis(diisopropylphosphino)ferrocene as ligand to give the products in 51-91%. Further, the hydroamination of alpha-methyl styrene was observed for the first time with a homogeneous transition metal catalyst. Preliminary mechanistic studies showed that the reaction occurred by direct, irreversible, anti-Markovnikov hydroamination and that the mechanism of the ruthenium-catalyzed hydroamination is likely to be distinct from that of the recently reported rhodium-catalyzed reaction.

Intermolecular, markovnikov hydroamination of vinylarenes with alkylamines.

A transition metal-catalyzed intermolecular hydroamination of vinylarenes with alkylamines is reported. The combination of Pd(O2CCF3)4, DPPF, and TfOH was the most effective catalyst of those tested. Control experiments without palladium, acid, or ligand all occurred in low yield. The reaction of various vinylarenes with cyclic and acyclic alkylamines in the presence of 5 mol % of this catalyst formed the corresponding arylethylamine products in moderate to high yields. For example, reactions of morpholine, 4-phenylpiperazine, 4-Boc-piperazine, isoindoline, and tetrahydroisoquinoline with styrene all occurred in 58-75% yield. Acyclic amines such as N-benzylmethylamine and n-hexylmethylamine reacted with 2-vinylnaphthalene in 63% and 53% yields, respectively. Mechanistic investigations showed that the reaction occurred through an eta3-arylethyl palladium complex. The reactions of this complex with alkylamines generated product in combination with regenerating free vinylarene, Pd(0), and ammonium salt. Thus, one hurdle to developing hydroamination of vinylarenes with palladium complexes is the faster elimination of free vinylarene from the eta3-arylethyl complex than addition to form the C-N bond. The feasibility of conducting enantioselective hydroaminations with alkylamines was also examined. The product from addition of N-benzylmethylamine to 2-vinylnaphthalene was generated in 63% ee and 36% yield in the presence of Pd(OCOCF3)2, a ferrotane ligand, and TfOH cocatalyst.

Rhodium-catalyzed anti-Markovnikov hydroamination of vinylarenes.

The transition metal-catalyzed anti-Markovnikov hydroamination of unactivated vinylarenes with a rhodium complex of DPEphos is reported. The reaction of electron-neutral or electron-rich vinylarenes with a variety of secondary amines in the presence of catalyst forms the products from anti-Markovnikov hydroamination in high yields. Reactions of morpholine, N-phenylpiperazine, N-Boc-piperazine, piperidine, 2,5-dimethylmorpholine, and perhydroisoquinoline reacted with styrene to form the amine product in 51-71% yield. Reactions of a variety of vinylarenes with morpholine generated amine as the major product. Reactions of morpholine with electron-poor vinylarenes gave lower amine:enamine ratios than reactions of electron-rich vinylarenes at the same concentration of vinylarene, but conditions were developed with lower concentrations of electron-poor vinylarene to maintain formation of the amine as the major product. Reactions of dimethylamine with vinylarenes were fast and formed amine as the major product. Mechanistic studies on the hydroamination process showed that the amine:enamine ratio was lower for reactions conducted with higher concentrations of vinylarene and that one vinylarene influences the selectivity for reaction of another. A mechanism proceeding through a metallacyclic intermediate that opens in the presence of a second vinylarene accounts for these and other mechanistic observations.

Scope and mechanism of palladium-catalyzed amination of five-membered heterocyclic halides.

Detailed studies have been conducted to determine the activity of palladium catalysts for the amination of five-membered heterocyclic halides and to determine the factors that control the scope of this reaction. Palladium-catalyzed aminations of the electron-rich furanyl, thiophenyl, and indolyl halides and of the related 2-halogenated thiazoles, benzimidazole, and benzoxazole have been shown to occur with a subset of amines. Various combinations of palladium precursors and P(t)Bu(3) were tested as catalysts for reaction of 3-bromothiophene with N-methylaniline, and the fastest reactions occurred with the Pd(I) dimer, [PdBr(P(t)Bu(3))](2). The fastest aminations of thiazoles, benzimidazoles, and benzoxazoles occurred with the combination of palladium trifluoroacetate and P(t)Bu(3) as catalyst.

Aqueous hydroxide as a base for palladium-catalyzed amination of aryl chlorides and bromides.

The amination of aryl halides in the presence of inexpensive and air-stable alkali metal hydroxide bases and Pd[P(t-Bu)3]2 as catalyst gave arylamines in high yields. The reactions were conducted with a catalytic amount of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as phase-transfer agent and either aqueous hydroxide or solid hydroxide in the presence of water. This combination of alkali metal hydroxide base, H2O, and the ammonium salt performed as well as NaO-t-Bu in the amination of p-chlorotoluene with dibutylamine. Hydroxide base was suitable for reactions of a wide range of aryl chlorides and bromides with aliphatic and aromatic amines. Some functional groups that were intolerant of tert-butoxide base, such as esters, enolizable ketones, nitriles, and nitro groups, were tolerated by the combination of hydroxide base, H2O, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide in toluene solvent.