IrI(η4-diene) precatalyst activation: Role of the base

Transfer hydrogenation catalysts are important in the synthesis of fine chemicals. Previous work has shown that a base is often necessary to achieve high activities for the asymmetric hydrogenation of polar substrates. New mechanistic views for such systems have emerged to account for the activity of such systems in which the ligand does not actively participate in proton donation which nevertheless need a strong base for activity. In this work, the role of the base in the associated chemistry of [IrCl(COD)(L2)] (L2 = dppe, dppf, (S)-BINAP, P,SiPr, P,SBz, P,SPh, P,SCy, (P,SR = CpFe[1,2-C5H3(PPh2)(CH2SR)]) systems was studied. In the presence of an alkoxide with a β-hydrogen, two monohydride complexes of the form [IrH(C8H12)(dppe)] resulted from [IrCl(COD)(dppe)], which interconvert and this was supported by complementary DFT studies which gave a similar result. When no β-hydrogen was present on the base, two isomeric monohydride complexes were formed through COD deprotonation, [IrH(1-κ-4,5,6-3-C8H10)(dppe)]. DFT calculations were used to rationalize that the mechanism of interconversion proceeds via partial rotation of the cyclic C8H10 ligand. These model complexes were transformed by heating in the presence of KOtBu (or NaOMe) and isopropanol at 80 °C, to yield M[IrH4(dppe)] (M = K, Na). Similar IrIII products M[Ir(H)4(L2)] (L2 = dppf, (S)-BINAP) were selectively generated from [IrCl(COD)(L2)] and demonstrated that anionic tetrahydrido iridium complexes can be formed under catalytically relevant conditions. Finally, the alkali metal-dependent hydrogenation activity of these complexes towards benzophenone was examined. The active catalyst, generated in situ from [IrCl(COD)]2 and (P,SR) under H2 in the presence of a strong base was the solvated M[Ir(H)4(P,SR)] salt. Their activity increased, for all R derivatives, in the order Li < Na < K. On the other hand, the nature of the cation did not affect the ee. DFT calculations revealed that the rate-determining barrier corresponds to outer-sphere hydride transfer and that the enantio-discriminating interactions are largely unaffected by the cation but rather through π-π interactions. It was found that the model used to describe the alkali-metal cation coordination sphere in the DFT studies is critical for reproducing the experimental results

IrI(η4-diene) precatalyst activation by strong bases: formation of an anionic IrIII tetrahydride

The reaction between [IrCl(COD)]2 and dppe in a 1:2 ratio was investigated in detail under three different conditions. [IrCl(COD)(dppe)], 1, is formed at room temperature in the absence of base. In the presence of a strong base at room temperarture, hydride complexes that retain the carbocyclic ligand in the coordination sphere are generated. In isopropanol, 1 is converted into [IrH(1,2,5,6-η2:η2-COD)(dppe)] (2) on addition of KOtBu, with k12 = (1.11±0.02)·10-4 s-1, followed by reversible isomerisation to [IrH(1-κ-4,5,6-η3-C8H12)(dppe)] (3) with k23 = (3.4±0.2)·10-4 s-1 and k32 = (1.1±0.3)·10-5 s-1 to yield an equilibrium 5:95 mixture of 2 and 3. However, when no hydride source is present in the strong base (KOtBu in benzene or toluene), the COD ligand in 1 is deprotonated, followed by β-H elimination of an IrI-C8H11 intermediate, which leads to complex [IrH(1-κ-4,5,6-η3-C8H10)(dppe)] (4) selectively. This is followed by its reversible isomerisation to 5, which features a different relative orientation of the same ligands (k45 = (3.92±0.11)·10-4 s-1; k54 = (1.39±0.12)·10-4 s-1 in C6D6), to yield an equilibrated 32:68 mixture of 4 and 5. DFT calculations assisted in the full rationalization of the selectivity and mechanism of the reactions, yielding thermodynamic (equilibrium) and kinetic (isomerization barriers) parameters in excellent agreement with the experimental values. Finally, in the presence of KOtBu and isopropanol at 80 °C, 1 is tranformed selectively to K[IrH4(dppe)] (6), a salt of an anionic tetrahydride complex of IrIII. This product is also selectively generated from 2, 3, 4 and 5 and H2 at room temperature, but only when a strong base is present. These results provide an insight into the catalytic action of [IrCl(LL)(COD)] complexes in the hydrogenation of polar substrates in the presence of a base

Hydrogénation asymétrique des substrats polaires et processus associés : rôle de la base

New mechanistic views have emerged to account for the activity of systems with non-deprotonatable ligands towards hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation of polar substrates, which nevertheless need a strong base for activity. In this work, the role of the base in the associated chemistry of [IrCl(COD)(dppe)] is studied. In the presence of an alkoxide with a bêta-hydrogen, two monohydride complexes of the form [IrH(C8H12)(dppe)] result, which interconvert with a Gibbs energy difference of 2.06 ± 0.16 kcal mol-1. This process was followed by DFT calculation, and the difference predicted to be 3.5 kcal mol-1. When no bêta-hydrogen is present, two monohydride complexes form by COD deprotonation, [IrH(1-k-4,5,6-êta3-C8H10)(dppe)]. DFT calculations were used to rationalize this behaviour, and mechanism of reaction. The resulting thermodynamic (-0.5 kcal mol-1) differences were in excellent agreement with the experimental value (-0.51 ± 0.04 kcal mol-1). These model complexes were transformed by heating in the presence of KOtBu (or NaOMe) and isopropanol at 80 °C, to M[IrH4(dppe)] (M = K, Na). Similar IrIII products (M[Ir(H)4(L2)] (L2 = dppf, (S)-BINAP) were selectively generated from [IrCl(COD)(L2)]. Finally, the alkali metal-dependent transfer hydrogenation activity of these complexes was examined and rationalized for benzophenone. The active catalyst, generated in situ from [IrCl(COD)]2 and (P,SR) under H2 in the presence of a strong base (M+iPrO- in isopropanol, M = Li, Na, K), is the solvated M[Ir(H)4(P,SR)] salt (P,SR = CpFe[1,2-C5H3(PPh2)(CH2SR)], with R = iPr, Bz, Ph and Cy). Their activity proved to increase, for all R derivatives, in the order Li < Na < K. On the other hand, the nature of the cation did not effect the ee. The DFT calculations revealed the critical importance of the alkali-metal cation coordination sphere in reproducing the experimental results. The rate-determining barrier corresponds to outer-sphere hydride transfer and enantio-discriminating interactions are rationalized for the cation.De nouveaux points de vue mécanistes sont apparus pour expliquer l'activité des systèmes avec des ligands non déprotonnables pour l'hydrogénation et l'hydrogénation par transfert de substrats polaires, qui ont néanmoins besoin d'une base forte pour être actifs. Dans ce travail, le rôle de la base dans la chimie associée de [IrCl(COD)(dppe)] est étudié. En présence d'un alcoxyde avec un bêta-hydrogène, deux complexes monohydrides de la forme [IrH(C8H12)(dppe)] résultent, qui s'interconvertissent avec une différence d'énergie de Gibbs de 2.06 ± 0.16 kcal mol-1. Ce processus a été suivi par un calcul DFT, et la différence prédite est de 3,5 kcal mol-1. En l'absence de bêta-hydrogène, deux complexes monohydrides se forment par déprotonation COD, [IrH(1-k-4,5,6-êta3-C8H10)(dppe)]. Des calculs DFT ont été utilisés pour rationaliser ce comportement et le mécanisme de réaction. Les différences thermodynamiques qui en résultent (-0,5 kcal mol-1) sont en excellent accord avec la valeur expérimentale (-0,51 ± 0,04 kcal mol-1). Ces complexes modèles ont été transformés par chauffage en présence de KOtBu (ou NaOMe) et d'isopropanol à 80 °C, en M[IrH4(dppe)] (M = K, Na). Des produits IrIII similaires (M[Ir(H)4(L2)] (L2 = dppf, (S)-BINAP) ont été sélectivement générés à partir de [IrCl(COD)(L2)]. Enfin, l'activité d'hydrogénation par transfert dépendant des métaux alcalins de ces complexes a été examinée et rationalisée pour la benzophénone. Le catalyseur actif, généré in situ à partir de [IrCl(COD)]2 et (P,SR) sous H2 en présence d'une base forte (M+iPrO- dans l'isopropanol, M = Li, Na, K), est le sel solvaté M[Ir(H)4(P,SR)] (P,SR = CpFe[1,2-C5H3(PPh2)(CH2SR)], avec R = iPr, Bz, Ph et Cy). Leur activité s'est avérée augmenter, pour tous les dérivés R, dans l'ordre Li < Na < K. Par ailleurs, la nature du cation n'a pas eu d'effet sur l'ee. Les calculs DFT ont révélé l'importance critique de la sphère de coordination du cation alcalin-métallique dans la reproduction des résultats expérimentaux. La barrière déterminant le taux correspond au transfert d'hydrure de la sphère externe et les interactions énantio-discriminantes sont rationalisées pour le cation

Ir I (η 4 -diene) precatalyst activation by strong bases: formation of an anionic Ir III tetrahydride

International audienceThe reaction between [IrCl(COD)]2 and dppe in a 1:2 ratio was investigated in detail under three different conditions. [IrCl(COD)(dppe)], 1, is formed at room temperature in the absence of base. In the presence of a strong base at room temperarture, hydride complexes that retain the carbocyclic ligand in the coordination sphere are generated. In isopropanol, 1 is converted into [IrH(1,2,5,6-η2:η2-COD)(dppe)] (2) on addition of KOtBu, with k12 = (1.11±0.02)·10-4 s-1, followed by reversible isomerisation to [IrH(1-κ-4,5,6-η3-C8H12)(dppe)] (3) with k23 = (3.4±0.2)·10-4 s-1 and k32 = (1.1±0.3)·10-5 s-1 to yield an equilibrium 5:95 mixture of 2 and 3. However, when no hydride source is present in the strong base (KOtBu in benzene or toluene), the COD ligand in 1 is deprotonated, followed by β-H elimination of an IrI-C8H11 intermediate, which leads to complex [IrH(1-κ-4,5,6-η3-C8H10)(dppe)] (4) selectively. This is followed by its reversible isomerisation to 5, which features a different relative orientation of the same ligands (k45 = (3.92±0.11)·10-4 s-1; k54 = (1.39±0.12)·10-4 s-1 in C6D6), to yield an equilibrated 32:68 mixture of 4 and 5. DFT calculations assisted in the full rationalization of the selectivity and mechanism of the reactions, yielding thermodynamic (equilibrium) and kinetic (isomerization barriers) parameters in excellent agreement with the experimental values. Finally, in the presence of KOtBu and isopropanol at 80 °C, 1 is tranformed selectively to K[IrH4(dppe)] (6), a salt of an anionic tetrahydride complex of IrIII. This product is also selectively generated from 2, 3, 4 and 5 and H2 at room temperature, but only when a strong base is present. These results provide an insight into the catalytic action of [IrCl(LL)(COD)] complexes in the hydrogenation of polar substrates in the presence of a base