Lipase active site covalent anchoring of Rh(NHC) catalysts: Towards chemoselective artificial metalloenzymes

A Rh(NHC) phosphonate complex reacts with the lipases cutinase and Candida antarctica lipase B resulting in the first (soluble) artificial metalloenzymes formed by covalent active site-directed hybridization. When compared to unsupported complexes, these new robust hybrids show enhanced chemoselectivity in the (competitive) hydrogenation of olefins over ketones. This journal i

The B(C6F5)3-Catalyzed Tandem Meinwald Rearrangement-Reductive Amination

A system of three coupled catalytic cycles enabling the one-pot transformation of epoxides to amines via Meinwald rearrangement, imine condensation, and imine reduction is described. This assisted tandem catalysis is catalyzed by B(C6F5)3 resulting in the first tandem Meinwald rearrangement-reductive amination protocol. The reaction proceeds in nondried solvents and yields β-functionalized amines. In particular, β-diarylamines are obtained in high yields

A 'dendritic effect' in homogeneous catalysis with carbosilane-supported arylnickel(II) catalysts : observation of active-site proximity effects in atom-transfer radical addition

Transmetalation of polylithiated, carbosilane (CS) dendrimers functionalized with the potentially terdentate ligand [C6H2(CH2NMe2)(2)-2,6-R-4](-) ( NCN) with NiCl2(PEt3)(2) produced a series of nickel-containing dendrimers [GO]-N-4 (4), [G1]-Ni-12 (5), and [G2]-Ni-36 (7) in moderate to good yields. The metallodendrimers 4, 5, and 7 are catalytically active in the atom-transfer radical addition (ATRA) reaction (Kharasch addition reaction), viz. the 1:1 addition of CCl4 to methyl methacrylate (MMA). The catalytic data were compared to those obtained for the respective mononuclear compound [NiCl(C6H2{CH2NMe2}(2)-2,6-SiMe3-4)] (2). This comparison indicates a fast deactivation for the dendrimer catalysts beyond generation [GO]. The deactivation of [G1]-Ni-12 (5) and [G2]-Ni-36 (7) is caused by irreversible formation of catalytically inactive Ni(III) sites on the periphery of these dendrimers. This hypothesis is supported by results of model studies as well as ESR spectroscopic investigations. Interestingly, the use of two alternative nickelated [G1] dendrimers [G1]*-Ni-12 (11) and [G1]-Ni-8 (15), respectively, in which the distance between the Ni sites is increased, leads to significantly improved catalytic efficiencies which approximate those of the parent derivative 2 and [GO]-Ni-4 (4). Preliminary membrane catalysis experiments with [GO]-Ni-4 (4) and [G1]-Ni-12 (5) show that 5 can be efficiently retained in a membrane reactor system. The X-ray crystal structure of the Ni(III) complex [NiCl2(C6H2{CH2NMe2}(2)-2,6-SiMe3-4)] (16), obtained from the reaction of 2 with CCl4, is also reported

Enantioselective C-H lactonization of unactivated methylenes directed by carboxylic acids

The formidable challenges of controlling site-selectivity, enantioselectivity, and product chemoselectivity make asymmetric C-H oxidation a generally unsolved problem for nonenzymatic systems. Discrimination between the two enantiotopic C-H bonds of an unactivated methylenic group is particularly demanding and so far unprecedented, given the similarity between their environments and the facile overoxidation of the initially formed hydroxylation product. Here we show that a Mn-catalyzed C-H oxidation directed by carboxylic acids can overcome these challenges to yield γ-lactones in high enantiomeric excess (up to 99%) using hydrogen peroxide as oxidant and a Brønsted acid additive under mild conditions and short reaction times. Coordination of the carboxylic acid group to the bulky Mn complex ensures the rigidity needed for high enantioselectivity and dictates the outstanding γsite-selectivity. When the substrate contains nonequivalent γ-methylenes, the site-selectivity for lactonization can be rationally predicted on the basis of simple C-H activation/deactivation effects exerted by proximal substituents. In addition, discrimination of diastereotopic C-H bonds can be modulated by catalyst design, with no erosion of enantiomeric excess. The potential of this reaction is illustrated in the concise synthesis of a tetrahydroxylated bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane enabled by two key, sequential γ-C-H lactonizations, with the latter that fixes the chirality of five stereogenic centers in one step with 96% ee

The B(C₆F₅)₃‑Catalyzed Tandem Meinwald Rearrangement–Reductive Amination

A system of three coupled catalytic cycles enabling the one-pot transformation of epoxides to amines via Meinwald rearrangement, imine condensation, and imine reduction is described. This assisted tandem catalysis is catalyzed by B­(C₆F₅)₃ resulting in the first tandem Meinwald rearrangement–reductive amination protocol. The reaction proceeds in nondried solvents and yields β-functionalized amines. In particular, β-diarylamines are obtained in high yields