Rate and Mechanism of the Oxidative Addition of Benzoic Anhydride to Palladium(0) Complexes in DMF

The rate constant of the oxidative addition of the benzoic anhydride (PhCO)2O to [Pd0(PPh3)4] has been determined in DMF and compared to that of phenyl halides and phenyl triflate. The following reactivity order has been established: PhI >> (PhCO)2O > PhOTf > PhBr. The oxidative addition of (PhCO)2O proceeds by activation of one C−O bond. Two acyl-PdII complexes are formed: a neutral complex trans-[(PhCO)Pd(OCOPh)(PPh3)2] and a cationic complex trans-[(PhCO)PdS(PPh3)2]+ (S = DMF) showing that the decarbonylation process is highly endergonic. The exchange of PPh3 by the bidentate ligand dppp does not favor the decarbonylation process.

Influence of Phosphoramidites in Copper-Catalyzed Conjugate Borylation Reaction

Copper(I) has become the preferred metal to catalyze the β-boration of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, and now we demonstrate that easily accessible monodentate chiral ligands, such as phosphoramidites and phosphites, can be convenient alternative ligands to induce asymmetry in the enantioselective version of this reaction, particularly in the β-boration of α,β-unsaturated imines.

Ruthenacycles and Iridacycles as Transfer Hydrogenation Catalysts

In this review, we describe the synthesis and use in hydrogen transfer reactions of ruthenacycles and iridacycles. The review limits itself to metallacycles where a ligand is bound in bidentate fashion to either ruthenium or iridium via a carbon-metal sigma bond, as well as a dative bond from a heteroatom or an N-heterocyclic carbene. Pincer complexes fall outside the scope. Described are applications in (asymmetric) transfer hydrogenation of aldehydes, ketones, and imines, as well as reductive aminations. Oxidation reactions, i.e., classical Oppenauer oxidation, which is the reverse of transfer hydrogenation, as well as dehydrogenations and oxidations with oxygen, are described. Racemizations of alcohols and secondary amines are also catalyzed by ruthenacycles and iridacycles

Highly Selective Hydroformylation of the Cinchona Alkaloids

The four naturally occurring cinchona alkaloids were subjected to hydroformylation to create an extra functional group that allows immobilization. Cinchonidine, quinine, and quinidine, could be hydroformylated with virtually complete terminal selectivity, using a rhodium/tetraphosphite catalyst. The cinchonidine aldehyde was reduced to the alcohol and subjected to reductive amination with benzylamine.