Late Transition Metal Complexes of Pentafluorophenylphosphino-Pincer Ligands

<p>This thesis details the synthesis of new examples of electron-poor pincer ligands, featuring bis(pentafluorophenyl)phosphine donors attached to 1,3-substituted phenylene or 2,6-substituted pyridine backbones, to create tridentate PCP and PNP ligands. The effect of the ligands’ electronic nature on the coordination chemistry and ease of pincer complex synthesis with late transition metals is discussed, as is the catalytic activity of the resultant palladium pincer complexes in the Heck and Suzuki reactions. Symmetric PCP and PNP ligands possessing bis(pentafluorophenyl)phosphinite and bis(pentafluorophenyl)phosphoramine functionalities were synthesised by reaction of bis(pentafluorophenyl)phosphine bromide with resorcinol, 3-hydroxybenzyl-di- tert -butylphosphine, 2,6-diaminopyridine, or 2,6-dihydroxypyridine, affording 1,3- [(C6F5)2PO]2C6H4 (POCOPH, 1), 1-[(C6F5)2PO]-3-(tBu2PCH2)2C6H4 (POCCPH, 3), 2,6-[(C6F5)2PNH]2C6H3N (PNNNP, 10), and 2,6-[(C6F5)2PO]2C6H3N (PONOP, 11) respectively. The previously reported 1,3-[(C6F5)2PCH2]2C6H4 (PCCCPH, 2) was also synthesised, with the literature yield improved upon by the use of magnesium-anthracene to generate the required Grignard reagent. The coordination chemistry of the POCOPH ligand 1 with platinum(0) alkene and platinum(II) dimethyl precursors revealed an affinity for the formation of cis-bridged oligomeric structures. The dimer [(POCOPH)Pt(nb)]2 (14, nb = norbornene) was isolated and crystallographically characterised from the reaction between 1 and [Pt(nb)3]. The solid state structure revealed the presence of stabilising - interactions between the aromatic ligand backbones, which were also observed in solution by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Reactions of ligand 1 with platinum and palladium dichloride or chloromethyl starting materials led to rare examples of cis,trans-dimers of the type cis,trans-[(POCOPH)MClX]2 (M = Pd, Pt; X = Cl, Me). In part due to facile dimer formation with 1, metallation of the ligand backbone to form the tridentate pincer complex [(POCOP)PtCl] (25) required long reaction times and high temperatures. It was observed that platinum dichloride starting materials with more strongly binding ancillary ligands were less prone to oligomer formation, and could facilitate more rapid metallation to from 25. More facile pincer complex formation was also observed for more electron-rich ligands with both PCP and PNP pincer ligands. The electron poor platinum and palladium POCOP, PCCCP, and POCCP pincer complexes (where the free ligand had been deprotonated upon metallation) were synthesised and subsequently converted into the metal carbonyl species [(PCP)M(CO)]+. Analysis of C−O stretching frequencies by infrared spectroscopy confirmed complexes of POCOP ligand 1 were the most electron poor, while those of POCCP ligand 3 were the most electron rich. Decarbonylation of the palladium pincer complexes was observed in solution and in the solid state, and was more facile for complexes with a higher wavenumber C−O stretch. Reaction of the [(PCP)PtCl] pincer complexes with methyl nucleophiles revealed that treatment with methylmagnesium iodide resulted in halide exchange, while methyllithium promoted nucleophilic attack at phosphorus. Spectroscopic data indicated that in one instance this led to pentafluorophenyl migration to the metal centre to form a [(PCP)Pt(C6F5)] complex. Dimethylzinc was successful in methylating the platinum PCP complexes; however, it was observed to degrade the palladium PCP pincer complexes. Treatment of the rhodium PNP pincer complex [(PNNNP)RhCl] (49) with dimethylzinc also resulted in degradation, which spectroscopic evidence indicated proceeded via ligand deprotonation and the formation of a zinc adduct of 49. Low temperature protonolysis of the [(PCP)PtMe] species did not reveal any information about possible interactions between the metal and liberated methane. The catalytic activity of the electron-poor [(PCP)PdCl] complexes were assessed in the Heck and Suzuki cross-coupling reactions. The complexes of 1, 2, and 3 were all found to possess only modest activity in the Heck reaction, functioning as precatalysts which decomposed to give catalytically-active Pd(0) colloids. Under milder Suzuki reaction conditions, the most electron-poor complex, [(POCOP)PdCl] (28) proved to be one of the most active pincer catalysts known for this reaction, able to achieve a turnover number of 176,000 for the coupling of electronically-deactivated aryl bromides and phenylboronic acid. Mercury poisoning tests revealed that Suzuki reactions catalysed by 28 proceeded via a homogeneous active species.</p>

Late Transition Metal Complexes of Pentafluorophenylphosphino-Pincer Ligands

<p>This thesis details the synthesis of new examples of electron-poor pincer ligands, featuring bis(pentafluorophenyl)phosphine donors attached to 1,3-substituted phenylene or 2,6-substituted pyridine backbones, to create tridentate PCP and PNP ligands. The effect of the ligands’ electronic nature on the coordination chemistry and ease of pincer complex synthesis with late transition metals is discussed, as is the catalytic activity of the resultant palladium pincer complexes in the Heck and Suzuki reactions. Symmetric PCP and PNP ligands possessing bis(pentafluorophenyl)phosphinite and bis(pentafluorophenyl)phosphoramine functionalities were synthesised by reaction of bis(pentafluorophenyl)phosphine bromide with resorcinol, 3-hydroxybenzyl-di- tert -butylphosphine, 2,6-diaminopyridine, or 2,6-dihydroxypyridine, affording 1,3- [(C6F5)2PO]2C6H4 (POCOPH, 1), 1-[(C6F5)2PO]-3-(tBu2PCH2)2C6H4 (POCCPH, 3), 2,6-[(C6F5)2PNH]2C6H3N (PNNNP, 10), and 2,6-[(C6F5)2PO]2C6H3N (PONOP, 11) respectively. The previously reported 1,3-[(C6F5)2PCH2]2C6H4 (PCCCPH, 2) was also synthesised, with the literature yield improved upon by the use of magnesium-anthracene to generate the required Grignard reagent. The coordination chemistry of the POCOPH ligand 1 with platinum(0) alkene and platinum(II) dimethyl precursors revealed an affinity for the formation of cis-bridged oligomeric structures. The dimer [(POCOPH)Pt(nb)]2 (14, nb = norbornene) was isolated and crystallographically characterised from the reaction between 1 and [Pt(nb)3]. The solid state structure revealed the presence of stabilising - interactions between the aromatic ligand backbones, which were also observed in solution by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Reactions of ligand 1 with platinum and palladium dichloride or chloromethyl starting materials led to rare examples of cis,trans-dimers of the type cis,trans-[(POCOPH)MClX]2 (M = Pd, Pt; X = Cl, Me). In part due to facile dimer formation with 1, metallation of the ligand backbone to form the tridentate pincer complex [(POCOP)PtCl] (25) required long reaction times and high temperatures. It was observed that platinum dichloride starting materials with more strongly binding ancillary ligands were less prone to oligomer formation, and could facilitate more rapid metallation to from 25. More facile pincer complex formation was also observed for more electron-rich ligands with both PCP and PNP pincer ligands. The electron poor platinum and palladium POCOP, PCCCP, and POCCP pincer complexes (where the free ligand had been deprotonated upon metallation) were synthesised and subsequently converted into the metal carbonyl species [(PCP)M(CO)]+. Analysis of C−O stretching frequencies by infrared spectroscopy confirmed complexes of POCOP ligand 1 were the most electron poor, while those of POCCP ligand 3 were the most electron rich. Decarbonylation of the palladium pincer complexes was observed in solution and in the solid state, and was more facile for complexes with a higher wavenumber C−O stretch. Reaction of the [(PCP)PtCl] pincer complexes with methyl nucleophiles revealed that treatment with methylmagnesium iodide resulted in halide exchange, while methyllithium promoted nucleophilic attack at phosphorus. Spectroscopic data indicated that in one instance this led to pentafluorophenyl migration to the metal centre to form a [(PCP)Pt(C6F5)] complex. Dimethylzinc was successful in methylating the platinum PCP complexes; however, it was observed to degrade the palladium PCP pincer complexes. Treatment of the rhodium PNP pincer complex [(PNNNP)RhCl] (49) with dimethylzinc also resulted in degradation, which spectroscopic evidence indicated proceeded via ligand deprotonation and the formation of a zinc adduct of 49. Low temperature protonolysis of the [(PCP)PtMe] species did not reveal any information about possible interactions between the metal and liberated methane. The catalytic activity of the electron-poor [(PCP)PdCl] complexes were assessed in the Heck and Suzuki cross-coupling reactions. The complexes of 1, 2, and 3 were all found to possess only modest activity in the Heck reaction, functioning as precatalysts which decomposed to give catalytically-active Pd(0) colloids. Under milder Suzuki reaction conditions, the most electron-poor complex, [(POCOP)PdCl] (28) proved to be one of the most active pincer catalysts known for this reaction, able to achieve a turnover number of 176,000 for the coupling of electronically-deactivated aryl bromides and phenylboronic acid. Mercury poisoning tests revealed that Suzuki reactions catalysed by 28 proceeded via a homogeneous active species.</p>

Facile Synthesis and Characterization of Palladium@Carbon Catalyst for the Suzuki-Miyaura and Mizoroki-Heck Coupling Reactions

Palladium-based carbon catalysts (Pd/C) can be potentially applied as an efficient catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura and Mizoroki–Heck coupling reactions. Herein, a variety of catalysts of palladium on activated carbon were prepared by varying the content of ‘Pd’ via an in situ reduction method, using hydrogen as a reducing agent. The as-prepared catalysts (0.5 wt % Pd/C, 1 wt % Pd/C, 2 wt % Pd/C and 3 wt % Pd/C) were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analyses. The catalysts were tested as a coupling catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions involving aryl halides and phenyl boronic acid. The optimization of the catalyst by varying the palladium content on the activated carbon yielded Pd/C catalysts with very high catalytic activity for Suzuki reactions of aryl halides and a Mizoroki–Heck cross-coupling reaction of 4-bromoanisol and acrylic acid in an aqueous medium. A high ‘Pd’ content and uniform ‘Pd’ impregnation significantly affected the activity of the catalysts. The catalytic activity of 3% Pd/C was found to make it a more efficient catalyst when compared with the other synthesized Pd/C catalysts. Furthermore, the catalyst reusability was also tested for Suzuki reactions by repeatedly performing the same reaction using the recovered catalyst. The 3% Pd/C catalyst displayed better reusability even after several reactions.

Ionic Liquid Mediated Graphene-Based Pd Nanocomposites For Coupling Reactions

Aims: In the search of a ligand-free, recyclable, selective, and stable catalytic system, we engineered both Pd/GO and Pd/rGO composite and tested them as catalysts for Heck and Suzuki reaction in [bmim] NTf2 ionic liquid medium. Background: Various reports and reviews have been published on exploring the application of ionic liquids as a reaction medium for different organic transformations. Recently graphene-supported Pt nanoparticles immobilized with the 7-methyl-1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquid [MTBD][bmsi] and further tested to study the oxygen reduction reaction. Surprisingly [MTBD][bmsi] immobilized system was found highly active towards electrocatalytic reaction. Objective: In various reports, palladium nanoparticles were immobilized with graphene oxide (GO) or with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and these two types of graphene were further tested as a catalyst for different coupling reactions such as Suzuki-Miyaura, Heck, and Suzuki reaction. Both Pd/GO and Pd/rGO found attractive concerning catalyst specific property i.e. high surface area and because of that graphene immobilized palladium found more nearer to other commercially available palladium catalysts ( e.g. Pd on charcoal) but collectively both hybrid materials (Pd/GO and Pd/rGO) suffers from various drawbacks like high catalyst loading, catalyst leaching (via agglomeration of Pd metals into the clusters) during the recycling test (specially in case of Pd/GO), limited substrate scope, the requirement of polar solvents, etc. Methods: All the chemicals were purchased from Sigma Aldrich, Acros, or Fluka. NMR spectra were recorded on a standard Bruker 300WB spectrometer with an Avance console at 300 and 75 MHz for 1H and 13C NMR respectively. Pd/O and Pd/rGO were synthesized as per the reported procedure.2, 15 The residue was purified by flash chromatography (FC) with hexane/ethyl acetate. The detailed 1H NMR and 13C NMR of each Heck and Suzuki reaction products were found similar to the reported analytical data. 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethyl sulfonyl) imide ([bmim]NTf2) was synthesized as per reported procedure. Results: We have successfully developed a highly efficient ligand-free method for Heck and Suzuki reaction, using Pd/rGO catalysts in an ionic liquid medium which afforded the coupling products with excellent yield. One of the major advantages of the proposed protocol is that the catalyst system can be easily re-usable without loss of catalytic activity, thereby multiplying catalyst turnover. Another advantage is that the reaction proceeds without phosphine ligands, which are expensive, toxic, and contaminants of the product. The Green nature of ionic liquid and the simplicity of its operation make the present Heck and Suzuki reactions more attractive. Conclusion: We have successfully developed a highly efficient ligand-free method for Heck and Suzuki reaction, using Pd/rGO catalysts in an ionic liquid medium which afforded the coupling products with excellent yield. One of the major advantages of the proposed protocol is that the catalyst system can be easily re-usable without loss of catalytic activity, thereby multiplying catalyst turnover. Another advantage is that the reaction proceeds without phosphine ligands, which are expensive, toxic, and contaminants of the product. The Green nature of ionic liquid and the simplicity of its operation make the present Heck and Suzuki reactions more attractive.