Homogeneous catalytic reduction of dioxygen using transfer hydrogenation catalysts

J Am Chem Soc. 2007 Nov 21;129(46):14303-10. doi: 10.1021/ja073774p. Epub 2007 Oct 25.

Abstract

Solutions of Cp*IrH(rac-TsDPEN) (TsDPEN = H2NCHPhCHPhN(SO2C6H4CH3)-) (1H(H)) with O2 generate Cp*Ir(TsDPEN-H) (1) and 1 equiv of H2O. Kinetic analysis indicates a third-order rate law (second order in [1H(H)] and first order in [O2]), resulting in an overall rate constant of 0.024 +/- 0.013 M(-2) s(-1). Isotopic labeling revealed that the rate of the reaction of 1H(H) + O2 was strongly affected by deuteration at the hydride position (k(HH2)/k(DH2) = 6.0 +/- 1.3) but insensitive to deuteration of the amine (k(HH2)/k(HD2) = 1.2 +/- 0.2); these values are more disparate than for conventional transfer hydrogenation (Casey, C. P.; Johnson, J. B. J. Org. Chem. 2003, 68, 1998-2001). The temperature dependence of the reaction rate indicated DeltaH = 82.2 kJ/mol, DeltaS = 13.2 J/mol K, and a reaction barrier of 85.0 kJ/mol. A CH2Cl2 solution under 0.30 atm of H2 and 0.13 atm of O2 converted to H2O in the presence of 1 and 10 mol % of H(OEt2)2BAr(F)4 (BAr(F)4- = B(C6H3-3,5-(CF3)2)4-). The formation of water from H2 was verified by 2H NMR for the reaction of D2 + O2. Solutions of 1 slowly catalyze the oxidation of amyl alcohol to pentanal; using 1,4-benzoquinone as a cocatalyst, the conversion was faster. Complex 1 also catalyzes the reaction of O2 with RNH2BH3 (R = H, t-Bu), resulting in the formation of water and H2. The deactivation of the catalyst 1 in its reactions with O2 was traced to degradation of the Cp* ligand to a fulvene derivative. This pathway is not observed in the presence of amine-boranes, which were shown to reduce fulvenes back to Cp*. This work suggests the potential of transfer hydrogenation catalysts in reactions involving O2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amines / chemistry
  • Benzoquinones / chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Deuterium / chemistry
  • Ethylenediamines / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen / chemistry
  • Hydrogenation
  • Iridium / chemistry*
  • Kinetics
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Chemical
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxygen / chemistry*
  • Ruthenium / chemistry*
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Thermodynamics
  • Toluene / analogs & derivatives*
  • Toluene / chemistry
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Amines
  • Benzoquinones
  • Ethylenediamines
  • N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Water
  • Toluene
  • Iridium
  • Ruthenium
  • Hydrogen
  • Deuterium
  • Oxygen