Leaching of palladium species from Pd nanoparticles under C--C coupling conditions was observed for both Heck and Suzuki reactions by using a special membrane reactor. The membrane allows the passage of palladium atoms and ions, but not of species larger than 5 nm. Three possible mechanistic scenarios for palladium leaching were investigated with the aim of identifying the true catalytic species. Firstly, we examined whether or not palladium(0) atoms could leach from clusters under non-oxidising conditions. By using our membrane reactor, we proved that this indeed happens. We then investigated whether or not small palladium(0) clusters could in fact be the active catalytic species by analysing the reaction composition and the palladium species that diffused through the membrane. Neither TEM nor ICP analysis supported this scenario. Finally, we tested whether or not palladium(II) ions could be leached in the presence of PhI by oxidative addition and the formation of [Pd(II)ArI] complexes. Using mass spectrometry, UV-visible spectroscopy and 13C NMR spectroscopy, we observed and monitored the formation and diffusion of these complexes, which showed that the first and the third mechanistic scenarios were both possible, and were likely to occur simultaneously. Based on these findings, we maintain that palladium nanoparticles are not the true catalysts in C--C coupling reactions. Instead, catalysis is carried out by either palladium(0) atoms or palladium(II) ions that leach into solution.

Both symmetric and nonsymmetric bis(aryl)acenaphthenequinonediimine ligands, featured by substituents in meta-positions of the aryl rings, have been applied for the first time as ancillary ligands for the palladiumcatalyzed CO/vinyl arene copolymerization. The nature and the number of substituents affect both the productivity and the molecular weight of the synthesized copolymers. Palladium complexes containing the nonsymmetric ligands are the most efficient catalysts reported so far for the synthesis of atactic polyketones.

[reaction: see text] Ruthenacycles obtained by cyclometalation of enantiopure aromatic primary or secondary amines with [(eta6-benzene)RuCl2]2 or with [(eta6-p-cymene)RuCl2]2 are efficient catalysts for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (TOF up to 190 h(-1) at room temperature). Enantioselectivities in the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone ranged from 38% to 89%. It is possible to prepare the catalysts in situ, which allows the use of high throughput experimentation.

The cyclometalation of chiral and achiral primary amines occurred readily with Ru(II), Rh(III), and Ir(III) derivatives. Thus, the metalation of (R)-1-phenylethylamine by [(η 6 -benzene)RuCl 2 ] 2 , [(η 5 -Cp*)-RhCl 2 ] 2 , and [(η 5 -Cp*)IrCl 2 ] 2 was studied. Good yields of the expected cationic products in which the phenyl group was ortho-metalated were obtained for the rhodium and the ruthenium derivatives, whereas a mixture of products was formed in the case of the iridium complex. Benzylamine, (R)-1-phenylpropylamine, (R)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine, and (R)-1-aminotetraline afforded also the cycloruthenation products whose general formula is [(η 6 -benzene)Ru(N-C)(NCMe)]PF 6 where N-C represents the orthometalated ligands. Substitution of the acetonitrile ligand by PMe 2 Ph occurred readily on the ruthenium complexes, affording stable compounds that were characterized by X-ray diffraction studies on single crystals, thus ascertaining the existence of the cycloruthenated five-membered rings. Accurate analyses of the structure of the complexes were implemented in solution and in the solid state. The (S) configuration at the metal was usually associated with a δ conformation of the metallacycle, and conversely, the (R) configuration with the λ conformation. The study of the conformation of the five-membered rings revealed that the orientation of the NH 2 group is such that one NH unit is oriented toward the η 6 -benzene ring (roughly parallel to the Ru-centroid benzene vector), whereas the second NH is parallel to the Ru-L bond, L ) NCMe or PMe 2 Ph.

International audienceA library of organometallic compounds derived from primary and secondary amines cyclometalated by ruthenium(II), rhodium(III) and iridi- um(III) was tested in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of a number of ketones and imines. All compounds displayed high catalytic activity for the reduction of ketones under mild conditions. The most enantioselective catalysts were based on secondary amines containing two asymmetric carbon atoms bound to the nitrogen atom. For the reduction of aryl alkyl ketones [Ar(C[DOUBLE BOND]O)R where R=CH3 or CH2R′] the cyclometalated ruthenium and rhodium derivatives of the (2R,5R)-2,5-diphenylpyrrolidine ligand displayed the best results with respect to activity and selectivity (ees up to 97%). However, for the reduction of aryl tert-alkyl ketones [Ar(C[DOUBLE BOND]O)R′′ in which R′′ is a tertiary alkyl group] the best catalyst was a ruthenium compound derived from bis[(R)-1-phenylethyl]amine, allowing the reduction of isobutyrophenone and cyclohexyl phenyl ketone which were both reduced with high enantioselectivities (ees up to 98%). This shows that the cyclometalated compounds have a high substrate specificity. In addition, acyclic and cyclic imines were reduced with good selectivities by both rhodium(III) and iridium(III) metalacycles built up with (2R,5R)-2,5-diphenylpyrrolidine

Ruthenacycles, which are easily prepared in a single step by reaction between enantiopure aromatic amines and [Ru(arene)Cl 2 ] 2 in the presence of NaOH and KPF 6 , are very good asymmetric transfer hydrogenation catalysts. A range of aromatic ketones were reduced using isopropanol in good yields with ee's up to 98%. Iridacycles, which are prepared in similar fashion from [IrCp*Cl 2 ] 2 are excellent catalysts for the racemisation of secondary alcohols and chlorohydrins at room temperature. This allowed the development of a new dynamic kinetic resolution of chlorohydrins to the enantiopure epoxides in up to 90% yield and 98% enantiomeric excess (ee) using a mutant of the enzyme Haloalcohol dehalogenase C and an iridacycle as racemisation catalyst.

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The stoichiometric reaction between the complex [Pd(η 2 -dmfu)(BiPy)] (dmfu ) dimethylfumarate; BiPy ) 2,2′-bipyridine) and the deactivated alkynes dmbd (dimethyl-2-butynedioate) and pna (methyl (4-nitrophenyl)propynoate), providing the respective palladacyclopentadienes, was investigated. The mechanism leading to the palladacyclopentadiene derivative involves a bimolecular self-rearrangement of the monoalkyne intermediate [Pd(η 2 -alk)(BiPy)] (alk ) dmbd, pna), followed by the customary attack of the free alkyne on the intermediate [Pd(η 2 -alk)(BiPy)] itself and on the elusive and highly reactive "naked palladium" [Pd(BiPy)(0)] formed. The alkyne pna proved to be less effective in the displacement of dmfu than dmbd. The reaction under stoichiometric equimolar conditions of the latter with [Pd(η 2 -dmfu)(BiPy)] allows the direct determination of the bimolecular self-reaction rate constant k c and consequently the assessment of all the rate constants involved in the overall mechanistic network.