Homogeneous Cu/TEMPO catalyst systems (TEMPO = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl) have emerged as some of the most versatile and practical catalysts for aerobic alcohol oxidation. Recently, we disclosed a (bpy)CuI/TEMPO/NMI catalyst system (NMI = N-methylimidazole) that exhibits fast rates and high selectivities, even with unactivated aliphatic alcohols. Here, we present a mechanistic investigation of this catalyst system, in which we compare the reactivity of benzylic and aliphatic alcohols. This work includes analysis of catalytic rates by gas-uptake and in situ IR kinetic methods and characterization of the catalyst speciation during the reaction by EPR and UV–visible spectroscopic methods. The data support a two-stage catalytic mechanism consisting of (1) “catalyst oxidation” in which CuI and TEMPO–H are oxidized by O2 via a binuclear Cu2O2 intermediate and (2) “substrate oxidation” mediated by CuII and the nitroxyl radical of TEMPO via a CuII-alkoxide intermediate. Catalytic rate laws, kinetic isotope effects, and spectroscopic data show that reactions of benzylic and aliphatic alcohols have different turnover-limiting steps. Catalyst oxidation by O2 is turnover limiting with benzylic alcohols, while numerous steps contribute to the turnover rate in the oxidation of aliphatic alcohols.

Alcohol and amine oxidations are common reactions in laboratory and industrial synthesis of organic molecules. Aerobic oxidation methods have long been sought for these transformations, but few practical methods exist that offer advantages over traditional oxidation methods. Recently developed homogeneous Cu/TEMPO (TEMPO = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-N-oxyl) and related catalyst systems appear to fill this void. The reactions exhibit high levels of chemoselectivity and broad functional-group tolerance, and they often operate efficiently at room temperature with ambient air as the oxidant. These advances, together with their historical context and recent applications, are highlighted in this minireview.

Combinations of homogeneous Cu salts and TEMPO have emerged as practical and efficient catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of alcohols. Several closely related catalyst systems have been reported, which differ in the identity of the solvent, the presence of 2,2′-bipyridine as a ligand, the identity of basic additives, and the oxidation state of the Cu source. These changes have a significant influence on the reaction rates, yields, and substrate scope. In this report, we probe the mechanistic basis for differences among four different Cu/TEMPO catalyst systems and elucidate the features that contribute to efficient oxidation of aliphatic alcohols.

We previously reported a preliminary mechanistic study of aerobic Cu(OAc)2-catalyzed methoxylation of 4-tolylboronic ester (King, et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2009, 131, 5044–5045), which revealed that aryl transmetalation from the boronic ester to CuII is the turnover-limiting step. In the present study, more-thorough kinetic and spectroscopic studies provide additional insights into transmetalation pathway and the identity of the CuII catalyst resting state(s). EPR spectroscopic studies show that at least two copper(II) species are present under catalytic conditions and their relative populations vary as a function of reaction time and acidity of the arylboronic ester, and are influenced by addition of acetic acid or acetate to the reaction mixture. Analysis of kinetic data and 11B NMR and EPR spectra under diverse reaction conditions suggests that aryl transmetalation occurs from a tetracoordinate, anionic boronate to a cationic CuII species, mediated by a methoxide-bridge.

2,2′-Bipyridine-ligated copper complexes, in combination with TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl), are highly effective catalysts for aerobic alcohol oxidation. Considerable uncertainty and debate exist over the mechanism of alcohol oxidation mediated by CuII and TEMPO. Here, we report experimental and density functional theory (DFT) computational studies that distinguish among numerous previously proposed mechanistic pathways. Oxidation of various classes of radical-probe substrates shows that long-lived radicals are not formed in the reaction. DFT computational studies support this conclusion. A bimolecular pathway involving hydrogen-atom-transfer from a CuII–alkoxide to a nitroxyl radical is higher in energy than hydrogen transfer from a CuII–alkoxide to a coordinated nitroxyl species. The data presented here reconcile a collection of diverse and seemingly contradictory experimental and computational data reported previously in the literature. The resulting Oppenauer-like reaction pathway further explains experimental trends in the relative reactivity of different classes of alcohols (benzylic versus aliphatic and primary versus secondary), as well as the different reactivity observed between TEMPO and bicyclic nitroxyls, such as ABNO (ABNO = 9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane N-oxyl).

The stoichiometric reduction of N-carbophenoxypyridinium tetraphenylborate (6) by CpRu(P-P)H (Cp = η 5 -cyclopentadienyl; P-P = dppe, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane or dppf, 1,1′-bis (diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) and Cp*Ru(P-P)H (Cp* = η 5 -pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; P-P = dppe) gives mixtures of 1,2-and 1,4-dihydropyridines. The stoichiometric reduction of 6 by Cp*Ru (dppf)H (5) gives only the 1,4-dihydropyridine, and 5 catalyzes the exclusive formation of the 1,4-dihydropyridine from 6, H 2 , and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine. In the stoichiometric reductions, the ratio of 1,4 to 1,2 product increases as the Ru hydrides become better one-electron reductants, suggesting that the 1,4 product arises from a two-step (e − /H•) hydride transfer. Calculations at the UB3LYP/6-311++G(3df,3pd)//UB3LYP/6-31G* level support this hypothesis, indicating that the spin density in the N-carbophenoxypyridinium radical (13) resides primarily at C4, while the positive charge in 6 resides primarily at C2 and C6. The isomeric dihydropyridines thus result from the operation of different mechanisms: the 1,2 product from a single-step H − transfer and the 1,4 product from a two-step (e − /H•) transfer.

Half-sandwich Ru(II) amine, thiol, and thiolate complexes were prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The thiol and amine complexes react slowly with acetonitrile to give free thiol or amine and the acetonitrile complex. With the thiol complex, the reaction is dissociative. The thiolate complex has been oxidized to its Ru(III) radical cation and the solution EPR spectrum of that radical cation recorded. Cobaltocene reduces the thiol complex to the thiolate complex. The 1H and 31P NMR signals of the thiolate complex in acetonitrile become very broad whenever the thiolate and thiol complexes are present simultaneously. The line broadening is primarily due to electron exchange between the thiolate complex and its radical cation; the latter is generated by an unfavorable redox equilibrium between the thiol and thiolate complexes. Pyramidal inversion of sulfur in the thiol complex is fast at room temperature but slow at lower temperatures; major and minor conformers of the thiol complex were observed by 31P NMR at -98 degrees C in CD2Cl2.

Copper(II) acetate is frequently used as a catalyst for bondforming reactions in organic synthesis. Unlike aqueous solutions, in which complete heterolysis to CuOAc + (aq) and AcO -(aq) prevails at low concentrations, it is clear that copper(II) acetate shows a large degree of aggregation in typical organic solvents. Here, the speciation behavior of Cu(OAc) 2 in organic solvents is probed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), which reveals an extensive clustering of copper acetate species to form ions of the general composition [Cu n (X) 2n-1 ] + and [Cu n (X) 2n+1 ] -(X = OAc and [a]