The development of base metal catalysts for the synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant compounds remains an important goal of chemical research. Here, we report that cobalt nanoparticles encapsulated by a graphitic shell are broadly effective reductive amination catalysts. Their convenient and practical preparation entailed template assembly of cobalt-diamine-dicarboxylic acid metal organic frameworks on carbon and subsequent pyrolysis under inert atmosphere. The resulting stable and reusable catalysts were active for synthesis of primary, secondary, tertiary, and -methylamines (more than 140 examples). The reaction couples easily accessible carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) with ammonia, amines, or nitro compounds, and molecular hydrogen under industrially viable and scalable conditions, offering cost-effective access to numerous amines, amino acid derivatives, and more complex drug targets.

Catalytic reductive aminations using molecular hydrogen represent an essential and widely used methodology for the synthesis of different kinds of amines.

The production of primary benzylic and aliphatic amines, which represent essential feedstocks and key intermediates for valuable chemicals, life science molecules and materials, is of central importance. Here, we report the synthesis of this class of amines starting from carbonyl compounds and ammonia by Ru-catalyzed reductive amination using H2. Key to success for this synthesis is the use of a simple RuCl2(PPh3)3 catalyst that empowers the synthesis of >90 various linear and branched benzylic, heterocyclic, and aliphatic amines under industrially viable and scalable conditions. Applying this catalyst, −NH2 moiety has been introduced in functionalized and structurally diverse compounds, steroid derivatives and pharmaceuticals. Noteworthy, the synthetic utility of this Ru-catalyzed amination protocol has been demonstrated by upscaling the reactions up to 10 gram-scale syntheses. Furthermore, in situ NMR studies were performed for the identification of active catalytic species. Based on these studies a mechanism for Ru-catalyzed reductive amination is proposed.

Graphitic carbon nitride materials have attracted significant interest in recent years and found applications in diverse light-to-energy conversions such as artificial photosynthesis, CO2 reduction, or degradation of organic pollutants. However, their utilization in synthetic photocatalysis, especially in the direct functionalization of C­(sp3)–H bonds, remains underexplored. Herein, we report mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (mpg-CN) as a heterogeneous organic semiconductor photocatalyst for direct arylation of C­(sp3)–H bonds in combination with nickel catalysis. Our protocol has a broad synthetic scope (>70 examples including late-stage functionalization of drugs and agrochemicals), is operationally simple, and shows high chemo- and regioselectivities. Facile separation and recycling of the mpg-CN catalyst in combination with its low preparation cost, innate photochemical stability, and low toxicity are beneficial features overcoming typical shortcomings of homogeneous photocatalysis. Detailed mechanistic investigations and kinetic studies indicate that an unprecedented energy-transfer process (EnT) from the organic semiconductor to the nickel complex is operating.

The preparation of nickel nanoparticles as efficient reductive amination catalysts by pyrolysis of in situ generated Ni-tartaric acid complex on silica is presented. The resulting stable and reusable Ni-nanocatalyst enables the synthesis of functionalizeda nd structurally diverse primary benzylic, heterocyclic and aliphatic amines starting from inexpensive and readily available carbonyl compounds and ammonia in presence of molecular hydrogen. Applying this Ni-based amination protocol, -NH 2 moiety can be introduced in structurally complex compounds,f or example,s teroid derivatives and pharmaceuticals.

Pyrolysis of cobalt-terephthalic acid MOF template on carbon produces highly active and selective cobalt nanoparticles-based hydrogenation catalysts.

A convenient protocol for stereodivergent hydrogenation of alkynes to E‐ and Z‐alkenes by using nickel catalysts was developed. Simple Ni(NO3)2⋅6 H2O as a catalyst precursor formed active nanoparticles, which were effective for the semihydrogenation of several alkynes with high selectivity for the Z‐alkene (Z/E>99:1). Upon addition of specific multidentate ligands (triphos, tetraphos), the resulting molecular catalysts were highly selective for the E‐alkene products (E/Z>99:1). Mechanistic studies revealed that the Z‐alkene‐selective catalyst was heterogeneous whereas the E‐alkene‐selective catalyst was homogeneous. In the latter case, the alkyne was first hydrogenated to a Z‐alkene, which was subsequently isomerized to the E‐alkene. This proposal was supported by density functional theory calculations. This synthetic methodology was shown to be generally applicable in >40 examples and scalable to multigram‐scale experiments.

The development of inexpensive and practical catalysts for arene hydrogenations is key for future valorizations of this general feedstock. Here, we report the development of cobalt nanoparticles supported on silica as selective and general catalysts for such reactions. The specific nanoparticles were prepared by assembling cobalt-pyromellitic acid-piperazine coordination polymer on commercial silica and subsequent pyrolysis. Applying the optimal nanocatalyst, industrial bulk, substituted, and functionalized arenes as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are selectively hydrogenated to obtain cyclohexane-based compounds under industrially viable and scalable conditions. The applicability of this hydrogenation methodology is presented for the storage of H 2 in liquid organic hydrogen carriers.