We described herein a simple approach for N‐formylation with CO2 and hydrosilane reducing agents. Fluoride and hydroxide salts efficiently catalyzed the reaction, principally through activation of the hydrosilanes, which led to hydrosilane reactivities comparable to those of NaBH4/LiAlH4. Consequently, the N‐formylation of amines with CO2 could be achieved at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The mechanism of these anionic catalysts contrasts that of the currently reported systems, for which activation of CO2 is the key mechanistic step. Using tetrabutylammonium fluoride as a simple ammonium salt catalyst, the N‐formylated products of both aliphatic and aromatic amines could be obtained in excellent yields with high selectivities.
The cycloaddition of CO 2 into epoxides catalyzed by imidazolium and related salts continues to attract attention due to the industrial importance of the cyclic carbonate products. The mechanism of the imidazolium-catalyzed transformation has been proposed to require the participation of the acidic C2 proton. However, other simple salts without acidic protons, such as N,N,N,N-tetrabutylammonium chloride, are also efficient catalysts for the reaction. Hence, we decided to investigate the role of the ring protons of imidazolium salts in this reaction. To this end, we systematically studied the catalytic activity of a series of methylsubstituted imidazolium cations, in the presence of various halide anions, both by experiment and in silico. Our results demonstrate that, while stabilization of intermediates by C2, C4, or C5 protons in imidazolium salts takes place, it is the nucleophilicity of the anion that governs the overall activity, which is intimately related to the strength of the interactions between the cation and anion. Consequently, the reactivity of the halide anion strongly depends on the nature of the cation and cosolvents. This study completes the (known) mechanism and should facilitate the development of highly efficient catalysts.
N-formylation of amines with CO 2 and hydrosilane reducing agents proceeds via fast and complex chemical equilibria, which hinder easy analysis of the reaction pathways. In situ reaction monitoring and kinetic studies reveal that three proposed pathways, via direct-and amineassisted formoxysilane formation (pathways 1 and 2, respectively) and via a silylcarbamate intermediate (pathway 3), are possible depending on the reaction conditions and the substrates. While pathway 1 is favored for non-nucleophilic amines in the absence of a catalyst, a base catalyst results in noninnocent behavior of the amine in the CO 2 reduction step toward the formoxysilane intermediate. The reaction pathway is altered by strongly nucleophilic amines, which form stable adducts with CO 2 . Silylcarbamate intermediates form, which can be directly reduced to the N-formylated products by excess hydrosilane. Nevertheless, without excess hydrosilane, the silylcarbamate is an additional intermediate en route to formoxysilanes along pathway 2. Exchange NMR spectroscopy (EXSY) revealed extensive substituent exchange around the hydrosilane silicon center, which confirms its activation during the reaction and supports the proposed reaction mechanisms. Numerous side reactions were also identified, which help to establish the reaction equilibria in the N-formylation reactions.
The synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and CO2 is a well-established reaction, whereas the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from diols and CO2 is considerably more challenging, and few efficient catalysts are available. Here, we describe heterocyclic carbene catalysts, including one derived from a cheap and efficient thiazolium salt, for this latter reaction. The reaction proceeds at atmospheric pressure in the presence of an alkyl halide and Cs2CO3. Reaction mechanisms for the transformations involved are also proposed.
Ionic liquids (ILs) are versatile solvents and catalysts for the synthesis of quinazoline-2,4-dione from 2-aminobenzonitrile and CO . However, the role of the IL in this reaction is poorly understood. Consequently, we investigated this reaction and showed that the IL cation does not play a significant role in the activation of the substrates, and instead plays a secondary role in controlling the physical properties of the IL. A linear relationship between the pK of the IL anion (conjugate acid) and the reaction rate was identified with maximum catalyst efficiency observed at a pK of >14.7 in DMSO. The base-catalyzed reaction is limited by the acidity of the quinazoline-2,4-dione product, which is deprotonated by more basic catalysts, leading to the formation of the quinazolide anion (conjugate acid pK 14.7). Neutralization of the original catalyst and formation of the quinazolide anion catalyst leads to the observed reaction limit.
N-formylation of amines combining CO 2 as aC 1 source with ah ydrosilane reducing agent is ac onvenient route for the synthesis of N-formylated compounds. Al arge number of salts including ionic liquids( ILs) have been shown to efficientlyc atalyzet he reaction and, yet, the key features of the catalystr emain unclear and the best salt catalysts for the reactionr emainu nknown. Here we demonstrate the detrimental effect of ion pairing on the catalytic activity andi llustrate ways in which the strength of the in-teraction between the ions can be reduced to enhanceinteractions and, hence, reactivity with the substrates. In contrast to the current hypothesis, we also show that salt catalysts are more active as bases rather than nucleophilesand identify the pKaw here the nucleophilic role of the catalyst switches to the more active basic role. The identification of these critical parameters allows the optimum salt catalyst and conditions for an N-formylation reaction to be predicted.Scheme1.N-Formylation of amines with CO 2 and hydrosilane reducing agents.[a] M.
Organocatalysts promote a range of C−N bond forming reactions of amines with CO2. Herein, we review these reactions and attempt to identify the unifying features of the catalysts that allows them to promote a multitude of seemingly unrelated reactions. Analysis of the literature shows that these reactions predominantly proceed by carbamate salt formation in the form [BaseH][RR′NCOO]. The anion of the carbamate salt acts as a nucleophile in hydrosilane reductions of CO2, internal cyclization reactions or after dehydration as an electrophile in the synthesis of urea derivatives. The reactions are enhanced by polar aprotic solvents and can be either promoted or hindered by H‐bonding interactions. The predominant role of all types of organic and salt catalysts (including ionic liquids, ILs) is the stabilization of the carbamate salt, mostly by acting as a base. Catalytic enhancement depends on the combination of the amine, the base strength, the solvent, steric factors, ion pairing and H‐bonding. A linear relationship between the base strength and the reaction yield has been demonstrated with IL catalysts in the synthesis of formamides and quinazoline‐2,4‐diones. The role of organocatalysts in the reactions indicates that all bases of sufficient strength should be able to catalyze the reactions. However, a physical limit to the extent of a purely base catalyzed reaction mechanism should exist, which needs to be identified, understood and overcome by synergistic or alternative methods.
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