Linear alkyl benzenes (LAB) are global chemicals that are produced by acid-catalyzed reactions that involve the formation of carbocationic intermediates. One outcome of the acid-based catalysis is that 1-phenylalkanes cannot be produced. Herein, it is reported that [Rh(μ-OAc)(η-CH)] catalyzes production of 1-phenyl substituted alkene products via oxidative arene vinylation. Since C═C bonds can be used for many chemical transformations, the formation of unsaturated products provides a potential advantage over current processes that produce saturated alkyl arenes. Conditions that provide up to a 10:1 linear:branched ratio have been achieved, and catalytic turnovers >1470 have been demonstrated. In addition, electron-deficient and electron-rich substituted benzenes are successfully alkylated. The Rh catalysis provides ortho:meta:para selectivity that is opposite to traditional acid-based catalysis.

Rising global demand for fossil resources has prompted a renewed interest in catalyst technologies that increase the efficiency of conversion of hydrocarbons from petroleum and natural gas to higher-value materials. Styrene is currently produced from benzene and ethylene through the intermediacy of ethylbenzene, which must be dehydrogenated in a separate step. The direct oxidative conversion of benzene and ethylene to styrene could provide a more efficient route, but achieving high selectivity and yield for this reaction has been challenging. Here, we report that the Rh catalyst ((Fl)DAB)Rh(TFA)(η(2)-C2H4) [(Fl)DAB is N,N'-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene; TFA is trifluoroacetate] converts benzene, ethylene, and Cu(II) acetate to styrene, Cu(I) acetate, and acetic acid with 100% selectivity and yields ≥95%. Turnover numbers >800 have been demonstrated, with catalyst stability up to 96 hours.

The direct and single-step conversion of benzene, ethylene, and a Cu(II) oxidant to styrene using the Rh(I) catalyst (DAB)Rh(TFA)(η-CH) [DAB = N,N'-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene; TFA = trifluoroacetate] has been reported to give quantitative yields (with Cu(II) as the limiting reagent) and selectivity combined with turnover numbers >800. This report details mechanistic studies of this catalytic process using a combined experimental and computational approach. Examining catalysis with the complex (DAB)Rh(OAc)(η-CH) shows that the reaction rate has a dependence on catalyst concentration between first- and half-order that varies with both temperature and ethylene concentration, a first-order dependence on ethylene concentration with saturation at higher concentrations of ethylene, and a zero-order dependence on the concentration of Cu(II) oxidant. The kinetic isotope effect was found to vary linearly with the order in (DAB)Rh(OAc)(η-CH), exhibiting no KIE when [Rh] was in the half-order regime, and a k/k value of 6.7(6) when [Rh] was in the first-order regime. From these combined experimental and computational studies, competing pathways, which involve all monomeric Rh intermediates and a binuclear Rh intermediate in the other case, are proposed.

The H/D exchange of arenes in acidic media by transition-metal and main-group-metal complexes and common inorganic salts was studied. The influence of Lewis acidity, anions, charge, and ligands was evaluated. The results indicate that the determination of H/D exchange activity in acidic media is not related to the formation of metal−carbon bonds (i.e., C−H activation). The combined experimental data (regioselectivity, activation energy, kinetics, isotope effects, solvent effects) and DFT calculations point toward a proton catalysis mechanism. Thus, highly Lewis acidic metal compounds, such as aluminum(III) triflate, were extraordinarily active for the H/D exchange reactions. Indeed, the degree of H/D exchange reactivity allows for a comparative measurement of Lewis acidities.

Rhodium catalysts for arene alkenylation reported by our group (e.g., Science 2015, 348, 421; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 5474; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 17007) have demonstrated selectivity for 1-aryl alkenes over y-aryl alkenes (y > 1). This selectivity is notable because 1-aryl alkenes or 1-aryl alkanes cannot be generated using acid-based Friedel–Crafts arene alkylation or acidic zeolite catalysts. Herein, we report the extension of Rh arene alkenylation catalysis to generate 1-tolyl-1-pentenes, which are potential precursors for bicyclic compounds. The olefin concentration, copper­(II) oxidant identity and concentration, reaction temperature, and rhodium concentration for the alkenylation of toluene with 1-pentene have been optimized using [Rh­(η2-C2H4)2(μ-OAc)]2 as the catalyst precursor. The rhodium-based catalysis achieves up to 12(1):1 anti-Markovnikov selectivity for 1-tolyl-1-pentenes over 2-tolyl-2-pentenes and is selective for alkenylation in the meta and para positions.