Herein, we present the efficient isomerization of epoxides into methyl ketones with a novel pincer‐rhodium complex under very mild conditions. The catalyst system has an excellent functional group tolerance and a wide array of epoxides was tested. The corresponding methyl ketones were obtained in very high yields with excellent chemo‐ and regioselectivity. In addition, we investigated mechanistic details like the isomerization of the catalyst, and we obtained evidence that the catalytic cycle follows a β‐hydride elimination‐reductive elimination pathway after the nucleophilic ring opening of the epoxide.
The coordination chemistry of an electron-rich macrocyclic CNC pincer-ligand consisting of two pentamethylene tethered N-heterocyclic carbene moieties on a carbazole backbone (bimcaC5) is investigated by mainly NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystal structure analysis. A bridging coordination mode is found for the lithium complex. With the larger and softer potassium ion, the ligand adopts a facial coordination mode and a polymeric structure by intermolecular potassium nitrogen interactions. The facial coordination is also confirmed at a Cp*Ru fragment, while C-H activation under dehydrogenation at the alkyl chain is observed upon reaction with [Ru(PPh3)3Cl2]. In contrast, Pd(OAc)2 reacts under C-H activation at the central carbon atom of the pentamethylene tether to an alkyl-pincer macrocycle.
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