Divalent samarium complexes have been prepared with a wide variety of ligand systems, [1] but the extreme level of reactivity and the uniqueness of transformations displayed by the samarocene derivatives [2] was never reproduced. To date, the Sm II polypyrrolide derivatives [3] are the only systems which share with decamethylsamarocene [4] the ability to react with an exceedingly inert molecule such as dinitrogen. Unlike samarocene, however, these species may perform four-electron reduction of dinitrogen, thus indicating that their reducing power is particularly strong. Particularly versatile with this respect are divalent samarium complexes of dipyrrolide dianions, [5] which are reminiscent of the ansametallocene ligand systems. So far these species have led to three novel dinitrogen complexes. [6, 7] However, attempts to isolate the presumably highly reactive divalent precursors facilitates the formation of a peroxide species with molecular oxygen. The hydride transfer from the aluminum alkoxide of hydrotalcite is effected by the neighboring peroxide on the nickel atom. Hydrotalcites are homogeneous mixtures of heterobimetallic composition having a periodic composition of M II and M III ions. The cationic order of cat. A as revealed by IR studies suggests that the presence of one aluminum atom for every two nickel atoms substituted alternately in the hydrotalcite provides the optimum use of nickel in cat. A, better than is possible with the other compositions, and is thus responsible for the display of higher activity.In conclusion, Ni-Al hydrotalcite efficiently oxidizes a wide range of alcohols, such as allylic and benzylic, and a-ketols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds under mild reaction conditions by employing molecular oxygen as the stoichiometric oxidant. This process is not only economically viable but also applicable to large-scale reactions. Moreover, the high yields of oxidized products can be obtained in heterogeneous catalysis using hydrotalcites as catalysts.
Experimental SectionVarious catalysts with varied composition of Ni-Al hydrotalcites (Ni:Al 2:1 (cat. A), 2.5:1, 3:1) were prepared by coprecipitation employing NaOH/ Na 2 CO 3 as described in the literature. [12a] Catalyst A was rehydrated according to our previous report [11b] and calcined at 450 8C in a flow of air. Ni-Al hydrotalcite (Ni:Al 2:1, cat. B) was prepared by coprecipitation using ammonia solution. [12b] The samples of nickel impregnated on galumina (2, 5, and 10 %) were prepared by adding the required amounts of Ni(NO 3 ) 2´6 H 2 O in water to g-alumina and stirring occasionally while heating on a water bath till complete evaporation of water had occurred. The residue was dried in an oven at 110 8C for 16 h.Typical oxidation procedure: Oxygen was bubbled at atmospheric pressure through a reaction mixture containing p-nitrobenzyl alcohol (2 mmol) and catalyst (0.5 g) in toluene (10 mL) at 90 8C under stirring. The reaction was monitored by thin-layer chromatography and purified by column chromatography (hexane:eth...