Homogeneous Reduction Catalysts

An even more effective homogeneous hydrogenation catalyst is the complex [RhClfPPhsfs] which permits rapid reduction of alkenes, alkynes and other unsaturated compounds in benzene solution at 25°C and 1 atm pressure (p. 1134). The Haber process, which uses iron metal catalysts for the direct synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen at high temperatures and pressures, is a further example (p. 421). 

The stereochemistry of reduction by homogeneous catalysts is often controlled by functional groups in the reactant. Delivery of hydrogen occurs cis to a polar functional group. This behavior has been found to be particularly characteristic of an iridium-based catalyst that contains cyclooctadiene, pyridine, and tricyclohexylphosphine as ligands, known as the Crabtree catalyst 6 Homogeneous iridium catalysts have been found to be influenced not only by hydroxy groups, but also by amide, ester, and ether substituents.17... 

In addition to the polymeric rhodium catalysts previously discussed, monomeric rhodium systems prepared from [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 by addition of strong acid (HC1 or HBF4) and Nal in glacial acetic acid have also been shown to be active homogeneous shift catalysts (80). The active species is thought to be an anionic iodorhodium carbonyl species, dihydrogen being produced by the reduction of protons with concomitant oxidation of Rh(I) to Rh(III) [Eq. (18)], and carbon dioxide by nucleophilic attack of water on a Rh(III)-coordinated carbonyl [Eq. (19)]. 

Both heterogeneous and homogeneous CO reduction catalyst recipes often contain electrophilic components such as silica supports, metal oxides, and A1Cl3 [1,5,33,34,35,36]. 

In conclusion, the use of homogeneous model compounds has enabled the discovery and elucidation of a new formyl reduction mechanism which merits serious consideration as a reaction pathway on certain CO reduction catalysts. Additional studies of the compounds described in this account are actively being pursued. 

The synthesis of cationic rhodium complexes constitutes another important contribution of the late 1960s. The preparation of cationic complexes of formula [Rh(diene)(PR3)2]+ was reported by several laboratories in the period 1968-1970 [17, 18]. Osborn and coworkers made the important discovery that these complexes, when treated with molecular hydrogen, yield [RhH2(PR3)2(S)2]+ (S = sol-vent). These rhodium(III) complexes function as homogeneous hydrogenation catalysts under mild conditions for the reduction of alkenes, dienes, alkynes, and ketones [17, 19]. Related complexes with chiral diphosphines have been very important in modern enantioselective catalytic hydrogenations (see Section 1.1.6). 

The first examples of a homogeneous reduction of this type were reported in 1971. Cobalt carbonyl was found to reduce anhydrides such as acetic anhydride, succinic anhydride and propionic anhydride to mixtures of aldehydes and acids. However, scant experimental details were recorded [94]. In 1975, Lyons reported that [Ru(PPh3)3Cl2] catalyzes the reduction of succinic and phthalic anhydrides to the lactones y-bulyrolaclone and phthalide, respectively [95], The proposed reaction sequence for phthalic anhydride is shown in Scheme 15.15. Conversion of phthalic anhydride was complete in 21 h at 90 °C, but yielded an equal mixture of the lactone, phthalide (TON = 100 TOF 5) and o-phthalic acid, which is presumably formed by hydrolysis of the anhydride by water during lactoniza-tion. Neither acid or lactone were further hydrogenated to any extent using this catalyst system, under these conditions. 

Aniline has also been obtained (93%) from a homogenous reduction with preformed tetraethylammonium hydridotri-iron undecacarbonyl [10], In this reduction, the yield is comparable, or superior, to that obtained when the more reactive iron pentacarbonyl or di-iron nonacarbonyl complex is used in the absence of a phase-transfer catalyst. 

Palladium containing homogeneous polymeric catalysts PEO-b-P2VP and PS-b-P4VP were synthesized by the immobilization of appropriate palladium salts into vinyl pyridine cores of PEO-b-P2VP and PS-b-P4VP micelles, respectively, followed by the reduction of the palladium. 

When an aldehyde or a ketone is treated with ammonia or a primary or secondary amine in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenation catalyst (heterogeneous or homogeneous), reductive alkylation of ammonia or the amine (or reductive amination of the carbonyl compound) takes place.165 The reaction can formally be regarded as occurring in the following manner (shown for a primary amine), which probably does correspond to the actual sequence of steps 166... 

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