Hydrogenation, catalytic, alkene catalyst types

In extension to the dehydrogenation studies of amine boranes and the transfer hydrogenations of alkenes catalyzed by the Re(I) complexes 16 and 17, highly efficient hydrogenations of alkenes were established based on the co-catalytic systems of 16/Me2NH-BH3 or 17/Lewis acid, which exhibited catalytic activities comparable to those of Wilkinson- or Schrock-Osbom-type hydrogenations accomplished with platinum group metal catalysts [24]. 

Ligand-metal bifunctional catalysis provides an efficient method for the hydrogenation of various unsaturated organic compounds. Shvo-type [83-85] Ru-H/OH and Noyori-type [3-7] Ru-H/NH catalysts have demonstrated bifimctionality with excellent chemo- and enantioselectivities in transfer hydrogenations and hydrogenations of alkenes, aldehydes, ketones, and imines. Based on the isoelectronic analogy of H-Ru-CO and H-Re-NO units, it was anticipated that rhenium nitrosyl-based bifunctional complexes could exhibit catalytic activities comparable to the ruthenium carbonyl ones (Scheme 29) [86]. 

We report here three studies that address three separate but significant issues in the emerging area of selective catalytic oxidation by TMSP-type complexes. The first study establishes for the first time that some TMSP complexes are compatible with basic oxidants and basic conditions. The second study reports the first oxidation, in this case selective alkene epoxidation, by the economically and environmentally desirable oxidant, aqueous hydrogen peroxide, catalyzed by TMSP complexes. The third study demonstrates that redox active polyoxometalates can be derivatized with alcohols in a manner that should prove useful for fabricating future generations of more sophisticated and selective TMSP catalysts. 

It is clear that all three types of selectivity are relevant to catalytic hydrogenation reactions and from a consideration of the reaction scheme for alkyne hydrogenation (Fig. 4), it can be deduced that all three factors may be operative simultaneously. Clearly, the selectivity for the formation of the alkene relative to alkane will depend upon a number of factors. If both the alkene and the alkane are formed during one residence of the parent molecule on the surface, the selectivity will depend upon the relative values of k, and k2 (Type II selectivity) and upon the ratio kjk4 (Type II selectivity). Since both of these depend upon the specific properties of the catalyst, they have been termed the mechanistic selectivity factor [38], Once the alkene is produced, the system contains another potential adsorbate and Type I selectivity must be taken into account. It... 

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