Metal hydrides, addition mechanism

Some experimental evidences are in agreement with this proposed mechanism. For example, coordinating solvents like diethyl ether show a deactivating effect certainly due to competition with a Lewis base (149). For the same reason, poor reactivity has been observed for the substrates carrying heteroatoms when an aluminum-based Lewis acid is used. Less efficient hydrovinylation of electron-deficient vinylarenes can be explained by their weaker coordination to the nickel hydride 144, hence metal hydride addition to form key intermediate 146. Isomerization of the final product can be catalyzed by metal hydride through sequential addition/elimination, affording the more stable compound. Finally, chelating phosphines inhibit the hydrovinylation reaction. 

Double-bond isomerization can also take place in other ways. Nucleophilic allylic rearrangements were discussed in Chapter 10 (p. 327). Electrocyclic and sigmatropic rearrangements are treated at 8-29 to 8-37. Double-bond migrations have also been accomplished photochemically,67 and by means of metallic ion (most often complex ions containing Pt, Rh, or Ru) or metal carbonyl catalysts.68 In the latter case there are at least two possible mechanisms. One of these, which requires external hydrogen, is called the metal hydride addition-elimination mechanism ... 

The two mechanisms may result in substantial and characteristic differences in deuterium distribution. The metal hydride addition-elimination mechanism usually leads to a complex mixture of labeled isomers.195 198 208-210 Hydride exchange between the catalyst and the solvent may further complicate deuterium distribution. Simple repeated intramolecular 1,3 shifts, in contrast, result in deuterium scram-bling in allylic positions when the ir-allyl mechanism is operative. ... 

Isomerization of allylic alcohol to ketone has been extensively studied [13], and two different pathways have been established, including tt-allyl metal hydride and the metal hydride addition-elimination mechanisms [5,14]. McGrath and Grubbs [ 15] investigated the ruthenium-catalyzed isomerization of allyl alcohol in water and proposed a modified metal hydride addition-elimination mechanism through an oxygen-functionality-directed Markovnikov addition to the double bond. 

The two established pathways for transition metal-catalyzed alkene isomerization are the jr-allyl metal hydride and the metal hydride addition-elimination mechanisms. The metal hydride addition-elimination mechanism is the more common pathway for transition metal-catalyzed isomerization. In this mechanism, free alkene coordinates to a metal hydride species. Subsequent insertion into the metal-hydride bond yields a metal alkyl. Formation of a secondary metal alkyl followed by y3-elimination yields isomerized alkene and regenerates the metal hydride. The jr-allylhydride mechanism is the less commonly found pathway for alkene isomerization. Oxidative addition of an activated allylic C-H bond to the metal yields a jr-allyl metal hydride. Transfer of the coordinated hydride to the opposite end of the allyl group yields isomerized alkene. 

The fundamental differences between these two mechanisms are that 1) the jr-allyl metal hydride mechanism involves a 1,3-hydrogen shift while the metal hydride addition-elimination mechanism involves a 1,2-hydrogen shift and 2) the hydrogen shift in the Jt-allylhydride mechanism proceeds in an intramolecular fashion while that in the metalhydride addition-elimination mechanism proceeds in an intermolecular fashion. 

The crossover product, propionaldehyde-l,3-d-3- C 12, clearly demonstrated that the isomerization occurred via intermolecular 1,3-hydrogen shift. These results are consistent with a modified metal hydride addition-elimination mechanism which involves exclusive 1,3-hydrogen shift through oxygen-directed Markovnikov addition of the metal hydride to the carbon-carbon double bond (Scheme 12.2). The directing effect of functional groups on the selectivity of transition metal catalysis is well presented [9], and an analogous process appears to be operative in the isomerization of allylamines to enamines [10]. 

It has long been recognized that certain transition metal complexes can catalyze the migration of carbon-carbon double bonds. When the catalyst is a transition metal hydride, the mechanism involves initial reversible addition of the metal... 

Ti o.9i jji most cases the organometallic undergoing insertion is formed in situ by a metal hydride addition (insertion) with an olefin rather than by the exchange reaction. The olefin reacting with the hydride to form the alkyl may be the same one that undergoes the insertion with the metal alkyl, or a different one. This sequence with a single olefin produces olefin dimers after the final / -hydride elimination. A mechanism for the RhClj-catalyzed dimerization of ethylene is ... 

The most attractive mechanism for this isomerization is a metal hydride addition-elimination mechanism (Fig. 22). Initial complexing occurs between an olefin and the metal complex, which is followed by the addition of a hydrogen causing a tt-o- rearrangement. Next, elimination of an hydrogen occurs in the opposite direction by a jS-interaction with eventual release of the isomerized olefin. 

Wagener has used deuterium-labeUed substrates to probe alkene isomerization processes that occur during metathesis reactions. The observation of a 1,2-deuterium shift as well as a 1,3-deuterium shift provided evidence for a metal hydride addition/elimination process as opposed to a 7t-aUylru-thenium hydride mechanism, as the latter would be expected to yield a net 1,3-deuterium shift only (Scheme 2.58). In addition, complete deuteration next to the oxygen suggested that this isomerization was irreversible, otherwise H/D exchange at this position would have been expected. 

Isomerization of olefins by transition-metal complexes is one of the most important goals in organometallic chemistry [6, 7]. For the topic considered here [8], two principal mechanisms can be distinguished (Scheme 5.2) (a) metal hydride addition-elimination mechanism (alkyl mechanism) [9], and (b) reaction via a it-allyl metal hydride intermediate (allyl mechanism) [10]. 

Various CpRh( -1,4-diene) complexes have been prepared, and isomerize thermally to the CpRh( -l,3-diene) complex the results are in accord with a metal hydride addition-elimination mechanism. A crystal-structure determination of (cod)(benzoyl-l,l,l-trifluoroacetonato)Rh has been reported. ... 

Water as an impurity is known to promote the breakaway corrosion of a number of metals in addition to iron in CO2 the effect has been reported for magnesium (hydrocarbons have more effect on the oxidation of this metal), beryllium, zirconium and sodium. In the latter case water is known to convert the oxide to deliquescent NaOH but acceleration of beryllium oxidation probably results from hydride formation and mechanical damage to the oxide. 

Catecholborane and pinacolborane are especially useful in hydroborations catalyzed by transition metals.163 Wilkinson s catalyst Rh(PPh3)3Cl is among those used frequently.164 The general mechanism for catalysis is believed to be similar to that for homogeneous hydrogenation and involves oxidative addition of the borane to the metal, generating a metal hydride.165... 

A related study with a similar ruthenium catalyst led to the structural and NMR characterization of an intermediate that has the crucial Ru—C bond in place and also shares other features with the BEMAP-ruthenium diacetate mechanism.33 This mechanism, as summarized in Figure 5.4, shows the formation of a metal hydride prior to the complexation of the reactant. In contrast to the mechanism for acrylic acids shown on p. 378, the creation of the new stereocenter occurs at the stage of the addition of the second hydrogen. 

The plausible mechanism of this ruthenium-catalyzed isomerization of allylic alcohols is shown in Scheme 15. This reaction proceeds via dehydrogenation of an allylic alcohol to the corresponding unsaturated carbonyl compound followed by re-addition of the metal hydride to the double bond. This mechanism involves dissociation of one phosphine ligand. Indeed, the replacement of two triphenylphosphines by various bidentate ligands led to a significant decrease in the reactivity.37... 

The diversity of the substrates, catalysts, and reducing methods made it difficult to organize the material of this chapter. Thus, we have chosen an arrangement related to that used by Kaesz and Saillant [3] in their review on transition-metal hydrides - that is, we have classified the subject according to the applied reducing agents. Additional sections were devoted to the newer biomimetic and electrochemical reductions. Special attention was paid mainly to those methods which are of preparative value. Stoichiometric hydrogenations and model reactions will be discussed only in connection with the mechanisms. 

A mechanism similar to Scheme 10 was proposed, involving CO addition, followed by H20 addition (in lieu of hydroxide anion) to form a metallocarboxylic acid complex. Then, decomposition to C02 and a metal hydride was proposed, followed by hydride elimination. Table 15 provides data from reaction testing in the temperature range 140 to 180 °C. In later testing, they compared Rh and Ir complexes for the reduction of benzalacetone under water-gas shift conditions. 

Saito and coworkers134 reported on the homogeneous reverse water-gas shift reaction catalyzed by Ru3(CO)i2. Conditions employed were 20 ml of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone solution 0.2 mmol Ru3(CO)i2 1 mmol bis(triphenylphosphine)immi-nium chloride and C02-H2 1 3 under 80 kg/cm2 at 160 °C. The major products were CO (15.1 mmol), H20 (21.6 mmol), and methanol (0.8 mmol). As no formic acid was detected, and because the authors only detected Ru cluster anion species H3Ru4(CO)i2, H2Ru4(CO)i22, and HRu3(CO)n, they concluded that the mechanism did not involve formic acid as an intermediate. Rather, they proposed that the mechanism proceeds by dehydrogenation of a metal hydride, C02 addition, and electrophilic attack from the proton to yield H20, as outlined in Scheme 48. 

As briefly discussed in section 1.1, and shown in Figure 1, the accepted mechanism for the catalytic cycle of hydrogenation of C02 to formic add starts with the insertion of C02 into a metal-hydride bond. Then, there are two possible continuations. The first possibility is the reductive elimination of formic acid followed by the oxidative addition of dihydrogen molecule to the metal center. The second possible path goes through the a-bond metathesis of a metal formate complex with a dihydrogen molecule. In this section, we will review theoretical investigations on each of these elementary processes, with the exception of oxidative addition of H2 to the metal center, which has already been discussed in many reviews. 

Titanium tetrachloride is a very effective catalyst for the addition of LiAlH4 or alane to the olefinic double bond. The mechanism of this reaction involves intermediate transition metal hydrides, as in the case of reaction of NaBPU and Co11-salts. The hydrotitanation of the double bonds is probably followed by a rapid metal exchange reaction (Scheme 3)94. 

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