Reactions Catalyzed by Transition Metal Complexes

The types of reactions that can be catalyzed by transition metal complexes are now very numerous and are very widely used in synthesis. We have already met a number of them—osmium in catalysis of dihydroxylation reactions, titanium in Sharpless epoxidation, various metals in hydrogenation reactions of alkenes, and the Ziegler-Natta process for polymerization. In this section, we will just highlight a few types that have been popular—an oxidation, some hydrogenations, and some coupling reactions. Although outline reaction mechanisms will be given, this is for interest only—they are beyond the scope of this text, and many are more complicated than is shown here. 

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Deronzier A, Moutet J-C. 2003. Electrochemical reactions catalyzed by transition metal complexes. In Ward MD, editor. Comprehensive Coordination Chemistry, II. Volume 9. Amsterdam Elsevier, p. 471. 

Electrochemical Reactions Catalyzed by Transition Metal Complexes... 

Electrochemical reactions catalyzed by transition metal complexes (A. Deronzier, J-C. Moutet)... 

Hydrogenation Reactions Catalyzed by Transition Metal Complexes, 17, 319 Infrared Intensities of Metal Carbonyl Stretching Vibrations, 10, 199 Infrared and Raman Studies of ir-Complexes, 1, 239 Insertion Reactions of Compounds of Metals and Metalloids, 5, 225 Insertion Reactions of Transition Metal-Carbon Bonded Compounds 1. Carbon Monoxide Insertion, 11, 87... 

In view of the abundant experimental studies on the boration reactions catalyzed by transition metal complexes summarized above, theoretical studies to the detailed reaction mechanisms have also been carried out [25-28]. The main focus of these quantum chemical calculations has been to provide detailed structural and energetic information on the proposed reaction mechanisms. 

The best enantioselectivity (35% ee) was observed in the reaction of l-(l-naphthyl)-2-propyn-l-ol with acetone in the presence of a complex bearing a 1-naphthylethylthio-lato moiety as a chiral ligand. Although the enantioselectivity is not yet satisfactory, this was the first example of an enantioselective propargylic substitution reaction catalyzed by transition metal complexes [27]. It is noteworthy that the chiral thiolate-bridged ligands work to control the chiral environment around the diruthenium site. 

Carbonylative ring-expansion reactions catalyzed by transition metal complexes provide efficient methods for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds, especially nitrogen heterocycles. 

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