Transition metal complexes hydrogen activation

The ability of transition-metal complexes to activate substrates such as alkenes and dihydrogen with respect to low-barrier bond rearrangements underlies a large number of important catalytic transformations, such as hydrogenation and hydroformy-lation of alkenes. However, activation alone is insufficient if it is indiscriminate. In this section we examine a particularly important class of alkene-polymerization catalysts that exhibit exquisite control of reaction stereoselectivity and regioselec-tivity as well as extraordinary catalytic power, the foundation for modern industries based on inexpensive tailored polymers. 

Besides solid transition metals, certain soluble transition-metal complexes are active hydrogenation catalysts.4. The most commonly used example is tris(triphenylphosphine)-chlororhodium, which is known as Wilkinson s catalyst.5 This and related homogeneous catalysts usually minimize exchange and isomerization processes. Hydrogenation by homogeneous catalysts is believed to take place by initial formation of a rc-complex, followed by transfer of hydrogen from rhodium to carbon. 

DFT calculations offer a good compromise between speed and accuracy. They are well suited for problem molecules such as transition metal complexes. This feature has revolutionized computational inorganic chemistry. DFT often underestimates activation energies and many functionals reproduce hydrogen bonds poorly. Weak van der Waals interactions (dispersion) are not reproduced by DFT a weakness that is shared with current semi-empirical MO techniques. 

Heterolytic activation of hydrogen by transition metal complexes. P. J. Brothers, Prog. Inorg. Chem., 1981,28,1-61 (168). 

Two significant communications indicate the considerable potential of transition metal complexes as multifunctional homogeneous catalysts in the silane field (5, 53). Here the same catalyst activates silanes toward different substrates and it is probable that all proceed via a common metal hydrido intermediate. Both Co2(CO)8 and (Ph3P)3CoHX [X = H2, N2, or (H)Si(OEt)j] catalyze 0-silylation and hydrosilylation the hydrogen on Si may be replaced by R O, R COO, R CONH, or R3SiO [e.g., Eqs. (117)-(120)], and excellent yields of silylated product result. Phenolic groups do... 

In addition to activation of sihcon bonds by fluoride ions as discussed in Section 2.4, silicon-silicon, silicon-carbon, silicon-hydrogen, and silicon-nitrogen bonds are activated by transition metal salts and transition metal complexes. Thus, hydrolysis of silicon-carbon bonds such as in phenyltrimethylsilane 81 can be induced by... 

A chiral diphosphine ligand was bound to silica via carbamate links and was used for enantioselective hydrogenation.178 The activity of the neutral catalyst decreased when the loading was increased. It clearly indicates the formation of catalytically inactive chlorine-bridged dimers. At the same time, the cationic diphosphine-Rh catalysts had no tendency to interact with each other (site isolation).179 New cross-linked chiral transition-metal-complexing polymers were used for the chemo- and enantioselective epoxidation of olefins.180... 

Table 6.19 Hydrogenation catalysts based on Group V-VII transition-metal complexes activated with AI / B u 3.

Until now, only a few versatile, selective and effective transition-metal complexes have been applied in nicotinamide cofactor reduction. The TOFs are well within the same order of magnitude for all systems studied, and are within the same range as reported for the hydrogenase enzyme thus, the catalytic efficiency is comparable. The most versatile complex Cp Rh(bpy) (9) stands out due to its acceptance of NAD+ and NADP+, acceptance of various redox equivalents (formate, hydrogen and electrons), and its high selectivity towards enzymatically active 1,4-NAD(P)H. 

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