Next Article in Journal
Mesoporous Silica-Supported Ionic Liquids as Catalysts for Styrene Carbonate Synthesis from CO2
Next Article in Special Issue
Rapid Sequentially Palladium Catalyzed Four-Component Synthesis of Novel Fluorescent Biaryl-Substituted Isoxazoles
Previous Article in Journal
A Highly Active Au/In2O3-ZrO2 Catalyst for Selective Hydrogenation of CO2 to Methanol
Previous Article in Special Issue
Recent Approaches to Chiral 1,4-Dihydropyridines and their Fused Analogues
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Catalysts
Volume 10
Issue 11
10.3390/catal10111361
catalysts-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Redox Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols Catalyzed by New Water-Soluble Rh(I)-N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes

by
Csilla Enikő Czégéni
1,*,
Marianna Fekete
2,
Eszter Tóbiás
2,
Antal Udvardy
2,
Henrietta Horváth
1,
Gábor Papp
2 and
Ferenc Joó
1,2
1
MTA-DE Redox and Homogeneous Catalytic Reaction Mechanisms Research Group, P.O. Box 400, H-4002 Debrecen, Hungary
2
Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Debrecen, P.O. Box 400, H-4002 Debrecen, Hungary
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Catalysts 2020, 10(11), 1361; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10111361
Submission received: 8 November 2020 / Revised: 19 November 2020 / Accepted: 20 November 2020 / Published: 23 November 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis in Heterocyclic and Organometallic Synthesis)
Browse Figures
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

:
New water-soluble, N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) or mixed NHC/tertiary phosphine complexes [RhCl(cod)(sSIMes)], Na2[Rh(bmim)(cod)(mtppts)], and [Rh(bmim)(cod)(pta)]BF4 were synthetized and applied for the first time as catalysts in redox isomerization of allylic alcohols in aqueous media. [RhCl(cod)(sSIMes)] (with added sulfonated triphenylphosphine) and [Rh(bmim)(cod)(pta)]BF4 catalyzed selectively the transformation of allylic alcohols to the corresponding ketones. The highest catalytic activity, TOF = 152 h−1 (TOF = (mol reacted substrate) × (mol catalyst × time)−1) was observed in redox isomerization of hept-1-en-3-ol ([S]/[cat] = 100). The catalysts were reused in the aqueous phase at least three times, with only modest loss of the catalytic activity and selectivity.

Graphical Abstract

1. Introduction

Catalytic isomerization of allylic alcohols is a remarkable way to obtain carbonyl compounds without classical oxidation/reduction steps, and is a 100% atom economic process of producing aldehydes and ketones (Scheme 1). The most efficient complexes for isomerization of allylic alcohols have been used in organic solvents [1,2,3]. However, water, as an environmentally friendly solvent for organic reactions, has received increasing attention. In aqueous oraqueous/biphasic systems the catalyst recycling is easier, and the process becomes more economical and environmentally friendly. Aqueous organometallic catalysis led to the development of a huge number of new and greener synthetic methodologies in organic synthesis. Lots of research has been done to develop efficient catalytic systems for the production of carbonyl compounds [4,5,6,7,8].
Rhodium complexes have been applied in numerous industrially significant reactions of hydrogenation [9], dehydrogenation of primary alcohols [10], hydroamination [11] and hydroformylation [12,13]. Bergens and co-workers reported an immobilized rhodium catalyst-organic framework for solvent-free isomerization of allylic alcohols [14]. A water soluble complex which forms during the reaction of [Rh(cod)(CH3CN)2]BF4 (cod = η4-cyclo-1,5-octadiene) and pta (1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) catalyzes the isomerization of codeine and morphine into hydrocodone and hydromorphone, which is an important transformation from a pharmaceutical point of view [15]. The most efficient water-soluble complexes contain water soluble tertiary phosphines, such as the sodium salts of mono-, di, and tri-meta-sulfonated triphenylphosphine (mtppms-Na, mtppds-Na2, mtppts-Na3, respectively) the sodium salt of sulfonated 1,3-bis-(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp) [16], para-triphenylphosphine monophosphonate (p-tppmp) [17], and 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (pta) [18]. Cationic Rh(I)-diphosphine catalysts were attached to proteins and used in asymmetric hydrogenations in aqueous solutions [19,20]. Rhodium(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes have also been widely used in catalytic chemistry, however there have been relatively few reports on the application of Rh-NHC catalysts in water [6,11,16], despite the fact that water-soluble NHC complexes of other metal ions often serve as catalysts in aqueous solutions [11,21,22,23,24,25,26]. The first water-soluble Rh(I)-NHC complex, in which a functionalized N-heterocyclic ligand was responsible for the water solubility, was described in 1997 by Herrmann et al [27]. Kühn and co-workers reported the preparation and catalytic properties (in the hydrogenation of aromatic ketones) of sulfoalkyl-substituted azolium-derived water soluble Rh(I)-NHC complexes [28]. Klein Gebbink published the synthesis of the [NBu4][RhCl(cod)(NHC)], and [PPh4][RhCl(cod)(NHC)] (NHC = 1-(4-sulphonatobutyl)-3-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) [29]. Perrez-Torrente and co-workers synthesized and structurally characterized several water-soluble zwitterionic, carboxylate bridged bis-NHC rhodium complexes. The easy N-functionalization of NHC-ligands allowed stable attachment of Rh(I)-NHC-complexes to proteins, and the resulting biohybrid catalytsts were applied in aqueous systems for enantioselective hydrogenations by Klein Gebbink et al [30], and cascade metathesis/hydrogenation reactions by Okuda and co-workers [31].
The use of rhodium complexes for the catalytic transformation of allylic alcohols to carbonyl compounds dates back more than four decades. Strohmeier and co-workers used 0.6 mol% [RhH(CO)(PPh3)3] to convert methallyl alcohol to isobutyraldehyde (3 h at 70 °C in trifluoroethanol, quantitative yield) [32]. In another interesting early work Alper and co-workers applied 2–4 mol% [Rh(CO)2Cl]2, together with phase transfer catalysts in aqueous–organic biphasic isomerizations [33]. Sasson and coworkers observed complete transformation of oct-1-en-3-ol to 3-octanone in benzene/water mixtures with 2% mol RhCl3 [34]. Biphasic systems with water-soluble rhodium complexes of meta-trisulfonated triphenylphosphine (mtppts) derivatives were reported by de Bellefon [16,35]. Several other rhodium complexes were successfully applied in aqueous media for the redox isomerization of allylic alcohols [18,36,37,38,39,40], however, no water-soluble Rh(I)-NHC- or Rh(I)-(NHC)-(phosphine) complexes have been reported for this purpose to date. Ru(II)-complex catalysts are more abundant in redox isomerization of allylic alcohols [41,42,43]. For example, NHC-ligated water-soluble Ru(II)-complexes were studied as catalysts in a reaction by Perís and co-workers [41]. In that work, water-solubility was due to sulfonate-functionalized NHC ligands. Mixed NHC/tertiary phosphine complexes of iridium(I) were also found to be active catalysts in the redox isomerization of allylic alcohols in aqueous systems [44].
In view of the scarcity of catalytic applications of Rh(I)-NHC complexes in redox isomerization of allylic alcohols in aqueous media, we synthesized new water-soluble complexes of this type with sulfonated N-heterocyclic carbene sSIMes (sSIMes = 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethyl-3-sodium-sulfonatophenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene, as well as mixed-ligand Rh(I)-NHC-phosphine complexes with NHC = bmim = 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazol-2-ylidene, and the water-soluble tertiary phosphine ligands mtppms-Na, and mtppts-Na3. Synthesis of the catalysts, and their application in redox isomerization of allylic alcohols in aqueous systems, are described below. The new compounds were characterized with 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR spectroscopies, as well as with ESI mass spectrometry

2. Results and Discussion

An efficient synthetic strategy of Rh(I)-NHC complexes uses the easily available [RhCl(cod)]2, [Rh(cod)(MeO)]2 or [Rh(OH)(cod)]2 dinuclear complexes as starting materials. Reaction of these compounds with imidazolium halides or tetrafluoroborates in the presence of bases often leads to clean formation of neutral or cationic mononuclear Rh(I)-NHC complexes [RhX(cod)(NHC)] and [Rh(cod)(NHC)]BF4, both in organic and aqueous solvents. Further reaction of these mononuclear complexes with tertiary phosphines results in formation of mixed-ligand NHC/phosphine Rh(I)-complexes. We also followed this general strategy and used sulfonated NHC or/and water-soluble phosphine ligands to achieve water-solubility of the resulting complexes.

2.1. Synthetic Procedure and Characterization of Rh(I)-N-Heterocyclic Complexes 1–5

2.1.1. Synthesis of [RhCl(cod)(sSIMes)] (1) (Scheme 2).

The [RhCl(sSIMes)(cod)] (1) complex was prepared following the literature procedure, previously reported for water-insoluble Rh(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes [45]. The synthesis involved reaction of [RhCl(cod)]2 and the NHC ligand precursor, [sSIMesH]Cl, in the presence of excess K2CO3 in MeOH at reflux temperature (Scheme 2). The resulting complex is highly soluble in water and methanol, and insoluble in dichloromethane and other non-polar solvents. In the 13C{1H} NMR spectrum recorded in MeOD, the resonance signal of the carbene carbon atom appears at 212.43 ppm as a doublet (1JRh-C = 48.22 Hz) which is in agreement with the values reported by Herrmann et al. for Rh-carbene carbon resonances (δ = 179.6–209.8 ppm, 1JRh-C = 46.4 Hz–50.8 Hz) [45], and with the values obtained for water-insoluble analogues [46]. Unfortunately, despite all our attempts, 1 could not be isolated as a pure solid. 1H and 13C{1H} NMR spectra showed decomposition during isolation, which is in accord with the reported instability of the [sSIMesH]Cl ligand in basic solvents [47], especially in solutions containing minute amounts of water. Conversely, methanolic solutions of 1, (see Section 2.2) showed consistent catalytic activity, and were studied in aqueous solutions containing 13 % methanol.
Attempts were made to prepare the mixed ligand NHC-phosphine-Rh(I) complex (denoted 2 on Scheme 3) in the reaction of 1 and mtppms-Na. Nevertheless, all our efforts to isolate a uniform product failed. 31P{1H} NMR of the resulting solution displayed a doublet at δ = 27.14 ppm with a coupling constant 1JRh–P = 147.0 Hz, which unambiguously revealed the coordination of mtppms to Rh(I). Nevertheless, the addition of 1-equivalent of mtppms-Na to a solution of 1 largely increased the catalytic activity of 1 in the redox isomerization of allylic alcohols. Such solutions of 1/mtppms-Na showed reproducible catalytic activity, and were used for the catalytic experiments (see below).
A probable cause of the failure in synthesis of the elusive compound 2 may be in the high steric demand of both the sSIMes and the mtppms ligands. Analogous NHC-phosphine-Ir(I) complexes with non-sulfonated NHC ligands, such as [Ir(bmim)(cod)(mtppms)] [44], and [Ir(cod)(emim)(mtppms)] (emim = 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazol-2-ylidene) [48] are known, however, those contain small size NHC ligands, compared to sSIMes. Another difference is that the mentioned Ir(I)-complexes showed only negligible solubility in aqueous solutions, since they were obtained as zwitterionic species, formed with loss of chloride and the sodium ion of the mtppms-Na ligand. In contrast, mixtures of 1 and 1-equivalent mtppms-Na did not yield a less soluble zwitterionic product, most probably due to the two − SO 3 − . substituents in the sSIMes ligand.

2.1.2. Synthesis of [RhCl(bmim)(cod)] (3)

[RhCl(bmim)(cod)] (3) was previously prepared by Park et al. by the reaction between [Rh(MeO)(cod)]2 and [bmimH]Cl, and the complex showed catalytic activity in hydrosilylation reactions [49]. We successfully used the less sensitive [Rh(OH)(cod)]2 instead of [Rh(MeO)(cod)]2, and its reaction with [bmimH]Cl yielded [RhCl(bmim)(cod)] (3), as depicted in Scheme 4.
Complex 3 is very poorly soluble in water, but the chloride on rhodium can be easily replaced by a water-soluble ligand. Due to this, water-soluble, phosphine-containing Rh(I)-NHC complexes were prepared by ligand exchange.

2.1.3. Synthesis of Na2[Rh(bmim)(cod)(mtppts)] (4)

Triply-sulfonated triphenylphosphine sodium-salt, mtppts-Na3, is one of the most water-soluble tertiary phosphines (its solubility at room temperature is about 1400 g/L) [50]. It was expected that reaction of mtppts-Na3 and [RhCl(bmim)(cod)] (3) would result in the formation of a highly water-soluble mixed ligand Rh(I)-NHC-phosphine complex, with low solubility in apolar organic solvents. Indeed, the reaction depicted in Scheme 4 yielded 4 as orange powder, highly soluble in water. In MeOD solution, the 31P{1H} NMR spectrum of 4, a doublet can be seen at δ = 27.31 ppm (1JRh–P = 160.4 Hz) (Figure S8), while the 13C{1H} NMR signal of the carbene carbon atom appeared at δ = 174.62 ppm as a doublet of a doublet (Figure S7), because both carbon–rhodium(I) and carbon–phosphorus coupling occurred (1JRh–C = 49.2 Hz, 2JC–P = 15.4 Hz).

2.1.4. Synthesis of [Rh(bmim)(cod)(pta)]BF4 (5)

Starting from [Rh(OH)(cod)]2, another water-soluble N-heterocyclic carbene complex, 5, was obtained in reaction with pta as a water-soluble phosphine ligand (Scheme 4). Complex 5 was prepared in two ways.
According to Method A, [Rh(OH)(cod)]2 was refluxed with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-tetrafluoroborate ([bmimH]BF4 and pta. In this case, [bmimH]BF4 protonates the [Rh]–OH group, followed by water dissociation and simultaneous carbene coordination. NMR spectroscopic measurements showed that the resulting intermediate [RhS(bmim)(cod)]BF4 (S = solvent) was not sufficiently pure. However, the addition of pta led to formation of the stable [Rh(bmim)(cod)(pta)]BF4 (5), which was isolated as an orange powder.
Method B of the synthesis of 5 was based on chloride removal from 3. [RhCl(bmim)(cod)] was stirred with NaBF4 in MeOH at room temperature. The resulting NaCl was removed by filtration, then 1-equivalent of pta was added to the solution (Scheme 4). The coordination of the phosphine ligand to rhodium(I) was displayed by 31P{1H} NMR. The spectrum recorded in MeOD showed a doublet (Figure S11) at δ = −54.90 ppm (1JRh-P = 125.6 Hz), while the 13C{1H} NMR resonance of the carbene carbon appeared as a doublet of a doublet, at δ = 176.71 ppm (1JRh-C = 48.5 Hz, 3JC-P = 18.5 Hz). Formation of 5 was unambiguously identified by the appearance of the [Rh(bmim)(cod)(pta)]+ (506.1915 Da) molecular ion peak in the ESI-TOF MS spectrum, with an exact match of the experimentally determined and calculated isotope distributions. (Figure S15).

2.1.5. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of [Rh(bmim)(η4-cod)(pta)]BF4 (5)

Single crystals of 5 were obtained by crystallization from MeOD at −18 °C. The compound crystallized in the monoclinic P21/n (Nu. 14) space group. The asymmetric unit contains one cationic complex ion (Figure 1) and one disordered BF 4 - . (with 32% and 68% occupancies). The structures of [RhCl(cod)(bmim)] [49,51] and [Rh(cod)(SCN)(bmim)] [52] have been previously determined. In these phosphine-free complexes, the Rh–Ccarbene bond distances are 2.019(2) Å [51], 2.023(6) Å [49], 2.046(2) Å [52], while in 5 the same distance is 2.025(4) Å, i.e., it is in accordance with other carbene rhodium complexes. At the same time, the Rh–P distance in 5 is 2.2668(17) Å, which is shorter than the same bond distance in [Rh(cod)(iPrMeIm)(PPh3)]BF4 × CH2Cl2, 2.332 Å (iPrMeIm = 1-isopropyl-3-methylimidazol-2-ylidene), GOLMAX [53], and in [Rh(cod)(BnMesIm)(PPh3)]BF4, 2.363 Å (BnMesIm = 1-benzyl-3-mesitylimidazol-2-ylidene) GOHBIQ [54]. The shortening of the Rh–P bond is the consequence of the stronger coordination of pta to the [Rh(cod)(NHC)]+ compared to the bonding of PPh3. The Ccarbene–Rh1–P1 bond angle is small, 88.44(11)°, which reflects the smaller space requirement of pta than that of PPh3 (the same angles in the [Rh(cod)(NHC)PPh3] complexes are 96.56° (iPrMeIm) and 91.89° (BnMesIm)). Since both pta and bmim are rigid ligands, significant differences were not expected (and not found) in the major bond lengths and angles (Table S1 and Table S2).

2.2. Redox isomerization of allylic alcohols with water soluble Rh(I)-NHC catalysts

The new water-soluble Rh(I)-NHC and Rh(I)-NHC-phosphine complexes were studied as catalysts for redox isomerization of allylic alcohols in aqueous media (Scheme 5). In most cases, oct-1-en-3-ol was used to optimize the conditions.
The isomerization reactions were investigated using [RhCl(cod)(sSIMes)] (1), and the catalyst prepared in situ from 1 and 1-equivalent mtppms-Na. The effects of various added phosphines, mtppms-Na, mtppts-Na3, pta, and PPh3 were also studied. The results are shown in Table 1.
With the use of Rh(I)-NHC catalyst (1), the reaction proved selective for the isomerized product, but the conversion was low (entry 1). Running the reaction in an H2 atmosphere of 1 bar pressure did not increase the total conversion significantly, however, octan-3-ol also appeared among the products (entry 2). Consequently, all further experiments were conducted under an argon atmosphere. Under such conditions, addition of 1-eq. mtppms-Na to 1, increased the activity by about a factor of three (entries 3 vs 1). Concerning the effect of added tertiary phosphines (entries 7–10), the highest conversion was achieved with addition of PPh3, while the lowest catalytic activity was observed in the presence of mtppts. An increase of the [PR3]/[Rh] molar ratio above 1 resulted in strong inhibition of redox isomerization of oct-1-en-3-ol (entries 3–5). In the control experiments (entries 11, 12), mtppms did not show any isomerization activity, while the use of [RhCl(cod)]2 led to a mere 3% conversion, in contrast to the value of 98% achieved with 1/mtppms-Na under identical conditions (entry 6). Under slightly different conditions (aqueous phosphate buffer, 1 bar H2, pH 7.0, 80 °C), 4 was found to have a preference for hydrogenation (58% yield in 1 h) over redox isomerization (48% yield), and was not further scrutinized in detail.
Figure 2 shows the progress of the redox isomerization of oct-1-en-3-ol with 1/mtppms-Na as the catalyst. The reaction proceeded smoothly according to a saturation curve, was selective to formation of octan-3-one, and led to a conversion of 98% in one hour at 80 °C.
Study of the effect of temperature on the rate of isomerization revealed that the reaction proceeded slowly at low temperatures (below 40 °C, Figure 3). In contrast, above 55 °C an increase of the reaction rate was observed, so much so, that at 80 °C, 99% conversion was achieved in 2 hours. Therefore, further measurements were carried out at 80 °C. As seen on Figure 3, the temperature dependence of the reaction rate did not follow the Arrhenius relation. However, it should be mentioned, that this relation is valid only to the temperature dependence of rate coefficient(s) of known kinetic equations. Data at high conversions are not suitable to represent the reaction rate, furthermore, in aqueous–organic biphasic systems, transport of the substrate to the aqueous phase may have a smaller temperature dependence than the catalytic reaction itself. Altogether, these causes may lead to deviations from the expected exponential rate increase.
From an environmental and economic point of view, the amount of the applied catalyst cannot be neglected. Increasing the amount of the catalyst in the reaction mixture, resulted in a linear increase of the conversion (Figure 4). Beyond practical considerations, this rate dependence suggests a 1st order kinetics with regard to the catalyst concentration. Nevertheless, it has to be born in mind, that the detailed study of the reaction kinetics was not considered as a part of the present study, and the data shown on Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4 rather serve the optimization of a synthetic procedure than the scrutiny of the underlying molecular events.
Due to the in situ preparation of the catalyst solution, most of the reaction mixtures contained 13.0% V/V methanol. In such a solution the conversion increased to 60% from 40%, determined in water alone as solvent. The increased conversion was most probably due to the increased solubility of oct-1-en-3-ol in the mixed solvent. Nevertheless, these data show, that an aqueous solution of 2 is suitable as a catalyst for the redox isomerization of oct-1-en-3-ol, as well as in the absence of any co-solvent. In such cases, however, an aqueous–organic biphasic reaction mixture is obtained, in which the organic phase is formed by the substrate itself.
One important reason for application of water-soluble catalysts in organic synthesis is the possible recirculation of the catalyst solution. Provided the catalyst is insoluble in the organic phase made up by appropriate solvents and/or the substrates/products, recovery of the catalyst can be achieved by liquid–liquid phase separation. In favorable cases, not only can the catalyst be recycled, but the product can be collected practically free of catalyst residues (metal contamination), which is a very important aspect for the pharmaceutical industry. Complexes containing highly ionic ligands, such as sulfonated water-soluble phosphines and/or N-heterocyclic carbenes, usually have very low solubility in organic solvents and thus do not pollute the product.
We checked the recovery and reuse of the catalyst 1/mtppms-Na in redox isomerization of oct-1-en-3-ol (Table 2). After each catalytic cycle, the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, and was extracted with hexane. After phase separation, the catalyst-containing aqueous phase was used again to catalyze the reaction of a new batch of oct-1-en-3-ol. In the first recycle, the catalytic activity of complex 2 dropped approximately 20%, however, in the third recycle it did not decrease significantly.
We undertook a study of the isomerization of various allylic alcohols with catalysts 1/mtppms-Na and 5, and the summarized results are presented in Table 3. The water-insoluble (or only slightly soluble) allylic alcohols were isomerized with high turnover frequencies, however the water-soluble substrates like prop-1-en-3-ol and but-1-en-3-ol showed smaller conversions. The obtained TOF values calculated from conversions determined at 30 min reaction times, were between 13–152 h−1.
In aqueous organometallic catalysis, one of the most important reaction parameters is the solution pH, especially in cases when the reactions proceed with formation or consumption of H+ (a typical example is the heterolytic splitting of H2) [55]. For that reason, we investigated the effect of the pH of the reaction mixture on the isomerization of 2-methylprop-1-en-3-ol, using 5 as the catalyst. As can be seen on Figure 5, the conversion of the substrate allylic alcohol varied according to a maximum curve, with the highest conversions around pH 7.5.
Similar maxima in the conversion vs. pH functions were observed in redox isomerization of oct-1-ene-3-ol catalyzed by the Ru(II)-arene complexes, [RuCl2(bmim)(η6-p-cymene)] (p-cymene = 4-isopropyltoluene) [56], and [RuCl(Cp)(Me-pta)2](OSO2CF3)2 (Cp = η5-cyclopentadienyl; Me-pta = N-methyl-pta) [57].
As discussed earlier, the rate of the redox isomerization of allylic alcohols was a linear function of the catalyst concentration, and the reaction was inhibited by an excess of mtppms-Na. Furthermore, the catalysts [Rh(bmim)(cod)(pta)]BF4 (5), and with lesser activity, [RhCl(cod)(sSIMes)] (1) did not need the presence of H2 gas for catalysis of the reaction. Finally, the rate of redox isomerization of 2-methylprop-1-en-3-ol, catalyzed by 5, showed a sharp maximum as the function of pH. All these findings are consistent with the η3-oxo-allyl mechanism of such reactions (Figure 6).
According to the suggested mechanism, in the first step of the catalytic cycle, a deprotonated allylic alcohol coordinates to the metal complex, both with its olefinic bond, and the oxygen donor atom. This step is facilitated in more basic solutions but is retarded by an excess of the phosphine ligand, provided that the required free coordination site on Rh(I) is created by phosphine dissociation. Subsequent β-hydride elimination results in formation of a hydrido-metal-enone intermediate which rearranges to a π-oxo-allyl complex. Protonation (from the solvent) of this intermediate leads to formation of the free enol, which then rearranges to the more stable carbonyl product. This last step is more facile in acidic solutions, and the proton production and consumption in the first and lasts steps of the catalytic cycle, respectively, may lead to the observed maximum of the rate as the function of pH. This description of the reaction mechanism agrees with the limited experimental findings, however, for establishing a sound mechanistic suggestion more detailed investigations are required.

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. Materials

All materials and reagents were obtained commercially and used as received from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA); VWR International (West Chester, PA, USA); and Molar Chemicals Kft. (Halásztelek, Hungary).
Merck Kieselgel 60 F254 plates (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) were used for analytical thin-layer chromatography (TLC), the chromatograms were visualised by UV fluorescence at 254 nm. For column chromatography, silica gel (70–230 mesh, 63–200 µm (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) was used. Linde Magyarország Zrt. (Répcelak, Hungary) supplied the Ar, H2, and N2 gases.
The water-soluble phosphine ligands pta [58], mtppts-Na3 [59], and mtppms-Na [60], the water soluble [sSIMesH]Cl [25], and the metal precursors [RhCl(cod)]2 [61], [Rh(OH)(cod)]2 [62] were prepared according to literature methods.

3.2. General Methods

1H and 13C{1H}, 31P{1H} NMR spectra were recorded on Bruker Avance 360 MHz and Bruker DRX 400 NMR spectrometers (Bruker, Billerica, MA, USA) and were referenced to residual solvent peaks and to 85% phosphoric acid. A Bruker maXis II MicroTOF-Q type Qq-TOF-MS instrument (Bruker Daltonik, Bremen, Germany) was used to obtain high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectra (HR ESI-MS) in positive ion mode, and controlled by Compass Data Analysis 4.4 software from Bruker.
The X-ray intensity data were measured on an Enraf Nonius TurboCAD4 diffractometer. The structure was solved by ShelXT [63], refined with ShelXL [64], using Olex2 [65] and WinGX [66] graphical interfaces. Publication materials were prepared by Mercury [67] and Platon [68]. The crystallographic data (including structure factors) for 5 were deposited in the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC) with the No. CCDC 2023158.
Gas chromatographic analyses were performed with the use of an Agilent Technologies 7890 A instrument (HP-5, 0.25 µm × 30 m × 0.32 mm, FID 300 °C, (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA); carrier gas: nitrogen 1.9 mL/min). The products were identified by comparison of their retention time with well-known standard compounds.

3.2.1. Preparation of [RhC(cod)(sSIMes)] (1)

In 7 mL MeOH 0.122 g (0.22 mmol) [sSIMesH]Cl was dissolved in a Schlenk tube equipped with a reflux condenser. To this solution at room temperature, 0.055 g (0.11 mmol) [RhCl(cod)]2 and 0.307 g (2.22 mmol) K2CO3 were added in one portion. The resulting yellow solution was refluxed for four hours under argon atmosphere. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and filtered through a Celite Hyflo Supercel pad, and the solvent was evaporated under vacuum. The product, a hygroscopic sticky solid was dissolved in 5 mL dry MeOH. Aliquots of this stock solution were used for further experiments.
1H-NMR (360 MHz, MeOD) δ/ppm: 7.42 (s, 2H, CHAr) 4.74–4.49 (br, 2H, -CH2-, cod), 4.17 (s, 4H, N-CH2-CH2-N), 3.69–3.60 (br, 2H, -CH2-, cod), 2.96 (s, 12H, CH3), 2.63 (s, 6H, CH3), 2.24–2.15 (m, 4H, =CH-CH2-, cod), 1.80–1.78 (m, 4H, =CH-CH2-);
13C-NMR (90 MHz, MeOD) δ/ppm: 142.8; 139.8; 137.8; 137.2; 135.4; 132.7; 97.8 (d, 1JRh–C = 7.9 Hz); 69.1 (d, 1JRh–C = 13.2 Hz); 51.7; 32.0; 27.2; 22.5; 17.7; 16.7.
MS(ESI), positive mode, in MeOH, m/z for 1, [M-Cl]+ (C29H36N2Na2O6RhS2), Calculated: 721.0860,Found: 721.0859.

3.2.2. Synthesis of [RhCl(bmim)(cod)] (3)

In an argon-filled Schlenk tube in 20 mL distilled CH2Cl2 0.327 g (0.717 mmol) [Rh(OH)(cod)]2 was dissolved, and then 5 mL CH2Cl2 0.25 g (1.434 mmol) [bmimH]Cl was added. The solution was stirred for 6 h at reflux temperature, and then the solvent was removed under vacuum yielding a dark yellow sticky residue. This residue was cooled in liquid N2, and triturated several times with small portions of cold diethyl ether, yielding 3 as a light yellow powder. Yield: 0.413 g (1.08 mmol), 75%.
1H NMR (360 MHz, CD2Cl2) δ/ppm: 6.90 (s, 2H, -N-CH=CH-N-) δ: 4.98–4.89 (m, 2H, N-CH2CH2CH2CH3), 4.56–4.42 (m, 2H, -CH2-, cod), 4.10 (s, 3H, N-CH3), 3.40–3.26 (m, 2H, -CH2-, cod), 2.54–2.33 (m, 4H, =CH-CH2-, cod), 2.07–1.79 (m, 4H, =CH-CH2-, cod + 2H, N-CH2CH2CH2CH3), 1.5 (m, 2H. N-CH2CH2CH2CH3) 1.07 (t, 3H, N-CH2CH2CH2CH3);
13C{1H} NMR (90 MHz, CD2Cl2) δ/ppm: 182.11 (d, 1JRh–C = 45.79 Hz, NCN), 121.95 (-NCH=CHN-), 120.14 (-N-CH=CH-N-), 97.83 (d, 1JRh–C = 7.4 Hz, =CH-CH2-, cod), 97.72 (d, 1JRh–C = 7.4 Hz, =CH-CH2-, cod), 68.08 (d, 1JRh–C = 14.8 Hz, -CH=CH-, cod) 67.28 (d, 1JRh–C = 14.82 Hz, -CH=CH-, cod), 50.39 (-N-CH2CH2CH2CH3), 37.55 (CH3-N-), 33.29, 32.99 (-CH2-, cod), 33.52 (-N-CH2CH2CH2CH3), 29.18, 28.52 (-CH2-, cod), 20.05 (-N-CH2CH2CH2CH3), 13.60 (-N-CH2CH2CH2CH3);
MS(ESI), positive mode, in MeOH, m/z for 3, [M]+ (C16H26N2Rh), Calculated: 349.1146 Found: 349.1145.

3.2.3. Synthesis of Na2[Rh(bmim)(cod)(mtppts)] (4)

In an argon-filled Schlenk tube, 0.200 g (0.520 mmol) [RhCl(bmim)(cod)] (3) was dissolved in 20 mL acetone. To the resulting clear yellow solution 0.323 g (0.520 mmol) mtppts-Na3 was added followed by 3.5 mL deoxygenated water, upon which the colour of the solution became dark yellow. After 5 min stirring the solvent was evaporated in vacuum, and the resulting sticky residue, cooled in liquid N2, was triturated with small portions of cold diethyl ether, yielding 4 as a yellow solid. Yield: 0.212 g (0.210 mmol), 40%.
1H NMR (400 MHz, MeOD) δ/ppm: 8.53–7.20 (m, 12H, Ar–CH-, mtppts), 7.00 (s, 2H, -N-CH=CH-N-), 4.81–4.44 (m, 4H, -CH2-, cod), 4.27 (m, 2H, N-CH2CH2CH2CH3), 3.78 (s, 3H, N-CH3), 2.61–2.27 (m, 8H. =CH-CH2-, cod), 1.64–1.59 (m, 2H, N-CH2CH2CH2CH3), 1.46–1.43 (m, 2H, N-CH2CH2CH2CH3), 0.99 (t, 3H, N-CH2CH2CH2CH3);
13C{1H} NMR (100 MHz, MeOD) δ/ppm: 174.62 (dd, 1JRh–C = 49.2 Hz, 2JC-P = 15.5 Hz. NCN), 146.08–128.89 (m, Ar-CP), 124.54, 121.78 (-N-CH=CH-N-), 98.71 (dd, 1JRh–C = 9.2 Hz, 3JC–P = 9.9 Hz =CH-CH2-, =CH-CH2-, cod), 97.5 (dd, 1JRh–C = 7.9 Hz, 3JC–P = 9.9 Hz, =CH-CH2-, cod), 94.55 (dd, 1JRh–C = 13.9 Hz, 3JC–P = 7.3 Hz, -CH=CH-, cod), 50.52 (N-CH2CH2CH2CH3), 36.99 (CH3-N-), 33.33, 31.99(-CH2-, cod), 30.38 (-N-CH2CH2CH2CH3), 29.77, 29.25 (-CH2-, cod), 19.76 (-N-CH2CH2CH2CH3), 12.97 (N-CH2CH2CH2CH3);
31P {1H} NMR (146 MHz, MeOD): δ/ppm 27.31 (d, 1JRh–P = 160.4 Hz)
MS(ESI), positive mode, in MeOH, m/z for 4, [M]+ (C34H38N2Na3O9PRh), Calculated: 917.0220, Found: 917.0220.

3.2.4. Synthesis of [Rh(bmim)(cod)(pta)]BF4 (5)

Method A: In a Schlenk tube under argon atmosphere in 50 mL distilled CH2Cl2, 0.200 g (0.44 mmol) [Rh(OH)(cod)]2 and 0.199 g (0.88 mmol) [bmimH]BF4 were dissolved. The solution was stirred at reflux temperature for 4 h, followed by filtering under argon. A portion of 0.137 g (0.88 mmol) pta was added and stirred for another 2 h at reflux temperature. Then it was filtered again and the solvent was removed by evaporation under vacuum. The sticky residue was cooled in liquid N2 and triturated with small portions (5 mL) of cold diethyl ether yielding 0.332 g (0.559 mmol), 64%, product.
Method B: In a Schlenk tube, 0.050 g (0.129 mmol) [RhCl(bmim)(cod)] (3) was dissolved in 4 mL dry MeOH, and 0.014 g (0.129 mmol) NaBF4 was added and stirred at room temperature for 3 h. The NaCl was filtered under argon and 0.020 g (0.13 mmol) pta was added and the mixture was stirred for 3 h at room temperature. Then it was filtered again and the solvent was removed by evaporation under vacuum, the sticky residue was triturated with small portions (5 mL) of cold diethyl ether yielding 0.063 g (0.106 mmol), 82%, product.
1H NMR (360 MHz, MeOD) δ/ppm: 7.37, 7.32 (2H, -N-CH=CH-N-), 4.84–4.80 (m, 2H, -CH2-, cod), 4.52–4.44 (m, 2H, -CH2-, cod + 6H, N-CH2-N, pta), 4.17-4.09 (m, 2H, N-CH2CH2CH2CH3), 3.95-3.92 (m, 3H, N-CH3 + 6H, P-CH2-N, pta), 2.41–2.29 (m, 8H. = CH-CH2-, cod), 2.03–1.79 (m, 2H, N-CH2CH2CH2CH3), 1.57–1.49 (m, 2H, N-CH2CH2CH2CH3), 1.06 (t, 3H, N-CH2CH2CH2CH3);
13C{1H}NMR (100 MHz, MeOD) δ/ppm: 175.71 (dd, 1JRh–C = 48.5 Hz, 2JC–P = 18.5 Hz. NCN), 124.14, 121.76 (-N-CH=CH-N-), 100.13 (dd, 1JRh–C = 8.6 Hz, 3JC–P = 9.9 Hz =CH-CH2-, =CH-CH2-, cod), 98.73 (dd, 1JRh–C = 7.3 Hz, 3JC–P = 9.9 Hz, =CH-CH2-, cod), 89.12 (dd, 1JRh–C = 13.9 Hz, 3JC–P = 6.6 Hz, -CH=CH-, cod), 71.93 (d, 3JC–P = 6.6 Hz, N-CH2-N, pta), 50.53(d, 3JC–P = 13,4 Hz, -CH2-P, pta), 50.51 (N-CH2CH2CH2CH3), 36.95 (CH3-N-), 32.72, 31.27 (-CH2-, cod), 30.33 (-N-CH2CH2CH2CH3), 30.23, 29.29 (-CH2-, cod), 20.07 (-N-CH2CH2CH2CH3), 12.98 (N-CH2CH2CH2CH3);
31P{1H} NMR (146 MHz, MeOD) δ/ppm: -54.90 (d, 1JRh–P = 125.6 Hz);
MS(ESI), positive mode, in MeOH, m/z for 5, [M]+ (C22H38N5PRh), Calculated: 506.1914, Found: 506.1915.

3.2.5. General Procedure Redox Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols

Catalytic isomerization of allylic alcohols was performed in Schlenk tubes, into which 1× 10−3 mol allylic alcohol and 1 × 10−5 mol 1, 3, 4, 5, or 2 × 10−5 mol 1 together with 2 × 10−5 mol mtppms-Na (in 450 μL MeOH) were dissolved in 3 mL deoxygenated water or aqueous phosphate buffer. All reactions were carried out under oxygen-free atmosphere using argon or nitrogen gas. The reaction mixtures were heated (80 °C) in a thermostated bath and stirred for the desired reaction time, then cooled to room temperature. In the case of water-insoluble substrates, the product mixtures were extracted twice with 1 mL of chloroform, the extracts were dried over MgSO4, and the conversions were determined by gas chromatography or by 1H NMR (CDCl3). In the case of water-soluble allylic alcohols, the conversions were determined by 1H NMR (D2O). The presented yields are averages of 3–5 measurements, with a reproducibility of ±3%.
In the catalyst recycling experiments, the reaction mixtures was cooled down to room temperature (r.t.). The extraction was done under argon with 2 mL of hexane. Traces of hexane were removed from the aqueous phase by stirring under vacuum for 20 min at r.t., and the resulting aqueous solution of the catalyst was used in the next catalytic cycle.

4. Conclusions

We have prepared new water-soluble Rh(I)-NHC complexes with a combination of bmim or sulfonated SIMes (sSIMes) as N-hetrocyclic carbene, and mono- or trisulfonated triphenylphosphine (mtppms-Na, mtppts-Na3) or 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphadamantane (pta) as phosphine ligands. These complexes proved active catalysts for redox isomerization of various alk-1-en-3-ols in aqueous reaction systems. The reactions were selective to the ketone product and proceeded under inert atmosphere with no need of hydrogen. The water-solubility of the catalysts allowed recycling with modest loss of activity. Based on these attributes, the redox isomerization of allylic alcohols catalyzed by the Rh(I)-NHC-phosphine complexes may serve as the basis for useful synthetic procedures.

Supplementary Materials

The following are available online at https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/10/11/1361/s1, Table S1. Experimental details of X-ray diffraction measurement; Table S2. Bond lengths for [Rh(bmim)(cod)(pta)]BF4 (5); Table S3. Bond angles for [Rh(bmim)(cod)(pta)]BF4 (5); Figure S1. GC conditions for analysis of reaction mixtures; Figure S2-S11. 1H, 31P{1H} NMR and 13C{1H} NMR spectra of [RhCl(cod)(sSIMes)] (1), [RhCl(bmim)(cod)] (3), Na2[Rh(bmim)(cod)(mtppts)] (4), [Rh(bmim)(cod)(pta)]BF4 (5); Figure S12-15. HR ESI-MS spectra of complexes 1, 3, 4, 5; Figure S16–18. ORTEP view of [Rh(bmim)(cod)(pta)]BF4 (5); Figure S19. packing diagram of [Rh(bmim)(cod)(pta)]BF4 (5).

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, C.E.C., M.F., F.J.; Methodology, M.F., G.P., A.U., H.H.; Synthesis and characterization of catalysts, M.F., C.E.C., E.T.; Catalysis experiments, C.E.C., M.F., E.T., Discussion of experimental results, all authors; Writing–Original Draft Preparation, all authors; Writing–Review and Editing, C.E.C., F.J. and U.A. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

The research was supported by the EU and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (under the projects GINOP-2.3.2-15-2016-00008 and GINOP-2.3.3-15-2016-00004), and by the Thematic Excellence Programme of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology of Hungary (ED_18-1-2019-0028), within the framework of the Vehicle Industry thematic programme of the University of Debrecen. The financial support of the Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office (FK-128333) is greatly acknowledged.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Attila C. Bényei for recording the X-ray diffraction data. Thanks are also expressed to Cynthia Nagy for the HR ESI-MS measurements and to Tibor Csupász for his efforts in attempted isolation of 2 by preparative HPLC. We are also grateful to Ágnes Kathó for her help and useful advices in preparation of the manuscript.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Mantilli, L.; Mazet, C. Platinum Metals in the Catalytic Asymmetric Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols. Chem. Lett. 2011, 40, 341–344. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  2. Van der Drift, R.C.; Bouwman, E.; Drent, E. Homogeneously catalysed isomerisation of allylic alcohols to carbonyl compounds. J. Organomet. Chem. 2002, 650, 1–24. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Fu, G.C. Recent Advances in Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Olefin Isomerization and Hydroacylation Reactions. In Modern Rhodium-Catalyzed Organic Reactions; Evans, P.A., Ed.; WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA: Weinheim, Germany, 2005; pp. 79–91. [Google Scholar]
  4. Uma, R.; Crévisy, C.; Grée, R. Transposition of Allylic Alcohols into Carbonyl Compounds Mediated by Transition Metal Complexes. Chem. Rev. 2003, 103, 27–52. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  5. Bravo, J.; Bolaño, S.; Gonsalvi, L.; Peruzzini, M. Coordination chemistry of 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) and derivatives. Part II. The quest for tailored ligands, complexes and related applications. Coord. Chem. Rev. 2010, 254, 555–607. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  6. Lorenzo-Luis, P.; Romerosa, A.; Serrano-Ruiz, M. Catalytic Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols in Water. ACS Catal. 2012, 2, 1079–1086. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Garcia-Alvarez, J.; Garcia-Garrido, S.E.; Crochet, P.; Cadierno, V. Metal-Catalyzed Isomerization of Allylic and Propargylic Alcohols in Aqueous Media. Curr. Top. Catal. 2012, 10, 35–56. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Scalambra, F.; Lorenzo-Luis, P.; de los Rios, I.; Romerosa, A. Isomerization of allylic alcohols in water catalyzed by transition metal complexes. Coord. Chem. Rev. 2019, 393, 118–148. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  9. Díez-González, S.; Marion, N.; Nolan, S.P. N-Heterocyclic Carbenes in Late Transition Metal Catalysis. Chem. Rev. 2009, 109, 3612–3676. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Annen, S.; Zweifel, T.; Ricatto, F.; Grützmacher, H. Catalytic Aerobic Dehydrogenative Coupling of Primary Alcohols and Water to Acids Promoted by a Rhodium(I) Amido N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complex. ChemCatChem 2010, 2, 1286–1295. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. Levin, E.; Ivry, E.; Diesendruck, C.E.; Lemcoff, N.G. Water in N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Assisted Catalysis. Chem. Rev. 2015, 115, 4607–4692. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  12. Pruchnik, F.P.; Smoleński, P.; Wajda-Hermanowicz, K. Rhodium(I) acetylacetonato complexes with functionalized phosphines. J. Organomet. Chem. 1998, 570, 63–69. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  13. Bianchini, C.; Frediani, P.; Sernau, V. Zwitterionic Metal Complexes of the New Triphosphine NaO3S(C6H4)CH2C(CH2PPh2)3 in Liquid Biphasic Catalysis: An Alternative to Teflon “Ponytails” for Facile Catalyst Separation without Water. Organometallics 1995, 14, 5458–5459. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  14. Corkum, E.G.; Kalapugama, S.; Hass, M.J.; Bergens, S.H. Solvent-free isomerization of allylic alcohols catalyzed by a rhodium catalyst-organic framework. RSC Adv. 2012, 2, 3473–3476. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  15. Gómez, A.B.; Holmberg, P.; Bäckvall, J.-E.; Martín-Matute, B. Transition metal-catalyzed redox isomerization of codeine and morphine in water. RSC Adv. 2014, 4, 39519–39522. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  16. De Bellefon, C.; Caravieilhes, S.; Kuntz, É.G. Efficient catalytic isomerization of allylic alcohols to carbonyl compounds with water soluble rhodium complexes. Comptes Rendus Académie Sci. Ser. IIC Chem. 2000, 3, 607–614. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  17. Knight, D.A.; Schull, T.L. Rhodium Catalyzed Allylic Isomerization in Water. Synth. Commun. 2003, 33, 827–831. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Smoleński, P.; Kirillova, M.V.; Guedes da Silva, M.F.C.; Pombeiro, A.J.L. Isomerisation and controlled condensation in an aqueous medium of allyl alcohol catalysed by new water-soluble rhodium complexes with 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA). Dalton Trans. 2013, 42, 10867–10874. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  19. Wilson, M.E.; Whitesides, G.M. Conversion of a protein to a homogeneous asymmetric hydrogenation catalyst by site-specific modification with a diphosphinerhodium(I) moiety. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1978, 100, 306–307. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Ward, T.R. Artificial Metalloenzymes Based on the Biotin−Avidin Technology: Enantioselective Catalysis and Beyond. Acc. Chem. Res. 2011, 44, 47–57. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Velazquez, H.D.; Verpoort, F. N-heterocyclic carbene transition metal complexes for catalysis in aqueous media. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2012, 41, 7032–7060. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  22. Wang, W.; Cui, L.; Sun, P.; Shi, L.; Yue, C.; Li, F. Reusable N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complex Catalysts and Beyond: A Perspective on Recycling Strategies. Chem. Rev. 2018, 118, 9843–9929. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  23. Schaper, L.-A.; Hock, S.J.; Herrmann, W.A.; Kühn, F.E. Synthesis and Application of Water-Soluble NHC Transition-Metal Complexes. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 270–289. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  24. Almássy, A.; Nagy, C.E.; Bényei, A.C.; Joó, F. Novel Sulfonated N-Heterocyclic Carbene Gold(I) Complexes: Homogeneous Gold Catalysis for the Hydration of Terminal Alkynes in Aqueous Media. Organometallics 2010, 29, 2484–2490. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Czégéni, C.E.; Papp, G.; Kathó, Á.; Joó, F. Water-soluble gold(I)–NHC complexes of sulfonated IMes and SIMes and their catalytic activity in hydration of alkynes. J. Mol. Catal. Chem. 2011, 340, 1–8. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. De, S.; Udvardy, A.; Czégéni, C.E.; Joó, F. Poly-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes with applications in aqueous media. Coord. Chem. Rev. 2019, 400, 213038. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  27. Herrmann, W.A.; Gooβen, L.J.; Spiegler, M. Functionalized imidazoline-2-ylidene complexes of rhodium and palladium. J. Organomet. Chem. 1997, 547, 357–366. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Syska, H.; Herrmann, W.A.; Kühn, F.E. Water-soluble carbene complexes as catalysts for the hydrogenation of acetophenone under hydrogen pressure. J. Organomet. Chem. 2012, 703, 56–62. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Virboul, M.A.N.; Lutz, M.; Siegler, M.A.; Spek, A.L.; van Koten, G.; Klein Gebbink, R.J.M. One-Pot Synthesis and Immobilisation of Sulfonate-Tethered N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes on Polycationic Dendrimers. Chem. Eur. J. 2009, 15, 9981–9986. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  30. Basauri-Molina, M.; Riemersma, C.F.; Würdemann, M.; Klein Gebbink, R.J.M. Lipase active site covalent anchoring of Rh(NHC) catalysts: Towards chemoselective artificial metalloenzymes. Chem. Commun. 2015, 51, 6792–6795. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  31. Sauer, D.F.; Qu, Y.; Mertens, M.A.S.; Schiffels, J.; Polen, T.; Schwaneberg, U.; Okuda, J. Biohybrid catalysts for sequential one-pot reactions based on an engineered transmembrane protein. Catal. Sci. Technol. 2019, 9, 942–946. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  32. Strohmeier, W.; Weigelt, L. Homogene katalytische umlagerung von isobutenol zu butyraldehyd mit RhHCO(PPh3)3 und metallhalogeniden. J. Organomet. Chem. 1975, 86, C17–C19. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  33. Alper, H.; Hachem, K. Rhodium(I)-catalyzed biphasic isomerization of allylic alcohols. J. Org. Chem. 1980, 45, 2269–2270. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  34. Sasson, Y.; Zoran, A.; Blum, J. Reversible ion-pair extraction in a biphasic system. application in transition metal-catalyzed isomerization of allylic compounds. J. Mol. Catal. 1981, 11, 293–300. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. De Bellefon, C.; Abdallah, R.; Ireland, T. Discovering New Water Soluble Catalysts for the Liquid/Liquid Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols Using Microdevices. Chem. Ing. Tech. 2004, 76, 633–637. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  36. Bianchini, C.; Meli, A.; Oberhauser, W. Isomerization of allylic alcohols to carbonyl compounds by aqueous-biphase rhodium catalysis. New J. Chem. 2001, 25, 11–12. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  37. Schumann, H.; Ravindar, V.; Meltser, L.; Baidossi, W.; Sasson, Y.; Blum, J. Effect of the CO2H groups of carboxylated triarylphosphines on (COD)RhCl(PAr3)-catalyzed isomerization of 1-octen-3-ol under phase transfer conditions. J. Mol. Catal. Chem. 1997, 118, 55–61. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Leung, D.H.; Bergman, R.G.; Raymond, K.N. Highly Selective Supramolecular Catalyzed Allylic Alcohol Isomerization. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 2746–2747. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Ahlsten, N.; Lundberg, H.; Martín-Matute, B. Rhodium-catalysed isomerisation of allylic alcohols in water at ambient temperature. Green Chem. 2010, 12, 1628–1633. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  40. Sahoo, S.; Lundberg, H.; Edén, M.; Ahlsten, N.; Wan, W.; Zou, X.; Martín-Matute, B. Single Site Supported Cationic Rhodium(I) Complexes for the Selective Redox Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols. ChemCatChem 2012, 4, 243–250. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  41. Azua, A.; Sanz, S.; Peris, E. Sulfonate-Functionalized NHC-Based Ruthenium Catalysts for the Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols in Water. Recyclability Studies. Organometallics 2010, 29, 3661–3664. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  42. Bruneau, C.; Achard, M. Allylic ruthenium(IV) complexes in catalysis. Coord. Chem. Rev. 2012, 256, 525–536. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  43. Crochet, P.; Cadierno, V. Arene-ruthenium(II) complexes with hydrophilic P-donor ligands: Versatile catalysts in aqueous media. Dalton Trans. 2014, 43, 12447–12462. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  44. Horváth, H.; Kathó, Á.; Udvardy, A.; Papp, G.; Szikszai, D.; Joó, F. New Water-Soluble Iridium(I)–N-Heterocyclic Carbene–Tertiary Phosphine Mixed-Ligand Complexes as Catalysts of Hydrogenation and Redox Isomerization. Organometallics 2014, 33, 6330–6340. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  45. Bittermann, A.; Baskakov, D.; Herrmann, W.A. Carbene Complexes Made Easily: Decomposition of Reissert Compounds and Further Synthetic Approaches. Organometallics 2009, 28, 5107–5111. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  46. Czégéni, C.E.; De, S.; Udvardy, A.; Derzsi, N.J.; Papp, G.; Papp, G.; Joó, F. Selective Hydration of Nitriles to Corresponding Amides in Air with Rh(I)-N-Heterocyclic Complex Catalysts. Catalysts 2020, 10, 125. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  47. Ruiz-Varilla, A.M.; Baquero, E.A.; Silbestri, G.F.; Gonzalez-Arellano, C.; de Jesús, E.; Flores, J.C. Synthesis and behavior of novel sulfonated water-soluble N-heterocyclic carbene (η4-diene) platinum(0) complexes. Dalton Trans. 2015, 44, 18360–18369. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  48. Horváth, H.; Papp, G.; Kovács, H.; Kathó, Á.; Joó, F. Iridium(I)NHC-phosphine complex-catalyzed hydrogen generation and storage in aqueous formate/bicarbonate solutions using a flow reactor - Effective response to changes in hydrogen demand. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 2019, 44, 28527–28532. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  49. Park, K.H.; Kim, S.Y.; Son, S.U.; Chung, Y.K. Use of Rhodium N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes in Catalytic Cyclization and Hydrosilylation of 1,6-Enynes to 2-Methyl-1-silylmethylidene-2-cyclopentane. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2003, 2003, 4341–4345. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  50. Joó, F. Aqueous Organometallic Catalysis. In Catalysis by Metal Complexes Series; Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 2001; p. 39. [Google Scholar]
  51. Gil, W.; Lis, T.; Trzeciak, A.M.; Ziółkowski, J.J. Structure and catalytic activity of rhodium(I) carbene complexes in polymerization of phenylacetylene. Inorg. Chim. Acta 2006, 359, 2835–2841. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  52. Gil, W.; Trzeciak, A.M.; Ziółkowski, J.J. Rhodium(I) N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes as Highly Selective Catalysts for 1-Hexene Hydroformylation. Organometallics 2008, 27, 4131–4138. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  53. Nichol, G.S.; Kneebone, J.; Anna, L.J.; Rajaseelan, E. CCDC 785398: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination. 2014. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  54. Siegler, M.A.; Spek, A.L.; Rubio, M.; Reek, J.N.H. CCDC 890216: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination. 2014. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  55. Joó, F.; Kovács, J.; Bényei, A.C.; Nádasdi, L.; Laurenczy, G. The Effect of pH on the Reactions of Catalytically Important Rh(I) Complexes in Aqueous Solution: Reaction of [RhCl(tppms)3] and trans-[RhCl(CO)(tppms)2] with Hydrogen (TPPMS=mono-sulfonated triphenylphosphine). Chem. Eur. J. 2001, 7, 193–199. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  56. Fekete, M.; Joó, F. Redox isomerization of allylic alcohols in aqueous–organic biphasic systems catalyzed by water-soluble Ru(II)-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes. Catal. Commun. 2006, 7, 783–786. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  57. González, B.; Lorenzo-Luis, P.; Serrano-Ruiz, M.; Papp, É.; Fekete, M.; Csépke, K.; Ősz, K.; Kathó, Á.; Joó, F.; Romerosa, A. Catalysis of redox isomerization of allylic alcohols by [RuClCp(mPTA)2](OSO2CF3)2 and [RuCp(mPTA)2(OH2-κO)](OSO2CF3)3·(H2O)(C4H10O)0.5. Unusual influence of the pH and interaction of phosphate with catalyst on the reaction rate. J. Mol. Catal. Chem. 2010, 326, 15–20. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  58. Daigle, D.J.; Decuir, T.J.; Robertson, J.B.; Darensbourg, D.J. 1,3,5-Triaz-7-Phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]Decane and Derivatives. In Inorganic Syntheses, 1st ed.; Darensbourg, M.Y., Ed.; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New York, NY, USA, 1998; Volume 32, pp. 40–45. [Google Scholar]
  59. Herrmann, W.A.; Kohlpaintner, C.W.; Hanson, B.E.; Kang, X. Syntheses of Water-Soluble Phosphines and their Transition Metal Complexes. In Inorganic Syntheses, 1st ed.; Darensbourg, M.Y., Ed.; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New York, NY, USA, 1998; Volume 32, pp. 8–25. [Google Scholar]
  60. Joó, F.; Kovács, J.; Kathó, Á.; Bényei, A.C.; Decuir, T.; Darensbourg, D.J.; Miedaner, A.; Dubois, D.L. (Meta- Sulfonatophenyl) Diphenylphosphine, Sodium Salt and its Complexes with Rhodium(I), Ruthenium(II), Iridium(I). In Inorganic Syntheses, 1st ed.; Darensbourg, M.Y., Ed.; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New York, NY, USA, 1998; Volume 32, pp. 1–8. [Google Scholar]
  61. Giordano, G.; Crabtree, R.H.; Heintz, R.M.; Forster, D.; Morris, D.E. Di-μ-Chloro-Bis(η4-1,5-Cyclooctadiene)-Dirhodium(I). In Inorganic Syntheses, 1st ed.; Angelici, R.J., Ed.; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New York, NY, USA, 1990; Volume 28, pp. 1–8. [Google Scholar]
  62. Fandos, R.; Hernández, C.; Otero, A.; Rodríguez, A.; Ruiz, M.J.; García Fierro, J.L.; Terreros, P. Rhodium and Iridium Hydroxide Complexes [M(μ-OH)(COD)]2 (M = Rh, Ir) as Versatile Precursors of Homo and Early−Late Heterobimetallic Compounds. X-ray Crystal Structures of Cp*Ta(μ3-O)4[Rh(COD)]4 (Cp* = η5-C5Me5) and [Ir(2-O-3-CN-4,6-Me2-C5HN)(COD)]2. Organometallics 1999, 18, 2718–2723. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  63. Sheldrick, G.M. SHELXT—Integrated space-group and crystal-structure determination. Acta Crystallogr. Sect. Found. Adv. 2015, 71, 3–8. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  64. Sheldrick, G.M. A short history of SHELX. Acta Crystallogr. A 2008, 64, 112–122. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  65. Dolomanov, O.V.; Bourhis, L.J.; Gildea, R.J.; Howard, J.a.K.; Puschmann, H. OLEX2: A complete structure solution, refinement and analysis program. J. Appl. Crystallogr. 2009, 42, 339–341. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  66. Farrugia, L.J. WinGX and ORTEP for Windows: An update. J. Appl. Crystallogr. 2012, 45, 849–854. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  67. Macrae, C.F.; Bruno, I.J.; Chisholm, J.A.; Edgington, P.R.; McCabe, P.; Pidcock, E.; Rodriguez-Monge, L.; Taylor, R.; van de Streek, J.; Wood, P.A. Mercury CSD 2.0—New features for the visualization and investigation of crystal structures. J. Appl. Crystallogr. 2008, 41, 466–470. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  68. Spek, A.L. checkCIF validation ALERTS: What they mean and how to respond. Acta Crystallogr. Sect. E 2020, 76, 1–11. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
Catalysts 10 01361 sch001 550
Scheme 1. Synthetic ways of obtaining saturated carbonyls from allylic alcohols; (a) oxidation followed by hydrogenation, (b) hydrogenation followed by oxidation, (c) catalytic redox isomerization.
Scheme 1. Synthetic ways of obtaining saturated carbonyls from allylic alcohols; (a) oxidation followed by hydrogenation, (b) hydrogenation followed by oxidation, (c) catalytic redox isomerization.
Catalysts 10 01361 sch001
Catalysts 10 01361 sch002 550
Scheme 2. Synthesis of 1 from [RhCl(cod)]2 and [sSIMesH]Cl in MeOH.
Scheme 2. Synthesis of 1 from [RhCl(cod)]2 and [sSIMesH]Cl in MeOH.
Catalysts 10 01361 sch002
Catalysts 10 01361 sch003 550
Scheme 3. Attempted synthesis of [Rh(cod)(sSIMes)(mtppms)] in the reaction of 1 and monosulfonated triphenylphosphine (mtppms-Na).
Scheme 3. Attempted synthesis of [Rh(cod)(sSIMes)(mtppms)] in the reaction of 1 and monosulfonated triphenylphosphine (mtppms-Na).
Catalysts 10 01361 sch003
Catalysts 10 01361 sch004 550
Scheme 4. Synthesis of complexes 3–5.
Scheme 4. Synthesis of complexes 3–5.
Catalysts 10 01361 sch004
Catalysts 10 01361 g001 550
Figure 1. Capped stick representation of 5. (Disordered BF 4 - is omitted for clarity.).
Figure 1. Capped stick representation of 5. (Disordered BF 4 - is omitted for clarity.).
Catalysts 10 01361 g001
Catalysts 10 01361 sch005 550
Scheme 5. General scheme of redox isomerization of allylic alcohols.
Scheme 5. General scheme of redox isomerization of allylic alcohols.
Catalysts 10 01361 sch005
Catalysts 10 01361 g002 550
Figure 2. Time course of the redox isomerization of 1-octen-3-ol catalyzed by 1/mtppms-Na. Conditions: 2.89 × 10−1 M oct-1-en-3-ol, 5.79 × 10−3 M 1, 5.79 × 10−3 M mtppms-Na, 3 mL H2O + 450 µL MeOH, 2 h, 80 °C, argon atmosphere.
Figure 2. Time course of the redox isomerization of 1-octen-3-ol catalyzed by 1/mtppms-Na. Conditions: 2.89 × 10−1 M oct-1-en-3-ol, 5.79 × 10−3 M 1, 5.79 × 10−3 M mtppms-Na, 3 mL H2O + 450 µL MeOH, 2 h, 80 °C, argon atmosphere.
Catalysts 10 01361 g002
Catalysts 10 01361 g003 550
Figure 3. Temperature effect on redox isomerization of oct-1-en-3-ol catalyzed by 1/mtppms-Na. Conditions: 2.89 × 10−1 M oct-1-en-3-ol, 5.79 × 10−3 M 1, 5.79 × 10−3 M mtppms-Na, 3 mL H2O + 450 µL MeOH, 2 h, argon atmosphere.
Figure 3. Temperature effect on redox isomerization of oct-1-en-3-ol catalyzed by 1/mtppms-Na. Conditions: 2.89 × 10−1 M oct-1-en-3-ol, 5.79 × 10−3 M 1, 5.79 × 10−3 M mtppms-Na, 3 mL H2O + 450 µL MeOH, 2 h, argon atmosphere.
Catalysts 10 01361 g003
Catalysts 10 01361 g004 550
Figure 4. Effect of catalyst loading on the redox isomerisation of oct-1-en-3-ol catalyzed by 1/mtppms-Na. Conditions: 2.89 × 10−1 M oct-1-en-3-ol, 2.89 × 10−3 M 1, 2.89 × 10−3 M mtppms-Na, 3 mL H2O + 450 µL MeOH, 1 h, 80 °C, argon atmosphere.
Figure 4. Effect of catalyst loading on the redox isomerisation of oct-1-en-3-ol catalyzed by 1/mtppms-Na. Conditions: 2.89 × 10−1 M oct-1-en-3-ol, 2.89 × 10−3 M 1, 2.89 × 10−3 M mtppms-Na, 3 mL H2O + 450 µL MeOH, 1 h, 80 °C, argon atmosphere.
Catalysts 10 01361 g004
Catalysts 10 01361 g005 550
Figure 5. Conversion of the redox isomerization of 2-methylprop-1-en-3-ol, catalyzed by 5, as a function of the pH. Conditions: 3.33 × 10−1 M oct-1-en-3-ol, 4.66 × 10−3 M 5, 3 mL 0.1 M phosphate buffer, 1 h, 80 °C, argon atmosphere.
Figure 5. Conversion of the redox isomerization of 2-methylprop-1-en-3-ol, catalyzed by 5, as a function of the pH. Conditions: 3.33 × 10−1 M oct-1-en-3-ol, 4.66 × 10−3 M 5, 3 mL 0.1 M phosphate buffer, 1 h, 80 °C, argon atmosphere.
Catalysts 10 01361 g005
Catalysts 10 01361 g006 550
Figure 6. The suggested η3-oxo-allyl mechanism of the redox isomerization of allylic alcohols in aqueous media catalyzed by the Rh(I)-complexes 1, 1/mtppms-Na, and 5 studied in this work.
Figure 6. The suggested η3-oxo-allyl mechanism of the redox isomerization of allylic alcohols in aqueous media catalyzed by the Rh(I)-complexes 1, 1/mtppms-Na, and 5 studied in this work.
Catalysts 10 01361 g006
Table
Table 1. Redox isomerization/hydrogenation of oct-1-en-3-ol with [RhCl(sSIMes)(cod)] (1).
Table 1. Redox isomerization/hydrogenation of oct-1-en-3-ol with [RhCl(sSIMes)(cod)] (1).
EntryCatalyst[S]/[Rh]Added PR3
Phosphine		[P]/[Rh]T (°C)Octan-3-on (%) aOctan-3-ol (%) a
1150--55150
21 + H2 (1 bar)50--55182
3150mtppms155430
4150mtppms255240
5150mtppms355130
6150mtppms180980
7 b1100mtppms180580
8 b1100mtppts180440
9 b1100pta180850
10 b1100PPh3180980
11 - 50mtppms-8000
12[RhCl(cod)]250--8030
Conditions: 2.89 × 10−1 M oct-1-en-3-ol, 5.79 × 10−3 M [Rh], a Yields determined by gas chromatography. b 2.89 × 10−3 M [Rh], 3 mL H2O + 450 µL MeOH, 2 h, argon atmosphere (except entry 2).
Table
Table 2. Recycling of the catalyst (1/mtppms-Na) in redox isomerization of oct-1-en-3-ol.
Table 2. Recycling of the catalyst (1/mtppms-Na) in redox isomerization of oct-1-en-3-ol.
EntryRunOctan-3-on (%) aTOF (h−1)
118227
226823
336421
Conditions: 2.89 × 10−1 M oct-1-en-3-ol, 5.79 × 10−3 M 1, 5.79 × 10−3 M mtppms-Na, 3 mL H2O + 450 µL MeOH, 1.5 h, 70 °C, argon atmosphere. a GC yields.
Table
Table 3. Redox isomerization of allylic alcohols with Rh(I)-NHC-phosphine catalysts in water.
Table 3. Redox isomerization of allylic alcohols with Rh(I)-NHC-phosphine catalysts in water.
Substrate1/mtppms-Na5 a
Conversion (%)TOF(h−1)Conversion (%)TOF(h−1)
oct-1-en-3-ol73 b1461813
hept-1-en-3-ol761525338
hex-1-en-3-ol751508359
pent-1-en-3-ol70 c1409467
but-1-en-3-ol45 c907551
prop-1-en-3-ol44 c887352
Conditions: 3.10 × 10−1 M substrate, 3.10 × 10−3 M 1, 3.10 × 10−3 M mtppms-Na; 225 µL MeOH + 3 mL H2O; argon atmosphere; a pH = 7.0 (0.1 M phosphate buffer) 4.66 × 10−3 M 5, 1 h, 80 °C; b 2.89 × 10−1 M substrate, 5.79 × 10−3 M 1, 5.79 × 10−3 M mtppms-Na; 3 mL H2O + 450 µL MeOH, 30 min, 80 °C; conversions determined by gas chromatography; c 3.33 × 10−1 M substrate, 3.33 × 10−3 M [Rh], 3 mL H2O, conversions determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy.
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Czégéni, C.E.; Fekete, M.; Tóbiás, E.; Udvardy, A.; Horváth, H.; Papp, G.; Joó, F. Redox Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols Catalyzed by New Water-Soluble Rh(I)-N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes. Catalysts 2020, 10, 1361. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10111361

AMA Style

Czégéni CE, Fekete M, Tóbiás E, Udvardy A, Horváth H, Papp G, Joó F. Redox Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols Catalyzed by New Water-Soluble Rh(I)-N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes. Catalysts. 2020; 10(11):1361. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10111361

Chicago/Turabian Style

Czégéni, Csilla Enikő, Marianna Fekete, Eszter Tóbiás, Antal Udvardy, Henrietta Horváth, Gábor Papp, and Ferenc Joó. 2020. "Redox Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols Catalyzed by New Water-Soluble Rh(I)-N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes" Catalysts 10, no. 11: 1361. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10111361

APA Style

Czégéni, C. E., Fekete, M., Tóbiás, E., Udvardy, A., Horváth, H., Papp, G., & Joó, F. (2020). Redox Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols Catalyzed by New Water-Soluble Rh(I)-N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes. Catalysts, 10(11), 1361. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10111361

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop