Facile synthesis of supported Ru-Triphos catalysts for continuous flow application in selective nitrile reduction.

The selective catalytic hydrogenation of nitriles represents an important but challenging transformation for many homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. Herein, we report the efficient and modular solid-phase synthesis of immobilized Triphos-type ligands in very high yields, involving only minimal work-up procedures. The corresponding supported ruthenium-Triphos catalysts are tested in the hydrogenation of various nitriles.

Phosphinines versus mesoionic carbenes: a comparison of structurally related ligands in Au(i)-catalysis.

Gold(i) complexes based on a 2,4,6-triarylphosphinine and a mesoionic carbene derivative have been prepared and characterized crystallographically. Although structurally related, both heterocycles differ significantly in their donor/acceptor properties. These opposed electronic characteristics have been exploited in Au(i)-catalyzed cycloisomerization reactions.

Modular solid-phase synthesis, catalytic application and efficient recycling of supported phosphine-phosphite ligand libraries.

In spite of decades of research in the field of homogeneous asymmetric catalysis the discovery of new high performance catalysts still relies heavily on trial-and-error. There is still a lack of efficient combinatorial methods which enable the synthesis and screening of vast ligand libraries, especially for bidentate phosphorus ligands. Here we present a highly modular solid-phase synthetic approach which provides facile access to libraries of phosphine-phosphite ligands in quantitative yield requiring only minimal work-up.

Cyclometalation of aryl-substituted phosphinines through C-H-bond activation: a mechanistic investigation.

A series of 2,4,6-triarylphosphinines were prepared and investigated in the base-assisted cyclometalation reaction using [Cp*IrCl2]2 (Cp* = 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) as the metal precursor. Insight in the mechanism of the C-H bond activation of phosphinines as well as in the regioselectivity of the reaction was obtained by time-dependent (31)P{(1)H} NMR spectroscopy. At room temperature, 2,4,6-triarylphosphinines instantaneously open the Ir-dimer and coordinate in an η(1)-fashion to the metal center.