Transition Metal Catalysis Catalytic Cycles
Addition to Alkene
Topic
Cycle
Hydrogenation
Catalyst
RhCl(PPh3)
H2C=CH2 + H2 H3C-CH3
Wilkinsons Catalyst
Hydrosilation
H2PtCl6
Ni(P[O(o-tolyl)]3
H2C=CH2 + HSiR3 H3C-CH2SiR3
Hydrocyanation
H2C=CH2 + HCN H3C-CH2CN
Notes
Hydroformylation
HCo(CO)4 / HRh(PPh3)2(CO)
H2C=CH2 + CO + H2 H3C-CH2CHO
Carbonylation
Reppe / BASF
Monsanto
Cobalt-based
CH3OH + CO (HI) CH3COOH
Rhodium-based
Iridium-based
BP Cativa
[RhI2CO2]
Polyketone Formation
Phosphine ligands best
Fast turnover (bulky group
dissociation, good donor
oxidative addition)
Catalysed by whole range of
catalysts
HSiR3 super proton
Forms linear products
Strong donor phosphines do
not give turnover
Isomerise internal alkenes to
give terminal products
Hydrocyanation of butadiene
to give adiponitrile
Co: Harsh conditions,
moderate selectivity,
competitive hydrogenation
Rh: Mild conditions, excess
phosphine needed for high
selectivity
[PdL2(OR)]+
Better than Rh at forming
alkyl bond
Promoted by species such as
[Ru(CO)3I2]2
Addition of alkene and CO to
give polyketone
Grignard
Coupling Reactions
RMgX
Negishi
Ni(acac)2 / (dppe)NiCl2 /
FeCl3 / CoCl2 / CrCl2
(Ph3P)4Ni / (Ph3P)2PdCl2
RZnX
Stille
Pd(dba)3
RSnR3
Make sure you have no betahydrogens
Me3Sn best choice for control
but tBu3Sn much safer
Tin compounds toxic
Aided by bulky ligands and
highly basic additives (CsF)
Base required to remove HX
liberated
(MeCN)2PdCl2
Mizoroki-Heck
PdLn
H2C=CHR
Pd(0) or Pd(II)
Coupling of an aryl halide
with an alkene
Fisher
M=CH2X
R = Hydrogen or Carbon
Alkylidene
Metal in low oxidation state
Back-bonding present
Oxidation state (-2)
Metal in high oxidation state
Back-bonding present
Oxidation state (-2)
R2C:
Introduced using lone pair
(like phosphines)
Stabilised by heteroatom
substituents ie Nitrogen
No Back-bonding present
Neutral so oxidation state (0)
Sonogashira
Cu-CC-R
X = Heteroatom
Schrock
Carbenes
Nucleophillic
M=CH2R
Free carbene
Alkene Polymerisation
Metathesis
Schrocks
Mo(=CHCMe2Ph)(=NAr)(-OR)2
Grubbs
RuCl2(PCy3)2(=CHPh)
RuCl2(PCy3)(:C(NR2)2)(=CHPh)
RuCl2(NR2)2(:C(NR2)2)(=CHPh)
Ziegler
TiCl4
Metallocene
MCl2(Cp)2
Highly active
React with hindered alkenes
Control reactivity by altering
alkoxide groups
Poor functional group
tolerance
Undergo the Chauvin
mechanism
Activated by AlEt3
Mild conditions
Controlled process yields
isotatic, high density
Undergoes Cossee-Arlman
Mechanism
Weak co-catalyst to pull off Cl
Co-catalyst: AlClR2
MCl2(Cp)2
Co-catalyst: MAO
MR2(Cp)2
Co-catalyst: [CPh3][B(C6F5)4]
Strong co-catalyst to pull off
Cl
Scavenges water
Triphenylcarbenum (Trityl)
salts
[Ph3C]+ powerfull alkyl
abstractor