A cyclometalated Ir(iii)–NHC complex as a recyclable catalyst for acceptorless dehydrogenation of alcohols to carboxylic acids?

Dalton Transactions Pub Date: 2020-10-21 DOI: 10.1039/D0DT02341H

Abstract

In this work, we have synthesized two new [C, C] cyclometalated Ir(III)–NHC complexes, [IrCp*(C∧C:NHC)Br](1a,b), [Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; NHC = (2-flurobenzyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-imidazoline-2-ylidene (a); (2-flurobenzyl)-1-(4-formylphenyl)-1H-imidazoline-2-ylidene (b)] via intramolecular C–H bond activation. The molecular structure of complex 1a was determined by X-ray single crystal analysis. The catalytic potentials of the complexes were explored for acceptorless dehydrogenation of alcohols to carboxylic acids with concomitant hydrogen gas evolution. Under similar experimental conditions, complex 1a was found to be slightly more efficient than complex 1b. Using 0.1 mol% of complex 1a, good-to-excellent yields of carboxylic acids/carboxylates have been obtained for a wide range of alcohols, both aliphatic and aromatic, including those involving heterocycles, in a short reaction time with a low loading of catalyst. Remarkably, our method can produce benzoic acid from benzyl alcohol on a gram scale with a catalyst-to-substrate ratio as low as 1?:?5000 and exhibit a TON of 4550. Furthermore, the catalyst could be recycled at least three times without losing its activity. A mechanism has been proposed based on controlled experiments and in situ NMR study.

Graphical abstract: A cyclometalated Ir(iii)–NHC complex as a recyclable catalyst for acceptorless dehydrogenation of alcohols to carboxylic acids
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