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A Path to More Sustainable Catalysis: The Critical Role of LiBr in Avoiding Catalyst Death and its Impact on Cross‐Coupling
Author(s) -
Eckert Philip,
Organ Michael G.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.202000288
Subject(s) - catalysis , hydride , bromide , chemistry , deuterium , catalytic cycle , medicinal chemistry , reductive elimination , combinatorial chemistry , metal , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
The role that LiBr plays in the lifetime of Pd‐NHC complexes has been investigated. A bromide ion is proposed to coordinate to Pd thereby preventing beta hydride elimination (BHE) (to form NHC‐H + ) of the reductive elimination (RE) intermediate that normally completes with the desired cross‐coupling catalytic cycle. Coordinating groups, such as anilines, are able to bind suitably well to Pd to prevent this pathway from occurring, thus reducing the need for the added salt. The metal hydride formed from BHE is very unstable and RE of the hydride to the NHC ligand occurs very rapidly giving rise to the corresponding hydrido‐NHC (i.e., NHC‐H + ). The use of the per deuterated dibutylzinc shows a significant deuterium isotope effect, shutting down catalyst death almost completely. The use of bis‐neopentylzinc, now possessing no hydrides, eliminates catalyst death all together leading to a very long‐lived catalytic cycle and confirming the untoward role of BHE.