Highly Active Metal‐Free Catalysts for Hydrogenation of Unsaturated Nitrogen‐Containing Compounds

The articulation of the notion of "frustrated Lewis pairs" (FLPs), which emerged from the discovery that H2 can be reversibly activated by combinations of sterically encumbered Lewis acids and bases, has prompted a great deal of recent activity. Perhaps the most remarkable consequence has been the development of FLP catalysts for the hydrogenation of a range of organic substrates. In the past 9 years, the substrate scope has evolved from bulky polar species to include a wide range of unsaturated organic molecules. In addition, effective stereoselective metal-free hydrogenation catalysts have begun to emerge. The mechanism of this activation of H2 has been explored, and the nature and range of Lewis acid/base combinations capable of effecting such activation have also expanded to include a variety of non-metal species. The reactivity of FLPs with a variety of other small molecules, including olefins, alkynes, and a range of element oxides, has also been developed. Although much of this latter chemistry has uncovered unique stoichiometric transformations, metal-free catalytic hydroamination, CO2 reduction chemistry, and applications in polymerization have also been achieved. The concept is also beginning to find applications in bioinorganic and materials chemistry as well as heterogeneous catalysis. This Perspective highlights many of these developments and discusses the relationship between FLPs and established chemistry. Some of the directions and developments that are likely to emerge from FLP chemistry in the future are also presented.

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“…60 Similarly, Repo et al 61 reported the use of a chiral Nheterocyclic N/B FLP to reduce ketimines, achieving up to 37% ee.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Frustrated Lewis Pairs

2015

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“…Repo et al [27] re-investigated Piers N/B system 3 (Scheme 1) and found that it can be converted into a H 2 -activating system by formally exchanging the weak -NPh 2 base component for more Lewis basic alkylamines. The systems 12-14 (Scheme 4), among others, cleave dihydrogen efficiently under mild conditions and have served as active catalysts for imine hydrogenation at elevated temperatures (ca.…”

Section: Hydrogen Splitting and Metal-free Hydrogenationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frustrated Lewis Pair Chemistry: Development and Perspectives

2015

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Frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) are combinations of Lewis acids and Lewis bases in solution that are deterred from strong adduct formation by steric and/or electronic factors. This opens pathways to novel cooperative reactions with added substrates. Small-molecule binding and activation by FLPs has led to the discovery of a variety of new reactions through unprecedented pathways. Hydrogen activation and subsequent manipulation in metal-free catalytic hydrogenations is a frequently observed feature of many FLPs. The current state of this young but rapidly expanding field is outlined in this Review and the future directions for its broadening sphere of impact are considered.

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“…These compounds show reduction activity resembling that of inorganic borohydrides like NaBH 4 , i. e. they are suitable mostly for reduction of polarized multiple bonds. Imines, enamines, silyl ethers 4, 5,6 , α,β-enones 7 , ynones 8 , Nalkylanilines 9 were hydrogenated using stoichiometric or catalytic amounts of FLPs. Due to heterolytic nature of FLP-H 2 adducts, hydrogenation of unactivated multiple C-C bonds using FLPs has some natural limitations, since during the respective step of the catalytic cycle a proton transfer from catalyst to substrate should take place (Fig.…”

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confidence: 99%

A frustrated-Lewis-pair approach to catalytic reduction of alkynes to cis-alkenes

et al. 2013

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Recently, a new approach to dihydrogen activation known as frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) concept has been introduced 1, 2, 3 . A combination of highly Lewis acidic boranes and sterically hindered bases can split hydrogen heterolytically generating onium (phosphonium, ammonium, etc.) borohydrides. These compounds show reduction activity resembling that of inorganic borohydrides like NaBH 4 , i. e. they are suitable mostly for reduction of polarized multiple bonds. Imines, enamines, silyl ethers 4, 5,6 , α,β-enones 7 , ynones 8 , Nalkylanilines 9 were hydrogenated using stoichiometric or catalytic amounts of FLPs. Due to heterolytic nature of FLP-H 2 adducts, hydrogenation of unactivated multiple C-C bonds using FLPs has some natural limitations, since during the respective step of the catalytic cycle a proton transfer from catalyst to substrate should take place (Fig. 1a). Although Greb et al. have implemented this approach to hydrogenation of alkenes under ambient conditions, this method is predictably restricted to the alkenes with high proton affinity 10 .

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Highly Active Metal‐Free Catalysts for Hydrogenation of Unsaturated Nitrogen‐Containing Compounds

Cited by 185 publications

References 53 publications

Frustrated Lewis Pairs

Frustrated Lewis Pairs

Frustrated Lewis Pair Chemistry: Development and Perspectives

A frustrated-Lewis-pair approach to catalytic reduction of alkynes to cis-alkenes

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