Selective Hydration of Nitriles to Corresponding Amides in Air with Rh(I)-N-Heterocyclic Complex Catalysts
Csilla Enikő Czégéni, Sourav De, Antal Udvardy, Nóra Judit Derzsi, G. Papp, Gábor Papp, Ferenc Joó
Abstract
A new synthetic method for obtaining [RhCl(cod)(NHC)] complexes (1–4) (cod = η4-1,5-cyclooctadiene, NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene: IMes, SIMes, IPr, and SIPr, respectively) is reported together with the catalytic properties of 1–4 in nitrile hydration. In addition to the characterization of 1–4 in solution by 13C NMR spectroscopy, the structures of complexes 3, and 4 have been established also in the solid state with single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The Rh(I)-NHC complexes displayed excellent catalytic activity in hydration of aromatic nitriles (up to TOF = 276 h−1) in water/2-propanol (1/1 v/v) mixtures in air.
Topics & Concepts
CatalysisCarbeneChemistryNitrileMedicinal chemistryOrganic chemistryChemical Synthesis and AnalysisN-Heterocyclic Carbenes in Organic and Inorganic ChemistrySynthetic Organic Chemistry Methods