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Asymmetric hydrogenation with highly active IndolPhos-Rh catalysts: kinetics and reaction mechanism
Jeroen Wassenaar1, Mark Kuil, Martin Lutz
1Supramolecular & Homogeneous Catalysis van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, 1018 WV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
The mechanism of the IndolPhos-Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral olefins has been investigated by means of X-ray crystal structure determination, kinetic measurements, high-pressure NMR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. The mechanistic study indicates that the reaction follows an unsaturate/dihydride mechanism according to Michaelis-Menten kinetics. A large value of K(M) (K(M) = 5.01+/-0.16 M) is obtained, which indicates that the Rh-solvate complex is the catalyst resting state, which has been observed by high-pressure NMR spectroscopy. DFT calculations on the substrate-catalyst complexes, which are undetectable by experimental means, suggest that the major substrate-catalyst complex leads to the product. Such a mechanism is in accordance with previous studies on the mechanism of asymmetric hydrogenation reactions with C(1)-symmetric heteroditopic and monodentate ligands.
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