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Methanol dehydrogenation by iridium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes
Jesús Campos1, Liam S Sharninghausen1, Michael G Manas1
1Chemistry Department, Yale University, 225 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States.
Abstract:
A series of homogeneous iridium bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) catalysts are active for three transformations involving dehydrogenative methanol activation: acceptorless dehydrogenation, transfer hydrogenation, and amine monoalkylation. The acceptorless dehydrogenation reaction requires base, yielding formate and carbonate, as well as 2-3 equivalents of H2. Of the few homogeneous systems known for this reaction, our catalysts tolerate air and employ simple ligands. Transfer hydrogenation of ketones and imines from methanol is also possible. Finally, N-monomethylation of anilines occurs through a "borrowing hydrogen" reaction. Notably, this reaction is highly selective for the monomethylated product.
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