Thermodynamic and Kinetic Activity Descriptors for the Catalytic Hydrogenation of Ketones

Activity descriptors are a powerful tool for the design of catalysts that can efficiently utilize H₂ with minimal energy losses. In this study, we develop the use of hydricity and H^- self-exchange rates as thermodynamic and kinetic descriptors for the hydrogenation of ketones by molecular catalysts. Two complexes with known hydricity, HRh(dmpe)₂ and HCo(dmpe)₂, were investigated for the catalytic hydrogenation of ketones under mild conditions (1.5 atm and 25 °C). The rhodium catalyst proved to be an efficient catalyst for a wide range of ketones, whereas the cobalt catalyst could only hydrogenate electron-deficient ketones. Using a combination of experiment and electronic structure theory, thermodynamic hydricity values were established for 46 alkoxide/ketone pairs in both acetonitrile and tetrahydrofuran solvents. Through comparison of the hydricities of the catalysts and substrates, it was determined that catalysis was observed only for catalyst/ketone pairs with an exergonic H^- transfer step. Mechanistic studies revealed that H^- transfer was the rate-limiting step for catalysis, allowing for the experimental and computation construction of linear free-energy relationships (LFERs) for H^- transfer. Further analysis revealed that the LFERs could be reproduced using Marcus theory, in which the H^- self-exchange rates for the HRh/Rh⁺ and ketone/alkoxide pairs were used to predict the experimentally measured catalytic barriers within 2 kcal mol^-1. These studies significantly expand the scope of catalytic reactions that can be analyzed with a thermodynamic hydricity descriptor and firmly establish Marcus theory as a valid approach to develop kinetic descriptors for designing catalysts for H^- transfer reactions.