Building lactams by highly selective hydrodeoxygenation of cyclic imides using an alumina-supported AgRe bimetallic
Carles Lluna-Galán1, Juan Camilo Arango-Daza1, Daviel Gómez1
1Instituto de Tecnología Química. Universitat Politècnica de València-Consejo Superior Investigaciones Científicas (UPV-CSIC). Avda. de los Naranjos s/n, València, 46022, Spain.
Abstract:
The rational design of robust nanocatalysts containing the suitable active sites for building relevant organic compounds, such as lactams, is a desired approximation towards the development of a sustainable fine chemistry field. In that sense, the design of a proper nanomaterial able to mediate the selective hydrodeoxygenation of cyclic imides to lactams with high tolerance to the preservation of aromatic rings remains rather unexplored. Here, we show the design of a bimetallic AgRe nanomaterial with notable activity and selectivity to mediate this transformation affording more than 60 lactams from the corresponding imides. Interestingly, in this work we disclose that the optimal AgRe nanocatalyst is constituted by AgReO4 nanoaggregates that undergo an in situ hydrogenative dispersion to form the active centers composed by Ag0 nanoparticles and ReOx species. Deep characterization, together with kinetic and mechanistic studies, have revealed that the intimate Ag-Re contact intrinsic to AgReO4 species is key for the formation of the most active catalytic sites and the proper bimetallic cooperation required for mediating the desired process.
Related Concept Videos
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Amides to Amines: LiAlH4 Reduction
Amide reduction requires two equivalents of the reducing agent, acting as a source of hydride ions. As shown in the figure, the reaction is initiated with a nucleophilic attack by the hydride ion at the carbonyl carbon to form a tetrahedral intermediate.
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Hydroboration-Oxidation
One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Hydroboration
Hydroboration proceeds in a concerted fashion with the attack of borane on the π bond, giving a cyclic four-centered transition state. The –BH2 group is bonded to the less substituted carbon and –H to the more substituted carbon. The concerted nature requires the simultaneous addition of –H and –BH2 across the same face of the alkene giving syn...
Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes


