Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Esters and Efforts Towards Photohydrogenation
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Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Esters and Efforts Towards Photohydrogenation by Riley Thomas Endean A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Chemistry University of Alberta © Riley Thomas Endean, 2020 Abstract A thorough overview of esters and their reductions is presented. A large focus was placed on reductions via homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation. Although several ester hydrogenation systems have been developed, the production of highly enantioenriched alcohols has generally relied upon the usage of enantioenriched esters. A system for homogeneous asymmetric hydrogenation of esters to enantioenriched alcohols was discovered and optimized via an in-house screening method. The optimal system 5 6 uses an in situ formed Ru-based catalyst made from [Ru(1-3:5,6-η -C8H11)(η -anthracene)]BF4, the chiral ligand (1R,2R)-N,N′-bis{2-[bis(3,5-dimethylphenyl)phosphino]benzyl}cyclohexane- 1,2-diamine, and H2. This catalyst is highly active and enantioselective towards hydrogenating α-phenoxy esters to β-chiral primary alcohols under mild conditions. The system operates via dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR), where the esters undergo base-assisted racemization and the catalyst preferentially reacts with one enantiomer. Specifically, NaOiPr in THF and NaOEt in DME were optimal base and solvent combinations for the DKR. The alkoxide bases participate in transesterification and catalyst activation. Under 4 atm H2 and at room temperature, the catalyst provides quantitative conversion (50 turnovers) over 1 h for α-phenoxy propionate and butyrate esters (2 mol% catalyst, 50 mol% base). The enantiomeric excesses of the resulting β-chiral alcohols ranged from 79 to 93%. The hydrogenation of (±)-ethyl 2-phenoxypropionate at 0 C resulted in a 95% enantiomeric excess (ee). Under 15 atm H2 and at room temperature, the catalyst performed 950 turnovers of (±)-ethyl 2-phenoxypropionate over 9 h and resulted in a 91% ee towards (R)-2-phenoxypropan-1-ol (0.1 mol% catalyst, 20 mol% NaOEt, DME). Hydrogenation of the potential intermediate aldehyde (±)-2-phenoxypropionaldehyde and ii deuteration of (±)-ethyl 2-phenoxypropionate were performed to experimentally investigate the mechanism. Three Ru(II)–polypyridyl complexes were prepared for the underexplored area of photohydrogenation. [Ru(bipy)2(1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-diamine)](OTf)2 (bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine) was synthesized in 56% yield from [Ru(MeCN)2(bipy)2](OTf)2 and the bis-bidentate ligand 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-diamine in MeOH at 70 C. The dinuclear complex was not the major product. The imidazolium ligand 1-benzyl-3-(propan-2-yl)-1H-imidazol[4,5- f][1,10]phenanthroline-3-ium (bpip) was prepared in 55% yield over three steps from 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-diamine. The complexation of bpip to the Ru–dichloride precursors cis-[Ru(Cl)2(bipy)2] and cis-[Ru(Cl)2(dmbipy)2] (dmbipy = 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine) proceeded smoothly in MeOH at 70 C. [Ru(bpip)(bipy)2](OTf)3 and [Ru(bpip)(dmbipy)2](OTf)3 were prepared from their respective dichloride precursors, over two steps, in 87 and 73% yields, respectively. Crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction were obtained for [Ru(bpip)(bipy)2](BF4)3. The [Ru(bipy)2(1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-diamine)](OTf)2 and [Ru(bpip)(dmbipy)2](OTf)3 were incorporated into two separate known hydrogenation systems. The photohydrogenation of acetophenone was attempted with in situ catalyst formation from i [Ru(bipy)2(1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-diamine)](OTf)2 and fac-[Ru((R)-BINAP)(H)( PrOH)3]BF4 (BINAP = 2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthyl). Only ~2% of the acetophenone was t i converted (~10 turnovers) over 45 min (0.2 mol% catalyst, 10 mol% KO Bu, PrOH, ~1 atm H2, rt, 15 min 400–700 nm hv). The photohydrogenation of styrene was attempted with in situ catalyst formation from [Ru(bpip)(dmbipy)2](OTf)3 and [Co(TMEDA)(CH2SiMe3)] (TMEDA = N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine). No detectable reaction occurred under the conditions t examined (0.2 mol% catalyst, 0.2 mol% KO Bu, MeOH, ~1 atm H2, 450 nm hv, 10.5 h). iii Preface A portion of the data presented in this dissertation was acquired in collaboration with other researchers within the Department of Chemistry at the University of Alberta. All HRMS analyses were performed by staff members in the Mass Spectrometry Laboratory. All elemental analyses were performed by staff members in the Analytical and Instrumentation Laboratory. Chapter 1 is an introductory chapter that presents a significant amount of data involving esters. The data presented is that of the respective referenced authors. Reaction and mechanistic schemes were drawn or redrawn by Riley Endean. Copyright permissions were obtained for redrawn tables and mechanistic schemes. Chapter 2 has been adapted and expanded upon from the following publication: Endean R. T.; Rasu L.; Bergens S. H. Enantioselective Hydrogenations of Esters with Dynamic Kinetic Resolution. ACS Catal. 2019, 9 (7), 6111–6117. Riley Endean performed most of the reactions and data collection. Dr. Loorthuraja Rasu participated in the development of the screening method and initial ligand screenings. Dr. Rasu also synthesized (±)-ethyl 2-phenoxypropionate and (±)-butan-2-yl-phenoxypropionate. The reported syntheses of (±)-ethyl 2-phenoxypropionate are that performed by Riley Endean. Steven H. Bergens was the supervisory author. The NMR spectra from the ester deuteration study were acquired with the aid of Mark Miskolzie from the NMR Laboratory at the University of Alberta. Chapter 3 is unpublished work that was performed in collaboration with James Pearson. Specifically, James Pearson assisted with the development of the imidazolium salts. All syntheses reported are those performed by Riley Endean. The NMR data were collected by Riley Endean. The X-ray crystallographic study was performed by Dr. Michael Ferguson from the X-ray Crystallography Laboratory. The crystal and refinement data were collected by Dr. Ferguson. Chapter 4 is unpublished and independent work by Riley Endean. Chapter 5 is a summary and possible future research directions. iv Acknowledgements There are many people that deserve recognition for supporting me while at the University of Alberta. Several professors have contributed to my development as a scientist. First and foremost, my supervisor Prof. Steven Bergens has been an invaluable source of knowledge, guidance, and enthusiasm. I am grateful for his positive and humorous attitude. To my supervisory committee members Prof. Eric Rivard and Prof. Jonathan Veinot, I sincerely appreciate your various involvement and advice. I would also like to thank Prof. Arthur Mar for being part of my candidacy examination committee and Prof. Rylan Lundgren for serving on both my candidacy and final examination committees. I am also appreciative of my non-examining committee members Prof. Josef Takats and Prof. Robert Jordan. I am greatly appreciative of Prof. Jennifer Love for serving as my external examiner. I am extremely appreciative of the time and effort that each professor put into reviewing this dissertation. To past and present Bergens group members, your advice, support, and friendship has been incredibly important to me. A special thanks to Dr. Loorthuraja Rasu who has served as a mentor, trainer, and friend. I would also like to specifically express gratitude towards Dr. Mona Amiri, Dr. Chao Wang, Dr. Shuai Xu, Suneth Kalapugama, Prabin Nepal, Octavio Martinez Perez, James Pearson, Jinkun Liu, Benjamin Rennie, and Emily Majaesic for their years of friendship. There are various staff that also deserve recognition. Thank you to my teaching assistant coordinators Dr. Yoram Apelblat, Dr. Norman Gee, and Dr. Alexandra Faucher. I thoroughly enjoyed my teaching assistant experience and learnt a lot. I would like to acknowledge Mark Miskolzie for his exceptional NMR services, knowledge, and his unique friendliness. I also appreciate Dr. Ryan McKay and Nupur Dabral for their NMR services. I would like to thank Dr. Michael Ferguson from the X-ray Crystallography Laboratory. I would like to express gratitude towards everyone from the Mass Spectrometry Laboratory and the Analytical and Instrumentation Laboratory. I would also like to thank all of the support staff members. A particular thank you goes to Anuar Rivero and Scott Stelck for dealing with my various purchases throughout the years. I would like to thank Ryan Lewis, Michael Barteski, Matthew v Kingston, and Bernie Hippel for providing amusing interactions while working. I would also like to thank the other chemical stores and receiving staff. I would like to thank the Machine Fabrication staff. Specifically, Dirk Kelm and Paul Crothers for dealing with various mechanical issues. A significant thank you goes to Kim Do, Andrew Hillier, Broderick Wood, and Cameron Ridderikhoff for various fixes to my invaluable GC–MS system running Windows 3.0. I would also like to acknowledge Anita Weiler for her assistance throughout the years. Several friends from other groups have made my life better. There are too many to mention, but I would like to recognize Christina Braun, Benjamin Rehl, Carl Estrada, Christopher Cooze, Wesley McNutt, Alvaro Omaña, and Ian Watson for being great people. A special recognition goes to Anis Fahandej-Sadi for being an awesome friend and gym partner. Another special recognition goes to my roommate for two years and longtime friend, Trevor Johnson. I also want to thank Devin Chattu for being a great friend and always welcoming me back to my hometown. An incredibly important recognition goes to Kelsey Grant, who has been a great friend, roommate, and partner. Her support during my degree was instrumental to my sanity and success. Last but not least, my family has been extremely supportive throughout my life. Samantha you are an incredibly caring sister, and I am very proud to be your brother. I am also proud to be the son of two incredible people.