Toward an alkene hydroamination catalyst: static and dynamic ab initio DFT studies

Senn, H.M. , Blöchl, P.E. and Togni, A. (2000) Toward an alkene hydroamination catalyst: static and dynamic ab initio DFT studies. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 122(17), pp. 4098-4107. (doi: 10.1021/ja992689h)

Abstract

The catalytic hydroamination of alkenes via alkene activation and subsequent nucleophilic attack has been investigated with Car−Parrinello ab initio molecular-dynamics calculations using the projector-augmented wave method. The complete cycle including all intermediates and transition states was studied with d⁸ transition-metal complexes of the type {MCl(PH₃)₂}^z+ (M = Co, Rh, Ir [z = 0] and Ni, Pd, Pt [z = 1]) as catalysts, comparing the different metals for their suitability. For group 9, nucleophilic attack was identified as the rate-determining step, while the cleavage of the M−C bond is rate-determining for group 10. Overall, group 10 is more favorable than group 9. In particular, nickel complexes were found to be the best-suited potential catalysts with an activation barrier for the rate-determining step of 108 kJ mol^-1. Β-Hydride elimination as a competing side reaction was found to be kinetically competitive, but thermodynamically disfavored.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Senn, Dr Hans
• Authors: Senn, H.M., Blöchl, P.E., and Togni, A.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: Journal of the American Chemical Society
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• ISSN: 0002-7863
• ISSN (Online): 1943-2984