Computational design of metal-free catalysts for catalytic hydrogenation of imines.

Metal-free catalysts for hydrogenation of both small and large imines: a computational experiment.

This study extends our previous work of using π-FLP strategy to develop metal-free hydrogenation catalysts. Using small MeN=CMe(2) imine (im1) as a model, we previously designed cat1 and cat2 catalysts. But it is unclear whether they are capable of catalyzing the hydrogenations of bulky imines. Using tBuN=C(H)Ph (im2) as a representative of large imines, we assessed the energetics of the cat1- ...

Catalytic metal-free ketone hydrogenation: a computational experiment.

A computational study has been carried out to examine if the metal-free catalyst (1) designed for imine hydrogenation is able to hydrogenate ketones, using the cyclohexanone (3) and its derivatives (4-6) as ketone models. The catalytic cycle includes two major steps: hydrogen activation and hydrogen transfer. The concerted pathway in the hydrogen transfer step is preferred over the stepwise pat...

A highly enantioselective, Pd-TangPhos-catalyzed hydrogenation of N-tosylimines.

Although significant progress has been made in the catalytic asymmetric reduction of ketones and olefins over the last few decades, the asymmetric reduction of imines remains a major challenge. Enantioselective reductive amination with organocatalysts has recently been reported, and a number of transition-metal-based catalysts, such as those containing Rh, Ru, Ti, Zr, and Ir, have been applied ...

Use of steric encumbrance to develop conjugated nanoporous polymers for metal-free catalytic hydrogenation.

The design and synthesis of metal-free heterogeneous catalysts for efficient hydrogenation remains a great challenge. Here we report a novel approach to create conjugated nanoporous polymers with efficient hydrogenation activities toward unsaturated ketones by leveraging the innate steric encumbrance. The steric bulk of the framework as well as the local sterics of the Lewis basic sites within ...

Metal-free catalytic hydrogenation of enamines, imines, and conjugated phosphinoalkenylboranes.