title: Discovery of a metalloenzyme-like cooperative catalytic system of metal nanoclusters and catechol derivatives for the aerobic oxidation of amines.
abstract: We have discovered a new class of cooperative catalytic system, consisting of heterogeneous polymer-immobilized bimetallic Pt/Ir alloyed nanoclusters (NCs) and 4-tert-butylcatechol, for the aerobic oxidation of amines to imines under ambient conditions. After optimization, the desired imines were obtained in good to excellent yields with broad substrate scope. The reaction rate was determined to be first-order with respect to the substrate and catechol and zero-order for the alloyed Pt/Ir NC catalyst. Control studies revealed that both the heterogeneous NC catalyst and 4-tert-butylcatechol are essential and act cooperatively to facilitate the aerobic oxidation under mild conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Woo-Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyamura
authors.forename: Shū
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D002396:Catechols / Q000737:chemistry*; D007097:Imines / Q000737:chemistry; D007495:Iridium / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D002396:Catechols; D007097:Imines; C077763:platinum-iridium alloy; D007495:Iridium; D010984:Platinum