title: Mild and selective hydrogenation of aromatic and aliphatic (di)nitriles with a well-defined iron pincer complex.
abstract: The catalytic hydrogenation of carboxylic acid derivatives represents an atom-efficient and clean reduction methodology in organic chemistry. More specifically, the selective hydrogenation of nitriles offers the possibility for a green synthesis of valuable primary amines. So far, this transformation lacks of useful, broadly applicable non-noble metal-based catalyst systems. In the present study, we describe a molecular-defined iron complex, which allows for the hydrogenation of aryl, alkyl, heterocyclic nitriles and dinitriles. By using an iron PNP pincer complex, we achieve very good functional group tolerance. Ester, ether, acetamido as well as amino substituents are not reduced in the presence of nitriles. Moreover, nitriles including an α,β-unsaturated double bond and halogenated derivatives are well tolerated in this reaction. Notably, our complex constitutes the first example of an homogeneous catalyst, which permits the selective hydrogenation of industrially important adipodinitrile to 1,6-hexamethylenediamine.
authors: 1] Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. an der Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein Straße 29a, 18059 Rostock, Germany [2].
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Bornschein
authors: 1] Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. an der Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein Straße 29a, 18059 Rostock, Germany [2].
authors: Svenja
authors: S
authors: Werkmeister
authors: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. an der Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein Straße 29a, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
authors: Bianca
authors: B
authors: Wendt
authors: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. an der Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein Straße 29a, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
authors: Haijun
authors: H
authors: Jiao
authors: 1] Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. an der Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein Straße 29a, 18059 Rostock, Germany [2] Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, CNR, tr. La Crucca 3, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Alberico
authors: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. an der Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein Straße 29a, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Baumann
authors: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. an der Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein Straße 29a, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
authors: Henrik
authors: H
authors: Junge
authors: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. an der Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein Straße 29a, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
authors: Kathrin
authors: K
authors: Junge
authors: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. an der Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein Straße 29a, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Beller