Synthesis, Reactivity, and Catalytic Behavior of Iron/zinc-containing Species Involved in Oxidation of Hydrocarbons under Gif-type Conditions

Abstract

The present study explores the nature and reactivity of iron- and zinc- containing species generated in hydrocarbon-oxidizing Gif(IV)-type solutions (Fe catalyst/Zn/O2 in pyridine/acetic acid (10:1 v/v). The ultimate goal of this investigation is to unravel the role of metal sites in mediating dioxygen-dependent C-H activation, which in the case of Gif chemistry demonstrates an enhanced selectivity for the ketonization of secondary carbons. Reaction of [Fe3O(O2CCH3)6(py)3]·py (1) with zinc powder in CH3CN/CH3COOH or CH2Cl2/CH3COOH affords the trinuclear compound [Zn2Fe(II)(O2CCH3)6(py)2] (2). Single-crystal X-ray analysis confirms that one monedentate and two bidentate acetate groups bridge adjacent pairs of metals with the iron atom occupying a centrosymmetric position. The analogous reduction of 1 in py/CH3COOH (10:1.5:1,2:1 v/v) yields [Fe(II)(O2CCH3)2(py)4] (3), [Fe(II)2(O2CCH3)4(py)3](n) (4), and [Zn(O2CCH3)2(py)2] (5) depending on the isolation procedure employed. Compound 3 possesses a distorted octahedral geometry, featuring a C2 axis bisecting the equatorial, pyridine-occupied plane, whereas the two acetate groups reside along the perpendicular axis. Compound 4 is a one-dimensional solid constructed by asymmetric diferrous units. Two bidentate and one monodentate acetate groups bridge the two iron sites, with the monodentate bridge also acting as a chelator to one ferrous center. The two iron centers exhibit weak antiferromagnetic coupling. Compounds 3 and 4 are also accessible from the reduction of 1 with iron powder or treatment with H2/Pd. Solutions of 3 and 4 in pyridine or py/CH3COOH react with pure dioxygen or air to eventually regenerate 1 in a concentration-dependent manner. Oxidation of 2 in py/CH3COOH with pure dioxygen or air yields [Fe(2.22(2)(Zn(0.78(2))O(O2CCH3)6(PY)3]·py (1') and [Zn2(O2CCH3)4(py)2] (6). Compound 1' is isostructural to 1, exhibiting rhombohedral symmetry at 223 K. The filtrate of the reduction of 1 with zinc in neat pyridine, when exposed to dioxygen, affords dichroic red-green crystals of monoclinic [Fe2ZnO(O2CCH3)6(py)3]·py (1'). Species 1' yields products identical with those provided by 1 under reducing conditions. Compounds 2-6 are related by pyridine-dependent equilibria, as demonstrated by mutual interconversions and electronic absorption data in pyridine and py/CH3COOH solutions. In non-pyridine solutions, Zn-containing species 5 and 6 rearrange to the crystallographically characterized species [Zn- (O2CCH3)2(py)](n) (7) and [Zn3(O2CCH3)6(py)2] (8). Compound 7 is a one-dimensional solid featuring a chain of Zn sites linked by a bidentate acetate group while additionally coordinated by a chelating acetate. Compound 8 is isostructural to 2. Further perturbations of the described structures are apparent in ionic iron-containing species, such as the pseudo-seven- coordinate iron in [Ph3P=N=PPh3][Fe(II)(O2CCH3)3(py)] (9), which is obtained from the reaction of 3 with [PPN] [O2CCH3], and the water- coordinated iron in [Fe(II)(H2O)4(trans-py)2][O2CCH3]2 (10), which reveals an extensive two-dimensional network of hydrogen-bonding interactions. The pyridine-free species [Fe(II)3(O2- CCH3)6(OS(CD3)2)2](n) (11) is isolable upon extensive incubation of 3 in (CD3)2SO. Compound 11 exhibits a remarkable one-dimensional structure, featuring four different types of acetate groups. Catalytic oxidations of adamantane, isopentane, benzene, toluene, cis-stilbene, and pyridine mediated by the system 1 (or 2-4)/Zn/O2 in py/AcOH (10:1) afford product profiles which are not fully compatible with the reported outcome of analogous oxidations by hydroxyl radicals or biologically relevant high-valent iron- oxo species alone. The intermolecular deuterium kinetic isotope effect for the oxidation of adamantane to adamantanone is small (k(H)/k(D) = 2.01(12)) by comparison to values obtained for oxidation of hydrocarbons by biological oxygenases. Employment of hydrogen peroxide, t-BuOOH, or peracetic acid as potential oxo donors does not provide viable shunt pathways in the catalytic oxygenation of adamantane. The nature of active oxidant in Git(IV)-type oxidation is discussed in light of these structural and functional findings.

Department(s)

Chemistry

Keywords and Phrases

Hydrocarbon; Iron; Oxygen; Zinc; molecular Interaction; Oxidation; Oxygen Transport; Structure Activity Relation; X Ray Analysis

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0002-7863

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1997 American Chemical Society (ACS), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jul 1997

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