Reactions Catalyzed by PNP-Type Complexes Featuring a HN(CH 2 CH 2 PR 2 ) 2
Ligand” explores the use of pincer ligands featuring a cooperative dialkylamine
(R 2 NH) moiety at the central position.
Chapter “Cooperative Reactivity by Pincer-Type Complexes Possessing Secondary Coordination Sphere” discusses a novel approach involving the development of
pincer complexes incorporating a secondary coordination sphere or an appended
functionality that can interact with the catalytic center at the pincer manifold. This
opens the possibility to modulate the pincer-metal catalyst’s activity or its reactivity
via secondary substrate–catalyst interactions.
Finally, the impact of metal–ligand cooperativity in catalysis beyond hydrogen
chemistry is illustrated. Chapter “Catalytic Conversion of Nitriles by Metal Pincer
Complexes” highlights recent developments in the catalytic transformation of
nitriles; next to hydrogenation, efficient α-functionalization and Michael-addition
reactions are accessible. The latter often involve nucleophilic attack of a ligand basic
site on the nitrile carbon, taking the cooperative role of the considered pincer ligands
beyond acid/base chemistry. Finally, the chapter “The Application of Pincer Ligand
in Catalytic Water Splitting” reviews applications of pincer complexes to one of the
great chemical problems of our time, that is, the energy-efficient splitting of water to
its elemental constituents with applications to energy storage and transport in
perspective. There the combination of tunable reactivity patterns with thermodynamic and kinetic stability makes pincer compounds attractive candidates for future
applications.
The area of metal–ligand cooperativity at pincer ligands is a rapidly expanding
frontier, in terms of both new ligands affording specific reaction patterns and of new
catalytic applications. We gratefully thank all the authors who contributed to the
elaboration of this volume, which we hope provides a balanced current view of this
exciting field.
Utrecht, The Netherlands
Gerard van Koten
Vienna, Austria
Karl Kirchner
Utrecht, The Netherlands
Marc-Etienne Moret
Preface
vii
Ligand” explores the use of pincer ligands featuring a cooperative dialkylamine
(R 2 NH) moiety at the central position.
Chapter “Cooperative Reactivity by Pincer-Type Complexes Possessing Secondary Coordination Sphere” discusses a novel approach involving the development of
pincer complexes incorporating a secondary coordination sphere or an appended
functionality that can interact with the catalytic center at the pincer manifold. This
opens the possibility to modulate the pincer-metal catalyst’s activity or its reactivity
via secondary substrate–catalyst interactions.
Finally, the impact of metal–ligand cooperativity in catalysis beyond hydrogen
chemistry is illustrated. Chapter “Catalytic Conversion of Nitriles by Metal Pincer
Complexes” highlights recent developments in the catalytic transformation of
nitriles; next to hydrogenation, efficient α-functionalization and Michael-addition
reactions are accessible. The latter often involve nucleophilic attack of a ligand basic
site on the nitrile carbon, taking the cooperative role of the considered pincer ligands
beyond acid/base chemistry. Finally, the chapter “The Application of Pincer Ligand
in Catalytic Water Splitting” reviews applications of pincer complexes to one of the
great chemical problems of our time, that is, the energy-efficient splitting of water to
its elemental constituents with applications to energy storage and transport in
perspective. There the combination of tunable reactivity patterns with thermodynamic and kinetic stability makes pincer compounds attractive candidates for future
applications.
The area of metal–ligand cooperativity at pincer ligands is a rapidly expanding
frontier, in terms of both new ligands affording specific reaction patterns and of new
catalytic applications. We gratefully thank all the authors who contributed to the
elaboration of this volume, which we hope provides a balanced current view of this
exciting field.
Utrecht, The Netherlands
Gerard van Koten
Vienna, Austria
Karl Kirchner
Utrecht, The Netherlands
Marc-Etienne Moret
Preface
vii