Register      Login
Australian Journal of Chemistry Australian Journal of Chemistry Society
An international journal for chemical science
RESEARCH ARTICLE

The role of silver carbonate as a catalyst in the synthesis of N-phenylbenzamide from benzoic acid and phenyl isocyanate: a mechanistic exploration

Yang Yang A , Benjamin Spyrou A , Paul S. Donnelly A , Allan J. Canty B and Richard A. J. O’Hair https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8044-0502 A *
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology, The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.

B School of Natural Sciences – Chemistry, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 75, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia.

* Correspondence to: rohair@unimelb.edu.au

Handling Editor: George Koutsantonis

Australian Journal of Chemistry 75(9) 495-505 https://doi.org/10.1071/CH21258
Submitted: 29 September 2021  Accepted: 1 November 2021   Published: 11 February 2022

© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing.

Abstract

The gas-phase extrusion–insertion (ExIn) reactions of a silver complex [(BPS)Ag(O2CC6H5)]2− ([BPS]2− = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline-disulfonate), generated via electrospray ionisation was investigated by Multistage Mass Spectrometry (MSn) experiments in a linear ion trap combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Extrusion of carbon dioxide under collision-induced dissociation (CID) generates the organosilver intermediate [(BPS)Ag(C6H5)]2−, which subsequently reacts with phenyl isocyanate via insertion to yield [(BPS)Ag(NPhC(O)C6H5)]2−. Further CID of the product ion resulted in the formation of [(BPS)Ag(C6H5)]2−, [(BPS)Ag] and C6H5C(O)NPh. The formation of a coordinated amidate anion is supported by DFT calculations. Heating a mixture of benzoic acid, phenyl isocyanate, silver carbonate (5 mol%) and phenanthroline (20 mol%) in DMSO and heating by microwave irradiation led to the formation N-phenyl-benzamide in an isolated yield of 89%. The yield decreased to 74% without the addition of phenanthroline, while replacing silver carbonate with sodium carbonate gave an isolated yield of 84%, suggesting that the ExIn reaction may not operate in solution. This was confirmed using benzoic acid with a 13C-isotopic-label at the carboxylate carbon as the starting material, which, under microwave heating in the presence of phenyl isocyanate, silver carbonate (5 mol%) and phenanthroline (20 mol%) gave N-phenyl-benzamide with retention of the 13C isotopic label based on GC-MS experiments under electron ionisation (EI) conditions. DFT calculations using a solvent continuum reveal that the barriers associated with the pathway involving direct attack by the non-coordinated benzoate are below the ExIn pathways for the coordinated silver benzoate.

Keywords: Amide Formation, Benzoic acid, Decarboxylation, DFT calculations, Isocyanate, mass spectrometry, Silver.


References

[1]  GB Deacon, SJ Faulks, GN Pain, The synthesis of organometallics by decarboxylation reactions. Adv Organomet Chem 1986, 25, 237.
         | The synthesis of organometallics by decarboxylation reactions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[2]  RAJ O’Hair, NJ Rijs, Gas phase studies of the pesci decarboxylation reaction: synthesis, structure, and unimolecular and bimolecular reactivity of organometallic ions. Acc Chem Res 2015, 48, 329.
         | Gas phase studies of the pesci decarboxylation reaction: synthesis, structure, and unimolecular and bimolecular reactivity of organometallic ions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[3]  RAJ O’Hair, Dimethylargenate is a stable species in the gas phase. Chem Commun 2002, 7, 20.
         | Dimethylargenate is a stable species in the gas phase.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[4]  PF James, RAJ O’Hair, Dimethyl cuprate undergoes C-C bond coupling with methyliodide in the gas phase but dimethyl argenate does not. Org Lett 2004, 6, 2761.
         | Dimethyl cuprate undergoes C-C bond coupling with methyliodide in the gas phase but dimethyl argenate does not.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15281763PubMed |

[5]  N Rijs, GN Khairallah, T Waters, RAJ O’Hair, Gas-phase synthesis of the homo and hetero organocuprate anions [MeCuMe]−, [EtCuEt]−, and [MeCuR]−. J Am Chem Soc 2008, 130, 1069.
         | Gas-phase synthesis of the homo and hetero organocuprate anions [MeCuMe], [EtCuEt], and [MeCuR].Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18166056PubMed |

[6]  NJ Rijs, RAJ O’Hair, Gas-phase synthesis of organoargenate anions and comparisons with their organocuprate analogues. Organometallics 2009, 28, 2684.
         | Gas-phase synthesis of organoargenate anions and comparisons with their organocuprate analogues.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[7]  NJ Rijs, GB Sanvido, GN Khairallah, RAJ O’Hair, Gas phase synthesis and reactivity of dimethylaurate. Dalton Trans 2010, 39, 8655.
         | Gas phase synthesis and reactivity of dimethylaurate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20714634PubMed |

[8]  K Vikse, GN Khairallah, JS McIndoe, RAJ O’Hair., Fixed-charge phosphine ligands to explore gas-phase coinage metal-mediated decarboxylation reactions. Dalton Trans 2013, 42, 6440.
         | Fixed-charge phosphine ligands to explore gas-phase coinage metal-mediated decarboxylation reactions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23467311PubMed |

[9]  MJ Woolley, GN Khairallah, G da Silva, PS Donnelly, BF Yates, RAJ O’Hair, Role of the metal, ligand, and Alkyl/Aryl group in the hydrolysis reactions of group 10 organometallic cations [(L)M(R)]+. Organometallics 2013, 32, 6931.
         | Role of the metal, ligand, and Alkyl/Aryl group in the hydrolysis reactions of group 10 organometallic cations [(L)M(R)]+.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[10]  M Woolley, A Ariafard, GN Khairalah, KHY Kwan, PS Donnelly, JM White, AJ Canty, BF Yates, RAJ O’Hair, Decarboxylative-coupling of allyl acetate catalyzed by group 10 organometallics, Uphen)M(CH3)]+. J Org Chem 2014, 79, 12056.
         |  Decarboxylative-coupling of allyl acetate catalyzed by group 10 organometallics, Uphen)M(CH3)]+.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25329236PubMed |

[11]  LJ Goossen, K Goossen, N Rodriguez, M Blanchot, C Linder, B Zimmermann, New catalytic transformations of carboxylic acids. Pure Appl Chem 2008, 80, 1725.
         | New catalytic transformations of carboxylic acids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[12]  LJ Goossen, N Rodriguez, K Goossen, Carboxylic acids as substrates in homogeneous catalysis. Angew Chem Int Ed 2008, 47, 3100.
         | Carboxylic acids as substrates in homogeneous catalysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[13]  LJ Goossen, F Collet, K Goossen, Decarboxylative coupling reactions. Isr J Chem 2010, 50, 617.
         | Decarboxylative coupling reactions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[14]  JD Weaver, A Recio, AJ Grenning, JA Tunge, Transition metal-catalyzed decarboxylative allylation and benzylation reactions. Chem Rev 2011, 111, 1846.
         | Transition metal-catalyzed decarboxylative allylation and benzylation reactions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21235271PubMed |

[15]  N Rodriguez, LJ Goossen, Decarboxylative coupling reactions: a modern strategy for C-C-bond formation. Chem Soc Rev 2011, 40, 5030.
         | Decarboxylative coupling reactions: a modern strategy for C-C-bond formation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21792454PubMed |

[16]  J Cornella, IL Arrosa, Decarboxylative carbon-carbon bond-forming transformations of (Hetero)aromatic carboxylic acids. Synthesis 2012, 44, 653.
         | Decarboxylative carbon-carbon bond-forming transformations of (Hetero)aromatic carboxylic acids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[17]  K Park, S Lee, Transition metal-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reactions of alkynyl carboxylic acids. RSC Adv 2013, 3, 14165.
         | Transition metal-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reactions of alkynyl carboxylic acids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[18]  XT Yin, WJ Li, BL Zhao, K Cheng, Research progress on silver-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reaction. Chinese J Org Chem 2018, 38, 2879.

[19]  A Noor, JW Li, GN Khairallah, Z Li, H Ghari, AJ Canty, A Ariafard, PS Donnelly, RAJ O’Hair, A one-pot route to thioamides discovered by gas-phase studies: palladium-mediated CO2 extrusion followed by insertion of isothiocyanates. Chem Commun 2017, 53, 3854.
         |  A one-pot route to thioamides discovered by gas-phase studies: palladium-mediated CO2 extrusion followed by insertion of isothiocyanates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[20]  Y Yang, A Noor, AJ Canty, A Ariafard, PS Donnelly, RAJ O’Hair, Synthesis of amidines by palladium-mediated CO2 extrusion followed by insertion of carbodiimides: translating mechanistic studies to develop a one-pot method. Organometallics 2019, 38, 424.
         |  Synthesis of amidines by palladium-mediated CO2 extrusion followed by insertion of carbodiimides: translating mechanistic studies to develop a one-pot method.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[21]  Y Yang, AJ Canty, AI McKay, PS Donnelly, RAJ O’Hair, Palladium-mediated CO2 extrusion followed by insertion of isocyanates for the synthesis of benzamides: translating fundamental mechanistic studies to develop a catalytic protocol. Organometallics 2020, 39, 453.
         |  Palladium-mediated CO2 extrusion followed by insertion of isocyanates for the synthesis of benzamides: translating fundamental mechanistic studies to develop a catalytic protocol.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[22]  J Cornella, C Sanchez, D Banawa, I Larrosa, Silver-catalysed protodecarboxylation of ortho-substituted benzoic acids. Chem Commun 2009, 7176.
         | Silver-catalysed protodecarboxylation of ortho-substituted benzoic acids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[23]  LJ Goossen, C Linder, N Rodriguez, PP Lange, A Fromm, Silver-catalysed protodecarboxylation of carboxylic acids. Chem Commun 2009, 7173.
         | Silver-catalysed protodecarboxylation of carboxylic acids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[24]  LJ Goossen, N Rodriguez, C Linder, PP Lange, A Fromm, Comparative study of copper- and silver-catalyzed protodecarboxylations of carboxylic acids. ChemCatChem 2010, 2, 430.
         | Comparative study of copper- and silver-catalyzed protodecarboxylations of carboxylic acids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[25]  R Grainger, J Cornella, DC Blakemore, I Larrosa, JM Campanera, The ortho-substituent effect on the Ag-Catalysed decarboxylation of benzoic acids. Chem Eur J 2014, 20, 16680.
         | The ortho-substituent effect on the Ag-Catalysed decarboxylation of benzoic acids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25336158PubMed |

[26]  DM Chisholm, JS McIndoe, Charged ligands for catalyst immobilisation and analysis. Dalton Trans 2008, 3933.
         | Charged ligands for catalyst immobilisation and analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18648694PubMed |

[27]  J Limberger, BC Leal, AL Monteiro, J Dupont, Charge-tagged ligands: useful tools for immobilising complexes and detecting reaction species during catalysis. Chem Sci 2015, 6, 77.
         |  Charge-tagged ligands: useful tools for immobilising complexes and detecting reaction species during catalysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28553458PubMed |

[28]  Previous DFT studies have shown that introducing a remote fixed charge does not change the mechanism associated with catalysis and that the energetics do not change significantly, see: RAJ O’Hair, A Mravak, M Krstic, V Bonacic-Koutecky, Models facilitating the design of a new metal-organic framework catalyst for the selective decomposition of formic acid into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. ChemCatChem 2019, 11, 2443.
         | Models facilitating the design of a new metal-organic framework catalyst for the selective decomposition of formic acid into hydrogen and carbon dioxide.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[29]  Y Yang, AJ Canty, RAJ O’Hair, Gas-phase studies of copper(I)-mediated CO2 extrusion followed by insertion of the heterocumulenes CS2 or phenylisocyanate. J Mass Spectrom 2020, 56, e4579.
         |  Gas-phase studies of copper(I)-mediated CO2 extrusion followed by insertion of the heterocumulenes CS2 or phenylisocyanate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 32578305PubMed |

[30]  K Yoo, DG Jwa, HE Lee, HJ Kim, C Kim, M Kim, Recent organic transformations with silver carbonate as a key external base and oxidant. Catalysts 2019, 9, 1032.
         | Recent organic transformations with silver carbonate as a key external base and oxidant.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[31]  LQ Xue, WP Su, ZY Lin, Mechanism of silver- and copper-catalyzed decarboxylation reactions of aryl carboxylic acids. Dalton Trans 2011, 40, 11926.
         | Mechanism of silver- and copper-catalyzed decarboxylation reactions of aryl carboxylic acids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[32]  IS Blagbrough, NE Mackenzie, C Ortiz, AI Scott, The condensation reaction between isocyanates and carboxylic-acids - a practical synthesis of substituted amides and anilides. Tetrahedron Lett 1986, 27, 1251.
         | The condensation reaction between isocyanates and carboxylic-acids - a practical synthesis of substituted amides and anilides.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[33]  AC Schuemacher, RW Hoffmann, Condensation between isocyanates and carboxylic acids in the presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), a mild and efficient synthesis of amides. Synthesis 2001, 243.
         | Condensation between isocyanates and carboxylic acids in the presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), a mild and efficient synthesis of amides.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[34]  K Sasaki, D Crich, Facile amide bond formation from carboxylic acids and isocyanates. Org Lett 2011, 13, 2256.
         | Facile amide bond formation from carboxylic acids and isocyanates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21428288PubMed |

[35]  A Fry, A Tracer, Study of the reaction of isocyanates with carboxylic acids. J Am Chem Soc 1953, 75, 2686.
         | Study of the reaction of isocyanates with carboxylic acids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[36]  Bunnet JF (1985). In ‘Investigations of rates and mechanisms part 1’. (Ed. CF Bernasconi) vol. 361. (Wiley: New York)

[37]  Recent DFT calculations have revealed that multimetallic catalysis with rhodium/copper and rhodium/silver combinations can give different chemoselectivities in the oxidative coupling between benzoic acid and 1-phenyl-1-propyne: I Funes-Ardoiz, F Maseras, Computational characterization of the mechanism for the oxidative coupling of benzoic acid and alkynes by rhodium/copper and rhodium/silver systems. Chem-Eur J 2018, 24, 12383.
         | Computational characterization of the mechanism for the oxidative coupling of benzoic acid and alkynes by rhodium/copper and rhodium/silver systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29528147PubMed |

[38]  M Woolley, GN Khairallah, G da Silva, PS Donnelly, RAJ O’Hair, Direct versus water-mediated protodecarboxylation of acetic acid catalyzed by group 10 carboxylates, [(phen)M(O2CCH3)]+. Organometallics 2014 33, 5185.

[39]  WA Donald, CJ McKenzie, RAJ O’Hair, C-H bond activation of methanol and ethanol by a high-spin (FeO)-O-IV biomimetic complex. Angew Chem Int Ed 2011, 50, 8379.
         |  C-H bond activation of methanol and ethanol by a high-spin (FeO)-O-IV biomimetic complex.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[40]  AKY Lam, C Li, G Khairallah, BB Kirk, SJ Blanksby, AJ Trevitt, U Wille, RAJ O’Hair, G da Silva, Gas-phase reactions of aryl radicals with 2-butyne: an experimental and theoretical investigation employing the N-methyl-pyridinium-4-yl radical cation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2012, 14, 2417.
         |  Gas-phase reactions of aryl radicals with 2-butyne: an experimental and theoretical investigation employing the N-methyl-pyridinium-4-yl radical cation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[41]  Frisch MJ, Trucks GW, Schlegel HB, Scuseria GE, Robb MA, Cheeseman JR, Scalmani G, Barone V, Petersson GA, Nakatsuji H, Li X. Gaussian 16 Rev. C.01. Gaussian Inc.; 2016.

[42]  Y Zhao, DG Truhlar, The M06 suite of density functionals for main group thermochemistry, thermochemical kinetics, noncovalent interactions, excited states, and transition elements: two new functionals and systematic testing of four M06-class functionals and 12 other functionals. Theor Chem Acc 2008, 120, 215.
         | The M06 suite of density functionals for main group thermochemistry, thermochemical kinetics, noncovalent interactions, excited states, and transition elements: two new functionals and systematic testing of four M06-class functionals and 12 other functionals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[43]  M Dolg, U Wedig, H Stoll, H Preuss., Energy-adjusted abinitio pseudopotentials for the 1st-row transition-elements. J Chem Phys 1987, 86, 866.
         |  Energy-adjusted abinitio pseudopotentials for the 1st-row transition-elements.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[44]  D Andrae, U Haussermann, M Dolg, H Stoll, H Preuss, Energy-adjusted abinitio pseudopotentials for the 2nd and 3rd row transition-elements. Theor Chim Acta 1990, 77, 123.

[45]  PC Harihara, JA Pople, Influence of polarization functions on molecular-orbital hydrogenation. Energies Theor Chim Acta 1973, 28, 213.
         | Influence of polarization functions on molecular-orbital hydrogenation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[46]  V Barone, M Cossi, Quantum calculation of molecular energies and energy gradients in solution by a conductor solvent model. J Phys Chem A 1998, 102, 1995.
         | Quantum calculation of molecular energies and energy gradients in solution by a conductor solvent model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[47]  K Fukui, A formulation of reaction coordinate. J Phys Chem 1970, 74, 4161.
         | A formulation of reaction coordinate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[48]  K Fukui, The path of chemical-reactions - the irc approach. Acc Chem Res 1981, 14, 363.
         | The path of chemical-reactions - the irc approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[49]  AD Becke, Density-functional exchange-energy approximation with correct asymptotic-behavior. Phys Rev A 1988, 38, 3098.
         | Density-functional exchange-energy approximation with correct asymptotic-behavior.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[50]  CT Lee, WT Yang, RG Parr, Development of the colle-salvetti correlation-energy formula into a functional of the electron-density. Phys Rev B 1988, 37, 785.
         | Development of the colle-salvetti correlation-energy formula into a functional of the electron-density.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[51]  AD Becke, Density-functional thermochemistry. 3. The role of exact exchange. J Chem Phys 1993, 98, 5648.
         | Density-functional thermochemistry. 3. The role of exact exchange.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[52]  PJ Stephens, FJ Devlin, CF Chabalowski, MJ Frisch, Ab-Initio calculation of vibrational absorption and circular-dichroism spectra using density-functional force-fields. J Phys Chem 1994, 98, 11623.
         |  Ab-Initio calculation of vibrational absorption and circular-dichroism spectra using density-functional force-fields.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[53]  F Weigend, F Furche, R Ahlrichs, Gaussian basis sets of quadruple zeta valence quality for atoms H-Kr. J Chem Phys 2003, 119, 12753.
         |  Gaussian basis sets of quadruple zeta valence quality for atoms H-Kr.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[54]  SA McLuckey, DE Goeringer, Slow heating methods in tandem mass spectrometry. J Mass Spectrom 1997, 32, 461.
         | Slow heating methods in tandem mass spectrometry.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[55]  PD Dau, PB Armentrout, MC Michelini, JK Gibson, Activation of carbon dioxide by a terminal uranium-nitrogen bond in the gas-phase: a demonstration of the principle of microscopic reversibility. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2016, 18, 7334.
         | Activation of carbon dioxide by a terminal uranium-nitrogen bond in the gas-phase: a demonstration of the principle of microscopic reversibility.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26898535PubMed |