Metal–Ligand Cooperative Proton Transfer as an Efficient Trigger for Rhodium-NHC-Pyridonato Catalyzed gem-Specific Alkyne Dimerization

The mononuclear square-planar Rh{κ2-X,N-(Xpy)}(η2-coe)(IPr) (X = O, NH, NMe, S) complexes have been synthesized from the dinuclear precursor [Rh(μ-Cl)(IPr)(η2-coe)]2 and the corresponding 2-heteroatom-pyridinate salts. The Rh-NHC-pyridinato derivatives are highly efficient catalysts for gem-specific alkyne dimerization. Particularly, the chelating N,O-pyridonato complex displays turnover frequency levels of up 17 000 h–1 at room temperature. Mechanistic investigations and density functional theory calculations suggest a pyridonato-based metal–ligand cooperative proton transfer as responsible for the enhancement of catalytic activity. The initial deprotonation of a Rh-π-alkyne complex by the oxo-functionality of a κ1-N-pyridonato moiety has been established to be the rate-limiting step, whereas the preferential protonation of the terminal position of a π-coordinated alkyne accounts for the exclusive observation of head-to-tail enynes. The catalytic cycle is closed by a very fast alkenyl–alkynyl reductive elimination.