Dual-Function, Light Switchable Cobalt Catalysis via Active Site Metamorphosis

18 December 2019, Version 1
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

Switchable catalysis offers opportunities to control the rate or selectivity of a reaction via a stimulus such as pH or light. However, few examples of switchable catalytic systems that can facilitate multiple processes exist. Here we report a rare example of such dual-functional, switchable catalysis. Featuring an easily prepared, bench-stable cobalt(I) hydride complex in conjunction with pinacolborane, we can completely alter the reaction outcome between two widely employed transformations – olefin migration and hydroboration – with visible light as the sole trigger. This dichotomy arises from ligand photodissociation which leads to metamorphosis of the active catalytic site, resulting in divergent mechanistic pathways.

Keywords

Cobalt
Hydroboration
Isomerization
Photoswitching
Catalysis
Divergence

Supplementary materials

Title
Description
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Title
Cobalt Photoswitch SI ChemRxiv
Description
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