Oxidative Addition

Definition

Oxidative addition is a fundamental reaction in organometallic chemistry where a metal complex reacts with a substrate, resulting in the increase of the oxidation state of the metal and the formation of new bonds. This process typically involves the addition of two ligands to the metal center, which can enhance catalytic activity and facilitate further transformations. The reaction is crucial in processes such as homogeneous catalysis, allowing for the activation of substrates and facilitating subsequent chemical reactions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Oxidative addition typically occurs with substrates that have polar covalent or ionic bonds, such as halogens or alkenes.
2. The reaction is essential in many catalytic cycles, particularly in cross-coupling reactions used in organic synthesis.
3. In oxidative addition, the metal can increase its oxidation state from low (e.g., zero or +1) to higher states (+2 or +3).
4. Common metals involved in oxidative addition include palladium, platinum, and rhodium due to their ability to stabilize higher oxidation states.
5. The geometry of the metal complex can change during oxidative addition, often transitioning from square planar to tetrahedral or octahedral configurations.

Review Questions

• How does oxidative addition contribute to catalytic cycles in homogeneous catalysis?
  • Oxidative addition plays a vital role in catalytic cycles by allowing the metal complex to activate substrates for subsequent reactions. When the metal undergoes oxidative addition, it forms new bonds with the substrate, effectively increasing its coordination number and oxidation state. This activation enables further reactions such as bond formation or cleavage, making it essential for many processes in homogeneous catalysis, including cross-coupling reactions.
• Compare oxidative addition with reductive elimination in terms of their roles in organometallic chemistry.
  • Oxidative addition and reductive elimination are complementary processes in organometallic chemistry. While oxidative addition involves the increase of a metal's oxidation state and the formation of new bonds by adding two ligands, reductive elimination does the opposite by reducing the metal's oxidation state and releasing ligands. Together, they facilitate the catalytic cycles that drive many synthetic pathways, with oxidative addition often initiating reactions and reductive elimination concluding them.
• Evaluate how the choice of metal affects the efficiency of oxidative addition in catalytic systems.
  • The choice of metal significantly influences the efficiency of oxidative addition due to differences in electronic properties, oxidation states, and coordination geometries. For example, metals like palladium and rhodium are particularly effective because they can easily stabilize high oxidation states while forming strong bonds with substrates. This stability allows for smoother transitions during oxidative addition and better overall reaction kinetics. Understanding these differences helps chemists optimize catalytic systems for specific transformations, thereby enhancing reaction yields and selectivity.

Related terms

Reductive Elimination: The reverse process of oxidative addition, where a metal complex eliminates two ligands to revert to a lower oxidation state, often regenerating the starting material.

Coordination Complex: A structure formed when a central metal atom binds to surrounding molecules or ions, known as ligands, which can participate in oxidative addition.

Ligand Substitution: A process where one ligand in a coordination complex is replaced by another, often linked to oxidative addition and catalytic cycles.