Shilov system

**Shilov cycle** The overall charge is omitted from the complexes since the exact coordination sphere of the active species is unknown.

The Shilov system is a classic example of catalytic C-H bond activation and oxidation which preferentially activates stronger C-H bonds over weaker C-H bonds for an overall partial oxidation.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5] ^[6]^[7]^[8]

Overview

The Shilov system was discovered by Alexander E. Shilov in 1969-1972 while investigating H/D exchange between isotopologues of CH₄ and H₂O catalyzed simple transition metal coordination complexes. The Shilov cycle is the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon to an alcohol or alcohol precursor (RCl) catalyzed by Pt^IICl₂ in an aqueous solution with [Pt^IVCl₆]²⁻ acting as the ultimate oxidant. The cycle consists of three major steps, the electrophilic activation of the C-H bond, oxidation of the complex, and the nucleophilic oxidation of the alkane substrate. An equivalent transformation is performed industrially by steam reforming methane to syngas then reducing the carbon monoxide to methanol. The transformation can also performed biologically by methane monooxygenase.

Overall Transformation

RH + H₂O + [PtCl₆]²⁻ → ROH + 2H⁺ + PtCl₂ + 4Cl⁻

Major steps

The initial and rate limiting step involving the electrophilic activation of RH₂C-H by a Pt^II center to produce a Pt^II-CH₂R species and a proton. The mechanism of this activation is debated. One possibility is the oxidative addition of a sigma coordinated C-H bond followed by the reductive removal of the proton. Another is a sigma-bond metathesis involving the formation of the M-C bond and a H-Cl or H-O bond. Regardless it is this step that kinetically imparts the chemoselectivity to the overall transformation. Stronger, more electron-rich bonds are activated preferentially over weaker, more electron-poor bonds of species that have already been partially oxidized. This avoids a problem that plagues many partial oxidation processes, namely, the over-oxidation of substrate to thermodynamic sinks such as H₂O and CO₂.

In the next step the Pt^II-CH₂R complex is oxidized by [Pt^IVCl₆]²⁻ to a Pt^IV-CH₂R complex. There have been multiple studies to find a replacement oxidant that is less expensive than [Pt^IVCl₆]²⁻ or a method to regenerate [Pt^IVCl₆]²⁻. It would be most advantageous to develop an electron train which would use oxygen as the ultimate oxidant. It is important that the oxidant preferentially oxidizes the Pt^II-CH₂R species over the initial Pt^II species since Pt^IV complexes will not electrophilically activate a C-H bond of the alkane (although Pt^IV complexes electrophilically substitute hydrogens in aromatics - see refs. ^[1] and ^[2] ). Such premature oxidation shuts down the catalysis.

Finally the Pt^IV-CH₂R undergoes nucleophilic attack by OH⁻ or Cl⁻ with the departure of Pt^II complex to regenerate the catalyst.

References

^ Gol'dshleger, N. F.; Tyabin, M. B.; Shilov, A. E.; Shteinman, A. A. "Activation of saturated hydrocarbons. Deuterium-hydrogen exchange in solutions of transition metal complexes" Zhurnal Fizicheskoi Khimii 1969, 43, 2174-2175
^ Gol'dshleger, N. F.; Es'kova, V. V.; Shilov, A. E.; Shteinman, A. A. "Reactions of alkanes in solutions of platinum chloride complexes" Zh. Fiz. Khim. 1972, 46, 1353-13544
^ Gol'dshleger, N. F.; Khidekel, M. L.; Shilov, A. E.; Shteinman, A. A. "Oxidative dehydrogenation of saturated hydrocarbons in palladium(II) complex solutions" Kinet. Katal. 1974, 15, 261
^ Shilov, A. E.; Shteinman, A. A. "Activation of saturated hydrocarbons by metal complexes in solution" Coord. Chem. Rev. 1977, 24, 97-143 doi:10.1016/S0010-8545(00)80336-7
^ A. E. Shilov, G. B. Shul’pin, Activation of C–H Bonds by Metal Complexes, Chem. Rev. 1997, 97(8), 2879–2932. doi:10.1021/cr9411886
^ A. E. Shilov, G. B. Shul’pin, Activation and Catalytic Reactions of Saturated Hydrocarbons in the Presence of Metal Complexes, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht/Boston/London, 2000 (552 p) (Springer, ISBN 978-0-7923-6101-5) https://www.springer.com/chemistry/physical+chemistry/book/978-0-7923-6101-5
^ M. Lersch, M. Tilset, Mechanistic Aspects of C-H Activation by Pt Complexes, Chem. Rev.; 2005; 105(6); 2471-2526.
^ C. I. Herrerias, X. Yao, Z. Li, C.-J. Li, Reactions of C-H Bonds in Water, Chem. Rev.; 2007; 107(6); 2546-2562.

[1] Gol'dshleger, N. F.; Tyabin, M. B.; Shilov, A. E.; Shteinman, A. A. "Activation of saturated hydrocarbons. Deuterium-hydrogen exchange in solutions of transition metal complexes" Zhurnal Fizicheskoi Khimii 1969, 43, 2174-2175

[2] Gol'dshleger, N. F.; Es'kova, V. V.; Shilov, A. E.; Shteinman, A. A. "Reactions of alkanes in solutions of platinum chloride complexes" Zh. Fiz. Khim. 1972, 46, 1353-13544

[3] Gol'dshleger, N. F.; Khidekel, M. L.; Shilov, A. E.; Shteinman, A. A. "Oxidative dehydrogenation of saturated hydrocarbons in palladium(II) complex solutions" Kinet. Katal. 1974, 15, 261

[4] Shilov, A. E.; Shteinman, A. A. "Activation of saturated hydrocarbons by metal complexes in solution" Coord. Chem. Rev. 1977, 24, 97-143 doi:10.1016/S0010-8545(00)80336-7

[5] A. E. Shilov, G. B. Shul’pin, Activation of C–H Bonds by Metal Complexes, Chem. Rev. 1997, 97(8), 2879–2932. doi:10.1021/cr9411886

[6] A. E. Shilov, G. B. Shul’pin, Activation and Catalytic Reactions of Saturated Hydrocarbons in the Presence of Metal Complexes, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht/Boston/London, 2000 (552 p) (Springer, ISBN 978-0-7923-6101-5) https://www.springer.com/chemistry/physical+chemistry/book/978-0-7923-6101-5

[7] M. Lersch, M. Tilset, Mechanistic Aspects of C-H Activation by Pt Complexes, Chem. Rev.; 2005; 105(6); 2471-2526.

[8] C. I. Herrerias, X. Yao, Z. Li, C.-J. Li, Reactions of C-H Bonds in Water, Chem. Rev.; 2007; 107(6); 2546-2562.

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