Commutated free energy profiles for the catalytic cycle of UNLPF-14-Mn
III-catalyzed [2 + 1] cycloisomerization of 1, 6-enynes are shown in
Fig. 2, in which the real MOF catalyst was considered using the aforementioned QM/MM method. Enyne coordination to UNLPF-14-Mn
III forms intermediate
1, which has a relative energy set to zero in the free energy profiles. The alkyne moiety can be activated by coordination to the Mn
III center. Therefore, 6-
endo cyclizationcanoccur by nucleophilic attack
via transition state
2-ts, with an activation energy of 16.9 kcal/mol, affording [4.1.0]-bicyclic ring intermediate
3, with a relative energy only 5.9 kcal/mol higher than that of intermediate
1. In this process, two C–C bonds are formed simultaneously without any intermediates. A rapid 1, 2-hydride shift then occurs
via transition state
4-ts, with an energy barrier of only 1.5 kcal/mol. Subsequently, an enamine-coordinated Mn
III MOF is formed irreversibly in an exothermic process (34.4 kcal/mol). Finally, the free enamine target product is released from the metal center by coordination with a new substrate, affording a new intermediate
1 for the next catalytic cycle. QM/MM calculations clearly indicated that the rate-determining step was 6-
endo nucleophilic attack of the alkene moiety in the metal-activated alkyne. Therefore, the electron density of the metal center plays a critical role in determining the reactivity. Accordingly, the activation energy of 6-
endo nucleophilic attack using PCN-223-Mn
III[SbF
6] or PCN-223-Mn
IIICl-type MOF catalysts was also studied theoretically. QM/MM calculation results (
Fig. 2) showed that, when PCN-223-Mn
III[SbF
6] was used as catalyst, the calculated activation energy for the first 6-
endo nucleophilic attack was 27.3 kcal/mol, which was 10.4 kcal/mol higher than that using UNLPF-14-Mn
III as catalyst. Interestingly, a stepwise process was observed in this case. Radical intermediate
8 was observed, with a relative free energy 1.4 kcal/mol lower than that of transition state
7-ts. Meanwhile, the formation of intermediate
10 occurred
via radical-coupling transition state
9-ts with a free energy barrier of 1.7 kcal/mol. Geometry information for transition state
7-ts clearly showed that the WCA ([SbF
6]
−) was close to Mn, which would partially decrease the positive charge of Mn, leading to lower catalytical activity in an ionic pathway. Furthermore, when a PCN-223-Mn
IIICl-type MOF with SCA Cl
− was used, the calculated activation energy further increased to 37.3 kcal/mol (
Fig. 2). A radical intermediate was also found in a stepwise [2 + 1] cycloaddition process. The high activation energy and stepwise process was attributed to the SCA (Cl
−) further decreasing the positive charge of Mn, which is unfavorable for alkyne activation. The computational results for the catalytic abilities of various MOFs were consistent with the experimental observations reported by the Zhang group.