Interplay of solvent and metal identity determines rates and stereoselectivities in M(IV)-Beta-catalyzed intramolecular Prins cyclization of citronellal

Abstract

Zeolites of *BEA framework topology containing isomorphously substituted Lewis acidic metal centers catalyze the liquid-phase intramolecular Prins cyclization of citronellal with outstanding catalytic activity and (dia-)stereoselectivity to the commercially most valuable product, isopulegol (IPL). Effects of the metal-center identity and solvent type were occasionally noted, yet without systematic studies hitherto reported. Here, characteristic dependences of catalytic activities and stereoselectivities on solvent and metal identity were uncovered over four M(IV)-Beta catalysts (M = Sn, Ti, Zr and Hf) in four distinct solvents (i.e., acetonitrile, tert-butanol, cyclohexane and n-hexane). Zr- and Hf-Beta were the most active in acetonitrile and the most selective (> 90% to IPL) in tert-butanol, though their activities were generally lower than Ti- and Sn-Beta in solvents other than acetonitrile. By comparison, Ti-Beta was inferior to other catalysts in terms of both activity and IPL selectivity (as previously shown) in acetonitrile but became the most active in other solvents, with markedly increased IPL selectivity from 60% to 70%‒80%. Combining multiple site discrimination and quantification techniques, turnover frequencies were determined for the first time in this reaction; such site-based activities, coupled with comprehensive kinetic interrogations, not only enabled a rigorous comparison of catalytic activities across M-Beta catalysts but also provided deeper insights into the free energy driving forces as solvent and metal identity are varied. The activity and selectivity trends, as well as those for the adsorption and intrinsic activation parameters are caused by solvent co-binding at the active site (acetonitrile and tert-butanol) and less quantifiable crowding effects (cyclohexane) due to the limited pore space and the need to accommodate relatively bulky reactant-derived moieties. This work exemplifies how the interplay of metal identity and solvent determines the reactivities and selectivities in Lewis-acid-catalyzed reactions within confined spaces.