Bifunctional Organometallic Catalysts Involving Proton Transfer or Hydrogen Bonding

Inspired by the cooperativity displayed by metalloenzymes, bifunctional organometallic complexes featuring pendant basic functional groups are designed and evaluated as catalysts in reactions for which enzymes are not suited. Anti‐Markovnikov hydration of terminal alkynes is the focus, as are hydrogen bonding and proton transfer facilitated by the pendant groups. Inspired by the cooperativity displayed by metalloenzymes, bifunctional organometallic complexes featuring pendant basic functional groups are designed and evaluated as catalysts in reactions for which enzymes are not suited. Anti‐Markovnikov hydration of terminal alkynes is presented as an example of the benefits of hydrogen bonding and proton transfer facilitated by the pendant groups (see scheme).