Role of metal center and coordination environment in M-(Z)-N-((E)-pyridin-2-ylmethylene)isonicotinohydrazonate (M = LaIII, ZnII, CdII or HgII) catalyzed cyanosilylation of aldehydes

Abstract A series of known metal complexes, [LaL2(NO3)(H2O)2]·5H2O (1), [Zn(μ-L)(NO3)(H2O)]n (2), {[Cd2(μ-HL)(μ-L)(NO3)3(H2O)]·H2O}n (3) and [Hg(μ-L)(N3)]n·nH2O (4), were synthesized from the corresponding metal salts and 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde isonicotinoylhydrazone (HL), and demonstrated high activity and selectivity in the cyanosilylation of aldehydes. Although all the complexes are derived from the same HL hydrazone ligand, the catalytic activity of 1–4 is different and relates to the metal center and coordination environment, whereas complex 1 being the most effective homogeneous Lewis acid-base catalyst towards the synthesis of cyanohydrin trimethylsilyl ethers from both aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes with yields up to 96.3 % in 6 h in methanol solution and at room temperature. According to the proposed mechanism, both coordination and noncovalent interactions (hydrogen and tetrel bonds) play a significant role and account for the higher catalytic activity of complex 1.