- Hydrogenolysis of β-O-4 lignin model dimers by a ruthenium-xantphos catalyst
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Hydrogenolysis reactions of so-called lignin model dimers using a Ru-xantphos catalyst are presented (xantphos = 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9- dimethylxanthene). For example, of some nine models studied, the alcohol, 2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-1-phenylethanol (1), with 5 mol% Ru(H)2(CO) (PPh3)(xantphos) (18) in toluene-d8 at 135 °C for 20 h under N2, gives in ~95% yield the C-O cleavage hydrogenolysis products, acetophenone (14) and guaiacol (17), and a small amount (1H NMR spectroscopy. The in situ Ru(H)2(CO)(PPh 3)3/xantphos system gives similar findings, confirming a recent report (J. M. Nichols et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2010, 132, 12554). The active catalyst is formulated 'for convenience' as 'Ru(CO)(xantphos)'. The hydrogenolysis mechanism proceeds by initial dehydrogenation to give the ketone 4, which then undergoes hydrogenolysis of the C-O bond to give 14 and 17. Hydrogenolysis of 4 to 14 and 17 also occurs using the Ru catalyst under 1 atm H2; in contrast, use of 3-hydroxy-2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-1-phenyl-1- propanone (7), for example, where the CH2 of 4 has been changed to CHCH2OH, gives a low yield (≤15%) of hydrogenolysis products. Similarly, the diol substrate, 2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-1-phenyl-1,3-propanediol (9), gives low yields of hydrogenolysis products. These low yields are due to formation of the catalytically inactive complexes Ru(CO)(xantphos)[C(O)C(OC 6H4OMe)C(Ph)O] (20) and/or Ru(CO)(xantphos)[C(O)CHC(Ph)O] (21), where the organic fragments result from dehydrogenation of CH 2OH moieties in 7 and 9. Trace amounts of Ru(CO)(xantphos)(OC 6H4O), a catecholate complex, are isolated from the reaction of 18 with 1. Improved syntheses of 18 and lignin models are also presented.
- Wu, Adam,Patrick, Brian O.,Chung, Enoch,James, Brian R.
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p. 11093 - 11106
(2012/10/30)
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- Co(salen)/SBA-15 catalysed oxidation of a β-O-4 phenolic dimer under microwave irradiation
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The microwave-assisted oxidative degradation of a lignin model phenolic dimer [1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenoxy)-2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-propane-1,3-diol, 1] catalysed by Co(salen)/SBA-15 is reported. The investigated model compound 1 was prepared through a multistep synthesis and characterized by 1H, 13C NMR, and GC-MS studies. The catalyst was prepared by immobilizing [N,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethane-1,2-diaminato]Cobalt(II), Co(salen) complex onto the periodic mesopore channels of siliceous SBA-15. The activity of the Co(salen)/SBA-15 was investigated in the oxidation of 1 in the presence of hydrogen peroxide as oxidant, both under microwave irradiation and conventional heating. The phenolic dimer was selectively oxidized to 2-methoxy phenol with very high TON under microwave activation conditions. Comparatively, reactions run under conventional heating led to oligomerisation of the dimer and resulted in a mixture of products.
- Badamali, Sushanta K.,Luque, Rafael,Clark, James H.,Breeden, Simon W.
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p. 993 - 995
(2012/02/14)
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