Suzanne Burling et al.
UPDATES
(5 mmol) were dissolved in benzene (dried and degassed)
(10 mL) in the reactor vessel before sealing and charging
with H2. The vessel was heated at 708C and stirred. After the
designated reaction time, the contents of the vessel were al-
lowed to cool before carefully releasing the pressure. The vol-
atiles were removed under vacuum from a 1-mL aliquot of the
reaction mixture (passed through a silica plug to remove cata-
lyst) and the residue redissolved in CDCl3. Conversion was de-
termined by examination of the 1H NMR spectrum.
[6] V. Rautenstrauch, X. Hoang-Cong, R. Churland, K. Ab-
dur-Rashid, R. H. Morris, Chem. Eur. J. 2003, 9, 4954.
[7] S. Hashiguchi, A. Fujii, K-J. Haack, K. Matsumura, T.
Ikariya, R. Noyori, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 1997, 36, 288.
[8] The equilibrium position reached depends on the rela-
tive oxidation potentials of the carbonyl compounds in-
volved: H. Adkins, R. M. Elofson, A. G. Rossow, C. C.
Robinson, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1949, 71, 3622.
[9] Oxidation of phenethyl alcohol 3a to acetophenone 4a
was performed on a synthetic scale (1 mmol in a sealed
ampoule) with the same catalyst loading but heating at
508C for only 4 hours. 90% conversion was observed
Acknowledgements
1
by H NMR after work-up.
We thank the EPSRC for funding.
[10] Reduction of acetophenone 4a to phenethyl alcohol 3a
was performed on a synthetic scale (1 mmol) with 70%
conversion observed after 6 hours at 508C.
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Adv. Synth. Catal. 2005, 347, 591–594