- Multiple Mechanisms Mapped in Aryl Alkyl Ether Cleavage via Aqueous Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation over Skeletal Nickel
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We present here detailed mechanistic studies of electrocatalytic hydrogenation (ECH) in aqueous solution over skeletal nickel cathodes to probe the various paths of reductive catalytic C-O bond cleavage among functionalized aryl ethers relevant to energy science. Heterogeneous catalytic hydrogenolysis of aryl ethers is important both in hydrodeoxygenation of fossil fuels and in upgrading of lignin from biomass. The presence or absence of simple functionalities such as carbonyl, hydroxyl, methyl, or methoxyl groups is known to cause dramatic shifts in reactivity and cleavage selectivity between sp3 C-O and sp2 C-O bonds. Specifically, reported hydrogenolysis studies with Ni and other catalysts have hinted at different cleavage mechanisms for the C-O ether bonds in α-keto and α-hydroxy β-O-4 type aryl ether linkages of lignin. Our new rate, selectivity, and isotopic labeling results from ECH reactions confirm that these aryl ethers undergo C-O cleavage via distinct paths. For the simple 2-phenoxy-1-phenylethane or its alcohol congener, 2-phenoxy-1-phenylethanol, the benzylic site is activated via Ni C-H insertion, followed by beta elimination of the phenoxide leaving group. But in the case of the ketone, 2-phenoxyacetophenone, the polarized carbonyl πsystem apparently binds directly with the electron rich Ni cathode surface without breaking the aromaticity of the neighboring phenyl ring, leading to rapid cleavage. Substituent steric and electronic perturbations across a broad range of β-O-4 type ethers create a hierarchy of cleavage rates that supports these mechanistic ideas while offering guidance to allow rational design of the catalytic method. On the basis of the new insights, the usage of cosolvent acetone is shown to enable control of product selectivity.
- Hegg, Eric L.,Jackson, James E.,Klinger, Grace E.,Saffron, Christopher M.,Zhou, Yuting
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supporting information
p. 4037 - 4050
(2020/03/10)
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- Cleavage of Catechol Monoalkyl Ethers by Aluminum Triiodide-Dimethyl Sulfoxide
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Using eugenol and vanillin as model substrates, a practical method is developed for the cleavage o -hydroxyphenyl alkyl ethers. Aluminum oxide iodide (O=AlI), generated in situ from aluminum triiodide and dimethyl sulfoxide, is the reactive ether cleaving species. The method is applicable to catechol monoalkyl ethers as well as normal phenyl alkyl ethers for the removal of methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, and benzyl groups. A variety of functional groups such as alkenyl, allyl, amide, cyano, formyl, keto, nitro, and halogen are well tolerated under the optimum conditions. Partial hydrodebromination was observed during the demethylation of 4-bromoguaiacol, and was resolved using excess DMSO as an acid scavenger. This convenient and efficient procedure would be a practical tool for the preparation of catechols.
- Sang, Dayong,Tian, Juan,Tu, Xiaodong,He, Zhoujun,Yao, Ming
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p. 704 - 712
(2019/01/23)
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- Cleavage of ethers in an ionic liquid. Enhancement, selectivity and potential application
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The cleavage of a series of ethers was examined in an ionic liquid containing hydrogen bromide. Reactions that did not proceed in either water or DMSO were found to proceed readily in this system, with notable selectivity between the cleavage of the different ether types examined herein. Increasing the proportion of water in the reaction mixture dramatically decreased the rate constant of ether cleavage; this could, in part, be attributed to a decrease in the solvent stabilisation of the transition state. Through analysis of the electronic requirements of the reaction (using substrates containing substituents with different Hammett parameters) and observation of rate enhancements for an ortho substituted system, the importance of the extent of protonation of the ether prior to nucleophilic attack was demonstrated.
- Hart, William E. S.,Aldous, Leigh,Harper, Jason B.
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supporting information
p. 5556 - 5563
(2017/07/12)
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