2870-04-4Relevant articles and documents
Carbon-carbon bond activation by Rhodium(I) in solution. Comparison of sp2-sp3 vs sp3-sp3 C-C, C-H vs C-C, and Ar-CH3 vs Ar-CH2CH3 activation
Van Der Boom, Milko E.,Liou, Shyh-Yeon,Ben-David, Yehoshoa,Gozin, Michael,Milstein, David
, p. 13415 - 13421 (2007/10/03)
Reaction of [RhCIL2]2 (L = cyclooctene or ethylene) with 2 equiv of the phosphine {1-Et-2,6(CH2P(t)Bu2)2C6H3} (1) in toluene results in a selective metal insertion into the strong Ar-Et bond. This reaction proceeds with no intermediacy of activation of the weaker sp3-sp3 ArCH2-CH3 bond. The identity of complex Rh(Et){2,6-(CH2P(t)Bu2)2C6H3}Cl (3) was confirmed by preparation of the iodide analogue 6 by reaction of the new Rh(η(I)-N2){2,6-(CH2P(t)Bu2)2C6H3} (7) with EtI. It is possible to direct the bond activation process toward the benzylic C-H bonds of the aryl- alkyl group by choice of the Rh(I) precursor, of the substituents on the phosphorus atoms ((t)Bu vs Ph), and of the alkyl moiety (Me vs Et). A Rh(III) complex which is analogous to the product of insertion into the ArCH2-CH3 bond (had it taken place) was prepared and shown not to be an intermediate in the Ar-CH2CH3 bond activation process. Thus, aryl-C activation by Rh(I) is kinetically preferred over activation of the alkyl-C bond in this system. Moreover, cleavage of an Ar-CH2CH3 bond, followed by β-H elimination, may be preferred over sp2-sp3 C-C activation of an Ar-CH3 group.
Alkyltrifluoromethanesulphonates as alkylating reagents for aromatic compounds
Booth, Brian L.,Haszeldine, Robert N.,Laali, Khosrow
, p. 2887 - 2893 (2007/10/02)
Methyl and ethyl trifluoromethanesulphonates (' triflates '), prepared by conventional routes involving either trifluoromethanesulphonic acid (' triflic acid ') or its anhydride, contain traces of triflic acid as an impurity, which catalyse their alkylation reactions with aromatic compounds. Pure methyl triflate, obtained from reaction between CH3l and CFS03Ag, does not alkylate p-cymene after several hours at 100 °C. Pure ethyl triflate, prepared by a similar method, is thermally less stable under these conditions, and alkylation takes place only after long induction periods during which some breakdown to triflic acid occurs. With aromatic substrates such as p-cymene or mesitylene the onset of alkylation is followed rapidly by the formation of isomerisation and disproportionation products. Benzyl triflate, prepared from PhCH2Br and CF3SO3Ag, alkylates p-cymene even at room temperature. The strong Lewis acids SbF5 and AlCl3 similarly catalyse alkylation reactions of methyl and ethyl triflates, but BF3, FeCl3, and SnCl4 are much less effective.
