DEHYDROGENATION OF ALCOHOLS WITH ALLYL CARBONATES CATALYZED BY PALLADIUM OR RUTHENIUM COMPLEXES

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)81672-0

Treatment of alkyl allyl carbonates with a phosphine-free palladium catalyst in acetonitrile affords ketones or aldehydes in high yields.This new method of oxidation of alcohols via allyl carbonates can be applied to various alcohols except simple primary alcohols.The reaction proceeds under neutral conditions and hence various acid- or base-sensitive functional groups are not affected during the reaction.Ruthenium hydride complex is also an effective catalyst.Direct dehydrogenation of secondary or allylic alcohols was carried out by the reaction with allyl methyl carbonate by the catalysis of the ruthenium complex. 1,4-Diols and 1,5-diols are converted to lactones with excess allyl methyl carbonate.