Catalysis of alkene hydrogenation and oxidation by nickel-saloph complex; a novel bifunctional catalyst

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0304-5102(93)80076-7

Hydrogenation of cyclohexene to cyclohexane and cyclooctene to cyclooctane with H₂ in presence of Ni(saloph), 1, (saloph= bis(salicylaldehyde)-o-phenylenediamine) were carried out at moderately high pressure (60 atm) and temperature (50°C) in ethanol medium. At normal temperature and pressure, the same catalyst (complex 1) catalyses the epoxidation of cyclohexene and cyclooctene with KHSO₅ in presence of CTAB (cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide; a phase-transfer reagent) in CH₂Cl₂. Cyclohexene oxide and cyclooctene oxide were found to be the major products of the epoxidation reactions.