Ruthenium complex-catalyzed novel transformation of alkyl formates

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(94)05150-A

The following ruthenium-catalyzed novel transformations of alkyl formates have been developed: (1) selective decarbonylation of alkyl formates to the corresponding alcohols; (2) alkylation of arenes and alkenes using alkyl formates as an alkylating reagent via decarboxylation.Also the ruthenium-catalyzed addition of alcohols to alkenes has been developed as an appendant reaction, providing an effective method for the protection of alcohols.Keywords: Ruthenium; Catalysis; Alkyl; Arene; Alkene; Alcohol