RUTHENIUM COMPLEX CATALYZED BENZYLATION OF ARENES WITH BENZYL FORMATES; DECARBONYLATION AND DECARBOXYLATION OF ALKYL FORMATES

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)99342-0

Ru3(CO)12-(CH3)3NO*2H2O showed high catalytic activity for the decarbonylation of alkyl formates to the corresponding alcohols at 150 -200 deg C under an argon atmosphere.Decarbonylation of β-phenetyl formate afforded β-phenetyl alcohol in 82 percent yield.On the other hand, when decarbonylation of benzyl formate was performed in the absence of (CH3)3NO*2H2O, benzylation of arenes, which were employed as a solvent, proceeded via catalytic decarboxylation of benzyl formate.For the reaction of toluene with benzyl formate, phenyltolylmethane (o-, m-, and p-mixture) was obtained in total 77 percent yield.