HYDROGEN TRANSFER REACTION OF ALLYLIC ALCOHOLS CATALYZED BY A MOLYBDENUM COMPLEX

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0022-328X(00)98777-1

Allylic alcohols undergo hydrogen transfer reactions in the presence of a catalytic amount of the dinitrogen complex trans-Mo(N2)2(dppe)2 (dppe = Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2).From the acyclic allylic alcohols, saturated carbonyl compounds were obtained as the main products whereas from the cyclic allylic alcohols, unsaturated ketones and saturated alcohols were formed predominantly.Accompanying the hydrogen transfer reaction, a decarbonylation reaction occurred simultaneously to give a molybdenum carbonyl complex, cis-(Mo(CO)2(dppe)2 as well as the hydrocarbon in certain cases.The mechanisms of both reactions are discussed.