Catalysis of Metal(II) Acetate-2,2'-Bipyridine Complexes in the Aldol Condensations

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.54.1195

The rate of the condensation of benzaldehyde with excess acetophenone catalyzed by Co(II) acetate-2,2'-bipyridine complex was obtained by GLC analysis.The rate increased in proportion as the amount of the complex catalyst. 2,2'-Bipyridine ligand in the Co(II) complex enhanced the catalytic activity remarkably, though the ligand itself had no activity.When the molar ratio of Co(II) : bpy was 1 : 1 or 1 : 2, the highest activity was observed.The activation energy of the complex (1 : 1) catalyzed reaction was calculated as 13.7 kcal/mol.The catalysis of the complex behaved like a base catalyst.Briefly, the relation of the complex catalyzed aldol condensations with the enzymatic reaction of Class II aldolase is also described.