10.1016/S0040-4020(01)87786-3
The research focuses on the indirect electrochemical α-methoxylation of aliphatic ethers and acetals, a process that is technologically significant for the formation of mixed acetals, aldehydes, or ortho-esters. The study utilizes tris(2,4-dibromophenyl)amine as a redox catalyst in methanol solution, which allows the reaction to occur at low potentials with an undivided cell, leading to higher regioselectivity compared to direct electrolysis without a catalyst. The method is particularly valuable for the regioselective methoxylation of secondary carbon atoms in the presence of primary or tertiary ones and for the acetal carbon in 1,3-dioxolanes. The redox catalyst's stability under reaction conditions enables more than a thousand turnovers. The conclusions highlight the superiority of the indirect electrochemical method in terms of regioselectivity and the potential for large-scale applications, as demonstrated by the successful large-scale electrolysis of 1,2-dimethoxy ethane.
10.1515/znb-1997-0115
The research aims to investigate the use of ketals for masking the carbonyl group in N-tertiary 4-piperidones during dehydrogenation reactions using mercury-EDTA complexes. The study explores how various 1,3-dioxolanes behave differently based on the N-substituent, with aliphatic moieties leading primarily to dehydrogenated but also hydrolyzed products, while aromatic substituents with neighboring groups on the ortho-position can result in different oxidation products, some with preservation of the ketal structure. The research concludes that lactams can be obtained from ketal-protected 4-piperidones through Hg(II)-EDTA dehydrogenation, but due to the varying parameters and complexity of the reaction, predictions are challenging.
10.1039/c4ra01851f
The research investigates the acetalization of glycerol to cyclic acetals using heterogeneous catalysts composed of silicotungstates anchored to MCM-41 under solvent-free conditions at room temperature. The purpose is to develop an environmentally benign and efficient method to convert glycerol, a byproduct of biodiesel production, into valuable chemicals, specifically cyclic acetals like 1,3-dioxolane and 1,3-dioxane. The study synthesizes and characterizes two catalysts: one with parent Keggin type silicotungstate (SiW12) and another with monolacunary silicotungstate (SiW11) anchored to MCM-41. Both catalysts exhibit high activity and selectivity towards dioxolane derivatives within a short reaction time. The key chemicals involved are glycerol, benzaldehyde, and the silicotungstate catalysts. The role of benzaldehyde is to react with glycerol in the acetalization process, while the silicotungstate catalysts facilitate the reaction by providing the necessary acidic sites. The study concludes that tuning the acidity of the silicotungstate leads to higher selectivity towards 1,3-dioxolane, and the catalysts can be recycled up to four times without significant loss in conversion. The catalyst 30% SiW11/MCM-41 is identified as the better choice for industrial applications due to its higher selectivity for the industrially important dioxolane derivative. The research demonstrates a green, efficient, and sustainable route for glycerol valorization.