Selective isomerization of α-pinene oxide to campholenic aldehyde by ionic liquid-supported indenyl-molybdenum(II)-bipyridine complexes

Abstract

Campholenic aldehyde (CPA), an important flavor and fragrance intermediate, can be obtained by the Lewis acid-catalyzed isomerization of α-pinene oxide (PinOx), although achieving high yields (>90%) is a difficult challenge due to the high reactivity of the epoxide. In the present work, indenyl-molybdenum(II)-bipyridine complexes [IndMo(bipyR)(CO)2](BF4) (bipyR = 2,2′-bipyridine (R = H) or 4,4′-disubstituted-2,2′-bipyridine) have been combined with various ionic liquid solvents to develop an efficient process for the selective conversion of PinOx to CPA under mild (35 °C) conditions. Excellent CPA yields (95%) were repeatedly obtained within 1 min reaction time for the easily recyclable catalytic system comprising [IndMo(4,4′-dinonyl-2,2′-bipyridine)(CO)2](BF4) and choline bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide.