Synthesis of α-Hydroxy Ketones from Vicinal Diols by Selective Dehydrogenation over Ir–ReOx/SiO2 Catalyst

Abstract

Abstract Rhenium oxide-modified Ir/SiO2 (Ir–ReOx/SiO2) catalyst shows high activity and selectivity for the dehydrogenation of trans-1,2-cyclohexanediol to 2-hydroxycyclohexanone in water solvent under Ar. Linear vicinal diols bearing two secondary hydroxy groups or both a primary hydroxy group and a secondary hydroxy group can also be transformed to the corresponding α-hydroxy ketones in high selectivities. Ir–ReOx/SiO2 can be reused at least four times without loss of activity and selectivity.