Abstract

Dehydrogenation of alcohols into aldehydes and ketones by Ru 3(CO) 12/PPh 3 based homogeneous catalysis has been investigated as an alternative for the classical Oppenauer oxidation. Several catalytic systems have been screened in the Oppenauer-like oxidation of alcohols. A systematic study of various combinations of Ru 3(CO) 12, mono- and bidentate ligands and hydride acceptors was performed to enable dehydrogenation of primary alcohols to stop at the aldehyde stage. Among many H-acceptors screened, diphenylacetylene (tolane) proved the most suitable judged from its smooth reduction. Electron rich and deficient analogues of tolane have been synthesized and, based on competition experiments between these H-acceptors, a tentative catalytic cycle for the Ru 3(CO) 12/PPh 3-catalyzed dehydrogenations has been proposed.

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