Catalysis bases

Bases are the most important group of urethane catalysts used in commercial practice, and their properties have been studied in depth and various systems are well established. 

Bases accelerate all the isocyanate reactions and in general their catalytic effect increases with increasing strength of the base. Table 4.7 compares the action of several amine catalysts at near ambient temperature. The significant increase in urethane reaction rate is apparent but particularly so in the case of triethylene diamine (l,4-diazo-[2,2,2]-bicyclo-octane), commonly known as DABCO. The reason for this is probably the complete lack of steric hindrance, given its cage-like structure. 

Metal ions also have a catalytic effect on the reactions of isocyanates. They are not necessarily specific to any one reaction, but some idea of their relative reactivity can be obtained by determining the time required for gelation of a diisocyanate/polyol mixture as shown in Table 4.7. 

Commonly used catalysts can be divided into two categories  

tertiary amines, which promote HOH/NCO reactions (waterblowing)  

In discussing base catalysis it will prove convenient to adopt, at the outset, a distinction first proposed by Bunnett and Garst22, who noted that the observed cases of catalysis in nucleophilic aromatic substitution could be broadly divided into two categories. The classification was in terms of the relative rates of the catalyzed and uncatalyzed reactions. Since all of the systems could be accommodated empirically by eqn. (4), 

The number of reactions that fit into this second class are manifold. Some typical examples are the amine-catalyzed reactions of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene with n-butylamine in chloroform (k /k = 2.59 l.mole-1)23, with allylamine in chloroform (k jk — 4.60 l.mole-1)24 and with allylamine in ethanol (k fk =0.36 l.mole-1)25 and the amine-catalyzed reaction of p-nitrofluorobenzene with piperidine in polar solvents (k /k 3.2 l.mole-1)26. A typical example of a strongly catalyzed system is the reaction of 2,4-dinitrophenyl phenyl ether with piperidine in 60 % dioxan-40 % water27. 

For this reaction, catalyzed by piperidine, k lk is equal to 53 l.mole-1, and with hydroxide ion as the base k jk is equal to 370 l.mole-1. 

It has been reported that zeolites can be used as base catalysts when exchanged with alkali metal ions. The base strength is inversely related to the charge to radius ratio of the compensating cation, i.e. the larger cation the stronger the basicity of the associated framework oxygen of the zeolite. 

The Cs+-exchanged zeolites, which are the most basic, have been shown to catalyse the Claisen Schmidt condensation between substituted 2-hydroxy-acetophenones and substituted benzaldehyde to give the 2 -hydroxychalcone structure (Reaction 3).30 

Chalcones are important intermediates in the synthesis of flavanoids and are used industrially in bactericides, antibiotic drugs and UV-stabilisers in plastics. Other base catalysts such as magnesium /-butoxide and barium hydroxides have been used to perform the synthesis.31 However, the Cs+-exchanged zeolites offer a more environmentally friendly alternative route. 

Cs+- and Na+-exchanged MCM-41 type materials also have basic character and have been found to be active towards the base catalysed Knoevenagel condensation of benzaldehyde with ethyl cyanoacetate (Reaction 4).32 The Cs+-and Na+-exchanged samples were prepared by repeated exchange of the hydrogen form of MCM-41 with an aqueous solution of appropriate chloride salt (0.5 mol dm-3) at room temperature. The Cs+-exchanged sample was considerably more basic and therefore more active than the Na+-exchanged sample. 

Whereas the appropriate forms of zeolites and related solids are widely used in acid-catalysed industrial processes, microporous solids are not currently of importance in commercial base-catalysed conversions. Instead, high-surface-area forms of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal oxides and hydroxides, often supported on alumina, fulfil the need for solid base catalysts. Nevertheless, interest remains in characterising basic sites in cationic zeolites and in developing routes to more strongly basic sites in microporous solids. Routes to the latter include the introduction of metallic forms of alkali metals or nanoparticles of metal oxides and the partial replacement of amine groups at the sites of framework oxygen atoms. Porous solid bases have been shown to exhibit a varied catalytic chemistry, particularly for reactions such as dehydrogenations, 

Typical base-catalysed reactions that occur over alkali metal-exchanged zeolites include dehydrogenations, double bond isomerisations, side-chain alkylation of aromatics, conversion of methyl halides and a range of condensations. The reaction of alcohols over zeolites can be used to determine whether acid or base catalysis predominates. Whereas acid forms of zeolites catalyse dehydrations, leading to alkenes and the products of their subsequent reactions, basic sites catalyse dehydrogenations, leading to aldehydes and ketones. 

The electron withdrawing cyano group stabilises the intermediate carbanion to enable the reaction to proceed for bases of moderate strength. 

Basic catalysts also show very different behaviour from acid catalysts for the alkylation of aromatics. Whereas acid catalysts promote alkylation of the aromatic ring, with high shape selectivity in the important case of ZSM-5 (Chapter 8), alkali metal zeolites catalyse side chain alkylation. In the case of the reaction of toluene with methanol over Cs-X, for example, the products include ethylbenzene and styrene. The side chain alkylation proceeds by the following base-catalysed steps, (i) formation of formaldehyde from methanol, (ii) activation of the toluene by polarisation of the methyl group (tending towards carbanion formation) and (iii) nucleophilic attack of the carbanion of toluene on the carboxyl group of formaldehyde. Side chain alkylation of aromatics is therefore a special case of aldol condensation. Reactions of this 

Alkali metal exchanged zeolites have also been shown to catalyse the breakdown of methyl halides, liberating hydrocarbons. In situ NMR studies by the group of suggest that the reaction proceeds by nucleophilic 

The traditional alkaline catalysts are still used for aldol condensations cross-Cannizzaro reactions occur when formaldehyde is one of the reactants, e.g. for pentaerythritol  

CH3CHO + 4HCH0- (H0CH2)3CCH0 + HCHO -C(CH20H)4 + HC02H 

Alkali metal alkoxides catalyse the alcoholysis of esters, by a mechanism analogous to basic hydrolysis. Additionally, alkoxides catalyse the reaction of alcohols with carbon monoxide to give formate esters  

There is now increasing commercial interest in the dimerization of olefins over supported alkali metals, via a carbanion mechanism. Propylene selectively produces 4-methylpent-l-ene and alkylaromatics are alkylated on the side-chain (a-carbon) with these materials.  

1 Catalysis in liquid-phase free-radical oxidations. The conventional liquid-phase oxidation of hydrocarbons and their derivatives with air 

All research carried out on the mechanisms of octahedral substitutions speaks in favor of the dissociative mechanism limiting rates at high concentrations of entering ligands, independence of the reaction rates of the nature of entering ligands, increase of reaction rates with steric crowding of constituents. However, it has been established that the reaction  

The larger is the electron release ability of an alkyl group, the higher is the probability of a dissociative (S l) mechanism, until a point is reached at 

Since the equilibrium (2.6.17) is quickly established, and the amido complex reacts with water almost instantaneously yielding the hydroxo complex, the slowest and rate determining step is (2.6.18). Thus the rate is given by the equation  

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Edsall, J. T. George Scatchard, John G. Kirkwood, and the electrical interactions of amino acids and proteins. Trends Biochem. Sci. 7 (1982) 414-416. Eigen, M. Proton transfer, acid-base catalysis, and enzymatic hydrolysis. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 3 (1964) 1-19. 

Note that for 4.42, in which no intramolecular base catalysis is possible, the elimination side reaction is not observed. This result supports the mechanism suggested in Scheme 4.13. Moreover, at pH 2, where both amine groups of 4.44 are protonated, UV-vis measurements indicate that the elimination reaction is significantly retarded as compared to neutral conditions, where protonation is less extensive. Interestingy, addition of copper(II)nitrate also suppresses the elimination reaction to a significant extent. Unfortunately, elimination is still faster than the Diels-Alder reaction on the internal double bond of 4.44. 

In originally considering the 5 3 mechanism, involving base catalysis, Bennett, Brand, James, Saunders and Williams were trying to account for the small increase in nitrating power which accompanies the addition of water, up to about 10%, to sulphuric acid. The dilution increases the concentration of the bisulphate ion, which was believed to be the base involved (along with molecular sulphuric acid itself). The correct explanation of the effect has already been given ( 2.3.2). 

A regioselective aldol condensation described by Biichi succeeds for sterical reasons (G. Biichi, 1968). If one treats the diaidehyde given below with acid, both possible enols are probably formed in a reversible reaaion. Only compound A, however, is found as a product, since in B the interaction between the enol and ester groups which are in the same plane hinders the cyclization. BOchi used acid catalysis instead of the usual base catalysis. This is often advisable, when sterical hindrance may be important. It works, because the addition of a proton or a Lewis acid to a carbonyl oxygen acidifies the neighbouring CH-bonds. 

Small amounts of salt-like addition products (85) formed by reaction on the ring nitrogen may be present in the medium. (Scheme 60) but. as the equilibrium is shifted by further reaction on the exocyclic nitrogen, the only observed products are exocyclic acylation products (87) (130. 243. 244). Challis (245) reviewed the general features of acylation reactions these are intervention of tetrahedral intermediates, general base catalysis, nucleophilic catalysis. Each of these features should operate in aminothiazoles reactivity. 

The reaction takes place extremely rapidly and if D2O is present in excess all the alcohol is con verted to ROD This hydrogen-deuterium exchange can be catalyzed by either acids or bases If D30 is the catalyst in acid solution and DO the catalyst in base wnte reasonable reaction mech anisms for the conversion of ROH to ROD under conditions of (a) acid catalysis and (b) base catalysis... 

Acid amide herbicides Acid anhydrides Acid azine dyes Acid-base catalysis Acid-base chemistry Acid Black [1064-48-8]... 

Addition of HCN to unsaturated compounds is often the easiest and most economical method of making organonitnles. An early synthesis of acrylonitrile involved the addition of HCN to acetylene. The addition of HCN to aldehydes and ketones is readily accompHshed with simple base catalysis, as is the addition of HCN to activated olefins (Michael addition). However, the addition of HCN to unactivated olefins and the regioselective addition to dienes is best accompHshed with a transition-metal catalyst, as illustrated by DuPont s adiponitrile process (6—9). 

The name aldol was introduced by Wurt2 in 1872 to describe the product resulting from this acid-cataly2ed reaction of acetaldehyde. The addition will occur with base catalysis as well. 

Acetylene is condensed with carbonyl compounds to give a wide variety of products, some of which are the substrates for the preparation of families of derivatives. The most commercially significant reaction is the condensation of acetylene with formaldehyde. The reaction does not proceed well with base catalysis which works well with other carbonyl compounds and it was discovered by Reppe (33) that acetylene under pressure (304 kPa (3 atm), or above) reacts smoothly with formaldehyde at 100°C in the presence of a copper acetyUde complex catalyst. The reaction can be controlled to give either propargyl alcohol or butynediol (see Acetylene-DERIVED chemicals). 2-Butyne-l,4-diol, its hydroxyethyl ethers, and propargyl alcohol are used as corrosion inhibitors. 2,3-Dibromo-2-butene-l,4-diol is used as a flame retardant in polyurethane and other polymer systems (see Bromine compounds Elame retardants). 

Carboxyhc acids react with aryl isocyanates, at elevated temperatures to yield anhydrides. The anhydrides subsequently evolve carbon dioxide to yield amines at elevated temperatures (70—72). The aromatic amines are further converted into amides by reaction with excess anhydride. Ortho diacids, such as phthahc acid [88-99-3J, react with aryl isocyanates to yield the corresponding A/-aryl phthalimides (73). Reactions with carboxyhc acids are irreversible and commercially used to prepare polyamides and polyimides, two classes of high performance polymers for high temperature appHcations where chemical resistance is important. Base catalysis is recommended to reduce the formation of substituted urea by-products (74). 

Aldoketenes also form piedorninantly the lactone dimers, although the ratio of isomers can be influenced by base catalysis. Ketoketenes dimerize symmetrically, and at a slower rate, to 1,3-cyclobutanediones, unless acidic or basic catalysts are present. 

Reaction conditions depend on the reactants and usually involve acid or base catalysis. Examples of X include sulfate, acid sulfate, alkane- or arenesulfonate, chloride, bromide, hydroxyl, alkoxide, perchlorate, etc. RX can also be an alkyl orthoformate or alkyl carboxylate. The reaction of cycHc alkylating agents, eg, epoxides and a2iridines, with sodium or potassium salts of alkyl hydroperoxides also promotes formation of dialkyl peroxides (44,66). Olefinic alkylating agents include acycHc and cycHc olefinic hydrocarbons, vinyl and isopropenyl ethers, enamines, A[-vinylamides, vinyl sulfonates, divinyl sulfone, and a, P-unsaturated compounds, eg, methyl acrylate, mesityl oxide, acrylamide, and acrylonitrile (44,66). 

Methylphenol is converted to 6-/ f2 -butyl-2-methylphenol [2219-82-1] by alkylation with isobutylene under aluminum catalysis. A number of phenoHc anti-oxidants used to stabilize mbber and plastics against thermal oxidative degradation are based on this compound. The condensation of 6-/ f2 -butyl-2-methylphenol with formaldehyde yields 4,4 -methylenebis(2-methyl-6-/ f2 butylphenol) [96-65-17, reaction with sulfur dichloride yields 4,4 -thiobis(2-methyl-6-/ f2 butylphenol) [96-66-2] and reaction with methyl acrylate under base catalysis yields the corresponding hydrocinnamate. Transesterification of the hydrocinnamate with triethylene glycol yields triethylene glycol-bis[3-(3-/ f2 -butyl-5-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate] [36443-68-2] (39). 2-Methylphenol is also a component of cresyHc acids, blends of phenol, cresols, and xylenols. CresyHc acids are used as solvents in a number of coating appHcations (see Table 3). 

The principal use for 2,6-di-/ f2 -butylphenol is in the production of hindered phenoHc antioxidants and this appHcation accounts for 80—90% of all of this compound produced. Reaction of 2,6-DTBP with formaldehyde under base catalysis forms the methylene bisphenoHc,... 

The only significant use for di-j -butylphenol is a specialty nonionic surfactant produced by reaction with ethylene oxide under base catalysis. This surfactant is registered with EPA for use in emulsifying agrochemicals (see Table 3). 

Polymerization to Polyether Polyols. The addition polymerization of propylene oxide to form polyether polyols is very important commercially. Polyols are made by addition of epoxides to initiators, ie, compounds that contain an active hydrogen, such as alcohols or amines. The polymerization occurs with either anionic (base) or cationic (acidic) catalysis. The base catalysis is preferred commercially (25,27). 

En me Mechanism. Staphylococcal nuclease (SNase) accelerates the hydrolysis of phosphodiester bonds in nucleic acids (qv) some 10 -fold over the uncatalyzed rate (r93 and references therein). Mutagenesis studies in which Glu43 has been replaced by Asp or Gin have shown Glu to be important for high catalytic activity. The enzyme mechanism is thought to involve base catalysis in which Glu43 acts as a general base and activates a water molecule that attacks the phosphodiester backbone of DNA. To study this mechanistic possibiUty further, Glu was replaced by two unnatural amino acids. 

Acid—Base Catalysis. Inexpensive mineral acids, eg, H2SO4, and bases, eg, KOH, in aqueous solution are widely appHed as catalysts in industrial organic synthesis. Catalytic reactions include esterifications, hydrations, dehydrations, and condensations. Much of the technology is old and well estabhshed, and the chemistry is well understood. Reactions that are cataly2ed by acids are also typically cataly2ed by bases. In some instances, the kinetics of the reaction has a form such as the following (9) ... 

Most of the reactions occurring at the amino group of the cyanamide molecule requite the anionic species, —N=C=N or HN C=N, sometimes in equivalent amount and occasionally as provided by base catalysis. Therefore, the process conditions for dimerization should be created to avoid the use of any metal salt, such as mono sodium phosphate (4). 

Substitutions. The cyanamide anion is strongly nucleophilic and reacts with most alkylating or acylating reagents (4) addition to a variety of unsaturated systems occurs readily (4). In some cases, a cyanamide salt is used in others, base catalysis suffices. Ethyl iodide reacts with sodium hydrogen cyanamide [17292-62-5] to form a trisubstituted isomelamine. 

With Water. Wurtz was the first to obtain ethylene glycol by heating ethylene oxide and water in a sealed tube (1). Later, it was noted that by-products, namely diethjlene and triethylene glycol, were also formed in this reaction (50). This was the first synthesis of polymeric compounds of well-defined stmcture. Hydration is slow at ambient temperatures and neutral conditions, but is much faster with either acid or base catalysis (Table 8). The type of anion in the catalyzing acid is relatively unimportant (58) (see Glycols). 

Side chain reactivity is also enhanced and is typified by the difference in reactivity of 2-methylpyrazine and 2-methylpyrazine 1,4-dioxide towards anion formation and subsequent condensation reactions. 2-Methylpyrazine undergoes condensation with benzal-dehyde at 180 °C, with zinc chloride catalysis, to yield the styrylpyrazine (58), whereas the corresponding reaction of 2-methylpyrazine 1,4-dioxide proceeds at 25 °C under base catalysis (67KGS419). 

This type of ring interconversion is represented by the general expression shown in Scheme 15. Analogous rearrangements occur in benzo-fused systems. The known conversions are limited to D = O in the azole system, i.e. cleavage of the weak N—O bond occurs readily. Under the reaction conditions, Z needs to be a good nucleophile in its own right or by experimental enhancement (base catalysis, solvent, etc.) and Z is usually O, S, N or C. 

Base catalysis is most effective with alkali metals dispersed on solid supports or, in the homogeneous form, as aldoxides, amides, and so on. Small amounts of promoters form organoalkali comnpounds that really contribute the catalytic power. Basic ion exchange resins also are usebil. Base-catalyzed processes include isomerization and oligomerization of olefins, reactions of olefins with aromatics, and hydrogenation of polynuclear aromatics. 

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