By Copper Catalysts

Carbenoid sources other than those derived from diazo precursors for catalytic cyclopropanation reactions are currently limited. Inter- and intramolecular catalytic cyclopropanation using iodonium ylide have been reported. Simple olefins react with iodonium ylides of the type shown in equations 83 and 84, catalysed by copper catalysts, to give cyclopropane adducts in moderate yield127 128. In contrast to the intermolecular cyclopropanation, intramolecular cyclopropanation using iodonium ylides affords high yields of products (equations 85 and 86). The key intermediate 88 for the 3,5-cyclovitamin D ring A synthon 89 was prepared in 80% yield as a diastereomeric mixture (70 30) via intramolecular cyclopropanation from iodonium ylide 87 (equation 87)1 0. 

The control of carbene reactions from diazo compounds as precursors is classically mediated by copper catalysts and all the carbene reactions discussed in Section 8 are, in fact, improved by such catalysts. Moreover, the use of ligands on the metal allows some control of the stereochemistry of the products, the most striking example being the asymmetric synthesis of cyclopropanes with an excellent optical yield (>90S ce) [35]. 

A wider range of acrylate/styrene block copolymers have been prepared by copper catalysts, partially because the homopolymerizations of both monomers can be controlled with common initiating systems. Both AB- (B-15 to B-17)202,230,254,366,367 and BA-type (B-18 to B-21)28,112,169,230,366,368,369 block copolymers were obtained from macroinitiators prepared by the copper-based systems. The block copolymerizations can also be conducted under air230 and under emulsion conditions with water.254 Combination of the Re-and Ru-mediated living radical polymerizations in... 

We therefore thought it of Interest to investigate in more detail the role played by the support in selective hydrogenations promoted by copper catalysts. It is well known, e.g.. that the support can strongly influence copper reduction through its ligand properties 14] or through electronic effects [5]. 

MMA/EMADTC/Cu(I)Br/HMTETA = 200/1/1/1 in 50% (v/v) anisole offered a well-controlled polymerization imder UV light irradiation. The polymerization process proceeded very slowly due to the slow activation of the dormant species by copper catalyst at 30°C in the dark, while it went on 25 times faster upon UV irradiation [QIN 01, KWA 11, KWA 10],... 

The isomeric mixture of EDOT-CH2OH (Figure 12.1a) and ProDOT-OFl (Figure 12.1b) is difficult to separate. More easily than in the end product stage, the two isomeric ester intermediates can be separated by flash chromatography on silica gel. Further hydrolysis and decarboxylation of the free acids by copper catalysts allow the isolation of pure EDOT-CH20F1 and ProDOT-OH. Chevrot and coworkers later found that a specific solvent mixture of diethylether/cyclohexane (95 5) facilitates separation of EDOT-CH2OH... 

Colourless liquid with a strong peppermintlike odour b.p. 155" C. Manufactured by passing cyclohexanol vapour over a heated copper catalyst. Volatile in steam. Oxidized to adipic acid. Used in the manufacture of caprolactam. Nylon, adipic acid, nitrocellulose lacquers, celluloid, artificial leather and printing inks. 

Nitrogen trifluoride and trichloride can both be prepared as pure substances by the action of excess halogen on ammonia, a copper catalyst being necessary for the formation of nitrogen trifluoride. 

However, hydrogen chloride gas, obtained as a by-product in chlorination reactions, is commercially converted to chlorine by passing the hydrogen chloride mixed with air over a copper catalyst at a temperature of 600-670K when the following reaction occurs ... 

Arylation or alkenylation of soft carbon nucleophiles such as malonate is carried out by using a copper catalyst, but it is not a smooth reaction. The reaction of malononitrile, cyanoacetate, and phenylsulfonylacetonitrile with aryl iodide is possible by using a Pd catalyst to give the coupling products. 

In a related process, 1,4-dichlorobutene was produced by direct vapor-phase chlorination of butadiene at 160—250°C. The 1,4-dichlorobutenes reacted with aqueous sodium cyanide in the presence of copper catalysts to produce the isomeric 1,4-dicyanobutenes yields were as high as 95% (58). The by-product NaCl could be recovered for reconversion to Na and CI2 via electrolysis. Adiponitrile was produced by the hydrogenation of the dicyanobutenes over a palladium catalyst in either the vapor phase or the Hquid phase (59,60). The yield in either case was 95% or better. This process is no longer practiced by DuPont in favor of the more economically attractive process described below. 

Ma.nufa.cture. Butyrolactone is manufactured by dehydrogenation of butanediol. The butyrolactone plant and process in Germany, as described after World War II (179), approximates the processes presendy used. The dehydrogenation was carried out with preheated butanediol vapor in a hydrogen carrier over a supported copper catalyst at 230—250°C. The yield of butyrolactone after purification by distillation was about 90%. 

Even ia 1960 a catalytic route was considered the answer to the pollution problem and the by-product sulfate, but nearly ten years elapsed before a process was developed that could be used commercially. Some of the eadier attempts iacluded hydrolysis of acrylonitrile on a sulfonic acid ion-exchange resia (69). Manganese dioxide showed some catalytic activity (70), and copper ions present ia two different valence states were described as catalyticaHy active (71), but copper metal by itself was not active. A variety of catalysts, such as Umshibara or I Jllmann copper and nickel, were used for the hydrolysis of aromatic nitriles, but aUphatic nitriles did not react usiag these catalysts (72). Beginning ia 1971 a series of patents were issued to The Dow Chemical Company (73) describiag the use of copper metal catalysis. Full-scale production was achieved the same year. A solution of acrylonitrile ia water was passed over a fixed bed of copper catalyst at 85°C, which produced a solution of acrylamide ia water with very high conversions and selectivities to acrylamide. 

Formaldehyde is readily reduced to methanol by hydrogen over many metal and metal oxide catalysts. It is oxidized to formic acid or carbon dioxide and water. The Cannizzaro reaction gives formic acid and methanol. Similarly, a vapor-phase Tischenko reaction is catalyzed by copper (34) and boric acid (38) to produce methyl formate ... 

Silver Catalyst Process. In early formaldehyde plants methanol was oxidized over a copper catalyst, but this has been almost completely replaced with silver (75). The silver-catalyzed reactions occur at essentially atmospheric pressure and 600 to 650°C (76) and can be represented by two simultaneous reactions ... 

Biacetyl is produced by the dehydrogenation of 2,3-butanediol with a copper catalyst (290,291). Prior to the availabiUty of 2,3-butanediol, biacetyl was prepared by the nitrosation of methyl ethyl ketone and the hydrolysis of the resultant oxime. Other commercial routes include passing vinylacetylene into a solution of mercuric sulfate in sulfuric acid and decomposing the insoluble product with dilute hydrochloric acid (292), by the reaction of acetal with formaldehyde (293), by the acid-cataly2ed condensation of 1-hydroxyacetone with formaldehyde (294), and by fermentation of lactic acid bacterium (295—297). Acetoin [513-86-0] (3-hydroxy-2-butanone) is also coproduced in lactic acid fermentation. 

Significant quantities of the diphenoquinone are also produced if the ortho substituents are methoxy groups (36). Phenols with less than two ortho substituents produce branched and colored products from the reactions that occur at the open ortho sites. It is possible to minimize such side reactions in the case of o-cresol oxidation by using a bulky ligand on the copper catalyst to block the open ortho position (38). 

An improved version of the amine hydrolysis process involves catalytic hydrogenation of 1,3,5-triaitrobenzene or 2,4,6-triaitrobenzoic acid in acetone solvent (138). Acid hydrolysis of 2,4,6-triaminobenzoic acid has been improved by addition of copper catalyst and gives phlorogluciaol in 80% yield (139). 

Dkect synthesis is the preparative method that ultimately accounts for most of the commercial siUcon hydride production. This is the synthesis of halosilanes by the dkect reaction of a halogen or haUde with siUcon metal, siUcon dioxide, siUcon carbide, or metal sihcide without an intervening chemical step or reagent. Trichlorosilane is produced by the reaction of hydrogen chloride and siUcon, ferrosiUcon, or calcium sihcide with or without a copper catalyst (82,83). Standard purity is produced in a static bed at 400—900°C. 

Nerol, geraniol, and linalool, known as the rose alcohols, are found widely in nature. Nerol and geraniol have mild, sweet odors reminiscent of rose flowers. They are manufactured by the hydrochlorination of mycene at the conjugated double bonds when a copper catalyst is used (88,89). 

Nucleophilic Reactions. Useful nucleophilic substitutions of halothiophenes are readily achieved in copper-mediated reactions. Of particular note is the ready conversion of 3-bromoderivatives to the corresponding 3-chloroderivatives with copper(I)chloride in hot /V, /V- dim ethyl form am i de (26). High yields of alkoxythiophenes are obtained from bromo- and iodothiophenes on reaction with sodium alkoxide in the appropriate alcohol, and catalyzed by copper(II) oxide, a trace of potassium iodide, and in more recent years a phase-transfer catalyst (27). 

Dutch State Mines (Stamicarbon). Vapor-phase, catalytic hydrogenation of phenol to cyclohexanone over palladium on alumina, Hcensed by Stamicarbon, the engineering subsidiary of DSM, gives a 95% yield at high conversion plus an additional 3% by dehydrogenation of coproduct cyclohexanol over a copper catalyst. Cyclohexane oxidation, an alternative route to cyclohexanone, is used in the United States and in Asia by DSM. A cyclohexane vapor-cloud explosion occurred in 1975 at a co-owned DSM plant in Flixborough, UK (12) the plant was rebuilt but later closed. In addition to the conventional Raschig process for hydroxylamine, DSM has developed a hydroxylamine phosphate—oxime (HPO) process for cyclohexanone oxime no by-product ammonium sulfate is produced. Catalytic ammonia oxidation is followed by absorption of NO in a buffered aqueous phosphoric acid... 

High pressure processes P > 150 atm) are catalyzed by copper chromite catalysts. The most widely used process, however, is the low pressure methanol process that is conducted at 503—523 K, 5—10 MPa (50—100 atm), space velocities of 20, 000-60,000 h , and H2-to-CO ratios of 3. The reaction is catalyzed by a copper—zinc oxide catalyst using promoters such as alumina (31,32). This catalyst is more easily poisoned than the older copper chromite catalysts and requites the use of sulfiir-free synthesis gas. 

In the 1930s, the Raschig Co. in Germany developed a different chlorobenzene-phenol process in which steam with a calcium phosphate catalyst was used to hydrolyze chlorobenzene to produce phenol (qv) and HCl (6). The recovered HCl reacts with air and benzene over a copper catalyst (Deacon Catalyst) to produce chlorobenzene and water (7,8). In the United States, a similar process was developed by the BakeHte Division of Union Carbide Corp., which operated for many years. The Durez Co. Hcensed the Raschig process and built a plant in the United States which was later taken over by the Hooker Chemical Corp. who made significant process improvements. 

The main by-products of the Ullmaim condensation are l-aniinoanthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid and l-amino-4-hydroxyanthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid. The choice of copper catalyst affects the selectivity of these by-products. Generally, metal copper powder or copper(I) salt catalyst has a greater reactivity than copper(Il) salts. However, they are likely to yield the reduced product (l-aniinoanthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid). The reaction mechanism has not been estabUshed. It is very difficult to clarify which oxidation state of copper functions as catalyst, since this reaction involves fast redox equiUbria where anthraquinone derivatives and copper compounds are concerned. Some evidence indicates that the catalyst is probably a copper(I) compound (28,29). 

Cl Reactive Blue 19 (9) is prepared by the reaction of bromamine acid (8) with y -aminophenyl-P-hydroxyethylsulfone [5246-57-1] (76) ia water ia the presence of an acid-hinding agent such as sodium bicarbonate and a copper catalyst (Ullmann condensation reaction) and subsequent esterification to form the sulfuric ester. 

From ethyl laurate by reduction with hydrogen under pressure with copper catalyst. Ger. pat. 552,888 [C. A. 26, 5573 (1932)]-... 

The copper catalyst may be prepared by the method of Brewster and Groening. ... 

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