Esters catalysis

A group of cyclic peptides and peptide surfactants have been examined as potential catalysts for the hydrolysis of esters. Catalysis, inhibition and no activity was observed. ... 

Inspired by the many hydrolytically-active metallo enzymes encountered in nature, extensive studies have been performed on so-called metallo micelles. These investigations usually focus on mixed micelles of a common surfactant together with a special chelating surfactant that exhibits a high affinity for transition-metal ions. These aggregates can have remarkable catalytic effects on the hydrolysis of activated carboxylic acid esters, phosphate esters and amides. In these reactions the exact role of the metal ion is not clear and may vary from one system to another. However, there are strong indications that the major function of the metal ion is the coordination of hydroxide anion in the Stem region of the micelle where it is in the proximity of the micelle-bound substrate. The first report of catalysis of a hydrolysis reaction by me tall omi cell es stems from 1978. In the years that... 

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. 

An example of an intermolecular aldol type condensation, which works only under acidic catalysis is the Knoevenagel condensation of a sterically hindered aldehyde group in a formyl-porphyrin with a malonic ester (J.-H. Fuhrhop, 1976). Self-condensations of the components do not occur, because the ester groups of malonic esters are not electrophilic enough, and because the porphyrin-carboxaldehyde cannot form enolates. 

The achiral triene chain of (a//-rrans-)-3-demethyl-famesic ester as well as its (6-cis-)-isoiner cyclize in the presence of acids to give the decalol derivative with four chirai centres whose relative configuration is well defined (P.A. Stadler, 1957 A. Escherunoser, 1959 W.S. Johnson, 1968, 1976). A monocyclic diene is formed as an intermediate (G. Stork, 1955). With more complicated 1,5-polyenes, such as squalene, oily mixtures of various cycliz-ation products are obtained. The 18,19-glycol of squalene 2,3-oxide, however, cyclized in modest yield with picric acid catalysis to give a complex tetracyclic natural product with nine chiral centres. Picric acid acts as a protic acid of medium strength whose conjugated base is non-nucleophilic. Such acids activate oxygen functions selectively (K.B. Sharpless, 1970). 

The benzoic acid derivative 457 is formed by the carbonylation of iodoben-zene in aqueous DMF (1 1) without using a phosphine ligand at room temperature and 1 atm[311]. As optimum conditions for the technical synthesis of the anthranilic acid derivative 458, it has been found that A-acetyl protection, which has a chelating effect, is important[312]. Phase-transfer catalysis is combined with the Pd-catalyzed carbonylation of halides[3l3]. Carbonylation of 1,1-dibromoalkenes in the presence of a phase-transfer catalyst gives the gem-inal dicarboxylic acid 459. Use of a polar solvent is important[314]. Interestingly, addition of trimethylsilyl chloride (2 equiv.) increased yield of the lactone 460 remarkabiy[3l5]. Formate esters as a CO source and NaOR are used for the carbonylation of aryl iodides under a nitrogen atmosphere without using CO[316]. Chlorobenzene coordinated by Cr(CO)j is carbonylated with ethyl formate[3l7]. 

Acyl transfer from an acid an hydride to an alcohol is a standard method for the prep aration of esters The reaction IS subject to catalysis by either acids (H2SO4) or bases (pyri dine)... 

Pos twe-Tone Photoresists. The ester, carbonate, and ketal acidolysis reactions which form the basis of most positive tone CA resists are thought to proceed under specific acid catalysis (62). In this mechanism, illustrated in Figure 22 for the hydrolysis of tert-huty acetate (type A l) (63), the first step involves a rapid equihbrium where the proton is transferred between the photogenerated acid and the acid-labile protecting group ... 

Chromium compounds decompose primary and secondary hydroperoxides to the corresponding carbonyl compounds, both homogeneously and heterogeneously (187—191). The mechanism of chromium catalyst interaction with hydroperoxides may involve generation of hexavalent chromium in the form of an alkyl chromate, which decomposes heterolyticaHy to give ketone (192). The oxidation of alcohol intermediates may also proceed through chromate ester intermediates (193). Therefore, chromium catalysis tends to increase the ketone alcohol ratio in the product (194,195). 

In typical processes, the gaseous effluent from the second-stage oxidation is cooled and fed to an absorber to isolate the MAA as a 20—40% aqueous solution. The MAA may then be concentrated by extraction into a suitable organic solvent such as butyl acetate, toluene, or dibutyl ketone. Azeotropic dehydration and solvent recovery, followed by fractional distillation, is used to obtain the pure product. Water, solvent, and low boiling by-products are removed in a first-stage column. The column bottoms are then fed to a second column where MAA is taken overhead. Esterification to MMA or other esters is readily achieved using acid catalysis. 

THE can be polymerized by many strongly acidic catalysts, but not all of them produce the requked bitimctional polyether glycol with a minimum of by-products. Several large-scale commercial polymerization processes are based on fluorosulfonic acid, HESO, catalysis, which meets all these requkements. The catalyst is added to THE at low temperatures and an exothermic polymerization occurs readily. The polymerization products are poly(tetramethylene ether) chains with sulfate ester groups (8). 

Another significant use of 3-methylphenol is in the production of herbicides and insecticides. 2-/ f2 -Butyl-5-methylphenol is converted to the dinitro acetate derivative, 2-/ f2 -butyl-5-methyl-4,6-dinitrophenyl acetate [2487-01 -6] which is used as both a pre- and postemergent herbicide to control broad leaf weeds (42). Carbamate derivatives of 3-methylphenol based compounds are used as insecticides. The condensation of 3-methylphenol with formaldehyde yields a curable phenoHc resin. Since 3-methylphenol is trifunctional with respect to its reaction with formaldehyde, it is possible to form a thermosetting resin by the reaction of a prepolymer with paraformaldehyde or other suitable formaldehyde sources. 3-Methylphenol is also used in the production of fragrances and flavors. It is reduced with hydrogen under nickel catalysis and the corresponding esters are used as synthetic musk (see Table 3). 

Silver carbonate, alone or on CeHte, has been used as a catalyst for the oxidation of methyl esters of D-fmctose (63), ethylene (64), propylene (65), trioses (66), and a-diols (67). The mechanism of the catalysis of alcohol oxidation by silver carbonate on CeHte has been studied (68). 

Reactions of the Side Chain. Benzyl chloride is hydrolyzed slowly by boiling water and more rapidly at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of alkaHes (11). Reaction with aqueous sodium cyanide, preferably in the presence of a quaternary ammonium chloride, produces phenylacetonitrile [140-29-4] in high yield (12). The presence of a lower molecular-weight alcohol gives faster rates and higher yields. In the presence of suitable catalysts benzyl chloride reacts with carbon monoxide to produce phenylacetic acid [103-82-2] (13—15). With different catalyst systems in the presence of calcium hydroxide, double carbonylation to phenylpymvic acid [156-06-9] occurs (16). Benzyl esters are formed by heating benzyl chloride with the sodium salts of acids benzyl ethers by reaction with sodium alkoxides. The ease of ether formation is improved by the use of phase-transfer catalysts (17) (see Catalysis, phase-thansfer). 

When heated in the presence of a carboxyHc acid, cinnamyl alcohol is converted to the corresponding ester. Oxidation to cinnamaldehyde is readily accompHshed under Oppenauer conditions with furfural as a hydrogen acceptor in the presence of aluminum isopropoxide (44). Cinnamic acid is produced directly with strong oxidants such as chromic acid and nickel peroxide. The use of t-butyl hydroperoxide with vanadium pentoxide catalysis offers a selective method for epoxidation of the olefinic double bond of cinnamyl alcohol (45). 

The catalysis of ester hydrolysis by other groups within the ester molecule (intramolecular catalysis) has been extensively studied (17,18). These reactions are important because they simulate catalysis by en2ymes. Intramolecular catalysis of esters has been used as a model in dmg discovery efforts (19). 

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