Formates hydrogenolysis

Ammonium formate hydrogenolysis of 7t-allyl-palladium(II) complexes formed via oxidative addition of Pd(0) to propargylic carbonate esters is a useful method for preparing disubstituted alkynes, as depicted below. This method of deoxygenation avoids the use of expensive and toxic reagents often associated with the free-radical Barton-McCombie deoxygenation. °... 

This study reports improved stabilities of skeletal Cu catalysts for use in organic synthesis reactions. The promoted skeletal Cu catalysts have been characterised by measuring their resistance to structural rearrangement in caustic solutions, thermal stabilities and activities for the reactions of methanol dehydrogenation and methyl formate hydrogenolysis. Comparisons have been made with an unpromoted skeletal Cu catalyst and a commercial coprecipitated copper chromite catalyst. 

Activities and stabilities of the promoted and unpromoted skeletal Cu catalysts were studied using methanol dehydrogenation and methyl formate hydrogenolysis as test reactions. The results showed that there was almost no deactivation observed for the promoted skeletal Cu catalyst during 7 hours on stream at 453K. However, significant decreases in activity were observed for the... 

Catalysts were characterized by measuring their stabilities in highly concentrated caustic solution, their thermal stabilities and catalytic properties for the reactions of methanol dehydrogenation and methyl formate hydrogenolysis. 

The activity of methanol dehydrogenation was expressed as moles of methanol converted to methyl formate per gram of catalyst per hour. The activity of methyl formate hydrogenolysis was defined as moles of methyl formate converted to methanol per gram catalyst per hour. 

Figure 9 shows the activities and stabilities of these catalysts for die reaction of methyl formate hydrogenolysis. Similar to the results for methanol dehydrogenation, about 80% of the initial activity of Cul catalyst was lost within 6.5 hours of which 70% was lost during the first l.Shours. However, there was no significant activity decrease observed for the CuCrl catalyst. The activity of CuCrl catalyst after 1.5 hours reaction is more than 2 times higher than the Cul catalyst. It is also seen that the initial activity of the CuCrl catalyst... 

Deprotection of allyl ester in 467 with HC02H/Et3N was highly chemoselec-tive. In the coexistence of a 2,4-enyne system in 467, at first 7r-allylpalladium carboxylate 468, formed from the allyl ester, attacked the triple bond to form the butenolide 469 without reacting with formate. Hydrogenolysis with formate took place only at the final step to afford 470 chemoselectively. Also, the alkenyloxirane group, which is allylic epoxide, stayed intact [175],... 

The equilibrium of the methanol synthesis reaction severely limits the conversion in the conventional process. The equilibrium conversion is very sensitive to temperature. The high recycling rate is costly and requires oxygen instead of air in the autothermal reforming or partial oxidation step. The development of low-temperature and continuous methanol removal processes mentioned brieffy in Section 1.3.1, would be very attractive [6365]. Hi single-pass conversion could also be attained with a two-step process methanol carbonylation to methyl formate followed by methyl formate hydrogenolysis to 2 mol methanol [6669]. Research in these areas has yielded promising results. 

In the reaction of Q,/3-unsaturated ketones and esters, sometimes simple Michael-type addition (insertion and hydrogenolysis, or hydroarylation, and hydroalkenylation) of alkenes is observed[53,54]. For example, a simple addition product 56 to methyl vinyl ketone was obtained by the reaction of the heteroaromatic iodide 55[S5]. The corresponding bromide affords the usual insertion-elimination product. Saturated ketones are obtained cleanly by hydroarylation of o,/3l-unsaturated ketones with aryl halides in the presence of sodium formate, which hydrogenolyses the R—Pd—I intermediate to R— Pd—H[56]. Intramolecular hydroarylation is a useful reaction. The diiodide 57 reacts smoothly with sodium formate to give a model compound for the afla-toxin 58. (see Section 1.1.6)[57]. Use of triethylammonium formate and BU4NCI gives better results. 

Many examples of insertions of internal alkynes are known. Internal alkynes react with aryl halides in the presence of formate to afford the trisubstituted alkenes[271,272]. In the reaction of the terminal alkyne 388 with two molecules of iodobenzene. the first step is the formation of the phenylacetylene 389. Then the internal alkyne bond, thus produced, inserts into the phenyl-Pd bond to give 390. Finally, hydrogenolysis with formic acid yields the trisubstituted alkene 391(273,274], This sequence of reactions is a good preparative method for trisubstituted alkenes from terminal alkynes. 

Formate is an excellent hydride source for the hydrogenolysis of aryl halides[682]. Ammonium or triethylammonium formate[683] and sodium formate are mostly used[684,685]. Dechlorination of the chloroarene 806 is carried out with ammonium formate using Pd charcoal as a catalyst[686]. By the treatment of 2,4,6-trichloroamline with formate, the chlorine atom at the /iiara-position is preferentially removed[687]. The dehalogenation of 2,4-diha-loestrogene is achieved with formic acid, KI, and ascorbic acid[688]. 

The Pd-catalyzed hydrogenoiysis of acyl chlorides with hydrogen to give aldehydes is called the Rosenmund reduction. Rosenmund reduction catalyzed by supported Pd is explained by the formation of an acylpalladium complex and its hydrogenolysis[744]. Aldehydes can be obtained using other hydrides. For example, the Pd-catalyzed reaction of acyl halides with tin hydride gives aldehydes[745]. This is the tin Form of Rosenmund reduction. Aldehydes are i ormed by the reaction of the thio esters 873 with hydrosilanes[746,747]. 

In addition to the preparation of l-alkenes, the hydrogenolysis of allylic compounds with formate is used for the protection and deprotection of carboxylic acids, alcohols, and amines as allyl derivatives (see Section 2.9). 

Various terminal allylic compounds are converted into l-alkenes at room temperature[362]. Regioselective hydrogenolysis with formate is used for the formation of an exo-methylene group from cyclic allylic compounds by the formal anti thermodynamic isomerization of internal double bonds to the exocyclic position[380]. Selective conversion of myrtenyl formate (579) into /9-pinene is an example. The allylic sulfone 580 and the allylic nitro compound... 

As a further application of the reaction, the conversion of an endocyclic double bond to an c.xo-methylene is possible[382]. The epoxidation of an cWo-alkene followed by diethylaluminum amide-mediated isomerization affords the allylic alcohol 583 with an exo double bond[383]. The hydroxy group is eliminated selectively by Pd-catalyzed hydrogenolysis after converting it into allylic formate, yielding the c.ro-methylene compound 584. The conversion of carvone (585) into l,3-disiloxy-4-methylenecyclohexane (586) is an example[382]. 

The method has been successfully applied to steroids. The fnms AB ring junction in 612 can be generated cleanly from the. i-allylic formate 611 the cis junction in 614 is formed by the hydrogenolysis of the a-allylic formate 613... 

The Pd-catalyzed hydrogenolysis of vinyloxiranes with formate affords homoallyl alcohols, rather than allylic alcohols regioselectively. The reaction is stereospecific and proceeds by inversion of the stereochemistry of the C—O bond[394,395]. The stereochemistry of the products is controlled by the geometry of the alkene group in vinyloxiranes. The stereoselective formation of stereoisomers of the syn hydroxy group in 630 and the ami in 632 from the ( )-epoxide 629 and the (Z)-epoxide 631 respectively is an example. 

Addition of a hydroxy group to alkynes to form enol ethers is possible with Pd(II). Enol ether formation and its hydrolysis mean the hydration of alkynes to ketones. The 5-hydroxyalkyne 249 was converted into the cyclic enol ether 250[124], Stereoselective enol ether formation was applied to the synthesis of prostacyclin[131]. Treatment of the 4-alkynol 251 with a stoichiometric amount of PdCl2, followed by hydrogenolysis with formic acid, gives the cyclic enol ether 253. Alkoxypalladation to give 252 is trans addition, because the Z E ratio of the alkene 253 was 33 1. 

Alkali moderation of supported precious metal catalysts reduces secondary amine formation and generation of ammonia (18). Ammonia in the reaction medium inhibits Rh, but not Ru precious metal catalyst. More secondary amine results from use of more polar protic solvents, CH OH > C2H5OH > Lithium hydroxide is the most effective alkah promoter (19), reducing secondary amine formation and hydrogenolysis. The general order of catalyst procUvity toward secondary amine formation is Pt > Pd Ru > Rh (20). Rhodium s catalyst support contribution to secondary amine formation decreases ia the order carbon > alumina > barium carbonate > barium sulfate > calcium carbonate. 

Hydrogenolysis of propylene oxide yields primary and secondary alcohols as well as the isomeri2ation products of acetone and propionaldehyde. Pd and Pt catalysts favor acetone and 2-propanol formation (83—85). Ni and Cu catalysts favor propionaldehyde and 1-propanol formation (86,87). 

Sulfobenzyl esters were prepared (cesium salt or dicyclohexylammonium salt, Na03SC6H4CH2Br, DMF, 37-95% yield) from A -protected amino acids. They are cleaved by hydrogenolysis (H2/Pd), or hydrolysis (NaOH, dioxane/water). Treatment with ammonia-or hydrazine results in formation of the amide or hydrazide. The ester is stable to 2 M HBr/AcOH and to CF3SO3H in CF3CO2H. The relative rates of hydrolysis and hydrazinolysis for different esters are as follows ... 

---