Organic acid catalysts

Reagents and methods for the synthesis of 1,5-benzodiazepine derivatives from o-phenylenediamine and carbonyl compounds have attracted an unusually high degree of interest in 2006. Illustrative of this, the condensation of two mol equivalents of acetone with o-phenylenediamine 97 was reported <06TL3135> on simple grinding of the components in the presence of an organic acid catalyst at room temperature resulting in 98. The yields of 98 were... 

The last few years have witnessed major advances in the use of small organic molecules as organic acid catalysts in asymmetric catalysis [1], Selected examples of such organic acid catalysts include urea and thiourea [2], TADDOL [3], BINOL [4], and phosphoric acid derived from BINOL [5] (Figure 2.1). 

As expected, mesoporous silica-supported sulfonic sites were able to catalyze the hydrolysis of cellobiose. Indeed, at 448 K, 90% of cellobiose was hydrolyzed within 30 min of reaction with an apparent activation energy ( = 130 kJ moF ) similar to that of reactions promoted by homogeneous organic acid catalysts [33]. The hydrolysis reaction rate is proportional to the concentration of hydrated... 

DOT CLASSIFICATION 8 Label Corrosive SAFETY PROFILE Poison by ingestion and intraperitoneal routes. Moderately toxic by intravenous route. Mildly toxic by inhalation, A corrosive irritant to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of F . Used as a strong organic acid catalyst. 

When phenol-formaldehyde resins are used in glass laminates, organic acid catalysts such as p-toluene sulfonic acid promote the hardening. Alternatives have been developed in recent years, partly because acid catalysts can cause corrosion in processing equipment, but also to obtain better control over the storage stability and pot life. It has been claimed that alkaline catalysts produce products with less smoke on burning. Neutral catalysts have been developed as well. 

First, the use of water limits the choice of Lewis-acid catalysts. The most active Lewis acids such as BFj, TiQ4 and AlClj react violently with water and cannot be used However, bivalent transition metal ions and trivalent lanthanide ions have proven to be active catalysts in aqueous solution for other organic reactions and are anticipated to be good candidates for the catalysis of aqueous Diels-Alder reactions. 

Although acetyl chloride is a convenient reagent for deterrnination of hydroxyl groups, spectroscopic methods have largely replaced this appHcation in organic chemical analysis. Acetyl chloride does form derivatives of phenols, uncompHcated by the presence of strong acid catalysts, however, and it finds some use in acetylating primary and secondary amines. 

Processes rendered obsolete by the propylene ammoxidation process (51) include the ethylene cyanohydrin process (52—54) practiced commercially by American Cyanamid and Union Carbide in the United States and by I. G. Farben in Germany. The process involved the production of ethylene cyanohydrin by the base-cataly2ed addition of HCN to ethylene oxide in the liquid phase at about 60°C. A typical base catalyst used in this step was diethylamine. This was followed by liquid-phase or vapor-phase dehydration of the cyanohydrin. The Hquid-phase dehydration was performed at about 200°C using alkah metal or alkaline earth metal salts of organic acids, primarily formates and magnesium carbonate. Vapor-phase dehydration was accomphshed over alumina at about 250°C. 

Boron trifluoride [7637-07-2] (trifluoroborane), BF, was first reported in 1809 by Gay-Lussac and Thenard (1) who prepared it by the reaction of boric acid and fluorspar at duU red heat. It is a colorless gas when dry, but fumes in the presence of moisture yielding a dense white smoke of irritating, pungent odor. It is widely used as an acid catalyst (2) for many types of organic reactions, especially for the production of polymer and petroleum (qv) products. The gas was first produced commercially in 1936 by the Harshaw Chemical Co. (see also Boron COMPOUNDS). 

Uses. Boron triduoride is an excellent Lewis acid catalyst for numerous types of organic reactions. Its advantages are ease of handling as a gas and the absence of undesirable tarry by-products. As an electrophilic molecule, it is an excellent catalyst for Friedel-Crafts and many other types of reactions (63-65) (see Friedel-craftsreactions). 

Displacement of activated chlorine atoms also proceeds with certain types of organic compounds, but only in the presence of Lewis acid catalysts. Particular examples include epoxides, polyhydric alcohols, trialkylphosphites (12), and P-aminocrotonates (13). These additives are commonly used in conjunction with metallic stabilizers to provide complete, high performance, commercial stabilizer packages. 

P-Hydroxy acids lose water, especially in the presence of an acid catalyst, to give a,P-unsaturated acids, and frequendy P,y-unsaturated acids. P-Hydroxy acids do not form lactones readily because of the difficulty of four-membered ring formation. The simplest P-lactone, P-propiolactone, can be made from ketene and formaldehyde in the presence of methyl borate but not from P-hydroxypropionic acid. P-Propiolactone [57-57-8] is a usehil intermediate for organic synthesis but caution should be exercised when handling this lactone because it is a known carcinogen. 

Other simple nickel salts of organic acids include the oxalate [20543-06-0] oleate [68538-38-5], and stearate [2223-95-2]. The latter two have been used as oil-soluble nickel forms in the dyeing of synthetic polyolefin fibers (see Driers and metallic soaps). Nickel oxalate has been used as a catalyst intermediate (59). 

Diperoxyketals, and many other organic peroxides, are acid-sensitive, therefore removal of all traces of the acid catalysts must be accompHshed before attempting distillations or kinetic decomposition studies. The low molecular weight diperoxyketals can decompose with explosive force and commercial formulations are available only as mineral spirits or phthalate ester solutions. 

Propylene oxide is highly reactive. It reacts exothermically with any substance that has labile hydrogen such as water, alcohols, amines, and organic acids acids, alkahes, and some salts act as catalysts. 

The replacement of the hydrogen of the methylo1 compound with an alkyl group renders the compound much more soluble in organic solvents and more stable. This reaction is also cataly2ed by acids and usually carried out in the presence of considerable excess alcohol to suppress the competing self-condensation reaction. After neutrali2ation of the acid catalyst, the excess alcohol may be stripped or left as a solvent for the amino resin. 

EBHP is mixed with a catalyst solution and fed to a horizontal compartmentalized reactor where propylene is introduced into each compartment. The reactor operates at 95—130°C and 2500—4000 kPa (360—580 psi) for 1—2 h, and 5—7 mol propylene/1 mol EBHP are used for a 95—99% conversion of EBHP and a 92—96% selectivity to propylene oxide. The homogeneous catalyst is made from molybdenum, tungsten, or titanium and an organic acid, such as acetate, naphthenate, stearate, etc (170,173). Heterogeneous catalysts consist of titanium oxides on a siUca support (174—176). 

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