Raney nickel alcohols

P-Phenylethylamine is conveniently prepared by the hydrogenation under pressure of benzyl cyanide with Raney nickel catalyst (see Section VI,5) in the presence of either a saturated solution of dry ammonia in anhydrous methyl alcohol or of liquid ammonia the latter are added to suppress the formation of the secondary amine, di- P phenylethylamine ... 

The catalyst, which may be regarded as complementary to Raney nickel (Section VI,5) is largely used for the hydrogenation of esters (esters of monobasic and of dibasic acids to alcohols and glycols respectively) ... 

The nitro alcohols can be reduced to the corresponding alkan olamines (qv). Commercially, reduction is accompHshed by hydrogenation of the nitro alcohol in methanol in the presence of Raney nickel. Convenient operating conditions are 30°C and 6900 kPa (1000 psi). Production of alkan olamines constitutes the largest single use of nitro alcohols. 

The zwitterion (6) can react with protic solvents to produce a variety of products. Reaction with water yields a transient hydroperoxy alcohol (10) that can dehydrate to a carboxyUc acid or spHt out H2O2 to form a carbonyl compound (aldehyde or ketone, R2CO). In alcohoHc media, the product is an isolable hydroperoxy ether (11) that can be hydrolyzed or reduced (with (CH O) or (CH2)2S) to a carbonyl compound. Reductive amination of (11) over Raney nickel produces amides and amines (64). Reaction of the zwitterion with a carboxyUc acid to form a hydroperoxy ester (12) is commercially important because it can be oxidized to other acids, RCOOH and R COOH. Reaction of zwitterion with HCN produces a-hydroxy nitriles that can be hydrolyzed to a-hydroxy carboxyUc acids. Carboxylates are obtained with H2O2/OH (65). The zwitterion can be reduced during the course of the reaction by tetracyanoethylene to produce its epoxide (66). 

The reduction of nitro alcohols to alkanolamines is readily accompHshed by hydrogenation in the presence of Raney nickel catalyst (1,9,10). 

Nitropyridazines are reduced catalytically either over platinum, Raney nickel or palladium-charcoal catalyst. When an N-oxide function is present, palladium-charcoal in neutral solution is used in order to obtain the corresponding amino N-oxide. On the other hand, when hydrogenation is carried out in aqueous or alcoholic hydrochloric acid and palladium-charcoal or Raney nickel are used for the reduction of the nitro group, deoxygenation of the N- oxide takes place simultaneously. Halonitropyridazines and their N- oxides are reduced, dehalogenated and deoxygenated to aminopyridazines or to aminopyridazine N- oxides under analogous conditions. 

Isothiazoles are reductively desulfurized by Raney nickel, e.g. as in Scheme 31 (72AHC(l4)l). 1,2,5-Thiadiazoles are subject to reductive cleavage by zinc in acid, sodium in alcohol, or Raney nickel, e.g. Scheme 32 (68AHC(9)107). 

This group is prepared by the reaction of the anion of 9-hydroxyanthracene and the tosylate of an alcohol. Since the formation of this group requires an S 2 displacement on the alcohol to be protected, it is best suited for primaiy alcohols. It is cleaved by a novel singlet oxygen reaction followed by reduction of the endo-peroxide with hydrogen and Raney nickel. 

The tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol available from the Quaker Oats Company, or the Practical grade from the Eastman Kodak Company, has been used. If the material a ailable does not hydrogenate satisfactorily, it may be purified by hydrogenation over Raney nickel at 150 /100-200 atmospheres pressure. A sample of good quality boils at 177-178°/740 mm. and does not become dark-colored when a few milliliters are shaken with 1 drop of concentrated sulfuric acid at room temperature. 

Because of the presence of alkali in Raney nickel, ketones are hydrogenated over this catalyst to yield the more stable, equatorial alcohol e.g. 59) as the predominant product, Similar results can be expected with platinum in basic media or with platinum oxide in an alcoholic solvent since this catalyst also contains basic impurities. 

Hydrogenation of 11,12a- epoxides over Raney nickel produces the 1 la-alcohol in 15-20% yield.The corresponding ll,12jS-epoxide gives the 12)5-carbinol, while cleavage of the 5,6a-epoxide gives the 5a-hydroxy compound and the 5,6)8- and 4,5)8-epoxides give mixtures of products. 

Two different sets of experimental conditions have been used. Buu-Hoi et al. and Hansen have employed the method introduced by Papa et using Raney nickel alloy directly for the desulfurization in an alkaline medium. Under these conditions most functional groups are removed and this method is most convenient for the preparation of aliphatic acids. The other method uses Raney nickel catalysts of different reactivity in various solvents such as aqueous ammonia, alcohol, ether, or acetone. The solvent and activity of the catalyst can have an appreciable influence on yields and types of compounds formed, but have not yet been investigated in detail. In acetic anhydride, for instance, desulfurization of thiophenes does not occur and these reaction conditions have been employed for reductive acetylation of nitrothiophenes. Even under the mildest conditions, all double bonds are hydrogenated and all halogens removed. Nitro and oxime groups are reduced to amines. 

Reduction of quinazoline oxides to quinazolines, catalytically (Raney nickel, palladium on charcoal) or with iron and ferrous sulfate in 85% alcohol can be extended to the preparation of benz-substituted quinazolines. ... 

The hydrogenation of pyrazolylacetylenes shows no peculiarities. Ethynylpyra-zoles are hydrogenated in high yields to the corresponding ethane derivatives on Raney nickel catalyst, platinum dioxide, or palladium catalyst at room temperature in alcohol solution. 

Condensation of the anion obtained on reaction of acetonitrile with sodium amide, with o-chlorobenzophenone (36), affords the hydroxynitrile, 37. Catalytic reduction leads to the corresponding amino alcohol (note that the benzhydryl alcohol is not hydrogenolyzed). Reductive alkylation with formaldehyde and hydrogen in the presence of Raney nickel gives the antitussive a-gent, chlorphedianol (39). °... 

S g of ethyl glycinate hydrochloride were dissolved in 400 cc of ethanol and 33.5 g of salicylic aldehyde were added. It is refluxed for half an hour and cooled. 38 cc of triethylamlne and 25 g of Raney nickel are then added whereafter hydrogenation is carried out at room temperature and under atmospheric pressure. After hydrogen adsorption was complete, the mixture was filtered and the alcohol evaporated off. The residue was taken up with acidified water, extracted with ether to eliminate part of the by-products, consisting mainly of o-cresol, then made alkaline with ammonia and extracted with ethyl acetate. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue crystallized from ether/petroleum ether. 36.7 g of o-hydroxybenzyl-aminoacetlc acid ethyl ester melting at 47°C are obtained. 

A solution of 20 g of 2-chloro-2. nitrobenzophenone in 450 ml of ethanol was hydrogenated at normal pressure and room temperature with Raney nickel. After uptake of about 6 liters of hydrogen the catalyst was filtered off, and the alcohol then removed in vacuo. The residue was distilled in a bulb tube at 0.4 mm and a bath temperature of 150° to 165°C giving a yellow oil. The oil was dissolved in alcohol, and on addition of water, needles of 2.amino.2. chlorobenzophenone melting at 58° to 60°C were obtained. 

---