Reactions Catalyzed by p-Block Metal Alkoxides

The p-block metal alkoxides construct the second group. Chukicheva et al. have effectively used aluminum phenoxide and isopropoxide for the alkylation of phenol by borneol, 85 and its stereoisomer, iso-borneol, 86 [60]. It was not seen any special chemo- or enantioselectivity with this catalytic systems. 

Ooi and co-workers also used modified aluminum isopropoxide with biphenyl, 87, for catalyzing Tishchenko reaction (reaction 7.12) with over 80% yield [61]. 

Yean et al. reported the use of different diorgano (n-butyl, n-octyl) tin dialkoxides (n-butoxide, n-pentoxide, n-hexoxide, n-heptoxide, n-octox-ide, n-decoxide, phenoxide, substituted phenoxide) for transesterification of palm oil fatty acids (reaction 7.13) which could be attractive in production of biodiesel (fatty acid esters) [62]. 

Raders and Verkade also used an alumatrane, 88, for the catalytic tri-methylsilylcyanation of aldehydes (reaction 7.14) [63]. 

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