Solvents current research trends

Dimethylglyoxime Complexes. Bis-dimethylglyoximatocobalt complexes, [CoX2(DMG)2] , form another group of complexes whose solvolysis in mixed aqueous solvents is a subject of current research. Kinetic results for solvolysis in aqueous dimethylformamide are listed, with earlier results for aqueous solution, in Table 2. There is one surprising feature in the activation enthalpy trends, which is the behaviour of the bromide complex, whose activation enthalpy of solvolysis decreases as the proportion of dimethylformamide increases, whereas for the chloride and iodide complexes the activation enthalpy trend is the opposite. Kinetic results for... 

As with shikimic acid, considerable improvements in the microbe-cat yzed synthesis of quinic acid from glucose need to be and likely can be achieved. The subsequent oxidation of quinic acid to hydroquinone is another area of research in which fundamental advances in catalysis have to be achieved. The current oxidation of quinic acid to benzoquinone using Mn02 is a stoichiometric oxidation. This runs counter to the current trend toward development of metal-catiyzed oxidations that are catalytic in the amounts of metal required. Although a variety of cooxidants can be employed, elaboration of a metal-catalyzed oxidation in which O2 is the cooxidant would be particularly desirable. Sufficiently mild conditions for oxidation of quinic acid to hydroquinone may be identified whereby overoxidation to benzoquinone is avoided and hydroquinone is obtained directly from quinic acid. Metal-catalyzed oxidations have to be compatible with use of water as the reaction solvent. F referably, elaborated catalysts should be sufficiently robust to mediate the oxidation of quinic acid in clarified, crude fermenter broth. 

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