Superacid carbonylation

Similar activation takes place in the carbonylation of dimethyl ether to methyl acetate in superacidic solution. Whereas acetic acid and acetates are made nearly exclusively using Wilkinson s rhodium catalyst, a sensitive system necessitating carefully controlled conditions and use of large amounts of the expensive rhodium triphenylphosphine complex, ready superacidic carbonylation of dimethyl ether has significant advantages. 

The basicities of amines, ethers, and carbonyl compounds are invariably decreased by fluonnation. 2,2,2-Tnfluoroethylamine (p f = 3.3 [61]) and C 5NH2 = -0.36 [62]) are about 10 times less basic than CH3CH2NH2 and CgH5NH2, respectively, and (CF3)2CHNH2 (p j, = 1 22 [71]) is over 10 times less basic than 1-C3H2NH2. The relative gas-phase acidities in Table 15 illustrate the large effect of fluonnation. Perfluoro-rerf-amines (R )3N and ethers R Rf have no basic character m solution [, 74], and CF3COCF3 is not protonated by superacids [72]. 

The Pictet-Spengler reaction is an acid-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of an intermediate imine of 2-arylethylamine, formed by condensation with a carbonyl compound, to give 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives. This condensation reaction has been studied under acid-catalyzed and superacid-catalyzed conditions, and a linear correlation had been found between the rate of the reaction and the acidity of the reaction medium. Substrates with electron-donating substituents on the aromatic ring cyclize faster than the corresponding unsubstituted compounds, supporting the idea that the cyclization process is involved in the rate-determining step of the reaction. 

Stereoselectivity in the condensation reaction of 2-arylethylamines with carbonyl compounds to give 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives was somewhat dependent on whether acid catalysis or superacid catalysis was invoked. Particularly in the cases of 2-alkyl-N-benzylidene-2-phenethylamines, an enhanced stereoselectivity was observed with trifluorosulfonic acid (TFSA) as compared with the weaker acid, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). Compound 43 was cyclized in the presence of TFA to give modest to good transicis product ratios. The analogous compound 44 was cyclized in the presence of TFSA to give slightly improved transicis product ratios. 

All these data could be obtained by means of two techniques, namely n.m.r. spectroscopy and the use of superacid solvent systems (such as HF—BF3, HF—SbFj, FHSO3—SbFs, SbFs—SOj). As will become evident in this article, this is equally true for the data of the carbonyl-ation and decarbonylation reactions (3). With less acidic systems the overall kinetics can, of course, be obtained but lack of knowledge concerning the concentrations of the intermediate ions prevents the determination of the rate constants of the individual steps. ... 

The protonation of esters in superacid solvents (HSO3F—SbFs and HF—BF3) also occurs on the carbonyl oxygen (cation [202])... 

Fe -exchanged montmorillonite acted as a solid acid catalyst activating carbonyl groups much more efficiently than a homogeneous superacid of... 

The preparation of acetic acid represents a special case. Olah and coworkers as well as Hogeveen and coworkers have demonstrated that CO can react with methane under superacidic conditions, giving the acetyl cation and by subsequent quenching acetic acid or its derivatives (see Section 7.2.3). Monosubstituted methanes, such as methyl alcohol (or dimethyl ether), can be carbonylated to acetic acid.115 Similarly, methyl halides undergo acid-catalyzed carbonylation.115,116 Whereas the acid-catalyzed reactions can be considered as analogs of the Koch reaction, an efficient Rh-catalyzed carbonylation of methyl alcohol in the presence of iodine (thus in situ forming methyl iodide) was developed by Monsanto and became the dominant industrial process (see Section 7.2.4). 

Acidic Carboxonium Ions (Hydroxylated Cations). Acidic carboxonium ions are generally obtained by protonation of carbonyl compounds.541,542 Aldehydes and ketones protonate on the carbonyl oxygen atom in superacid media at low temperatures, and the corresponding carboxonium ions can be directly observed543-551 [Eqs. (3.61) and (3.62)]. 

Nitrogen as Heteroatom. Amides are protonated on the carbonyl oxygen atom (cation 371) in superacid media at low temperatures, as shown first... 

Versatile synthetic routes are available to prepare metal carbonyl cations in superacidic media. The most successful methods include reductive carbonylation of metal fluorosulfates or fluorides [Eqs. (4.237)1003 and (4.238)1004]-1002 1005 This... 

The homoleptic carbonyl salt [Hg(CO)2]+(Sb2Fn )2 reacts with traces of water in the HF—SbF5 superacid to yield the bis-aqua solvate [Hg2(OH2)2]2+(SbF6-)2-4 HF.1024 The cation is almost linear with nearly C2/, symmetry. The Hg—Hg and Hg—O bond distances are 2.4917 A and 2.148 A, respectively, and the O—Hg—Hg bond angle is 177.6°. 

Electrophilic ring closure of aryl-substituted compounds such as alkenes, halides, alcohols, and carbonyl compounds called cyclialkylation can be induced by conventional Friedel-Crafts catalysts309 and by superacids. Examples are also known in which an intermolecular alkylation step is followed by intramolecular alkylation of the intermediate to furnish a cyclic product. 

Akhrem and co-workers417 have successfully applied aprotic organic superacids in the carbonylation of a series of alkanes. Butane was transformed into isomeric carboxylic acids depending on the superelectrophilic reagent and isolated as the... 

Olah et al.450 have recently described a new, highly efficient superelectrophilic formylation-rearrangementofisoalkanes. Branched ketones are formed in high yields and with high selectivity with no detectable branched acids (Koch products) in the presence of moderately strong superacids such as HF-BF3 or triflic acid-BF3. Carbonylation of isobutane under such conditions gives isopropyl methyl ketone in high yield [Eq. (5.164)] The transformation was interpreted with the involvement of... 

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