Enhanced Basicity of Ag2O by Coordination to Soft Anions. Issue 5 (28th January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ren, Bo; Wang, Meiyan; Liu, Jingyao; Ge, Jiantao; Dong, Hai
• Is Part Of: ChemCatChem. Volume 7:Issue 5(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 761
• Page End: 765
• Publication Date: 2015-01-28
• Subjects: Catalysis -- Periodicals; 541.39505
• DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201403035
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1867-3880

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>In Ag₂O‐mediated benzylation, the addition of a catalytic amount of KI can greatly improve reactivity. This is usually attributed to the formation of a more reactive iodo‐substituted electrophile. However, our studies show this to be due to the enhanced basicity of Ag₂O through coordination of soft iodide anions to the silver atom, and show KI to be an initiator. A catalytic amount of Ag₂O and NaBr can catalyze transesterification reactions, indicating the enhanced basicity of Ag₂O by bromide. We believe that this is a general effect for metal oxides and soft anions, applicable to a wider range of organic reaction systems.</p> </abstract>