Carbon monoxide and hydrogen (syngas) as a C1-building block for selective catalytic methylation. Issue 3 (20th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kaithal, Akash; Hölscher, Markus; Leitner, Walter
• Is Part Of: Chemical science. Volume 12:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 976
• Page End: 982
• Publication Date: 2020-11-20
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/d0sc05404f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-6520

Abstract

Abstract : A broadly applicable catalytic process for the selective β-methylation of alcohols is presented using syngas (CO/H2 ) directly as a C1 building block and the shown manganese complex in the presence of a base as the catalytic system. Abstract : A catalytic reaction using syngas (CO/H2 ) as feedstock for the selective β-methylation of alcohols was developed whereby carbon monoxide acts as a C1 source and hydrogen gas as a reducing agent. The overall transformation occurs through an intricate network of metal-catalyzed and base-mediated reactions. The molecular complex [Mn(CO)2 Br[HN(C2 H4 P i Pr2 )2 ]] 1 comprising earth-abundant manganese acts as the metal component in the catalytic system enabling the generation of formaldehyde from syngas in a synthetically useful reaction. This new syngas conversion opens pathways to install methyl branches at sp 3 carbon centers utilizing renewable feedstocks and energy for the synthesis of biologically active compounds, fine chemicals, and advanced biofuels.