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Updated: May 4, 2026
Facile Preparation of 2Z,4E-Dienamides by the Olefination of Electron-deficient Alkenes with Allyl Acetate
Published on: June 21, 2017
Rapid ether and alcohol C-O bond hydrogenolysis catalyzed by tandem high-valent metal triflate + supported Pd
Zhi Li1, Rajeev S Assary, Abdurrahman C Atesin
1Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University , 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.
Abstract:
The thermodynamically leveraged conversion of ethers and alcohols to saturated hydrocarbons is achieved efficiently with low loadings of homogeneous M(OTf)n + heterogeneous Pd tandem catalysts (M = transition metal; OTf = triflate; n = 4). For example, Hf(OTf)4 mediates rapid endothermic ether ⇌ alcohol and alcohol ⇌ alkene equilibria, while Pd/C catalyzes the subsequent, exothermic alkene hydrogenation. The relative C-O cleavage rates scale as 3° > 2° > 1°. The reaction scope extends to efficient conversion of biomass-derived ethers, such as THF derivatives, to the corresponding alkanes.
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