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p-Cymene as Solvent for Olefin Metathesis: Matching Efficiency and Sustainability
Artur V Granato1, Alexandra G Santos1, Eduardo N Dos Santos1
1Chemistry Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Abstract:
The underexploited biorenewable p-cymene is employed as a solvent for the metathesis of various substrates. p-Cymene is a nontoxic compound that can be obtained in large amounts as a side product of the cellulose and citrus industry. For the cross-metathesis of estragole with methyl acrylate, this solvent prevents the consecutive double-bond isomerization of the product and affords the best yield of all solvents tested. Undesired consecutive isomerization is a major challenge for many substrates in olefin metathesis, including pharmaceutical precursors, and the use of p-cymene as a solvent may be a way to prevent it. This solvent results in a better metathesis performance than toluene for the three substrates tested in this work, matching its performance for two other substrates.
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