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![Mizoroki-Heck Cross-coupling Reactions Catalyzed by Dichloro{bis[1,1',1''-(phosphinetriyl)tripiperidine]}palladium Under Mild Reaction Conditions](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F51444.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
Mizoroki-Heck Cross-coupling Reactions Catalyzed by Dichloro{bis[1,1',1''-(phosphinetriyl)tripiperidine]}palladium Under Mild Reaction Conditions
Published on: March 20, 2014
A Dual-Functional Catalyst for Cascade Meerwein-Pondorf-Verley Reduction and Dehydration of 4'-Methoxypropiophenone
Hongwei Zhang1, Candy Li-Fen Lim1, Muhammad Zaki1
1Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Kent Ridge, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.
Abstract:
Anethole is an ingredient in many flavours, fragrances and pharmaceutical formulations. To reduce the dependence of its supply on natural oils, a green route for anethole synthesis was designed on the basis of Meerwein-Pondorf-Verley (MPV) reduction and dehydration of 4'-methoxypropiophenone. The one-pot cascade reactions were heterogeneously catalysed by dual-functional Zr-MSU-3, a predominantly Lewis-acidic catalyst with a Si/Zr ratio of 10 and pores with sizes in the range of 3.2-4.2 nm. The use of 2-pentanol as solvent and hydrogen donor for the MPV reduction was advantageous, as its high boiling point enhances the rate of the reactions, especially the dehydration of the MPV product, 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-propan-1-ol. This dispenses with the need for a strong acid catalyst that could result in by-products of acid-catalysed reactions. Anethole yields of 91 % with a trans/cis isomer ratio of about 92:8, similar to that of natural anethole, were obtained. In comparison, microporous Zr-beta (Si/Zr 12.5) gave lower activity owing to pore-size constraints. Hence, through design of the reactions and catalyst, 4'-methoxypropiophenone can be efficiently converted to anethole in a sustainable and green manner.
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