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Updated: Jan 20, 2026
Acid-Catalyzed Dehydration of Alcohols to Alkenes
Catalytic, Tunable, One-Step Bismuth(III) Triflate Reaction with Alcohols: Dehydration Versus Dimerization
Laura E Kolsi1, Jari Yli-Kauhaluoma1, Vânia M Moreira1,2
1Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 5 E, P.O. Box 56, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
Abstract:
Bi(OTf)3·xH2O is a powerful catalyst for the dehydration of tertiary alcohols into alkenes in apolar solvents. The reaction proceeds smoothly and selectively, with amounts as low as 0.01 mol % catalyst, in yields up to 93%. Moreover, in polar solvents, Bi(OTf)3·xH2O (0.1-1 mol %) selectively catalyzes the dimerization of the alcohols instead, forming new C-C bonds, in yields up to 96%. This mild, efficient, economic, and eco-friendly method is applicable across different chemical classes and amenable to several functional groups.
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