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Base‐Free Iron Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation of Esters Using EtOH as Hydrogen Source
Author(s) -
FarrarTobar Ronald A.,
Wozniak Bartosz,
Savini Arianna,
Hinze Sandra,
Tin Sergey,
de Vries Johannes G.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201810605
Subject(s) - chemistry , pincer movement , catalysis , polyester , alcohol , organic chemistry , substrate (aquarium) , base (topology) , hydrogen , transfer hydrogenation , ruthenium , mathematical analysis , oceanography , mathematics , geology
Herein, we report on the use of the iron pincer complex Iron‐MACHO‐BH, in the base‐free transfer hydrogenation of esters with EtOH as a hydrogen source. More than 20 substrates including aromatic and aliphatic esters and lactones were reduced affording the desired primary alcohols and diols with moderate to excellent isolated yields. It is also possible to reduce polyesters to the diols with this method, enabling a novel way of plastic recycling. Reduction of the renewable substrate methyl levulinate proceeds to form 1,4‐pentanediol directly. The yields are largely governed by the equilibrium between the alcohol and the ethyl ester.