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Exploring and exploiting benzylic regioselectivity in rhodium-catalysed hydroformylation
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dc.contributor.advisor | Clarke, Matt | |
dc.contributor.author | Martin, Nicola | |
dc.coverage.spatial | 89 | en_US |
dc.date.accessioned | 2011-06-23T15:57:42Z | |
dc.date.available | 2011-06-23T15:57:42Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2011-06-22 | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10023/1904 | |
dc.description.abstract | This project involves a study into the hydroformylation of substituted alkenes and ways to exploit “benzylic regioselectivity”. It was our aim to develop a clean, selective hydroformylation reaction which takes advantage of the tendency for benzylic regioselectivity in styrene-type molecules; in doing so, providing a potential route to important biologically active molecules. In Chapter Two, hydroformylation of methyl cinnamate is explored since we envisaged that a regioselective hydroformylation of this substrate would serve as a step in an efficient route to γ-amino acids derivatives; which are important building blocks for the synthesis of important drug molecules. Most Rh-phosphine catalysts install the formyl group α- to the ester group however, we found that certain reaction conditions and appropriate choice of phosphorus containing ligands led to highly chemoselective and regioselective hydroformylation. Regioselectivities of up to 25 : 1 favouring the benzylic aldehyde were observed. However, as will be explained, this reaction is hindered by significant hydrogenation under hydroformylation conditions. Using a novel ligand this side reaction was lowered to 5% with reasonable regioselectivity, however overall conversion to the desired aldehyde was low. As a means to synthesise γ-amino acid derivatives, enamine formation using the aldehyde products was also attempted. An alternative alkenyl arene substrate is studied in Chapter Three. High benzylic regioselectivity was observed using a variety of chiral and achiral ligands and again reaction conditions were optimised with the aim to develop an efficient process for the synthesis of γ-amino alcohol derivatives. It was found that PPh₃, tris(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)phosphine and a phosphaadamantane cage phosphine ligand gave the most promising results with moderate to high regioselectivity observed. Asymmetric hydroformylation was not possible due to low activity using a variety of state-of-the-art chiral ligands. | en_US |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.publisher | University of St Andrews | |
dc.subject | Hydroformylation | en_US |
dc.subject | Organometallic | en_US |
dc.subject | Catalysis | en_US |
dc.subject | Esters | en_US |
dc.subject.lcc | QD281.H79M28 | |
dc.subject.lcsh | Hydroformylation | en_US |
dc.subject.lcsh | Organometallic compounds | en_US |
dc.subject.lcsh | Rhodium catalysts | en_US |
dc.subject.lcsh | Esters | en_US |
dc.title | Exploring and exploiting benzylic regioselectivity in rhodium-catalysed hydroformylation | en_US |
dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
dc.type.qualificationlevel | Doctoral | en_US |
dc.type.qualificationname | MPhil Master of Philosophy | en_US |
dc.publisher.institution | The University of St Andrews | en_US |
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