The chemoselective catalytic oxidation of alcohols, diols, and polyols to ketones and hydroxyketones

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Abstract/Contents

Abstract
The chemoselective oxidation of vicinal diols to [Alpha]-hydroxyketones is a challenge in organic syntheses because not only does the diol need to be oxidized selectively to a monocarbonyl compound, but diols are also prone to overoxidation and oxidative cleavage. Employing a cationic palladium complex, [(neocuproine)Pd(OAc)]2(OTf)2, we were able to demonstrate the selective oxidation of glycerol to dihydroxyacetone mediated by either benzoquinone or O2 as the terminal oxidant, an accomplishment that has little precedent in homogeneous catalysis. Mechanistic studies were undertaken to uncover the nature of this remarkable chemoselectivity. Kinetic and deuterium-labeling studies implicate reversible [Beta]-hydride elimination from isomeric Pd alkoxides and turnover-limiting displacement of the dihydroxyacetone product by benzoquinone. We successfully extended this methodology to other terminal 1,2-diols and symmetric vicinal 1,2-diols and have carried out aerobic oxidation of these substrates catalyzed by 1. Examination of the reactivity of 1 with conformationally-restricted 1,2-cyclohexanediols suggests that the diol must chelate to the Pd center for effective oxidation to the hydroxyketone product. In a separate project, we have also investigated the electrocatalytic reduction of dioxygen by several dinuclear copper complexes, an important reaction for fuel cell applications.

Description

Type of resource text
Form electronic; electronic resource; remote
Extent 1 online resource.
Publication date 2011
Issuance monographic
Language English

Creators/Contributors

Associated with Painter, Ronald Michael
Associated with Stanford University, Department of Chemistry
Primary advisor Waymouth, Robert M
Thesis advisor Waymouth, Robert M
Thesis advisor Du Bois, Justin
Thesis advisor Trost, Barry M
Advisor Du Bois, Justin
Advisor Trost, Barry M

Subjects

Genre Theses

Bibliographic information

Statement of responsibility Ronald Michael Painter.
Note Submitted to the Department of Chemistry.
Thesis Thesis (Ph.D.)--Stanford University, 2011.
Location electronic resource

Access conditions

Copyright
© 2011 by Ronald Michael Painter
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).

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