Revisiting the Mukaiyama-type epoxidation for the conversion of styrene into styrene carbonate in the presence of O 2 and CO 2
Résumé
Since its first report in the early 1990s, Mukaiyama-type aerobic epoxidation involving the presence of an
aldehyde as an electron donor is considered as an interesting oxidation reaction. Among the various metal
catalysts efficient for this process, salen-type complexes have many advantages: i) cheap Schiff-base
ligands can be easily synthesized and functionalized, ii) their metal complexes are described with most
transition metals from the periodic table and iii) these compounds are also efficient for the catalytic
formation of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and CO2, which makes them ideal candidates for the
oxidative carboxylation of alkenes. The present work aimed at revisiting the aerobic oxidation of styrene
using Cr(III) and Mn(III) salen complexes in the presence of isobutyraldehyde with the idea to further use
these complexes (without any work-up), as co-catalysts for the formation of styrene carbonate under CO2
pressure. However, contrary to what is often described in the literature, the present study showed that the
introduction of a metal catalyst is not necessary for the epoxidation of styrene at 80 °C in benzonitrile. In
our hands, yields of ca. 15% of styrene carbonate were obtained from styrene using O2 (3.5 bar) and CO2
(11 bar) as reagents in the presence of isobutyraldehyde (2.5 eq), tetrabutylammonium bromide (ca. 2
mol%) and the Cr(III) salen complex (ca. 1 mol%). Apparently, the oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) species in the
presence of O2 and isobutyraldehyde is detrimental to the kinetics of the tetrabutylammonium bromidecatalyzed
cycloaddition of CO2 to styrene oxide.
Domaines
ChimieOrigine | Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s) |
---|