Mechanistic insights into the rhenium-catalyzed alcohol-to-olefin dehydration reaction.

Abstract

Rhenium-based complexes are powerful catalysts for the dehydration of various alcohols to the corresponding olefins. Here, we report on both experimental and theoretical (DFT) studies into the mechanism of the rhenium-catalyzed dehydration of alcohols to olefins in general, and the methyltrioxorhenium-catalyzed dehydration of 1-phenylethanol to styrene in particular. The experimental and theoretical studies are in good agreement, both showing the involvement of several proton transfers, and of a carbenium ion intermediate in the catalytic cycle.

• Authors: Ties J Korstanje, Johann T B H Jastrzebski, Robertus J M Klein Gebbink
• Journal: Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) (Chemistry) Vol. 19 Issue 39 Pg. 13224-34 (Sep 23 2013) ISSN: 1521-3765 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 23946099 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Chemical References

• Alcohols
• Alkenes
• Coordination Complexes
• Organometallic Compounds
• Protons
• Rhenium
• methyltrioxorhenium VII

Topics

• Alcohols (chemistry)
• Alkenes (chemistry)
• Catalysis
• Coordination Complexes (chemistry)
• Dehydration
• Organometallic Compounds (chemistry)
• Protons
• Quantum Theory
• Rhenium (chemistry)