Event Title
Homogenous Catalysts for the Conversion of Epoxides to Alcohols
Research Mentor(s)
Margaret Scheuermann
Description
There is a large demand for terminal alcohols in both bulk and fine chemical synthesis. Current methods have limitations including generating stoichiometric waste or having poor selectivity for the primary alcohol over the secondary alcohol. My project focuses on the transformation of primary alcohols from terminal epoxides utilizing hydrogenation catalysts. Conditions were optimized for the conversion of 1,2-epoxyoctane to 1-octanol. It was found that (POCOP)Ir(CO) (1.3 mol %) and HOTf in a mixture of 5:1 dioxane: water with 600 psi H2 at 170 °C for 27 h yielded 74% 1-octanol. Results were characterized by GC-FID using toluene as the internal standard. Current research is being done to expand the substrate scope and determine how tolerant the reaction conditions are of varying functionality.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
May 2018
End Date
May 2018
Location
Chemistry
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Homogenous Catalysts for the Conversion of Epoxides to Alcohols
Chemistry
There is a large demand for terminal alcohols in both bulk and fine chemical synthesis. Current methods have limitations including generating stoichiometric waste or having poor selectivity for the primary alcohol over the secondary alcohol. My project focuses on the transformation of primary alcohols from terminal epoxides utilizing hydrogenation catalysts. Conditions were optimized for the conversion of 1,2-epoxyoctane to 1-octanol. It was found that (POCOP)Ir(CO) (1.3 mol %) and HOTf in a mixture of 5:1 dioxane: water with 600 psi H2 at 170 °C for 27 h yielded 74% 1-octanol. Results were characterized by GC-FID using toluene as the internal standard. Current research is being done to expand the substrate scope and determine how tolerant the reaction conditions are of varying functionality.