Charles A. Brown

Catalytic hydrogenation—I: The reaction of platinum metal salts with sodium borohydride—new active platinum metal catalysts for hydrogenation

Abstract The treatment of Pt metal salt solutions with sodium borohydride results in the formation of finely divided black precipitates. Certain of these precipitates ar active catalysts for the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride. SomePt, Pd and Rhare active catalysts for the hydrogenation of olefins. If the precipitation is carried out in the presence of high surface area supports such as activated carbon, these materials show even greater activity. The Pt catalyst is remarkably active as a catalyst for the hydrogenation of a large variety of olefins; Pd, on the other hand, shows a marked sensitivity toward olefin structure. Rates of reaction were followed in a novel way, using a standard solution of sodium borohydride added to acid to supply pure hydrogen as required to maintain the pressure.

Organoboranes for synthesis. 13. Simple, efficient syntheses of long-chain alcohols and carboxylic acids.

Abstract General, convenient and simple syntheses of long straight chain alcohols and carboxylic acids were developed utilizing organoborane chemistry. One of the methods entails the thermal isomerization of long-chain alkyldicyclohexylboranes, followed by oxidation. An alternative procedure for the preparation of long-chain alcohols involves the KAPA isomerization of internal alkynes to the terminal derivative, followed by dihydroboration with 9-BBN and oxidation. Alternatively, the terminal alkyne can be oxidised directly to the carboxylic acid. In another strategy, the C 30 -alcohol triaxontanol was prepared by employing high pressure carbonylation of a borane intermediate.