Robert Perron

Ionic liquids as solvents for the regioselective O-alkylation of C/O ambident nucleophiles.

Abstract The reaction of sodium β-naphthoxide with benzyl halides in molten tetraalkylammonium or phosphonium halides (at 110°C or below) leads to a highly regioselective O-alkylation. These new solvents, which can be quantitatively recovered at the end of the reaction, mimic the behaviour of dipolar aprotic solvents.

Methanol hydrocarbonylation into acetaldehyde catalyzed by cobalt and two different iodides

Abstract The cobalt-catalyzed hydrocarbonylation of methanol into acetaldehyde is discussed. The nature of the iodide promoter has a decisive influence on the reaction rate, the covalent CH3I being much more active than the ionic LI, KI, MePBu3I. A surprising synergistic effect is found when using a mixture of both covalent and ionic iodides.

Catalytic activity of RhH(CO)(PPh3)3 in the presence of thiol: A new way of obtaining a very active species

Abstract Addition of the thiol t-BuSH to RhH(CO)(PPh 3 ) 3 either under nitrogen under ambient conditions or under CO/H 2 pressure under hydroformylation conditions generates the much more active dinuclear species Rh 2 (μ-S-t-Bu) 2 (CO) 2 (PPh 3 ) 2 .

Rhodium/iridium catalyzed synthesis of carboxylic acids or esters thereof

Process for the preparation of a carboxylic acid or ester thereof. The process includes reacting at least one alcohol, alkyl or aryl halide, ether or ester, with carbon monoxide, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of at least one rhodium compound or rhodium metal, at least one iridium compound or iridium metal, or at least one mixed rhodium/iridium compound, and at least one halogen-containing promoter therefor.

Carbon Monoxide and Fine Chemicals Synthesis

Carbon monoxide has long been considered as a typical petrochemical or basic chemical raw material. Most of its industrial applications and research targets are to be found in areas such as methanol synthesis, Fisher-Tropsch synthetic gasoline production, oxo chemistry, acetic acid synthesis, and so on [1].