Wenbing Sheng

Synthesis of phenacyl bromides via K2S2O8-mediated tandem hydroxybromination and oxidation of styrenes in water

Non-transition metal-catalyzed synthesis of phenacyl bromides was achieved through K2S2O8-mediated tandem hydroxybromination and oxidation of styrenes. The advantages of this reaction are its excellent functional group compatibility, mild reaction conditions (60 °C) and use of pure water as reaction medium. Based upon experimental observations, a plausible reaction mechanism is proposed.

Metal-Free Synthesis of Oxindoles via (NH4)2S2O8-Mediated Halocarbocyclization of Alkenes in Water

A metal-free synthesis of oxindoles was achieved through the (NH4)2S2O8-mediated halocarbocyclization of alkenes. This protocol provides a practical and environmentally benign method for the construction of halo-containing oxindoles in water. The advantages of this reaction are its good functional group tolerance and mild reaction conditions. On the basis of experimental observations, a plausible reaction mechanism is proposed.

Oxidative rearrangement of internal alkynes to give one-carbon-shorter ketones via manganese porphyrins catalysis.

Oxidative rearrangement of internal alkynes catalyzed by manganese(III) porphyrin is described, which opens a new access to one-carbon-shorter ketones using molecular oxygen. Under the standard conditions, a variety of alkynes including diarylalkynes and arylalkylalkynes rearranged smoothly to the corresponding ketones in high yields. Based upon experimental observations, a plausible reaction mechanism is proposed.

Effects of Oxygen Transfer Limitation and Kinetic Control on Biomimetic Catalytic Oxidation of Toluene

Abstract Under oxygen transfer limitation and kinetic control, liquid-phase catalytic oxidation of toluene over metalloporphyrin was studied. An improved technique of measuring dissolved oxygen levels for gas-liquid reaction at the elevated temperature and pressure was used to take the sequential data in the oxidation of toluene catalyzed by metalloporphyrin. By this technique the corresponding control step of toluene oxidation could be obtained by varying reaction conditions. When the partial pressure of oxygen in the feed is lower than or equal to 0.070 MPa at 463 K, the oxidation of toluene would be controlled by oxygen transfer, otherwise the reaction would be controlled by kinetics. The effects of both oxygen transfer and kinetic control on the toluene conversion and the selectivity of benzaldehyde and benzyl alcohol in biomimetic catalytic oxidation of toluene were systematically investigated. Three conclusions have been made from the experimental results. Firstly, under the oxygen transfer limitation the toluene conversion is lower than that under kinetic control at the same oxidation conditions. Secondly, under the oxygen transfer limitation the total selectivity of benzaldehyde and benzyl alcohol is lower than that under kinetic control with the same conversion of toluene. Finally, under the kinetics control the oxidation rate of toluene is zero-order with respect to oxygen. The experimental results are identical with the biomimetic catalytic mechanism of toluene oxidation over metalloporphyrins.