Selective hydrogenation of myrcene catalyzed by complexes of ruthenium, chromium, iridium and rhodium

• DOI: 10.1016/j.molcata.2005.04.067
• Publication Date: 2005-07-06T22:12:11Z
• Authors: Marcelo G. Speziali; Flávia C.C. Moura; Patricia A. Roble...; Maria H. Araujo; Elena V. Gusevskaya; Eduardo N. dos Sa...
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology

Abstract The hydrogenation of myrcene catalyzed by Ru, Cr, Ir and Rh complexes leads to the formation of a complex mixture of mono-, di- and trihydrogenated products. Seven major products have been characterized, showing that they arise from the σ-alkyl and/or η 3 -allyl intermediates formed by the reaction of metal catalysts with both terminal C C bonds of myrcene. A good control of chemoselectivity has been achieved through the appropriate choice of the metal and reaction conditions. Monohydrogenated products have been obtained with excellent combined selectivity of 95–98% at a high conversion of myrcene (>80%). Among the catalysts studied, rhodium complexes show the highest activity and selectivity, especially at temperatures lower than 100 °C.