Task-specific ionic liquid and CO2-cocatalysed efficient hydration of propargylic alcohols to α-hydroxy ketones

• DOI: 10.1039/c5sc00040h
• Publication Date: 2015-01-15T13:30:35Z
• Authors: Yanfei Zhao; Zhenzhen Yang; Bo Yu; Hongye Zhang; Huanjun Xu; Leiduan Hao; Buxing Han; Zhimin Liu
• Keywords: Chemistry; 4. Education; 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences; 3. Good health

The hydration of propargylic alcohols is a green route to synthesize α-hydroxy ketones. Herein CO2-reactive ionic liquid (IL), [Bu4P][Im], was found display high performance for catalyzing the in presence atmospheric CO2, and series could be converted into corresponding ketones good excellent yields. In IL/CO2 reaction system, CO2 served as cocatalyst by forming α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates with alcohols, released via rapid hydrolysis catalysed IL. This first example efficient under metal-free conditions.