Takaya Matsumoto, R. Periana, D. Taube
Mar 10, 2002
Citations
0
Influential Citations
63
Citations
Journal
Journal of Catalysis
Abstract
Various rhodium complexes were examined for oxidative arylation of ethylene with benzene to directly produce styrene. Using Rh(ppy) 2 (OAc) ( 1 ) (ppyH=2-phenylpyridine), the reaction of benzene with ethylene gives styrene and vinyl acetate in 77 and 23% selectivities, respectively, in contrast to the selectivities using Pd(OAc) 2 , which are 47% styrene and 53% vinyl acetate. The observation that complex 1 is an active catalyst for both styrene formation and H–D exchange between CH 3 CO 2 D and C 6 H 6 suggests that styrene formation involves a Rh-mediated, benzene CH bond activation process. The crystal structures of complex 1 and Rh(ppy) 2 (acac–O,O′) (2) (acac=acetylacetonato) are also reported. Rh(acac)(CO) 2 also works as catalyst for styrene formation by addition of acacH and O 2 without any oxidizing agent, such as Cu salt. In this system, vinyl acetate is not formed at all in spite of the presence of acetic acid.