Cadmium-Mediated Carbonyl Benzylation in Tap Water

Cunliu Zhou; Zhiyong Wang

doi:10.1055/s-2005-865293

PAPER

Cadmium-Mediated Carbonyl Benzylation in Tap Water

Cunliu Zhou*^a, Zhiyong Wang*^b
^a School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, P. R. China
^b Department of Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P. R. China
Fax: +86(551)2900067; e-Mail: zhoucl4@ustc.edu;

Abstract

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Abstract

Zn/CdCl₂ has been developed as a mediator in the benzylation of various aldehydes in tap water affording the corresponding alcohols in moderate to good yields. The addition of a catalytic amount of InCl₃ increases the yield of benzylation product significantly. It can selectively mediate the benzylation of aldehydes in the presence of ketones. A mechanism involving the formation of a cation π-complex is proposed based on the experimental facts.

Key words

cadmium - tap water - Barbier-type reaction - organometallics - benzylation

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References

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