Welcome to the new version of CaltechAUTHORS. Login is currently restricted to library staff. If you notice any issues, please email coda@library.caltech.edu
Published March 1, 1992 | public
Book Section - Chapter

Selective Hydroxylation of Hydrocarbons by Platinum Salts in Aqueous Media Direct Conversion of Ethanol to Ethylene Glycol

Abstract

Water-soluble organic compounds are hydroxylated by aqueous solutions of chloroplatinum(II) and chloroplatinum(IV) salts. p-Toluenesulfonic acid is converted stepwise to the corresponding alcohol and aldehyde, the first step being somewhat faster than the second. No further conversion to the carboxylic acid is observed. Ethanol shows substantial selectivity for attack at a C-H bond of the methyl group, affording ethylene glycol and 2-chloroethanol, as well as more expected products such as acetaldehyde and acetic acid. The origin of the unusual selectivity patterns is discussed in terms of the mechanism of activation of C-H bonds by Pt(II) species.

Additional Information

© 1992 American Chemical Society. Received for review October 19, 1990. Accepted revised manuscript September 24, 1991. Published in print 1 March 1992. This research was supported by the Caltech Consortium in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (founding members: Ε. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Inc., Eastman Kodak Company, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, and Shell Development Company) and by the Office of Naval Research, Grant N00014-89-J-3198. A. M. Herring thanks the Science and Engineering Research Council (United Kingdom) for a NATO fellowship.

Additional details

Created:
August 20, 2023
Modified:
January 14, 2024