Catalytic dehydration of secondary alcohols by tungsten dioxo complexes
by DeNike, Kayla A.; Stephens, Jessica Chelsea; Kilyanek, Stefan M.
Dehydration of secondary alcs. can be performed by simple W(VI)-dioxo complexes under mild conditions. In contrast to other group 6 dioxo complexes tungsten-dioxo complexes were found to be resistant to reduction by secondary alcs. A consequence of this attenuated redox behavior is the dehydration of secondary alcs. yielding alkenes. The substrate scope, kinetics measurements, and mechanism of reaction will be discussed in detail. DFT calculations were performed to probe he critical intermediates and transition states of reaction. The steric and electronic properties of the substrate were found to have a substantial influence on the rate of reaction.