title: Catalytic synthesis of n-alkyl arenes through alkyl group cross-metathesis.
abstract: n-Alkyl arenes were prepared in a one-pot tandem dehydrogenation/olefin metathesis/hydrogenation sequence directly from alkanes and ethylbenzene. Excellent selectivity was observed when ((tBu)PCP)IrH2 was paired with tungsten monoaryloxide pyrrolide complexes such as W(NAr)(C3H6)(pyr)(OHIPT) (1a) [Ar = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3; pyr = pyrrolide; OHIPT = 2,6-(2,4,6-i-Pr3C6H2)2C6H3O]. Complex 1a was also especially active in n-octane self-metathesis, providing the highest product concentrations reported to date. The thermal stability of selected olefin metathesis catalysts allowed elevated temperatures and extended reaction times to be employed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, 6-331, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Graham E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Dobereiner
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Richard R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Schrock
authors.forename: Alan S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Jason D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hackenberg