The theoretical chemical calculations clarify the mechanism of beta-alkylation of 1-phenylethanol with benzyl alcohol catalyzed by iron(ii) acetylacetonate methods.

ABSTRACT: Iron(ii) acetylacetonate was suggested to be a better catalyst of the β-alkylation of 1-phenylethanol with benzyl alcohol to form 1,3-diphenyl-1-propanol. DFT calculations have been performed to study the internal mechanism, the structures of intermediates and transition states, and the exchange of electronic density in detail. The energetic results show that this β-alkylation reaction proceeds via the hydrogen autotransfer mechanism and the catalytic cycle includes three sequential stages: (1) alcohol oxidation to produce aldehyde associated with hydride anion transfer, (2) cross-aldol condensation to form a chalcone and (3) chalcone reduction with multi-step hydrogenation. In order to study whether the only by-product, water, has clearly influenced the reaction, eight catalyst hyd

SUBMITTER: Feng W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9081831 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature