Design, Synthesis, and Applications of a Vanadium Complex: An Effective Catalyst for the Direct Conversion of Alcohols and Aldehydes to Esters

Abstract

A novel bench-stable V-catalyst [(L 2 )V IV O](ClO 4 ) was synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and FT-IR, UV−visible, and EPR spectroscopies, which confirmed its excellent catalytic activity. In application, aldehydes are rapidly converted into their corresponding esters without additives in a one-pot manner using a newly developed catalyst [(L 2 )V IV O](ClO 4 ) and H 2 O 2 as a green oxidant. The developed method is compatible with a broad range of densely substituted aldehydes and allows for the facile preparation of aliphatic, aromatic, and heterocyclic esters, including esters derived from CD 3 OD, methanol, ethanol, iso-propanol, n-butanol, sec-butyl alcohol, and propargylic alcohol. Gratifyingly, numerous alcohols also directly converted to their corresponding esters in a onepot manner. We disclose herein the direct conversion of two different functionalities (alcohols and aldehydes) into esters (33 examples) with satisfactory yields, showing the potential of the developed catalyst toward varied oxidative organic transformations in a one-pot manner.

A COF template-derived mesoporous CeO2-supported Au nanoparticles catalyst for the oxidative esterification of benzaldehydes and benzyl alcohols

“…Ester compounds are widely used fine chemicals typically used in the food, medicine and chemical industries. 1–3 Generally, esters are prepared by the reaction between organic acids and alcohols, 4 the reaction between carboxylates and halogenated hydrocarbons, 5 and the transesterification of carboxylates with alcohols. 6 However, these conventional methods exhibit disadvantages, including the production of considerable by-products and chemical waste that are deleterious to the environment, severe corrosion of reaction equipment, and harsh reaction conditions.…”