An efficient system for the synthesis of acetic acid via dehydrogenation of an ethanol–water solution using a new iridium catalyst bearing a functional bipyridonate ligand with N,N‐dimethylamino substituents was developed. Quantitative production of acetic acid from an ethanol–water solution was achieved. In addition, recovery and reuse of the catalyst using a simple procedure was also accomplished. Moreover, this catalytic system can be applied in the dehydrogenative transformation of various primary alcohols to the corresponding carboxylic acids.
The front cover artwork for issue 17/2018 is provided by Prof. Ken‐ichi Fujita′s group from Kyoto University, Japan. The image shows the synthesis of acetic acid via dehydrogenation of a mixture of ethanol and water using a new iridium catalyst bearing a functional bipyridonate ligand with N,N‐dimethylamino substituents. See the Communication itself at https://doi.org/10.1002/cctc.201800680.
Phthalide is an important scaffold found in several biologically active compounds. Therefore, effective methods for the synthesis of phthalides are strongly desired. Herein, we describe the metal‐free synthesis of 3‐substituted phthalides by the reductive hydroiodination of 2‐alkynylbenzoates through an I2/PPh3/H2O‐triggered cascade reaction. A variety of 3‐substituted phthalides were synthesized in excellent yields by a one‐pot reaction involving four processes: desilylation, hydroiodination, cyclization, and reduction.
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