Alkyl and alkenyl arenes are used as precursors for plastics, elastomers and other materials. Current methods for the industrial production of alkyl and alkenyl arenes generally involve acid-catalyzed arene alkylation, trans-alkylation, and alkyl arene dehydrogenation. Recently, the Gunnoe group found the Rh(I) complex (FIDAB)Rh(OAc)(η2-C2H4) (FIDAB = N,N′- bis(pentafluorophenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene; OAc = acetate) serves as a catalyst precursor for the formation of styrene from benzene and ethylene using air recyclable Cu(II) oxidants. New studies provide details of the active catalyst including an explanation of previously observed induction periods. Under reaction conditions, diimine ligands readily dissociate from Rh, but they can serve to remove induction periods through interaction with Cu(II) oxidants.

Mechanistic studies of single-step styrene production catalyzed by Rh complexes with diimine ligands: A reevaluation of the role of ligands

256th National Meeting (2018)

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