Hydrogenation of a series of ketones and aldehydes was accomplished under microwave irradiation utilizing catalytic tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and an ethereal solvent acting as a frustrated Lewis pair (FLP).  These reactions were completed significantly faster than similar reactions using conventional heating methods.  Cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) displayed the best results when reacting with several substrates and 10% catalyst, completing the reaction in 60 minutes or less.  Furthermore, hydrogen consumption was monitored in real time, and rate constants and activation energy for these reactions were determined utilizing a first-order integrated rate law and the Arrhenius equation, respectively. Effects of substituent location on aromatic compounds were also analyzed. The results presented herein suggest microwave irradiation can significantly enhance the rate of FLP-catalyzed hydrogenations. <br/>

Hydrogenations with frustrated Lewis pairs under microwave irradiation

2019 Spring National Meeting

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