The mild rhodium(I), and phase transfer catalyzed, dehydrogenation of benzylic alcohols

Abstract

Benzylic alcohols can be dehydrogenated to carbonyl compounds by phase transfer catalyzed reaction (8 M NaOH, benzene, and PhCH 2 N(C 2 H 5 ) 3 + Cl − as the catalyst) in the presence of catalytic amounts of chlorodicarbonylrhodium(I) dimer. Evidence is presented for the intermediacy of ortho-metalated complexes in these reactions.