A Multifunction Pd/Sc(OTf)₃/Ionic Liquid Catalyst System for the Tandem One-Pot Conversion of Phenol to ε-Caprolactam

Abstract

A multifunction Pd/Sc(OTf)3/ionic liquid catalyst for the tandem one-pot conversion of phenol to ε-caprolactam is reported. Pd and Sc(OTf)3 cooperate to catalyze the hydrogenation of phenol to cyclohexanone with excellent conversion (>99.9%) and selectivity (>99.9%), whereas Sc(OTf)3 and an ionic liquid, [bmim][PF6], cooperate to catalyze the tandem transformation of the resulting cyclohexanone to cyclohexanone oxime and the Beckmann rearrangement affording ε-caprolactam.