
%0 Journal Article
%A Hardin, SG 
%A Turney, TW 
%T Reactions of benzyl compounds with synthesis gas in the presence of ruthenium carbonyl iodides
%J Australian Journal of Chemistry
%D 1982/08/01
%V 35
%N 8
%P 1599-1608
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9821599
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/CH9821599 
%X Benzyl compounds, PhCH2X (X = OH, OCH2Ph, OMe, OAc), react with CO/H2 mixtures at 9-10 MPa and 220ºC in the presence of aqueous HI and [RU(CO)3I2]2 to afford toluene, HX and polymers of the type H(C7H6)nH(n = 2-6). The mechanism involves the initial dehydration of PhCH2OH to (PhCH2)2O which disproportionates to toluene and benzaldehyde. Ruthenium, present mainly as [Ru(CO)3I3]- and cis-Ru(CO)4I2, catalyses reduction of benzaldehyde back to benzyl alcohol or the production of polymers. The significance of these results to toluene formation in benzyl alcohol homologation reactions is discussed. 
