
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Hardin, SG 
A1  - Turney, TW 
T1  - Reactions of benzyl compounds with synthesis gas in the presence of ruthenium carbonyl iodides
JF  - Australian Journal of Chemistry
JO  - Aust. J. Chem.
Y1  - 1982
VL  - 35
IS  - 8
SP  - 1599
EP  - 1608
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9821599 
N2  - 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. 
ER  -

