Cyclopropanation reactions using metal conjugates

ORGN 135

Samit A. Patrawala, dforbes@jaguar1.usouthal.edu, Department of Chemistry, University of South Alabama, Chemistry Building (CHEM) , Room 223, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688-0002
Although total point source and fugitive emissions have been on a steady decline within the chemical industry, unacceptable levels of pollutants have still been released nationally and locally. Therefore, in order to reduce total air emissions, both point source and fugitive, the development and implementation of alternative technologies in chemical reactions has been one active area of research. A common alternative pathway includes the use of ionic liquid technologies. A transition metal complex covalently bound to an organic salt offers a unique opportunity to explore issues of catalysis in an ionic liquid medium. Ligand exchange of acetate with imidazolium functionality tethered to a carboxylic acid afforded the desired metal-conjugate. The modified dirhodium(II) dimer was found to be an effective catalyst in the intermolecular cyclopropanation reaction of styrene using ethyl diazoacetate.