Ultrasounds in melted poly(ethylene glycol) promote copper-catalyzed cyanation of aryl halides with K(4)[Fe(CN)(6)]

ChemSusChem. 2014 Mar;7(3):919-24. doi: 10.1002/cssc.201300997.

Abstract

Melted poly(ethylene glycols) (PEGs) were used for the first time as solvent for the sonochemically promoted cyanation of aryl halides employing inexpensive and safe K4[Fe(CN)6] and a relatively low amount of Cu-based catalyst. The Mw (weight-average polymer molecular weight) of PEG proved to notably influence the substrate conversion, which is indicative of a strong dependence of the sonication efficacy on solvent properties. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) contributed to the characterization of the polymer and the elucidation of the catalytic system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Ferrocyanides / chemistry*
  • Hydrocarbons / chemistry*
  • Nitriles / chemistry*
  • Phase Transition
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Sonication*

Substances

  • Ferrocyanides
  • Hydrocarbons
  • Nitriles
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Copper
  • potassium ferrocyanide