Deep eutectic solvent-catalyzed Meyer-Schuster rearrangement of propargylic alcohols under mild and bench reaction conditions

Chem Commun (Camb). 2020 Dec 8;56(96):15165-15168. doi: 10.1039/d0cc06584f.

Abstract

The Meyer-Schuster rearrangement of propargylic alcohols into α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds has been revisited by setting up an atom-economic process catalyzed by a deep eutectic solvent FeCl3·6H2O/glycerol. Isomerizations take place smoothly, at room temperature, under air and with short reaction times. The unique solubilizing properties of the eutectic mixture enabled the use of a substrate concentration up to 1.0 M with the medium being recycled up to ten runs without any loss of catalytic activity.