Cyclooctane metathesis catalyzed by silica-supported tungsten pentamethyl [(ΞSiO)W(Me)5]: Distribution of macrocyclic alkanes

• Published in: Chemistry - A European Journal
• Main Authors: Riache, Nassima, Callens, Emmanuel, Samantaray, Manoja, Kharbatia, Najeh M., Atiqullah, Muhammad, Basset, Jean-Marie
• Other Authors: Analytical Chemistry Core Lab, Chemical Science Program, Core Labs, KAUST Catalysis Center (KCC), Organics, Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) Division, Center for Refining and Petrochemicals, Center of Research Excellence in Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals, King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsDhahran, Saudi Arabia
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Wiley 2014
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10754/563786; https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201403704

Metathesis of cyclic alkanes catalyzed by the new surface complex [(ΞSiO)W(Me)5] affords a wide distribution of cyclic and macrocyclic alkanes. The major products with the formula CnH2n are the result of either a ring contraction or ring expansion of cyclooctane leading to lower unsubstituted cyclic alkanes (5≤n≤7) and to an unprecedented distribution of unsubstituted macrocyclic alkanes (12≤n≤40), respectively, identified by GC/MS and by NMR spectroscopies. The authors thank Dr. Raju Dey for his contribution for the synthesis of the silica-supported W catalyst. We are also grateful to Dr. Geert Van Biesen (CREAIT, from University Newfoundland, Canada) for his help for the isolation of the two cyclic alkanes (cC 17 and cC 21 ). This work was supported by funds from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.