A Sustainable Method for the Synthesis of Acetic Acid Based on Dehydrogenation of an Ethanol-Water Solution Catalyzed by an Iridium Complex Bearing a Functional Bipyridonate Ligand

摘要

An efficient system for the synthesis of acetic acid via dehydrogenation of an ethanol-water solution using a new iridium catalyst bearing a functional bipyridonate ligand with N,N-dimethylamino substituents was developed. Quantitative production of acetic acid from an ethanol-water solution was achieved. In addition, recovery and reuse of the catalyst using a simple procedure was also accomplished. Moreover, this catalytic system can be applied in the dehydrogenative transformation of various primary alcohols to the corresponding carboxylic acids.