The selective catalytic conversion of cycloalkanes into cycloalkenes using a soluble rhenium polyhydride system

Abstract

Selective catalytic dehydrogenation (up to 9 turnovers) of cycloalkanes C_nH_2n(n= 6, 7, and 8) to the corresponding cycloalkenes is achieved, under mild conditions (30–80 °C), using dilute (ca. 3 mM) solutions of the bis(phosphine) rhenium heptahydrides (Ar₃P)₂ReH₇(Ar =p-F-;C₆H₄, Ph, and p-Me-C₆H₄) in the cycloalkane, with an olefin as the hydrogen acceptor.