Liquid Poly(ethylene glycol) and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide:  A Benign Biphasic Solvent System for Use and Recycling of Homogeneous Catalysts

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 125; no. 19; pp. 5600 - 5601
• Main Authors: Heldebrant, David J, Jessop, Philip G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 14-05-2003
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalytic reactions; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Catalytic reaction; Catalyst regeneration; Hydrocarbon; Carbon dioxide; Organic ligand; Transition metal Complexes; Complex catalyst; Experimental study; Hydrogenation; Ethylene oxide polymer; Rhodium Complexes; Homogeneous catalysis; Vinylic compound; Styrene; Supercritical solvent; Benzenic compound; Platinoid Complexes; Chloro complex
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/ja029131l

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), having a molecular weight of 900 or 1500, is a solid at room temperature but a nonvolatile liquid at 40 °C under CO2 pressure. Homogeneously catalyzed hydrogenation can be performed in the molten PEG, followed by extraction of the product by supercritical CO2. The catalyst-containing PEG phase which remains in the vessel can be reused for hydrogenation without addition of further catalyst or PEG.