Synthesis 1995; 1995(1): 63-68
DOI: 10.1055/s-1995-3854
paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag, Rüdigerstr. 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany. All rights reserved. This journal, including all individual contributions and illustrations published therein, is legally protected by copyright for the duration of the copyright period. Any use, exploitation or commercialization outside the narrow limits set by copyright legislation, without the publisher's consent, is illegal and liable to criminal prosecution. This applies in particular to photostat reproduction, copying, cyclostyling, mimeographing or duplication of any kind, translating, preparation of microfilms, and electronic data processing and storage.

‘High-Surface Sodium’ as a Reducing Agent for TiCl3

Alois Fürstner* , Günter Seidel
  • *Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz 1, D-45470 Mülheim/Ruhr, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

Sodium deposited on inorganic supports such as Al2O3, TiO2 and NaCl (‘high-surface sodium’) is a cheap, readily prepared, nonpyrophoric reducing agent for TiCl3. The low-valent titanium thus obtained, after only 1 h reduction time, is well suited for McMurry coupling reactions, particularly of aromatic carbonyl compounds. It exhibits a previously unrivalled template effect for the cyclization of dicarbonyl compounds to (macrocyclic) cycloalkenes and is suitable for the reduction of N-acyl-2-aminobenzophenone derivatives to 2,3-disubstituted indoles. Even a 36-membered ring could be formed without recourse to high dilution techniques.

    >