Selective liquid-phase hydrogenation of acetophenone and 1-indanone over Cu-based catalysts

N.M. BERTERO; C.R. APESTEGUÍA; A.J. MARCHI

Glasgow

Congreso; EuropaCat X; 2011

Aromatic alcohols are important intermediates in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. In particular, 1-phenylethanol and 1-indanol are of industrial importance because they are used in the production of medicines, agrochemicals, perfumes, catalysts, etc. . These alcohols can be produced in high yield by reduction of the C=O group of the ketones using complex metal halides such as NaBH4, LiAlH4 y KBH4. However, these homogeneous processes are environmentally unfriendly due to the production of a high amount of toxic, polluting and corrosive wastes. In this sense, the liquid-phase hydrogenation of acetophenone and 1-indanone (Figure 1) over Cu-based catalysts is proposed as an eco-compatible alternative for producing 1-phenylethanol and 1-indanol.