New application of indium catalysts: A novel and green concept in the fine chemicals industry*
Angela Wildermann, Yann Foricher, Thomas Netscher, and Werner Bonrath
Research and Development, DSM Nutritional Products, P.O. Box 3255, CH-Basel, Switzerland
Abstract: New industrially important catalytic processes for application in the fine chemicals industry (e.g., synthesis of vitamins and key-intermediates) are presented. Protocols with indium catalysts provide the advantages of high selectivity and low catalyst loading for Friedel-Crafts-type alkylation, Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement, and acylation reactions. The transformations discussed could be carried out in a continuous manner.
Keywords: fine chemicals; catalysis; indium; green chemistry; tocopherol; acylation; vitamins; Friedel-Crafts reaction; rearrangements.
*Pure Appl. Chem. 79, 1831-2100. An issue of reviews and research papers based on lectures presented at the 1st International IUPAC Conference on Green-Sustainable Chemistry, held in Dresden, Germany, 10-15 September 2006.