Pure Appl. Chem., 2007, Vol. 79, No. 11, pp. 1839-1846
doi:10.1351/pac200779111839
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: acylation; catalysis; fine chemicals; Friedel-Crafts reaction; green chemistry; indium; rearrangements; tocopherol; vitamins.
*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.