Catalytic Conversion of Vanillic Acid to Catechol by Palladium Acetate/bis(aminomethyl)-Nido-dicarba-undecaborane (11) System

The vanillic acid was converted to catechol using a catalyst system of PdAc2/[Na](+)[7,8-bis(aminomethyl)nido-C2B9H10]. The 90.3% yield of catechol was achieved from vanillic acid in 4 h using the system at 240 degrees C. The reaction was also compared using catalyst system of PdAc2/TMEDA (N, N, N', N'-tetramethylethy-lenediamine), PdAc2/dppe (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphine) ethane) and Pd/AC (activated carbon) under the same conditions. The product, catechol, was characterized by H-1 and C-13 NMR spectra and its yield was determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.