Highly-functionalized arene synthesis based on palladium on carbon-catalyzed aqueous dehydrogenation of cyclohexadienes and cyclohexenes

Abstract

Transition metal-catalyzed dehydrogenation is a clean oxidation method requiring no additional oxidants. We have accomplished a heterogeneous Pd/C-catalyzed aqueous dehydrogenation of 1,4-cyclohexadienes and cyclohexenes to give the corresponding highly-functionalized arenes. Furthermore, various arenes could be efficiently constructed in a one-pot manner via a Diels–Alder reaction and the following dehydrogenation.