Robin Jastrzebski, Bert M. Weckhuysen and Pieter C. A. Bruijnincx
Chem. Commun., 2013,49, 6912-6914
DOI:
10.1039/C3CC42423E,
Communication
The catalyst system prepared in situ from iron(III) salts, tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine and a base readily catalyses the intradiol dioxygenation of pyrocatechol in methanol, to primarily afford the half-methyl ester of muconic acid. Dimethyl adipate is obtained by the subsequent, one-step catalytic hydrogenation/esterification, thus providing a green route to this important nylon precursor.
