Lewis acid-modified mesoporous alumina: A new catalyst carrier for methyltrioxorhenium in metathesis of olefins bearing functional groups

Lewis acid-modified mesoporous alumina was found to be an efficient carrier as well as an activator for methyltrioxorhenium (MeReO3) in olefin metathesis reactions. Especially, MeReO3 doped on zinc chloride-modified mesoporous alumina catalyzed the metathesis of olefins with functional groups such as acetoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, acyl, chlorine, and bromine groups under mild conditions. The novel heterogeneous catalytic system promoted the metathesis of not only such functionalized olefins but also simple olefins without double bond migration that was often encountered on strong solid acids. We here present a new methodology for activation of a metal complex with Lewis acidic mesoporous materials in the metathesis reactions. This novel heterogeneous catalyst would be advantageous over conventional one from the viewpoint of environmental and economical organic synthesis.