Activity, selectivity, and stereochemical features in the copper-catalyzed hydrogenative ring-opening of alkyl-substituted cyclopropanes-nature of active sites

The reactions of four alkyl-substituted cyclopropanes in a hydrogen atmosphere in a closed circulation system have been studied over silica-supported and support-free copper catalysts made by different methods. Both isomerization and direct hydrogen addition occur. The ring opens in both the sterically more hindered and less hindered directions. On the basis of the kinetic data, mechanistic considerations are discussed. The catalysts were studied by N20 titration and TPR (temperature-programmed reduction). The properties of the reactions and the TPR data indicate that the active centers are atomic clusters for the direct hydrogenation and Cu(I) ions for the ring-opening from the sterically hindered direction through the formation of olefinic compounds.