The Tsuji–Wilkinson decarbonylation reaction is a method for the decarbonylation of aldehydes and some acyl chlorides. The reaction name recognizes Jirō Tsuji, whose team first reported the use of Wilkinson's catalyst (RhCl(PPh3)3) for these reactions:
RC(O)X + RhCl(PPh3)3 → RX + RhCl(CO)(PPh3)2 + PPh3
Although decarbonylation can be effected by several transition metal complexes, Wilkinson's catalyst has proven the most effective.[1]
Strictly speaking, this reaction results in the formation of a rhodium carbonyl complex rather than free carbon monoxide.
The catalytic cycle is assumed to involve oxidative addition of the aldehyde (or acid chloride) to gives a 16e acyl Rh(III)-hydride intermediate, which undergoes migratory extrusion of CO proceed to form an 18-electron d6 Rh(III) carbonyl complex. Reductive elimination produces the decarbonylated product. In the catalytic variant of the Tsuji–Wilkinson decarbonylation, RhCl(CO)(PPh3)2 evolves CO above 200 °C, thereby regenerating RhCl(PPh3)n. Otherwise, the reaction mechanism halts by formation of this thermodynamically stable carbonyl complex.
The Tsuji–Wilkinson decarbonylation proceeds under mild conditions and is highly stereospecific. In addition to aliphatic, aromatic, and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, acyl nitriles and 1,2-diketones are also suitable substrates. Few methods exist for decarbonylation.
One illustrative application is the synthesis of the core nucleus of FR-900482.[2] Note that the ester is unaffected by the rhodium reagent.
The Tsuji–Wilkinson decarbonylation is employed in the penultimate step of the synthesis of (–)-presilphiperfolan-8-ol.[3] They comment “Of note in these final steps, separate reduction and oxidation steps proceeded in inferior yield in generating 38 (70% versus 93%), while the Rh(PPh3)3Cl operation proceeded smoothly when conducted on small scale (~15 mg). In total, the synthesis required 13 steps from commercial starting material, and ~15 mg of [(–)-presilphiperfolan-8-ol] has been prepared with spectral properties and optical rotations matching that of the natural isolate.”
Unfortunately, the Tsuji–Wilkinson decarbonylation is stoichiometric. The product bis(triphenylphosphine)rhodium carbonyl chloride is not readily converted back to a CO-free reagent. Above 200 °C, carbon monoxide RhCl(CO)(PPh3)2 does decarbonylate,[4] however these high temperatures are often prohibitive. The ideal Tsuji–Wilkinson decarbonylation would be by catalytic near ambient temperatures.
The reaction has been carried out in flow conditions at low temperatures in which a biphasic liquid-gas flow decarbonylation was developed employing N2 as a gas carrier.[5] However, the temperature required for this reaction is 200 °C.
Significant improvements of the Tsuji–Wilkinson decarbonylation have been made by using cationic rhodium complexes with chelating bisphosphines.[6]