BENZENE CHROMIUM TRICARBONYL

yellow crystalline powder

Catalyst for:

• Oxidation of alkenes
• Hydrogenation of alkynes

For cases where large quantities are needed, benzene chromium tricarbonyl is easily prepared from the reaction of benzene with Hexacarbonylchromium.

core: chromium
reagent type: catalyst

benzene chromium tricarbonyl is soluble in THF, ether, benzene.

Purify the complex by sublimation in vacuo. A possible impurity is 2-picoline which can be removed by washing with pentane and drying. It is then purified further by sublimation at 80-85o/10-3mm, or by recrystallisation from Et2O to give yellow crystals. 1H NMR in CDCl3 should give a single peak at 4.68. [Rausch J Org Chem 39 1787 1974, Pauson in Houben-Weyl Meth Org Chem V, E 18 Pt I p226 Theme Verlag, Stuttgart 1986, Beilstein 5 IV 625.]