HYDRATION OF ALKYNES IN ANHYDROUS MEDIUM WITH FORMIC-ACID AS WATER DONOR

Formic acid has been found to hydrate alkynes in the absence of water to give oxo products and carbon monoxide. The scope of the reaction of alkynes and formic acid has been delineated. Hydrocarbon alkynes were found to be reactive in the absence of catalyst. Functionalized alkynes, in particular oxygenated alkynes, are inert toward formic acid but can be activated catalytically with Ru3(CO)12. Consequently, all the tested types of alkynes were found to give oxo products and CO with formic acid. The mechanism of the reaction was examined. With some alkynes, the primary oxo products underwent secondary reactions that gave rise to unexpected products.