Organic Reactions in Melts and Solids. Part III: Hydrogenolysis by Neat Acyloins

Acyloins were investigated as hydrogen donors in thermal reactions. With neat materials, satisfactory yields were obtained when weak oxidants such as mercuric cyanide and other mercuric salts were used as hydrogen acceptors. The reactions show a high degree of selectivity: acyloins alone are oxidized by mercuric cyanide while compounds of related structure do not react. The reactions of neat materials, in the molten state, yield results which clearly differ from those previously obtained in various solvents.