High-surface-area TiO2 and TiN as catalysts for the C-C coupling of alcohols and ketones

To design more sustainable processes for the alkylation of ketones, the use of both atom-ineffective leaving groups such as halides and boron as well as noble-metal-based catalysts should be avoided. For that purpose, high-surface-area titanium nitride was prepared from high-surface-area titanium dioxide using cyanamide as a transcription agent. The resulting nitride as well as the initial oxide proved to be effective and versatile catalysts for the alkylation of ketones with alcohols. Interestingly, the TiN catalyst yields unsaturated compounds, while the oxide-based catalyst mainly yields saturated coupling products. As a result of its metallic properties, TiN shows a strong tendency to catalyse the dehydrogenation of alcohols, which then undergo aldol condensation with ketones. In contrast, TiO2 promotes the direct nucleophilic attack of ketones on alcohols.