Copper (II) chloride–dmf catalytic system in solution and on silica

The connections between composition and formation conditions of catalysts based on immobilised complexes of Cu(II) and dmf as precursors and their catalytic activity in C–Cl bond metathesis in system CCl 4 – n -C 10 H 22 were studied. High activity and selectivity could be obtained providing that a lamina of dmf containing mononuclear copper complexes forms in pores of a support. It was shown that the composition and structure of surface complexes does not depend on concentrations of copper ions or dmf in precursor solution. The loss of catalytic activity when the support cannot fix the lamina (e.g., charcoal in contrast with silica) is observed. The key stage of catalysis could be a reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I).