Alumina → Octa-2,4,6-triene

Participants

Reaction Steps

F. Woods and A. Viola, J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 78 (1956), 4380-4383, report that 2,4-octadien-6-ol is dehydrated at from 300° to 310° C. over aluminum oxide to give 1,6-dimethyl-1,3,5-hexatriene or 1-ethyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. If the reaction is carried out at from 450° to 500° C. instead of at from 300° to 310° C., substituted cyclohexadienes are obtained which are converted into mixtures of o-xylene and ethylbenzene only after dehydration over palladium/active charcoal.

Provenance & Evidence