Date of Award

Spring 1960

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Chemistry

Abstract

In the summer of 1958 Dr. Norman E. Hoffman of the chemistry department of Marquette University found that myrtenal could be decarbonylated by means of palladium on powdered charcoal catalyst. On the assumption that an alpha-beta unsaturated aryl aldehyde might be decarbonylated as readily or more so than myrtenal, Dr. Hoffman heated cinnamaldehyde in the presence of palladium on powdered charcoal. A gas was evolved. The product of reaction was proven to be styrene. Several questions arose about this decarbonylation of cinnamaldehyde to obtain a yield of styrene. What yields of styrenes could be obtained from the catalytic decarbonylations of other cinnamaldehydes? Whad effect would ring-substitution have upon the decarbonylation of cinnamaldehydes? Would it be possible to synthesize ring substituted cinnamaldehydes for use in decarbonylation by a practicable method?

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