Abstract
(Chemical Equation Presented) Treatment of 1-(2′-iodoethynylphenyl)- 2-propyloxirane (3) with TpRuPPh 3 (CH 3 CN) 2 PF 6 catalyst (10 mol %) produced 1-iodo-2-naphthol (3a) exclusively in DMF, but gave 2-iodobenzo[d]oxepin (3b) efficiently in benzene. Such a solvent-dependent chemoselectivity suggests a solution equilibrium between ruthenium-π-iodoalkyne and ruthenium-2-iodovinylidene intermediates. © 2005 American Chemical Society.