Rapid ether and alcohol C-O bond hydrogenolysis catalyzed by tandem high-valent metal triflate + supported Pd catalysts.

The thermodynamically leveraged conversion of ethers and alcohols to saturated hydrocarbons is achieved efficiently with low loadings of homogeneous M(OTf)n + heterogeneous Pd tandem catalysts (M = transition metal; OTf = triflate; n = 4). For example, Hf(OTf)4 mediates rapid endothermic ether ⇌ alcohol and alcohol ⇌ alkene equilibria, while Pd/C catalyzes the subsequent, exothermic alkene hydrogenation. The relative C-O cleavage rates scale as 3° > 2° > 1°. The reaction scope extends to efficient conversion of biomass-derived ethers, such as THF derivatives, to the corresponding alkanes.