Metal-catalysed selective transfer hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to allylic alcohols

Abstract

This review describes the state-of-the-art of metal-catalyzed selective transfer hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones to the allylic alcohols, covering the literature of the last 30 years.

Study on the selective hydrogenation of isophorone

“…27,28 Alcohols are used as hydrogen sources for selective hydrogenation. 29,30 The hydrogenation mechanisms of the C]C double bond and C]O double bond in unsaturated aldehydes and ketones are completely different. The hydrogenation of the C]C double bond is performed on the active metal, while the hydrogenation of the C]O double bond is performed between the support and the active metal.…”

Arene-Osmium(II) Complexes in Homogeneous Catalysis

“…During the last three decades, metal-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation processes have attracted a great academic interest [44][45][46], representing nowadays a reliable synthetic tool for the reduction of carbonyl compounds and other unsaturated substrates, which in addition has found applications in industry [47,48]. A wide range of transition-and main group-metals have been successfully involved in such transformations, with ruthenium complexes playing a prominent role [44].…”

Base-Free Synthesis of Furfurylamines from Biomass Furans Using Ru Pincer Complexes

“…This transformation features compelling advantages, such as simple operating setups, mild reaction conditions, direct use of available substrates, and inexpensive reagents [31]. The reductive amination using transfer hydrogenation for the synthesis of furfurylamines from furfurals is limited, even though this transformation as a synthetic tool is non-toxic, environmentally friendly, does not require flammable gasses, and employs a stable, easy to handle, and inexpensive source of hydrogen [4,[32][33][34][35][36][37]. However, transfer hydrogenation catalysts typically require strong bases to be active, which can be detrimental for substrates that are base-sensitive [38].…”