Unexpectedly fast catalytic transfer hydrogenation of aldehydes by formate in 2-propanol–water mixtures under mild conditions

Szatmári, Imre and Papp, Gábor and Joó, Ferenc and Kathó, Ágnes (2014) Unexpectedly fast catalytic transfer hydrogenation of aldehydes by formate in 2-propanol–water mixtures under mild conditions. Catalysis Today, 247. pp. 14-19. ISSN 0920-5861

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Abstract

Unsaturated aldehydes were efficiently reduced by transfer hydrogenation from sodium formate in water–2-propanol mixtures using a water-soluble Ru(II)-tertiary phosphine catalyst. The reaction yielded unsaturated alcohols with complete selectivity and without hydrogenation or isomerization of C=C bonds of the substrates. Very high reaction rate was observed in the transfer hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde already at 30 ◦C with turnover frequency of 160 h−1 and this increased to 3800 h−1 at 70 ◦C. Consequently, the method is applicable to the synthesis of unsaturated alcohols in case of heat sensitive or highly volatile aldehydes, too. Based on multinuclear NMR investigations, trans-[RuH2(H2O)(mtppms)3] is suggested as the key catalytic species.

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