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Both metal-catalyzed and organocatalytic transfer hydrogenation reactions are widely employed for the reduction of CO and CN bonds. However, selective transfer hydrogenation reactions of CC bonds remain challenging. Therefore, the chemoselective transfer hydrogenation of olefins under mild conditions and in the absence of metal catalysts, using readily available and inexpensive reducing agents ( i.e. primary and secondary alcohols), will mark a significant advancement towards the development of green transfer hydrogenation strategies. Described herein is an unconventional catalyst-free transfer hydrogenation reaction of activated alkenes using isopropanol as an eco-friendly reductant and solvent. The reaction gives convenient synthetic access to a wide range of substituted malonic acid half oxyesters (SMAHOs) in moderate to good yields. Mechanistic investigations point towards an unprecedented hydrogen bond-assisted transfer hydrogenation process.
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This content will become publicly available on June 30, 2026
Elucidating the essential role of hydrogen bonding and direct H-transfer in transfer hydrogenation on transition metal catalysts
Catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) employs organic hydrogen donors such as alcohols and formic acid as hydrogen source, enabling a more sustainable process at milder conditions compared to conventional hydrogenation use molecular hydrogen gas.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2045550
- PAR ID:
- 10627135
- Publisher / Repository:
- Royal Society for Chemistry
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Catalysis Science & Technology
- Volume:
- 15
- Issue:
- 13
- ISSN:
- 2044-4753
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 3961 to 3975
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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