Chemoselective Electrochemical Hydrogenation of Ketones and Aldehydes with a Well-Defined Base-Metal Catalyst.

ABSTRACT: Hydrogenation reactions are fundamental functional group transformations in chemical synthesis. Here, we introduce an electrochemical method for the hydrogenation of ketones and aldehydes by in situ formation of a Mn-H species. We utilise protons and electric current as surrogate for H₂ and a base-metal complex to form selectively the alcohols. The method is chemoselective for the hydrogenation of C=O bonds over C=C bonds. Mechanistic studies revealed initial 3 e^- reduction of the catalyst forming the steady state species [Mn₂ (H_-1 L)(CO)₆ ]^- . Subsequently, we assume protonation, reduction and internal proton shift forming the hydride species. Finally, the transfer of the hydride and a proton to the ketone yields the alcoho

SUBMITTER: Fokin I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7702145 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature