An efficient ligand free chemoselective transfer hydrogenation of olefinic bonds by palladium nanoparticles in an aqueous reaction medium

Abstract

A highly efficient ligand free catalytic system was developed for chemoselective transfer hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds by palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) in an aqueous reaction medium. The developed methodology offers chemoselective 1,4-reduction of various α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds such as carbonyls, amides, esters and nitriles with excellent chemoselectivity and effective catalyst recyclability.