Efficient and selective hydrogenation of C–O bonds with a simple sodium formate catalyzed by nickel

Abstract

A Ni-catalyzed hydrogenation of C–O compounds with sodium formate is developed. Various esters, i.e. aryl, alkenyl, benzyl pivalates, and even the aryl ethers, were efficiently reduced with a loading of nickel catalysts down to 0.5 mol%. Reactive functional groups such as C–C double bonds, carbonyl, CN, MeS and halogen groups are tolerable. This reaction can be used for the modification of complex molecules and carried out at a large scale.