SELECTIVE REDUCTION OF C-C DOUBLE BONDS IN CONJUGATED ENONES BY BENZYLAMINE. A VARIANT OF THE SOMMELET REACTION

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)98907-X

Prolonged reaction of some ketones with benzylamine at reflux converts them into α-benzyl derivatives by a route involving aldol condensation of the related ketimine with benzaldimine followed by exclusive reduction of the resultant C-C double bond by hydride transfer from benzylamine.This efficient procedure is a variant of the Sommelet reaction for the synthesis of aldehydes.