Reduction of Organic Compounds with Rare-Earth Intermetallics Containing Absorbed Hydrogen

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00235a009

The hydrogenation of organic compounds with rare-earth intermetallic hydrides has been investigated.Alkynes,alkenes,aldehydes,ketones,nitriles,imines, and nitro compounds are hydrogenated in excellent yields with LaNi5H6 or LaNi4.5Al0.5H5 at 0-60 deg C.The present hydrogenation method has the following characteristic features. (1) The intermetallic compounds (alloys) are not poisoned by compounds containing an amino group or a halogen atom. (2) The alloys can be used repeatedly without decrease in activity. (3) The reaction conditions are mild, and selective hydrogenations of some organic functional groups can be achieved.The reaction mechanism of this hydrogenation is briefly discussed in terms of stereochemistry and H/D exchange reactions.