Homogeneous Palladium-Catalyzed Selective Reduction of 2,2′-Biphenols Using HCO 2H as Hydrogen Source

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/a-1337-5153

An efficient homogeneous palladium-catalyzed selective deoxygenation of 2,2′-biphenols by reduction of aryl triflates with HCO ₂H as the hydrogen source is reported. This protocol complements the current method based on heterogeneous Pd/C-catalyzed hydrogenation with hydrogen gas. This process provided the reduction products in good to excellent yields, which could be readily converted to various synthetically useful molecules, especially ligands for catalytic synthesis.