Hydrogenation and Deuteration with the System Zn-NiCl2 in Aqueous Medium: Stirring and Ultrasonic Improvement Procedures

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00283a026

The system Zn-NiCl2-H2O is used for conjugate reduction of methyl cinnamate under stirring and ultrasonic irradiation.It appears that in both cases the three steps metallic nickel formation on the zinc surface, hydrogen gas formation by nickel-assisted zinc reduction of water, and catalytic olefin reduction with molecular hydrogen on the nickel-activated zinc surface constitute the main reaction pathways.Deuteration of the substrate is achieved by substitution of deuterium oxide for water, and better results are observed in the stirred reaction.Scanning electronmicrographs of the catalyst show that ultrasonic irradiation has cleaned the surface of the particles.