Hydrogenation of olefins with hydrated nickel chloride, lithium and a catalytic amount of naphthalene

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(96)01518-3

The reaction of different olefins or dienes with a mixture of nickel (II) chloride dihydrate, an excess of lithium powder and a catalytic amount of naphthalane (17 mol%) in THF at room temperature, leads to the formation of the corresponding alkanes. The incorporation of deuterium oxide to the nickel salt complex yields deuterated hydrocarbons. Finally, in the case of dienes as starting materials the method can serve for mono or dihydrogenation depending on the amount of nickel salt used.