CATALYTIC AND STOICHIOMETRIC REDUCTION OF KETONES AND ALDEHYDES BY THE HYDRIDOTETRACARBONYL FERRATE ANION

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0022-328X(00)81009-8

Acetone is catalytically reduced to isopropyl alcohol by carbon monoxide and water in the presence of iron carbonyls and triethylamine at 100 deg C and 100 bar.Use of NaOH in place of triethylamine gives a much less efficient catalyst system.The Et3NH*HFe(CO)4 system also catalyses the reduction of n-butyraldehyde to n-butyl alcohol at room temperature in a fast stoichiometric reaction, whereas NaHFe(CO)4 is inactive under the same conditions.The Et3NH⁺ cation is necessary for the transfer of a proton to the carbonyl group, while the HFe(CO)4^- anion carries out nucleophilic attack on carbonyl group and supplies the hydride ion.