TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN THE PRESENCE OF METAL COMPLEXES. II. REDUCTION OF ALKYL-SUBSTITUTED CYCLOHEXANONES VIA HYDROGEN-TRANSFER REACTIONS CATALYSED BY RHODIUM(I) COMPLEXES

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(84)80729-9

Catalyst systems prepared in situ from bidentate phosphines (Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2, where n = 1-4) and from 2 proved to be active in the transfer hydrogenation of alkylcyclohexanones (alkyl = 2-Me, 4-Me, 4-t-Bu, cis-2,6-Me2).With the exception of 4-methylcyclohexanone, which gave a cis/trans-cyclohexanol ratio of ca. 1, mainly cis alcohols were formed, their amounts increasing in proportion to the value of n.No reduction occurred in the case of 2-t-butyl- and 2,6-di-t-butyl-cyclohexanones.