TRANSFORMATION OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN THE PRESENCE OF METAL COMPLEXES. III. TRANSFER HYDROGENATION OF ALKYLCYCLOHEXANONES. EFFECT OF PHOSPHINE BASICITY ON STEREOSELECTIVITY

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(84)80730-5

The transfer hydrogenation of 2- and 4-alkylcyclohexanones (alkyl = Me or t-Bu) was studied in alkaline i-PrOH with catalyst systems prepared in situ from 2 + phosphine (Ph3P, Bu3P).The stereoselectivity depends on the basicity of the phosphine and on the bulk and position of the alkyl substituent.