Ambient-pressure hydrogenation of ketones and aldehydes by a metal-ligand bifunctional catalyst [Cp*Ir(2,2′-bpyO)(H2O)] without using base

Abstract

An efficient catalytic system for hydrogenation of ketones and aldehydes using a Cp*Ir complex [Cp*Ir(2,2′-bpyO)(H2O)] bearing a bipyridine-based functional ligand as catalyst has been developed. A wide variety of secondary and primary alcohols were synthesized by the catalyzed hydrogenation of ketones and aldehydes under facile atmospheric-pressure without a base. The catalyst also displays an excellent chemoselectivity towards other carbonyl functionalities and unsaturated motifs. This catalytic system exhibits high activity for hydrogenation of ketones and aldehydes with H2 gas.