Catalytic effect of nickel cyanide complex and skeletal nickel on addition of hydrogen to 6-methyl-3,5-heptadien-2-ol

Abstract

1. The complex cyanide K4Ni2(CN)6 catalyzes the hydrogenation of 6-methyl-3,5-heptadien-2-ol, while the divalent nickel cyanide K2Ni(CN)4 is inactive. 2. In the presence of the Ni cyanide complex at CN−/Ni < 5, the same as on skeletal Ni, the dienol is hydrogenated predominantly at the unsaturated bond in the 3,4 position with the formation of 5-hepten-2-ol. At CN−/Ni=5 the hydrogen adds to the dienol at the 5,6 C=C bond. 3. In contrast to skeletal Ni, on Ni cyanide catalyst the formed 5-hepten-2-ol is not reduced further and can be obtained in high yield.