Homogeneous hydrogenation of nitroaliphatic compounds catalyzed by group VIII transition metal phosphine complexes

Abstract

A variety of Group VIII transition metal phosphine complexes were shown to be active catalysts for hydrogenation of nitroaliphatic compounds. The catalysis was determined to be homogeneous based on results of selective catalyst poisoning experiments using dibenzo[a,e]cyclooctatetraene and Hg. A deuterium labeling study showed that in the absence of added base the primary hydrogenation pathway does not involve intermediates containing C=N bonds.