Ionene-Bound Borohydrides: Efficient, Selective, and Versatile Polymer-Supported Reducing Agents

Abstract

Reduction of structurally different carbonyl compounds, such as aldehydes, ketones, α,β-unsaturated enals and enones, acid chlorides, and imines was accomplished efficiently using high capacity ionene based borohydride reagents. Aldehydes and imines were reduced to the corresponding alcohols and amines in excellent yields in methanol at ambient temperature while ketones and acid chlorides were reduced in iso-propanol and THF-MeOH at reflux. Chemoselective reduction of aldehydes over ketones was achieved successfully with these reagents. Complete regioselectivity was also observed in the reduction of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones.