Palladium-catalyzed reduction of ketones with nBu 2SnH 2

Abstract

Whereas the Pd(PPh 3) 4-catalyzed reduction of ketones with n Bu 3SnH does not proceed at all, the use of n Bu 2SnH 2, instead of n Bu 3SnH, leads to the efficient reduction of a variety of ketones in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(PPh 3) 4 under mild conditions, providing the corresponding alcohols in good yields. The stereoselectivity in the reduction of cyclic ketones is also investigated by using this Pd(PPh 3) 4/ n Bu 2SnH 2 reduction system.