Synlett 2004(11): 1953-1956  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-830871
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Selective Reduction of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds with CO/H2O Catalyzed by Selenium under Atmospheric Pressure

Fengshou Tian, Shiwei Lu*
National Engineering Research Center for Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 161 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, Liaoning 116011, P. R. China
Fax: +86(411)83698749; e-Mail: fengshoutian@163.com; e-Mail: lusw@dicp.ac.cn;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 1 June 2004
Publication Date:
04 August 2004 (online)

Abstract

Selective reduction of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a catalytic amount of selenium proceeded efficiently to afford the corresponding saturated carbonyl compounds in high yields under atmospheric pressure without use of a base.