Tetrahedron Letters

Selective reduction of mono-and disubstituted olefins by NaBH 4 and catalytic RuCl 3

PK Sharma, S Kumar, P Kumar, P Nielsen

Index: Sharma, Pawan K.; Kumar, Surender; Kumar, Pawan; Nielsen, Poul Tetrahedron Letters, 2007 , vol. 48, # 49 p. 8704 - 8708

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Citation Number: 22

Abstract

Direct use of the relatively inexpensive reagent, RuCl3× H2O, as a catalyst for the reductions of olefins in the presence of water is reported. The combination of cheap and readily available sodium borohydride and a catalytic amount of RuCl3× H2O selectively reduces mono-and disubstituted olefins, whereas trisubstituted olefins, unless activated, and benzyl ethers remain inert.