Unsupported Nanoporous Gold-Catalyzed Chemoselective Reduction of α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes Using Formic Acid as Hydrogen Source

Abstract

A straightforward, highly chemoselective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes was developed using unsupported nanoporous gold (AuNPore) as a heterogeneous catalyst with bio-renewable formic acid (HCO2H) as hydrogen source. Various α,β-unsaturated aldehydes were reduced to their corresponding allylic alcohols in good to high chemical yields with excellent selectivity. AuNPore offers several attractive features as a catalyst, such as high activity and selectivity, easy recyclability, and no leaching.