A metal-free transfer hydrogenation: Organocatalytic conjugate reduction of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes

Abstract

Impressive tolerance is displayed in the efficient and chemoselective organocatalytic transfer hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes in the presence of a Hantzsch dihydropyridine and a catalytic amount of dibenzylammonium trifluoroacetate (see scheme). Various sensitive functional groups such as the nitro, cyano, alkenyl, and benzyloxy groups survive these reaction conditions.