Transfer Hydrogenation of Carbonyl Compounds Using Nickel Nanoparticles

Significance

Nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) were found to promote the transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds. Thus, the NiNPs were prepared from anhydrous nickel(II) chloride, lithium powder, and a catalytic amount of 4,4′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl according to the reported procedures (F. Alonso, J. J. Calvio, I. Osante, M. Yus Chem. Lett. 2005, 34, 1262). The transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone with isopropyl alcohol was carried out in the presence of 20 mol% of the NiNPs in THF to give the phenyl methyl carbinol in 87% yield. The NiNPs were recovered and reused three times without any loss of catalytic activity (average 87% yield for three times).