ChemInform Abstract: Meerwein‐Ponndorf‐Verley‐Type Reduction of Dicarbonyl Compounds to Hydroxy Carbonyl Compounds and α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds to Allylic Alcohols Catalyzed by Zirconocene and Hafnocene Complexes.

Abstract

Several dicarbonyl compounds, e.g. the α‐keto aldehydes (I), the dialdehydes (III), and the diones (V), are treated with 2‐propanol and catalytic amounts of zirconocene or hafnocene dihydride, performing a Meerwein‐Ponndorf‐Verley‐type reduction to give selectively oxo alcohols such as (II), (IV), or (VI).