Indium Tribromide-Catalysed Transfer-Hydrogenation: Expanding the Scope of the Hydrogenation and of the Regiodivergent DH or HD Addition to Alkenes

The transfer-hydrogenation as well as the regioselective and regiodivergent addition of H-D from regiospecific deuterated dihydroaromatic compounds to a variety of 1,1-di- and trisubstituted alkenes was realised with InBr3 in dichloro(m)ethane. In comparison with the previously reported BF3Et2O-catalysed process, electron-deficient aryl-substituents can be applied reliably and thereby several restrictions could be lifted, and new types of substrates could be transformed successfully in hydrodeuterogenation as well as deuterohydrogenation transfer-hydrogenation reactions.

Automated summary

The study found that using InBr3 as a catalyst can achieve regioselective and regiodivergent addition of H-D from regiospecific deuterated dihydroaromatic compounds to a variety of 1,1-di- and trisubstituted alkenes. Compared to previous catalytic processes, InBr3 has a wider applicability, can overcome old restrictions, and successfully transform new types of substrates.