Gallium-Assisted Transfer Hydrogenation of Alkenes

We report a rare case of alkene transfer hydrogenation using a main-group compound instead of a transition-metal complex as catalyst. We disclosed that 1,4-cyclohexadiene can be used as H-2 surrogate towards olefin reduction in the presence of [IPrGaCl2][SbF6]. Hydrogenative cyclizations have also been carried out because this cationic gallium complex is also a potent hydroarylation catalyst.