Plutonium(III)-catalyzed Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reactions

The reactivity of Th(IV), U(III), U(IV), Pu(III) and Pu(IV) iso-propoxide in the Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction of ketones by iso-propanol have been examined. Plutonium(III) iso-propoxide is found to be an effective catalyst for the reduction of a range of substituted aryl-alkyl ketones, while An(IV) iso-propoxides (An=Th, U, Pu) are found to be inactive. U(III) was found to oxidize under the reaction conditions to a U(IV) complex, which was also catalytically inactive.