A convenient method for the syntheses of tetrahydrofuran moiety from furan by catalytic transfer of hydrogenation with ammonium formate

Pd–C/ammonium formate efficiently and selectively reduces hetero-aromatic furan ring to the corresponding tetrahydrofuran moiety. Under this reaction condition, carbon–carbon double bond and α,β-unsaturated ketones also reduced to the corresponding alkanes and saturated ketones.