Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones with KHCr(CO)5/HCO2H/Et3N Systems

In the presence of a HCO2H/Et3N (1:1) mixture, KHCr(CO)5 is an efficient catalyst precursor for the transfer hydro-genation of ketones in THF at room temperature. KHCr(CO)5 is also a stoichiometric reagent for the selective reduction of the carboncarbon double bond of (alpha),(beta)-unsaturated ketones.