Near-Instantaneous Chemoselective Transfer Hydrogenation of Aldehydes with Visual Endpoint Reporting and Ultrahigh TOF

Abstract

A bench-stable Ru(II)-para-cymene catalyst bearing proton-responsive ligands enables rapid and chemoselective transfer hydrogenation (TH) of aldehydes under mild, base-free conditions, achieving turnover frequencies (TOFs) up to 166 s⁻¹ with dual proton and hydride donors. A distinct, reversible green-to-yellow color change allows real-time visual endpoint detection and helps prevent over-reduction. The catalyst remains recyclable over multiple cycles with sustained activity and selectivity, providing a practical, self-indicating platform for efficient transfer hydrogenation in complex synthetic workflows.

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Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
18 Jun 2025
Accepted
18 Jul 2025
First published
18 Jul 2025

Chem. Commun., 2025, Accepted Manuscript

Near-Instantaneous Chemoselective Transfer Hydrogenation of Aldehydes with Visual Endpoint Reporting and Ultrahigh TOF

M. S. Padmor and S. Pratihar, Chem. Commun., 2025, Accepted Manuscript , DOI: 10.1039/D5CC03450G

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