Heterogeneous Gold‐Catalyzed Selective Reductive Transformation of Quinolines with Formic Acid

Abstract

Abstract Single phase rutile titania supported gold nanoparticles (Au/TiO 2 ‐R) are found to be efficient and versatile catalysts for chemo‐ and regioselective transfer hydrogenation of quinoline derivatives to 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinolines (THQs) using formic acid (FA) as a safe and convenient hydrogen source under mild conditions. The activity and chemoselectivity of the Au/TiO 2 ‐R catalyst towards THQs is excellent, with a substrate to catalyst ratio (S/C) of 1000 being feasible. Furthermore, a straightforward and selective route to N ‐formyltetrahydroquinolines (FTHQ) directly from quinoline compounds and FA by one‐pot, gold‐catalyzed reductive N‐formylation protocol is also established. magnified image