Flavin-Catalyzed Generation of Diimide:  An Environmentally Friendly Method for the Aerobic Hydrogenation of Olefins

Abstract

The first green and practical method for "aerobic hydrogenation" involving the use of hydrazine and an organocatalyst is described. Olefins can be hydrogenated by treatment with hydrazine in the presence of a 5-ethyl-3-methyllumiflavinium perchlorate (FlEt+.ClO4-) catalyst under O2 atmosphere to give the corresponding hydrogenated products in excellent yields along with environmentally benign water and molecular nitrogen as the only waste products.