Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley Reduction of Ketones and Aldehydes Catalyzed by Lanthanide Tri-2-propoxides

Abstract

Abstract Lanthanide tri-2-propoxides, Ln(i-PrO)3 (Ln=Nd, Eu, Gd, Dy, Er, Tm, Yb), are very efficient for the catalytic Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction. The catalytic activity of Gd(i-PrO)3 is about 103 times as high as that of Al(i-PrO)3. Compared with Gd(i-PrO)3, Yb(i-PrO)3 is less active for the reduction of ketones but is efficient for that of aldehydes.