ENANTIOFACE-DIFFERENTIATING HYDROGENATION OF 2-ALKANONES OVER MODIFIED RANEY NICKEL

Abstract

Abstract 2-Octanone was hydrogenated over tartaric acid-NaBr-modified Raney nickel in the presence of pivalic acid at various temperatures. The hydrogenation at 50–60 °C gave the best result with regard to the optical yield. Almost 80% of the optical yields were attained in the hydrogenations of various 2-alkanones.