Water as a Hydrogenating Agent: Stereodivergent Pd-Catalyzed Semihydrogenation of Alkynes

Abstract

Palladium-catalyzed transfer semihydrogenation of alkynes using H₂O as the hydrogen source and Mn as the reducing reagent is developed, affording cis- and trans-alkenes selectively under mild conditions. In addition, this method provides an efficient way to access various cis-1,2-dideuterioalkenes and trans-1,2-dideuterioalkenes by using D₂O instead of H₂O.