Reduction of Carbon-Carbon Double Bonds Using Organocatalytically Generated Diimide

An efficient method has been developed for the reduction of carbon-carbon double bonds with diimide, catalytically generated in situ from hydrazine hydrate. The employed catalyst is prepared in one step from riboflavin (vitamin B-2). Reactions are carried out in air and are a valuable alternative when metal-catalyzed hydrogenations are problematic.