Efficient and chemoselective hydrogenation of aldehydes catalyzed by well-defined PN3-pincer manganese(ii) catalyst precursors: an application in furfural conversion

Well-defined and air-stable PN3-pincer manganese(ii) complexes were synthesized and used for the hydrogenation of aldehydes into alcohols under mild conditions using MeOH as a solvent. This protocol is applicable for a wide range of aldehydes containing various functional groups. Importantly, alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, including ynals, are hydrogenated with the C=C double bond/C=C triple bond intact. Our methodology was demonstrated for the conversion of biomass derived feedstocks such as furfural and 5-formylfurfural to furfuryl alcohol and 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfuryl alcohol respectively.

Automated summary

Well-defined and air-stable PN3-pincer manganese(ii) complexes were synthesized and used for the hydrogenation of aldehydes into alcohols, applicable for a wide range of aldehydes containing various functional groups. The methodology was also demonstrated for the conversion of biomass derived feedstocks into corresponding alcohols.