Catalytic transfer reduction (CTR) of alkyl alkyl, alkyl aryl, cyclic and unsaturated ketones over calcined Mg-Al hydrotalcites

Calcined Mg-Al hydrotalcites are very efficient catalysts in the vapor phase transfer reduction of a wide variety of ketones to afford corresponding alcohols. Aryl alkyl ketones were converted to aryl alkenes in excellent yields at 548 K. The catalytic activity of calcined hydrotalcites is attributed to the co-existence of acid-base pair sites, with strong basic sites, which can promote transfer hydrogenation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.