RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3-Catalyzed Chemoselective Transfer-Hydrogenation of Enones Leading to Saturated Ketones

The highly chemoselective transfer-hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated ketones to give saturated ketones was achieved using RuHCl(CO)(PPh 3 ) 3 as a catalyst. In addition to α,β-unsaturated ketones, other enones, containing a remote C=C bond, were also reduced to give saturated ketones in good to excellent yields with high selectivity.