RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3-Catalyzed Reductive Dimerization of α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes Leading to α-Hydroxymethyl Ketones

The reductive dimerization α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to give saturated ketones was achieved using RuHCl(CO)(PPh 3 ) 3 as a catalyst in the presence of secondary alcohols as hydrogen source. The reaction is likely to proceed via the hydroruthenation of α,β-un-saturated aldehydes followed by aldol reaction of the resultant ruthenium enolates with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to give unsaturated α-hydroxymethyl ketones, which undergo transfer hydrogenation to give α-hydroxymethyl ketones.