Highly Selective Vapor and Liquid Phase Transfer Hydrogenation of Diaryl and Polycyclic Ketones with Secondary Alcohols in the Presence of Magnesium Oxide as Catalyst

MgO has been shown to catalyze an almost quantitative hydrogen transfer from 2-octanol as the donor benzophenone form benzhydrol, a useful intermediate product in pharmaceutical industry. The series of alcohols carbonyl group benzophenone, its ten derivatives, four polycyclic ketones, and 2-naphthyl phenyl ketone was carried out liquid (LP) or vapor phase (VP). dependence reactivity on structure donor, reaction temperature, donor-acceptor ratio, amount catalyst, type position substituents established. For both modes, optimal conditions for selective synthesis were determined side reactions investigated. results indicate that is suppressed by presence methyl substituent ortho much greater extent LP mode. A scale-up demonstrated