Microwave-assisted rapid and simplified hydrogenation

TLDR: In this paper, the authors used microwave irradiation in open vessels using high-boiling solvents such as ethylene glycol (bp 198 °C) as the microwave energy transfer agent to reduce double bonds and hydrogenolysis of several functional groups.

Abstract: Catalytic transfer hydrogenation has been conducted under microwave irradiation in open vessels using high-boiling solvents such as ethylene glycol (bp 198 °C) as the microwave energy transfer agent Reduction of double bonds and hydrogenolysis of several functional groups were carried out safely and rapidly (3−5 min) at about 110−130 °C with 10% Pd/C as an efficient catalyst and ammonium formate as the hydrogen donor Diverse types of β-lactam synthons were prepared by the reduction of ring substituents containing alkene and alkylidene groups or conjugated unsaturated esters Cleavage of the β-lactam ring by hydrogenolysis of the N−C4 bond of 4-aryl-2-azetidinones was a facile reaction with 10% Pd/C as the catalyst; but no ring scission occurred when Raney nickel catalyst was employed Dehalogenation of aromatic compounds was also successful with ammonium formate and Pd/C catalyst Hydrogenolysis of phenylhydrazone of methyl benzoylformate gave the methyl ester of phenylglycine in excellent yield The te