Process

摘要

There is provided a process for the transfer hydrogenation of an organic compound having a carbon-carbon or carbon-heteroatom double bond wherein an organic compound of formula (I): wherein: X represents CR³R⁴, NR⁵, (NR⁵R⁶)⁺Q^-, O or S; Q^- represents an anion; R¹, R² each independently represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, a perhalogenated hydrocarbyl or an optionally substituted heterocyclyl group; R³, R⁴, and R⁶ each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, a perhalogenated hydrocarbyl or an optionally substituted heterocyclyl group; R⁵ independently represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, a perhalogenated hydrocarbyl, an optionally substituted heterocyclyl group or a removable group; or one or more of R¹ & R², R¹ & R³, R² & R⁴, R³ & R⁴, R¹ & R⁵, R² & R⁶ and R⁵ & R⁶ optionally being linked in such a way as to form an optionally substituted ring(s), is reacted with a hydrogen donor in the presence of a transfer hydrogenation catalyst, and substantially in the presence of a catalyst regenerator. Catalyst regenerators include oxidants, for example KMnO₄, oxygen and oxygen/inert gas mixtures.