Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 6, 2026

Facile Preparation of 2Z,4E-Dienamides by the Olefination of Electron-deficient Alkenes with Allyl Acetate
Published on: June 21, 2017
Efficient Z-Selective Semihydrogenation of Internal Alkynes Catalyzed by Cationic Iron(II) Hydride Complexes
Nikolaus Gorgas, Julian Brünig, Berthold Stöger
1Department of Chemistry , University of Oslo , P.O. Box 1033 , Blindern , N-0315 Oslo , Norway.
Abstract:
The bench-stable cationic bis(σ-B-H) aminoborane complex [Fe(PNPNMe-iPr)(H)(η2-H2B = NMe2)]+ (2) efficiently catalyzes the semihydrogenation of internal alkynes, 1,3-diynes and 1,3-enynes. Moreover, selective incorporation of deuterium was achieved in the case of 1,3-diynes and 1,3-enynes. The catalytic reaction takes place under mild conditions (25 °C, 4-5 bar H2 or D2) in 1 h, and alkenes were obtained with high Z-selectivity for a broad scope of substrates. Mechanistic insight into the catalytic reaction, explaining also the stereo- and chemoselectivity, is provided by means of DFT calculations. Intermediates featuring a bisdihydrogen moiety [Fe(PNPNMe-iPr)(η2-H2)2]+ are found to play a key role. Experimental support for such species was unequivocally provided by the fact that [Fe(PNPNMe-iPr)(H)(η2-H2)2]+ (3) exhibited the same catalytic activity as 2. The novel cationic bisdihydrogen complex 3 was obtained by protonolysis of [Fe(PNPNMe-iPr)(H)(η2-AlH4)]2 (1) with an excess of nonafluoro-tert-butyl alcohol.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Acid-Catalyzed Hydration
Analogous to alkenes, alkynes also undergo acid-catalyzed hydration. While the addition of water to an alkene gives an alcohol, hydration of alkynes produces different products such as aldehydes and ketones.
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Hydroboration-Oxidation
One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
Electrophilic Addition to Alkynes: Hydrohalogenation

