HYDROGENATION OF ALKYNES WITH HYDRATED NICKEL CHLORIDE, LITHIUM AND ACATALYTIC AMOUNT OF NAPHTHALENE

The reaction of alkynes with a mixture of nickel (II) chloride dihydra te, an excess of lithium powder and a catalytic amount of naphthalene (8 mol%) in THF at room temperature: leads to the formation of the cor responding alkanes. The incorporation of deuterium oxide into the nick el salt complex yields deuterated hydrocarbons. The process can be app lied to functionalised alkynes as well as to transform alkynes into al kenes depending on the amount of the nickel salt and/or reaction times . Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd