Selective 1,4-reduction of alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds by combined use of bis(1,3-diketonato)cobalt(II) complex and diisobutylaluminum hydride

By the combined use of Co(acac)(2) with DIBAL, various alpha,beta-unsaturat ed carbonyl compounds such as enones, a,p-unsaturated carboxylates and carb oxamides were selectively reduced in a 1,4-manner to obtain the correspondi ng 1,4-reduced products in good-to-high yields.