Catalytic transfer reduction (CTR) of alkyl alkyl, alkyl aryl, cyclic and unsaturated ketones over calcined Mg-Al hydrotalcites

Calcined Mg-Al hydrotalcites are very efficient catalysts in the vapor phas e transfer reduction of a wide variety of ketones to afford corresponding a lcohols. Aryl alkyl ketones were converted to aryl alkenes in excellent yie lds at 548 K. The catalytic activity of calcined hydrotalcites is attribute d to the co-existence of acid-base pair sites, with strong basic sites, whi ch can promote transfer hydrogenation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.