Catalytic, Hydrogen Transfer Reduction of Organic Molecules by using Methanol as Hydrogen Source

Methanol was used as hydrogen source to reduce organic substrates, like alkynes, alkenes, nitro compounds and unsaturated ketones, in the presence of a supported copper catalyst. The detection of H-2, CO and HCOOCH3 in the reaction products allows us to postulate a mechanism for the hydrogen-transfer reaction based on a two-step dehydrogenation of methanol.