Cu/SiO2: an Improved Catalyst for the Chemoselective Hydrogenation of alfa, beta -unsaturated Ketones

Cu/SiO2 can be conveniently used for the quantitative hydrogenation of conjugated enones to saturated ketones, also when another olefinic bond is present in the molecule, under very mild conditions. Molecular H-2 or 2-propanol can be used as hydrogen source.