Hydrogenation of nitriles to primary amines constitutes an atom-efficient and environmentally benign synthetic reaction. Herein we present a novel complex based on earth-abundant iron, and its application in the catalytic homogeneous hydrogenation of (hetero)aromatic, benzylic, and aliphatic nitriles to selectively form primary amines.

A novel catalytic method for the straightforward hydrogenation of carboxamides and esters to primary alcohols has been developed. Chiral modification in the ligand sphere of the well-defined Cp*Ru catalyst molecule opens up a new possibility for the development of an enantioselective hydrogenation of racemic substrates via dynamic kinetic resolution.

Various aldoximes and ketoximes were selectively reduced to the corresponding amines by catalytic transfer hydrogenation employing low cost magnesium powder and ammonium formate at room temperature. Many other functionalities such as halogens, –OH, –OCH3, –COOH and –CH3 remained unaffected. The hydrogenation is fast, mild, clean, cost effective and high yielding.

The γ-amino alcohol structural motif is often encountered in drugs and natural products. We developed two complementary catalytic diastereoselective methods for the synthesis of N-PMP-protected γ-amino alcohols from the corresponding ketones. The anti-products were obtained through Ir-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation, the syn-products via Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation.

Hydrogenation of benzoic acid using monoand bimetallic catalyst of Ru, Pd, Co, and Re yielded different products. It was observed that 5% Ru/C was an active catalyst for hydrogenation of both aromatic ring and carboxylic group, while Pd/C catalyst hydrogenated only aromatic ring. Ru-Sn/Al2O3 is a chemoselective catalyst for hydrogenation of –COOH group of benzoic acid.

We developed a novel and facile method to hydrogenate graphene by using a conditioning catalyst upstream of the graphene sample to generate atomic hydrogen.