Saccharides as new hydrogen sources for one-pot and single-step reduction of alcohols and catalytic hydrogenation of olefins in supercritical water

Tertiary and secondary alcohols were directly reduced by saccharides, such as glucose, fructose, and cellulose, as well as by plant leaves and mushrooms in supercritical water using one-pot single-step reaction. Catalytic hydrogenations of olefins were also performed well in supercritical water in the presence of the saccharides. Nascent hydrogen can be an origin for both reactions because it is generated in supercritical water by the water–gas shift reaction of CO derived from aldehydes as decomposition products of the saccharides. Thus, bulk biomasses can be used as hydrogen donors in one-pot single-step direct organic transformations in supercritical water.

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► Alcohols were directly reduced by saccharides and bulk biomasses in supercritical water.
► Catalytic hydrogenations of olefins were performed using saccharides and bulk biomasses in supercritical water.
► Sugars, cellulose, and bulk biomasses such as leaves and mushrooms can be hydrogen sources.
► Water–gas shift reaction of CO from aldehydes as decomposition products of saccharides can be an origin of hydrogen.