Hydrogenation of substituted aromatic aldehydes: nucleophilic trapping of the reaction intermediate, application to the efficient synthesis of methylene linked flavanol dimers

The synthesis of dimeric flavanols is the consequence of the possible trapping of the reaction intermediates generated in the course of the reductive hydrogenation of substituted benzaldehydes. The scope of this reaction is investigated.

Methylene linked flavanol dimers and analogues have been synthesized through hydrogenation of the corresponding 8-formyl flavanol in the presence of an appropriate nucleophile.