Indium hydride catalyzed chemo- and diastereoselective reductive aldol reactions

•The reductive aldol reaction catalyzed by indium hydride.•The catalytic reaction only using main metals.•The transition metal free catalytic reactions.•Highly chemo- and diastereoselective reactions.•MeOH play an important role for catalytic turnover.

The reductive aldol reaction of enones has been established catalyzed by Br2InOMe (cat.)–MePhSiH2 system where Br2InH acted as an active catalytic species. Addition of 1.0 equivalent of MeOH was essential for catalytic turnover. The system, Br2InOMe(cat.)–MePhSiH2–MeOH, provided highly chemo- and diastereoselective reductive aldol reaction of enones with functionalized substrates such as α-bromo carbonyls, α-keto esters and α-alkoxy ketones.

Graphical abstractThe reductive aldol reaction of enones has been established by Br2InOMe(cat.)–MePhSiH2–MeOH system. The reactions were highly chemo- and diastereoselective in the case using functionalized substrates such as α-bromo carbonyls, α-keto esters and α-alkoxy ketones.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide