Palladium catalysts carbon-nitrogen bond hydrogenation

Shaw concluded that hydrogenation of 3-alkyl-4-aminomethylene isoxazol-5-ones (184) in the presence of palladium catalyst resulted in the saturation of either the endocyclic double carbon-nitrogen bond or the exocyclic double C—C bond with the retention of the heterocyclic nitrogen-oxygen bond. Recent data reported by Kochetkov et al. on the properties, and in particular on hydrogenation, of isoxazolid-5-ones - indicate, however, that Shaw had probably ob-... 

Catalyt c hydrogenation (palladium or Raney nickel catalyst) surprisingly results in reduction of the carbon-nitrogen single bond rather than the double bond.4,12,40 The imines, or possibly enamines, are usually not isolated and their existence has only been inferred in most instances. Harvey and Ratts have shown that this reaction with azirine (165) does not proceed first to the aziridine which is then reduced to 166, since aziridine (167) is inert to hydrogen and palladium on carbon.40... 

The carbon-nitrogen double bond of phenanthridine can be reduced selectively by hydrogenation over Raney nickel, and attempted reductive dechlorination of 6-chloro derivatives in the presence of this catalyst normally results in the formation of the corresponding 5,6-dihydro compounds.106 Hydrogenations over palladium catalysts are more successful.203 325 Desulfurization of phenanthridinthione... 

This approach should be useful in determining the direction of hydrogenation for molecules in which the carbinol group is replaced by carbon-carbon or carbon-nitrogen double bonds. With an alkene, though, the simple conformational model would have to be used and the hydrogenation should be run under conditions that do not promote double bond isomerization, that is, not with palladium or nickel catalysts. With carbonyl compounds the preferred eonditions for selective reaction involve platinum, rhodium or ruthenium catalysts imder non-diffusion control conditions. The use of nickel catalysts, especially Raney nickel, with its basic components, can cause an equilibration of the alcohol product. 

Reduction of groups attached to amines (aromatic rings and carbon-carbon double and triple bonds) can be effected by methods previously discussed. These include (a) catalytic hydrogenation with hydrogen gas (H2) over a metal catalyst such as platinum (Pt), nickel (Ni), or palladium (Pd) (Equation 10.37) and (b) dissolving metals such as sodium (Na) in an alcohol solvent/reactant (Equation 10.38). Some nitrogenous materials have been known to poison some catalysts and thus experimentation is often necessary. 

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