LETTER	Synlett 2006: 1440-1442   DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-939719
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York
A Mild and Facile Method for Complete Hydrogenation of Aromatic Nuclei in Water
Tomohiro Maegawa, Akira Akashi, Hironao Sajiki*
Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu 502-8585, Japan Fax: +81(58)2375979; e-Mail: sajiki@gifu-pu.ac.jp;
Received 22 February 2006

Abstract

A mild and complete hydrogenation of aromatic rings catalyzed by heterogeneous 10% Rh/C proceeds at 80 °C in water under 5 atm of H₂ pressure. This method is applicable to the hydrogenation of various carbon and heteroaromatic compounds such as alkylbenzenes, biphenyls, pyridines and furans.

Key words

hydrogenation - aromatic ring - heterogeneous catalyst - rhodium - water