FACILE ENANTIOSELECTIVE PALLADIUM CATALYSED TRANSFER HYDROGENATION OF α-METHYLCINNAMIC ACID IN THE PRESENCE OF OPTICAL PURE ORGANIC ACIDS

An efficient and enantioselective method for catalytic transfer hydrogenation of the C=C double bond of α-methylcinnamic acid with the aid of chiral organic acids as the hydrogen donors and palladium(II) chloride as the catalyst is reported. Enantiomeric excess was assayed using optical rotation measurements. The best stereoselectivity was achieved when L-(+)-tartaric acid was used as the hydrogen donor and acetonitrile as the solvent. KEYWORDS: Enantioselective, Chiral, α-Methylcinnamic acid, Transfer hydrogenation, Palladium(II) chloride Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2007, 21(3), 457-460