Aspects of catalysis. Part I. Reduction of unhindered cyclohexanones to axial alcohols in the presence of a soluble iridium–phosphite catalyst

Abstract

Some unhindered alkyl-substituted cyclohexanones are reduced by phosphorous acid in aqueous propan-2-ol solution containing a catalyst prepared in situ from iridium chloride and phosphorous acid (or an easily hydrolysed ester of this acid) to give exceptionally high proportions (often >96%) of axial alcohols.