We report a rare case of alkene transfer hydrogenation using a main-group compound instead of a transition-metal complex as catalyst. We disclosed that 1,4-cyclohexadiene can be used as H2 surrogate towards olefin reduction in the presence of [IPrGaCl2 ][SbF6 ]. Hydrogenative cyclizations have also been carried out because this cationic gallium complex is also a potent hydroarylation catalyst.
Keywords: alkenes; cyclization; gallium; homogeneous catalysis; hydrogenation.
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