Direct trans-Selective Ruthenium-Catalyzed Reduction of Alkynes in Two-Chamber Reactors and Continuous Flow

An efficient trans-selective hydrogenation of alkynes under low hydrogen pressure and low reaction temperatures is reported, applying a commercially available ruthenium hydride complex. The developed reaction conditions, which tolerate a variety of functional groups, are carried out in a two-chamber setup with ex situ generated hydrogen. The reaction setup is highly suitable for deuterium labeling. The trans-selective hydrogenation was extrapolated to a transfer hydrogenation protocol, employing a packed bed immobilized ruthenium hydride catalyst in continuous flow with a retention time of only 10 min.