Gold Catalysts Open a New General Chemoselective Route to Synthesize Oximes by Hydrogenation of α,β-Unsaturated Nitrocompounds with H₂

The unprecedented chemoselective reduction of α,β-unsaturated nitroalkenes to oximes using hydrogen has been achieved with gold nanoparticles supported on TiO 2 . In contrast to the excellent catalytic performance of gold, related palladium and platinum catalysts are unselective, leading to the reduction of C C double bond as well as the reduction of the NO 2 to NH 2 . The selectivity of Au/TiO 2 for the formation of oximes opens the way for the general use of the Henry reaction in organic synthesis.