Chemoselective Continuous-Flow Hydrogenation of Aldehydes Catalyzed by Platinum Nanoparticles Dispersed in an Amphiphilic Resin

A chemoselective continuous-flow hydrogenation of aldehydes catalyzed by a dispersion of platinum nanoparticles in an amphiphilic polymer (ARP-Pt) has been developed. Aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes bearing various reducible functional groups, such as keto, ester, or amide groups, readily underwent flow hydrogenation in aqueous solutions within 22 s in a continuous-flow system containing ARP-Pt to give the corresponding primary benzylic or aliphatic alcohols in ≤99% yield with excellent chemoselectivity. Moreover, the long-term continuous-flow hydrogenation of benzaldehyde for 8 days was realized, and the total turnover number of the catalyst reached 997. The flow hydrogenation system provides an efficient and practical method for the chemoselective hydrogenation of aldehydes bearing reducible functional groups.