Iron‐Catalysed Reduction of Olefins using a Borohydride Reagent

The iron‐catalysed reduction of olefins has been achieved using a simple iron salt and sodium triethylborohydride. A wide range of mono‐ and trans‐1,2‐disubstituted alkenes have been reduced (91–100%) using 25 mol% iron(II) triflate, 1 mol% N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone and 4 equivalents of sodium triethylborohydride. The reduction of alkynes to alkanes is also reported (up to 84%). Significantly, the reduction of trisubstituted alkenes has also been achieved (60–86%).