Beta-Amino Phosphine Mn Catalysts for 1,4-Transfer Hydrogenation of Chalcones and Allylic Alcohol Isomerization

Beta-amino phosphines derived from amino-acids are excellent supporting ligands for Mn(I) transfer hydrogenation catalysts. Namely, a variety of ketones and chalcones are efficiently reduced under mild conditions (2-propanol, 3 h, 60 °C). Moreover, chalcones are selectively reduced to the saturated ketone in 2-propanol and allylic alcohols are quantitatively converted into the same product in toluene.