Selectively organocatalytic reduction of conjugate C=C bonds in α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

The selective reduction of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is a process with significantly valuable but challenging significance.Organocatalysts can reduce the conjugate C=C bonds with high chemoselectivity and enantioselectivity using the Hantzsch esters(dihydropyridine esters) as the hydrogen source.This review focused on recent developments in selectively organocatalytic reduction of conjugate C=C bonds in the α,β-unsaturated aldehydes,α,β-unsaturated ketones,α,β-unsaturated esters and cascade reactions.The potential strengths of each catalytic system as well as its weaknesses were discussed.