Catalyst-Free Transfer Hydrogenation of Activated Alkenes Exploit-ing Isopropanol as the Sole and Traceless Reductant

Both metal-catalyzed and organocatalytic transfer hydrogenation reactions are widely employed for the reduction of C=C, C=O and C=N bonds. Described herein is an unconventional catalyst-free transfer hydrogenation reaction of activated al-kenes using isopropanol as an eco-friendly reductant and solvent. The reaction gives convenient synthetic access to a wide range of substituted malonic acid half oxyesters (SMAHOs) in moderate to good yields. Mechanistic investigations point to-wards an unprecedented hydrogen bond-assisted transfer hydrogenation process.