METAL-FREE convenient homogeneous bifunctional IONIC liquid catalysed selective cross hydrogenation ketone to alcohol

The current syntheses of secondary alcohol from ketone using BIL [(Bis- (3-ethyl-1-methylimidazolium bromide)) formamide] as homogeneous catalysts for the cross hydrogenation (CH) were performed in absence organic solvents and under harsh reaction conditions. Clean reduction of ketone to secondary alcohols has been successfully achieved using isopropanol in presence of ionic liquids as catalyst at room temperature within 1 hr. Ionic liquid was found to be highly active, selective and reusable catalyst in the reduction of substituted aromatic ketones, catalysts were recycled with no loss in activity. 1. Turnover frequencies up to 3920 h -1 2. Reduction of nine different ketones with good to excellent yields. 3. BIL was found to be highly active, selective and reusable catalyst