Abstract
A number of α,β-unsaturated cyano esters have been chemoselectively reduced with potassium formate as hydrogen donor, and palladium(II) acetate as homogeneous catalyst, in DMF without any concomitant reduction of cyano or carboxylate or halogen groups.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, for financial support (No. SP/S1/G-13/97). SJ is a JRF under the above project.