Catalytic transfer hydrogenation of unsaturated compounds by solid sodium formate in the presence of palladium on carbon

Solid sodium formate is an efficient hydrogen donor for Pd/C-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of olefins, acetylenes and nitro compounds in the presence of an equimolar amount of water at exceedingly mild conditions. The reaction proceeds mainly by a direct hydrogen transfer mechanism rather than via initial decomposition of the formate into molecular hydrogen and carbon dioxide.