Palladium/carbon catalyzed hydrogen transfer reactions using magnesium/water as hydrogen donor

A new methodology is developed for the hydrogenation reaction using magnesium/water system, as hydrogen source under catalytic palladium on activated carbon (Pd/C). The method is highly efficient for the chemoselective reduction of wide range of unsaturated aldehydes and ketones. The process is also found to be suitable when we think about green chemistry for the eco-friendly hydro-dehalogenation of aromatics. From practical point of view this new methodology is the most attractive, efficient, economical and convenient approach towards industrially important reduction transformations. This report is intended to highlight the use of Mg/H₂O system in these organic transformations which can be easily adopted in industrial scale for the bulk production of hydrogenation products.