Transfer hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde catalyzed by cobalt and nickel salts under illumination

The transfer hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde catalyzed by cobalt and nickel salts under illumination was investigated using methanol as the hydrogen donor.Results indicated that cinnamaldehyde was transformed to cinnamyl alcohol via transfer hydrogenation in the presence of Co(OAc)2 and Ni(OAc)2 as the catalysts.Co(OAc)2 had better catalytic performance in terms of octane yield and selectivity.In the meantime,introducing alkali additives such as NaOAc and Na2C2O4 could promote the catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde,and light with a short wavelength was beneficial to the hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde.