Transformation of Sugars into Chiral Polyols over a Heterogeneous Catalyst.

Transformation of sugars, while maintaining the intrinsic stereochemical structure, is desirable. However, such a transformation requires multistep synthesis with protection and deprotection of the OH groups. Herein, a new method for selective transformation of sugar derivatives into chiral building blocks and a diol synthon, with retention of the intrinsic configuration (stereo- and regioselectively), is demonstrated.

Selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes to aminoarenes using a MoO-modified Ru/SiO catalyst under mild conditions.

Modification of Ru/SiO with metal oxides (MoO, WO, and ReO) improved the activity and selectivity in the hydrogenation of 3-nitrostyrene to 3-aminostyrene under mild conditions such as 0.3 MPa H, 303 K, and no solvent. Ru-MoO/SiO(Mo/Ru = 1/2) catalyst was applicable to various substituted nitroarenes, providing the corresponding substituted aminoarenes in high yields (85-99%).