1977 Volume 25 Issue 9 Pages 2396-2400
Formic acid reduction selective at α, β-double bond of conjugated nitriles is described. Selective reduction of carbon-carbon double bond conjugated with two cyano groups or with both cyano and other electron-withdrawing group has been demonstrated with several examples by the use of the TEAF reagent (triethylamine-formic acid azeotrope) in N, N-dimethylformamide.