Hydrogenation of alkynes with hydrated nickel chloride, lithium and a catalytic amount of naphthalene

The reaction of alkynes with a mixture of nickel (II) chloride dihydrate, an excess of lithium powder and a catalytic amount of naphthalene (8 mol%) in THF at room temperature: leads to the formation of the corresponding alkanes. The incorporation of deuterium oxide into the nickel salt complex yields deuterated hydrocarbons. The process can be applied to functionalised alkynes as well as to transform alkynes into alkenes depending on the amount of the nickel salt and/or reaction times. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd