A one-pot two-step reaction (Knoevenagel condensation – reduction of the double bond) has been developed using calcium hydride as a reductant in the presence of a supported noble metal catalyst. The reaction between carbonyl compounds and active methylene compounds such as methylcyanoacetate, 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid, dimedone and the more challenging dimethylmalonate, affords the corresponding
The hypercoordinated tin reagent iPr-tricarbastannatrane is employed in B(C6F5)3-catalyzed transfer 1,4-hydrostannanylation of electron deficient olefins.