Raney Ni–AI alloy in a dilute aqueous alkalinesolution has been shown to be a powerful reducing agent and is highly effective for the reduction of alkylbenzils and alkoxybenzils to afford the corresponding 1,2-diarylethers at 90°C, in the absence of organic solvents. 4,4′-Dinitrobenzil was transformed selectively to 1,2-bis(4-aminophenyl)-ethane.
sed supported ionicliquid phase (Rh@SILP(Ph3‐P‐NTf2)) enabled the selective hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation of aromatic ketones. The flexible molecular approach used to assemble the individual catalyst components (SiO2, ionicliquid, nanoparticles) led to outstanding catalytic properties. In particular, intimate contact between the nanoparticles and the phosphonium ionicliquid is required for