STM Article Repository

Now a days due to heavy environmental constraints chemists are under pressure to develop
ecofriendly ways for the crucial steps in organic synthesis. Biomimetic approach in the area of organic
synthesis is highly appreciated by chemists not only its similarity with natural way of synthesis but also
it provides an alternative of tedious and hazardous multistep chemistry. Use of organocatalyst in
organic synthesis decorates the synthetic process by generating high class of selectivity. Its use in
organic synthesis remains an attractive choice for synthetic chemists. In the present chapter we are
reporting a biomimetic approach for chemoselective reduction of C=C double bonds in chalcones
under metal and acid free conditions, that relies on olefin activation by hydrogen bond formation. The
process requires only catalytic amount of ephedrine as hydrogen bond donor and utilizes Hantzsch
esters for transfer hydrogenation.