Abstract
Tetracarbonylhydridoferrate in ethanol was found to be a regioselective reducing agent of α, β carbon-carbon double bond conjugated with carbonyl group of some components of essential oil. Especially (+) - and (-) -carvones and (+) - and (-) -carvotanacetones were converted with high stereoselectivity to (-) - and (+) -dihydrocarvones and (-) - and (+) -carvomenthones, respectively. But, α, β-unsaturated aldehyde did not give the corresponding product. The reaction mechanism is briefly discussed.
