[Ember]

I'm looking for an instruction to reduce a double bond in a molecule (without reducing the present acid/ester groups).

I would like to do this with H2-gas (under pressure) with a Raney nickel catalyst, preferably in water. I expect this has to be done in an autoclave.

The original patent from Raney wasn't hard to find, but he doesn't explain how the reduction is performed. Looking for articles with Scopus did not give me any usefull results, I could only find 'new' and ajusted methods.

I'm fairly new in organic chemistry, at least coming up with a synthesis route myself. Could anyone give me some help with directing me in the right way so I will be able to find this?

Also, is there a better search engine than Scopus looking when you are only interested in Organic Chemistry?

[discodermolide]

Look in the hydrogenation volume of Houben-Weyl.

[tomek]

Also, is there a better search engine than Scopus looking when you are only interested in Organic Chemistry?

I would recommend using SciFinder. That is of course if you have access to it.

[Dan]

In addition to SciFinder, Reaxys is very good (and has a better interface in my opinion).

There are many catalysts that will reduce alkenes in the presence of esters and acids with hydrogen at atmospheric pressure - Raney Ni will probably work well at atmospheric pressure. I would personally favour Pd/C as it is safer.

I'd suggest getting a copy of March's Advanced Organic Chemistry, which has an overview of the different catalysts and references in which you will find procedures (access permitting) - or just look it up on SciFinder or Reaxys (access permitting), where you will get well over 100000 hits for alkene hydrogenation.

[Ember]

Unfortunately, i don't have access to the books of Houben-Weyl.

I will have a look in to getting March's Advanced Organic Chemistry, it definitely looks interesting and worth getting.

I think I will be able to make a SciFinder account through my university. I have been using Reaxys, but my main problem is too many results.

Overall, thanks for the help

[orgopete]

I suggest you find someone to help you with a catalytic reduction. Hydrogen gas, pressure, reactive catalyst, and inexperience can be dangerous. It would be very helpful to have someone to show you how to do this safely (not an absolute necessity, but just a good idea).

[Ember]

I have a project supervisor which helps me with new procedures (For example working under argon when I had to use NaBH₄).
Don't worry (good tip though)