Selective reduction of aromatic ketones in aqueous medium mediated by Ti(III)/Mn: a revised mechanism.

An experimental study on the role played by each of the reagents involved in the selective reduction of aromatic ketones in aqueous medium is reported. In this reaction, the reduction of aromatic ketones is mediated by Cp2TiCl. Moreover, the presence of Mn in the reaction medium is mandatory. To account for these findings, a substantially revised mechanism is proposed.