The hydrogen transfer reduction of benzylideneacetone derivatives pX-C6H4-CH= CH-CO- R (X=-OCH3, H; R= C6H5, alkyl, OR, OH) using cyclohexene as hydrogen donor has been studied. The selective reduction of the C= C bond is observed and the effects of the nature of X and R, solvent, catalyst, and reaction temperature on the initial reaction rate are analyzed. In all cases, and for any substrate or catalyst, the reaction is first-order with respect to the ...