An efficient Cu-CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticle-catalyzed protodeboronation strategy has been developed for the chemoselective 1,4-reduction of α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated ketones, carboxylic ester and cyano-ester. This protocol has the advantageous of the use of alcohol as hydrogen source and solvent, low catalyst loading (0.5 mol%), and excellent catalyst recyclability. Additionally, the Cu-CuFe₂O₄ catalyst has shown excellent performance in gram-scale reactions. Furthermore, the catalytic mechanism has also been discussed. The reactivity of (E)-γ,δ-unsaturated carbonyl products, an important class of γ,δ-unsaturated alkenes, enables easy access to 3-buten-1-ols, 3-buten-1-amines, γ-keto acids, cyclic ethers, and cyclic nitrones.

Key words: α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated carbonyls, nano Cu-CuFe₂O₄, chemoselective, 1,4-reduction