The hydrogenation of molecules with polar bonds catalyzed by a ruthenium(II) complex bearing a chelating N-heterocyclic carbene with a primary amine donor

摘要

The complex [RuCp~*(C-NH_2)(py)]PF_6 bearing a chelating N-heterocyclic carbene with an NH_2 group (C-NH_2) is an active catalyst for the H_2-hydrogenation of ketones, an epoxide, ester and ketimine in basic solution. A maximum turnover frequency of 17600 h~(-1) is achieved under mild reaction conditions (25℃) and economical use of hydrogen (8 bar) while the TOF of a related complex with a phosphine-amine ligand is much smaller.