Direct amide synthesis from either alcohols or aldehydes with amines: Activity of Ru(II) hydride and Ru(0) complexes

摘要

An in situ generated catalyst from readily available RuH _2(PPh_3)_4, an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursor, NaH, and acetonitrile was developed. The catalyst showed high activity for the amide synthesis directly from either alcohols or aldehydes with amines. When a mixture of an alcohol and an aldehyde was reacted with an amine, both of the corresponding amides were obtained with good yields. Homogeneous Ru(0) complexes such as (~4-1,5-cyclooctadiene)(~6-1,3,5- cyclooctatriene)ruthenium [Ru(cod)(cot)] and Ru_3(CO)_(12) were also active in the amidation of an alcohol or an aldehyde with the help of an in situ generated NHC ligand.