One-Pot Catalytic Approach for the Selective Aerobic Synthesis of Imines from Alcohols and Amines Using Efficient Arene Diruthenium(II) Catalysts under Mild Conditions

摘要

A green and efficient catalytic approach for the selective synthesis of imines in air at room temperature was achieved with the aid of newly synthesised diruthenium(II) complexes [(η~6-p-cymene)_2Ru_2Cl_2(μ-L)] containing substituted 1,2-diacylhydrazine ligands. All the new complexes were fully characterised by analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The solid-state structure of a representative complex was solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The diruthenium(II) complexes also enable the selective aerobic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes. The catalytic reaction operates in the presence of air as a green and cheap oxidant, and releases water as the only by-product. A plausible mechanism is proposed for the imine formation, which is believed to proceed via an aldehyde intermediate.