Abstract
Lutidine-derived bis-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ruthenium CNC–pincer complexes (Ru-CNCs) were prepared. They showed various coordination modes of the two NHC ligands depending on the synthetic procedure, yielding normal (1, 2) or mixed normal/abnormal NHC-complexes (3). In the presence of phosphazene base, Ru-CNC complexes activate nitriles to give ketimino compounds 4-6. Nitrile adduct 4 shows reactivity towards strong bases to yield dearomatized complex 7, that heterolytically activate H2 to form the bis-hydrido complex 8. Finally, these Ru-CNCs are active in catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 to formate salts and, unlike the phosphine-containing Ru-PNP counterpart, they also catalyze the selective hydrogenation of esters to alcohols.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2667-2671 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | ACS Catalysis |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |