Liquid-Phase Dehydrogenation of Methanol with Homogeneous Ruthenium Complex Catalysts

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.61.2291

Catalytic dehydrogenation of methanol proceeded with homogeneous ruthenium(II) complexes, yielding formaldehyde and dihydrogen as primary products under refluxing conditions of the solution.The effects of additives on the initial reaction rate were examined for lithium chloride, lithium acetate, acetic acid and ethyldiphenylphosphine.A catalyst complex, , was deactivated gradually by the displacement of the bidentate OAc ligand with H and CO ligands during the reaction.These cis-disposed sites would be used for splitting the C-H bonds.A catalytic reaction cycle is proposed, in which such processes are included as solvolysis of the catalyst complex, β-H elimination from the OCH3 ligand and attack of acetic acid on the hydride intermediate to generate dihydrogen.