Dehydrogenation of alcohols and hydrogenation of aldehydes using homogeneous ruthenium catalysts

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om00064a016

A series of ruthenuim(II) diphosphine hydrides of the type RuH₂(CO)(PPh_s)(L-L) (I) where L-L = Ph₂Ph(CH₂)_nPPh₂ (n = 1-4), Ph₂P(CH₂)₂AsPh₂, and 1,2-(Ph₂P)₂C₆H₄ have been prepared and reacted with trifluoroacetic acid (HOAc_F) to yield complexes Ru(OAc_F)₂CO(PPh₃)_m(L-L) where L-L = 1,2 (PPh₂)₂C₆H₄ (m = 0, 1), PPh₂CH₂CH₂AsPh₂ (m = 1), and (Ph₂P)₂(CH₂)_n (n = 3, 4; m = 0). These complexes have been extensively characterized by ¹H, ³¹P, and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy and most of their streochemistries unambiguously determined. The catalytic activities and lifetimes of these new complexes in alcohol dehydrogenation and ketone hydrogenation were examined and compared to those of of Ru(OAc_F)₂CO(PPh_y)₂ (IIa).