Homogeneous catalysis of the hydrogenation of 9,10-dimethylanthracene to 1,2-dihydro-9,10-dimethylanthracene by

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(91)80186-N

The cationic ruthenium arene complex, 6-9,10-dimethylanthracene)>⁺ (1), serves as a catalyst for the hydrogenation of 9,10-dimethylanthracene (2), initially to 1,2-dihydro-9,10-dimethylanthracene (3), followed by hydrogenation of the latter to 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9,10-dimethylanthracene (4).The first step, i.e., 2 --> 3, obeys the rate-law - d<2>/dt = k_cat<1>

, were k_cat = (1.5 +/- 0.1) * 10^-3 Μ^-1 s^-1 at 25 degC in CDCl3.