Michael reactions promoted by η1-O-enolatoruthenium(II) complexes derived from Ru(cod)(cot), diphosphine, and dimethyl malonate

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)01023-5

The Michael reaction of 1,3-dicarbonyls with α,β-unsaturated esters and nitriles has been carried out very efficiently, under mild and neutral conditions, in the presence of a catalytic amount of trans-hydrido(η¹-O- enolato) ruthenium(II) complex (2), which is prepared from the reaction of Ru(cod)(cot) (1) (cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene; cot = cycloocta-1,3,5-triene) with dimethyl malonate in the presence of 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dpe).