1314186-95-2Relevant academic research and scientific papers
Phosphine - Amido complexes of ruthenium and mechanistic implications for ketone transfer hydrogenation catalysis
Hounjet, Lindsay J.,Ferguson, Michael J.,Cowie, Martin
, p. 4108 - 4114 (2011)
The air-sensitive phosphine-anilido complexes [RuR(η6-p- cymene)(P,N-Ph2PAr-)] (R = H, Et; Ar- = o-C6H4NMe-) have been prepared. While the precursor [RuCl(η6-p-cymene)(P,N-Ph2PAr-)] is a moderately active ketone transfer hydrogenation catalyst under basic conditions, the hydrido derivative is much less active, ruling out the possibility of an inner-sphere mechanism during catalysis. The possibility of an alternate mechanism, related to the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley-Oppenauer (MPVO) pathway, is discussed. While attempts to isolate intermediate alkoxo derivatives demonstrate their propensity toward β-hydride elimination to afford the hydrido complex, the ethyl derivative is remarkably stable, even in refluxing benzene, providing an interesting contrast between the labilities of the Ru-O and Ru-C bonds.
