Transfer hydrogenation of N-benzylideneaniline catalyzed by ruthenium complexes with pincer-type phosphorus nitrogen ligands using propan-2-ol as the hydrogen source

Abstract

Ruthenium complexes containing phosphorus-nitrogen, pincer-type (NPN) ligands show high activities and selectivities in the transfer hydrogenation of N-benzylideneaniline using propan-2-ol as the hydrogen source. Such is the case of complexes RuCl2PPh3(PPh(NHPy)2) (1) and RuCl2PPh3(PPh(NHPyMe)2) (2) which also show TOFs 5989 h−1 and 5928 h−1, respectively. These remarkable results were obtained after only 10 min of reaction using a 1000/1 substrate/catalyst ratio.