Regioselective Hydrogenation of Unsymmetrically Substituted Cyclic Anhydrides Catalyzed by Ruthenium Complexes with Phosphine Ligands

Abstract

Regioselective hydrogenation of unsymmetrically substituted cyclic anhydrides catalyzed by ruthenium complexes with mono-, di-, or triphosphine ligands produced the corresponding two isomeric lactones, where the regioselectivity was influenced by the bulkiness of the substituent(s) on the anhydrides and of the phosphine ligands of catalyst.