A cis-bis-mixed-carbene ruthenium hydride complex: An olefin-selective hydrogenation catalyst

Abstract

The N-heterocyclic carbene C 3H 2N 2(CH 2CH 2OMe) 2 (1; IOMe) reacts with RuHCl(PPh 3) 3 to give RuClH(IOMe)(PPh 3) 2 (2), which reacts further with SIMes to give the cis-bis-mixed-carbene complex RuClH(IOMe)(SIMes)(PPh 3) (3). This species has been shown to be a highly effective hydrogenation catalyst that tolerates the presence of a wide range of functional and donor groups. © 2012 American Chemical Society.