Selective hydrogenation of ruthenium acylphosphine complexes

Abstract

Hydrogenation of a benzene ruthenium chloride dimer in the presence of novel acylphosphine (phosphomide) ligands resulted in the formation of corresponding ruthenium(II)-benzyl phosphine complexes. Here, selective reduction of the carbonyl group to a methylene unit takes place with molecular hydrogen under mild conditions in good yield. This approach provides an alternative synthesis of ruthenium phosphine complexes of benzyl and heterobenzyl phosphine ligands. © 2013 American Chemical Society.