Catalyzed hydrogenation of condensed three-ring arenes and their N-heteroaromatic analogues by a bis(dihydrogen) ruthenium complex.

A series of anthracene and acridine derivatives were hydrogenated under mild reaction conditions (80 °C, 3 bar of H(2)) using the bis(dihydrogen) complex [RuH(2)(η(2)-H(2))(2){P(C(6)H(11))(3)}(2)] (1) as a catalyst precursor. The influence of a methyl substituent on the substrate was studied. In all our systems, hydrogenation was only observed at the external rings leading to the corresponding 4H- or 8H-derivatives of anthracene and acridine.