Formal Deoxygenative Hydrogenation of Lactams Using PNP-Pincer Ruthenium Complexes under Nonacidic Conditions.

A formal deoxygenative hydrogenation of amides to amines with RuCl(NHC)(PNP) (NHC = 1,3-dimethylimizadol-2-ylidene, PNP = bis(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)amine) is described. Various secondary amides, especially NH-lactams, are reduced with H (3.0-5.

N-Monomethylation of Aromatic Amines with Methanol via PNP-Pincer Ru Catalysts.

The use of methanol for the selective methylation of aromatic amines with RuHCl(CO)(PNP) (PNP = bis(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)amine) is reported. Various aromatic amines were transformed into their corresponding monomethylated secondary amines in high yields at 150 °C with a very low catalyst loading (0.02-0.

Atmospheric Hydrogenation of Esters Catalyzed by PNP-Ruthenium Complexes with an N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligand.

New pincer ruthenium complexes bearing a monodentate N-heterocyclic carbene ligand were synthesized and demonstrated as powerful hydrogenation catalysts. With an atmospheric pressure of hydrogen gas, aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic esters as well as lactones were converted into the corresponding alcohols at 50 °C. This reaction protocol offers reliable access to alcohols using an easy operational setup.