H₂ Cleavage, Hydride Formation, and Catalytic Hydrogenation of Imines with Zinc Complexes of C₅Me₅ and N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes

Decamethylzincocene, [ZnCp*2], reacts with H2 to give the reduced ZnI compound [Zn2Cp*2]. In the presence of coordinating and (more efficiently) of non-coordinating N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), the catalytic hydrogenation of imines with H2 is achieved. The monomeric hydride [Zn(Cp*)(H)(SIMes)] is presented and its mechanistic implications are considered.