Transfer Hydrogenation of Nitriles, Olefins, and N-Heterocycles Catalyzed by an N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Supported Half-Sandwich Complex of Ruthenium

In the presence of KOBu t, N -heterocyclic carbene-supported half-sandwich complex [Cp(IPr)Ru(pyr) 2 ][PF 6 ] ( 3 ) (IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) catalyzes transfer hydrogenation (TH) of nitriles, activated N -heterocycles, olefins, and conjugated olefins in isopropanol at the catalyst loading of 0.5%. The TH of nitriles leads to imines, produced as a result of coupling of the initially formed amines with acetone (produced from isopropanol), and showed good chemoselectivity. Reduction of N -heterocycles occurs for activated polycyclic substrates (e.g., quinoline) and takes place exclusively in the heterocycle. The TH also works well for linear and cyclic olefins but fails for trisubstituted substrates. However, the C═C bond of α,β-unsaturated esters, amides, and acids is easily reduced even for trisubstituted species, such as isovaleriates. Mechanistic studies suggest that the active species in these catalytic reactions is the trihydride Cp(IPr)RuH 3 ( 5 ), which can catalyze these reactions in the absence of any base. Kinetic studies are consistent with a classical inner sphere hydride-based mechanism of TH.