CH activation reactions of ruthenium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: Application in a catalytic tandem reaction involving CC bond formation from alcohols

S Burling, BM Paine, D Nama, VS Brown…

Index: Burling, Suzanne; Paine, Belinda M.; Nama, Devendrababu; Brown, Victoria S.; Mahon, Mary F.; Prior, Timothy J.; Pregosin, Paul S.; Whittlesey, Michael K.; Williams, Jonathan M. J. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2007 , vol. 129, # 7 p. 1987 - 1995

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Citation Number: 151

Abstract

A series of ruthenium hydride N-alkyl heterocyclic carbene complexes has been investigated as catalysts for a tandem oxidation/Wittig/reduction reaction to give CC bonds from alcohols. The C H-activated carbene complex Ru (I i Pr2Me2)'(PPh3) 2 (CO) H (9) proves to be the most active precursor catalyzing the reaction of PhCH2OH and Ph3P CHCN in 3 h at 70° C. These results provide (a) a rare case in which N-alkyl carbenes ...