Abstract Amides are synthesized directly from alcohols and amines in high yields using an in situ generated catalyst from easily available ruthenium complexes such as the (p-cymene) ruthenium dichloride dimer,[Ru (p-cymeme) Cl 2] 2, or the (benzene) ruthenium dichloride dimer,[Ru (benzene) Cl 2] 2, an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand, and a nitrogen containing L-type ligand such as acetonitrile. The phosphine-free catalyst systems ...
