title: Cooperative catalysis of a cationic ruthenium complex, amine base, and na salt: catalytic activation of acetonitrile as a nucleophile.
abstract: Cooperative catalysis of a cationic Ru complex, DBU, and NaPF6 is described. An exquisite combination of the catalytic triad enabled catalytic activation of acetonitrile as a nucleophile under mild amine-basic conditions. Addition of in situ-generated, Ru-bound, metalated nitrile to aldehydes and imines proceeded smoothly with 2.5-5 mol % Ru complex and 2.5-10 mol % DBU in the presence of 10 mol % NaPF6. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested a role for each of the three catalytic components.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: Masakatsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibasaki