title: Role of the NH2 functionality and solvent in terdentate CNN alkoxide ruthenium complexes for the fast transfer hydrogenation of ketones in 2-propanol.
abstract: The reaction of [RuCl(CNN)(dppb)] (1; HCNN=6-(4-methylphenyl)-2-pyridylmethylamine) with NaOiPr in 2-propanol/C6D6 affords the alcohol adduct alkoxide [Ru(OiPr)(CNN)(dppb)].n iPrOH (5), containing the Ru-NH2 linkage. The alkoxide [Ru(OiPr)(CNN)(dppb)] (4) is formed by treatment of the hydride [Ru(H)(CNN)(dppb)] (2) with acetone in C6D6. Complex 5 in 2-propanol/C6D6 equilibrates quickly with hydride 2 and acetone with an exchange rate of (5.4+/-0.2) s(-1) at 25 degrees C, higher than that found between 4 and 2 ((2.9+/-0.4) s(-1)). This fast process, involving a beta-hydrogen elimination versus ketone insertion into the Ru-H bond, occurs within a hydrogen-bonding network favored by the Ru-NH2 motif. The cationic alcohol complex [Ru(CNN)(dppb)(iPrOH)](BAr(f)4) (6; Ar(f)=3,5-C6H3(CF3)2), obtained from 1, Na[BAr(f)4], and 2-propanol, reacts with NaOiPr to afford 5. Complex 5 reacts with either 4,4'-difluorobenzophenone through hydride 2 or with 4,4'-difluorobenzhydrol through protonation, affording the alkoxide [Ru(OCH(4-C6H4F)2)(CNN)(dppb)] (7) in 90 and 85 % yield of the isolated product. The chiral CNN-ruthenium compound [RuCl(CNN)((S,S)-Skewphos)] (8), obtained by the reaction of [RuCl2(PPh3)3] with (S,S)-Skewphos and orthometalation of HCNN in the presence of NEt3, is a highly active catalyst for the enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of methylaryl ketones (turnover frequencies (TOFs) of up to 1.4 x 10(6) h(-1) at reflux were obtained) with up to 89% ee. Also the ketone CF3CO(4-C6H4F), containing the strong electron-withdrawing CF3 group, is reduced to the R alcohol with 64% ee and a TOF of 1.5 x 10(4) h(-1). The chiral alkoxide [Ru(OiPr)(CNN)((S,S)-Skewphos)]n iPrOH (9), obtained from 8 and NaOiPr in the presence of 2-propanol, reacts with CF3CO(4-C6H4F) to afford a mixture of the diastereomer alkoxides [Ru(OCH(CF3)(4-C6H4F))(CNN)((S,S)-Skewphos)] (10/11; 74% yield) with 67% de. This value is very close to the enantiomeric excess of the alcohol (R)-CF3CH(OH)(4-C6H4F) formed in catalysis, thus suggesting that diastereoisomeric alkoxides with the Ru-NH2 linkage are key species in the catalytic asymmetric transfer hydrogenation reaction.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Udine, Via Cotonificio 108, I-33100 Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baratta
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ballico
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rigo
mesh_terms: D019840:2-Propanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D000588:Amines / Q000737:chemistry*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D007659:Ketones / Q000737:chemistry*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D007659:Ketones; D010087:Oxides; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds; D012997:Solvents; D006859:Hydrogen; D019840:2-Propanol