Bidentate Ru(II)‐NC Complexes as Catalysts for α‐Alkylation of Unactivated Amides and Esters. Issue 19 (18th September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gong, Dawei; Hu, Bowen; Yang, Weiwei; Chen, Dafa
• Is Part Of: ChemCatChem. Volume 11:Issue 19(2019)
• Page Start: 4841
• Page End: 4847
• Publication Date: 2019-09-18
• Subjects: alkylation of amides -- alkylation of esters -- bidentate -- Ru catalyst -- borrowing hydrogen; Catalysis -- Periodicals; 541.39505
• DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201901319
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1867-3880

Abstract

Abstract: Five Ru(II)‐NC complexes were tested as catalysts for α ‐alkylation of unactivated amides using alcohols as alkylating agents, and complex {(C5 H4 N)‐(C6 H4 )}RuCl(CO)(PPh3 )2 (1 ) showed the highest activity. With 0.5 mol% catalyst loading, a series of α ‐alkylated amides were isolated at 80 °C within 6 hours. Furthermore, under similar conditions, complex 1 was also active for α ‐alkylation of unactivated esters with alcohols, and the reaction time was shortened to 1.5 hours. The catalytic performance of 1 is comparable to the best reported catalyst. Abstract : Alkylation under mild conditions : A bidentate Ru(II)‐NC complex is highly active for α ‐alkylation of unactivated amides and esters. The reactions were performed with low catalyst loading (0.5 mol%) under milder conditions (80 °C) for only a few hours. Twenty‐eight substrates were suitable for such transformations, and the reactions exhibited excellent conversions and functional group tolerance.