Synthesis, Reactivity, and Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation Activity of Ruthenium Complexes Bearing NNN Tridentate Ligands: Influence of the Secondary Coordination Sphere

Ruthenium Complexes with N-Bound 2-Pyridonato Ligand as O-Donors: A New Synthetic Approach and the Effect on Reactivity

In this study, Ru complexes [(η6-p-cymene)RuX(2-{(2,6-iPr2-C6H3)N=CH}-C5H3N-6-(O))] (3: X=Cl; 4: X=I) were prepared with N-bound 2-pyridonato ligand by thermal base-free MeX elimination from ionic N,N-chelated Ru complexes [(η6-p-cymene)RuX(κ2-L1)](X) (1: X=Cl; 2: X=I; L1={2-[(2,6-iPr2-C6H3)N=CH]-6-(OMe)C5H3N}). The Ru complex 3 was used as O-donor for Lewis (LA) or Brönsted acids. The reactions of 3 with SnCl2, Ph3SnCl, ZnCl2 or HCl provided [(η6-p-cymene)Ru(SnCl3)(2-{(2,6-iPr2-C6H3)N=CH}-C5H3N-6-(O→SnCl2)] (6), [(η6-p-cymene)RuCl(2-{(2,6-iPr2-C6H3)N=CH}-C5H3N-6-(O→SnPh3Cl)] (7), and [(η6-p-cymene)RuCl(2-{(2,6-iPr2-C6H3)N=CH}-C5H3N-6-(O→)]2(μ-ZnCl2) (8) and [(η6-p-cymene)RuCl(2-{(2,6-iPr2-C6H3)N=CH}-C5H3N-6-(OH)}](Cl) (9). The easy conversion of the 2-pyridonato ligand in 3 to its 2-hydroxypyridine in 9 evoked testing of 3 and 4 as potential catalysts in base-free transfer-hydrogenation of ketones.

Novel ruthenium complexes bearing bipyridine-based and N-heterocyclic carbene-supported pyridine (NCN) ligands: the influence of ligands on catalytic transfer hydrogenation of ketones

Transfer hydrogenation (TH) is a powerful synthetic tool in the production of secondary alcohols from ketones by using a non-H₂ hydrogen source along with metal catalysts. Among homogeneous catalysts, Ru(II) complexes are the most efficient catalysts. In our research, six novel ruthenium(II) complexes bearing bipyridine-based ligands [Ru(L1)Cl₂] (1), [Ru(L1)(PPh₃)Cl]Cl (2) and [Ru(L2)Cl₂] (3) and N-heterocyclic carbene-supported pyridine (NCN) ligands [RuCp(L3)]PF₆ (4), [RuCp*(L3)]PF₆ (5), and [Ru(p-cymene)(L3)Cl]PF₆ (6) (where L1 = 6,6'-bis(aminomethyl)-2,2'-bipyridine, L2 = 6,6'-bis(dimethylaminomethyl)-2,2'-bipyridine and L3 = 1,3-bis(2-methylpyridyl)imidazolium bromide) were synthesised and characterised by NMR spectroscopy, HRMS, and X-ray crystallography. The catalytic transfer hydrogenation of 28 ketones in 2-propanol at 80 °C in the presence of KOtBu (5 mol%) was demonstrated and the effect of ligands is highlighted. The results show that catalyst 1 exhibits improved TH efficiency compared to the commercially available Milstein catalyst and displays higher catalytic activity than 2 due to the steric effect from PPh₃. From a combination of kinetic data and Eyring analysis, a zero-order dependence on the acetophenone substrate is observed, implying a rate-limiting hydride transfer step, leading to the proposed inner-sphere hydride transfer mechanism.

Recent Advances in Homogeneous Catalysis via Metal–Ligand Cooperation Involving Aromatization and Dearomatization

Recently, an increasing number of metal complex catalysts have been developed to achieve the activation or transformation of substrates based on cooperation between the metal atom and its ligands. In such “cooperative catalysis,” the ligand not only is bound to the metal, where it exerts steric and electronic effects, but also functionally varies its structure during the elementary processes of the catalytic reaction. In this review article, we focus on metal–ligand cooperation involving aromatization and dearomatization of the ligand, thus introducing the newest developments and examples of homogeneous catalytic reactions.

Arene-Ruthenium(II) Complexes Containing 11H-Indeno[1,2-b]quinoxalin-11-one Derivatives and Tryptanthrin-6-oxime: Synthesis, Characterization, Cytotoxicity, and Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Aryl Ketones

A series of novel mono- and binuclear arene-ruthenium(II) complexes [(p-cym)Ru(L)Cl] containing 11H-indeno[1,2-b]quinoxalin-11-one derivatives or tryptanthrin-6-oxime were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography, IR, NMR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and elemental analysis. Theoretical calculations invoking singlet state geometry optimization, solvation effects, and noncovalent interactions were done using density functional theory (DFT). DFT calculations were also applied to evaluate the electronic properties, and time-dependent DFT was applied to clarify experimental UV-vis results. Cytotoxicity for cancerous and noncancerous human cell lines was evaluated with cell viability MTT assay. Complexes demonstrated a moderate cytotoxic effect toward cancerous human cell line PANC-1. The catalytic activity of the complexes was evaluated in transfer hydrogenation of aryl ketones. All complexes exhibited good catalytic activity and functional group tolerance.