A mechanistic study of transfer hydrogenation catalyzed by cyclometallated ruthenium half-sandwich complexes

Transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones catalyzed by eight cyclometallated ruthenium half-sandwich complexes, including three new complexes, was examined. The catalytic process was studied using different ratios of substrate to base and base to catalyst and using a deuterated reductant. Optimum conditions for catalysis were shown to be in the presence of higher amounts of base in refluxing isopropanol. Under these conditions, the complexes were reduced in situ to give Ru(0) nanoparticles invisible to the naked eye. The nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, DLS and XPS. The catalytic transfer hydrogenation, under conditions in which nanoparticles were generated, was found to be far greater than the transfer hydrogenation by the molecular catalyst. Complete characterization of the three new complexes, including the X-ray crystallographic characterization of these complexes was carried out.