Transfer hydrogenation of N-benzylideneaniline catalyzed by ruthenium complexes with pincer-type phosphorus nitrogen ligands using propan-2-ol as the hydrogen source

International audienceRuthenium complexes containing phosphorus-nitrogen, pincer-type (NPN) ligands show high activities and selectivities in the transfer hydrogenation of N-benzylideneaniline using propan-2-ol as the hydrogen source. Such is the case of complexes RuCl2PPh3(PPh(NHPy)(2)) (1) and RuCl2PPh3(PPh(NHPyMe)(2)) (2) which also show TOFs 5989 h(-1) and 5928 h(-1), respectively. These remarkable results were obtained after only 10 min of reaction using a 1000/1 substrate/catalyst ratio