Selective, homogeneous hydrogenation of cycloheptatriene to cycloheptene catalyzed by (η4-cycloocta-1,5-diene)(η6-cyclohepta-1,3,5-triene)ruthenium(0)

Abstract In the presence of small amounts of [Ru(η 4 -COD)](η 6 -C 8 H 10 )] (1), cycloheptatriene is hydrogenated to cycloheptene, under one atmosphere of hydrogen at room temperature in homogeneous phase. The formation of a small amount of cyclooctene and the existence of an induction period, which do not occur when [Ru(η 4 -COD)(η 6 -C 7 H 8 )] (2) is used as the catalyst, suggest that 2 is the real catalyst. The selectivity of this hydrogenation is 100% in n-hexane as solvent, 99.5% in THF, and low in ethanol. Conversion is quantitative in THF and ethanol, but not more than 65% in n-hexane. In the presence of 1 or 2, cycloheptene is rapidly hydrogenated to cycloheptane in THF and ethano…

Adduct formation by sub-coordinated metal complexes—VI. Synthesis and pyridine adducts of some nickel(II) chelates formally tri-coordinated

Selective homogeneous hydrogenation of cycloocta-1,5, and cycloocta-1,3-diene to cyclooctene in the presence of (η4-cycloocta-1,5-diene)(η6-cycloocta-1,3,5-triene)ruthenium(0)

Cyclooctadiene isomers (1,3- and 1,5-COD) are selectively, homogenously hydrogenated to cyclooctene (C8H14) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution, under mild conditions of temperature (20 °C) and hydrogen pressure (1 atm), in the presence of catalytic amounts of (cycloocta-1,5-diene)(cycloocta-1,3,5,-triene)ruthenium(0), [Ru(η4-COD)(η6-C8H10)] (1). The rate of hydrogenation is higher when 1,3-COD is the substrate. Evidence for the isomerization 1,5-COD → 1,3-COD is reported. Similar studies carried out in several alcoholic solutions, although showing a decreased selectivity in the hydrogenation, confirm the isomerization 1,5-COD → 1,3-COD, and allow a discrimination between the isomerization an…