N-Propylphthalimide-Substituted Silver(I) N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes and Ruthenium(II) N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Synthesis and Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones

Abstract

This study deals with the synthesis of N-propylphthalimide substituted Ag(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes and N-propylphthalimide substituted Ru(II)-NHC complexes in the transfer hydrogenation of ketones. The Ag(I)-NHC complexes were synthesized from the imidazolium salts and Ag 2 O in dichloromethane at room temperature. The Ru(II)-NHC complexes have been prepared from Ag(I)-NHC complexes using transmetallation method. The six N-propylphthalimide substituted Ag(I)-NHC complexes and six N-propylphthalimide substituted Ru(II)-NHC complexes have been characterized by spectroscopic techniques and elemental analyses. N-propylphthalimide substituted Ru(II)-NHC complexes have been analyzed as catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones and exhibit activity in this reaction. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York.