Mechanism of the Hydrogenation of Ketones Catalyzed by <i>trans-</i>Dihydrido(diamine)ruthenium(II) Complexes

The complexes trans-RuH(Cl)(tmen)(R-binap) (1) and (OC-6-43)-RuH(Cl)(tmen)(PPh(3))(2) (2) are prepared by the reaction of the diamine NH(2)CMe(2)CMe(2)NH(2) (tmen) with RuH(Cl)(PPh(3))(R-binap) and RuH(Cl)(PPh(3))(3), respectively. Reaction of KHB(sec)Bu(3) with 1 yields trans-Ru(H)(2)(R-binap)(tmen) (5) while reaction of KHB(sec)Bu(3) or KO(t)Bu with 2 under Ar yields the new hydridoamido complex RuH(PPh(3))(2)(NH(2)CMe(2)CMe(2)NH) (4). Complex 4 has a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry with the amido nitrogen in the equatorial plane. Loss of H(2) from 5 results in the related complex RuH(R-binap)(NH(2)CMe(2)CMe(2)NH) (3). Reaction of H(2) with 4 yields the trans-dihydride (OC-6-22)-Ru(H)(2)(PPh(3))(2)(tmen)(6). Calculations support the assignment of the structures. The hydrogenation of acetophenone is catalyzed by 5 or 4 in benzene or 2-propanol without the need for added base. For 5 in benzene at 293 K over the ranges of concentrations [5] = 10(-)(4) to 10(-)(3) M, [ketone] = 0.1 to 0.5 M, and of pressures of H(2) = 8 to 23 atm, the rate law is rate = k[5][H(2)] with k = 3.3 M(-1) s(1), DeltaH++ = 8.5 +/- 0.5 kcal mol(-1), DeltaS++ = -28 +/- 2 cal mol(-1) K(-1). For 4 in benzene at 293 K over the ranges of concentrations [4] = 10(-4) to 10(-3) M, [ketone] 0.1 to 0.7 M, and of pressures of H(2) = 1 to 6 atm, the preliminary rate law is rate = k[4][H(2)] with k = 1.1 x 10(2) M(-1) s(-1), DeltaH++ = 7.6 +/- 0.3 kcal mol(-1), DeltaS++ = -23 +/- 1 cal mol(-1) K(-1). Both theory and experiment suggest that the intramolecular heterolytic splitting of dihydrogen across the polar Ru=N bond of the amido complexes 3 and 4 is the turn-over limiting step. A transition state structure and reaction energy profile is calculated. The transfer of H(delta+)/H(delta-) to the ketone from the RuH and NH groups of 5 in a Noyori metal-ligand bifunctional mechanism is a fast process and it sets the chirality as (R)-1-phenylethanol (62-68% ee) in the hydrogenation of acetophenone. The rate of hydrogenation of acetophenone catalyzed by 5 is slower and the ee of the product is low (14% S) when 2-propanol is used as the solvent, but both the rate and ee (up to 55% R) increase when excess KO(t)Bu is added. The formation of ruthenium alkoxide complexes in 2-propanol might explain these observations. Alkoxide complexes [RuP(2)]H(OR)(tmen), [RuP(2)] = Ru(R-binap) or Ru(PPh(3))(2), R= (i) Pr, CHPhMe, (t)Bu, are observed by reacting the alcohols (i)PrOH, phenylethanol, and (t)BuOH with the dihydrides 5 and 6, respectively, under Ar. In the absence of H(2), the amido complexes 3 and 4 react with acetophenone to give the ketone adducts [RuP(2)]H(O=CPhMe)(NH(2)CMe(2)CMe(2)NH) in equilibrium with the enolate complexes trans- [RuP(2)](H)(OCPh=CH(2))(tmen) and eventually the decomposition products [RuP(2)]H(eta(5)-CH(2)CPhCHCPhO), with the binap complex characterized crystallographically. In general, proton transfer from the weakly acidic molecules dihydrogen, alcohol, or acetophenone to the amido nitrogen of complexes 3 and 4 is favored in two ways when the molecule coordinates to ruthenium: (1) an increase in acidity of the molecule by the Lewis acidic metal and (2) an increase in the basicity of the amido nitrogen caused by its pyramidalization. The formato complexes trans-[RuP(2)]H(OCHO)(tmen) were prepared by reacting the respective complex 4 or 5 with formic acid. The crystal structure of RuH(OCHO)(PPh(3))(2)(tmen) displays similar features to the calculated transition state for H(delta+)/H(delta-) transfer to the ketone in the catalytic cycle.

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