Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026

Imine Metathesis by Silica-Supported Catalysts Using the Methodology of Surface Organometallic Chemistry
Published on: October 18, 2019
Metal-ligand cooperation on a diruthenium platform: selective imine formation through acceptorless dehydrogenative
Biswajit Saha1, S M Wahidur Rahaman, Prosenjit Daw
1Department of Chemistry, Center for Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016 (India), Fax: (+91) 512-2597436.
Abstract:
Metal-metal singly-bonded diruthenium complexes, bridged by naphthyridine-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands featuring a hydroxy appendage on the naphthyridine unit, are obtained in a single-pot reaction of [Ru2(CH3COO)2(CO)4] with 1-benzyl-3-(5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyrid-2-yl)imidazolium bromide (BIN⋅HBr) or 1-isopropyl-3-(5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyrid-2-yl)imidazolium bromide (PIN⋅HBr), TlBF4, and substituted benzaldehyde containing an electron-withdrawing group. The modified NHC-naphthyridine-hydroxy ligand spans the diruthenium unit in which the NHC carbon and hydroxy oxygen occupy the axial sites. All the synthesized compounds catalyze acceptorless dehydrogenation of alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes in the presence of a catalytic amount of weak base 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO). Further, acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling (ADHC) of the alcohol with amines affords the corresponding imine as the sole product. The substrate scope is examined with 1 (BIN, p-nitrobenzaldehyde). A similar complex [Ru2(CO)4(CH3COO)(3-PhBIN)][Br], that is devoid of a hydroxy arm, is significantly less effective for the same reaction. Neutral complex 1 a, obtained by deprotonation of the hydroxy arm in 1, is found to be active for the ADHC of alcohols and amines under base-free conditions. A combination of control experiments, deuterium labeling, kinetic Hammett studies, and DFT calculations support metal-hydroxyl/hydroxide and metal-metal cooperation for alcohol activation and dehydrogenation. The bridging acetate plays a crucial role in allowing β-hydride elimination to occur. The ligand architecture on the diruthenium core causes rapid aldehyde extrusion from the metal coordination sphere, which is responsible for exclusive imine formation.
More Related Videos
10:52Line Shape Analysis of Dynamic NMR Spectra for Characterizing Coordination Sphere Rearrangements at a Chiral Rhenium Polyhydride Complex
Published on: July 27, 2022
06:46Facile Preparation of 2Z,4E-Dienamides by the Olefination of Electron-deficient Alkenes with Allyl Acetate
Published on: June 21, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Metal-Ligand Bonds
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Imine Formation Mechanism
Imines are formed under mildly acidic conditions. A pH of 4.5 is ideal for the reaction.
If the pH is low or the solution is too acidic, the reaction slows down in the...
Nitriles to Amines: LiAlH4 Reduction
As shown below, the mechanism involves three steps. Firstly, the hydride ion acting as a nucleophile attacks the nitrile carbon to form an anion. In the second step, a second equivalent of the hydride ion attacks the anion to...
Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Imine and Enamine Formation Overview
Amides to Amines: LiAlH4 Reduction
Amide reduction requires two equivalents of the reducing agent, acting as a source of hydride ions. As shown in the figure, the reaction is initiated with a nucleophilic attack by the hydride ion at the carbonyl carbon to form a tetrahedral intermediate.
[4+2] Cycloaddition of Conjugated Dienes: Diels–Alder Reaction