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Updated: Mar 26, 2026

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Selective hydrogenation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone using in situ generated ruthenium nanoparticles derived
Boon Ying Tay1, Cun Wang2, Pim Huat Phua2
1Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research)., 1 Pesek Road, Jurong Island, 627833 Singapore, Singapore. lpstubbs@ices.a-star.edu.sg and Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, 117543 Singapore, Singapore. chmhhv@nus.edu.sg.
Abstract:
Hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) to γ-valerolactone (GVL) was studied by using mono- and bidentate p-cymene ruthenium(ii) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes as catalyst precursors. In water, all complexes were found to be reduced in situ to form ruthenium nanoparticles (RuNPs) with a high hydrogenation activity. In organic solvents, complexes with monodentate NHC ligands also formed nanoparticles, while complexes with bidentate ligands gave rise to stable homogeneous catalysts with moderate hydrogenation activities.
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