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Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Heterogeneous Removal of Water-Soluble Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalyst from Aqueous Media Via Host-Guest Interaction
Published on: August 23, 2018
Ruthenium-Catalyzed E-Selective Alkyne Semihydrogenation with Alcohols as Hydrogen Donors
Andreas Ekebergh1, Romain Begon1, Nina Kann1
1Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-41296 Göteborg, Sweden.
Abstract:
Selective direct ruthenium-catalyzed semihydrogenation of diaryl alkynes to the corresponding E-alkenes has been achieved using alcohols as the hydrogen source. The method employs a simple ruthenium catalyst, does not require external ligands, and affords the desired products in > 99% NMR yield in most cases (up to 93% isolated yield). Best results were obtained using benzyl alcohol as the hydrogen donor, although biorenewable alcohols such as furfuryl alcohol could also be applied. In addition, tandem semihydrogenation-alkylation reactions were demonstrated, with potential applications in the synthesis of resveratrol derivatives.
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