Catalyst Systems Containing Iron or Ruthenium

Iron pentacarbonyl and some ruthenium(III) complexes, such as RuCls 3 H2O or Ru(NH3)4(OH)Cl2, are claimed in a patent as catalysts for the hydroamination of ethylene and higher olefins in homogeneous solution [13]. 

In tetrahydrofuran, dioxane or amines as the solvent, with ratios of catalyst amine of about 1 20-1 100 at 150-190 °C and under pressures of 1-2 MPa in 6-8 h, conversions of between 20 and 50 % were obtained [5, 6, 8]. As a side reaction, disproportionation of the secondary amines was observed. 

The amine conversions obtained correspond to TONs of 1-3 mol amine/(mol metal) per h, indicating very low activity of the catalyst systems. 

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