Ruthenium catalysts requirements

Ruthenium catalysts require an induction period at low P and are commonly used at elevated P (20 X 10 kPa). Anionic Ru complexes, 3 and 4, catalyze homogeneous hydrogenation of carbonyl derivatives in THF at 85°C . 

Aromatic rings are hydrogenated with a variety of catalysts. However, aromatic alkoxy and hydroxyl substituents are susceptible to hydrogenolysis under most conditions used to saturate the ring. Hydrogenolysis does not occur to any appreciable extent with ruthenium catalysts even though high temperatures and pressures are required. Thus, substituted phenols are... 

The metathesis of ene-ynamides has been investigated by Mori et al. and Hsung et al. [80]. Second-generation ruthenium catalysts and elevated temperatures were required to obtain preparatively useful yields. Witulski et al. published a highly regioselective cyclotrimerization of 1,6-diynes such as 98 and terminal alkynes using the first-generation ruthenium metathesis catalyst 9... 

For ruthenium catalysts without shift activity, the stoichiometric requirement for syngas conversion is two moles of per mole of CO, according to Equation (I). However, the H2/C0 usage ratio can be less than 2 when the catalyst has shift activity (Equation II). 

Ruthenium catalysts have also been used in this context.200,201 In particular, the cationic ruthenium complex, CpRu(CH3CN)3PF6, in conjunction with carboxylic acid ligand 3, has been used to achieve the remarkably chemoselective allylation of a variety of alcohols via dehydrative condensation with allyl alcohol (Equation (50)).202 It is worth noting that this transformation proceeds with 0.05 mol% catalyst loading and does not require the use of excess allyl alcohol. 

The ruthenium catalyst system, 14, shown in Fig. 3, also carries out ADMET condensation chemistry, albeit with higher concentrations being required to achieve reasonable reaction rates [32]. The possibility of intramolecular compl-exation with this catalyst influences the polymerization reaction, but nonetheless, ruthenium catalysis has proved to be a valuable contributor to overall condensation metathesis chemistry. Equally significant, these catalysts are tolerant to the presence of alcohol functionality [33] and are relatively easy to synthesize. For these reasons, ruthenium catalysis continues to be important in both ADMET and ring closing metathesis chemistry. 

Mitsubishi have reported several processes based on Ru-catalyzed hydrogenation of anhydrides and acids. Succinic anhydride can be converted into mixtures of 1,4-butane-diol and y-butyrolactone using [Ru(acac)3]/trioctylphosphine and an activator (often a phosphonic acid) [97]. Relatively high temperatures are required ( 200°C) for this reaction. The lactone can be prepared selectively under the appropriate reaction conditions, and a process has been developed for isolating the products and recycling the ruthenium catalyst [98-100]. 

These ruthenium catalysts catalyze the racemization of secondary alcohol through a dehydrogenation/hydrogenation cycle with or without releasing ketone as a byproduct (Scheme 1.5). Catalysts 6-9 display good activities at room temperature, while others show satisfactory activities at elevated temperatures. Catalyst 1, for example, requires a high temperature (70 °C) for dissociation into two monomeric species (la and lb) acting as racemization catalysts (Scheme 1.6). 

DKR of secondary alcohol is achieved by coupling enzyme-catalyzed resolution with metal-catalyzed racemization. For efficient DKR, these catalyhc reactions must be compatible with each other. In the case of DKR of secondary alcohol with the lipase-ruthenium combinahon, the use of a proper acyl donor (required for enzymatic reaction) is parhcularly crucial because metal catalyst can react with the acyl donor or its deacylated form. Popular vinyl acetate is incompatible with all the ruthenium complexes, while isopropenyl acetate can be used with most monomeric ruthenium complexes. p-Chlorophenyl acetate (PCPA) is the best acyl donor for use with dimeric ruthenium complex 1. On the other hand, reaction temperature is another crucial factor. Many enzymes lose their activities at elevated temperatures. Thus, the racemizahon catalyst should show good catalytic efficiency at room temperature to be combined with these enzymes. One representative example is subtilisin. This enzyme rapidly loses catalytic activities at elevated temperatures and gradually even at ambient temperature. It therefore is compatible with the racemization catalysts 6-9, showing good activities at ambient temperature. In case the racemization catalyst requires an elevated temperature, CALB is the best counterpart. 

We reported the use of an indenyl ruthenium complex 2 as a racemization catalyst which did not produce ketones as the byproducts [17]. The metal catalyst requires a weak base like triethylamine and molecular oxygen to be activated. The DKR with 2 in combination with an immobilized PCL was carried out at a lower temperature (60°C) to afford good yields and high optical purities (Scheme 1.15). It is noteworthy that 2 does not require ketone as hydrogen mediator for racemization. 

The essential requirement for ruthenium catalysts to be active in homologation reactions of oxygenated substrates is the presence of an iodide promoter which may be I2, HI, an alkyl or metal iodide, or a quaternary ammonium or phosphonium iodide (3). With alkali iodides as promoters, ion-pairs of the [fac-Ru(CO)3l3] anion are formed in the catalytic solution of the homologation reactions starting from different precursors Ru(Acac>3, Ru3(CO)] 2> Ru(CO)4l2 etc. ( ). ... 

PEM fuel cells operate at relatively low temperatures, around 80°C. Low temperature operation allows them to start quickly (less warm-up time) and results in less wear on system components, resulting in better durability. However, they require that a noble-metal catalyst (typically platinum) be used to separate the hydrogen s electrons and protons, adding to system cost. The platinum catalyst is also extremely sensitive to CO poisoning, making it necessary to employ an additional reactor to reduce CO in the fuel gas if the hydrogen is derived from an alcohol or hydrocarbon fuel. This also adds cost. Developers are currently exploring platinum/ruthenium catalysts that are more resistant to CO. 

In Section 6.3.6, it was emphasized that C02 and secondary amines could add to terminal alkynes in the presence of ruthenium catalysts to afford carbamates. Under comparable conditions (393-413 K, 5 MPa Ru-catalysts), primary amines will afford symmetrical disubstituted ureas in moderate yield [131]. It is worth noting that although the final urea does not contain the starting alkyne, its catalytic formation requires, besides the Ru-catalyst, the presence of a stoichiometric amount of a 1-alkyne (e.g., a propargylic alcohol). A possible mechanism (Scheme 6.32) for this catalytic reaction may involve activation of the alkyne at the metal center, a nucleophilic addition of the carbamate to the activated alkyne to produce... 

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