Ruthenium, homogeneous alkene hydrogenation catalysts from

Chlorohydridotris(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(ll) was the first complex in which homogeneous hydrogenation of alkenes was shown to follow the alkyl route." It can be prepared from dihydrogen and [RuCl2(PPh3)3] in the presence of base (equation 41). Most other alkyl route catalysts are also monohydrido complexes. They are usually specific for terminal alkenes. The behavior of several exo-nirfo-dicarbaborane complexes of rhodium has been reviewed." ... 

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