Synthetic Applications of Catalytic Ruthenium Complexes
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bath
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Previous research from the Whittlesey and Williams groups has identified very active catalysts for reactions involving hydrogen addition and hydrogen removal. These catalysts will be used for the development of new reactions involving hydrogen addition and hydrogen removal to prepare useful organic products. In particular, the oxidation of alcohols without the need for a formal oxidant provides an environmentally-friendly alternative to the use of conventional oxidising agents. The chemistry will also be used for a new approach to the synthesis of amides, which are widely found in natural products and pharmaceutical compounds.The high reactivity of the ruthenium complexes will be exploited in the conversion of nitro and nitrile containing compounds into amines. Since nitro and nitrile containing compounds are useful in C-C bond forming reactions, this provides powerful methodology for the synthesis of a wide range of amines.The principles of the borrowing hydrogen chemistry will be developed for the synthesis of heterocycles and complex alkaloids, and extended to the formation of compounds with the control of chirality
Organisations
Publications
Williams J
(2009)
Conversion of Primary Alcohols and Aldehydes into Methyl Esters by Ruthenium-Catalysed Hydrogen Transfer Reactions
in Synthesis
Nixon TD
(2009)
Transition metal catalysed reactions of alcohols using borrowing hydrogen methodology.
in Dalton transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)
Nixon T
(2011)
Ruthenium-catalysed transfer hydrogenation reactions with dimethylamine borane
in Tetrahedron Letters
Ledger AE
(2011)
Ruthenium bidentate phosphine complexes for the coordination and catalytic dehydrogenation of amine- and phosphine-boranes.
in Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
Ledger A
(2009)
Ruthenium xantphos complexes in hydrogen transfer processes: reactivity and mechanistic studies
in Dalton Trans.
Ledger A
(2009)
[Ru(NHC)(xantphos)(CO)H2] complexes: intramolecular C-H activation and applications in C-C bond formation
in Dalton Transactions
| Description | This grant funded a pivotal part of the collaboration between the Whittlesey and Williams groups which allowed a clearer understanding of how to achieve synthetic transformations by the temporary removal of hydrogen from substrates using ruthenium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes. C-C bond formation using alcohols as the substrates was a key finding in the course of this work, and under relatively mild conditions. |
| Exploitation Route | The work from this period is now being widely developed by other research groups in reactions that are now termed 'Borrowing Hydrogen Methodology' The work is also being developed in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| URL | http://people.bath.ac.uk/chsjmjw/page5.html |
| Description | The work developed a highly beneficial collaboration between Whittlesey and Williams that developed some highly active complexes for borrowing hydrogen chemistry. Many of the subsequent catalysts published by other groups have used similar ides for the development of alternative catalysts |
| First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
| Sector | Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Other |
| Impact Types | Societal |