Bidentate Ru(II)‐NC Complexes as Catalysts for Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones with Ethanol

Abstract

We developed a bidentate Ru(II)‐NC‐catalyzed transfer hydrogen reaction of ketones using ethanol (EtOH) as the hydrogen source under a weak base condition. The control experiments suggested that the reaction proceeds via the Ru‐H mechanism and yields ethyl acetate as the only byproduct. The deuterium‐labeling experiments further showed that hydrogen evolved from the CH2 and OH groups. The results provide a new weak base system for the transfer hydrogen reaction of ketones using ethanol as the hydrogen donor.