Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones by Ruthenium Complexes Bearing Benzimidazol‐2‐ylidene Ligands

Abstract

Abstract A series of benzimidazolium ligand precursors were metalated with [RuCl 2 ( p ‐cymene)] 2 to give ruthenium(II) N ‐heterocyclic carbene complexes. All compounds were fully characterized by elemental analyses, 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, and IR spectroscopy. The new benzimidazol‐2‐ylidene complexes have been found to be effective catalysis for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones by using 2‐propanol as the hydrogen source in the presence of KOH.