Direct and Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones and Imines with a Ruthenium N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complex

Abstract

Abstract The dihydride ruthenium N‐heterocyclic carbene complex Ru(IMes)(PPh 3 ) 2 CO(H) 2 ( 1 ) (IMes=1,3‐dimesityl‐1,3‐dihydro‐2 H ‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene) is an efficient catalyst for both direct hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation of ketones and imines, in the absence of base.