A Versatile Ruthenium(II)–NNC Complex Catalyst for Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones and Oppenauer‐Type Oxidation of Alcohols

Abstract

A ruthenium(II)-NNC pincer complex containing an unsymmetrical tridentate pyrazolyl-pyridyl-tolyl ligand was synthesized and structually characterized. This complex exhibited excellent catalytic activity for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones in 2-propanol at reflux, and for the Oppenauer-type dehydrogenative oxidation of alcohols in acetone at reflux (see scheme).