Phosphine–imine and –enamido ligands for acceptorless dehydrogenation catalysis

Abstract

A highly tunable phosphine-imine ligand family is introduced. Following metallation with ruthenium, deprotonation of the ligand affords a phosphine-enamido species. Complexes with the ligand in both the imine and enamido forms are active toward acceptorless dehydrogenation reactions.