Direct Catalytic Hydrogenation of Simple Amides: A Highly Efficient Approach from Amides to Amines and Alcohols.

A highly chemoselective and reactive direct catalytic reduction of various amides to amines and alcohols was developed by using a tetradentate ruthenium complex. The catalytic system showed excellent activity (turnover numbers up to 19 600) and great functional group tolerance under mild reaction conditions, compared to several bidentate and tridentate ruthenium-catalyzed systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]