Ru(II) complexes bearing 2,6-bis(benzimidazole-2-yl)pyridine ligands: A new class of catalysts for efficient dehydrogenation of primary alcohols to carboxylic acids and H2 in the alcohol/CsOH system

Mono-cationic Ru(II)-complexes [Ru(L)X(CH3CN)2]⋅X 1∼4 (1, L = 2,6-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl) pyridine (L1), X = Cl; 2, L = L1, X = OTf; 3, L = 2-(N-benzyl-benzimidazole-2-yl)-6-(benzimidazole-2-yl)pyridine (L2), X = Cl; 4, L = 2,6-bis(N-benzyl-benzimidazole-2-yl)pyridine (L3), X = Cl) were prepared and fully characterized. The two acetonitrile ligands of each complex are coordinated to the metal center cis to each other. Complex 2 was also structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. It was found that complexes 1∼4 can catalyze the acceptorless dehydrogenation of primary alcohols to corresponding carboxylic acids and H2 in the basic aqueous solution, and the reactivity follows the order 1 = 2 > 4 > 3. Furthermore, complexes 1 or 2 can efficiently catalyze the conversion of various primary alcohols to carboxylic acid in good yields (72%–98%) and high selectivity in an alcohol/CsOH system (1/1, mol/mol). Using an excess amount of alcohol to CsOH results in the formation of the carboxylic acid in higher yield (up to 100%, based on CsOH) and higher turnover numbers (TON ∼ 10000) accompanied by the H2 evolution. Complexes 1 and 2 can act as a new class of phosphine- and N-heterocycle carbene free Ru(II) complexes for efficient conversion of primary alcohols to carboxylic acids and H2 in a homogeneous system.