Transfer hydrodehalogenation of organic halides catalyzed by water soluble ruthenium(II) phosphine complexes

C–X bonds in carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and 1-hexyl halogenides were transformed into C–H bonds in a transfer hydrodehalogenation reaction catalyzed by water soluble ruthenium(II) phosphine complexes. A turnover frequency of up to 1000 h−1 can be achieved when an aqueous solution of sodium formate is the hydrogen donor and RuCl2(TPPMS)2 (1) the catalyst (TPPMS=m-sulfophenyl diphenylphosphine sodium salt).