Hydrogenation of various organic substrates using polystyrene anchored orthometallated ruthenium (II) complex as catalyst

The catalytic activity of orthometallated complex [Ru(azb)(CO)(2)Cl](2) (Hazb=azobenzene) anchored to macroporous polystyrene beads was investigated towards the reduction of organic nitrocompounds, alkenes, alkynes, nitriles, Schiff bases, ketones and aldehydes under high pressure, high temperature conditions in mild coordinating media. Comparative studies have been done with the corresponding unsupported metal complexes. The polymer catalyst was found to be comparable to its homogeneous counterpart in activity and product selectivity but superior in stability and reusability. A tentative reduction mechanism was proposed on the basis of kinetic studies and the isolation of reactive intermediates. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.