Disproportionation of cyclohexadienes and cyclohexene under the action of catalysts based on supported tetranuclear potassium carbonylruthenate K2[Ru4(CO)13]

The deposition of tetranuclear potassium carbonylruthenate K2[Ru4(CO)13] onto carbon Sibunit, SiO2, γ-Al2O3, and MgO followed by the thermal decomposition of the supported anionic cluster at 300 °C in an H2 or Ar flow leads to systems capable of catalyzing the disproportionation of cyclohexa-1,3-diene and cyclohexa-1,4-diene. The reactions proceed at room temperature to form mixtures of benzene and cyclohexene, benzene, cyclohexene, and cyclohexane, or benzene and cyclohexane. The catalytic systems developed are also active in cyclohexene disproportionation to benzene and cyclohexane at 100–130 °C.