Ligand flexibility as a concept to unlock catalytic activity: acyclic carbenes for base-free transfer ruthenium hydrogenation catalysis.

ABSTRACT: Many ligands are structurally rigid and well-defined, e.g. N-heterocyclic carbenes display a fan-like structure with a defined buried volume. Here, we break this dogma by introducing more flexibility around the catalytically active center by using acyclic (diamino)carbene (ADC) ligands. The ADC ligand was constructed in a straightforward protocol on the ruthenium center via methyl isocyanide coordination and subsequent reaction with amines such as pyrrolidine. Ligand flexibility in the formed (pyrrolidine)(methylamine)carbene ruthenium complex Ru-2 was demonstrated both in solution (variable temperature NMR) and in the solid state through crystallographic identification with the protic NH site oriented either distal or proximal to the ruthenium center. In contrast to their cy

SUBMITTER: Righetti G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12794291 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature