Hydrogenolysis of a ruthenium carbene complex to yield dihydride-dihydrogen tautomers: Mechanistic implications for tandem ROMP-hydrogenation catalysis
Conversion of Grubbs's catalyst 1 into a hydrogenation catalyst is described. Hydrogenolysis of the Ru-carbene bond inCH(2)Cl(2) yields Ru(IV) species 2; in other solvents, a mixture of 2 and its dihydrogen tautomer 4 is formed, even in the presence of base. Further reaction gives hydridochloro complex RuHCl(H-2)(PCY3)(2) 3, which reverts to 2 in CH2Cl2. [GRAPHICS]