Ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes with N-[di(alkyl/aryl)carbamothioyl]benzamide derivatives and triphenylphosphine as effective catalysts for oxidation of alcohols

Abstract

Ruthenium(II) complexes, [RuCl(L)(CO)(PPh₃)₂] {where L = N-[di(alkyl/aryl)carbamothioyl]benzamide derivatives}, are prepared from reaction between [RuHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₃] and N-[di(alkyl/aryl)carbamothioyl]benzamide derivatives in toluene and characterized by elemental analysis and spectral data (electronic, infrared, ¹H NMR, and ³¹P NMR). The combination of [RuCl(L)(CO)(PPh₃)₂] (0.01 mmol) and N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMO) (3 mmol) is an active catalyst for the oxidation of primary, secondary, cyclic, allylic, aliphatic, and benzylic alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes and ketones at room temperature. The oxidation protocol is simple to operate and gives the corresponding carbonyl compounds good to excellent yields.

Keywords:

• Ruthenium(II)
• Thiourea derivatives
• Triphenylphosphine
• Catalytic oxidation
• NMO

Acknowledgments

Gunasekaran thanks NITT for fellowship. Karvembu acknowledges DST, Government of India, for financial assistance under SERC Fast Track scheme for Young Scientists (No. SR/FTP/CS-80/2006).