The ligand system 6,6'-dihydroxy-2,2'-bipyridyl (dhbp) binds to ruthenium metal and provides hydroxyl groups close to the metal center.  It has been shown that the complex [Ru(dhbp)(p-cymene)Cl]Cl catalytically performs transfer hydrogenation reactions best in 90% water/10% methanol solutions, allowing for the use of �green� solvents.  These hydroxyl groups appear to significantly improve the solubility of the catalyst, and future studies will explore whether these influence the mechanism and enhance the catalytic rates.  These hydroxyl groups can potentially allow for metal-ligand bifunctional catalysis.  Studies are in progress to determine the effect of the protonation state of these hydroxyl groups on the catalytic rates and the structures formed and to determine what role these hydroxyl groups play in hydrogenation.

Transfer hydrogenation using a ruthenium catalyst with hydroxyl groups near the metal center

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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